How to Use an iPhone Without the Data Plan

Guest Author, Oct 11, 2008

[digg-me]After playing with my kids iTouch’s it became clear to me how much the iTouch is lacking in functionality. Before buying one I considered it just an iPhone without the ability to make calls. The lack of camera was the biggest surprise, because I can’t figure out why they left it out. The GPS and Camera would have been really nice to have even if I can’t use it as a phone.

So would it still be better to buy an iPhone and use it just like an iTouch but with camera and GPS?  I found a thread on one of the iPhone forums where a guy, who was going to college and couldn’t afford the $30.00 a month data plan, but wanted an iPhone anyway.  He was on campus where they had a robust wifi connection all of the time and didn’t really need the data plan. He already had an AT&T cell phone (a Razor), and just wanted to get a used iPhone and put his SIM card into it.

After giving the guy a hard time, a good samaritan responded with a way to do just that.  He pointed out a cool service offered by unlockit.  It is an APN Changer for 3G iPhones.  It lets you turn off the Edge and 3G data service on your iPhone.  This lets you use an AT&T SIM card with your iPhone but lets you use it without adding the iPhone data plan.

To use this service do the following:

  1. Put the AT&T Sim card in the already activated iPhone.
  2. Make a wifi connection to a local wifi source.
  3. Navigate to this page.  Click “Continue To The Next Page”.
  4. Click Disable Data (Fake APN). The Install Profile window appears.
  5. Click Install. Another Install Profile window will popup warning you that authenticity of this profile cannot be verified.  Click Install on this window too.
  6. You should now see a message stating “Could not activate Cellular Data Network; You are not subscribed to a cellular data service.

You should now be able to make phone calls and be able to use wifi to access the internet.  When you aren’t connected, you should get an error.

To remove the 3G/Edge block, simply go to your Network settings and removed the Fake APN profile.

This thread pointed out a really cool service.

 
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  • Kevin

    Hey everyone- can you tell me if it’s possible to buy a used iphone and never turn the cellular service on but rather to just use it as a wi-fi device? I would like to use skype for making wi-fi calls and never use the cell phone or data portion of the phone. thanks for any info!

  • Jordan

    Kevin says: August 7, 2011 at 6:49 am

    Hey everyone- can you tell me if it’s possible to buy a used iphone and never turn the cellular service on but rather to just use it as a wi-fi device? I would like to use skype for making wi-fi calls and never use the cell phone or data portion of the phone. thanks for any info!

    kevin if you buy a used iphone off a friend or off ebay you wont have to pay anything for celluar service because there wont be any sim card in it so you wont have any phone service but still will be able to use wifi and all the apps… however if you plan on buying a used on from at&t or verizon they will put a data plan on it

  • Brent

    This was a huge life savor!!

  • Dranon

    Kevin you CAN use it the way you want but you will probably need a sim card in it just so it will work. The phone itself needs to be “activated” through itunes and a sim needs to be in it. Even if the sim is from another phone or is inactive.

  • kat

    okay does this work on the iphone 4, or just the iphone 3.?

  • Dranon

    kat Please read this blog. It is NOT needed on the i[phone 4 because you can turn data off on the phone itself in settings! BUT it does NOT work practically anymore because ATT catches you and adds the data plan!

    • Mike jones

      AT&T will be able to catch u if u do all these steps ?!?! Dang, are u sure??!

  • Karl

    so does this still work except now only with an iphone 4?

  • Dranon

    OK EVERYONE! IPHONE WITH IOS 4.1 AND UP JUST GO TO SETTINGS >GENERAL>NETWORK AND TURN CELLULAR DATA TO OFF! That is all you have to do now! BUT the problem is ATT “scans” for people who have data turned off but have an iphone. They can tell because ALL phones broadcast an emei number and THAT is how they know you have one. SOOOOO you WILL get away with it for a little while BUT eventually they will catch up and add a data plan. You can then have the data plan removed by calling them and putting your sim into a non smart phone and giving them the emei number and then later putting the sim back into the iphone BUT you will be playing a game of catch me if you can cat and mouse with them!!

    • Jenn

      Fyithat wont work more than a few days, iphones have unique imei’s which is now how AT&T finds you lol, u dont know that already?

      • dranon

        Um. Jenn isnt that what i just said?

  • Debbs

    Wow I cant believe this thread of comments is still going on after a yr when I last visited AND did everything here on my JB iPhone to avoid data baxk when itcost 30$ lol. You people are funny as hell bc theres now no way to avoid data plans on AT&T, if you cant afford 15$ to use a smartphone thats hyst …sad lol. Keep dreaming!

  • Debbs

    Btw data turned off or on they use imei’s now to find iPhones lol, reality bites ha

  • James B

    Strangely, it DOES work on the original iphone (2g) .. have had it w/o data for more than a year and while it DOES SHOW on my at&t page that i am using the above — no data plan has ever been added.

  • Onila

    Works on my original 2g, also. Been doing it for a year and a half.

