Will we be able to get phones that don't require data plans in the future?

[DawnM]

I am a bit worried.

My friend just went to get a new phone with Sprint and doesn't want data. She said there were only two or three phones she could get now and they all seemed very flimsy.

It seems to me that the cell companies are starting to phase out the cheaper plans and phones and we may all get stuck with higher plans if we wish to continue once our current phones die.

Dawn

 

[Judique]

I am a bit worried.

My friend just went to get a new phone with Sprint and doesn't want data. She said there were only two or three phones she could get now and they all seemed very flimsy.

It seems to me that the cell companies are starting to phase out the cheaper plans and phones and we may all get stuck with higher plans if we wish to continue once our current phones die.

Dawn

I found that out when my contract with Verizon was up and I wanted to get new phones on our new every two.

Most phones - if not all - needed a data plan at extra cost whether I wanted it or not. What I wanted was a shiny new phone to talk on and very occasionally read or send a text, and it needed to have a real keyboard for that. So, I would buy an upgraded phone - just didn't want or need a data plan.

I decided to keep my old phones which have not died yet. We were able to get batteries for our old phones through batteriesforless.

Sooner or later they will probably break and we will dump Verizon and get a trak phone or whatever is basic at a reasonable cost. Maybe.

I refuse to accept and pay for service that I don't require and wouldn't use if I can figure out how not to. It's getting to be really a pain.

I'm holding out as long as I can. The phone companies need a whole lot more competition.

 

[Marionnette]

I am a bit worried.

My friend just went to get a new phone with Sprint and doesn't want data. She said there were only two or three phones she could get now and they all seemed very flimsy.

It seems to me that the cell companies are starting to phase out the cheaper plans and phones and we may all get stuck with higher plans if we wish to continue once our current phones die.

Dawn

There's always going to be someone out there hungry enough to lure customers away from the bigger companies. And those will be the ones who will offer the basic cell phone with no frills. They'll be around for as long as it is profitable to do so. Or they will attract so many customers that one of the big companies will buy them up.

 

[maggiew]

My DD just got a new phone from Verizon WITHOUT the dataplan. Its called the Octane. It has a qwerty keyboard too. She is happy with it.

If you go on the Verizon website and click on feature phones, it lists all the ones without data plan needed. There are still a few. But its obvious they want everyone to pick a phone that requires a data plan.

We have 5 phones on our family plan and don't want data plans! We are already paying what I think is a fortune for just regular phone service (no data plan)! Its about $160 per month just for the phones. I sure hope they don't go to all smart phones in the future.

Maggie

 

[SoonerSarah]

we got new phones in june and we don't do data plans. We use AT&T and they had at least 5 phones in our store that were no frills.

 

[Jamie25UGA]

I'd suggest checking Wal Mart. When I was eligible for an upgrade with AT&T last year they had a decent Samsung touch screen phone that ended up being free after rebate but they had ran out and never got any more in. I'm not sure if you needed to get a data plan with it there or not (I'd assume you would, as almost every phone required it) but Wal Mart had the same phone for free WITHOUT a rebate as long as you renewed the contract for 2 years and NO data plan was required.

 

[SILLYANDI]

My DD just got a new phone from Verizon WITHOUT the dataplan. Its called the Octane. It has a qwerty keyboard too. She is happy with it.

If you go on the Verizon website and click on feature phones, it lists all the ones without data plan needed. There are still a few. But its obvious they want everyone to pick a phone that requires a data plan.

We have 5 phones on our family plan and don't want data plans! We are already paying what I think is a fortune for just regular phone service (no data plan)! Its about $160 per month just for the phones. I sure hope they don't go to all smart phones in the future.

Maggie

I complain too (feel your pain with 5 phones here) but then I remember my first cell phone when I was in college in 1991. I paid by the minute and NEVER had a bill under $100. So the $150 I pay for 5 doesn't seem so bad!

 

[matosfam]

Just an FYI:
When DH got his new iPhone a few months ago, I just took the sim card out of my "no frills" phone and put it into his "old" iPhone and I have been happily enjoying all of the fun of an iPhone with no data plan ever since!

