How To Turn Your iPod Touch Into an iPhone?

The iPhone is one of the most recognizable smartphones on the planet. It is known for setting trends and containing some of the most advanced technologies available. However, these days it can do practically anything and is nothing more than an advanced computer capable of making phone calls. 

People opt out of purchasing an iPhone because it can be so expensive that the price makes it out of reach for many people. Instead, many will choose the much cheaper option in the iPod Touch, especially with the increasing demand for encrypted phone and messaging applications that do not require an SMS data plan and offer free international calls and texts. 

But even with the rising demand for those encrypted apps, most people in the United States still use SMS calling and texting. Those unable to afford an iPhone can often feel left behind or that a separate, normal phone is their only option. That is no longer the case because it is, in fact, possible for one to convert their iPod Touch into a fully functioning iPhone.

How To Turn Your iPod Touch Into an iPhone?

Turning an iPod Touch into an iPhone is quite simple and has become increasingly easier. Gone are the days of needing to go through the risky process of jailbreaking one’s iPhone and risk the device becoming obsolete. 

Both devices are similar in more ways than they are different. The iPod Touch has a high amount of storage capacity and can take pictures and videos. The camera on the iPhone is more sophisticated, but the iPod Touch’s camera is great for the price. 

1. What You’ll Need

Not much is required to begin converting your iPod Touch into an iPhone. All you truly need is your iPod of choice and a solid wifi connection. However, if your device is running low on battery, it would be a good idea to charge it before getting started. 

2. Getting Phone and SMS Service

How to get cellular data on an iPod touch 6? To load your iPod with cellular data, you need to download an app that provides the user with an SMS service. The newer iPod Touches also come preloaded with the FaceTime app, another way to connect with those with data plans. 

3. Great for International Calling: Calling Apps for iPod

Since an iPod Touch supports video calling, several popular apps make international and domestic calls easy to figure out once downloaded to the iPod Touch. Skype and Zoom are popular options for business collaboration because they have the feature to show multiple people on the video screen at the same time. 

However, any calls or texts made via Skype or Zoom are not encrypted and therefore run a bigger risk of having a data breach by hackers. Apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and Viber are all encrypted and dedicated to protecting your information from hackers. All of these apps work as long as there is a wifi connection and there are no fees for making international calls. 

4. Maintaining Constant Connectivity

Connectivity should not be a problem as long as the iPod Touch is connected to wifi. While various apps will provide the iPod Touch with cellular data, the quality is dubious and should not be considered reliable.  

Making Calls

Using an iPod Touch as a phone has its limitations. To make calls on iPod Touch, ensure you have a solid wifi connection and the proper apps needed to send and receive calls. There is also the FaceTime app that comes preloaded on the newer versions. 

5. Other Considerations

Here are a few additional options to consider when converting your iPod Touch into an iPhone.

Jailbreaking

Jailbreaking one’s phone was a popular thing to do with the earlier versions of iPhones and iPod Touches. But unfortunately, doing so gave one access to countless apps in the App Store that Apple had yet to authorize, resulting in them being blocked out and entirely inaccessible. 

The major downside is that Apple still considers a jailbroken phone to violate its warranty and would no longer attempt any hardware repairs from that point onward. 

Those features still come along with a jailbroken phone, but these days the technology makes it to where the effort hardly seems worth it. Today’s iPhone will reportedly revert to its factory settings once the latest iOS software updates are completed, causing all of Apple’s forbidden apps to disappear in the process. 

One of the biggest risks associated with jailbreaking an iPhone is that it runs the risk of “bricking,” a tech industry term used to refer to a piece of technology that has become so riddled with problems that it is essentially a paperweight. This is a possibility when someone is jailbreaking their phone, and the risk increases if they decide to do it after each iOS software update. 

The Apple Peel 520

The Apple Peel 520 is a device that has been around for over a decade and was used to convert an iPod Touch into an iPhone easily. The Apple Peel 520 had a slot to insert the SIM card that would connect to the iPod. 

The Apple Peel 520 is no longer manufactured due to advancements in technology over the years, but it can still be found in certain specialty shops and places. Social media groups that deal in older technologies, online auction sites like eBay, and retro video game stores are places that are likely to carry the Apple Peel 520.

Is It Worth It? Pros and Cons

If you are someone with an iPod Touch, the effort almost certainly seems worth converting it into a functioning iPhone. However, since smartphones these days are used more as a computer than to make calls, there does not seem to be too much of a difference between how they are used. 

The camera on an iPod Touch is not as sharp as the iPhone’s, which should only be a problem if the person is trying to advance their photography business. Also, making calls is inconvenient because one has to speak to the outgoing speaker at the bottom. 

It will serve as a much cheaper alternative, but they are the most reliable only when there is a solid wifi connection. 

Can You Make an iPod Touch Into a Phone?

Using an iPod as a phone can be achieved on the newer versions by using the preloaded FaceTime app. It can also be done using VoIP technology like Skype and various encrypted calling and messaging apps. 

How To Turn Your iPod Into a Phone Without WiFi?

The process for turning an iPod into an iPhone can be done by accessing various apps that will either load limited amounts of data or allow for wifi calling. 

Can You Put a SIM Card in an iPod Touch?

Because there is no port to install a SIM card in an iPod Touch, there is no reason to try and do so.   

Conclusion

Thanks to advancements in technology over the years, converting one’s iPod Touch into an iPhone is easier than it ever has been. Of course, a few apps will provide an iPod Touch with limited amounts of data, but with wifi service found around almost every corner these days, doing so sounds like a great way to save a few hundred dollars.

Frequently Asked Questions