Smart Phone Without Data Plan?

[Xander Crews]

I know you are required to have a data plan for a smart phone.
But does that only apply to those on 2 year contracts?

I have an old D2 that my wife wants to use. She currently uses a dumb phone.
She doesn't want a data plan, doesn't want the smart phone features. She just wants to use it for calling & texting.

Is there any way at all that can happen? Or does any smart phone, even older ones or unlocked ones, need a data plan?
Thanks.

 

[dezymond]

I think once she activates it under her name/number then she'll get the data plan tacked onto it. Don't know of anyway around it...

 

[bsweetness]

I know you are required to have a data plan for a smart phone.
But does that only apply to those on 2 year contracts?

I have an old D2 that my wife wants to use. She currently uses a dumb phone.
She doesn't want a data plan, doesn't want the smart phone features. She just wants to use it for calling & texting.

Is there any way at all that can happen? Or does any smart phone, even older ones or unlocked ones, need a data plan?
Thanks.

In order to activate the phone on her line with Verizon, she'll have to have a data plan. There are some old (pre-Android) smartphones that can be activated without a data plan, but pretty much anything released shortly before the original Droid through now will require a data plan on any major carrier in the U.S.

 

[tjk629]

In order to activate the phone on her line with Verizon, she'll have to have a data plan. There are some old (pre-Android) smartphones that can be activated without a data plan, but pretty much anything released shortly before the original Droid through now will require a data plan on any major carrier in the U.S.

This.

Definitive list: smartphones that do/do not require data plans Here is a list of devices that don't need a data plan, but as you see they're all from 2007.

Another alternative would be to just get a like an android media player (sony & samsung make android ones). They're pretty much android phones minus the cellular radio.

 

[Xander Crews]

In order to activate the phone on her line with Verizon, she'll have to have a data plan. There are some old (pre-Android) smartphones that can be activated without a data plan, but pretty much anything released shortly before the original Droid through now will require a data plan on any major carrier in the U.S.

Boo and hiss.
That's what I figured. Thanks.

Seems like a shady practice though. And it seems like someone would eventually file a suit against and we'd see phone carriers remove that requirement.

If you don't want the data, then you should have the option to not get a data plan on YOUR phone. Some folks may have an old smart phone where they just want to use the data on WIFI at home, and simply use it as a phone everywhere else...which was one of the things my wife wanted to do.

Oh well.

 

[Xander Crews]

This.

Definitive list: smartphones that do/do not require data plans Here is a list of devices that don't need a data plan, but as you see they're all from 2007.

Another alternative would be to just get a like an android media player (sony & samsung make android ones). They're pretty much android phones minus the cellular radio.

Well, we can still use the D2 on our WIFI at home. But it just won't get cell service. The thought was for her to use it as her cell phone, and also for data on our WIFI at home.

 

[dezymond]

Boo and hiss.
That's what I figured. Thanks.

Seems like a shady practice though. And it seems like someone would eventually file a suit against and we'd see phone carriers remove that requirement.

If you don't want the data, then you should have the option to not get a data plan on YOUR phone. Some folks may have an old smart phone where they just want to use the data on WIFI at home, and simply use it as a phone everywhere else...which was one of the things my wife wanted to do.

Oh well.

It used to be that way. I had the AT&T Tilt without a data plan before I joined Verizon in 09 for the Droid. It was great, especially since Wifi can be found anywhere (even in McDonalds for crying out loud). I wish carriers would eliminate that rule, but it is what it is.

 

[vatothe0]

Boo and hiss.
That's what I figured. Thanks.

Seems like a shady practice though. And it seems like someone would eventually file a suit against and we'd see phone carriers remove that requirement.

It's been 5 years, good luck with that.

If you don't want the data, then you should have the option to not get a data plan on YOUR phone.

And yet, it's THEIR network. Build your own hundred billion dollar network if you want to make your own rules.
Call Comcast and tell them you just want to subscribe to two channels and tell them about how it's YOUR tv. See how well that goes.

 

[WVUTampaAlum]

I have work basic cell work phone. No data. I toy with my wife's original Droid. Running steel Droid which I am loving. I make and receive calls and texts on the Droid through wifi. I use groove IP and Google voice for this. Groove IP works amazingly well. Voice has some delays sometimes receiving texts. I have been toying with idea of picking up a mobile cellular hotspot and having 'cellular' anywhere k want on the smartphone.

 

[dezymond]

And yet, it's THEIR network. Build your own hundred billion dollar network if you want to make your own rules.
Call Comcast and tell them you just want to subscribe to two channels and tell them about how it's YOUR tv. See how well that goes.

Yup, unfortunately if you use their stuff you gotta play by their rules. Remember those kids days of treehouses or playground rules? Sorta like that...but not as nice and alot more expensive

 

[Natey2]

I make and receive calls and texts on the Droid through wifi. I use groove IP and Google voice for this. Groove IP works amazingly well. Voice has some delays sometimes receiving texts. I have been toying with idea of picking up a mobile cellular hotspot and having 'cellular' anywhere k want on the smartphone.

+1 for GrooVe IP. I use it on my ICS 4.0.3 wifi-only tablet.

Sent from my unrooted DroidX using Tapatalk

 

[Jehu]

The last time I was in the Verizon store, I asked about the data plan requirement. I was told that people with data capable phones and no contract would use data unknowingly and then gripe about the bill which is a legitimate charge per kb. Some of those bills got pretty large. It would be nice if the option was available but they have no control over the use. Given that, the policy isn't as dastardly as it seems at first. jmho

 

[Xander Crews]

It's been 5 years, good luck with that.

And yet, it's THEIR network. Build your own hundred billion dollar network if you want to make your own rules.
Call Comcast and tell them you just want to subscribe to two channels and tell them about how it's YOUR tv. See how well that goes.

Dude...I wouldn't be using THEIR "billion dollar network" for data. That's my whole point.
They sell dumb phones that do not use data on their network. A smart phone with the Verizon 3G/4G data option turned off is no different than a dumb phone, except for the fact it can use data on a WIFI connection, which doesn't use their "hundred billion dollar network" anyway, so why would they care?
As far as they would be concerned, I'd simply be using a dumb phone for talk and text.

Everyone knows why they and everyone else requires data packages...because a lot of folks would do what we are wanting to do and not use their network for data and just use WIFI, so they make you buy a data package so they make more money.
They do it because they can...and out of greed.

This will eventually change. Count on it.

 

[tjk629]

Then why not ditch Verizon and go prepaid. I believe there are prepaid carriers that will let her have a smartphone sans the data.

 

[dezymond]

I do hope that stupid rule changes. I can enjoy my Nexus without data and everywhere I go has Wifi. It's a bit more cumbersome to have multiple wifi networks to connect to everytime, but definitely worth the $30/mo I'd save.

For now they need to go back to keeping unlimited first.

Now if they ever do drop this dumb rule, I think the prices of subsidized phones will go up, naturally. How much it goes up, who knows. Then again who knows if they'll ever drop that smartphone rule.