  • jayjay

    me too and for about the same amount of time – maybe it is because if you did get the data plan it is only 20.00 for unlimited and with all the hacks out there for tethering they probably just let people do it — plus i have been with att for more than a decade so maybe they turn a blind eye

  • Dranon

    It works on the original iphone and 3G phone IF you do not (and you cannot) update it to the ios4 software. ATT has some internal difficulty catching people with these phones. 3GS ip4 YOU WILL GET CAUGHT! My daughter still uses the original iphone and has NOT been caught but myself and my son who have 3GS have been caught repeatedly so my info is firsthand along with many anecdotal evidence from many people I have helped with their iphones.

  • James B

    Dranon, I hear ya .. cept the ios doesn’t seem to matter.
    my Son’s 3g got tagged twice over 45 days (called; had it removed;returned again), and he is only on 3.1.3 in my experience, only the 2g is safe (so far)

  • Dranon

    James B You are probably right! BUT it may also be that he has the 3G radio on! I am thinking more and more that that is it. I have advise several people with the 3G to turn off 3G and they have not been caught yet either so you may want to try that. The 3G does not really give you better phone service anyway and it eats the battery life quicker. It is mostly used for data.

  • http://www.idownloadblog.com/2008/10/11/using-an-iphone-without-the-data-plan/ Gia

    Wow, great advice! Hey, I want to give my 3Gs to my kid to use as a iTouch without the ability to call. I only want her to use the WiFi in the house and at hot spots. Is there a way do that?

  • Dranon

    Gia Yes you can and you do not have to DO anything! Just have the sim turned off (get another sim if you want to keep the phone number) and just use it as an ipod touch! That s all!

  • http://www.idownloadblog.com/2008/10/11/using-an-iphone-without-the-data-plan/ Gia

    Awesome. But where do I get a cheap SIM (preferably without a phone)? Do any of the pre-paid phones have SIMs these days? Or does it have to be one from ATT/Verizon?

  • Dranon

    Wasnt there a sim in the phone? Just use that one and get a new sim from ATT for the phone you are going to use! If that is not the case you can just get a dead sim from Anyplace ATT store just go in and tell them you want an old inactive sim so long you are a customer they will probably give you one, walmart Target etc. They will probably just give you one if you do not activate it but it may cost you 10-15 $ Just ask someone for an old sim

  • Trystan

    So it is possible to do the following steps above with an iphone 1st gen and not get caught. If i do all these steps and it works an i can call people i have unlimited texts on a regular non smart phone so will i still be able to text?

  • Onila

    As you can see a couple of texts upwards, we are not seeing a plan added to the 1st generation iPhones. I have it and have used this for more than a year without a plan added. I also have unlimited texting and you can use wifi anywhere they have it. Good luck!

  • Trystan

    okay thank you. the reason i was asking is because i have heard lots of speculation that smart phone texts only work over internet as apposed to nonsmart phone devices

  • Trystan

    Are you using it as a phone or as an ipod touch?

  • Onila

    Trystan, I’m using it as a phone and all the other cool features it has.

  • James B

    My son uses a 2G with family unlimited text & no data plan. Texting is “normal.” He can access apps, etc. using WiFi from school, Starbucks, home, etc…but, has no edge/3G access.

  • johnathan

    I was wondering the same thing. Did your son do these steps above? how did he manage to accomplish that.

  • Dranon

    OK so MMS does NOT work without a data plan only SMS text messages NOT photos. Also you lose Visual voice mail. Otherwise it works like any other phone but also like an ipod touch. Of course the original iphone cannot be upgraded anymore. So you will be stuck on ios 3.2 My son decided to move to a Palm Pixi and ATT just added a data plan so they detected his Palm also.!! They require a data plan with ANY smartphone. So the newer phones must have some better way of being detected automatically, he aske me to cave and pay for a $15 data plan so I am…

  • Schep

    Dranon- i am going to buy the iphone 3g, 32gb off of a friend to use as an ipod touch but not use it as a phone. my friend has had it for 3 years how much do you think i should offer them for it? also is it true i won’t have to get a new sim card since i won’t use it as a phone?

    • jayjay

      you can use it without a sim card — however you do need to jailbreak it if it gives you the ‘connect to itunes’ screen — you can google jailbreak iphone 3g and there are multiple youtube videos showing you how and what you need to do this –

    • Dranon

      How much? That is a tough one! It depends on how good shape it is in! Check what they are selling for on ebay for a guide on how much to pay!

  • James

    So this is or isnt possible to use an iphone without the data plan?
    if so which iphone is the best for it?
    can you text?
    can you send pics?
    can you get online via wifi?

