Converting old iPhone into iPod

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Converting old iPhone into iPod

Hey everyone,

My father recently cancelled his iPhone 3G contract and went back to a regular phone, and he converted his 3G into an iPod touch. At the same time, he got a deactivated SIM card for his old Original iPhone; however, when we plug in the original iPhone into iTunes, its asking us to set up the phone as a new AT&T phone again.

My question is, if we go ahead and set it up with his wireless number, will it charge us $30 for the data plan again even though its technically a deactivated SIM and all we are doing is activating it so the phone stops bugging us to connect to iTunes?

Once again to clarify:
iPhone 2G + Deactivated SIM asks for setup as new phone on AT&T (but we don't want to set it up as a new phone)

iPhone 2G, Windows 7

Posted on Apr 23, 2010 4:56 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 23, 2010 6:15 PM in response to xx9e02

You can use a no longer activated iPhone as an iPod Touch but in order to install a firmware update on a no longer activated iPhone or restore a no longer activated iPhone with iTunes if wanted or needed, the no longer activated SIM card must be inserted in the iPhone to complete the process - the SIM card that was used with the iPhone when it was activated.

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Answer 2

xx9e02 Author

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Apr 23, 2010 6:27 PM in response to Allan Sampson

Yes, I understand that, however, we have not actually used the old iPhone since it was deactivated 2 years ago. We JUST got a replacement deactivated SIM card from AT&T today, and when we put it into the phone and plug it into iTunes, iTunes asks to set up the iPhone as a new phone.

Will Apple/AT&T charge us $30 for 'activating' again? And how can we prevent this?

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Answer 3

Apr 23, 2010 6:34 PM in response to xx9e02

You obviously don't understand what I provided.

Why are you inserting a SIM card in the first place if you want to use the iPhone as an iPod Touch? Not using the iPhone since it was deactivated 2 years ago or regardless when it was deactivated doesn't require inserting a SIM card in order to sync the iPhone with iTunes or use the iPhone as an iPod Touch.

If you are trying to install a firmware update or restore the iPhone with iTunes (which installs the current firmware) without activating the iPhone, you need to insert the no longer activated SIM card that was used with the iPhone when it was activated in order to complete the process. There is no way around this. If you activate the iPhone, it is no different from activating any other iPhone.

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Answer 4

xx9e02 Author

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Apr 23, 2010 6:50 PM in response to Allan Sampson

Alright, well then will it charge us $30 for upgrading the phone to 3.0 or will it merely charge us the $10 that regular iPod touch upgrade would be?

Or is there no way to go about this, and somehow try to flash down to 2.x?

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Answer 5

Apr 23, 2010 6:56 PM in response to xx9e02

A no longer activated iPhone can be used as an iPod Touch, but it isn't an iPod Touch. The firmware upgrade fee for an iPod Touch is for the iPod Touch only.

If you re-activate the iPhone, you will have to pay the activation fee along with signing up for service followed by canceling the service and contract.

As already provided, there is no other way to go about this.

Downgrading to an earlier firmware version is not supported, which you wouldn't be able to complete anyway without the no longer activated SIM card that was used with the iPhone when it was activated inserted in the iPhone.

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Answer 6

Apr 24, 2010 5:24 AM in response to Allan Sampson

I guess this explains why I can't upgrade the Remote APP on my decommissioned iPhone. I have just been trying, without success. My original SIM card is in my new iPhone 3Gs.

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