Android phone with NO Data?

[Mr Spree]

Hello I have a quick question. Im sure its been answered before but I cant find it.

Anyways,

I want to buy an Android powered smartphone!
I have at&t and already have a plan with unlimited text and around 700 family talk minutes.

But I don't have an upgrade for awhile but I REALLY want a new phone. Lol.

I dont have a data plan at all so I was wondering...

If I buy a smartphone without a new contract, is it possible to still use the device without adding the data plan?

I want to disable the network data and use WiFi ONLY.

I know Ill be paying full price, but my at&t bill is already $180.. I don't want an extra $25 tacked on there if I'm only going to use WiFi.

I heard you can unlock the phone and block all network data..

So I could still recieve phone calls and texts on the network but only use data with WiFi.

Sorry its so long.

Thanks for all the help from anyone

 

[operant]

Now don't quote me on this but I think there is a bit of opportunity here.

My friend is on AT&T and he wanted an iPhone - all well and good but he didn't have or want a data plan.

So I was called to try and solve the problem. I jailbroke the thing and put the sim card in. Done. See, if you don't have a data plan on your service, AT&T charges you for each mb you download. So if you stay on your wifi connection you'll be fine.

There are apps which can help you disable Internet when not in wifi areas.

However I digress. As far as I know, only tablets come in wifi only - smart phones, android in particular is heavily dependent on data so all of them (as far as I know) come will cell radios for this purpose. So I guess you can live on the edge and do the sim switch or cave and buy the data.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

 

[GrenW]

You can quite easily disable your mobile data connection and use only wifi.

 

[takeshi]

If I buy a smartphone without a new contract, is it possible to still use the device without adding the data plan?

at&t mandates data plans. That said, there are those who have non-at&t smartphones that they use with at&t without data. If at&t can tell the make/model based on the IMEI you'll be forced to carry a data plan.

As far as I know, only tablets come in wifi only

OP isn't asking for WiFi only smartphones. OP is asking about how to avoid carrier mandated data plans.

You can quite easily disable your mobile data connection and use only wifi.

Again, not the topic at hand. Even if you disable mobile data on an at&t smartphone you still have to have a data plan.

 

[dan330]

switch carriers... save money and get data!!!

hint: sprint or tmobile...
check in your area which has better service.

to answer you question:
i think it should work. android phones are easy to turn off the data network.. and only use wifi.
do you have a friend what has an android phone on att?? slip in you sim card and see what happens????

 

[operant]

Takeshi that's what I'm saying - only tablets have wifi only aka the only devices without cell radios. Also how exactly is my friend still on his iPhone with no data? If you buy the phone from them you have to have data but he's looking to buy from other sources to avoid this. Its completely possible.

 

[Mr Spree]

Okay thank you everyone. I asked ATT directly and they said they will force a data plan on you even if you use WiFi only.... Ill just try and get their 15 dollar data plan and only use WiFi...

I just hate how all the fast and amazing phones require data plans and the phones that dont are clunky and slow..


Anyways thank you everyone for the quick reply!

=)

 

[dan330]

that is what they will tell everyone...

like i said... try it with a friends att android phone.. put your sim card in there...

 

[operant]

Try it before you go with AT&T data plan like Dan is saying. I can't imagine not having a data plan but I can see what you're saying.

I think it's possible but still try and see what happens.

 

[Mr Spree]

I asked and they said they will notice your phones IMEI or whatever it is. If its a smartphone, they will automatically tack on a data plan. No way around it. You can work it without a data plan for a couple days. but they WILL notice the smartphone without a data plan. Ill just get a 15 dollar data plan when I get my upgrade. Which is like 2012...

 

[operant]

Theyre pretty much lying to your face from my experience but if you want to play it safe it'll be.... safer (I've run out of witty remarks for the day).

However - if you come to a point when you can afford to get a data plan, get it. Within a day you'll wonder how you made it without. And when your contract runs out - look at a few other carriers and shop your business around. There's a different carrier for each type of user and frankly AT&T is on my naughty list . I don't think this paragraph makes sense because I'm too tired to be posting right now but maybe you'll get something out of it.

 

[dan330]

let see..

you want a smartphone... and att said they will know if you use a smartphone and will up your plan to a data plan. so you will go ahead and get the phone and pick the plan.

or

you get a smartphone of craigslist or whatever...
put your sim card in....
if nothing changes.. you win.
if they give you a data plan.. then it is still the same as the first choice.

what u got to loose?

 

[Gus3300]

OR!! you switch carriers and get metroPCS and buy the samsung indulge. The price is a bit steep ($400), but you can get the samsung optimus (no 4g, only 1x [2g]). It's 50 or 60 dollars a month (you choose) for data plan with no contract. Only problem- if you want 4g, you have to check if your region is covered.

PS: i have the indulge, live in miami, and so far so good, i pay 50 dollars monthly

 

[operant]

He doesn't want a data plan. He wants to use wifi only and avoid data at all costs for now.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Get an unlocked t-mo phone use it on att, they won't know the imei of t-mo phones. Its how people use iphones on tmo with out data plans.

 

[mrsbelpit]

Wait, they are going to force a data plan on you if you pay retail for a phone? If you're not getting an upgrade I don't see how they can do that.

 

[snapper.fishes]

Wait, they are going to force a data plan on you if you pay retail for a phone? If you're not getting an upgrade I don't see how they can do that.

They can and they do.

Thank god I don't use AT&T.

 

[mrspeedmaster]

at&t mandates data plans. That said, there are those who have non-at&t smartphones that they use with at&t without data. If at&t can tell the make/model based on the IMEI you'll be forced to carry a data plan.

Not True. I bought TWO Captivates from an AT&T store and I bought them contract-free.
One, I switched SIMs w/ an iPhone but the second phone had zero data on it. I used a pre-paid SIM.

IF you have a contract plan, you have to tell them specifically to block/disable the IMEI. Otherwise, they will try to tack it on.