Upgrading to the G1

I finally am able to take advantage of my upgrade discounted price, and I want to get the G1. However, I have no use for the data plan, and really don't want to spend any money to get it. Online I am able to purchase the phone through T-Mobile for $180, but it says I will have to go into a T-Mobile store in order to get the data plan so the phone will work. Has anybody tried to upgrade to the G1 without purchasing the G1 data plan? If so, does it work?

Thanks

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I'm not sure if that is possible. Most data plans lump a lot of useful services in it. You can't get onto the internet without your phone receiving data to view it...

T-Mobile offers $20 data plans and that is a reasonably fair price in the market today. Phones are cheap like they used to be because they aren't phones anymore. Keep in mind that text messaging is different and is a separate charge. I am not sure why since it uses a fraction of the bandwith a voice call uses, but that secret is slowly coming out with recent articles exposing the communications industry. You might see cheaper prices in the future, knee jerking from this.

I have unlimited messaging on my phone already, I'm just checking to see whether anyone has tried what I want to do before. I have an iTouch that gets me on Wi-Fi for free, and I don't usually see the point in having the internet in my pocket honestly.

I don't honestly know anyone that has picked up this new phone. Any review I have read on it was positive.

As far as the internet goes, I think you will use it more if you have it as an option. I never thought I would have a need to utilize my email as much as I do or use the internet, but now that I have that option, it has really saved the day. I fought getting a phone with a camera for ever because 'I didn't need it,' but overtime it was a great tool to have... and yes I meant tool. Now that my Blackberry doesn't have it, I can't wait to get another phone with that capability.

My point is that I think you will end up appreciating having the internet. It is not like it is a sparkly application that doesn't have a purpose... it's kind of a big thing now, world-wide even.

Thanks man! I had the Dash before, which works perfectly with Wi-Fi, and I still never used it. Please stop posting on this thread if you can provide me with absolutely 0 help!

Thanks

So, I hope this is the answer you needed. Data plan on g1 is a bit complicated. You need the data plan in order to do initial set up of the phone. You cannot even get to the basic phone functions at all unless you have a data pack. There is no way to over-ride it. BUT after the initial set up is done you don't need to have the data pack if you aren't using the internet unless you somehow lock yourself out and need to sign back into your google acct then you must have the data feature to connect to the google server. locked out + no data = SOL
In short, you CAN use a g1 without a data plan but it's not really something you SHOULD do. The phone was designed with data usage in mind.
To do initial set up without buying a data plan, have the cheapy web2go/tzones feature added on to your acct for a couple days, do set up then call back to cust care and have it removed. you should be good to go from there. just don't mention that you have a g1 or they won't add the feature b/c it's "incompatible", menat for regular handsets. it won't let you use the browser or anything but it will give you connection to do te acct setup and sign in.

why do you want a g1 without data package?
it's a phone made for the data package..
using the g1 without a data package is pretty much pointless. if you want a phone with a full keyboard or a touchscreen use the Samsung behold.. much better phone without a data package.