Used iPhone 2G... How to activate?

[Krueger81]

purchased a used iPhone that was previously activated through ebay.

Do I just purchase a new SIM Card from AT&T and activate through iTunes?

Thanks
Phil

 

[Heller]

no, don't buy them, i'll mail you one, i have tons.

 

[Krueger81]

i am sure I can get one on the cheap from my employeer.

is that right way to do it though

I currently have an AT&T number on my Samsung Epix phone that's under contract still. Can i just use that SIM Card?

 

[Josh64FX]

Just Jailbreak and unlock it..

 

[Krueger81]

i don't care to use it on anything other then AT&T so why unlock and jailbreak it?

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

So you don't have to pay for the data plan if you don't want it.

 

[Heller]

Originally posted by: Krueger81
i don't care to use it on anything other then AT&T so why unlock and jailbreak it?

yeah, only thing you wont get is visual voicemail, no biggie.


better add the data plan or turn the inet off, your gonna get a $7,000bill.

first month i got mine, i ordered through ATT's site and it did'nt even update its own system, i got a bill the next month for 7k, needless to say i had to call up waste 2 hours explain how i had the iphone and added the data package, they kept repetitively saying i did'nt and try to get me to foot the bill, needless to say im glad i printed my receipt.

 

[Krueger81]

I will be using the data/internet features of the phones.

all I really wanted to know was how would I go about activating it?

I am not trying to unlock it or jailbreak it. Maybe when I go to resell it but not at this point

Phil

 

[secretanchitman]

Originally posted by: Krueger81
I will be using the data/internet features of the phones.

all I really wanted to know was how would I go about activating it?

I am not trying to unlock it or jailbreak it. Maybe when I go to resell it but not at this point

Phil

all you need is a sim card. plug it into itunes and it'll automatically do the rest.

 

[Tyranicus]

If it doesn't have a sim, just go to an AT&T store. They'll set you up.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: Krueger81
I will be using the data/internet features of the phones.

all I really wanted to know was how would I go about activating it?

I am not trying to unlock it or jailbreak it. Maybe when I go to resell it but not at this point

Phil

What the hell is wrong with you?!?



MotionMan

 

[Krueger81]

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: Krueger81
I will be using the data/internet features of the phones.

all I really wanted to know was how would I go about activating it?

I am not trying to unlock it or jailbreak it. Maybe when I go to resell it but not at this point

Phil

What the hell is wrong with you?!?



MotionMan

lol the didn't show up on my current phone so I was ready to write a nasty reply when I got home. but it was a positive reply. anyway

I don't want to take a chance to brick the iPhone and haven't found any good guides that show how to jailbreak/unlock it using the new 3.0 software

 

[akugami]

Originally posted by: Krueger81
I will be using the data/internet features of the phones.

all I really wanted to know was how would I go about activating it?

I am not trying to unlock it or jailbreak it. Maybe when I go to resell it but not at this point

Phil

The problem is if you go and activate it by going to an AT&T store they might insist on you being on the dreaded iPhone plan instead of allowing you to tailor a plan to suit your own needs. That's one of the reasons why you would want to unlock it.

I know for a fact if you bought an unsubsidized iPhone you are still required to use the iPhone plan. The only concession to you buying an unsubsidized phone is the lack of a contract.

Also there are a couple of useful utilities such as the much better Flashlight app or the customization using Winterboard that's on Cydia which is available only on jailbroken phones.

Detailed iPhone 2G 3.0 Unlock and Jailbreak Instructions. Steps 1 & 2 are preparatory in nature where you download the necessary files and prep your phone for the jailbreaking and unlocking. In Step 6, it asks you what apps to install, choose only Cydia. Do not install Icy. This causes some problems on the phone. At least it did using an older version of Redsn0w. Step 9 is one of the most important. Do a couple of dry runs on how to put the phone into DFU mode before you actually start the unlocking and jailbreaking process.

Some people have reported problems on their iPhone with short battery lives and bad wifi reception. If this is the case, attempt to restore your phone in iTunes which will wipe the phone. Then proceed to once again use Redsn0w to unlock and jailbreak. This is not a problem with Redsn0w but a problem with the 3.0 firmware. My brother had this issue when unlocking his 2G iPhone but I didn't on my 2G iPhone. Your experience may vary.

