Does the iPhone 3GS require activation?

Someone one is going to give me a iPhone 3GS. It is probably almost in the obsolete area of electronics, but I have some use for it. When I restore the phone, will I have to activate AT&T on it. Or can I skip that? I do have a SIM for it. I won't use it on a cellar network so I'm basically using this like a iPod Touch.

You do not have to activate the phone, you will just need to have a SIM card in it to allow you access to the phone.

Yes. It is still a phone at the end of the day.

Its outdated now as far as apps go because the hardware won't be able to run the latest stuff, but as far as texting and calling it would work fine.

Yeah it may be required and if you need some advanced security, Leo Privacy Guard would be the best.