iphone4 wifi use of facetime and imessage without phone activation- won't work yet tried all troubleshooting in various articles

You cant so what you want. In order to activate iMessage and Facetime, the phone needs to be able to send an SMS. If the phone is not activated, that's not possible..

If the phone is not activated then there is no way to get imessage to work because activation of imessage requires the sending of an SMS message to an apple service. You need to activate the phone with a valid SIM installed and have a carrier service that allows sending of an SMS and depending upon where you are and where the Apple service is that may be an international SMS.

This are the system requirements for facetime to work

Verify system requirements

If you encounter an issue making or receiving a FaceTime call, verify that you have the following:

• iPhone 4 or later, iPad 2 or later, or iPod touch (4th generation) or later, with the latest available version of iOS.
  • Apple ID
  • SMS messaging plan* (iPhone only)
    Note: FaceTime may not be available on devices purchased or used in certain countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
• An active Wi-Fi connection or cellular data connection. Additional account features may be required to use FaceTime over Cellular. Contact your carrier for more details.

* SMS messaging is required to activate FaceTime for use with your phone number. Depending on your carrier, you may be charged for this SMS.

Notice it says you need to have an SMS plan so if your phone is not activated then that is your problem for imessage and facetime

Hi Frannel

First off did you get your problem with iMessage & FaceTime fixed? If so then disregard the following, if not, I may be able to fix the issue for you. I recently ran into the same issue after upgrading from iOS5 to iOS6 without having an active cellular plan connect to my iPhone.

This reply is also for anyone that is having the same issue.

Does your iPhone4 currently have an active cellular data plan connected to it? I did not have a active cellular connection at the time and talked to tec support and they fixed the issue, I am going to give you some relevant information and at the same time some steps to try, from apple tec support, if you do not have a active cellular data plan (Words in bold is what the tec told me and suggested I try, anything underlined is my response to the tec, anything bold and underlined is the tec's response that he had bold):

The iPhone automatically registers your phone number for use with FaceTime and iMessage during activation. Since you do not have a cellular plan, we will be unable to activate FaceTime or iMessage to a phone number, but we can try to setup FaceTime and iMessage to use your Apple ID. This would allow you to message other Apple Devices.

To do this try:

To use FaceTime with your Apple ID, navigate to Settings > FaceTime and tap Use your Apple ID for FaceTime.

To use iMessage with your Apple ID, navigate to Settings > Messages > Receive At and tap Use your Apple ID for iMessage. When you enable FaceTime or iMessage with this device you will need to enter a valid Apple ID and password. Other users will be able to contact you on FaceTime and iMessage using this email address.

I am in settings >facetime and the screen shows facetime with a on off switch and then my apple ID that i am signed into

If you are already signed into your Apple ID in FaceTime, please try to make a FaceTime Call to confirm this is working.

(At this time I had a iPhone5 iOS5 that is my partners that is no longer had a cellular connection either this is the other idevice that I used to try and make a FaceTime call and use iMessage with)

ok facetime is now working

That is great news. 1 issue resolved and iMessage to go!

when I am on his contact card on my iphone and click send message it only gives me the option to message the #'s I have for him

On your iPhone, open up the Messages App at the top right. This button looks like a square with a pencil. To: Type in the Apple ID that is being used on your friend’s iPhone. Once the email address has been typed, please type something in the Message Body and press Send.

it isn't letting my type a "@"

Do you not have the "@" option on the digital keyboard?

no on the other iphone (My Partners iPhone5 iOS5) that has not been updated to iOS 6 it does have it i tried to send myself a message at the apple id I am using on my iphone and it has not come through yet

Thanks for letting me know. Please give the message a few minutes to transfer to your iPhone 4.

On your iPhone, the Keyboard may have a "123" or "abc" option at the bottom left. You can see if you have the "@" symbol in that location.

it does but does not have the @ symbol in the 123 or abc

1. Go to Settings > FaceTime, tap your Apple ID, and select Sign Out.

2. Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive, tap your Apple ID, and select Sign Out.

(Once that is complete)

Please navigate to: Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings

Once your iPhone restarts, please connect to your Wi-Fi, and log into your FaceTime and iMessage ID.

Ok it is resetting it is showing me the apple logo and restarting my iphone

Signing into my apple id

Now that you are signed into your iMessage and FaceTime Apple ID, please test both the Apps.

iMesssage is signed in but it has a my old cell # still grey but a check next to it

ok after completing all the steps to log in it now has removed the check

I was hoping that would happen. When you are ready, please try FaceTime and sending an iMessage.

ok it now has a @ sign in the "abc" and i can send messages now trying facetime

kfacetime and iMessage are working perfectly

Ok that is how I got iMessage and FaceTime to work after upgrading my iPhone4 from iOS5 to iOS6, later today I will update my iPhone5 to iOS6 and if it gives me the same problem I am going to try these steps and will update you on how that goes. I hope this helps you and anyone else that may come across the same issue and this post!

Zackness

With a iPhone 4s running iOS 6.1.3, For iPhone 4s & 5

it is possible take a look at my reply to Frannel

Zackness...I went through this point by point on my iPhone 4 that does not have cellular. I am now using it as an ipod touch. I can send messages no problem however, facetime disconnects immediately with 3 beeps...any more ideas? Making me crazy!