Using iPhone as an iTouch with no sim card installed

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Level 1

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Using iPhone as an iTouch with no sim card installed

I'm using my iPhone 3G as an iTouch with no sim card installed and I had no problems doing this until the latest software upgrade to OS 3.0. Now I'm basically locked out of the phone with out a sim card. I do not own a sim card is there another way around this? At this point I wouldn't mind just erasing the phone and selling it but I can't even erase the phone without a sim card. It won't sync to iTunes either without a card.

So is there a way to do a hardware reset of the phone or a way to use it without a sim card?

iPhone 3G, iPhone OS 3.0

Posted on Jul 27, 2009 9:35 AM

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Answer 1

4n6doc

Level 4

2,323 points

Jul 27, 2009 10:04 AM in response to hiho17

According to Apple support documents, an iPhone can only be used as an iPod Touch if the inactivated SIM card that the phone was previously activated with is installed.

See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3406

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Answer 2

hiho17 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 27, 2009 10:26 AM in response to 4n6doc

I've used it for awhile since as an iTouch with no problems until the SW update.

I don't have the old sim card, it was a company sim and I am no longer with the company but still have the phone.

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Answer 3

Jul 27, 2009 10:31 AM in response to hiho17

Then you can't install the firmware update or complete the process unless you activate the iPhone.

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Answer 4

Jul 27, 2009 10:35 AM in response to hiho17

I just did this with my exes iPhone 2G. It's possible but you have to look around and Google some stuff...

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Answer 5

hiho17 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 27, 2009 10:56 AM in response to Allan Sampson

"Then you can't install the firmware update or complete the process unless you activate the iPhone."

Yes I know that now 😟 Unfortunately I don't have any plans on activating it as an iphone I wanted to continue using it as a iTouch, basically just an MP3 player.

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Answer 6

hiho17 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 27, 2009 11:00 AM in response to sdotbailey

"I just did this with my exes iPhone 2G. It's possible but you have to look around and Google some stuff... "

Possible to do what exactly?

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Answer 7

nickgeno

Level 1

4 points

Jul 27, 2009 12:05 PM in response to hiho17

Try the steps I outline in this pose here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2086340&start=30&tstart=0

Using this method, I currently have a 2G iPhone, running 3.0, with an email account, 2 movies, music and 1 and 1/2 pages of apps on it, with no sim card installed or activated with service.

Not sure if it works the same with the 3G, but its worth a shot.

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