Problems with old iPhone as iPod

Hey cpsaucedo,

Thanks for the question. I understand you are experiencing issues with iMessage on an iPhone that is being used without a wireless plan. The following resource provides troubleshooting steps that my help to resolve your issue. Follow the steps as you would for an iPod touch:

iOS: Troubleshooting Messages

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2755

Please note that if you end up needing to back up and restore your device, you’ll want to consider the information outlined in this resource:

Using an iPhone without a wireless service plan

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

Thanks,

Matt M.

I'm having similar problems trying to use iMessage on my iPhone 5 which no longer has a service plan. The support articles say that to activate iMessage on an iPhone the OS needs to send an SMS message. iPads and iPods mus not need to send a text message so I'm wondering--is there a workaround?

Any response on this? I'm having the exact same problem.

From the same support document linked above: iOS: Troubleshooting FaceTime and iMessage activation

When you enable FaceTime or iMessage with an iPad or iPod touch, you 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.

If that does not work, then review additional steps in the support document listed above.

Thanks for the quick response ChrisJ.

I have been able to send and receive messages using an email address appleID successfully.

So basically, there is no way to get iMessages to send/receive from a phone number to more than one iPhone?

You can get imessages to one phone number on multiple iOS devices that are not iPhones so I'm still hoping to be able to do so with an iPhone that is no longer activated for cell service. However, I have not been able to do this so maybe there's something incompatible in the iPhone OS?

I don't believe you can use a phone number on a device that is not activated as a phone any longer. I cannot find any information that shows you can associate the phone number from another device on the second device. If I find something else, I will post back.

Just to be clear, you definitely can phone numbers with non-iPhone iOS devices and Macs that do not have cell service. I routinely get iMessages sent to my phone number that show up on all of my non-iPhone iOS devices and my Macs. The question really relates only to an iPhone that no longer has cell service and whether iPhone iOS is different in requiring the successful send of an SMS message for activation of iMessaging. This is clearly not the case for non-iPhone iOS devices or Macs.

william29 wrote:

Just to be clear, you definitely can phone numbers with non-iPhone iOS devices and Macs that do not have cell service. I routinely get iMessages sent to my phone number that show up on all of my non-iPhone iOS devices and my Macs.

I understand this is possible. That was not the question the OP had asked. He was trying to use an iPhone without wireless service. While the support document that I provided gives instructions on how to activate iMessage for that device, he is trying to use the phone number from his active device on that non-active device.

The question really relates only to an iPhone that no longer has cell service and whether iPhone iOS is different in requiring the successful send of an SMS message for activation of iMessaging. This is clearly not the case for non-iPhone iOS devices or Macs.

Again, he can activate iMessage on that device with the Apple ID, but I do not believe he can associate the Phone number from his active device on that device. Although, as I think of it, there is a support document, that I cannot locate right now, that allows you to add a phone number to use with a Mac computer, so it might be able to be done with the iPhone without cellular service. I guess they could search the support site for that document.

Sounds like we're saying the same thing. There is no problem adding the phone number to Macs or non-iPhone iOS devices. We're both just seeking a way, if possible, to do so to an iPhone without cell service. The answer hinges on whether there is something sufficiently different about iOS running on iPhones to prevent this and whether or not there is a work around.

I tried a quick search for the support document I have seen referred to here, but couldn't find it. It is getting quite late here, so I am not going to spend any more time looking tonight.