Cell phone data plans

Raining

Raining

Joined
Oct 13, 2006
Messages
1,895
Anyone know if there are any carriers where you can use a smart phone WITHOUT subscribing to their data plan?

The reason I ask is because smart phones have WiFi capability and I am often in WiFi range wherever I am so I don't want to pay for a data plan.

Am I dreaming or does something like this exist? :D
 
well for iphones, the data plan is not an option...you have to get it...but you can turn off the 3g and just use WiFi but that really doesnt do anything as far as your bill goes...
 
Verizon is similar to my knowledge. I have a BB Storm and it has the data plan. What really blows is that the phone has WiFi capabilities, but it's been shut off. The Storm 2 has WiFi capabilities without having to go through the 3G network.

At work my boss ended up with a Samsung smartphone that has WiFi capabilities and through our business agreement with Verizon, he has opted out of that data plan. I think it's the only way to manage at this point.
 
If I was in your boat I would just get an IPOD touch and a cheap pay as you go cellphone.
 
I've been trying to do the same thing (smart phone no data plan) but non of the good carriers in my area offer that, or the sign up window is for a limited time only. So I'll probably end up with a PDA/MP3 player if I end up wanted internet on a small device. Played with an Archos that worked pretty well.

Heber
 
From what my carrier told me, they make an agreement not to carry a smart phone without a data plan. So unless you have a huge negotiated corporate account you have to have it or they won't carry the phone.
 
With Verizon you can not buy a smart phone with out the data plan. However, you can get a phone second hand and activate it on your line and use it. With verizon each minute you are connected to the internet counts as a minute like you were talking. So it is your responsibility not to run your plan crazy.

I had a Palm Treo with Windows mobile. I'm not sure if you would consider that a smart phone but you could actively turn the internet connection on and off similar to wifi. This let me check me email quickly and do a few things when I needed to and not have the phone connect whenever. I think any Windows powered phone is capable of that.

I now have a Samsung moment powered by Google Android which is pretty amazing and in a completely different class of phone. As much data as it uses there is no way you could do something similar with it. Just thought I would throw it out there.

You can also get a play station portable and connect to a wifi network. There are quite a few electronic gadgets that allow you to do this so you might try looking at everything that is available including netbooks.
 
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