Can you register a phone with Google on WiFi only? I think I screwed up.

[PaulQ]

I got a new phone and switched the service from my Incredible to it. I was using my Incredible as a VOIP device but it was periodically crashing. So... I decided to reset the phone to factory settings and just load up the bare minimum apps.

I connected to Wifi but now I am finding I can't set up my Google account! It says it can't find a reliable data connection. Does this mean it has to be activated with Verizon first? Any way around it?

Thanks for your help!