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Question about iPhone

B

Blurry

Senior member
Hey folks,

Looking to buy an old iPhone but don't know if I need an unlocked iPhone or not.
I am currently using ATT as my provider and I'm unsure if the 2G iPhone I'm getting should be unlocked or not.

Thanks!
 
Originally posted by: Blurry
Hey folks,

Looking to buy an old iPhone but don't know if I need an unlocked iPhone or not.
I am currently using ATT as my provider and I'm unsure if the 2G iPhone I'm getting should be unlocked or not.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Unlocked means that it has been modified to work on any GSM carrier (well almost any). Since the iPhone is sold by Apple and AT&T, then if you already have AT&T then you do not need an unlocked iPhone.

In the case of the 2G, I do believe you can still get the old iPhone rate plan but you may want to double check that.
 
Just to be clear - I can use the old iPhone without a data plan, correct?
I plan only to use internet with wifi, similar to that of the iPod touch.
 
So even an unlocked iPhone 1G cannot be used on ATT without a data plan?

If so, that is indeed a bummer....god I hate the LG Vu - it's so flimsy unresponsive.
 
Actually...

If you were to purchase a jailbroken iPhone you could get away with no data plan. Remember, you don't need an unlocked iPhone, you're on AT&T already.

If you were to buy a 1G iPhone from someone and jailbreak, there is a jailbreak app that will prevent data from being passed over network. You can then take your SIM out of your VU, stick it in the iPhone, and begin using it as our regular phone.

If you called up AT&T and told them you were switching to an iPhone, you would be forced to get the iPhone data package, which is $30/month. The old data package for $20 is no longer available, even to new 1G iPhone customers.

Now, if you have MEdiaNet unlimited on your Vu, which is $15/mo, for internet access on your phone, it would actually work on your iPhone. You wouldn't get visual voicemail, but you would get internet access. As long as you keep the IMEI of your Vu as your phone in AT&T's billing system (which means you can't sell the Vu or anything), you won't be picked up in the account audits AT&T does. The audits simply make sure that your plan is compatible with your phone, but the only check they have is the IMEI number attached to your account.
 
Originally posted by: bearxor
Actually...

If you were to purchase a jailbroken iPhone you could get away with no data plan. Remember, you don't need an unlocked iPhone, you're on AT&T already.

If you were to buy a 1G iPhone from someone and jailbreak, there is a jailbreak app that will prevent data from being passed over network. You can then take your SIM out of your VU, stick it in the iPhone, and begin using it as our regular phone.

If you called up AT&T and told them you were switching to an iPhone, you would be forced to get the iPhone data package, which is $30/month. The old data package for $20 is no longer available, even to new 1G iPhone customers.

Now, if you have MEdiaNet unlimited on your Vu, which is $15/mo, for internet access on your phone, it would actually work on your iPhone. You wouldn't get visual voicemail, but you would get internet access. As long as you keep the IMEI of your Vu as your phone in AT&T's billing system (which means you can't sell the Vu or anything), you won't be picked up in the account audits AT&T does. The audits simply make sure that your plan is compatible with your phone, but the only check they have is the IMEI number attached to your account.
Click to expand...

You are indeed correct, but keep in mind, even if the IMEI of your VU is still "attached" to the account, they can see that you are using an iPhone. Whether or not they do anything about it is another story.

I'm not sure exactly how the whole system works, but I think your IMEI is automatically registered in AT&T system when you pop the sim card into the phone and turn it on. I never thought they could tell but sure enough when I was swapping sims between different phones, the AT&T website always knew what phone I had my sim in at the time I logged in.
 
Thanks for the help everyone - I can't believe how difficult it is to use an iPhone without using a data plan. I was on T-Mobile and I suppose that would have been fine, but I found T-Mobile's reception to be absolutely horrid, especially in rural areas.

Guess I have to stick with the Vu - and get an iPod Touch.
 
Yea.. they automatically ASSUME that you will want the data plan if you have an iPhone. Which I would say the majority do. But the problem is that I can definitely see a use for only wanting it to connect via WiFi, and not over AT&T's network.
 
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