What does "activation" actually do on a Wifi device?

[zorinlynx]

I just went through some annoyance "activating" a new Wifi iPad here at work. Basically our Wifi requires a login and password to access the net, and you need a web browser to enter that information. Since you can't run Safari on the iPad without activating it, it was a chicken & egg scenario, and I had to use the Personal Hotspot on my iPhone to activate them.

There's no cellular interface on a Wifi iPad to activate, so why is that step even required? You should at LEAST be able to get to Springboard and do basic web browsing without logging in, even if you can't install apps.

 

[r2shyyou]

I just went through some annoyance "activating" a new Wifi iPad here at work. Basically our Wifi requires a login and password to access the net, and you need a web browser to enter that information. Since you can't run Safari on the iPad without activating it, it was a chicken & egg scenario, and I had to use the Personal Hotspot on my iPhone to activate them.

There's no cellular interface on a Wifi iPad to activate, so why is that step even required? You should at LEAST be able to get to Springboard and do basic web browsing without logging in, even if you can't install apps.

Maybe to register the device in some way? I had an iPad 1 Wi-Fi only but it was when it first came out (no longer have it) and I don't remember this step.

 

[PaulDoFish]

I believe it is so Apple's servers can give your iPad a unique ID or something so that push notifications work properly.

 

[kaielement]

I believe it is so Apple's servers can give your iPad a unique ID or something so that push notifications work properly.

Yes this and to set up and resister your iPad without having to plug into a computer. I work at Best Buy and tons of people want to buy the iPad but don't have a computer and had no way of using it until now with ios5.....

 

[zorinlynx]

I believe it is so Apple's servers can give your iPad a unique ID or something so that push notifications work properly.

This actually makes sense.

However, it's something that could easily be done later on; you don't have to make being able to simply use the device dependent on an Internet connection. The iPad could simply wait until it has a connection, then quietly do its thing in the background.

Ah well, it's a simple problem with a simple solution, but it got on my nerves today.