Do You Need a Data Plan?

[takeshi]

Originally Posted by thelion Data does not include texting. It should. But it does not.

Why should it? Aside from the "everything should be free" argument.

Originally Posted by danDroid I know the iPhone requires you to have the data plan and I thought even blackberry phones required it??

Depends on the carrier and what you intend to do with it.

Originally Posted by p.o.711 Like with the iphone it is possible to use without a data plan by unlocking it!

Unlocking a GSM device only allows you to use another carrier's SIM. It has no effect on any data plan requirement. Did you mean jailbreak?

[awake1563]

Deputc26.... wait a minute, so you are saying that you are using the droid on verizon's voice network, not using the data connection, and only being charged for the voice plan?

I'm curious as to what plan you are on, and how much it is. I would love to do this, but EVERYONE says that when the verizon network sees the droid specific MEID #, it automatically tacs on the $30/ mo for data. Just want to clarify that you are somehow not getting this charge?

Thanks

Originally Posted by deputc26 OK reading the first few pages of this was very frustrating... YOU CAN USE THE DROID WITHOUT A DATA PLAN I AM DOING IT RIGHT NOW. You do not have to "unlock" it or root it or point it toward mecca and pray to it you just have to buy it outright (got mine on eBay for $465 Nov. 10th) and get a new plan online or wherever by supplying your MEID which is a number in the battery compartment. OK, calming down err I hope you didn't arrive at this conclusion in one of the two pages I didn't read and I hope no VZW people see this and decide to lock everyone out so they can take more money from people.

[Fraxinus]

Couple problems here. First I'm 99.99% sure you can't activate a phone like the Droid without automatically incurring data charges - I would agree that it's tied to the MEID. Simply by activating the phone on Verizon's network they tack it onto your plan. I haven't actually tried this which is why I'm not 100%...

The only reason you can do this on other networks (AT&T, TMobile, etc.) is because a GSM phone uses a SIM card to ID the phone and associate a number to it. Since this card is movable your registration on the network is independent of what phone you use.

The other major issue is that I don't think you can turn data off on this phone. There are only two ways to do this that I'm aware of:

1. Put the phone in airplane mode - which will allow you to turn on WiFi but means you can't make/recieve phone calls
2. Open the dialer app and punch in: *#*#4636#*#* to open an options menu. Click Phone Status and then the button labeled "turn radio off". When you do this the entire wireless radio goes off - so no making/receiving calls, just like airplane mode.

WiFi will indeed take over your data functions but it's not 100%. This phone constantly syncs background data so you would first have to set the WiFi sleep to off (meaning even if the phone is on standby it still uses WiFi) and then constantly have WiFi coverage - leave a coverage area and the phone would automatically switch to 3G.

Someone correct me if I've misstated anything but I think that's the long and short of it.

[verakot]

You are exactly right. Simply call VZ and they will tell you. They would add a plan once tell them your phone's MEID while activating your Droid.

Untill the guy tells the details, consider his post a hoax.

Originally Posted by awake1563 Deputc26.... wait a minute, so you are saying that you are using the droid on verizon's voice network, not using the data connection, and only being charged for the voice plan? I'm curious as to what plan you are on, and how much it is. I would love to do this, but EVERYONE says that when the verizon network sees the droid specific MEID #, it automatically tacs on the $30/ mo for data. Just want to clarify that you are somehow not getting this charge? Thanks Originally Posted by deputc26 OK reading the first few pages of this was very frustrating... YOU CAN USE THE DROID WITHOUT A DATA PLAN I AM DOING IT RIGHT NOW. You do not have to "unlock" it or root it or point it toward mecca and pray to it you just have to buy it outright (got mine on eBay for $465 Nov. 10th) and get a new plan online or wherever by supplying your MEID which is a number in the battery compartment. OK, calming down err I hope you didn't arrive at this conclusion in one of the two pages I didn't read and I hope no VZW people see this and decide to lock everyone out so they can take more money from people.

[ryanmc]

Has anyone checked into prepaid plans? Can I use the Droid Incredible with a prepaid plan and then avoid the data fees?

My wife has a simple phone and we actually had Verizon block all data and text so she does not get accidental charges. I would like to do the same with the Droid.

[jsh1120]

Originally Posted by ryanmc Has anyone checked into prepaid plans? Can I use the Droid Incredible with a prepaid plan and then avoid the data fees? My wife has a simple phone and we actually had Verizon block all data and text so she does not get accidental charges. I would like to do the same with the Droid.

I'm sure you would. However, if you use a Droid you are obligated to have a data plan. Welcome to the "smart" phone world.

[hookbill]

Originally Posted by ryanmc Has anyone checked into prepaid plans? Can I use the Droid Incredible with a prepaid plan and then avoid the data fees? My wife has a simple phone and we actually had Verizon block all data and text so she does not get accidental charges. I would like to do the same with the Droid.

If you block all data and text then why in heavens name do you want an Incredible? It's just another phone without that.

[ryanmc]

Originally Posted by hookbill Originally Posted by ryanmc Has anyone checked into prepaid plans? Can I use the Droid Incredible with a prepaid plan and then avoid the data fees? My wife has a simple phone and we actually had Verizon block all data and text so she does not get accidental charges. I would like to do the same with the Droid. If you block all data and text then why in heavens name do you want an Incredible? It's just another phone without that.

Games, Movies, Music, GPS, Calendar and other organization tools, book reading, need I go on? The Droid is more than just a phone with data, and data does not have to come through Verizon (WiFi).

I know I could get an iPod Touch (which I never will because of Apples DRM crap) but why have two devices when I can get it all in one?

I currently have a Dell Axim. Getting the Droid without Data would be like adding a phone to my Axim, that is a bonus to me.

[jroc]

But why get a smartphone then?.........Just get a regular cell phone. The Samsung u740 has a decent keyboard. Unless for the size and screen on the Droid....I dont know what to tell you....

[ryanmc]

Originally Posted by jroc But why get a smartphone then?.........Just get a regular cell phone. The Samsung u740 has a decent keyboard. Unless for the size and screen on the Droid....I dont know what to tell you....

You probably missed my last reply. It is right above your comment and it explains everything.