iTouch or smartphone without data plan?

[Vacation Lover]

Thanks for all of the replies! This is very helpful, although I think it's ridiculous that they won't let you connect a smartphone without the data plan! Surely I'm not the only parent that doesn't want their kids on the internet through their phone! Leaning toward an iPod Touch at this point. Will post again if I find a better option between now and Christmas.

 

[Tink-aholic]

Not sure if you missed my reply, but my son has a Sidekick through TMobile and I do not have to pay for the data plan. Same reason -- I don't want him on the internet. He uses the phone for messaging and pictures, mostly.

Good luck.

 

[crisi]

Thanks for all of the replies! This is very helpful, although I think it's ridiculous that they won't let you connect a smartphone without the data plan! Surely I'm not the only parent that doesn't want their kids on the internet through their phone! Leaning toward an iPod Touch at this point. Will post again if I find a better option between now and Christmas.

You do realize that won't keep your kids off the internet? Free and easy wireless is becoming ubiquitous. There are few places I go with my iPhone that I need to use the 3G network (I do, however, the wireless eats the battery). My daughter has a Touch and there aren't many places she takes it where she can't get a wireless connection.

 

[sookie]

ok its not called an itouch - but i would say that if you get a smartphone without a data plan you might as well not get a smartphone.

get the ipod touch and they can log into wireless

 

[crazelion]

You don't have the internet if get a quick messaging phone. You can get texting and directions for 20.00 a month without internet. Please go into the ATT store and look at phones. Quick messaging phone from ATT is not a smartphone is what they call a dumbphone. Please go into the store. Better yet at the ATT internet site and you will understand what I am talking about. There is dumbphones that can do what asking.

Example of dumphone is LG Prime can text, surf, Att nagivator.

Here is quick message phones that all require a 20 data plan yes can choose text, Att navigator , internet.

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/quick-messaging.jsp

 

[camlace]

Thanks for all of the replies! This is very helpful, although I think it's ridiculous that they won't let you connect a smartphone without the data plan! Surely I'm not the only parent that doesn't want their kids on the internet through their phone! Leaning toward an iPod Touch at this point. Will post again if I find a better option between now and Christmas.

I am totally confused now...what exactly do you want? An iTouch has internet connectivity...absolutely no plan required, just a wifi signal is needed. So not sure that solves your problem. If you just want them to have a phone and text ability (which technically would be a type of data plan) then just get them a plain old cell phone, not a smartphone.

 

[Vacation Lover]

You do realize that won't keep your kids off the internet? Free and easy wireless is becoming ubiquitous. There are few places I go with my iPhone that I need to use the 3G network (I do, however, the wireless eats the battery). My daughter has a Touch and there aren't many places she takes it where she can't get a wireless connection.

I know, but I feel like I can monitor it a little better when internet can only be used with wi fi...for example, my DS12 wouldn't be able to go on the internet on the schoolbus unless he had a data plan.

Not sure if you missed my reply, but my son has a Sidekick through TMobile and I do not have to pay for the data plan. Same reason -- I don't want him on the internet. He uses the phone for messaging and pictures, mostly.

Good luck.

I did see that reply and looked at the Sidekick--thank you! Does the Sidekick have access to games though? That's a big feature I'm looking for with this gift. If so, that's a possibility since we currently have T-mobile!

I am totally confused now...what exactly do you want? An iTouch has internet connectivity...absolutely no plan required, just a wifi signal is needed. So not sure that solves your problem. If you just want them to have a phone and text ability (which technically would be a type of data plan) then just get them a plain old cell phone, not a smartphone.

We currently have a phone that both of my older kids share; my DS12 is getting to the age where it would be convenient for him to have a phone of his own. I was planning to get them each a Touch for Christmas, but then I thought that if I could get a Smartphone with all of the Touch features I could roll it into our family plan and they could each have a phone too. An extra line on our family plan would be $10/month; the data plan would be $30/month. That's the other big reason I don't want the data plan.

