Can You Use Iphone 4s Without Service

In this commodity, Jason R. Rich explains why you might want to sign upwardly for a prepaid, month-to-month cellular service plan with no long-term contract if you have an unlocked iPhone 4/4S or iPhone 5. One big benefit is that there is no long-term service contract to sign.

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For a long time, if you wanted an iPhone, y'all had to sign up with i of Apple's cellular service provider partners, which in the United States included AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint PCS.

Yous and so needed to sign a two-twelvemonth service understanding, which included a hefty early-termination fee of upwards to $350.00. In exchange, the cellular service provider of your pick would offer a new subsidized iPhone (the iPhone 5S, for example), typically priced at $200.00 (or less).

If y'all already accept an older iPhone 4/4S or iPhone 5 that is compatible with the AT&T Wireless service (meaning that information technology's a GSM-compatible iPhone), it'southward possible to accept the phone unlocked.

You can then larn a new micro-SIM card from whatever compatible prepaid cellular service provider to add together the ability to make and receive calls and text messages, plus access the spider web via a cellular data connexion, withal non be tied to a two-year service agreement.

First, Make Sure that Your iPhone is Unlocked

Most iPhones are sold to consumers equally locked devices, which means they're prepare up to work with just one cellular service provider. Nonetheless, if you have a GSM-compatible iPhone, yous tin unlock the device and and then be able to use information technology with almost whatsoever cellular service provider worldwide that offers pay-equally-you lot-get or prepaid service.

You tin can unlock an iPhone by yourself. For example, you tin can take advantage of specialized and like shooting fish in a barrel-to-use software, such as iPhone Unlocker Pro ($24.95), or follow the directions offered by free how-to videos on YouTube that will walk you through this procedure. Ane such video tin be found at http://www.youtube.com/picket?v=FB-3Bv660G8.

Notwithstanding, for most people, it's easier to go to almost any shopping mall and visit a kiosk-based business organization that offers an iPhone unlocking service for about $xxx.00. If y'all have a GSM-compatible iPhone 5, the phone may already exist unlocked. If not, whatsoever Apple Store or participating jail cell phone service provider can unlock the phone for you lot in a matter of minutes, typically for free.

One time a GSM-compatible iPhone is unlocked, merely remove the old micro-SIM card from the device and replace it with a new micro-SIM card provided by a prepaid cellular service provider. In some cases, the required micro-SIM menu is provided for free when you prepare upward a new account. Otherwise, you may demand to pay a small quondam fee (typically less than $20.00) for the new micro-SIM card.

The Benefit of Using a Prepaid or Pay-as-Y'all-Go Cellular Service

The biggest benefit of using your older iPhone with a prepaid or pay-as-you-become cellular service is that there are no long-term contracts. Y'all can activate the phone for one month at a time. This is ideal if you're traveling overseas and desire to use the iPhone with a local telephone number and non pay a fortune in international roaming charges, or if you desire to give your kids the older iPhone and provide them with cellular service in the United States without making a long-term financial commitment.

As you'll discover, many of the prepaid or pay-as-you-become cellular services in the U.s.a. are very affordable. For a flat fee of between $35.00 and $70.00, most offer unlimited calling and texting, every bit well as access to a 3G and/or 4G (LTE) cellular data network for Net connectivity. (Keep in mind that 4G LTE service is much faster than 3G or 4G connectivity.)

When choosing a cellular service, pay conscientious attention to the coverage expanse offered and brand sure that service offers vocalism, texting, and cellular data coverage where y'all'll exist using the telephone. And so, focus on the fine print, especially when it comes to wireless data usage. Make sure that the advertised "unlimited plan" is truly unlimited.

You volition probably discover that after a predetermined amount of cellular information usage each billing cycle, your connection speed volition exist throttled dramatically. Also, go on in mind that the iPhone iv/4S is only capable of a 3G cellular data connexion, so even if 4G LTE connection speeds are offered by the service provider, the phone itself can't employ information technology.

If you're using an iPhone 5, however, look for a cellular service provider that offers 4G or 4G LTE cellular data service where y'all'll most oft be using the phone in society to experience the fastest Net speeds possible from your iOS mobile device.

You'll Need an Unlocked, GSM-Compatible iPhone

Within the United States, a growing number of cellular service providers are offering prepaid or pay-as-yous go service for iPhone users. If yous want to utilize this type of service plan with a brand-new iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C, you need to buy the phone at its total price instead of paying the subsidized rate.

For a new iPhone 5S, the toll will be between $649.00 and $849.00, depending on the phone's configuration. The nonsubsidized price of the iPhone 5C is betwixt $549.00 and $649.00, once more depending on the phone's configuration. Be sure to buy an unlocked GSM version of the phone.

Yous likewise have the pick of purchasing a used or refurbished iPhone 4/4S or iPhone v. Look to pay between $200.00 and $500.00 for an older model, unlocked iPhone. They're available on eBay.com or from some cellular phone resellers such as GameStop.