Maybe you could find something used? Although, I suppose YMMV...

 

[rdevine10]

I have a verizon prepaid phone. I just got the LG Cosmos (querty keyboard for texting), decent phone... no data plan required. If I want the internet I can pay for it (99 cents for 24 hours). Just got to look around. I dont use enough minutes to justify a large cell phone bill (maybe 40 to 60 min a month). HTH!

 

[luvmy3]

OP, I know what you mean about the Verizon phones being flimsy. My dh has the Cosmos and it feels like a toy compared to my LG EnV 2. I love my phone, its older but its like a tank and when it dies I'm going to ebay to get another. We don't have a data plan and don't plan on getting one any time soon.

 

[luvmy3]

Just an FYI:
When DH got his new iPhone a few months ago, I just took the sim card out of my "no frills" phone and put it into his "old" iPhone and I have been happily enjoying all of the fun of an iPhone with no data plan ever since!

Maybe you could find something used? Although, I suppose YMMV...

Verizon doesn't use SIM cards, but I agree about finding something used. There are qwerty phones that were made before the required data plan that will work without it.
OP check out the forums on the Verizon wireless site for info.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Just an FYI:
When DH got his new iPhone a few months ago, I just took the sim card out of my "no frills" phone and put it into his "old" iPhone and I have been happily enjoying all of the fun of an iPhone with no data plan ever since!

Maybe you could find something used? Although, I suppose YMMV...

We used to do that with AT&T, but now they can trace the SIM to the phone it's in. I had a BB and DD plugged in her SIM to play around with it. Next thing I know, I have a data plan charge against her line. She only had the card in for a short while.

I had the BB for at least a year before AT&T required data plans for BB and iPhones. If I used any data, I paid per use. Then they forced anyone with a smartphone to get a data plan, and only offered the $30 unlimited. I cancelled the plan and switched my SIM to a non-Smartphone. I hated the phone and switched the SIM back to the BB. Before long I got an email from ATT stating they saw I was using a BB and would be adding a data plan. At least by this point they began offering a $15/limited data plan.

Not everyone needs a data plan now, but as Joe or Jane Public gets used to having the world at their fingertips, and not their desktop, I think a plain phone that is not a "smartphone" could be a thing of the past. They are in all actuality, a mini computer. You can surf the web, communicate, download a book, and so much more. How many 9-key phones do you see for sale in the provider's kiosk or store? Most are full QWERTY thanks to the volume of texting that is done nowadays.

 

[DawnM]

Well, as long as I can help it, we will not be leaving Sprint. I pay $35 with 3 phones on it. If I don't HAVE to leave, I won't! Noone can match that.

Pre-paid will never match the above price as the above price includes mobile to mobile for free and nights and weekends free. I USE my phone!

As long as we can stick with what we have we will.

I know there are SOME phones right now, what I was commenting on was the future.....three months ago even there were a LOT of phones available at the SPrint store that were just phones, whereas now, just 3 months later, there are only about 3.

My family is set with phones for now, but if one of them breaks or whatever, I just am curious as to what will be available in the next say 5 years.....

Dawn

 

[DawnM]

Sprint actually quoted me 4 phones WITH data plan and unlimited calling on all 4 for $170, so that is a better deal, but we currently have 3 phones for $35/month! DH has a 4th phone with data but his work pays for it.

Dawn

My DD just got a new phone from Verizon WITHOUT the dataplan. Its called the Octane. It has a qwerty keyboard too. She is happy with it.

If you go on the Verizon website and click on feature phones, it lists all the ones without data plan needed. There are still a few. But its obvious they want everyone to pick a phone that requires a data plan.

We have 5 phones on our family plan and don't want data plans! We are already paying what I think is a fortune for just regular phone service (no data plan)! Its about $160 per month just for the phones. I sure hope they don't go to all smart phones in the future.

Maggie

 

[sameyeyam]

I never buy phones from the cell phone providers. Go to Ebay or some other similar place and buy it from a third party...much cheaper and no contract. There are so many people that change plans and can't use their old phones. You would be amazed at the nice phones (new & used) that you can get for a fraction of what the cell phone carriers charge.

