Using a Smartphone without the Data Plan

hi darwinist - i've read every word in this post - please be patient. i still don't get it. could you please suggest a phone - i need it for calendar/sync use, wouldn't mind adding some apps if possible and using internet at wifi spots, phone and texting. not interested in a data plan.

i don't know what connect paks are so would you mind explaining how once i buy the phone exactly what i do to get service. i am currently with att but my contract is up.

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i was wondering if i could get some information on the topic at hand. possibly from darwinist (as you seem to be very knowledgeable).

i am thinking about getting a Moto Evoke Qa4 and was wondering if you could offer some information about it's data usage.. for instance, will it use data constantly and if so is there a way to disable it. i will be adding it to my alltel account as a replacement for my current cell phone and i don't have a data plan.

if i don't get it i was looking at an HTC touch or touch pro. do these phones require data plans as they are smartphones. and will Verizon Wireless accept the phones since the merger is in place?

could you give me some insight about these topics. thank you

So i've been out of the US while Alltel merged to Verizon. But from what I did understand and from what i have read it still looks like I can do is this.

Main Concern
I can go ahead and buy a Nexus One or Motorola Driod or HTC Eris or Palm Plus (in 12 days) at retail price or off ebay and then activate it on Verizon without having to upgrade to their quarky way of charging once for unlimited texting and again for data as long as I still have the Connect Pack 3. Right or Wrong???

Because last winter to beginning of summer i had the Moto Q9c and had the Connect Pack 3 and used the internet and unlimited texting with no problem. The gps only worked half the time...

What exactly is the AML2 other than a promo code? And can you use it now with Verizon if they still have to honor Alltel promos and discounts?

Hi all,

Very informative thread. I'm in a related, but different situation. My parents live outside broadband service. Currently they are using their cellphones as tethered modems with Alltel tether plan ($30/mo). Their currents phones are EVDO Rev 0. I'd like to upgrade their phones to something EVDO Rev A compatible to see if they can get better speeds. They don't need a smartphone or data plan and I don't want to force a change to Verizon's pricing as the tether option seems to be $50/mo.

Are their any Alltel phones I can get on eBay that they can transfer current service to that will get them EVOD Rev A? Based on Darwinist's info (thanks!) it seems that a data plan is not required if you have your own equipment.

Does anyone know if EVDO Rev A is widely available under Alltel? Specifically, my parents live in southeast NC (zip 28340).

Thanks in advance for any info.

Originally Posted by Stra10

So i've been out of the US while Alltel merged to Verizon. But from what I did understand and from what i have read it still looks like I can do is this.

Main Concern
I can go ahead and buy a Nexus One or Motorola Driod or HTC Eris or Palm Plus (in 12 days) at retail price or off ebay and then activate it on Verizon without having to upgrade to their quarky way of charging once for unlimited texting and again for data as long as I still have the Connect Pack 3. Right or Wrong???

Because last winter to beginning of summer i had the Moto Q9c and had the Connect Pack 3 and used the internet and unlimited texting with no problem. The gps only worked half the time...

What exactly is the AML2 other than a promo code? And can you use it now with Verizon if they still have to honor Alltel promos and discounts?

Verizon phones use Verizon features, the system will not let Alltel add-ons stay on a line that has moved to Verizon as far as everything I have been told.

I was always under the impression connect pack 1 received free tethering, I did on Alltel and although I had to start using VZAccess Manager when my line was officially moved to Verizon I still do now at about 1 mbps by .1 mpbs peak over EVDO. Great for light use a few times a month between home and school, as my Alltel phone only has a slow IMAP/POP3 client and a WAP browser.

I had purchased a Samsung Blackjack 2 from a friend, and fell in love with all of the features it had, I never got online and yet AT&T kept texting me and telling me I had to have a data plan for this phone. I bought the phone for texting and phone calls. I was charged for the data plan anyway, so I sold the phone. I can not find a phone with all of the bells and whistles that the Blackjack 2 had, I even purchased a GoPhone for a day, but was very dis satisfied with it and returned it. Even after I unlocked the phone they charged me again. If anyone has any ideas they would be much appreciated.

I got fed up with the high cost of paid plans and the need for data plan packages that set the bill out of sight. I got to looking around and found striaght talk. simple 30 or 40 dollars a month and it includes data plans. There are no contracts, you just buy a card when ever you need to refill or once a month, which ever comes first.
I do not use my cell much, mostly have it for travel between home and surrounding areas. I wouold like a droid, but do not know if straight talk has one.

Can I do this on T-Mobile?