How to....??? Smartphone without data plan

It is irrelevant whether you need a cellular data plan to use your smartphone. The carrier will add a data plan if they detect that you are using a smartphone. Our arguments pro or con are of little consequence.

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I agree Daniel. I just want a smartphone without data. Maybe I'll just get a used unlocked smartphone

Unlocked is meaningless. The carrier cannot tell whether a phone is unlocked or not. You need to get an unbranded phone which the carrier does not consider to be a smartphone or ignores it since few are used on its network.

I am an international student who is tight in cell phone budget. I don't like to sign 2 year contract either. I don't have long enough credit history and thus I don't pass the AT&T and T-Mobile credit check. To get their services, I will need to pay for $500 deposit per phone number. On the other hand, I search for pre-paid plans but it turns that it is more expensive than the contract plan given that I use text message quite often and talk mostly on the weekends.

I found this website nocontractphoneplan.com where I sign up for their service. They are flash wireless network, which doesn't require any contract nor credit check. Their price is quite affordable. I am pretty happy on the signal strength at my location. I think you may consider this option when you shop for your cell phone service.

Good luck and take care.

Originally Posted by iceman0

Hey JM. I was useing a HTC G1 from T-Mobile with sim unlock for about a year with basic data plan and never got the txt. I tried a iphone and got the txt. Just bought the Dell streak and recieved the txt from att. So the G1 is the way to go.
I have a backup one if anyone is interested. The Dell is a sweet phone but im not paying all that money for the smart phone package. I thought streak being unlocked would be hidden but guess not.
Ice

@iceman0, I was just thinking about grabing the HTC G1 too. What process/steps did you use to unlock and block data over on the AT&T side? I'd like to get rid of my iPhone 4 and go back to a non-data plan setup, but I'd still like a 'smart-ish' phone like the G1. If you have any advice on setting one up, I'd love to hear it - thanks!

-D

So, I have now successfully used my Nexus One without a data plan for three months. Initially when I got the phone and reset the data, etc, I had the 3GB plan thrown at me. I called and threatened to quit ATT and was given permission to use a pay-as-you-go: $0 if 0kB used (I still get wifi and calls, texts). A few days ago, I did a data reset and reinstalled rom ahead of a large international trip where I'll be relying on the phone for emergency satellite communication (delorme). When my phone first booted on the fresh rom, data was enabled, so it used 40kb on the 3G network, and ATT threw the 3GB plan at me again. This time, although they'd given me explicit permission before which is recorded in my account history (I had them look it up!), they would not remove the plan. In direct retribution I'm posting here with instructions on how I got back to saving $30/month the second time:

If you have an old, non-smartphone simcard, ATT cannot tell you have a smartphone if you do not use 3G/4G. (At least this is true with my Google(HTC) Nexus One). They know it's a smartphone once you use the 3G/4G. Note that the smartphone is still fully functional, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, all apps, etc, with the old simcard.

So, EITHER: when you turn on your smartphone for the first time, do it with no simcard in and disable the data in settings, and then proceed using your old simcard so they don't know you have a new smartphone, OR: (if your phone does not allow you to get that far with no simcard), once you've initally booted your smartphone with the card in, and turned off data and had the most expensive data plan automatically added, put the simcard back in your dumbphone and call ATT to tell them you're back to a dumbphone and need the data plan removed, and then put the card back in the smartphone and proceed on your merry way, whistlin like Chuck Norris.

This may also work with new smartphone simcards, I'm not sure and sure as hell am not going to find out.

Rig: Google Nexus One, running Cyanogenmod 7 rom (Android Gingerbread 2.3.7), old sim.

It is the phone's IMEI which determines what data plan is added. The SIM card is irrelevant. Using a different active SIM card would give you a different number. If the SIM card is inactive, neither voice nor data would work.

Samsung Omnia 7 working undetected for att. However it's old (first) generation of windows phone and probably nowhere to find now.

Several guys in our office use Blackberry and Iphone devices without a data plan. If you buy the phone from AT&T directly you are required to use a data plan. If you purchase the phone online either used, refurbished, or any other way without a contract attached to it already and you are not required to pay for a plan.

AT&T requires data plans for ANY smartphone. Just check out their phone selection. It states data plan required with those phones.