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You couldn't use the very first iPhone to do much anymore — even if you wanted to

first iphone
The original iPhone looks nice, but you can't use it anymore. Flickr/Carl Berkeley
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If you're celebrating the iPhone's 10th anniversary by unearthing your original first-generation iPhone, I have some bad news.

AT&T officially shut down its 2G network on December 31, 2016, which means your original iPhone won't be able to make or receive phone calls. 

Indeed, the very first iPhone only supported AT&T's 2G network, otherwise known as the "E" or Edge network. That alone should make you rethink your idea of going old school for the sake of reminiscence. 3G is slow enough, but Edge simply won't do after you've tasted the fruits of ultra-fast 4G LTE. 

And nope, even if you wanted to try it just for a little while, you can't just pop in a SIM card for a different carrier, as the original iPhone was an AT&T exclusive when it was released 10 years ago in 2007.

The best you could do is use your original iPhone with WiFi – if it still works. The WiFi on my old iPhone 3G (one generation after the original iPhone) unfortunately doesn't work, and I'm not about to switch from my iPhone 6s Plus' nano SIM card to the regular gigantic SIM card the iPhone 3G used to use. So the best I can do is just look at the classic design.

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Antonio Villas-Boas was a consumer tech expert with over a decade of experience testing and reviewing smartphones, tablets, computers, smartwatches, and phone carriers.ExperienceAntonio joined the Business Insider team in 2015 as a tech reporter on the news desk and moved to the service journalism team in 2020. During his time as Business Insider’s senior tech reporter, Antonio developed industry-leading battery-life tests for smartphones and tablets, and covered and reviewed hundreds (if not thousands) of products from major brands like Apple, Google, Samsung, and OnePlus since as far back as Samsung’s Galaxy S6, the original Apple Watch, and the very first Google Pixel. This decade-plus of experience has given him tremendous insights into what consumer tech truly stands the test of time and what will be irrelevant in just a few years' time (RIP The Pebble).Antonio is also an experienced deal hunter, surfacing the best discounts on phones, laptops, and smartwatches for readers during sale events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Previously, Antonio was a consumer-electronics analyst at PCMag and ran his own blog. Why you can trust AntonioAntonio approaches all his reviews not only as a tech expert but as a consumer himself. He reads every word of fine print in the phone carrier plans he reviews, and is deeply skeptical of deals that promise you the latest iPhone model for free. (Spoiler: it might be “free,” but you could be stuck with it for three years.)He largely recommends less expensive and small-scale fixes to upgrade your existing tech before considering buying the latest and flashiest in new tech. Antonio believes his role as the go-to “tech guy” for his family and friends extends to his readers as well; he only recommends products that have stood up to the testing process.Scripps News, NewsNation, Fox 5 DC, NBC LX, and Rich DeMuro’s “Rich On Tech” radio show have requested his commentary and expertise. ExpertiseHis expertise includes:
  • Phones, including the iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy models
  • Phone accessories, including charging cables, phone cases, and protection plans
  • Smartwatches, including the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch
  • Mobile carrier plans, including major carriers and MVNOs
  • Tablets, including iPads and Galaxy Tabs
  • Laptops and computers, including MacBooks and Windows models
  • Computer accessories, including mice, keyboards, and monitors
EducationAntonio graduated from Colgate University in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in history.Outside of workBesides testing tech products, Antonio is also a full time dad to two young kids. His ideal day would be spent on a lake in the Adirondacks.Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.Learn more about how we test tech and electronics.