Using whatsoever Search engine, enter the phrase "Used iPhone 4S" or "Used iPhone v" to find online-based sellers of used and refurbished iPhones.

A Sampling of Prepaid and Pay-as-You lot-Become Cellular Service Providers

A growing number of prepaid and pay-as-you-get cellular service providers now back up iPhone employ around the earth. Within the United States, some of your options include T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile Us, Straight Talk Wireless, Metro PCS, Net ten, and Cricket.

Each of these service providers will sell you an iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, or iPhone 5, or in some cases, an iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C, at a nonsubsidized rate. Or you can reactivate your older iPhone with one of these services for just the price of a new micro-SIM carte and the monthly service fee.

T-Mobile offers its Bring Your Own Device service. Showtime by visiting the company's website and cull your device. The website volition help you select a uniform micro-SIM carte du jour. A ane-time $10.00 fee applies.

Next, choose your service plan. Rates start at $50.00 per month for unlimited talk and text, plus upward to 500MB of loftier-speed Cyberspace access. For up to ii.5GB of cellular data service per calendar month, the fee is $60.00. For $70.00 per calendar month, unlimited cellular data is also provided. Once the micro-SIM bill of fare arrives, insert it into your iPhone. Afterwards the initial setup process, which takes just minutes, the telephone will be up and running with its own (new) phone number.

Virgin Mobile also offers a pay-as-you-go, no contract service plan for the iPhone 4/4S/5/5C/5S. Currently, for $35.00 per month, the Across Talk programme offers 300 talk minutes, plus unlimited texting and 3G/4G cellular data service. The visitor'due south $45.00 per month plan includes 1200 talk minutes plus unlimited texting and 3G/4G cellular data service; the $55.00 program includes unlimited talk, text, and cellular data access.

All of Virgin Mobile's "unlimited" cellular information plans include 2.5GB per month of high-speed 4G service, afterward which the service throttles downwards to 3G connection speeds.

Direct Talk Wireless as well offers a Bring Your Ain Phone choice. From the company's website, select your iPhone model. The prepaid plan offered is priced at $45.00 per month. It includes unlimited talk, text, and information.

Like so many other services, the unlimited data aspect of the plan includes 2.5GB per month of 4G service that, after it is used up, throttles down to 3G connection speeds for the remainder of the monthly billing bike.

For $threescore.00 per month, the Straight Talk Wireless program includes unlimited international calling between the The states and more than than 1,000 destinations abroad, including Mexico, Canada, India, and China.

Metro PCS charges a one-fourth dimension fee of $x.00 for a Metro PCS micro-SIM bill of fare and and so offers pay-equally-you lot-become plans starting at $xl.00 per month. While the $40.00 per calendar month plan offers unlimited talk and text, only the commencement 500MB of cellular data usage will be at 4G speed. For $50.00 per month, 4G connectivity expands to a monthly allocation of 2.5GB, merely for $60.00 per month, unlimited 4G connectivity (with no throttling) is offered.

Net10 Wireless also supports various iPhone models and offers a $50.00 per month "unlimited" talk, text, and web plan, equally well every bit a $60.00 per month plan that includes international calling. Both "unlimited" plans include 2.5GB of high-speed cellular data service, which and then throttles downwards to 3G service once the monthly allocation is used up.

Starting in belatedly October 2013, Cricket Wireless also began supporting several iPhone models with a pay-as-you lot-get service starting at $fifty.00 per calendar month for unlimited talking and texting, plus ii.5GB of 4G cellular service (which so throttles down to 3G connectivity). A $lx.00 per month program includes 5GB per month of 4G connectivity; a $seventy per month plan includes 10GB of 4G connectivity.

What to Consider Earlier Choosing a Service Provider

Keep in listen that 4G or 4G LTE connectivity is not yet available nationwide from many cellular service providers. So if you're using an iPhone 5/5C/5S, be sure to wait at a service provider's coverage map carefully to determine whether 4G (LTE) coverage is offered in your area. Otherwise, yous'll automatically connect to a slower 3G network, or in some cases, an incredibly slow and outdated 2G network.

Each time you install a new micro-SIM chip into your iPhone and actuate it, you're given a unique phone number. As long every bit you continue paying the monthly bill, you lot tin can retain that phone number. If you finish paying the nib, the phone number could be lost afterwards between 45 and 90 days.

However, in some cases, if yous opt to switch service providers, you lot tin often port over your existing phone number, as long as it's active with some other service provider when you want to make the switch.

When swapping the micro-SIM card in your iPhone, be certain to use the modest metallic tool that came with your iPhone or utilize the tip of a tiny paperclip. Don't press too hard when inserting the SIM card removal tool into the iPhone, and be sure to handle the fragile micro-SIM fleck carefully. Avoid bending, crushing, or getting the micro-SIM card dirty or covered with oil from your fingertips.