I need a new ipod and a new snap and shoot camera but I do not need a new cell phone.

Can you use the iphone for the ipod and camera without activating the phone part? Would I have to jailbreak it first? Since I am planning to purchase this in Japan, can you install English interface?

Or is the itouch still a better choice? How is the camera? I heard the iphone4(s) camera is very good.

you do need to activate it, but you can do that with the sim from your current phone and swap it back after the activation is complete. you will also need to pay the contract-free unsubsidized price, which means it should be factory unlocked.

everything will work without a sim, but it will say 'no sim' in the top left corner and you will obviously need wifi for any data access.

it comes with over 30 languages for the user interface and there are additional languages for keyboard support. just set it to english or whatever language you prefer. switch as often as you want.

an ipod touch will be less expensive, but the camera on it is horrible. it's less than 1 megapixel and really just there for video and facetime. if the camera is important, get at least an iphone 4 and ideally a 4s.

That is great news.

I have $500 USD credit with Big Cameras in Japan so I can use that to purchase the iphone.

The primary place I will be using the iphone will be in China. Buying a Japanese iphone pose any problems?

Anyone know if the GPS would work without a service provider?

paygo plans in china cost next to nothing, 10$ a month for calls, texts and 500MB of data. Might as well get a card.

You need to use the SIM from the provider that provided the phone.

Even if it is unlocked?

Foreiners in Japan can't buy a phone with a sim card without a residence permit.

no. if it's unlocked you are effectively buying it sim-free. I would just stick a cheap SIM in it like the one from China, or the $10 t-mobile prepaid sim in the US if you need to do it to activate it. Or the one in your current phone.

Though if you are doing this for ipod + camera, and you will never use the phone part of it, I would consider just buying an ipod touch if you want/need the ability to run ios apps and a separate camera. standalone cameras are still much better than any phone camera, regardless of their resolution ratings. (the sensors are tiny on phones.) I can get some decent pics on my iphone 4, but none of them are close to the quality level I get from a standalone camera with a nice lens + sensor. For example, the Canon S95 or S100 is going to be much better than any phone camera, and it will still fit in your pocket.

Regardless of that, as long as you buy a factory unlocked iphone, your plan will work.

-David

Should work if you use wifi. You'll need a mifi to give you connectivity for map downloads while on the road.

I've heard the Android version of maps allows you to download maps before going out (figures Google would give themselves the edge).

I really need a pocket camera that is decent. I hear the itouch camera is not very good at all thus my enquiry about the iphone 4s. I need to do quick close up pictures of products on the production line.

Honestly, no phone (Apple or not) has a really good camera. Even a cheaper $200-250 camera will be far better.

If you're not using the iphone as a phone, then might I suggest getting an Android (HTC, Moto, Samsung) phone? Far easier to unlock and far more versatile through custom ROMs.

yea thtats true but if you have a gps app with pre-loaded maps like tomtom on your iphone would the gps capabilities work without a service provider? no 3g/no wifi

jailbroken iphones can also download a cydia app that allows google maps to be stored for offline use

I purchased a bunch of no-contract iPhone 4S devices in recent days here in the US which came with AT&T SIMs in them, and I have been able to use them without using the SIM from the provider.

I took out the AT&T SIM, put in a T-mobile SIM, hooked it up to iTunes 10.5 and it showed it as being unlocked. Since then I have used the iPhone 4S devices with something approaching a dozen different mobile phone service providers. Apparently you need not use the SIM from the provider that provided the phone as long as the phone provided is a no-contract version of the phone. That goes for the phones sold at Apple stores and even some available from AT&T itself.

the gps works without 3g/wifi.

apps with preloaded maps will work when you're driving in the middle of nowhere. the downside is that the apps are 1-2 gig for each region versus a single app that's under a megabyte.

They disagree: http://news.consumerreports.org/elec...e-cameras.html