Why does the iPhone NEED a data plan?

[imabrat]

I'm looking into getting a refurbed iPhone 3G, but it says the $30/month data plan is required. Why is this required? I'm not really interested in using the apps and internet, but more of the call features, texting, and playing music.

Can anyone tell me why it's required?

 

[DISdreamin']

I'm looking into getting a refurbed iPhone 3G, but it says the $30/month data plan is required. Why is this required? I'm not really interested in using the apps and internet, but more of the call features, texting, and playing music.

Can anyone tell me why it's required?

Because they can?

And my understanding is that if you try to use a chip from another phone in the iPhone, when you try to boot it, it will tell you that you need to purchase a data plan. I'm not sure about this, but I had a friend tell me her hubby experienced that with her phone and his chip.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Two part answer, first the point of a phone of this nature is to be connected (whether your an iPhone fan or not), it's overall functions are limited without a data plan - basically an over kill. Second is that data plans bring in revenue, similar to calling plans and these help offset/subsidize the costs of selling the phones below the true cost.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I don't know about Iphones but I just got a motorola droid this week. I couldn't imagine having it without an unlimited data plan. I've only had it since Monday evening and I've used almost 135,000 kb of data Someone could easily get themselves into trouble without a data plan.

 

[surfergirl602]

Can anyone tell me why it's required?

Because At&T says so.

 

[wnissen]

It is all about money. AT&T makes a big payment to Apple for each iPhone, and they want to more than recoup it. That's why you have to pay for the data plan, and also why texting is an outrageous $20/mo even though the amount of data in your texts is miniscule.

Compare to TMobile, where a 500 minute plan with unlimited text and data is $60/month. The additional $30/mo is the cost of the phone plus profit for AT&T, since they're the exclusive carrier.

 

[Tinkerbell58]

I just updated my phone through Verizon and was told I HAD to get the data plan whether I wanted it or not. It's their new policy (effective in January). Had I updated my phone prior to January, I wouldn't of been forced to purchase the data plan for $9.99 per phone/month.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I just updated my phone through Verizon and was told I HAD to get the data plan whether I wanted it or not. It's their new policy (effective in January). Had I updated my phone prior to January, I wouldn't of been forced to purchase the data plan for $9.99 per phone/month.

Data plans on Verizon only apply for 3G advanced phones and above, not all phones require a data plan. They actually break out their phones on their website between those that do and do not require data plans.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I turned in my iPhone to get away from AT&T. I'm now back with Verizon and have the Moto Droid! Life is gooooood!

Anyway, not having a data plan is like having a cadillac to use for going to the mailbox to get the mail. Why bother?

If you only want a phone, then choose a mobile that is just that, a phone.

For my personal phone (the above is my work set up) I have verizon as well, and we have one phone on our multi line plan that has a data plan and three others that don't. The three others are all 9.99 lines.

Not sure what you are meaning when you say they are forcing everyone into a data plan, but really it's that's not it.

A data plan is simply a more cost effective way to navigate electronically. (The internet, get email, send photos, texts, data... ect.).

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I agree AT &T is not "forcing" you into a data plan. If you don't want to spend the extra $30.00 a month , then get a phone that doesn't require the data and buy an I POD Touch.

I just got a Droid from verizon last week. I think I'm addicted. I love that phone. Do I need it? Of course not, but its so much fun to have.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

I agree AT &T is not "forcing" you into a data plan. If you don't want to spend the extra $30.00 a month , then get a phone that doesn't require the data and buy an I POD Touch.

I just got a Droid from verizon last week. I think I'm addicted. I love that phone. Do I need it? Of course not, but its so much fun to have.

Agreed. I have a normal phone from Verizon and an iPod Touch. As long as you are in an area with WiFi, you actually can use the internet as much as you want without charges! I love it!! Considering a Droid, but there is that $30 data thing to consider

In reality the iPhone is a misnomer. It's not a very good "phone". It's a great miniature netbook and music player. I can't stand talking to my iPhone friends, on the phone. The clarity is bad and they drop calls a lot! Oh, and you can't send or receive picture texts to anyone not on an iPhone. It sends them to a web address too pick up the text.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Oh, and you can't send or receive picture texts to anyone not on an iPhone. It sends them to a web address too pick up the text.

HUH??? I did it all the time. Texting between the iPhone and other phones does not require going to a web site to pick up the text!

 

[OK!]

