Get iphone then cancel data plan?

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Namuh

Weaksauce
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Jun 12, 2007
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My son has an upgrade to an iphone 3gs coming up. He currently has a Blackjack II. When I bought him the Blackjack II i was able to get At&t to block data on it. If I buy him the iphone ( I understand that I have to agree to a data plan at signup) can I then cancel the data plan a month later?
 
Why get an iphone at all? Isn't the whole point of a smartphone to have data access?

I found this on AT&T's website....

An eligible data plan is required for certain devices, including iPhones and other designated Smartphones. Eligible data plans cover data usage in the U.S. and do not cover international data usage and charges. If it is determined that the customer is using an iPhone or other designated Smartphone without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to add an eligible data plan to the account and bill the customer the appropriate monthly fee.
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http://www.wireless.att.com/answer-..._dyncharset=UTF-8&solutionId=53463&isSrch=Yes

Sounds like they will automatically sign you up for a data plan again if they find the phone is without one. My suggestion is to skip the iphone and get a regular flip/slide phone and buy him an ipod touch...it can do most of the apps that the iphone can over wifi (no data plan needed). You can even use the Skype app for calling over Wifi. Really makes no sense to get an iphone without the data plan.
 
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i dont think you can block data anymore (or at least get out of paying for it), plus it really blocks the real features of the phone. i would look at some of the "multi-media" type phones rather then a smart phone
 
...Or you could just have him earn that $30 data plan each month. Few extra chores or something and he'd be able to get some real value out of the phone.
 
yea it has changed alot since a few years ago. Just dumped my 3G for a Nexus one. they are now requiring messaging plans for cheap non-smartphones or data on smartphones. no way around it.

it does suck *especially cause of the jacked up rates on data plans* BUT these phones are worth a shit if they dont have date on them. it would be SERIOUSLY crippled, i really dont know what i would do with it...
 
ChristopherB said:
Why get an iphone at all? Isn't the whole point of a smartphone to have data access?

I found this on AT&T's website....


http://www.wireless.att.com/answer-..._dyncharset=UTF-8&solutionId=53463&isSrch=Yes

Sounds like they will automatically sign you up for a data plan again if they find the phone is without one. My suggestion is to skip the iphone and get a regular flip/slide phone and buy him an ipod touch...it can do most of the apps that the iphone can over wifi (no data plan needed). You can even use the Skype app for calling over Wifi. Really makes no sense to get an iphone without the data plan.
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the iphone has probably 70,000 apps that don't even use data.
 
Gabe3 said:
the iphone has probably 70,000 apps that don't even use data.
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That may be true but all the best apps use data (unless you're talking about games). The point is to this thread that you can't cancel data on a iPhone, and even if you did somehow do it then I would be very careful what I do on the phone. I've heard horror stories of people who have gotten like $10k bills and all kinds of craziness because of data.
 
I think it started in September of 2009. Any smartphone without data before September 2009 will stay that way. The minute you change to a new phone, they'll detect it and add data to it. My friend has a blackberry before that date and it still has no data plan. Right when he puts his simcard into another smart phone, data will automatically be applied.
 
Gabe3 said:
the iphone has probably 70,000 apps that don't even use data.
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...and you could use them on a ipod touch. Little sense is paying extra for a smart phone that you aren't really going to use properly.

I think the suggestion I made earlier is the best option. Get him a basic phone with calling/texting, and pick up an ipod touch. That way he can play all the games and use most of the apps over WiFi without ever needing to deal with a data plan.
 
I always thought you had to have data plan with iphone but i heard recently that if you bought one not from att and just swapped sim cards they would not even know. i have a few iphones that my kids use with out data ZOMG its fun to play games with out internet imagine that. Who wants to carry two devices in their pockets?
 
Ya I was thinking about getting him an iphone off of craigslist and his plan already has unlimited texting and data blocked so he should be fine. He will then only connect to download apps and such using wifi when he is at home or near a wifi hotspot. We shall see...
 
