Can I use an old iPhone as an iPod after deactivating it?

You can use a no longer activated iPhone as an iPod Touch, but in order to install a firmware update or restore the iPhone with iTunes if needed or wanted, you need to leave the no longer activated SIM card inserted in the iPhone - the same SIM card that was used with the iPhone when the iPhone was activated.

I turn on Airplane mode with my no longer activated first generation iPhone followed by turning on wi-fi access.

I suggest the following before giving your no longer activated first generation iPhone to your daughter.

On the iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset. Select Erase All Content and Settings.

This is a secure erase and will take an hour or two, so have the iPhone connected to a power source before beginning this process.

When done, your daughter can sync the iPhone with iTunes on her computer.

Allan,

Do you think iPhone owners should download the 3.0 update before deactivating their iPhones? Will they have to pay for the update like ipod Touch owner will, since they have an inactive iPhone?

thanx,

It doesn't matter. You can do so while your existing iPhone remains activated, or after the iPhone is no longer activated per the following copied from my previous post.

You can use a no longer activated iPhone as an iPod Touch, but in order to install a firmware update or restore the iPhone with iTunes if needed or wanted, you need to leave the no longer activated SIM card inserted in the iPhone - the same SIM card that was used with the iPhone when the iPhone was activated.

I didn't purchase my iPhone 3G until August last year, so firmware update 2.0 was installed on my first generation iPhone before my first generation iPhone was deactivated. I have installed every firmware update since 2.0 on my first generation iPhone without the iPhone being activated by leaving the no longer activated SIM card inserted in the iPhone - the same SIM card that was used with the iPhone when the iPhone was activated.

The iPhone ships in the U.S. with a new SIM card pre-installed, so you don't need to use the activated SIM card with an existing iPhone to activate a new iPhone, and you don't want to if you plan on using an existing iPhone as an iPod Touch and if you want to install future iPhone updates, or restore the iPhone with iTunes if needed or wanted.

You're welcome.

-When and how is the old iPhone deactivated? Does it automatically happen when the new phone is connected to my MacBook and restored from backup?

Your existing iPhone will be deactivated the moment your new iPhone is activated.

-After it's deactivated, if I erase all contents and settings from the old iPhone, will it go back to the original software version?

The erase all content and settings options does not touch the firmware. It is a secure erase for all content and settings only. The existing firmware installed is not touched or changed.

-After erasing all contents and settings from the old iPhone, when my daughter connects it to iTunes in her Windows machine (which won't recognize that phone), is it not going to ask her to activate the phone or for a phone number?

iTunes will recognize the iPhone - just as when an iPod is connected to iTunes. Unless you insert a new non-activated SIM card in the iPhone, she will not be prompted to re-activate the iPhone with iTunes activation process.

-Do I always have to keep Airplane mode on to be able to use it as an iPod, even that it will be already deactivated?

I do with my first generation iPhone when used as an iPod Touch. This turns off all iPhone radios - cell/cellular data, bluetooth, and wi-fi. You can follow this by turning on wi-fi access. With the other radios off, this will conserve battery consumption, and the other radios - cell/cellular data and bluetooth won't be used anyway with a non-activated iPhone. If firmware update 3.0 is installed on this iPhone, she may want to turn Airplane mode off in order to turn bluetooth access on if she wants to pair with another iPhone for playing a game, etc. If not, I would leave Airplane mode enabled with wi-fi access turned on for internet access via wi-fi just as with an iPod Touch.

You're welcome.

-When I switch the old iPhone from the Mac to the PC, I understand that the first time a connect it to the PC it will be restored to be formatted to work with Windows... does that include the firmware? Will it then go back to the original software version?

An iPhone is not Windows or Mac formatted. No reformatting is required when switching from syncing an iPhone with a Mac to a PC, or vice-versa. iTunes content and photos can be synced with an iTunes library on a single computer only, and photos can be transferred from a single computer only, but you can sync contact info, calendar events, and Safari bookmarks with the supported applications on multiple computers - between two Macs, between two PCs, or between a Mac and a PC.

-Should I switch it to the PC before I deactivate it... or it doesn't matter?

It doesn't matter.

Whoever provided this in the thread you read in regard to the iPhone is wrong.

I have synced contacts and calendar events with Outlook 2007 on a PC running Vista after syncing direct with the Address Book and iCal on my Mac, and I did not have to format my iPhone for Windows before doing so.

Hi Alan. One side question. I have the iphone 2g and will be getting my 3gs tomorrow. Completely understand everything you have written in this thread. My wife thinks she may want my 2g iphone and dump her current clam phone. Once it's been deactivated after I activate the 3gs, how would I re-activate it for my wife? Would I simply take out the sim card out of her current phone and put it in the 2g iphone and go thru the activation process on itunes? Many thanks.

Excellent topic with lots of great and helpful responses, thanks! I was looking for a topic exactly like this, I have a few questions to contribute for anyone that has the time.

Are apps phone specific, or account specific? Which is to say, if I do the secure erase to remove all my data, will I be able to plug in my old iphone, and load it back up with games and apps I've already purchased, AND load those same apps onto my new 3GS? Or will only one phone be able to have those apps (in preparation for gifting my old phone as an iPod, I went out and bought bunches of apps to load onto it before deactiviating, without thinking that after its deactivated those apps may not be available for it). Will someone with a different computer lose all the apps and music/movie files when they sync with a different computer?

Also, without the cellular connection, and let's just assume no wifi connection ever, will the deactivated iPhone still be able to do things like keep time and progress through days on the calendar?

I am confused, because none of this is working for me.

I purchased a new 3GS, which now has my old SIM in it. My wife took my old 16g 3G and put her old SIM in it. Everything works or has been transferred to the new phones.

So we have an 8g 2G that has no SIM. It has been erased of all content. I used
Settings > General > Reset. Select Erase All Content and Settings.
I plugged it in so that I could use as an Itouch/Ipod and it says

"iTunes cannot activate your iPhone because the SIM card is not inserted or a SIM PIN is required"

So I went to AT&T store and asked if it were possible to use and old iPhone as an Itouch/Ipod.....they gave me a new SIM, a new 'non-activated' or blank SIM. When I put this in the old 2G iPhone it tries to take me thru the activation process.

I am running Itunes - 8.2.0.23
iPhone on 2G was upgraded to 3.0 before deactivation

So what do I do now?

Message was edited by: hsolo5

Copied from my first post in this thread.

You can use a no longer activated iPhone as an iPod Touch, but in order to install a firmware update or restore the iPhone with iTunes if needed or wanted, *you need to leave the no longer activated SIM card inserted in the iPhone - the same SIM card that was used with the iPhone when the iPhone was activated.*

Why didn't you use the new SIM card that was pre-installed with your 3GS for the 3GS activation?

Without the no longer activated SIM card remaining inserted in the iPhone that was used with the iPhone when it was activated, you won't be able to do so without reactivating the iPhone.

"Why didn't you use the new SIM card that was pre-installed with your 3GS for the 3GS activation?"

Probably like me the AT&T sales reps were removing the old sim card from our phones and placing that in the new 3gs thus making a brick out of our original iPhones.
When I returned to the store they told me it wouldn't work anyway. Finally got an AT&T phone support person tell me to return the old sim card to the old iPhone and then to get another sim card from the store which she activated.
This worked......