Thanks for all of the help!

 

[GoofyGolferGirl]

I just cancelled my plan with AT&T and went to Straight Talk unlimited phone, unlimited text messaging and unlimited internet had 3 phones on one plan the switch saved me $135.00 a month!!!! I even have BETTER service with Straight Talk!!!

 

[Tink-aholic]

I did see that reply and looked at the Sidekick--thank you! Does the Sidekick have access to games though? That's a big feature I'm looking for with this gift. If so, that's a possibility since we currently have T-mobile!

Yes, the Sidekick has access to tons of games. If your contract is finished with T Mobile, you might consider the pre-paid SIM that I do. Everything is a la carte after that...so you don't have to buy a data plan if you don't want.

I agree with PP about the iPod Touch. Wi-Fi is everywhere these days. That will give them access to the internet all the time, including at friends' houses. One of my son's friends has the iPod Touch and came up to me to ask me the password for our network. He was so shocked that we even HAD a password -- he told me most of his friends have Wi-Fi at home and none of their parents bother with passwords.

 

[Vacation Lover]

Yes, the Sidekick has access to tons of games. If your contract is finished with T Mobile, you might consider the pre-paid SIM that I do. Everything is a la carte after that...so you don't have to buy a data plan if you don't want.

I agree with PP about the iPod Touch. Wi-Fi is everywhere these days. That will give them access to the internet all the time, including at friends' houses. One of my son's friends has the iPod Touch and came up to me to ask me the password for our network. He was so shocked that we even HAD a password -- he told me most of his friends have Wi-Fi at home and none of their parents bother with passwords.

Thanks! Adding the Sidekick to my list of possibilities. I appreciate all of the responses and input...it's a whole different world out there these days, isn't it?!

 

[JCMHutch]

DH & I both have iPod Touches. We refuse to pay so much for a data plan. The touch has been great - we have wifi at home and DH has it at work also. You can use it at libraries, Panera Bread and lots of other places. Heck, we went away last weekend and a restaurant in the little town we were in had free wifi. We stay pretty connected with them and you don't have pay monthly for it.

 

[crazelion]

I can't believe everyone is paying just for internet to have a smartphone. When get internet on quick messaging phones.

I guess everyone is brainwash by the companies now days.

 

[descovy]

I can't believe everyone is paying just for internet to have a smartphone. When get internet on quick messaging phones.

I guess everyone is brainwash by the companies now days.

You bring up a point... I've been trying to figure out.

If I go with ATT and get a smartphone I can get Data for $15/mo (plan on a wifi phone, so I can use the wifi when available)

But if I get a quick messaging phone, they want me to have a plan that costs $20/mo. I don't text much... maybe once a day... it would be for the internet.

I want to look something up on the fly... and wifi isn't always available.

But I don't get (yet) how quick messaging is the more frugal deal...

 

[crazelion]

You bring up a point... I've been trying to figure out.

If I go with ATT and get a smartphone I can get Data for $15/mo (plan on a wifi phone, so I can use the wifi when available)

But if I get a quick messaging phone, they want me to have a plan that costs $20/mo. I don't text much... maybe once a day... it would be for the internet.

I want to look something up on the fly... and wifi isn't always available.

But I don't get (yet) how quick messaging is the more frugal deal...

I would check out Nokia E63, E71, Nokia C6, C5 is all unlocked smartphones that can be use with the 15 month data plan. I found this out for my self looking for wi-fi and not wanting a smart phone.

Amazon.com sell unlocked Nokia for a good price. Nokia is coming wit the c3 for 129.00 with wi-fi. I am serious considering get this phone. I like what can do. Also Nokia got app store call OVI that has all kinds app. You even get OVI maps free on some phones.

That is what I saving my Amazon gift cards for Nokia C3 or E63 phone.

 

[Micday]

What type of smartphones?

We have the Blackjack II. That are really great phones.