[Discuss] OT: a Noplan Phone?

[Richard Pieri]

On 7/9/2012 2:11 AM, Tom Metro wrote:
> But if you don't need those services, why not buy used? You can find
> slightly behind cutting-edge phones in like-new condition there for a
> few hundred.

All depends on what you want to pay and what you want for it.

> As far as I know, any Android phone should happily connect to WiFi
> networks and run any number of VoIP apps regardless of whether the phone
> has an active carrier account.

They will.  At least they should.  My no-service HTC Incredible does but 
I've been running CM7 and CM9 on it rather than HTC's stock.

> I'm not sure if an active account is necessary in order to receive OS
> updates, which unfortunately are brokered through the carrier.

In principle, OS updates can be coped to a micro SD card and loaded by 
the SPL.  In practice, it depends on whether or not the carrier provides 
updates for a device as out of band downloads and whether or not the 
carrier has crippled the SPL on that device.  And, of course, whether or 
not the device has a micro SD slot.  If any of these are "not" then 
you're stuck with OTA updates which do require active subscriptions.

-- 
Rich P.