Can't activate new first-gen iPhone

Believe it or not, even the guys at AT&T are stumped on this one.
I have a brand new first-generation original iPhone ... never been used.
I want to use it as an iTouch (without phone service).
It needs to be activated in the first place to be deactivated so that it has the iTouch features.
AT&T says that original iPhone networks are no longer supported, so activating it on iTunes is impossible. On another post, someone said that using someone else's SIM car that has already been activated is a bad idea because the phone gets "married" to the SIM, although I don't know what that means. No one at the AT&T store will let me borrow their SIM and I don't know anyone who has one.
Both AT&T tech support and the guys at the local AT&T store have said there is nothing they know how to do.
I refuse to believe I have a brand new iPhone that I should throw into the trash.
Anyone know how to activate this thing so I can use it as an iTouch?
-JOHN

Using a SIM from another phone will not marry the Sim to the Phone. It would be a good idea, though, if at all possible, to use a SIM from an existing iPhone, iPhone 3G or 3Gs. The activation process should be able to go through just fine, but if the existing SIM is from something other than an iPhone, th owner may find their plan modified in ways they don't want... data plan, etc. I don't KNOW that this would happen as I haven't gone through the self activation process since 2007, but I suspect it might... I also suspect that, though it should be possible for AT&T to activate an original iPhone, the self activation servers that served the original may no longer be alive... I don't KNOW that for a fact either, but everything since the original (I think it started with the 3G...) has been activated in store either at Apple or AT&T. Personally, I liked the self activation, but someone decided it created too many headaches.
Why don't you take it into an Apple store and see if the genius can help you out?

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IS MY FACE RED?
After iPhone ownership of 2 years +, I just learned, you do have to swap sims if you're activating a previously used phone. My humblest apologies for my SA mouth. I've never had anything but new phones & my kids get my hand-me-downs.
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Dave Sawyer wrote:
I could be wrong, Jimmy, but previous reports here have all indicated that the SIM from any other model of phone, even if the service was with AT&T, would not work with an iPhone. An iPhone's SIM could work in another phone, but not the reverse. ZK should check with AT&T to be sure.
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well I'm aware that certain first gen chargers won't work with the 3G, but i've come across this 3g car charger which specifically states it's not compatible with a first gen iphone. strange.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?cid=108&cp_id=10831&cs_id=1083105&pid=4871&seq=1&format=2
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If your iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad is Broken
Apple does not fix iDevices. Instead, they exchange yours for a refurbished or new replacement depending upon the age of your device and refurbished inventories. On rare occasions when there are no longer refurbished units for your older model, they may replace it with the next newer model.
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To contact product and tech support: Contacting Apple for support and service - this includes international calling numbers.
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Hi,
I just received a new iPad 2 and can't activate it with Verizon. The Wifi works fine and the iPad indicates that I have a strong signal from Verizon. When I go through the activation procedure, I end up with a generic error message and it says to contact Verizon tech support.
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Message was edited by: Daiya

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http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4148
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Can't activate new first-gen iPhone

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