Is there such a thing as an Iphone with only talk/text and no data plan?

[abolanwoski]

We are thinking about getting DD a phone. I really don't want to pay a small fortune for a monthly plan and it looks like if we added her to our share everything on Verizon it would be >50 per month more than what we are currently paying. I don't think she needs data as she can use wifi at home and she's only a middle schooler. Right now she has an ipod touch that is pretty old that she uses for music, texting and games. I would love to get her an iphone to take the place of that plus have phone service, but it seems like Verizon will only add smart phones WITH data.

Anyone find a place to get just phone service/text?

 

[Dizlvr]

My ds just bought an iphone but I was not going to spend $30 a month on page plus for him to use it so we went with AT&T go phone service. In order to activate the service I had to pick a plan, it is $30 a month (unlimited texts and minutes), but I can switch over to the 10 cents a minute/text. I'm waiting until next month when its time to pay. Neither of these plans have data but you can purchase some data for a month if you need it.
My ds doesn't need data, he can use wi-fi so the 10 cents plan works for him because he doesn't really use a phone. I wanted him to have it though.

 

[starry_solo]

Unfortunately, Verizon requires a data plan with all smartphones.

 

[zoemurr]

Check out tracfone bring your own phone. Great deal for light users. I'm hoping to spend about $100 a year by sticking mainly to wifi. Ting is supposed to be good also.

 

[MillauFr]

My daughter has an I*Phone and she pays $33 per month for unlimited texts and data. She is on Virgin Mobile.

 

[lwc]

My kiddo will be getting a shiny new iPod touch and a cheap call/text only phone (which will only add $10/mo to our contract which already has unlimited texting and more talk time than we will ever use)

 

[bsblady01]

no you have to have a full plan with a smartphone. since she is still in middle school why can't she use your phone when she goes out with friends, and then get her a real phone when she can pay for it.

 

[Turk February]

PPs are correct. Phone companies require a data plan for smartphones.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

I bought a used iphone 5s from a seller on Amazon, made sure it was for use on AT&T before purchasing. I got a mini sim card from my local at&t store, and set it up over the phone with the 10cent a minute gophone plan. I can call and text and use wifi data. I can even purchase a texting plan for 5 dollars if wanted. When I need it, like when we go to disney, I will switch over for that month to the $45 unlimited plan so I can have data for disney, but will then switch at the end of the month back to the 10 cent.

Don't let the At&t people trick you into a smartphone plan for the gophone. It is not required. If you get someone that says that, hang up and call back. You can have a smartphone on gophone without the data. And you can easily switch back and forth between plans, I have done it several times. In fact, you can do it in your account online without having to deal with CS.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

My ds just bought an iphone but I was not going to spend $30 a month on page plus for him to use it so we went with AT&T go phone service. In order to activate the service I had to pick a plan, it is $30 a month (unlimited texts and minutes), but I can switch over to the 10 cents a minute/text. I'm waiting until next month when its time to pay. Neither of these plans have data but you can purchase some data for a month if you need it.
My ds doesn't need data, he can use wi-fi so the 10 cents plan works for him because he doesn't really use a phone. I wanted him to have it though.

I'm also set up on gophone with my iphone5s. I think they tricked you about the $30 month plan, as that is not required for setup. I activated mine from scratch with the 10cent plan. They kept trying to have me do a monthly plan, but I just stayed firm that I wanted the 10 cent plan and was not interested in having unlimited monthly plan.

 

[Dizlvr]

I'm also set up on gophone with my iphone5s. I think they tricked you about the $30 month plan, as that is not required for setup. I activated mine from scratch with the 10cent plan. They kept trying to have me do a monthly plan, but I just stayed firm that I wanted the 10 cent plan and was not interested in having unlimited monthly plan.

LOL, I thought they were tricking me too so I walked out of the AT&T store. I went to Target and bought the SIM and went to activate it online and when I did that I had to pick the $30 or $45 plan. I tried not too but it wouldn't let me continue with the activation. As long as I can change it I'm okay with that, but if I get my other ds on to AT&T maybe I'll call the instead so I don't have too start that way.

