Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
It is possible. The only iPhone that I was able to have luck with was the original iphone. With this you can set it so that data will not be used and you can block data on your plan before you put the phone into service. It worked for me...google is your friend.
 
The "just get an iPod Touch and a different phone" arguments don't make sense.

Why get two devices when you can have one? The iPhone doesn't need a data plan to function. It makes calls and works over WiFi. There is no reason to require a data plan.

I pay $5 a month to block data on one of my phone lines. How could they charge me for a data plan I don't want even when charging me to block data?
 
I pay $5 a month to block data on one of my phone lines. How could they charge me for a data plan I don't want even when charging me to block data?

They dont charge to block data and data on the iphones 3G, 3GS and i4 are mandatory on post paid account.
Call up AT&T if you dont believe for details.
I dont disagree that it sucks pushing a paid service that some dont want or need but that's how it is.
 
Last edited:
if someone cant shell out the money for a data plan like the rest of us, they deserve to lug around a phone and an mp3 player

why aren't text messaging packages mandatory then? ur phone is so smart, how could you NOT have a text plan? How could u NOT do mms with your buddies!

Believe it or not, the phone still functions without a data plan.
 
why aren't text messaging packages mandatory then? ur phone is so smart, how could you NOT have a text plan? How could u NOT do mms with your buddies!

Believe it or not, the phone still functions without a data plan.

cool story bro, but thats not the point at all. the point is that at&t and verizon will not let you use an iphone without a data plan(with exception to the original), thats all im saying. obviously the phone wont blow up in your hand without a data plan.
 
why aren't text messaging packages mandatory then? ur phone is so smart, how could you NOT have a text plan? How could u NOT do mms with your buddies!

Believe it or not, the phone still functions without a data plan.

Like the poster said above we do believe that the phone will function fine with no data.
Verizon and AT&T doesnt think so or doesnt allow it so what we say wont make any difference.
 
Like the poster said above we do believe that the phone will function fine with no data.
Verizon and AT&T doesnt think so or doesnt allow it so what we say wont make any difference.

Agreed. It is sad that non of the carriers will allow a smartphone without a data plan.

You could also consider unlocking the phone and using it on t-mobile.

The only problem with that is they would be stuck on Edge for data as the iPhone does not have the hardware to access T-Mobile's 3G network.
 
Agreed. It is sad that non of the carriers will allow a smartphone without a data plan.



The only problem with that is they would be stuck on Edge for data as the iPhone does not have the hardware to access T-Mobile's 3G network.

Considering they don't want a data plan at all, I don't see how that's a problem.
 
I think it's quite bizarre AT&T doesn't allow their network to be used by particular phones without a data plan. I can't imagine a European carrier doing such a thing. Carriers here don't care which phone you use. You're contract is your phone number and the sim card, the phone is irrelevant. The way it should be.
 
Considering they don't want a data plan at all, I don't see how that's a problem.

True. That was a massive brain fart on my part.:eek:

Merkie said:
I think it's quite bizarre AT&T doesn't allow their network to be used by particular phones without a data plan.

It is not just AT&T. None of the major carriers will allow you to use a smartphone (postpaid) without a data plan.
 
Last edited:
You'd have to change the IMEI, which is possible, BUT that's highly illegal.

oops, that's what I meant. MAC address was on my mind since I was editing my router's MAC filter at the same time ><

In any case though, I'm not aware of any actual method of changing the IMEI on any of the iPhones newer than the original. Perhaps an ultrasn0w style exploit can change it on a temporary basis, but I don't think a permanent IMEI change would be possible without having bootrom vulnerability in the baseband
 
Like the poster said above we do believe that the phone will function fine with no data.
Verizon and AT&T doesnt think so or doesnt allow it so what we say wont make any difference.
lol so i can't have an opinion then?

----------

cool story bro, but thats not the point at all. the point is that at&t and verizon will not let you use an iphone without a data plan(with exception to the original), thats all im saying. obviously the phone wont blow up in your hand without a data plan.
cool story bro, glad you shared your opinion man.
 
Im giving my 3G to my Sig-O & said Sig-O dosent want the data & will never use it but AT&T says, "no data, no phone".

So leagal? Yeah, they have ways of finding you law breaking types... :eek:
 
selling of at&t Iphone 4

My friend brought an AT&T locked iphone 4 last month from Target, but he had not inserted the Sim into the cell as of yet as the dumbo was using it as an IPOD. Now he decided to sell of this iphone through ebay and use the regular cheap one(non - Smart) as his father had cut down his expenses relative to his poor grades.
He is ready to carry on with the 40$ AT&T voice plan, he was using. But, want to get rid of that 15$ extra voice plan somehow.
Please put some urgent inputs.
 
In my country, its perfectly legal, i use my current iphone on a pay as you go sim and data on a pay as you use basis. I can subscribe to data package which is on a month to month basis without any contract
 
In my country, its perfectly legal, i use my current iphone on a pay as you go sim and data on a pay as you use basis. I can subscribe to data package which is on a month to month basis without any contract

Well we stay in Indianapolis. Am talking about US only dude.:)
 
The only way you can is if it's on a prepaid line. You can use the iPhone on a GoPhone sim card. I know for sure the 3GS works fine. I see those at my store all the time.
 
Where there needs to be a change is...

...the REQUIREMENT of having a smartphone data plan that comes from your voice/text provider. To have to pay $30 a month for each line even if you are using wifi 90% of the time. I have 3 smartphones on my plan and have to pay $90.00 a month for 200mb - that's all we use. What I would like is for the requirement to be lifted and the option of using a 3rd party dongle for 4G (like a Clear 4G device) that could be put in my pocket. I would use the Verizon dongle if they were competitive - but right now - since there is no competition for cellphone data without chucking the entire phone - there is no incentive to offer better service or pricing. I live in California and am actually looking into the proposition process to see if something like this could be put on the ballot....

Would you vote in favor?
 
Buy him an iPod Touch.

No good, because iPod touches don't make phone calls.

----------

Not everyone likes pre-paid.
I cannot imagine why... AT&T's prepaid services (for everything other than data, which is the thing most people asking this question are trying to avoid) seen much more generous than their corresponding postpaid services.

Anyway, if you don't like prepaid service, and assuming you are locked to AT&T and cannot unlock, then the only other options are:
1) Don't use it on the cellular network at all, or
2) Use it and abide by the requirement to buy the lowest-tier data plan.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.