I have an old Verizon iphone 4 that I would like to use as an ipod touch

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Level 1

36 points

I have an old Verizon iphone 4 that I would like to use as an ipod touch

I just got an iPhone 5 and it works great. I would like to use my iPhone 4 as an ipod touch for my kids. The iPhone 4 runs all the apps and uses wi-fi just fine except iMessage and face time do not work. It looks like the iPhone 4 is still associated with the old phone number (enven though the phone functionality does not work). It will not send iMessages over wi-fi...it looks like it is searching for a cellular network even though it doesn't work. The message fails every time and all I want it to d ois function like an ipod touch. when I go into the settings it still lists my number as 'my number'. Since there is no SIM card I am wondering how to disassociate it from the network. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Posted on Nov 2, 2012 7:21 AM

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Answer 1

brad805

Level 5

7,417 points

Nov 2, 2012 9:44 AM in response to Brent Hill

This is a great question. First, facetime will not work because it has to establish a Call connection first. iMessage should work, but how to get it going I am not sure. Two great Apps to try are, Viber and Skype. Viber is excellent, it works over WiFi, you can make free calls and free text messages all over the world with other users who have Viber installed. It does not even have to be open on screen to work. Viber does have to recieve one text message with activation code, to activate it, this will be your only hurdle, but maybe Verizon can help you get that one text message. Skype does have to be open on screen however, but this can function like Facetime with WiFi connection. Definitely get Viber free in App Store, and put it on all your iDevices so the old Verizon iPhone can function as a telephone when on WiFi.

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Answer 2

wegras

Level 6

15,321 points

Nov 2, 2012 3:00 PM in response to Brent Hill

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3406

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Answer 3

Brent Hill Author

Level 1

36 points

Nov 2, 2012 6:24 PM in response to wegras

This is exactly what I did. The iPhone 5 is activated and works fine. Everything on the iPhone 4 works like an iPod touch but if I go to the settings my old number shows up and it is still trying to connect through the cellular network, but of course it doesn't work. It doesn't make phone calls or anything and Verizon phones don't have SIM cards so I can't remove it.

Has anyone been able to use iMessage with a deactivated iPhone 4? Should I just jailbreak it? Would that help?

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Answer 4

Brent Hill Author

Level 1

36 points

Nov 2, 2012 6:26 PM in response to Brent Hill

I meant to say everything works like an iPod touch except iMessage doesn't work. Nor does face time.

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Answer 5

Brent Hill Author

Level 1

36 points

Nov 5, 2012 9:00 PM in response to Brent Hill

I figured it out. I just had to restore it twice. Now everything works just like an iPod touch.

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Answer 6

Nov 7, 2012 9:24 AM in response to wegras

Mr Gillespie -- The support page you referenced gives as step 1, "Insert the SIM card from your new, activated iPhone...". That doesn't help us Verizon iPhone 4 users, because there's no place to insert a SIM card.

I will try Brent Hill's "restore it twice" solution. Hope that works.

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