Does an iPhone 2G Need to Be Activated for Use?

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Level 1

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Does an iPhone 2G Need to Be Activated for Use?

OK, so I ordered an iPhone 2G and I don't have it yet. I plan to restore it with some older iPhone software and use it with iTunes 7.3. But I know that when it was new, you had to activate it with an iTunes account. The iTunes Store doesn't work in iTunes 7, so I have no way to do this. Is it possible to use an iPhone 2G without activating it, but still get the ability to sync data from iTunes such as music and calendars, so it acts like an iPod touch? If so, how is it done? Remember, I don't want to use this as a phone.

Thank you in advance!

iBook, Mac OS X (10.4.10), G4, 1.5 GB Memory

Posted on Jun 23, 2016 1:15 PM

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Answer 1

sberman

Level 10

272,292 points

Jun 23, 2016 1:48 PM in response to HFTaylor12

First of all, there was never an iPhone called "iPhone 2G".

The second iPhone to be introduced was called the iPhone 3G. It came out in 2008. It was named iPhone 3G as it introduced 3G cellular signal handling for the first time. The previous iPhone, introduced in 2007, was simply called "iPhone". It was the introductory model.

Yes, all iPhones need to be activated before first use. Activation requires a SIM card.

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Answer 2

HFTaylor12 Author

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49 points

Jun 23, 2016 1:58 PM in response to sberman

sberman wrote:

First of all, there was never an iPhone called "iPhone 2G".

The second iPhone to be introduced was called the iPhone 3G. It came out in 2008. It was named iPhone 3G as it introduced 3G cellular signal handling for the first time. The previous iPhone, introduced in 2007, was simply called "iPhone". It was the introductory model.

Yes, all iPhones need to be activated before first use. Activation requires a SIM card.

Yes, I know it wasn't really called the iPhone 2G, but almost everyone calls it that. And image how confused people like yourself would be if I referred to it as "iPhone" every time. You'd probably be asking what model. Anyway, if I got a SIM card, would it have to be from AT&T, or from any company? Also, would I still need an iTunes account, or can I use the "iPhone" like normal after I get a SIM card for it?

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Answer 3

sberman

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272,292 points

Jun 23, 2016 2:04 PM in response to HFTaylor12

I believe the original iPhone (which, by the way, is the concise, precise name I would use to identify this particular model) required an iTunes connection in order to activate it. Once activated, you would no longer need an iTunes connection.

When the original iPhone was introduced in the U.S. ten years ago, AT&T was the only cellular carrier in the U.S. that supported iPhone. So I suspect (but am not 100% certain) that you would need an AT&T SIM to get started.

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Answer 4

HFTaylor12 Author

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49 points

Jun 23, 2016 2:05 PM in response to Briansyddall

Briansyddall wrote:

Hi

Set up your iPhone over your WiFi use same apple ID

Cheers

Brian

Um... I plan to install iPhone OS 1 on this. Didn't you have to sync an iPhone with a computer to set it up until iOS 5? Just checking. Or maybe I don't understand what you're saying.

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Answer 5

HFTaylor12 Author

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49 points

Jun 23, 2016 2:08 PM in response to sberman

sberman wrote:

I believe the original iPhone (which, by the way, is the concise, precise name I would use to identify this particular model) required an iTunes connection in order to activate it. Once activated, you would no longer need an iTunes connection.

When the original iPhone was introduced in the U.S. ten years ago, AT&T was the only cellular carrier in the U.S. that supported iPhone. So I suspect (but am not 100% certain) that you would need an AT&T SIM to get started.

Are you saying that I can't set up iPhone in iTunes 7.3? Do I need a version that supports the iTunes store? Please be more clear.

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Answer 6

sberman

Level 10

272,292 points

Jun 23, 2016 2:22 PM in response to HFTaylor12

HFTaylor12 wrote:

Are you saying that I can't set up iPhone in iTunes 7.3?

No.

It's been nine years since I set up an original iPhone. I don't know if iTunes 7.3 would work. I believe it would, as there was no iTunes Store in effect when the original iPhone was around.

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Answer 7

HFTaylor12 Author

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49 points

Jun 23, 2016 2:35 PM in response to sberman

sberman wrote:

HFTaylor12 wrote:

Are you saying that I can't set up iPhone in iTunes 7.3?

No.

It's been nine years since I set up an original iPhone. I don't know if iTunes 7.3 would work. I believe it would, as there was no iTunes Store in effect when the original iPhone was around.

The iTunes Music Store came out in March 2003 and was renamed the iTunes Store in September 2006. The original iPhone was introduced in January 2007 and released in June 2007. There was obviously an iTunes Store. Why would I be typing this if I didn't need the iTunes Store?

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Answer 8

sberman

Level 10

272,292 points

Jun 23, 2016 2:54 PM in response to HFTaylor12

My fault - you're right.

I was thinking of the App Store. Yes, the iTunes Store was around at the time, as you correctly state.

So I'll restate what I said above with your correction:

"I don't know if iTunes 7.3 would work. I believe it would, as there was no iTunes App Store in effect when the original iPhone was around."

But then you said the iTunes Store does not work in iTunes 7, so I don't know anything about that. Does that mean you cannot even purchase music?

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Answer 9

HFTaylor12 Author

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49 points

Jun 23, 2016 3:09 PM in response to sberman

sberman wrote:

My fault - you're right.

I was thinking of the App Store. Yes, the iTunes Store was around at the time, as you correctly state.

So I'll restate what I said above with your correction:

"I don't know if iTunes 7.3 would work. I believe it would, as there was no iTunes App Store in effect when the original iPhone was around."

But then you said the iTunes Store does not work in iTunes 7, so I don't know anything about that. Does that mean you cannot even purchase music?

What I said isn't entirely true. iTunes 7.0 - 7.3 have a very limited iTunes Store. You can preview songs and subscribe to podcasts (audio or video), but you get errors when you try to log in or purchase anything. However, iTunes 7.4 and later doesn't work at all as there is an error connecting.The iTunes Store only works in iTunes 9 or later and I was having some problems with that so it may be iTunes 10 or later now. So, yeah, that's all you need to know about iTunes Store support on older iTunes versions! So, I can't log in with an Apple ID on iTunes 7.3.

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Answer 10

HFTaylor12 Author

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49 points

Jun 23, 2016 3:53 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Lawrence Finch wrote:

You need a SIM card that is either currently active or that was active in the past. An new SIM card will not work.

I know that the new SIM cards did unlock some iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4 models. Why not the original iPhone?

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Answer 11

Jun 23, 2016 4:18 PM in response to HFTaylor12

A new SIM will unlock the phone only if you register it on an account with the carrier, or if it has been pre-registered (such as a PAYG SIM). AT&T will probably not give you a new SIM unless you activate it.

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Answer 12

HFTaylor12 Author

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49 points

Jun 24, 2016 6:41 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Lawrence Finch wrote:

A new SIM will unlock the phone only if you register it on an account with the carrier, or if it has been pre-registered (such as a PAYG SIM). AT&T will probably not give you a new SIM unless you activate it.

AT&T gave me a completely free SIM card. No questions asked. I have it now. It's the right size for the iPhone. So it won't do anything?

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