If you have a 3G or 3GS, and use it on AT&T, you HAVE to have a data plan. If you remove it, they WILL add it back on for you. Don't want a data plan? Put it on T-Mobile.
 
Namuh said:
Ya I was thinking about getting him an iphone off of craigslist and his plan already has unlimited texting and data blocked so he should be fine. He will then only connect to download apps and such using wifi when he is at home or near a wifi hotspot. We shall see...
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ATT knows what phones are on their network. Before your phone tells you that you have network coverage ATT has identified your phone. It may take a few days but they will get you.
 
I pay 60 a month for unlimited data + 500 mins + unlimited messaging on tmobile with no contract and an iphone 3gs
 
An iPhone without data is an iPod touch with phone, sms, mms capabilities, gps, camera, compass, microphone.
 
0mega said:
A GPS with no way to load maps. ;)
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There is a way: preload them.

My friend was using his iPhone in Crete without data (roaming) and got by quite ok by preloading maps when he had wifi access.

Just saying there is a way, even if it's suboptimal.
 
aweusx2 said:
I always thought you had to have data plan with iphone but i heard recently that if you bought one not from att and just swapped sim cards they would not even know. i have a few iphones that my kids use with out data ZOMG its fun to play games with out internet imagine that. Who wants to carry two devices in their pockets?
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yep you are correct.. its a contract requirement with owning an iphone which is why its just a big scam.. better off buying an android phone that doesnt require the data plan..
 
sirmonkey1985 said:
yep you are correct.. its a contract requirement with owning an iphone which is why its just a big scam.. better off buying an android phone that doesnt require the data plan..
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Huh?

I mean, I own a Droid and all, but still, all Android phones require a data plan.

To summarize, if you want a smartphone, you're paying for a data plan.

*Where smartphone means iPhone, Android, or WebOS.
 
sirmonkey1985 said:
yep you are correct.. its a contract requirement with owning an iphone which is why its just a big scam.. better off buying an android phone that doesnt require the data plan..
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... I don't even know what to say to that. :confused:


Anyway, you can't get out of a contract for a data plan. Remember, they're letting you have a ~$600 phone for a small fee. They've gotta make that money back somehow
 
Not everyone needs to have 24/7 access to the internet. Some of us are happy with just wifi.
 
lt_shiro said:
Not everyone needs to have 24/7 access to the internet. Some of us are happy with just wifi.
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+1 :(. When you have access to wifi at home and hot-spots when you're out, $30/mo looks very expensive. Until I see reasonable tiered or unlimited add on plans for data, you'll never see me on Verizon or ATT (if I have to pay for it :cool:). Kudos to T-Mo and Sprint for their very reasonable approaches to data on smartphones.
 
Sean said:
People are cheap.
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well, me being a college student with campus-wide wifi, wifi in my dorm room... don't really need a data plan here do I?

my contract's up in 2 months though... currently on a touch pro 1, was on a blackjack II, no idea what I'm going to do after this
 
NoForgiveness said:
An iPhone without a data plan is an expensive brick.
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No, it's an ipod touch that can call people. Not great, but def not a brick.

Not like it matters though as you need a data plan. Good news is the cheapest is only $15/month now.
 
paperwastage said:
well, me being a college student with campus-wide wifi, wifi in my dorm room... don't really need a data plan here do I?

my contract's up in 2 months though... currently on a touch pro 1, was on a blackjack II, no idea what I'm going to do after this
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I guess if you are always on campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 365 days a year. If thats the case. However I doubt very much that's true. Some people don't want the data plan because they don't want to pay for it, plain and simple. Those people are perfectly fine in having what they want.

It's not what the phone was intended for. People just don't know what a Data plan can do for them these days.
 
If you get an Iphone and use it on AT&T without the data plan, you'll get away with it for a bit. But they know the IMEIs of every single iphone made and after a while (maybe weeks, maybe days), you'll get a text saying that the $30 data plan has been automatically added to your contract.

If you try and cancel it, they will suspend your service unless you have a different phone to use. There's no way around it.
 
You're effed. You need a data plan.

Get your son an Ipod touch.
 
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