The exclusive US provider for the Apple handset issued a series of documents and videos this week instructing existing iPhone owners on the steps necessary to hand down their old phones to family members or friends after purchasing a new 3G model.
Although that's the route AT&T prefers, as it generates high margin service revenues for each additional iPhone on its network, it's not the only option owners have.
A spokesperson for the carrier confirmed to AppleInsider that neither AT&T nor Apple will prevent de-activated first-generation iPhones for serving as surrogate iPod touches.
"If the [original] device is not re-activated as a wireless phone after youâve upgraded to iPhone 3G, it will still work as an iTunes player and can access Wi-Fi," the spokesperson said.
That means old iPhones can still surf the web, check email, and browse the mobile iTunes store when connected to WiFi. Additionally, they'll be able to function as a handheld gaming device and widescreen video iPod with calendar and photo functions.
It's recommended that owners who take this approach upgrade their original iPhones with iPhone Software v2.0 (which includes the App Store) on July 11th prior to de-activating the devices, as it's unclear whether upgrades to non-active handsets will be possible.
77 Comments
What?
I can use my $500 iPhone as an iPod Touch that sells for $300?!
Wow!! Thanks Apple! That's a terrific idea!
Yeah man....dont do us any special favors.....WTF
Last time I checked the iPod Touch didn't have a speaker. Hello $200 speaker! I know some iPod Touch owners who'd kill for that. In fact my friend Kenny killed over that 5 min ago when learning of this.
So once you've upgraded to a 3g Iphone, you no longer have the ability to swap the SIM between your your old phone and the new one? The upgrade renders your 1st gen useless as a calling device?? WTF??
What?
I can use my $500 iPhone as an iPod Touch that sells for $300?!
Wow!! Thanks Apple! That's a terrific idea!
Um, Apple just handed the best deal for owners of a year-old technology I've ever seen in tech.
Original iPhone owners can now sell their old iPhones (now a touch with camera and speaker) at a really good price. Name another year-old technology that will have held its value that much.