# Really basic iPhone question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-basic-iphone-question/581197>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 8, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-basic-iphone-question/581197 "2011-05-08T22:28:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-basic-iphone-question/581197/1 "2011-05-08T22:28:53Z")

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Can an iPhone be used without phone service . . . just connecting it to a computer and downloading/transferring apps?

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**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-basic-iphone-question/581197/2 "2011-05-08T22:33:01Z")

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When I replaced my iPhone 3G with an iPhone 4, my 3G still worked like an iPod. I had to put it in airplane mode though, because I think it was wasting a lot of battery power trying to find a signal. Then I gave my iPhone 3G to my brother and did a factory reset on it, and it didn’t work anymore.

So, I think you need service to begin with, and then you can cancel or whatever and it’ll still work.

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**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-basic-iphone-question/581197/3 "2011-05-08T22:53:05Z")

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The iPod Touch is an iPhone without the phone. Some apps only work on the iPhone, but there are tons of games and service apps that work on both.

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**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-basic-iphone-question/581197/4 "2011-05-08T23:36:26Z")

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> [@Astral\_Rejection](#):
>
> When I replaced my iPhone 3G with an iPhone 4, my 3G still worked like an iPod. I had to put it in airplane mode though, because I think it was wasting a lot of battery power trying to find a signal.

One of my golf buddies was in exactly this situation, and he discovered that taking the SIM card out of his old iPhone stopped it from attempting to connect to a cell tower as a cellphone. He gave the non-SIMmed iPhone to his wife, who has been cheerfully using it as an iPod.

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**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-basic-iphone-question/581197/5 "2011-05-09T00:29:31Z")

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[http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3406](http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3406)

“Using an iPhone without a wireless service plan”