Difference Between iPhone & iPod Touch Internet Capabilities

The iPhone can access the Internet wherever it has cellular service access.
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The features available from Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch are generally identical, except when it comes to cellular data access. The iPhone can connect to a cellular data service for phone calls, text messages and Internet access, while the iPod Touch cannot. Both devices are able to access the Internet using Wi-Fi.

1 Wi-Fi

Both the iPhone and iPod Touch can access the Internet over Wi-Fi, provided the Wi-Fi network is connected to the Internet through a modem. To connect to a Wi-Fi network, launch "Settings" from the home screen and select "Wi-Fi." You can then select an available Wi-Fi network and enter the network's password. The Wi-Fi status indicator, which looks like a dot with two curved lines above, appears at the top of the home screen whenever you are connected to Wi-Fi. If one or two of the lines are grayed out, you have a weak Wi-Fi signal and you should adjust the device's position to get a faster connection.

2 Cellular Data

Only the iPhone has access to the Internet through cellular data services, a feature that must be available from your cell phone provider. To turn Internet services on or off for cellular data, launch "Settings" from the iPhone's home screen, select "Cellular" and then tap the "Cellular Data" button. The cellular signal strength indicator at the top of the home screen tells you how strong or weak your signal is. Five dots indicates a full signal.

3 Disclaimer

Information in this article applies to iOS 7 on the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch. It may vary slightly or significantly with other versions or products.

Using cellular data services for Internet access may result in carrier data usage charges. Check your service plan for details.

A published author and professional speaker, David Weedmark has advised businesses and governments on technology, media and marketing for more than 20 years. He has taught computer science at Algonquin College, has started three successful businesses, and has written hundreds of articles for newspapers and magazines throughout Canada and the United States.

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