Can an Android phone be used for wifi/games/apps/media player without a carrier?

[superclaw]

I'm very interested in purchasing an inexpensive used T-Mobile G1, for the purpose of running apps, playing media, reading PDFs, browsing the web, etc, and to do this over a wifi connection. I do not intend to use it as a phone or for using data on the go over networks like 3G. I simply want a cheaper alternative to the Ipod Touch, that is a cool little pocket computer that can do a lot of useful things.

So my question, is how much functionality can be had with an Android phone, without actually signing on with a carrier? Can commercial apps be purchased and installed on it over wifi only but with no carrier?

 

[jjswee]

My iphone which I dont use anymore still has wifi and runs apps/games/web. I assume its the same with android.

 

[gorn]

I used my nexus one without service for a week or so until getting a sim for it. It worked fine. I could even make and receive calls using SipDroid and Gizmo5 + Google Voice.

 

[HustlinDaily]

Get an Android tablet



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[HustlinDaily]

Oh pocket. Yeah you can use out without a sim



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[Eazail70x7]

Cool, so that means, I can still use my Moment even after I upgrade to a new phone later this year?

 

[sitlet]

I dont see why you couldnt.

 

[stalkythefish]

As I recall it will work fine without a SIM. It will bitch at you about it and leave an icon in the bar to that effect, but will work fine over WiFi. Just don't do a factory reset. The G1 needs 2G/3G to get through the setup wizard.

 

[nostromo66]

so, in essence, and pardon my innate ignorance, but using lets say a Samsung Galaxy S phone with a bad ESN, or just no sim period, and using an app like Twitdroyd (horrendous on the Captivate btw) or the like, would work fine via WIFI? thank you

 

[lordofthereef]

so, in essence, and pardon my innate ignorance, but using lets say a Samsung Galaxy S phone with a bad ESN, or just no sim period, and using an app like Twitdroyd (horrendous on the Captivate btw) or the like, would work fine via WIFI? thank you

Yes, it certainly would.

On a related topic... I know Samsung is coming out with a media player that runs android. basically one of their phones without, well, the phone! Sort of their answer to the ipod touch and zune. Nice to have the choice. Unfortunately... it's a Samsung...

 

[nostromo66]

Sorry to post this here as it may be in the wrong thread, but you gave such a fast response to my other question, I thought I would pose it to you. I bought two Galaxy S phones. Liked both of them, kept the Fascinate, sold the captivate. Sold the captivate to a Russian Friend living in the federation the phone, as he has bought many off me before, and was in haste, and forgot to factory reset or erase all my info. The issue is not about my friend seeing all my text/emails/etc, but rather customs LOL. Not that i was doing anything illegal, but still, its nosey busy bodies. Question is, are all my gmail emails recorded on the sim, or the phone; I am assuming once the sim is out, all my emails are on the phones internal memory correct? thanks

 

[snapper.fishes]

That is correct. The emails will remain on the phone internal memory. So will all the sms, etc.

 

[ttdub]

Thats how they have android tablets without 3g just need wifi

 

[takeshi]

Question is, are all my gmail emails recorded on the sim, or the phone; I am assuming once the sim is out, all my emails are on the phones internal memory correct? thanks

Most smart phones don't use the SIM for anything other than linking to your wireless account. There's just not enough storage space on the SIM. Email is definitely not stored on the SIM. Your app data is stored in internal memory (or on the SD card if the app supports it).

 

[nostromo66]

Sorry again if its in wrong thread, but I've gotten lots of help from you guys so thank you. I had an extra Captivate I bought it was unlocked. I realized the roomate I bought it from didn't want or need it. So I ebayed it to India. The phone had http://www.wavesecure.com for lock and unlock and the person said to use that to unlock it and I said umm, I meant unlocking the Sim, he said to use this program: Root Any Android Device And Samsung Captivate With Super One-Click App but the phone that the man got in INDIA as soon as he puts the SIM card in asks for UNLOCK code, that APP didnt give him any Code. So I am assuming if the phone is asking for a unlock code its not the wavesecure program asking for a password as it only asks for UNLOCK code when SIM is placed inside.

So yeah, i used TWO of those crazy priced unlock websites, two better ones, if there is such a thing, and both came back and said 'we will fully refund you as the unlock code is unable to be found with that phones IMEI number'

So what the heck do I tell my India guy now? What do you suggest and/or point me to the right direction, where this novice user can get a code to unlock the phone. Also and pardon my ignorance, are unlock codes unique to the phone, meaning can multiple UNLOCK codes be used for one IMEI, or is there one code unique to each IMEI #? Also will the phone completely lock out if you put in multiple unlock codes in that DONT work?

Thanks so much.