I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this, but I'm getting a new phone soon, and I'm looking at what they have, and I wanted to get the Samsung Omnia. But since it's going on my parents' family plan, they of course looked it over and said no, because it says "$29.99 data plan required", and I'm a tad unsure of what this means. Does it mean I'm forced to get a data plan with it, or does it just mean that if I want all the bells and whistles like 3G internet, that I need a plan?
What it means is that, if you want to buy the phone at the discounted rate, and directly through Verizon, you MUST have a data plan. They will not sell you the phone without it. However, if you pay full price for the phone (usually $400-500), then you can do what you want with it, including using it without the data plan. Though, keep in mind, many smartphones rely heavily on the data plan. For example, many phones running Android will try and connect to the internet, even if you don't have a data plan, which will rack up large data usage bills.
Thanks. This is really making me hate Verizon. Do you know any place I could get the phone besides through Verizon and preferably not through eBay? I want to get a touch screen WinMo phone, but all of them require a data plan if bought through them.
You're not going to find a touchscreen Windows Mobile phone for cheap unless you go used and get it through someplace like eBay. To be honest, if you're not getting a data plan, I would recommend against getting a smartphone. You won't be able to make use of most of the features, so there's no sense in spending all the money for it. And again, most smartphones use the internet constantly, so unless you're able to completely disable it, they'll rack up large data charges.
we don't have a data plan either. Which means half of sprints phones aren't available to me. It sucks. Cause I really want a palm pre.
Yeah, your pretty much stuck with going through ebay or some other 3rd party classifieds site. Many phone companies won't let you buy a smartphone without the data plan. At first it sucks, but if you really think about it, its a good thing, since half the features on the phone are useless without constant internet access. And like YodaEXE said, most smartphones assume you have a data plan, so they'll use it even without you knowing.
Although, if you got a job and convinced your parents that you'll pay for it every month, you could get that phone. And actually, Verizon's mobile internet is actually pretty good. 1.5 Mb and 700 Kb upload is pretty typical where I live.
Also, I noticed that now even Verizon's 3G multimedia phones even require the cheaper $10 data plan (25 MB a month). Unless you want a barebones phone, there really isn't a way to avoid the data plan on Verizon.
I have an unlimited text and data plan. I still need to pay $15 more per month if I want tethering. That pisses me off.
A lot.
I have the Samsung Alais 2 and im on a data plan but it never tries to access the internet so what the above is saying is wrong. I dont have internet on my phone either (but if the phone wants to it could access it. BUT it never will auto update or anything). And just to let u know my bill is usually around $60.00 a month. Verizon only tells u that it has heavy data consumption because they need to have a reason to make u buy it with a data plan and most people believe them. So bottom line is what Verizon is telling u is that it MAY use data when it wants to. BUT it never will, and i have yet to see my phone do anything of the sort (i can look at my data usage and its always at zero).
[QUOTE=apierce1289;21071742]I have the Samsung Alais 2 and im on a data plan but it never tries to access the internet so what the above is saying is wrong. I dont have internet on my phone either (but if the phone wants to it could access it. BUT it never will auto update or anything). And just to let u know my bill is usually around $60.00 a month. Verizon only tells u that it has heavy data consumption because they need to have a reason to make u buy it with a data plan and most people believe them. So bottom line is what Verizon is telling u is that it MAY use data when it wants to. BUT it never will, and i have yet to see my phone do anything of the sort (i can look at my data usage and its always at zero).[/QUOTE]
Just because your one, shit phone isn't working properly, doesn't mean that it doesn't for anyone else. ALL Android phones use internet constantly. ALL Blackberry phones use internet constantly. Most other phones use it constantly. This isn't some conspiracy to get you to pay more money. If you have the phone set up with your email account, it will use internet. If you have it set to use GPS, it'll likely use internet as well. Lots of different things cause internet usage. You just aren't using any of the features of your phone.
