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[W4KYR]

 Can a Deactivated or Unactivated Android Smart Phone be used like an Android Tablet with just the wifi? Or does the phone need to be activated in order to use the wifi?

The reason why I am asking, Radio Shack is closing out their prepaid Android Smart phones for $10 each new and unopened and there are some good Android apps for ham radio out there.

I might be interested in getting the ID51a and using it with an Android tablet with the ID51A and Android with the RS-MS1A Android™ Application. I don't care that the smart phone is smaller than the tablet. I don't want to spend $100 on an Android Tablet if I can use something else for less money and have it still be functional.

RS-MS1A - Remote Control Android App Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1TGr_v4aiw

[K1CJS]

Possibly, but quite a bit of the functionality is tied into the activation of the phone.  Yes, the phone can be used as a reader (Kindle) or to play games, but any sort of app that would use the phone function even for minor things (location, etc.) would be severely limited, if not totally disabled.

I've got a Samsung Galaxy that was given to me that won't run most apps because it is not activated.  I still use it as a Kindle reader and to run limited apps and games, but some apps I would like to use just won't run.

There are some tablets that are small that go for less than $100.  I would get one of those instead.  Whatever course you choose, good luck!  73.

[W8JX]

Can a Deactivated or Unactivated Android Smart Phone be used like an Android Tablet with just the wifi? Or does the phone need to be activated in order to use the wifi?

The reason why I am asking, Radio Shack is closing out their prepaid Android Smart phones for $10 each new and unopened and there are some good Android apps for ham radio out there.

I might be interested in getting the ID51a and using it with an Android tablet with the ID51A and Android with the RS-MS1A Android™ Application. I don't care that the smart phone is smaller than the tablet. I don't want to spend $100 on an Android Tablet if I can use something else for less money and have it still be functional.

RS-MS1A - Remote Control Android App Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1TGr_v4aiw

I see no problems other than possibly downloading and installing apps on it without a active Google account

[KD0REQ]

you can try taking it to a storefront wireless outfit that has all the access resellers (boost, etc) or to WalMart (straightTalk) and get it activated there.  then you can get apps on it.  you could also check the web and see if that phone has a removeable sim, and get one for prepaid card service.

I'm sure you know, but for n00bs who might not, there are a ton of apps in the wild that are fronts for malware and spy apps.  if you trust some ham with the app on his website, fine... otherwise, get them from Google's android store to have any sort of firewall against the evil nasties.

[W4KYR]

Thanks for all the answers, I hope to do a followup soon. The phone I'm talking about is ZTE Valet by Trac Phone at Radio Shack for $10 closeout. They had four of them yesterday. If it works, great. If not I can recoup my $10 back or maybe just use it as a Kindle/PDF reader.

Thanks Again

Here is what it looks like

http://www.amazon.com/ZTE-Valet-Android-Prepaid-TracFone/dp/B00FM7R1WG

[W6IR]

I use my unactivated old Galaxy Nexus phone all the time with ham apps (and others). Just turn on the wifi and log into your google account and start downloading.

[W7XTV]

I use my unactivated old Galaxy Nexus phone all the time with ham apps (and others). Just turn on the wifi and log into your google account and start downloading.

My old LG Spectrum phone works exactly the same way.  And if you have a VoIP account and a softphone app such as Linphone, you can still make phone calls on it, but only through the WiFi, of course, since the cellphone network services are no longer there.

[N7EKU]

Hi,

Go to the Amazon link you gave us and sort the reviews by "most helpful".  In the first one by H. Pham he says he downloaded and used all kinds of apps and used GPS before ever activating the phone.  Funny, if you look at the phone's picture on Amazon, there is a picture of a CW trainer app on the front!

73,


Mark.

[K5UNX]

You don't need to activate the phone with a cellular provider. Just turn on wifi and login to a google account and it will act like a little android tablet. No texting, no phone calls . . . but you can use apps and other functions.

[K1CJS]

Could be too that when the phone I have was 'deactivated' the provider shut off all the functionality that they could!

[K5UNX]

Could be too that when the phone I have was 'deactivated' the provider shut off all the functionality that they could!

When phones are deactivated, that refers to any part of the functionality of the cell provider. Not wifi capability.

[K1CJS]

Yeah, the wi-fi capability may still be active, but the phone functionality may still be in question.

[K5UNX]

Yeah, the wi-fi capability may still be active, but the phone functionality may still be in question.

phone functionality? Yea there won't be any texting or cell calls, but wifi capabilities will work. For example you could still do email over wifi, browse the web over wifi etc. I just got a new phone, and the old one, though not "active" on the cellular network, still gets email, browses the web, APRSDroid still works . . all over wifi.

[K5TED]

Iphone user checking in here..  A non-activated iPhone is technically a iPod Touch, and retains ALL wifi enabled app functionality. The ZTE for $10 is a steal and will likely still do 911 without activation.

[W2EJG]

You say it is a TracFone

They do their own thing with their phones, SIM cards are different, useable only on TracFones. You may wind up in this bond.

Bob  W2EJG