    • jayjay

      i got a iphone 2g prior to inserting a sim card I called att with the sim card in my old samsung and disabled all data blocked even the ability to mms (picture text) — cuz i had heard any data transfer from an iphone would use the edge and they will detect it — then i jailbroke and unlocked this using white snow (just google it and search youtube video for how to) — then i inserted my sim — I have been using this iphone 2g for almost 2 yrs now with no problems — either thye don’t care or they sweeps they run aren’t catching — alot of people are using the iphone 2g’s and activating them with a data plan so they can get the unlimited data (which you can still get wiht the iphone 2g) then a month later getting iphone 4 as this unlimited would be grandfathered in so I am heard from a friend that they don’t make you get the data plan because it would have to be unlimited with iphone 2g and they really don’t want people doing that and then grandfathering so that is why the blind eye. Not proof of that at all but that is what the hypothetic rationale is. But I have also been with att for 10 yrs and inserted an active sim that was assigned to my other phone. As for just using for wireless you can do that with any phone — the only thing is that if you get a phone and they have restored to factory settings it will want you to activate the phone by connecting to itunes. The way around this is doing a jailbreak and while your at it go ahead and unlock it then you can use it on tmobile too if you want … alot of people just get a tmobile prepaid sim and use prepaid for the phone or just jailbreak it so they don’t have to activate using itunes and use it as an ipod touch — you can use skype nicely as you can purchase for like $5.00 a monht something like 10000 min. but it would be a wifi only phone.

      • Dranon

        OK The 2G is different because it does NOT have a 3G antenna. It only uses data over the edge network. This is why they are not catching it. It has nothing to do with activating and grandfathering in the unlimited data (although this is a great way to get unlimited data!) As for unlimited data the days of this are waning. A lot of people are getting dinged for using lots of data, in their TOS ATT states that they can throttle or limit your unlimited data if they they “feel” it is excessive or you are abusing the priviledge. Lots of people lose their unlimited data plans by tethering their phones to their laptops after jailbreaking them. Some how ATT has figured out a way to catch people tethering and slams them with a tethering plan and limited data plan. This forum is about NOT having a data paln so I have not addressed this issue here but on other threads.

  • James

    That sounds awesome great advise! I do have the internet blocked on my phone as well as mms but i have unlimited text message. So when I configure everything and get it working can i get on the internet via wifi even though i have the internet blocked?

  • Dranon

    James Blocking the internet is blocking it ONLY on edge/3G. Wi-fi is COMPLETELY different and you will always be able to use wi-fi! Even if you do NOT have a phone plan at all and use it as an ipod touch

  • James

    so all i have to do is get a sim card and out it in?

  • Dranon

    Yes yes just out it in!

  • Alyssa

    So I’m eligible for an upgrade and I want to purchase this phone without having a data plan. Is that possible? I wanna be able to make calls though and text. Just let me know. Thanks!-Alyssa

  • IPHONE ZEUS

    Yes Alyssa it is possible. But At&t no longer sells iphone 1st generations. It is possile to do with the oldest model they sell (3gs) but you are more likely to get caught and they will add a data plan to your account without your consent. Also if you buy an iphone directly in the AT&T store they will make you buy a data plan. So they best way to go is to obtain a iphone 2g. Then you will be able to do as you mentioned

  • james

    how much a month is edge nowadays?

  • Dranon

    iphone 2g sells for around $100-$150 on ebay. Really not worth it anymore…
    ANY smartphone will get a data plan added to it. There is no way you can go get an upgrade iphone or ANY smartphone and not have a data plan. My son got a Palm Pixi from ebay turned data off 3G off and the next day ATT added a data plan. These days are over… OF course there is an alternative. gt an iphone ANY model sign up for PURETALKUSA and you can have phone and texting with NO data. You do NOT need to jailbreak or anything just put the sim in and it works. They are an MVNO (google it) which sits on ATT so they have the exact same coverage as ATT.

  • http://twitter.com/FrYrEyesOnly FrYrEyesOnly

    I’m just looking HQVE iPhone 3GS xith no data on it – vbutvthecsamsung u740 I use as a cell is hurting acting up over heating so can’t the iPhone be used – without data ? This process sounds risky – someone let me know of updates ?

  • http://twitter.com/FrYrEyesOnly FrYrEyesOnly

    Carriers were selling refurbished iphones no data plan -how I got mine

  • http://twitter.com/FrYrEyesOnly FrYrEyesOnly

    What are the risks btw I haven’t CPU to use for upgrades here a real hassel can you find another way of upgrading with out computer or the store

  • http://twitter.com/FrYrEyesOnly FrYrEyesOnly

    By the way anyone know how I can get an alert of email for me imisd urgent emails for days how can I fixiphone to ALERT ME NOW ON THE MAIN SCREEN helllp unless I give my txt email address I miss out and then onlyget 5 words of the message – help mm?!
    Jen

  • Pro Patel

    Hi my question is ” when you siad insert old at&t sim card into ACTIVATED IPHONE, did you mean that i would have to pay for both :/? what about the simcard i had in the new iphone would i have to pay cancelation price for that?

  • Larry Ingram

    How is this going to keep AT&T from charging you for data service if you have an iphone? Wouldn’t you have to use a SIM card from another phone that does not require data service?

  • Anonymous

    You have to have or buy another phone that does not require data plan service w AT&T. If you do this with the SIM from another iphone, then it would not work.

  • Anonymous

    I am trying to get some answers as well. But I think what happens is that AT&T thinks that you are switching phones and are no longer using your iphone. You are, but with a SIM from a different phone that allows you to turn the data package off.
    But when you have trouble with your iphone, AT&T is not going to help you because your iphone is no longer officially on their network. If people would explain this, it would help. But these are techie people, and they don’t do this well. It would eliminate many questions.

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