Would you get a Data plan even if getting a smartphone on contract didn't require one

[PrinceMyshkin]

I would not get a data plan if it wasn't required, I was able to use a smartphone quite effective for awhile without one (90% of the time in a wifi area). Now I do have a data plan and due to my carrier's policy, must maintain it as long as I have my smartphone.

Given the option, I would of preferred the ability to add/remove a data plan on a month to month basis when I actually needed it (that used to be an option with att)

 

[ControlD]

So what is it that people must have that requires data (and WiFi is no where to be found)? What would be a scenario?

Maps if you are lost? (I am assuming that uses some data)

 

[Chapbass]

So what is it that people must have that requires data (and WiFi is no where to be found)? What would be a scenario?

I just used both the data for the phone itself as well as tethering to my laptop this morning to get online and communicate with remote support when the network at the office was having issues.

 

[ilkhan]

Without a data plan, I would have no use for a Smartphone.

This

Sometimes its less "is there wifi available" and more "god damnit how long and how many steps does it take to connect to a 20kb/s open wifi point?!"

 

[gmaster456]

If I couldn't get data on my smartphone there's no point in having one. I might as well carry around an iPod Touch or galaxy player.

 

[openwheel]

Maps: Can't we just preload the maps? I can download blocks of SD, SF, NY, Paris, Munich before I go.

Backup tethering as WiFi is down: Is this really worth $30/month for 2gigs? How often does this happen anyway?

What I am trying to say is, that Apple, Google, Verizon, and all companies involved have created fragmented "services" in order to make sure we pay monthly premiums for smartphones. Why can't a smartphone act like a Garmin without data service?

 

[Fardringle]

I currently don't have a smart phone because I CAN'T get one without a data plan. Even if I buy one at full price somewhere else, the carriers won't activate it without buying a data plan. I'd love to have the extra features of a smart phone, but at least 99% of the time have no need for mobile data.

 

[jaydee]

I currently don't have a smart phone because I CAN'T get one without a data plan. Even if I buy one at full price somewhere else, the carriers won't activate it without buying a data plan. I'd love to have the extra features of a smart phone, but at least 99% of the time have no need for mobile data.

Pretty much the same boat. You CAN get the Lumia 520 for $80 on ATT Go mobile network or something like that, no data plan required, no contract, but it's a mid-range smartphone (at best) and you'd have to willing to go Windows phone.

 

[kyrax12]

What a dumb question. What's the purpose of a smart phone without a data plan? With ST, I'm paying $42/month for everything.

Not really dumb when I know tons of people that want to get iPhones but can't or don't want to because they don't want to pay for a monthly data plan. It also looks like the thread isn't completely one sided as there are users here that don't want to pay for a data plan. So I don't really see how this is a dumb question.

A smartphone can be a PDA, gaming device, music player all in one package. Why buy an ipod touch and a phone if you can have an iPhone/smartphone that can basically do both in one package. As most college students and many other people are near Wifi 80% of the time, I reckoned they can live without a data plan and just depend on Wifi. Even a $99 smartphone is significantly better than any dumbphone in the market IMO.

So if carriers somehow hypothetically keep the smart phone prices subsidized and made it where getting one doesn't require a data plan, it would be a no-brainer for people to choose a smartphone rather than a feature or dumb phone.

As for the battery issue between smartphones and dumbphones, I find that smartphones are more useful without a data plan even though their battery life aren't as good as dumbphones. Correct me if I am wrong, but mobile data is a pretty big battery drainer by itself.
I am guessing a smartphone can last an extra hour or two without mobile data enable.

 

[Ksyder]

Its fine to have no data plan although I'd prefer a little data. I am on a 1gb plan this month and don't use it that much. I haven't even hit 400 mb yet. Mainly due to being on wi-fi at home and work.

The only time I personally feel its really necessary is for price checking and reviews while shopping, and for maps/navigation. Anything else can really wait for wifi, IMO. I could get by with 50 mb a month probably.

 

[Trombe]

Pretty sure you can already do this with GSM MVNOs. Makes cheapo phones like the Lumia 520/521 worth it over a feature phone for some people to consolidate devices.

That being said, in a hypothetical situation without a required data plan, I would prefer a feature phone and consider a tablet if WiFi is ubiquitous. In reality though, that's not the case at all. No WiFi at work makes a data plan a major convenience.