 

[lisaross]

My son has an iphone on pageplus....i put 10.00 every couple of months....he gets talk n text - no data unless on wifi. I have the iphone on pageplus and have the 29.99 plan! Must be a Verizon iphone

 

[Dizlvr]

My son has an iphone on pageplus....i put 10.00 every couple of months....he gets talk n text - no data unless on wifi. I have the iphone on pageplus and have the 29.99 plan! Must be a Verizon iphone

I just wanted to add that if you go the page plus route any 4G iphone will have to have the $29.99 or up plan. You can do an iphone 4 and 4S on the standard (by minute) or the $12 monthly plan.

 

[hsmamato2]

many of the prepaid carriers offer just talk and text.... and yes you can shut off the 'data' button on an iphone so it isn't getting anything but wifi for games and the talking/texting feature- I use pageplus cellurlar for my personal iphone- I get 1200 talk minutes,and 3000 texts plus ? amount of data to use monthly for 32.00- I usually keep the data off,since I don't use it much. and I can't remember how much data they offer on my plan. But it's a good deal,(I talk a lot lol) and runs on the verizon network perfectly.
we also have a smartphone which sits on a desk at home, on the pagepus cellular plan- I buy a $100 per YEAR and has about 800 talk minutes attached to it...it's kind of our 'housephone' and this phone also has the data turned OFF at all times.(we don't use it much)
my kiddo has an iphone4s, uses lots of wifi, and an app called freedompop for 200 free call minutes per month,along with 400 free texts. It's an app,so he uses the in app calling feature,but it runs on Sprint network(?) and it's 100% free,which is perfect for him- he uses it to call me infrequently. His iphone is locked into the virgin mobile co.,so when he is old enough to need/pay for more, he can switch over to VM for his phone usage.
So yes,you can set an iphone up without a data usage plan,if you choose a 2nd tier carrier. howardforums .com has lots and lots of great info.

 

[GaryDis]

I like the idea of a newer iPod Touch coupled with a TracFone. I did that for several years, along with a mobile hotspot for vacations, and it worked quite well. It's just that eventually I decided that getting a good weather app and Google maps for GPS was worth going to an iPhone.

I use ptel.com, with their real pay as you go plan. It's good for kids because it does have a hard cap on how much you can spend, though surprisingly, the last time they let me go about $2.50 over my account before shutting me off. I spend about $8-$15/month, depending on traveling and usage. It's not for everyone, and certainly not for every kid, because if they keep using data carelessly, they'll quickly have a useless phone.

Downside: I had to pay full price for the iPhone up front (though that's getting common anyway). The ptel plan is relatively cheap for voice and text (5c/min voice, 2c/text) but very expensive* for data (10c/MB). It's also annoying that their pricing structure encourages 60 day renewals instead of 90 day or longer, the way TracFone does. They use the T-Mobile network, which doesn't have the best coverage, depending on where you are.

Also, I deliberately make sure that almost all my apps are disabled from using cellular data. It's annoying for some things (like Audible), but I have enough wi-fi spots to manage in my day-to-day routine.

 

[tcumom0613]

When you purchase the iPhone you must purchase the data. Just went through this with our son.

 

[GaryDis]

When you purchase the iPhone you must purchase the data. Just went through this with our son.

Just to be clear, that's only if you purchase it with some sort of plan.

The Apple store is quite happy to sell you an iPhone without any plan whatsoever. They start at $450 more than a phone with a contract, and really only useful for people, like me, who go to the super-cheap secondary carriers.

 

[tcumom0613]

that's good to know!

 

[zoemurr]

Just to be clear, that's only if you purchase it with some sort of plan.

The Apple store is quite happy to sell you an iPhone without any plan whatsoever. They start at $450 more than a phone with a contract, and really only useful for people, like me, who go to the super-cheap secondary carriers.

There are also quite a few reputable ebay sellers that sell refurbished phones. I recently purchased a 5c from a seller with 450 reviews, all positive for $200. He talked through all of my concerns. 2 week return policy. A bit riskier than a new phone, but half the cost. I transferred my tracfone minutes to it and am very happy.

That being said, my son has an ipod touch and a tracfone which mainly fulfill his needs. However, he doesn't use the TF at all because he is embarrassed to take it out at school. He is the "only" (sad but true) 13 year old around here without an iphone.

 

[TnTWalter]

Another optiin Tmobile $30 100 min unl text 5gb data at high speed.