Is iphone 4s with bad ESN good?

I want to buy an iPhone 4s with bad esn off eBay! Now before you say anything about how its bad and ripp off keep in mind that i don't want the phone to be activated because i just want the phone to download apps such as magicjack so i can call free with Wi-Fi and also take pictures and music and all the things iPhone will do… So is an iphone with bad esn good for all this things such as apps pictures music and everything else? Will the phone lock itself after awhile? Will there be cons in the future with it? Please answer if you really know about bad esn iPhones or own one

The ESN (Electronic Serial Number) is more of like specification info for the cell phone carriers. It would only affect you if you tried to make a call or browse the internet using cellular data (3G, 4G…). You would not be able to text using cellular data as well.

This is the problem that you will need to discuss with your seller: Is the phone already turned on and functional without needing an ESN or Cell Phone Carrier card installed into it?

For example, if a person has an iPhone with AT&T service, and decided to take out the AT&T Carrier Card out, the iPhone will still work and be functional; the difference is that you will no longer be able to use cellular data and the upper-left hand part of the iPhone screen will say "No Service".

However, if the person removes their AT&T Carrier Card and completely resets their phone (to clear memory, data, usage), then when you turn on the phone, it will constantly ask for a Carrier Card. You will not be able to use it at all -- it will have a message displaying at the lock screen, "Insert card… Blah blah" and if you try to unlock it, it will only give you a keypad to contact emergency services.

This can also happen if you decide to reset your iPhone without a Carrier Card by yourself, which can happen on accident using iTunes.

An iPhone with a bad ESN or not having an ESN is not always good for consistent usage -- it could lock up if you ever try to reset it or if the iPhone resets itself for any reason.

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