 

[Krueger81]

Originally posted by: akugami

Originally posted by: Krueger81
I will be using the data/internet features of the phones.

all I really wanted to know was how would I go about activating it?

I am not trying to unlock it or jailbreak it. Maybe when I go to resell it but not at this point

Phil

The problem is if you go and activate it by going to an AT&T store they might insist on you being on the dreaded iPhone plan instead of allowing you to tailor a plan to suit your own needs. That's one of the reasons why you would want to unlock it.

I know for a fact if you bought an unsubsidized iPhone you are still required to use the iPhone plan. The only concession to you buying an unsubsidized phone is the lack of a contract.

Also there are a couple of useful utilities such as the much better Flashlight app or the customization using Winterboard that's on Cydia which is available only on jailbroken phones.

Detailed iPhone 2G 3.0 Unlock and Jailbreak Instructions. Steps 1 & 2 are preparatory in nature where you download the necessary files and prep your phone for the jailbreaking and unlocking. In Step 6, it asks you what apps to install, choose only Cydia. Do not install Icy. This causes some problems on the phone. At least it did using an older version of Redsn0w. Step 9 is one of the most important. Do a couple of dry runs on how to put the phone into DFU mode before you actually start the unlocking and jailbreaking process.

Some people have reported problems on their iPhone with short battery lives and bad wifi reception. If this is the case, attempt to restore your phone in iTunes which will wipe the phone. Then proceed to once again use Redsn0w to unlock and jailbreak. This is not a problem with Redsn0w but a problem with the 3.0 firmware. My brother had this issue when unlocking his 2G iPhone but I didn't on my 2G iPhone. Your experience may vary.

ok so once I unlock/jailbreak the phone how would I go about activating it?

also my understanding is the 2G iPhone has the $20 data plan which includes 200 messages is that correct? is there a plan that includes more then 200 message cause srsly 200 messages.. is like nothing

 

[Tyranicus]

You can add texts. it costs the same for iPhone plans as for other plans.

Honestly, the "dreaded iPhone plan" especially on the original iPhone is just like any other AT&T plan. When I got my first iPhone, I switched from a flip phone on a plan with 450 anytime minute, 5000 night/weekend minutes, 200 texts, and unlimited data, and ended up paying $5 less/month because you get 200 texts for free with the first iPhone.

 

[akugami]

Once an iPhone is unlocked and jailbroken it doesn't require any actual activation. Just pop in a sim card from either AT&T or T-Mobile and you're good to go.

 

[Parasitic]

IIRC if you have the original iPhone you'll be required to use the iPhone compatible plan with AT&T, and those plans aren't eligible for FAN (corporate) discounts that you may receive from work. Switching to iPhone will trigger a resetting of your plan and removing of your FAN.

 

[Krueger81]

phone is activated and ready to roll

allthough I did lose my corporate discount my bill stayed about the same since the data plan is less expensive then that I had on there before.

Only thing that sucks 2G internet... is sooooooo slow compared to 3G. Oh well this will only have to last me one year before I get a different phone

thanks for everyone's help

Phil

 

[NaOH]

Lots Of Laughs? I thought it meant Laugh Out Loud

 

[AlcatrazT2]

Originally posted by: Parasitic
IIRC if you have the original iPhone you'll be required to use the iPhone compatible plan with AT&T, and those plans aren't eligible for FAN (corporate) discounts that you may receive from work. Switching to iPhone will trigger a resetting of your plan and removing of your FAN.

Hi,

So if I currently have a FAN discount applied to my account and I purchase my friends first gen. iPhone and add the data/text plan, I will loose the current FAN discount?

I have heard about this and wanted to confirm as I was searching the web and just saw this. Thanks in advance.

 

[Krueger81]

yub any discount applied to the account is lost no matter what you try! ;(

I had a Voice + PDA + TXT plan on there before so this is actually cheaper in the long run


Phil

 

[AlcatrazT2]

Originally posted by: Krueger81
yub any discount applied to the account is lost no matter what you try! ;(

I had a Voice + PDA + TXT plan on there before so this is actually cheaper in the long run


Phil

That's weird. I'm getting a discount from the place I work at and that appears on the upper right hand corner when I log into AT&T's website. I'm not sure if this is considered a FAN account or not.

My friend has two 3G's on his account and he is still getting a 20% discount from IBM. He said there are no discounts on any Apple products and your discount will be on the monthly plan and not on the phone.