Can I get an iPhone for DD WITHOUT a data plan?

[julieamedeiros]

We have verizon and DD wants an iPhone but I don't want to pay, nor thinks she needs, the data package. She would be fine using it as a phone and apps on wi-fi. So like a iPod with a phone. Any ideas?

 

[AmyLand98]

We have Verizon and an iPhone...as far as I know, you can not get an iPhone without a data package. To have an iPhone on a phone package with Verizon you have to have the data package. I would assume this is the same with all providers.

 

[jillbur]

DH and I both haave Verizon iPhones. We were told you have to have a data package. I think there are different priced packages. Or, there used to be. Sometimes around the holidays they have better deals, too. There was a recent thread about purchasing an iPhone for a higher cost and not having a plan. It was like $30 a month through Sprint maybe? Maybe you can check in Walmart, Target, or Best Buy at their non agreement phones? Good luck!

ETA~I checked the other thread. It was Virgin Mobile at Target.

 

[mrodgers]

Pay $700 and buy an iPhone without a contract. Get AT&T prepaid with it and get 200 texts for $5, 1000 texts for $10, or unlimited everything for $50. Then you don't have data. Else, get the iPhone for $100 or $200 or whatever it is now and it's contract with any of them, you have to have data with a smart phone.

 

[RitaE]

Do you have another phone on the plan with a data package?
Verizon and ATT are both going to "shared data" plans now where you don't buy a data plan for every device.

But I added up the cost for our ATT phones and it is pretty much equal to what we are paying now with separate data plans. I don't know that Verizon would be any better.

 

[sherry7]

No. If you buy the phone for the subsidized price ($100 to $400, depending on the model of iPhone) then you're required to have a data plan with it.

Why don't you just buy her an iPod Touch instead?

 

[KCmike]

No. If you buy the phone for the subsidized price ($100 to $400, depending on the model of iPhone) then you're required to have a data plan with it.

Why don't you just buy her an iPod Touch instead?

You can use an Ipod Touch as a phone when you have access to wifi. It's called text free and you can make calls! You can also use face time as well. With that an Iphone is just like an I Touch.

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

No you cannot get it without, you have to have a data plan.

 

[littleelf]

Depending on her age, I would also recommend the ipod touch. Especially if she is younger and won't need a phone in a circumstance where she is without wi-fi. If she is a teen, she might need the phone as a phone, though. If she is younger, then get text free or another app that functions for texting/calling through wi-fi.

 

[smitch425]

Depending on her age, I would also recommend the ipod touch. Especially if she is younger and won't need a phone in a circumstance where she is without wi-fi. If she is a teen, she might need the phone as a phone, though. If she is younger, then get text free or another app that functions for texting/calling through wi-fi.

I was wondering the age also. If she is a teen, this would be one of those "When you get a job you can buy your own" moments. If she needs a phone for calls and texts, you can get her a more basic, less expensive phone. Any phone is better than nothing.

 

[DawnM]

With ATT Gophone you can purchase a new iphone strait out ($599 for 4 and $699 for 4s) or you can find a used ATT iphone to purchase off of Craigslist or a friend (older models are fine.)

Then you need an unlocked SIM card (Youtube explains how) and that way you can get an iphone with only wifi and no data.

Dawn

 

[cornflake]

With ATT Gophone you can purchase a new iphone strait out ($599 for 4 and $699 for 4s) or you can find a used ATT iphone to purchase off of Craigslist or a friend (older models are fine.)

Then you need an unlocked SIM card (Youtube explains how) and that way you can get an iphone with only wifi and no data.

Dawn

I don't believe this works. People try this with different carriers but as soon as they notice it's a smartphone, they hit you with the data charge.

 

[beckyboo87]

I pay $12 a month for my iphone through pagepluscellular My phone is paid for and I dont really use data. Its been working for me for 8 months. There are a few plans to chose from. I have the one that works for me!...I think the key is....dont tell em its an iphone! I remember a questionaire asking if it was a smart phone and I said no...

 

[DawnM]

I have friends who have done it for longer than a year. No problems at all.

Dawn

I don't believe this works. People try this with different carriers but as soon as they notice it's a smartphone, they hit you with the data charge.

 

[DawnM]

Do they use ATT towers?

Dawn

I pay $12 a month for my iphone through pagepluscellular My phone is paid for and I dont really use data. Its been working for me for 8 months. There are a few plans to chose from. I have the one that works for me!...I think the key is....dont tell em its an iphone! I remember a questionaire asking if it was a smart phone and I said no...

 

[minnierocks]

I was wondering the age also. If she is a teen, this would be one of those "When you get a job you can buy your own" moments. If she needs a phone for calls and texts, you can get her a more basic, less expensive phone. Any phone is better than nothing.

We pay for their phones because it is a convenience for us...when our teens wanted the data plans, they had to pay for it. We still cover the phone portion of the bills but on the first day of every month, both of them pay me for the data portion. I consider data to be an unneccessary addition and I think it is a good life lesson for them to understand that. It has also given them a "bill" to pay. Knowing that it is due every month and having to make sure that they pay it, is good practice for when they have financial responsibilities. When they forget, which is rarely, I remind them that companies/banks charge a late fee.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I don't believe this works. People try this with different carriers but as soon as they notice it's a smartphone, they hit you with the data charge.

I have friends who have done it for longer than a year. No problems at all.

Dawn

Our neighbor did this as well. Her husband is in tech for a career so he knew a way around the data plan. She just uses data on wifi.

 

[mrodgers]

I don't believe this works. People try this with different carriers but as soon as they notice it's a smartphone, they hit you with the data charge.

It is prepaid, not a contract with AT&T. There is no way to hit you with a data charge, you have no contract. Using an iPhone on AT&T GoPhone prepaid is no different than me using the cheap smartphone I am using. I pay $5/month for my texts and use wifi for data. I very rarely make phone calls, so the left over $ in the account covers $0.10 per minute for my phone calls. There's no way they ccould charge me $30 for data when there's only $4 left on my account.

 

[luvmy3]

I pay $12 a month for my iphone through pagepluscellular My phone is paid for and I dont really use data. Its been working for me for 8 months. There are a few plans to chose from. I have the one that works for me!...I think the key is....dont tell em its an iphone! I remember a questionaire asking if it was a smart phone and I said no...

If you gave them the serial number on the phone when you activated it, they know its an iphone.

 

[ICF]

I don't believe this works. People try this with different carriers but as soon as they notice it's a smartphone, they hit you with the data charge.

My wife uses my old Iphone 3S like this and has since last fall.

The apps and such only work when wifi is available, but she still only pays the set amount everymonth for the "go phone" plan.