T-Mobile G1 up and running with no activation
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted October 23rd 2008 4:44PM
posted October 23rd 2008 4:44PM
It looks like getting up and running on an unactivated G1 is going to be a little easier than Apple made it for iPhone users. No jailbreak required. All you really need to do is beg, steal or borrow an active T-Mobile SIM card and slip it in the phone for the duration of the setup process (it should only take a few minutes). Once you've enabled WiFi you can go back to your old SIM: you're ready to browse the web, run your apps and do everything you expect your Android-powered phone to do (except talk on the phone). If you'd like to get in on this action, check out the read link for the step-by-step instructions.
Hey guys! FJM here.
But if a device isn't eye-catching or flat out gorgeous then isn't there really no point in getting it? I mean really, when was the last time you saw an ugly girl/guy and said "hey maybe they are beautiful on the inside"?
Yes but can it Facebook?
Facebook doesn't like Google.
It runs the Facebook website just fine.
Hello, I wrote the post. Just wanted to clarify for anyone confused, this is simply a way to get past the initial setup screen when you turn on the phone. If you bought the G1 without signing up for a new 2 year agreement, you got an "unactivated" SIM as opposed to an "activated" one on a new 2 year agreement with T-mobile.
Unactivated should not be confused with unlocked! There is still no news on unlocking the G1 without T-mobile's help. I only need to be able to use the G1 over W-Fi and not make calls, and was just annoyed at the fact I couldn't get past the setup screen without following these instructions.
Here is how to use the G1 on Wifi
(1) Buy the phone on ebay - It got mine for $400
(2) Insert a Tmobile Prepaid Sim card in it. I borrowed my friends card that had a$1.35 balance on it
(3) Poweup the phone , create a new gmail account / enter your current account
(4) Phone gets setup successfully and can validate the Gmail account over 3G without using a single cent from the balance on the prepaid card
(5) Go the settings menu , enable and select your WIFI.
(6) Everything works
Still though, whats the point? why would you want a phone you couldn't make calls on? Unless they have a VOIP app which I"m sure they will. I guess if your holding out for that then it'd be ok. I really enjoyed my ipod touch but wanted email and internet everywhere so went with the iphone. I mean I guess you could get an archos or some other MID. I mean to each his own. I just don't see it. The open platform is nice though.
GIMME.........why tmobile...i hate my iphone. Unlock it FOOLZ
What about AT&T? Could you slip an AT&T simcard in there once it is activated and use it that way?
AT&T doesn't have 3G in my area, so I won't miss that.
Has anybody checked this out?
so i went to tmobile i i put my sim card in the display model and everything worked fine. the employee said in a month tmobile is going to run a sweep and anyphone with out the data plan will have the imei blocked and can only make 911 calls.. i decided not to buy one
I want to know why the phones need activation as well. In many countries (incl. where I live) the operators sell you the phone (at a subsidized price) with the contract. The phone comes unlocked, so you can use it with any other operators. But they tether you to the plan by making you pay a hefty price if you cancel the contract early.
So ya, you get the phone at a cheap price, and you can use it with any other operator, but the operator who subsidized your phone still gets you to pay for the contract (you could use the SIM card with another phone though).
"Android-powered phone"
I thought it was battery powered...
Is it posible to activate after it has been unlocked?
yes go here:
http://www.unlock-tmobileg1.com/EN/procedures/activate.php