Anyone use a smartphone without a data plan?

[LSA]

Anyone? Everything I've read points to the fact that the carriers (att/verizon) will not let you use a smartphone without a data plan. I pretty much need to stick with ATT as they're the only carrier with service where I live.

Even if you buy a used phone which is what I'd planned on doing they will detect it and activate a data plan.

I really just want one for the mp3 playing normal phones just can't handle a 32gb microsd card and just become dog slow when moving through menus and trying to skip songs so I was planning on just buying a used phone through fleabay instead of an equally expensive(or more mp3 player)

The best way I've heard about is threatening to cancel your plan but even then it's still not a surefire way.

[porsche4life]

Yup, most aren't going to let it happy these days. Plus so many things the phones do requires data that you will end up wanting or needing data with it.... I think AT&T has a $15 data plan... Just get that, you will use it...

[stomachmonkey]

Pisses me off.

I have data service for my daughters phone blocked at the provider level.

Been that way since day one.

She wanted an upgraded phone and had also saved enough money for a new iPod.

I have an iPhone 4 sittin in a drawer that I was going to give her but the data plan thing screwed that up.

I think it's total BS that I'm forced/required to pay for a devices capabilities when I have no intention of using them and in fact can not because I have instructed the carrier to block them.

[Joe Bob]

Yup....found out the hard way. Hooked it up and they sent me an email....congrats we just pick a data plan for you....that will be 360 a year.

[Christien]

My wife has an LG Optimus (android) with no data plan, though she's on my plan and I have a data plan (no sharing) so maybe they let that slide.

[LakeCleElum]

i use a Dumb Phone and a Gen 4 I-Touch....No monthly fees. Have 3,200 songs, books, etc...Use it as a phoen out of the country with Skype and Google Voice when I have Wi-Fi...No big deal to carry both.

[LSA]

I'm not opposed to getting another mp3 player I just figured I could consolidate since I outgrew my last 16gb mp3 player ~3700 songs not huge but going up all the time.

I'm perfectly happy with my dumb phone and with the ubiquity of wifi data really isn't a must. I only moved into a texting service this year and not by choice so I'm pretty sure I'd be way happy without data.

hmmm I'm still sharing a plan with my sister and I know she's got a data plan, maybe I could get it in a similar situation like Christ.

Yeah sm it's pretty friggin ridiculous.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Just put it on Straight Talk, $45 a month, you get the data too and live happily ever after. No fuss, no muss. No I'm not affiliated but that's what I did and it's very nice to not be beholden to ATT, Verizon, Sprint or any of the other crook telco companies out there and not stuck in a contract.

I believe you can pay as little as $30 a month and still get unlimited calls, texts and it just limits the data - should be on the web site but I just get the "unlimited" one (you can actually tether it but just don't do it too often or get caught or they'll shut your data off until the next month... In moderation is ok though).

[Teutonics]

My wife and three daughters (4 phones) all have iPhones on AT&T go-phone plan with no data. I guess technically there is a "pay as you go" data plan associated with the line, but I have the data functionality turned off on the phone, so no data is used. Wifi is so common now, none of them have really complained about not having data. Costs me about $10 per month for each line.

And if anyone has an iPhone 4 in a drawer that they can't use, send me a PM with a price... #1 daughter needs a new phone.

[Willem Fick]

My wife and I both have Samsung smartphones. My wife went for a data plan from day one whereas I tried to go without and it proved very costly for me by comparison.

Of all the applications on the phone the operating system is consistently the largest consumer of data, and whereas I can try to manage my consumption in other apps, I have no control over what the operating system does behind the scenes, and it leads to serious expense if you use out-of-plan data.

I guess if you have access to free wi-fi this is not such a problem, but the whole reason I have a smartphone is so that I can run my office when I am not in it, which negates my ability to use wi-fi.

My advice is to buy a plan with a small amount of data, and have the bundle enlarged once you have determined you actual consumption.

[dennis in se pa]

Straighttalk. $45 a month. Unlimited everything. No Contract. Around here Smartphones are on AT&Ts system. Online and at Walmart. I have been with them for years and am very happy.

[LSA]

Hmm I might check out straight talk especially if they just piggy back off ATT I should be fine. Thanks guys.