Use iPhone 5 without activating wireless service (at first)?

Question

In a bonehead move, I pre-ordered my Verizon iPhone 5 but forgot that my AT&T contract runs until 11/11/12 (I had forgotten that I didn't get my current iPhone 4 at summer release, but several months later). 
The early temination fee come out to $325 - 22months*$10/month of servce = $105.  But since it's two phones (my wife and I), we're looking at $210. 
I'm planning on not activating my new iPhone until after 11/11 -- I can wait a month and a half to save the $210 (an exercise in discipline and delayed gratification).  However, I'm sure that when the shiny new bauble arrives, I'll want to test drive it (my wife is strong enough to leave it in the box -- I am not).   How do I fire up the new device and not activate the phone service?  In other words, how do I use it like a new iPod Touch for 6 weeks, and when 11/12/12 arrive, how do I get the phone service up and running?

Answer 1

What difference will it make - Verizion still has you under contract and they are still going to bill you for the phone once it is delivered, whether you use it or not.  Your contract starts from the day of delivery, whether you use it, throw it away or whatever - Verizon still gets their monthly due for the next two years.
Did you port your AT&T phone number when you ordered?  If so, then your AT&T account is going to be closed as soon as Verizon ports that number into their system.  You will then owe AT&T for final service and any ETF due.  You cannot reverse a port once initiated.
If you did not port your number, you might as well activate the phone and use it with the new number until your AT&T contract is done - you will be paying the monthly contract fees to Verizon anyway.  Once you are ready to, you can always call Verizon and ask them to port over your AT&T number, at any time.