I just got an iphone today and I was wonering if i could use the wifi to browse the web, play youtube (with wifi), and listen to music without activating my phone at At&t? I am leaving the US for a month and really don't want commit to a new contract yet.

 

Without activating the phone, you can place an emergency call, and that's about it.

 

If you activate your plan, the whole phone comes up, then if you cancel your plan, the phone stays active for wi-fi, mp3, etc. So, you could do that, then reactivate when you get back to the US, or just wait it out.

 

Where are you traveling to? Do you need a phone there? I'd hope the iPhone would be compatible on european networks.

 

I'm pretty sure you can. I think I read an article that said all you have to do is take out the sim card that came with it and leave it out or put an old non-active one in. It should still work as an iPod / WiFi internet connection...

 

It has been hacked to allow this without activating.

 

I thought it was completely legal to unlock any phone for use on any network.. Didn't congress pass a law about this?

 

What do you mean unlock any phone for use on any network? Does this mean that the iphone can be hacked or unlocked to work on....let's sya Verizon or Sprint?

 

It has been unlocked to work on other networks:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/breaking/iphone...ract-279606.php

Do some searches on the tech news sites like: Tech Dirt, Digg, Gizmodo, Engadget, Slashdot, etc. and you will find plenty of info on how to hack an iPhone...

 

Verizon and Sprint use a totally different wireless technology so you can't hack it to work with either one. T-Mobile is GSM so if you could unlock it then you could use it there. It would also be able to be used in other countries that have GSM networks.