If I buy an unlocked phone, can I use it as a tool (camera, notes, alarm, etc.)?

[bucolic_frolic]

https://www.quora.com/Can-a-phone-be-used-as-a-standalone-camera

[Have to scroll down through the posts to find this solution]

If I buy an unlocked phone, can I use it as a tool (camera, notes, alarm, etc.) and not have to put it on a phone network, or does it have to be registered to a provider at all times?

No, it does not have to be activated on a carrier for it to work. Think of it as an iPod touch compared to the iPhone. It isn’t really missing any features, comparatively speaking. You could still activate it on a network if you wanted to, but there are plenty of VoIP services for iPhones and Android phones, to be able to call and text, in many cases for free.

There is only one feature you’ll miss out on, and that is the cellular connectivity. When you have a phone not activated on the network, you become tethered to a Wi-Fi network. If this is unimportant to you, this isn’t so much of an issue. But, when you need a constant connection, this could be a bit of a problem.