[QUOTE=apierce1289;21071742]I have the Samsung Alais 2 and im on a data plan but it never tries to access the internet so what the above is saying is wrong. I dont have internet on my phone either (but if the phone wants to it could access it. BUT it never will auto update or anything). And just to let u know my bill is usually around $60.00 a month. Verizon only tells u that it has heavy data consumption because they need to have a reason to make u buy it with a data plan and most people believe them. So bottom line is what Verizon is telling u is that it MAY use data when it wants to. BUT it never will, and i have yet to see my phone do anything of the sort (i can look at my data usage and its always at zero).[/QUOTE]
the alias two isnt a smartphone, nor does it run Android, WinMo, or PalmOS
In fact, you can't even switch mobile data usage off on Android without switching all mobile communication off or resorting to hacky solutions (not having a valid access point set)
[QUOTE=DrTaxi;21083549]In fact, you can't even switch mobile data usage off on Android without switching all mobile communication off or resorting to hacky solutions (not having a valid access point set)[/QUOTE]
On my Droid Eris you can turn off EVDO. Which essentially, turns off all network data. But it still leaves standard CDMA voice and texting on.
You hold the End/Power button, it brings up a menu, and you select Mobile Network. Not sure how it would apply on GSM phones though. But since this is about Verizon, that point is moot.
But like I said before, you can use it without data, just don't expect a lot of features to work properly, or at all.
Add a data blocking feature?
You know, it's about time the cell phone industry changes. Why do phones cost $400 - $500? You realize that that is as much as a laptop, right?
The reason why phone prices is so high is because cell phone companies buy them at that price . . . keeping the prices high. Verizon, ATT and Sprint all know that you won't buy a phone at $400, especially because it will break/be outdated in 2 years. They do know that you'll buy a phone at $100/$200 though, so they will sell you a $15-$30 "data plan" [B]on top[/B] of the $30-$40 talk plan . . . which is plain ridiculous. People were in an uproar about $4.00 /gal gas, but they don't care about this.
According to NPR, the average text costs [B]the cellphone company[/B] $0.00001.
So, let's break this down.
Let's say you buy, I dunno, a new smart phone from ATT or Verizon for $100.
$100 + ($30 /mo data plan x 24mo contract)
= $840
Congrats! You just bought a $840 phone!
You could buy a effing netbook or laptop for this, and instead of texting, you could AIM or whatever you do...
To be honest, the "data plan" is a big load of bullshit at the rate Verizon goes at($1.99/mb). Seriously, if broadband costs less than it and I can get an uncapped(or extremely high capped) rate, then it's almost a wonder of what technology we're running on that it costs that damn much. If they keep it up, studies have said that 20% of people are dropping their data plans after their contract ends to save cash. If they don't adapt, then they'll start to loose cash fast.
inb4 google voice turns into a phone service.
[QUOTE=nicatronTg;21101232]To be honest, the "data plan" is a big load of bullshit at the rate Verizon goes at($1.99/mb). Seriously, if broadband costs less than it and I can get an uncapped(or extremely high capped) rate, then it's almost a wonder of what technology we're running on that it costs that damn much. If they keep it up, studies have said that 20% of people are dropping their data plans after their contract ends to save cash. If they don't adapt, then they'll start to loose cash fast.
inb4 google voice turns into a phone service.[/QUOTE]
It's 30 dollars a month for unlimited. Expensive, yes since its on top of your voice plan as well. But its only 2 dollars a mb if you dont get any data plan.
Everyone knows the telcos rip you off. This is not a surprise, or at least it should not be. Think about the data required to send 2 seconds of voice, then a text.
It's actually cheaper just replacing texting with emails even if you don't have a data plan in most places.
[QUOTE=ShaRose_;21111087]Everyone knows the telcos rip you off. This is not a surprise, or at least it should not be. Think about the data required to send 2 seconds of voice, then a text.[/QUOTE]
If [B]everyone [/B]knows it's such a rip off, then why are people falling over themselves to give the cell phone companies their money? Why are most people not just buying a netbook and getting a landline?
Or, why aren't most people dealing with the cell companies like we used to deal with long distance companies . . . by calling them up, getting bids from each company, telling each company who had the lowest bid so that they would make their prices go lower, then go with the lowest price?
Because nowadays telcos are a necessary evil. Oh, and had you properly read the post, you'd have noticed he means all kinds of telcos.
Which is true, internet connections are horrible [i]and[/i] overpriced in most areas.
