iTouch or smartphone without data plan?

[Vacation Lover]

Thinking ahead to Christmas and thinking about getting iTouches for my older kids. But then I had a thought...what if I got them a smartphone with similar features to an iTouch but only connected the phone--not the data plan. That way they'd have the games/music/camera plus the phone & texting (through our family plan)--they'd be thrilled. So my questions...

1. Can you even do this? It seems like all good deals on a smartphone right now stipulate that you have to sign a 2 year data plan. I just want the phone. eBay is a possibility, I guess. Any other ideas?

2. Any recommendations for a decent smartphone at a good value? I'm looking for games, music, and a camera.

3. If the smartphone route doesn't work out, any good deals on an iTouch going on?

 

[rynosmom]

Not sure about other carriers but Verizon does not let you connect a Smartphone without a Data Plan. Currently all smartphone's require a minimum $29.99 data plan in addition to the cell phone minute charge. Even MultiMedia/Texting phone's carry a minimum $9.99 data plan.

 

[ilovejack02]

I am pretty sure ATT doesn't let you connect a smart phone either with out dataplan.

 

[NotUrsula]

The only way that you can do that is with an unlocked phone. It will cost you a mint.

I know this because I'm trying to do it myself. I want a phone that I can forward calls to and also pick up email on via wifi when I am in my office building but not near my computer. (Long story why, but it involves my not wanting to sign a personal contract and spend the money for a smartphone data plan that I only need for work.) There just is nothing out there with wifi that can be purchased and activated without a data plan at less than around $400.

 

[r1lissa]

ATT requires the data plan for the iPhone.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

When you say "iTouch" are you talking about an iPod Touch? You could look for refurbished models to save a bit of money.

As everyone has said, you have to get the data plan with the phone. That really adds up for several phones. And when you buy a phone (except pre-paid), you'll be locked into a two year plan unless you pay full price for the phone.

 

[ilovejack02]

When you say "iTouch" are you talking about an iPod Touch? You could look for refurbished models to save a bit of money.

As everyone has said, you have to get the data plan with the phone. That really adds up for several phones. And when you buy a phone (except pre-paid), you'll be locked into a two year plan unless you pay full price for the phone.

Gossip is there will be a new I touch coming out soon. Older refurb models will be a great deal. I plan on getting one for DS8.

 

[Tink-aholic]

I can't help you with the iTouch part, but I can give you my experience.

We have T Mobile. Instead of getting a contract, I did the prepaid SIM cards. My son has a Sidekick that has the capability of accessing the internet, and if I got a 2 year contract with them, I would be obligated to pay $25 per month for the data plan to allow him to go online -- even if I don't want him to go online. He really only wanted the phone, messaging, camera, and mp3 options, anyway. With the prepaid SIM, I do not pay for any data plan at all. No contract, cancel any time. The payment comes right out of my bank. Currently, I pay about $90 per month (after taxes and fees) for 1500 minutes and unlimited texting for two phones.

Just as an aside, his Sidekick was stolen at school last year, so the one he had was an insurance replacement. It was a REFURB and never worked properly (we had to send one back). He made due with it until it got wet at the beach last week (he really takes care of his stuff -- this was just bad luck). We just bought one on eBay yesterday for a really good price. If I ever buy a phone from a wireless company (doubtful), I'll never buy an insurance package for a phone again.

Hope that helped!

 

[crazelion]

The only way that you can do that is with an unlocked phone. It will cost you a mint.

I know this because I'm trying to do it myself. I want a phone that I can forward calls to and also pick up email on via wifi when I am in my office building but not near my computer. (Long story why, but it involves my not wanting to sign a personal contract and spend the money for a smartphone data plan that I only need for work.) There just is nothing out there with wifi that can be purchased and activated without a data plan at less than around $400.

Then I would check out the Nokia E63, E71x, 72, they is all unlocked cell phones that don't have a data plan for. I am the same boat. I am going with the Nokia E63 for 142.64 at amazon.com. That phone does everything a blackberry aka crackberry and iphone does.

