We're all so used to buying a phone with intentions of using it on a carrier that we often don't consider what it will operate like without a SIM in it. Rest assured that your phone will operate just fine without active service from a carrier, leaving it as a Wifi-only device.

 

Looking to order an unlocked [Galaxy Note 4] N910A off eBay. I'm moving in a couple of months, but where I live now I have no service at all so I'm wondering if I can use the phone's Wifi features in the mean time or do I need to activate it with a carrier before I can use any features at all?

 

Whether you're buying to use the phone on Wifi permanently or just for a short period of time — perhaps while you're traveling abroad — you won't find many issues. Great apps like Hangouts will even let you make VoIP calls without any carrier involvement, provided you're able to find good Wifi connections.

 

There are just a few things to be aware of when buying a phone to use without a carrier, though. Of course you're overpaying a bit for a device with cellular capabilities you aren't using, so consider weighing the difference in price between that unlocked phone and perhaps a small Wifi-only tablet.

 

Also remember that phones use cellular connections to help with location information, so when you're out of the house without Wifi it's going to be a pain relying on just GPS with no data connection. And lastly, if you choose to buy a carrier-branded phone off-contract, you may run into issues getting software updates without an active SIM from that carrier in the phone.

 

 

That being said, picking up an unlocked phone to use just on Wifi can be a great solution if you're not ready to pay monthly for a phone plan or just want a second phone around for a specific use!

 

http://www.androidcentral.com/ask-ac-can-i-use-my-phone-just-wifi-without-carrier

My son has no carrier. Somehow he has it tied into Google Voice. If he needs to be away from any wifi connection he buys a cheap prepaid from T-Mobile and drops the sim in when he needs it.

Are you guys pirating?? I'm not a phone person. I have friends that have one on their ear 7/24. I have one , but I'm wasting my money.

Seldom use it. Just kidding about pirate. Sorry I couldn't help myself!!

:rotf:

I've heard that you can even port your existing phone number over to Google Voice.

I am one of those either on the phone or text messaging pretty much 24/7. The company I work for has satellite locations all over Illinois so I do a lot of troubleshooting with my techs while on the phone. I have 2 phones from my employer and I have my own personal phone.

 

When we had Nextels I used the most air time of anyone in the states. I had 2 of them because no one could get in touch with me when I had 1. When my secretary showed me the global stats and my numbers minutes combined were first I almost fainted. Now I only am number 1 in minutes and text messages in the company. No one is even close to my totals though.

Your job is certainly demanding, BOB.:)