unactivated iphone for development

Question

Level 1

25 points

unactivated iphone for development

i'm having trouble using an iphone for development. i have an iphone that i've been using for development and i don't have service for it. today, i tried to update it to beta 7 and found that the only way (at least that i could find) to activate it in itunes was to connect to at&t.

has anyone else run into this? is anyone else using an iphone without cell service for a development device?

mac book pro

Posted on Jun 22, 2008 7:45 PM

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Answer 1

dave++

Level 1

5 points

Jun 23, 2008 5:47 AM in response to johne-dm

Yes, we ran into a similar problem, requiring activation with O2 in the UK. My higher-ups have spoken to some apple representatives regarding this issue, and apparently as OS 2.0 approaches completion, behaviour is to become more and more like that of a normal handset, i.e. requiring activation.

Better off to buy an ipod touch for on-device testing, rather than be locked into some ridiculously overpriced contract, in my opinion.

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Answer 2

johne-dm Author

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25 points

Jun 23, 2008 5:55 AM in response to dave++

well... unfortunately, i have an ipod touch for development too, but i need to use the camera for this particular app.

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Answer 3

johne-dm Author

Level 1

25 points

Jun 23, 2008 7:53 AM in response to johne-dm

i contacted apple dev support. they said that this shouldn't be happening and they have escalated the issue and opened a ticket. maybe you should wait on getting o2 service for now.

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Answer 4

Jun 24, 2008 4:09 AM in response to johne-dm

I have the same problem (using the 7th version of the iPhone SDK). The iPod Touch works without problems, however for the iPhone (using iPhone OS 2.0 5A331) the Organizer states that "The device is not activated". And iTunes lets me only activate the iPhone by means of an AT&T account.

I'd be very glad if anyone has a solution for this.

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Answer 5

johne-dm Author

Level 1

25 points

Jun 26, 2008 7:35 PM in response to IngmarHook

no help with beta 8 and itunes 7.7... i'm beginning to get worried here... how am i supposed to do final tests on my app this way?

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Answer 6

Jun 26, 2008 8:33 PM in response to johne-dm

same problem with me. hope apple release a version of firmware for development.

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Answer 7

DenNukem

Level 1

30 points

Jun 29, 2008 9:22 PM in response to johne-dm

Same problem here with SDK beta 8.

I wonder if activating it on someone else's SIM card / AT&T account will work without any harm to that person? Anyone brave enough to try?

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Answer 8

johne-dm Author

Level 1

25 points

Jun 29, 2008 9:32 PM in response to DenNukem

i just gave up and got at&t service. at&t has a 30 day "trial" period policy. turns out it was for the best... stuff i was doing over wifi was way too slow over an edge connection, so i'm actually glad i tried it.

with at&t, you can cancel the service after 30 days and only pay pro-rated for that month.... but... i'm actually thinking of getting an iphone for myself and my wife -- switching us both to at&t, of course, i'll wait for the 3g for that. after all, how can i live without these killer apps i'm writing on my cell phone? 🙂

john

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Answer 9

DenNukem

Level 1

30 points

Jun 29, 2008 11:27 PM in response to johne-dm

How did you go about it? Did you walk into the AT&T store and ask them for a SIM-only iPhone plan?

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Answer 10

johne-dm Author

Level 1

25 points

Jun 30, 2008 5:48 AM in response to DenNukem

well, first i called at&t with questions about what i was doing. i called once, got some answers then got disconnected... called back, got a different set of answers... oh well.

but... they told me that i had to activate my iphone through the itunes store. it was super simple and i was up and running in a few mins. i think on the first screen, i just selected "activate new service" or something. i'd guess i'll pay like $69 or something + tax for the month if i decide to cancel before 30 days.

i'm guessing that they wouldn't let you get service, then cancel, then get service again right away. one CSR thought that if i canceled and got service right away, i might incur some deposit. the other one didn't think that would be the case, however.

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Answer 11

DenNukem

Level 1

30 points

Jun 30, 2008 9:36 PM in response to johne-dm

Where did you get the SIM card from?

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Answer 12

johne-dm Author

Level 1

25 points

Jun 30, 2008 9:50 PM in response to DenNukem

i guess it was already in the iphone... i don't think you're really supposed to take them out of there.

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Answer 13

Sep 13, 2008 5:36 PM in response to johne-dm

My old iPhone was working fine for development using 2.01. I simply pulled the SIM card and it worked. No phone, or edge, but I didn't need that. Updated to 2.1 and got the "connect to iTunes to activate" message.

Is there a way around this. I'd hate to have to spend $70/mo. just to be able to test code without risking my main phone.

jw

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Answer 14

DenNukem

Level 1

30 points

Sep 14, 2008 11:26 AM in response to Strangeglow

I have heard it that "alternatively-activated" phones can be used for development, at least on 2.0.0

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Answer 15

robhedin

Level 2

355 points

Sep 14, 2008 1:01 PM in response to Strangeglow

I'm still using my old iPhone for development, even with the 2.1 software. I didn't bother pulling the SIM card since the service has been transferred to my new iPhone 3G.

After installing the update, I do get the "waiting for activation" message, but am able to fully use the device (other than place phone calls) and the message is dismissed as soon as I open the home screen.

rob.

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