There's no way I'd ever have my iPhone without having an unlimited data plan even if it weren't required. AT&T's site is down (or being squirrely) right now so I can't check to see what they charge for data usage on a per-use basis, but I know it would add up in an ENORMOUS hurry. Unfortunately, I also can't see how much data I've used this month...my lifetime stats on my phone (never have reset them) since June 19, 2009, are 411 MB sent and 3.9 GB rec'd. Factor into that the fact that I'm parked in front of either a desktop or my laptop probably 10-12 hours a day (and therefore not using data on my phone at those times) and have never used my phone as a tether for either computer and you can see how easy it is to rack up the usage. It'd be so easy to end up with a bill hundreds of dollars higher than expected if you had to pay for data on a per-use basis.

And, as others have said, it's to offset the subsidized pricing of the phones. Luckily (well, according to me ), my bill is actually high enough that, even though I just got the 3GS on launch day last summer at the subsidized price (which means that I signed a new 2-year contract), I'm still eligible to get whatever the new iPhone will be this summer, also at the subsidized price. Yes, I know I'm not getting anything for cheap or free or whatever, but it's nice not to have to kick out $700 up front for a new device.

ETA: And to whoever said you can't send MMS messages to non-iPhone users and have the image appear in the original message (not as a link), that's not true. I just did today and have done so more times than I can count.

 

[bumbershoot]

Because At&T says so.

Agreed.

And what's the point of an iphone if you aren't going to use all of the bells and whistles.

HUH??? I did it all the time. Texting between the iPhone and other phones does not require going to a web site to pick up the text!

Agreed. I have an LG Neon (3G phone but no need for a data package, though we do have a prepaid text package) and DH has an iphone from work (for work but with his personal number and on our personal accounts), and he has definitely sent me picture texts and they came to my phone. Like to let me know he's arrived at some airport (picture of the airport).

Sometimes he does it differently and his pix come to my email address...but he actually is emailing me when he does that. Not entering my phone number.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

HUH??? I did it all the time. Texting between the iPhone and other phones does not require going to a web site to pick up the text!

Texting yes, not texting pix.

Agreed.
Agreed. I have an LG Neon (3G phone but no need for a data package, though we do have a prepaid text package) and DH has an iphone from work (for work but with his personal number and on our personal accounts), and he has definitely sent me picture texts and they came to my phone. Like to let me know he's arrived at some airport (picture of the airport).

Sometimes he does it differently and his pix come to my email address...but he actually is emailing me when he does that. Not entering my phone number.

Hmmm, that's weird! It's big talk amongst my friends...how annoying it its that none of them can send or receive text PIX to non-iPhone without the pix being diverted to a web address. We test it all the time, just in case.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Texting yes, not texting pix.



Hmmm, that's weird! It's big talk amongst my friends...how annoying it its that none of them can send or receive text PIX to non-iPhone without the pix being diverted to a web address. We test it all the time, just in case.

I was able to receive pics from iPhones before I got one, and I've been able to send them to non-iPhones.

 

[mking624]

In reality the iPhone is a misnomer. It's not a very good "phone". It's a great miniature netbook and music player. I can't stand talking to my iPhone friends, on the phone. The clarity is bad and they drop calls a lot! Oh, and you can't send or receive picture texts to anyone not on an iPhone. It sends them to a web address too pick up the text.

DH & I have never had issues with calls dropping or the clarity. Two close friends also have iPhones and they've never had issues either. The only time there has been an issue is when we enter a no-coverage area...and there are some of those spots in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma. Obviously it's going to depend on the coverage area...but from what I understand, it also depends on how heavily used the service is in a particular area.
As far as MMS goes...you can definitely send/receive picture texts without it going to a web address to pick it up. I do this quite frequently with my brother who not only has a different phone, but a different service provider as well.

 

[MICKEY88]

Texting yes, not texting pix.



Hmmm, that's weird! It's big talk amongst my friends...how annoying it its that none of them can send or receive text PIX to non-iPhone without the pix being diverted to a web address. We test it all the time, just in case.

your friends are wrong..

what generation iphones do they have, and have they ever done the firmware upgrades,
this was an issue with the first generation phones and the second when they were frist released, but a firmware upgrade resolved that issue

 

[Green Tea]

If you only want it for a phone, there are MUCH better phones. I love it for the internet access, but as a phone, actually it pretty much sucks.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

I can't wait for this summer when ATT's contract with Apple is up and Sprint (and Verizon) gets the Iphone.

We already have 5 phones on Sprint's data plan and from what I understand, much more reasonable than ATT's plan.

We have unlimited data, unlimited cell to cell (any carrier), unlimited text, lots of other stuff such as unlimited gps, tv, etc and 2500 shared minutes for cell to land line (nights and weekends free) for less than $200 a month.

We are holding off upgrading our phones till the Iphone comes out.