I also amazon.com has a lot unlocked to choose from. Nokia is coming with the C3 for 129.00 that that may check out to.

 

[crazelion]

Another option is a get a quick messageing phone from ATT. Now it basicly the same thing as smartphone without the smart phone data plan.

I have a quick messging phone that play games on, text, camera, mp3 player, and I can play movies on to. But to play movies that that took some work.

I have the LG prime go phone right now because I broke my screen on old phone.

Att is coming with the Samsung Flight 2 and Samsung Eterity 2 this moneth.

Also you can go unlocked phone to. Example Nokia E series can be use with the 10 month data plan. Yes it can be done.

 

[HeatherC]

My two older kids both have an I Touch. My dd also has a cell phone with unlimited texting.

If you have wifi in the house, the itouch is great. They can still text using textfree and you don't have a monthly payment. There are also so many apps that they can download for free that you almost never have to pay for them if you don't want to. Mine check out the free apps each week and download all the games for free.

I bought both i touches refurbished from the apple store. Never had a problem with either of them.

So it is definitely a great option if you don't want a cell phone payment.

 

[StevenV]

I can confirm that AT&T and Verizion do not allow a smartphone (iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Windows Mobile etc) without a data plan. When they see one activated, they start billing you; if you call and complain the answer is "use a different phone."

 

[Ava]

Sprint also will not let you activate a Smartphone without a data plan. Also if you are on a family plan, all phones must be on the same plan. So you can't get the data plan for just one phone - you have to pay the family plan data rate even if some of the phones on your plan don't have data capabilities.

Unless you want data plans for the whole family, I'd just go with iPod Touch for the kids. As a PP mentioned if you have WiFi in the house they can text from it. They can also find tons of free apps to download. The only thing you're looking for that it doesn't have is a camera.

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

If you purchase the iPad WiFi model, you do not need a data plan, as you are limited to WiFi only.

If you purchase the iPad WiFi + 3G model, you are not required to use the 3G, and thus are not rquired to purchase a data plan. You only purchase the data plan if you plan to use 3G.

The iPod Touch has no 3G capability, and is WiFi only.

The iPhone (all versions) requires the data plan.

 

[Ceedeejai]

Check out virgin mobile - they have a prepaid plan for unlimited texting, web access, and minutes for $60 per month - much less if you limit the number of minutes

 

[Micday]

I bought my DH and I smartphones thru Wal-Mart, we have At&T. We do not have a data plan in the two years we've had these things. Maybe because we do not use them for that purpose just as phones??

Does that make sense?

Michelle

 

[crisi]

I bought my DH and I smartphones thru Wal-Mart, we have At&T. We do not have a data plan in the two years we've had these things. Maybe because we do not use them for that purpose just as phones??

Does that make sense?

Michelle

What type of smartphones?

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I bought my DH and I smartphones thru Wal-Mart, we have At&T. We do not have a data plan in the two years we've had these things. Maybe because we do not use them for that purpose just as phones??

Does that make sense?

Michelle

Because 2 years ago they didn't require the data plan. I had a Blackberry that I dropped the data on. Now you have to have the data or can't use the phone. Once you change the phone or your plan that opens you up to the new rules.

 

[tinker&belle]

I wish there was. We have sprint which is still the cheapest of the big 3. If we upgrade to the phone they are thinking of next time, they will charge a $10 a month fee since they are 4G even though we just now got 3G in our area.

 

[Trixiezzz]

I have a smartphone without data.

My carrier is Cellular South and my dd and I each have the LG Volt with 200 min, unlimited texting and unlimited mobile to mobile calls for $19.99 a month each.

LG VOLT INFO:
https://www.cellularsouth.com/cscommerce/products/phones/product_phone_detail.jsp?id=prod26820021#

At Christmas this phone was $59.99 after rebate, now it's $79.99 after rebate.

I realize you may not be in a market of Cell South's, but non-data smartphone plans DO exist. BTW, I love the volt!