 

[Ksyder]

Pretty sure you can already do this with GSM MVNOs.

You can pretty much do this with any prepaid plan that is pay as you go or plans that just don't include data. Most plans include some data though. But theres no situation like with the regular carriers where you will be forced to have some data plan if you are using a smartphone.

That to me is a major plus to prepaid, due to the fact that many like to have a smartphone to use on wi-fi only, but with a phone included as well to consolidate devices.

 

[Crono]

I'm one of those people who would own a smartphone even if there wasn't data or WiFi. I had PDAs back in the early 2000s, the first one I owned being a Dell Axim (an X5, and then a later one). A smartphone without data is still useful for the same things as PDAs were back then: ebooks, GPS, note recording/taking, watching videos, playing music, playing games, etc. My One doubles as a home theater universal remote and wireless media streamer, too, so it's completely worth it even if I didn't have data. Works great as a digital camera, too, though obviously any smartphone is going to be beat by even midrange point and shoots with decent zoom.

That said, I would still prefer having data even if it weren't required because I use it for internet browsing and downloading of podcasts on the go, as well as for emails, text messaging, etc. It's not an utter necessity - and in reality I don't need a phone or any of the other technology I own - but I definitely like having it for those things.

 

[gorcorps]

It wouldn't change anything for me. I still want the data I have

 

[boomhower]

I'm very mobile throughout the day at work so wifi just doesn't work at all for me, I need a data plan. I'll keep my unlimited until it is pried from my hands.

 

[desura]

I *am* doing that right now.

Also, my nokia phone has offline-maps navigation. Which is like 85% of a data plan's usefulness.

Maybe if I were a busy business owner or in an executive team would it be necessary for me to have a data plan.

For the average working man? No.

 

[Eug]

I currently don't have a smart phone because I CAN'T get one without a data plan. Even if I buy one at full price somewhere else, the carriers won't activate it without buying a data plan. I'd love to have the extra features of a smart phone, but at least 99% of the time have no need for mobile data.

That's really strange. There is no such restriction with my carrier AFAIK. Like I said before, I even had an iPhone with my data-less account, and it was even subsidized no less. However now they won't provide a subsidy without a more expensive plan with data, but AFAIK you can still activate an unlocked smartphone.

What about buying an unlocked phone and getting a friend to activate it, and then using it with your account?

 

[notposting]

That's really strange. There is no such restriction with my carrier AFAIK. Like I said before, I even had an iPhone with my data-less account, and it was even subsidized no less. However now they won't provide a subsidy without a more expensive plan with data, but AFAIK you can still activate an unlocked smartphone.

What about buying an unlocked phone and getting a friend to activate it, and then using it with your account?

It is basically impossible on Verizon or Sprint (CDMA, has number tied to device, even with the current SIM cards they can still ID the phone). As of a couple years ago AT&T would periodically scan their network for iPhones to make sure they had a data plan attached (and helpfully attach one if you had forgotten ). Not sure about T-Mo, they seem a bit more cool about things.

So I can't even pawn off my old smartphones on my wife, so she could carry music with her for example (and offline GPS is awesome as well). So she carries her iPod Touch AND flip-phone.

We would get her a smartphone but only if they offered a $10 or $15/200MB style plan. But VZW ditched their low cost data plans a while ago. As well as low cost texting. I have the $5/250 text plan, I used to put it on her line as needed, and then they discontinued it without warning. Now the minimum is $10/1000 texts...and considering texts are basically free for the carrier to provide, I'll pass.

We pay ~$90 for a family plan, I have the texting and unlimited data on my line. Never gone over on our minutes either.

 

[Eug]

Wow. That's pretty a pretty draconian approach. I'm in Canada and I thought our carriers were bad, but that's much worse.

I mean it's just a phone after all. So what if it has smartphone features? You don't need a data plan to use a smartphone. I can understand them not wanting to subsidize an iPhone on a cheap data-less plan, but not allowing you to use an unlocked phone you paid for in full is just stupid.

I do like having a big data plan, but even if I absolutely couldn't get a data plan, I'd still get a smartphone. I need the extra features, which still can be used with WiFi only, even though using WiFi-only is not absolutely ideal.

 

[paperwastage]

for at&t, there is (/used to be) a list of smartphones that won't be detected on postpaid plans... this list is getting smaller (tmobile phones used to be undetected, now they are detected)

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1446373

 

[JAG87]

I'm on the opposite position. I want the data plan, I don't want the minutes.

