iPhone without data?d

I want to purchase an iPhone for my son, but do not want to have the ATT data package to pay for. He presently has an unlimited text package, and ATT tells me the phone won't work without the data package.

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It won't, at least certain things like MMS messaging. The iPhone, as well as many newer phones out there require a data package, and certain data related features are being tied to having a data plan. Unlimited text runs $20 bucks with AT&T, you can drop the unlimited texting to cover the extra cost of the data plan, and just have your son use a texting app like textPlus instead

An iPhone bought directly from AT&T or Apple will not work without data plan. Get one from Craigslist and you might have a shot. AT&T needs the $30/month to recoup the cost of the phone.

The phone itself will work (voice services) but you'll have to configure internet usage and MMS messaging with t-mobile. If you want an iPhone without the data plan, you'll have to use a different carrier, and in the US, the only choice is t-mobile. Google setting up an iPhone with t-mobile to find the instructions on setting up an iPhone with t-mobile.

I thought P Clark is with AT&T. AT&T will not activate the iPhone without a dataplan. Sure, you can unlock it, etc and go to another carrier, but you ain't getting that phone for $199 from Apple or AT&T.

I'm not really sure. AT&T will not sell you an iPhone at the discounted rate without the data plan, but once the contract period is up, I'm not sure if you can drop the data plan or not. If you show up with an iPhone that you already own, that is out of contract, I'm not sure if they'll activate it without a data plan or not. Part of the reason for the requirement for the data plan is that AT&T wants to recover the cost of the subsidy they paid to Apple to cover the difference between the actual cost vs what you paid with the discount. You can now buy phones from Apple at full price, without a phone contract (they're still sim locked to the AT&T network per the agreement with AT&T), so say you were to do that, and then walk into an AT&T store, I'm not 100 percent sure if they would activate it without a data plan. They might, or, you might just walk in and buy a cheap phone at full price and get an account, then swap the sim into the iPhone, which will work since it's AT&T. The thing is, the GSM network will detect the phone, and so AT&T will know you have that sim card in an iPhone and may disable it until you add the data plan, but I doubt it. If you own an iPhone (that is out of contract) outright, I'm pretty sure they'll do it, although they'll most certainly suggest that you add a data plan because, I mean, what's the point of owning a smartphone without a data plan? Many of the Apps require internet access to work (i.e. Facebook, news apps, etc). Also, the MMS messaging feature will not work without a data plan either. The phone is just not built to be operated without a data plan, so why someone would want to own one without it is beyond me.

You can not get a phone from att and use it with no data, your best bet is to buy one off of someone.

You can not get a phone from att and use it with no data, your best bet is to buy one off of someone.

YES, if you buy the iPhone from craigslist, or ebay or from a private party, you can pop your sim card in, and it will work just fine. BUT, the only things that will work just fine are Voice calls and SMS texting. also apps will work just fine as long as they do not require a data connection.
Space Nut's idea about dropping the messaging plan and getting the data plan is a great idea, you will get much more out of the phone. However, if you are buying this for a teenager, you may not want them to have data as they will be able to purchase apps and really rack up that phone bill.

But the short answer is, yes, if all you want is voice and text, it will work. Simply place your sim card in the phone and you are good to go.

You can buy one used, buy a GoPhone SIM (ONLY... not a phone with a SIM) tell them you're getting it for an old GoPhone or they won't sell it to you. Then, you'll have to restore the iPhone to factory settings with iTunes, when it's all done and says something about not having a SIM card or not being activated, put in your new SIM card and wait. When it's done, go into Preferences and disable 3G and Data Roaming, set up WiFi. Jailbreak it with the application, "Spirit". Download "SBSettings" f.rom Cydia Use that to disable Data, Edge, and 3G, go to the site (I can't post html) "unlockit dot co dot nz" from your phone and follow the instructions. This ensures that your GoPhone SIM will not connect to any mobile networks, so you won't get charged. You can optionally install "Insomnia" from Cydia, which keeps WiFi on even when the screen it off/sleeping, so you an always get your emails and everything updated when you're near a WiFi connection (the phone is set to always go to 3G when the screen is off, since you won't have 3G, you won't be connected)