Help Purchasing a Samsung Moment without commiting to a data plan.

[rmvgaines]

I currently have a voice plan, with sprint, for my dying LG Musik and my father's Palm Centro and am seeking to replace my Musik with a Samsung Moment. I have an upgrade available on my account, however I don't want to get locked into a data plan, since I rarely spend any time away from Wifi.

Does anyone know if there is a way for me to use my upgrade to aquire the Moment without commiting to the data plan?

Thanks in advance.

 

[rmvgaines]

I have read several articles and posts about running an android phone without a data-plan and I feel that it would be a strong option for me since I am rarely without Wifi access.

My question may be somewhat redundant, however I want to confirm that the Samsung Moment can currently be used, and will continue to be usable, on the sprint network, without a data-plan?

Again, please excuse me for posting something that has seemingly been covered elsewhere; I simply wish to seek confirmation before I commit myself.

Thank you.

 

[lekky]

Yes it can, it just means you are not getting the full benefit of the phone, but the answer is yes

 

[Jim W]

This wifi stuff confuses me. I thought wifi was basically another way to get connected when you are without normal cell service. So if this is the case, what is the point of having any smart phone without having use of the internet, texting and all the other features of a data plan?

 

[LincKraker]

Doesn't Sprint require a data plan for PDA/Smart phones?

 

[PiggyGirl]

An Everything Plan is required for Instincts, Android, and WebOS phones, but I could definitely go witout. The only time I have reliable internet is at home on wifi. It's actually so frustrating I'm considering returning and\or exchanging my Moment. My nieces and nephews love my phone, but I always have problems letting them watch TV and video, and sometimes just using the phone, because I have zero bars or just 1-2. This crap didn't happen with my Centro.

 

[ned23]

With sprint it is actually cheaper to take plan and pay the cancellation fee later than to pay retail for the phone at this time. The phone might get cheaper, later,tho.

 

[ned23]

Doesn't Sprint require a data plan for PDA/Smart phones?

Yes but I think the op wants not to lock the plan in for two yrs. The thing is that the early cancellation starts at $200 and is prorated after several months. They give you $200 off the phone (+other bonuses in some cases). so it's cheaper to cancel (after you get your $100 rebate. Which is in like 2 or 3 months)

 

[MrGadget256]

I thought if you cancel the plan you also cancel your service. I also looked into just buying the phone (around $350-400 on Ebay) without a contract, but then could not find where I could start new service but not under a contract. Everywhere I looked and called said to establish new service, I would be required to start a new 2 year service agreement.

Long story short, I was already a Helio/Virgin Atlantic contract customer over 1 year out of contract, so when my number was ported over to Sprint (the parent company) my account on Sprint shows a $150 credit for a new phone already on my account. And I got it at BB for $99, but now I have a 2 year contract. Actually not to much of a problem as I am paying less for the Sprint service, (except 900 minutes vice unlimited, everything else is the same) and Helio was already using Sprint anyhow, so no real change in my use. Just means if I really get irritated with the Moment, I can upgrade.

 

[dbpaddler]

Doesn't matter though. All he'll have is a wifi device. He won't be able to use Sprint to make phone calls. Sprint won't activate an android phone (along with the Pre and Instincts) without an Everything plan. If you want to use the Moment as a phone you have to pony up for the plan. They won't turn a profit over two years on a cheap voice only plan when they sell you the phone for $99. And it doesn't matter if you buy the phone at retail. The system just doesn't allow it.

Yes but I think the op wants not to lock the plan in for two yrs. The thing is that the early cancellation starts at $200 and is prorated after several months. They give you $200 off the phone (+other bonuses in some cases). so it's cheaper to cancel (after you get your $100 rebate. Which is in like 2 or 3 months)

 

[SlyFerret]

I bought my Moment on eBay, new, for $350. When it arrived, I tried to do a straight ESN swap via the sprint website. I didn't want to change my plan because I had the old $15 power vision unlimited data plan, and a 700 minute per month voice plan that was sufficient for my wife and I.

The system reported that my plan wasn't compatible with the new handset.

I ended up calling Sprint to get it activated. As has already been mentioned in this thread, an Everything plan is required for this handset.

Because I bought my phone outright, I didn't have to do a contract, but... I did have to change my plan to make it work.

-SF

 

[MrGadget256]

If you currently have Sprint, you can get the phone outright and add it to your plan - but it must be a Data plan, so you might have to upgrade. In my case I am a new Sprint customer, so I HAD to get a 2 year contract on all new lines of service. I'm happy with Sprint's service because I've been using them for the last 3 years anyhow (using Helio), I just didn't want to have to obligate the new 2 year agreement.

