Root Is service required to browse the Internet?

[jerrym100]

So I just got my new LTEvo but haven't activated it yet. Still have my old EVO 4G and I am thinking of rooting it for the experience so if it fails I can just go to my new phone.

But it crossed my mind that maybe I could go ahead and activate my new phone and then root my old phone. The old EVO 4G will still have wifi and USB connectivity so could I still do all the rooting and recovery and try new ROMs without actually having phone service (since that will be switched to my new phone)?

 

[Rachel A]

You can, yes. I brought a 3G Xoom with no contract back in the day. I've not had any service to it for months now and it still works 100% on WiFi - I even got my ICS update through it.

 

[dustwun77]

there is a really cool, detailed thread of all the stuff you can do with an evo just using wi fi, I can't find it to save my behind though, it was on the evo forums, it was amazing!

Edit: I don't know how up to date this is and I can't vouch for it personally, but here it is

http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-4g/199425-evo-no-contract-question.html