Our last phone was a Blackberry that was my bosses old phone. He gave it to me, but it was a Verizon BB and we had AT&T. So I paid $17 online for an unlock code, then put a SIM card from our old phone in it. My DD only texts and calls, so I blocked the "smart/internet" portion of the phone. As far as AT&T knows, we still use the old phone. VOILA...no data charges! Of course, we don't use data. But still even if we didn't use data, they would still charge us for a data plan since it's technically a smart phone.

So if you want a nice phone, but don't use data very much and don't want to pay for a data plan...go buy another phone and put your SIM card in it.

 

[eliza61]

I think it depends. You are right, most of the new phones that the kids like, the ones with touch activated and all the bells and whistles are going to require a data plan.

If you're old like me, LOL and don't want to do any thing but use the phone to chat or occasional send a text, I simply go for the bottom line phone. so yes, I think they will always offer those.

 

[DawnM]

Actually, I would love all the bells and whistles, I just wouldn't love the pricetag!

And I don't want a bells and whistles phone that I can't actually USE the bells and whistles for...you know?

So, for pricetag I am willing to pay, I really want a sturdy PHONE without the extras.

Dawn

I think it depends. You are right, most of the new phones that the kids like, the ones with touch activated and all the bells and whistles are going to require a data plan.

If you're old like me, LOL and don't want to do any thing but use the phone to chat or occasional send a text, I simply go for the bottom line phone. so yes, I think they will always offer those.

 

[cm8]

We used to do that with AT&T, but now they can trace the SIM to the phone it's in. I had a BB and DD plugged in her SIM to play around with it. Next thing I know, I have a data plan charge against her line. She only had the card in for a short while.

I had the BB for at least a year before AT&T required data plans for BB and iPhones. If I used any data, I paid per use. Then they forced anyone with a smartphone to get a data plan, and only offered the $30 unlimited. I cancelled the plan and switched my SIM to a non-Smartphone. I hated the phone and switched the SIM back to the BB. Before long I got an email from ATT stating they saw I was using a BB and would be adding a data plan. At least by this point they began offering a $15/limited data plan.

Not everyone needs a data plan now, but as Joe or Jane Public gets used to having the world at their fingertips, and not their desktop, I think a plain phone that is not a "smartphone" could be a thing of the past. They are in all actuality, a mini computer. You can surf the web, communicate, download a book, and so much more. How many 9-key phones do you see for sale in the provider's kiosk or store? Most are full QWERTY thanks to the volume of texting that is done nowadays.

I would have dropped them like a hot rock. I do not appreciate anyone adding services to my plans that I did not ask for. It should be a choice if I want to use a smart phone w/o using the data. That to me is just plain wrong

 

[DawnM]

Sprint.....no SIM....and I would not want to have a blackberry if I only use it for phone and no data.

My question was more about what will actually be AVAILABLE in 5-10 years, not what can I get right now that will work.

Dawn

I never buy phones from the cell phone providers. Go to Ebay or some other similar place and buy it from a third party...much cheaper and no contract. There are so many people that change plans and can't use their old phones. You would be amazed at the nice phones (new & used) that you can get for a fraction of what the cell phone carriers charge.

Our last phone was a Blackberry that was my bosses old phone. He gave it to me, but it was a Verizon BB and we had AT&T. So I paid $17 online for an unlock code, then put a SIM card from our old phone in it. My DD only texts and calls, so I blocked the "smart/internet" portion of the phone. As far as AT&T knows, we still use the old phone. VOILA...no data charges! Of course, we don't use data. But still even if we didn't use data, they would still charge us for a data plan since it's technically a smart phone.

So if you want a nice phone, but don't use data very much and don't want to pay for a data plan...go buy another phone and put your SIM card in it.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

My question was more about what will actually be AVAILABLE in 5-10 years, not what can I get right now that will work.

Dawn

When you think about how much the cell phone industry has changed in the last 5 years, who knows?

5 years ago the only phones that needed data were BlackBerries and they were pretty much a business thing.