Running a 3GS without a sim?

[dikman]

This might sound a little odd, but can a 3GS be run, as an apps machine, without a sim?
I have a 3GS, 4.2.1, but no working sim. It is sitting on the usb-iTunes sim activation screen. Is there any way, short of unlocking (which will require the iPad baseband install)to just use it as a stand-alone device, e.g. as a bookreader?

[Orby]

Yes. Hacktivate/jailbreak with redsn0w, then use SAM in Cydia to mitigate the battery drain and legitimately "activate."

You'll be able to use the device without a SIM just like if it had a SIM in it (but no SMS/phone calls, of course).

[iYeow]

Your idevice is called 3GS itouch

[dikman]

Muchos gracia. I'll give it a try, as I'm reluctant to install the iPad baseband, except as a last resort. (Don't need to use it as a phone, just yet).

[iYeow]

That is a good move, who knows the dev team will come out with an unlock.

[dikman]

That's what I'm hoping, but I'm not too optimistic, as with the 4 out now, and a 5 looming, I can't see anyone spending too much time on what will be an older baseband. Still, I might be lucky.

In the meantime, I j/b'd it with Greenpois0n (took several tries before it worked), loaded Cydia via Redsn0w (don't you love the way all these terms are rolling off my tongue?), got my wi-fi connected, but can't seem to find Cydia on the phone so I can install SAM.

This is a brave new world for me (particularly with no instructions on how to use anything on this phone).

Next day.
I found Cydia (didn't realise you could slide sideways to find more stuff!) and after finding a suitable how-to guide installed SAM and now have, as you say, an iTouch . Of course, if the 05.15 baseband is hacked, I have no idea how to undo what I've done and use a sim. Oh well.

In the meantime, I'll have to find a suitable epub reader. This whole process has been rather interesting.

Many thanks for your help.