Please don't get a smartphone without a data plan. Also, Verizon's EVDO internet access is fairly spectacular as far as mobile internet goes. Mine pulls 1.5mbit when I tether it to my laptop. Also, if you get a phone with a data plan, but don't want to buy the tethering plan, check google for a workaround. I know that for my enV Touch I was able to change a few service menu settings and now it tethers fine. Questionably legal, but extremely convenient.
[QUOTE=Demache;21062836]Yeah, your pretty much stuck with going through ebay or some other 3rd party classifieds site. Many phone companies won't let you buy a smartphone without the data plan. At first it sucks, but if you really think about it, its a good thing, since half the features on the phone are useless without constant internet access. And like YodaEXE said, most smartphones assume you have a data plan, so they'll use it even without you knowing.
Although, if you got a job and convinced your parents that you'll pay for it every month, you could get that phone. And actually, Verizon's mobile internet is actually pretty good. [b]1.5 Mb and 700 Kb upload is pretty typical where I live.[/b]
Also, I noticed that now even Verizon's 3G multimedia phones even require the cheaper $10 data plan (25 MB a month). Unless you want a barebones phone, there really isn't a way to avoid the data plan on Verizon.[/QUOTE]
[img]http://www.speedtest.net/android/2450820.png[/img]
[QUOTE=<ToD> Aaron;21131051][img]http://www.speedtest.net/android/2450820.png[/img][/QUOTE]
Haha. Yeah, I went to the edge of town today and found one of their towers (its the ones with three antenna clusters). I parked right under it and did a speed test and got little under 2 Mb and 1 Mb upload. That really blew me away as 1 Mb upload is what my regular internet connection gets. About 700kb download is pretty normal in my basement, but then I have wifi anyway.
[editline]09:06PM[/editline]
What I don't get is, why don't people here in rural communities where DSL or cable internet aren't options, get a Verizon data plan? They have extremely good 3G coverage out here, if you think about it, its cheaper than satellite (and faster). Tether it to your computer and there you go.
When I mean cheaper, I mean you get a mobile phone, and a mobile internet modem all in one. As far as I know, that's cheaper than buying satellite internet, and buying a regular cell phone.
Alot of people do that, but it's sometimes pretty unreliable.
[QUOTE=demonguard;21132304]Alot of people do that, but it's sometimes pretty unreliable.[/QUOTE]
That's a good point. There always is that possibility of there being a dead spot or weak signal. But as far as I know, outages are a very rare occurrence here.
[QUOTE=Demache;21132088]Haha. Yeah, I went to the edge of town today and found one of their towers (its the ones with three antenna clusters). [b]I parked right under it and did a speed test and got little under 2 Mb and 1 Mb upload.[/b] That really blew me away as 1 Mb upload is what my regular internet connection gets. About 700kb download is pretty normal in my basement, but then I have wifi anyway.
[editline]09:06PM[/editline]
What I don't get is, why don't people here in rural communities where DSL or cable internet aren't options, get a Verizon data plan? They have extremely good 3G coverage out here, if you think about it, its cheaper than satellite (and faster). Tether it to your computer and there you go.
When I mean cheaper, I mean you get a mobile phone, and a mobile internet modem all in one. As far as I know, that's cheaper than buying satellite internet, and buying a regular cell phone.[/QUOTE]
lol. This is from my house. Some miles from a cell tower.
the 30 dollar data plan is now required for all smart phones no matter what.
I got a droid eris off of ebay and they said the only way I can use it is with the 30 dollar data plan or not at all. I was pissed
[QUOTE=hansjurgen;21133845]the 30 dollar data plan is now required for all smart phones no matter what.
I got a droid eris off of ebay and they said the only way I can use it is with the 30 dollar data plan or not at all. I was pissed[/QUOTE]
This is in fact a lie. I switched from my old phone to a Touch Pro 2. They told me I'd HAVE to get a data plan. I bitched my ass off and guess what ? I don't have a data plan. Same goes with my mom's Treo 700WX. They said it HAD to have one. If you bitch, they'll not force it. Only thing is, don't complain if you accidentally download data and it runs the fuck out of your phone bill.
wow that's awesome I thought there was a technical reason they required the plan
I'm gonna go bitch to verizon till they let me use my droid eris
thanks for pointing that out
Why the FUCK would you buy a smartphone with no data plan? You might as well buy a qwerty dumbphone if you can't use any of the internet features.
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