Actually that was how I was using my iPhone 4 before. I first had it unlocked by AT&T, then I went to their store and said I wanted a prepaid service, the guy took my phone did something on the computer, asked what plan I wanted, I told him. He just told me I needed to have at least $10.00 in my account. Paid him and I was done.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone without data
- Thread starter jrcsh6
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Actually that was how I was using my iPhone 4 before. I first had it unlocked by AT&T, then I went to their store and said I wanted a prepaid service, the guy took my phone did something on the computer, asked what plan I wanted, I told him. He just told me I needed to have at least $10.00 in my account. Paid him and I was done.
Currently my father is using my bro-in-law's old 3GS with his SIM from his dumbphone. No data plan whatsoever. He gets wifi at home, work, and school, so he's been ok in that regards. I've been waiting for AT&T to switch him over to a data plan or even acknowledge that he doesn't have one, but it's been half a year and nothing. Since he and we don't want him to have one to begin with, we're leaving well-enough alone. Hahaha...
Possibly, OP, you can have the iPhone activated with an already-activated SIM from a dumbphone, switch it out, and see if it's still usable. Know that, of course, visual voicemail won't work and iMessage and other data services won't work unless on wifi.
Possibly, OP, you can have the iPhone activated with an already-activated SIM from a dumbphone, switch it out, and see if it's still usable. Know that, of course, visual voicemail won't work and iMessage and other data services won't work unless on wifi.
When you get time to come down off your condescending high horse and back to the real world, you'll see I was just being sarcastic. In the meantime, I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your narrative.
I only responded in kind.
That was an awful lot of effort for sarcasm that fell flat. So, it's likely not the case.
----------
T-mobile's been selling the iPhone for less than a year. Back when it was an unofficial thing and everyone was bringing their own unlocked device, they likely didn't care. The situation's a bit different now that they're selling them (and paying Apple some guaranteed revenue). Even off contract, if you try to buy an iPhone through T-Mobile, a no-data option for postpaid isn't available.
Last edited:
Is the phone still under contract?
If it is, you can take it to an AT&T Corporate store and transfer the line to prepaid and the just shut the data off on the phone. AT&T no longer requires Smartphones on prepaid plans to have a data plan.
I took my Sansung Galaxy S4 that I bought used in to an AT&T Corporate store and did this two weeks ago.
It will cost you at least $25 annually to keep the line open. However, if you catch sales at Callingmart.com, you can buy pins for 10% off. So it would only cost you $90 a year.
Before you transfer it, I recommend going to att.com/deviceunlock and submit an unlock request.
Once you get the phone unlocked, you can use it on T-mobile prepaid which you can do as cheap as $40 a year.
I have my daughter on an AT&T go phone plan. $25 a month for 250 minutes and unlimited texts. She uses my old iPhone 4. For $35 a month you get 500 minutes and unlimited texts. No data plan. I set the account to auto deduct the money every month so it's almost the same as having a plan. Of course it still does everything an iPhone does. She just needs to be on wifi to use all the features.
used to be but not anymore. they usually do a sweep and once they found out that you're using a smartphone (which incidentally they can detect with this sweeping sw) they will add a $30 data plan right away. you can't get away now. there should be a govt rule to say that even if you're using smartphone, carrier can't force anyone to have data plan. i think that's the only solution - govt intervention.
Govt is getting paid by these huge billion dollar companies so I doubt they will do anything against their sponsors. Would be nice if they actually looked after the people and the end consumer instead of their own pockets.
My sister has been using an iPhone this way for 3 years now. First with an iPhone 4, then a 5 and now a 5S.
We turned of cellular data before we installed the SIM and the phone has worked fine as a phone and requires WiFi for anything data related.
I keep seeing that its NOT possible, but I saw it for myself today, as I have for years.
We turned of cellular data before we installed the SIM and the phone has worked fine as a phone and requires WiFi for anything data related.
I keep seeing that its NOT possible, but I saw it for myself today, as I have for years.
For those saying it is not possible, it IS possible.
When I first bought an iPhone (iPhone 3G) I had a prepaid account. Simply all I did was change in my sim card and insert it into the iPhone and BAM is worked. No data required. I've used iPhones for a few years without data and never had an issue.
Although I'm running on a contract now, my sister is using my old 4S on prepaid without data.
When I first bought an iPhone (iPhone 3G) I had a prepaid account. Simply all I did was change in my sim card and insert it into the iPhone and BAM is worked. No data required. I've used iPhones for a few years without data and never had an issue.
Although I'm running on a contract now, my sister is using my old 4S on prepaid without data.
We're not talking about prepaid. Offcourse you can get away with no data on prepaid plans.
What carrier are you on?
We're talking about the OP's AT&T post paid accounts.
Every company is different.
I know AT&T has a strict policy against it on monthly post paid plans.
If you got away with it consider yourself lucky till they notice it.
Yes, that situation is unique though.
Since AT&T's system doesn't recognize a Verizon iphone then the system that does periodical scans doesn't pick it up to add the mandatory iphone data plan.
I also use a Verizon iphone 5 on one of my AT&T lines and when I gave the imei to AT&T to add a data plan they had no idea what kind of phone it was and couldn't add the right data plan to it. So I had to give them an IMEI from an AT&T iphone to add an iphone data plan to that line.
So that is an exception or workaround if you want to call it that.
You can go prepaid.
----------
----------
interesting, but now the 5S is the same one for both companies, so I think the trick won't work with newer devices like the 5S and 5C.
I'm not sure but I think it would be the same thing.
A Verizon 5S or 5C wont be in AT&T's database and since its a cdma iphone with the gsm side unlocked my guess is it will act the same way my Verizon iphone 5 acts on my AT&T family plan.
But not 100% till someone else verifies
how long she had it now ? this is an interesting scenario. my wife doesn't need any data plan what just want's the UI of an iPhone for texting (which she does a lot). if this is a possibility, then i could get a used verizon or sprint iPhone.
Only get a used Verizon iPhone 5 or 5s or 5c. They are unlocked to be used on any carrier except Sprint. Sprint iPhones will only work on Sprint.
maybe it's not AT&T. i just did this on my wife's iPhone 4 and twice they added a data plan. cellular data plan was blocked and even the data plan on her actual plan and yet they found out about the iPhone and added a data plan right away. so i got fed up talking to ATT and put her back on her dumb phone.
----------
thanks. i could try this and will report back.
1) Buy an iPhone on Craigslist.
2) Sign up for a voice and text only plan.
Easy to do in Canada, would be surprised if same option was unavailable in the U.S.
2) Sign up for a voice and text only plan.
Easy to do in Canada, would be surprised if same option was unavailable in the U.S.
When I first got my unsubsidized 4s, I just moved my flip phone's SIM to the iPhone and it worked. No data. I was on AT&T dumb-phone PayGo for 3 months before I switched to a MNVO with data. Would have AT&T cought up with me? will never know.
Prepaid (metered) plans for older folks are great. They tend to be light users.
unavailable in US. this is how it works with ATT
1) buy phone on craigslist
2) sign up for voice and text only plan
3) once it's active, ATT will add a data plan immediately. and they will add the most expensive data plan there is. i don't get this one. why don't they just add the lowest one instead.