iPhone 4S (without data plan) or iTouch

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Level 1

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iPhone 4S (without data plan) or iTouch

I have a choice between an iTouch and an iPhone 4S. I will not be using the iPhone as a phone, since my provider, AT&T, requires a data plan, and I can live without Internet access while driving between home and work. Wi-fi access is all I need. I'm leaning towards an iPhone because if I do decide that I can't live without a phone with a data plan (all the cool kids are doing it), then I don't have to buy another device.

I mainly want to listen to music, take pictures, and download apps. So I want to be sure I understand the differences before I make a choice, and that an iPhone will work fine just using wi-fi.

Can I plug in either device like my iPod Shuffle and sync it with music I've ripped onto my computer? And can I do the same to get the pictures off my phone, or is there an easier way using wi-fi?

Thank you,

Scott

iPhone 4S

Posted on Nov 23, 2011 10:28 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

modular747

Level 6

19,662 points

Nov 23, 2011 10:35 AM in response to ScottSto

You can't activate an iPhone as an iPod Touch (i.e. without cell network service) without first using it as a phone with cell service. To activate it without cell service, the phone has to have the deactvated SIM card from when it was last used as a phone.

Note also that the prices you see for iPhones are generally the subsidized carrier prices that go along with a 2 year contract. To use it without paying for a contract, you would have to buy a contract free or factory unlocked model for much more than an iPod Touch. You still would have to activate it as a phone before using it without cell service.

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Answer 2

varjak paw

Level 10

170,206 points

Nov 23, 2011 10:36 AM in response to ScottSto

An iPhone will not work except for emergency calls until it's been activated through a cell plan of some sort and all carriers I am aware of require a data as well as a phone plan, so I don't think an iPhone, at least not a new one, would be a practical option for you. An iPod touch's camera, though, is of very low resolution (it's intended for FaceTime, not picture-taking, really), so it also may not be a viable option as a single device. So if you don't need a phone but pictures are important to you, and you want just a single device, you may need to look to some other vendor. Or buy a used iPhone that's already been activated (though if you go that route, make sure you get a valid SIM so you can reactivate the phone should it ever be deactivated for some reason).

Regards.

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