# Is it possible to buy a used iPhone and use it as a PDA only? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 8, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-used-iphone-and-use-it-as-a-pda-only/502280 "2009-07-08T00:51:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-used-iphone-and-use-it-as-a-pda-only/502280/1 "2009-07-08T00:51:40Z")
I get that AT&T has the monopoly on cellular service for iPhones. But, I love the iPod Touch as a PDA and web gadget. Its only real drawbacks for me: No microphone, no camera. The iPhone has both of those. I don’t really care about getting the cell phone service right now. I can live with just WiFi access. So … is it possible to (a) buy a used iPhone and (b) use it basically as a souped-up iPod Touch that lacks cellular data/voice access? ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-used-iphone-and-use-it-as-a-pda-only/502280/2 "2009-07-08T03:37:44Z")
I know it can be done but I think you will need to unlock it first, which is pretty simple. You might want to ask on an iphone forum ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-used-iphone-and-use-it-as-a-pda-only/502280/3 "2009-07-08T04:02:31Z")
You can’t buy one without a plan I do not think. Which means you have to checked for unlocked ones on ebay. Although if the phone is unlocked you could just use it on any network. Might as well get an unlocked one and have it replace your cell ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-used-iphone-and-use-it-as-a-pda-only/502280/4 "2009-07-08T04:07:46Z")
> [@toadspittle](#): > > I get that AT&T has the monopoly on cellular service for iPhones. > > But, I love the iPod Touch as a PDA and web gadget. Its only real drawbacks for me: No microphone, no camera. > > The iPhone has both of those. I don’t really care about getting the cell phone service right now. I can live with just WiFi access. > > So … is it possible to (a) buy a used iPhone and (b) use it basically as a souped-up iPod Touch that lacks cellular data/voice access? Well, I just upgraded froman original iPhone to a 3Gs. I switched my number to the new phone. Much to my surprise my old phone works perfectly over WiFi- no Edge/telephone. I can email, Fbook(using the app) etc if there is wireless. So I guess if you bought it used you might ! ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-used-iphone-and-use-it-as-a-pda-only/502280/5 "2009-07-08T04:35:44Z")
> [@toadspittle](#): > > I get that AT&T has the monopoly on cellular service for iPhones. > > But, I love the iPod Touch as a PDA and web gadget. Its only real drawbacks for me: No microphone, no camera. > > The iPhone has both of those. I don’t really care about getting the cell phone service right now. I can live with just WiFi access. > > So … is it possible to (a) buy a used iPhone and (b) use it basically as a souped-up iPod Touch that lacks cellular data/voice access? Find an AT&T sim card, dont matter if its active or not, insert and activate through itunes. remove the sim afterwards and enjoy Declan ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-used-iphone-and-use-it-as-a-pda-only/502280/6 "2009-07-08T06:41:33Z")
I use my iPhone on Wi-Fi whenever posssible, especially at home. It’s faster than At&T’s 3G network (for mine, anyway, it’s not the 3G S) and Wi-Fi gives you twice as much time on a battery charge. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-used-iphone-and-use-it-as-a-pda-only/502280/7 "2009-07-08T11:58:08Z")
There are rumors that the third gen Ipod touch (probably due out September) will have a camera, and I think microphones are already possible through certain headsets. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-used-iphone-and-use-it-as-a-pda-only/502280/8 "2009-07-08T13:52:03Z")
Yep. You can buy one contract-free for $599 from AT&T. Used, a deactivated phone, will just act like an ipod touch. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-used-iphone-and-use-it-as-a-pda-only/502280/9 "2009-07-08T14:53:02Z")
Like IvoryTowerDenizen, when I upgraded my old iPhone I turned it into what was, essentially, an IPod touch. However, I didn’t have an issue with buying it used from some other person. AT&T just suspended service on it and it was good to go as a phoneless device with Wifi and all the other goodies. I don’t know how complicated it is to get a Simcard as Declan describes. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-used-iphone-and-use-it-as-a-pda-only/502280/10 "2009-07-08T14:54:20Z")
iPhone vibrates; iPod Touch doesn’t.