What exactly does having wifi do?

[cheez]

Im thinking about getting the motorola Droid from verizon. If I get the prepaid basic plan with it, what exactly does having wifi allow me to do? Do I need wifi to download apps without using a data plan? can I use the GPS without a data plan? Can I use the web with 3G if I pay the 99 cents mobile web price? I just want to know everything I can do on the droid without a data plan. Please help

 

[deeznuts2]

WiFi is a wireless protocol, separate from the cellular signal your phone uses for voice and data.

You use WiFi to connect to "hotspots," which may be a wireless home network or Starbucks, some McDonald's, etc etc

You can use it to download apps, browse the internet, etc etc at faster speeds than bluetooth and cellular

For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi

If you buy a Droid from Verizon, you will be forced to get a data plan - Verizon will not sell you a Droid without a data plan. If you buy one from eBay and try to activate it online, you will also be forced to get a data plan.

Only way to not get a data plan is to buy a Droid from eBay and not activate it as a phone - just use it for WiFi and GPS, which means you'll probably pay more than what those features alone are worth.

 

[cheez]

If i but the droid for full retail price can I activate it as a prepaid phone? and when I use the internet on it without wifi, can I just pay the 99 cents for a 24 hour period?

 

[mcbtrain929]

highly highly highly doubt it.

 

[deeznuts2]

If i but the droid for full retail price can I activate it as a prepaid phone? and when I use the internet on it without wifi, can I just pay the 99 cents for a 24 hour period?

Probably not - not every phone VZW offers can be used as a prepaid, and I HIGHLY doubt the Droid counts as a prepaid phone.

If you can afford to buy the Droid at retail price, then why not just buy it at a promo price with a service contract?

 

[kyler13]

If i but the droid for full retail price can I activate it as a prepaid phone? and when I use the internet on it without wifi, can I just pay the 99 cents for a 24 hour period?

Whatever you do, I'm sure the activation of a phone this new would kick you to $1.99/MB. That "per 24 hour period" is old policy. Changing plans OR phones will force you to the "per MB" pricing. I know this because I was looking at a phone upgrade for my family plan awhile back and it wouldn't let me get newer feature phones because it said my plan was "not compatible" with these phones. I since updated my plan which didn't change anything else about it except the data usage metering.

 

[milrtime83]

Verizon requires the $30/mo data plan for all smartphones including the Droid. There is no daily or Megabyte rate.

One benefit to wifi if it is available is that it is usually faster than the 3G network, especially if it is your home wifi nework.