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Is it possible to have no cellular carrier and use iPhone only for wifi?

G

grinc

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 12, 2009
9
0
My overall goal is to use iPhone as a portable internet browser (for free using Wifi) and to make calls using something like Skype (again for free over Wifi) but have no connection to AT&T or any other monthly service provider. This would essentially make it to where my only cost was the 1-time purchase price of a "blank" iPhone for $500 to $700

Question 1. Is this possible?

Question 2: If so, how do I go about doing it and what is the best software, etc to install?

I'm assuming what I have to do is spend the big bucks up front and buy a "blank" iPhone from Apple with no plan installed... but then what do I do after I get it?

Thank you.
 
You need a sim card in the phone for a start and most free wifi spots still need a data plan of sorts to activate your phone.
 
You need a sim card but you do not need a dataplan for public wi-fi. I use my old iphone (no longer activated) all the time on public wi-fi. It just connects by wi-fi and you enter your info in mobile safari.
 
aristobrat said:
If I wanted to use it for VoIP calls, the lack of a internal microphone and a decent speaker would drive me crazy! I wouldn't want to have to use headphones.
Click to expand...

Yes, exactly. That's what compelled me to ask this question in the forums because nothing game me a straight answer when I searched Google.

Ok, so the phone won't boot up without a SIM card or what?

I guess the simplified question is: Can I get away with ONLY paying for the iPhone itself and be able to make Wifi calls and using the internet through Wifi without paying any additional money to anyone else whatsoever? :)

(the only exception to this "no money" thing is if I decided to pay Skype for their credits system)
 
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