 

[Jim W]

If you currently have Sprint, you can get the phone outright and add it to your plan - but it must be a Data plan, so you might have to upgrade. In my case I am a new Sprint customer, so I HAD to get a 2 year contract on all new lines of service. I'm happy with Sprint's service because I've been using them for the last 3 years anyhow (using Helio), I just didn't want to have to obligate the new 2 year agreement.

Doesn't make sense you would need to get a contract. The whole point of making you get into a commitment is when you get a phone from them cheap. If that is the case, I would just return the phone I bought and get it from Sprint with the discount.

 

[MrGadget256]

Doesn't make sense you would need to get a contract. The whole point of making you get into a commitment is when you get a phone from them cheap. If that is the case, I would just return the phone I bought and get it from Sprint with the discount.

I did get the phone at a discount $99 from Best Buy, because it didn't make sense for me to buy the phone outright if I was going to have to get a contract because I was starting a new line of service. I just wish the option had been there to go month to month when starting a new line of service, you know, kind of like everywhere else in the world.

 

[Jim W]

I did get the phone at a discount $99 from Best Buy, because it didn't make sense for me to buy the phone outright if I was going to have to get a contract because I was starting a new line of service. I just wish the option had been there to go month to month when starting a new line of service, you know, kind of like everywhere else in the world.

That's what I am saying, if you buy a phone I don't understand why they required a new 2 year activation. I thought the whole point of that was because they were giving you a $480 phone for $180 (or $99).

Maybe they just don't want people jumping from carrier to carrier. I guess if you start with them and in 2 months you see carrier ABC with a sale, you drop them and hop over.

 

[MrGadget256]

That's what I am saying, if you buy a phone I don't understand why they required a new 2 year activation. I thought the whole point of that was because they were giving you a $480 phone for $180 (or $99).

Maybe they just don't want people jumping from carrier to carrier. I guess if you start with them and in 2 months you see carrier ABC with a sale, you drop them and hop over.

It's just the way phone carriers have got their business models to work here, they expect people to want the subsidy to get a cheap costing phone (initially) but the actual costs are way more in the end. Outside the US, people buy the phones they want and just get service from the carriers, no 2 year commitments, and the cost of service is a lot lower.

I don't like the cellular business model in the US, but I'm not average. Of course I like living here for all the other benefits.

 

[Jim W]

It's just the way phone carriers have got their business models to work here, they expect people to want the subsidy to get a cheap costing phone (initially) but the actual costs are way more in the end. Outside the US, people buy the phones they want and just get service from the carriers, no 2 year commitments, and the cost of service is a lot lower.

I don't like the cellular business model in the US, but I'm not average. Of course I like living here for all the other benefits.

Never knew that. Yeah paying $400-500 for a phone would not be a big issue ever, if the plans were very cheap. Heck my monthly bill now is $160 and that's with my company's discount.

 

[dkjones96]

If you go with a VOIP service you can get their Relay plans but you do need Data as has been said.

One of the negatives of CDMA is that they can control what plan you have based on your phone. Since they activate via ESN however, we can get insurance coverage for our phones that will replace them if they are stolen or lost since they can be marked as stolen and you can't just sell it to a friend/relative to stick their sim card into. That's why iPhone users get to buy a new phone when they lose their phones but we just pay $100 and have a new one shipped overnight.

 

[wmyers4u]

I talked to the rep at the Sprint store and he informed me that the Moment would need a data plan.

I thought, "thats ok' because I have a data plan already. I decided to buy the phone outright to avoid contracts.

I went to register it and my data plan apparently is not good enough for Sprint to activate the phone. It's all about getting more money or a longer contract out of the customer.

I am looking at leaving Sprint over this. I have heard that if you can do a complete flash on the phone it will work on Crickets network with just about all the features enabled.

The other good thing is that Cricket now has a network agreement with "Sprint" to offer nationwide service.

Once I find someone that can flash the phone I can get Crickets unlimited plan for $60 that is basically the same as Sprints $99 plan. You do the math.

Who doesn't like the idea of saving $40 a month?

 

[Johnny Cakes]

An Everything Plan is required for Instincts, Android, and WebOS phones, but I could definitely go witout. The only time I have reliable internet is at home on wifi. It's actually so frustrating I'm considering returning and\or exchanging my Moment. My nieces and nephews love my phone, but I always have problems letting them watch TV and video, and sometimes just using the phone, because I have zero bars or just 1-2. This crap didn't happen with my Centro.

You sound like a perfect candidate for a femtocel. I think Sprint calls their version Airave or something like that. If you complain in just the right way ("Gee, I'd really love to keep Sprint service, but I just don't have bars in my house."), they will affirmatively suggest Airave and give it to you for free.

 

[kevinrs]

Never knew that. Yeah paying $400-500 for a phone would not be a big issue ever, if the plans were very cheap. Heck my monthly bill now is $160 and that's with my company's discount.

if your bill is 160 for one phone, you might need to change plans