This.

Give us the option to have data ONLY. I don't need air time and I don't need SMS. Give me at least 5GB/month for $50 or less and I'd be happy.

 

[ibex333]

Just out of curiosity.

I am pretty neutral about having a data plan since it was require for my smartphone.

Now it has proven itself to be really useful considering I use G.voice and what not.

No offense, but I think this is not a very smart question, because the answer is pretty obvious.

Those who require data for business or get it because they are filthy rich, or because they can/have the extra money to burn/ or for fun would certainly keep the data plan.

People like me who work very very hard for their money, which doesn't come easy to them would off course jump ship right away and do away with data.


Really, I think it's insane to force data on those who don't want it, and I'm surprised how come millions of people didn't all gather up in some sort of a collective petition or lawsuit to stop this. I can understand why companies are doing this to us, but I don't understand why we have to bend over and take it.

I have a smartphone, and I have 200mb of data on AT&T, but I don't use it at all. I have options enabled in android that limit apps from using data in the background, yet somehow I still use up my 200mb every month just checking email and very rarely viewing and occasional webpage.

Off course if I could have it my way, I'd cancel data completely. I just don't need it. There is nothing I need to do on the internet that cannot wait till I get home, short of email from work. But even that, they are lucky I'm so diligent at checking all the time - I don't really have to, and it's not my responsibility to always be aware of whats going on at work when I am not there. I just happen to be a responsible worker.

 

[rh71]

Without a data plan, I would have no use for a Smartphone.

for wifi - which was practically unusable on my old HTC Titan (XV6800), but is great on the GNex.

I'm home most of the time so I can use it throughout the house and in bed at night for netflix. But I do also use 4G when out. That said, I am not paying over $30/mo. for a data plan - I refuse. I'm on a grandfathered plan that I will hold onto for as long as possible.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

It is basically impossible on Verizon or Sprint (CDMA, has number tied to device, even with the current SIM cards they can still ID the phone). As of a couple years ago AT&T would periodically scan their network for iPhones to make sure they had a data plan attached (and helpfully attach one if you had forgotten ). Not sure about T-Mo, they seem a bit more cool about things.

So I can't even pawn off my old smartphones on my wife, so she could carry music with her for example (and offline GPS is awesome as well). So she carries her iPod Touch AND flip-phone.

We would get her a smartphone but only if they offered a $10 or $15/200MB style plan. But VZW ditched their low cost data plans a while ago. As well as low cost texting. I have the $5/250 text plan, I used to put it on her line as needed, and then they discontinued it without warning. Now the minimum is $10/1000 texts...and considering texts are basically free for the carrier to provide, I'll pass.

We pay ~$90 for a family plan, I have the texting and unlimited data on my line. Never gone over on our minutes either.

Honestly, most of the stories I hear are missing information about this. It's kinda like if you go search "wifi cannot connect" at Google, and you'll find 5 billion results probably. Are there that many defective devices/wifi routers, or is it user error? My mom has been using an iPhone 3GS without a data plan for some time now, and I helped my coworker unlock his iPhone 4 for his wife who doesn't have a data plan. No one has gotten caught yet.

Back in iOS3, iOS4 or even 5, there wasns't an easy way to turn off data. You had to use some fake APN stuff like unlockit.co.nz so that the phone wouldn't connect online. Now you can just switch off data.

I'm hypothesizing that the people who got caught didn't properly turn off data and accidentally used some and then got caught by AT&T.

 

[notposting]

I remember seeing it on here...but who or when I have no idea

I'm on VZW so it ain't happening for me at all

Your mom is :ninja:

Honestly, most of the stories I hear are missing information about this. It's kinda like if you go search "wifi cannot connect" at Google, and you'll find 5 billion results probably. Are there that many defective devices/wifi routers, or is it user error? My mom has been using an iPhone 3GS without a data plan for some time now, and I helped my coworker unlock his iPhone 4 for his wife who doesn't have a data plan. No one has gotten caught yet.

Back in iOS3, iOS4 or even 5, there wasns't an easy way to turn off data. You had to use some fake APN stuff like unlockit.co.nz so that the phone wouldn't connect online. Now you can just switch off data.

I'm hypothesizing that the people who got caught didn't properly turn off data and accidentally used some and then got caught by AT&T.