Smartphone without data plan?

[TheMackDaddy]

Long story short I got an iphone but I can't afford the ridiculous cost for the data plan (takes away from my golf money)... Any way around the data plan?

 

Thanks!

[Shipwreck]

Sorry but I doubt it. You pretty much have a very very expensive iPod that makes calls.

[Pudgelewis]

Did you buy the iPhone in eBay or something without a contract? Just asking because I thought they required you to get some form of a plan before getting it with a contract. You may be able to use it with Wi-Fi, but other than that it's probably not worth having if they'll even let you without a data plan.

On a side note, I saw a commercial where one of those prepaid companies offers the iPhone now.

[TheMackDaddy]

No my uncle works for ATT so he had an 'extra' one laying around. I might suck it up and go with the plan.

[bubbagump]

The main reason to have a smartphone is features that a data plan provide. Without it, a smart phone is nothing lol.

Assuming that you got this for free, you will still have spent way less paying for the data plan than actually having to buy the phone. Mine is 25 a month for unlimited data, but the lowest one if 15. I dont feel that is ridiculous. Not sure what Iphone plans run though.

[TheMackDaddy]

Bubba,
I am usually around a wifi network so I figured I'd just use that. Anybody have experience with the lifeproof case? Seems like it would be good for rainy days on the course.

[Pudgelewis]

If you got it for free, just pony up for it. I'm on here nearly ALL day with mine simply because of it. Guess that's a warning.

As for cases, I got my royal blue/white (Go CATS!!) Otterbox Defender on eBay that was new in bulk packaging for <$15. My brother and dad have the Griffin Survivor they got on there for ~$25. There's is a little bulky (seems like all the good ones are bulky if they're good), but sounds like what you may want.

[i]"Tested to meet or exceed US Department of Defense Standard 810F and UK Department of Defense Standard 00-35, Griffin's Survivor Extreme-Duty Case...[/i][i]Survivor is independently tested and verified to meet or exceed environmental testing standards for blown rain, blown dust & grit, vibration, shock, temperature and humidity."[/i]

Just don't spend $80 on a case.

[highergr0und]

You should be able to use it as wifi..... basically just an ipod touch, but I would get a plan

Lifeproof is a decent case. There are two potential issues..... One is that you'll lose a bit of responsiveness on taps on the screen. Some people notice, others don't. The second really depends on how much you use headphones. There's a screw that covers the port and an adapter you have to carry around if you want to use headphones and keep it waterproof.

Honestly it's not that hard to keep the phone relatively dry with most of the heavier duty cases. The otterbox defender for about $25 from amazon will protect it quite well, even on submersion if you're using all the flaps and if pulled out quickly. I was standing next to a friend when he dropped his otterbox covered phone into an open container of motor oil. We pulled it out, gave it a quick wipe, ripped the case off, and the phone was fine. Of course oil is thick, but still.....

[bigmoneyp]

You cant even activate the phone to make calls without signing up for a data plan. Use it as an alarm clock until you have more money.

[bubbagump]

[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1348451630' post='5683367']
Bubba,
I am usually around a wifi network so I figured I'd just use that. Anybody have experience with the lifeproof case? Seems like it would be good for rainy days on the course.
[/quote]

If you are going to spend money on a case to protect it, why wouldnt you spend the money instead on the data plan to make it more than an alarmclock?

[PedronNiall]

If you're on AT&T and you haven't activated the phone yet you [i]may [/i]be able to activate it on a Media Net plan for $15/month unlimted data. You will have to do it over the phone and I cannot promise it will work as usually it requires an unlocked GSM phone that AT&T doesn't normally carry on their network. Just call customer service and tell them you have a standard phone that you just want to add for voice as a basic phone. If you mention you have a smartphone you won't be able to get it so choose your words carefully.

[Mulligan26]

[quote name='bigmoneyp' timestamp='1348467086' post='5684081']
You cant even activate the phone to make calls without signing up for a data plan. Use it as an alarm clock until you have more money.
[/quote]

This! Smart phones can not be activated without data plans, period

[PedronNiall]

[quote name='Mulligan26' timestamp='1348613607' post='5695039']
[quote name='bigmoneyp' timestamp='1348467086' post='5684081']
You cant even activate the phone to make calls without signing up for a data plan. Use it as an alarm clock until you have more money.
[/quote]

This! Smart phones can not be activated without data plans, period
[/quote]
Not true.

[mbbrewer]

You can use an Iphone without having a data plan. When I moved to the UK, I canceled my contract with AT&T but wanted to keep my number for when I was visiting back to the US. I signed up for a pay as you go plan, which allows for calls and texts only, and no data. Long story short, I kept my number, and get to use my iPhone without a data plan.

[H.A. Kerr]

[quote name='Mulligan26' timestamp='1348613607' post='5695039']
[quote name='bigmoneyp' timestamp='1348467086' post='5684081']
You cant even activate the phone to make calls without signing up for a data plan. Use it as an alarm clock until you have more money.
[/quote]

This! Smart phones can not be activated without data plans, period
[/quote]

[i]Subsidized[/i] smart phones cannot be activated without data plans. There's a reason you get an iPhone 4 as the free phone with a 2yr contract now ... because they're going to make their money off you from the plan to cover it.

You can grab an iPhone 3gs (last one to have a full size SIM card) off ebay and pop in an active card from a relatively dinosaur cell phone and it'll work fine. You'de have a decent camera, a phone, games or whatever apps, functional GPS, and data when on Wi-Fi. Basically an iPod Touch with the ability to make calls when out and about.

In fact, I think you can go to AT&T store (or wherever) and actually just buy a calling plan and the SIM card for that phone number and plan; no phone required.

This is where the resell of the new iPhone 5 from Verizon is going to be great for it's owners. It's the only carrier to ship the phones unlocked.

[TheMackDaddy]

[quote name='bubbagump' timestamp='1348481773' post='5684249']
[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1348451630' post='5683367']
Bubba,
I am usually around a wifi network so I figured I'd just use that. Anybody have experience with the lifeproof case? Seems like it would be good for rainy days on the course.
[/quote]

If you are going to spend money on a case to protect it, why wouldnt you spend the money instead on the data plan to make it more than an alarmclock?
[/quote]

a $40 case vs. a $200 data plan are not equal. I did decide to get a small data plan though, and the cases were more than I needed.

[bubbagump]

Data plans for the Iphone are 200 dollars??? Thats almost more than my car payment lol

Yikes, I was thinking it was around the same as mine, 15 for limited or unlimited for 25 a month.

[prestiege]

[quote name='PedronNiall' timestamp='1348628392' post='5696527']
[quote name='Mulligan26' timestamp='1348613607' post='5695039']
[quote name='bigmoneyp' timestamp='1348467086' post='5684081']
You cant even activate the phone to make calls without signing up for a data plan. Use it as an alarm clock until you have more money.
[/quote]

This! Smart phones can not be activated without data plans, period
[/quote]
Not true.
[/quote]

for sure, any android phone can be operative with just a goole email account, you dont even need a cell phone plane to use an adroid device on wifi, just enter your gmail account any away you go on wifi with no cell phone use, an unlocked iphone doesnt need to be activated, if the one you are given is locked to att you may have an issue but if its unlocked you may be fine

[TheMackDaddy]

Okay so I got the plan... already used 500 mb? WTH I hardly ever use it without wifi!

[shootermcgavin2]

having an iphone w/no data plan is like having a 55" led lcd tv w/no cable, don't make any sense.... O_o