Anyway to activate old 2G iPhone with dummy SIM card?

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Level 1

4 points

Anyway to activate old 2G iPhone with dummy SIM card?

Hello all, I just had a quick question that I can't seem to find the answer to. Currently, I have an old 2G iphone that is in "Emergency Mode Only." I was wondering, I have plenty of dummy sim cards lying around (used to be an RSA rep, ended up collecting several old, un-activated sim's) and was wondering if there was anyway to use one of these sim cards to at least get to the home screen of the iPhone so I could use it for music, movies and when I enter wifi. When I try and do this, all I get is the "Activate your iPhone" screen in iTunes. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6), iPhone 3G 16gb (White)

Posted on Jul 18, 2009 4:55 PM

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Answer 1

Tamara

Level 6

13,738 points

Jul 18, 2009 5:00 PM in response to nickgeno

You need the SIM that goes with the iPhone.

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Answer 2

PTBoater

Level 4

2,845 points

Jul 18, 2009 5:06 PM in response to nickgeno

Unfortunately no, not using conventional means.

Which begs the question = if I bought the 2G full price (no subsidies) and now have a 3GS, what really is the reasoning in preventing me from using my 2G as an iPod? So I basically have two options - sell the 2G or turn to the seedy underworld of hacking. Doesn't seem right.

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Answer 3

nickgeno Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 18, 2009 5:13 PM in response to nickgeno

Yes, it doesn't seem quite right does it? Either illegally hack a device, or sell it to somebody else who IS going to illegally hack it because you no longer have any use for it.

Its a shame, I've had to swap between this phone a couple times while my 3G was out for repair. I did activate the 2G, and went through the hassle of activating, switching my rate plan, and all that good stuff. When I got my 3G back, I was able to use a blank sim card and still be on the home screen, until I did a complete reset on the phone, which brings us to the present, and the Emergency Call only screen. Seems that if I wouldn't have completely reset the phone, I would have at least been able to use it as an iPod.

Thanks for the quick replies. So I guess my next question is, is it possible to jailbreak an inactivated iPhone in Emergency Mode only to use it as an iPod and such?

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Answer 4

Jul 18, 2009 5:19 PM in response to nickgeno

Simple answer is YES you can. Just use the sim card you had in the phone prior to getting the 3G if you still have it.

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Answer 5

nickgeno Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 18, 2009 5:27 PM in response to ems_pilot

Thank you, but yes to what exactly? Yes, you can jailbreak an emergency mode only iPhone, or yes there is a way to use it as an iPod and wifi device with my original sim card?

Thanks in advance for the clarification

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Answer 6

Tamara

Level 6

13,738 points

Jul 18, 2009 6:18 PM in response to PTBoater

Apple actually changed it in one of the firmware updates. As long as you have the original SIM in the phone, you can apply updates and use a deactivated iPhone as a Touch.

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Answer 7

Jul 18, 2009 6:24 PM in response to nickgeno

I use my no longer activated first generation iPhone as an iPod Touch on occasion. In order to install a firmware update or restore a no longer activated iPhone with iTunes if wanted or needed, you need to have the no longer activated SIM card inserted in the iPhone - the SIM card that was used with the iPhone when the iPhone was activated.

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Answer 8

PTBoater

Level 4

2,845 points

Jul 18, 2009 6:26 PM in response to Tamara

That assumes that I stayed with AT&T. This is more of a personal gripe than a technical issue for me. 🙂 If I paid full price for the iPhone, I don't see why continued AT&T service is needed for me to use it as an iTouch. Also if I cancel my service, I pay a cancellation fee, and I still have an iBrick. This is the kind of thing that makes Congress pass laws.... 😉

I didn't know about the SIM method though. I used Google and less reputable methods to achieve my goal to use my 2G as an iTouch. Next step is putting up on eBay and letting someone else worry about it. 🙂

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Answer 9

nickgeno Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 18, 2009 6:37 PM in response to PTBoater

My original sim is in my current 3G that I'm using. When I put that sim in the old 2G I'm still stuck on the emergency mode screen, even when plugged into iTunes, I still get the "Activate Your iPhone" screen

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Answer 10

Jul 18, 2009 6:43 PM in response to nickgeno

The 3G shipped with a new SIM card pre-installed, and there is no benefit using the SIM card from a first generation iPhone to activate the 3G.

The reason this does not work is because the SIM card used with the 3G is activated with the 3G. The SIM card used to activate an iPhone is "married" to the iPhone's IMEI number.

You can use that SIM card to re-activate your first generation iPhone followed by re-activating your 3G with the new SIM card that shipped with the 3G. Leave the no longer activated SIM card in your first generation iPhone in order to install a firmware update or restore the iPhone with iTunes if wanted or needed.

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Answer 11

Tamara

Level 6

13,738 points

Jul 18, 2009 6:44 PM in response to PTBoater

You don't need to stay with ATT. You just need the ATT iPhone SIM in the deactivated phone to use it as a Touch. You didn't need to even mess around with Google and the dubious methods there.

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Answer 12

Tamara

Level 6

13,738 points

Jul 18, 2009 6:45 PM in response to Allan Sampson

People seem to be having a hard time understanding this tonight 😟.

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Answer 13

nickgeno Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 18, 2009 6:56 PM in response to Tamara

I bought my 3G when I was working at AT&T, and already had my 2G. The rep who activated for me on my lunch break took my sim card out of my 2G and put it into my 3G, I have no idea what happened to the sim card that came with the 3G

Also, my phone, as well as my sim card have each been replaced at least twice due to service issues. No, I'm not having a hard time understanding, but swapping phones and sim cards so many times, nothing is "original" anymore like a lot of people. So, "original" sim card means one thing to you, and something else to me, mainly because I don't have it.

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Answer 14

PTBoater

Level 4

2,845 points

Jul 18, 2009 6:59 PM in response to Tamara

Tamara wrote:
People seem to be having a hard time understanding this tonight 😟.

I learned something new today! So today was a good day! 🙂

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Answer 15

nickgeno Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 18, 2009 7:04 PM in response to PTBoater

Any day you learn something new is a good day (what I tell my students everyday.)

However, it does burn me slightly as a previous computer science major when I can't figure something out on my computer right away. EErrr, I'll get it eventually though.

Thanks for the help everyone

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