yet another no-data-plan thread

[peacenik]

I'm really sorry if this has been discussed to death, but upon searching and reading old threads, it doesn't look like there's anything specifically on this topic that is particularly recent, so, since things change so fast in this business, I'm hoping I can get the most current info from anyone who cares to help me out.

Basically, I want an iPhone in a HUGE way, but I don't want to pay $240/year for a data plan. I don't use a data plan now, don't text, don't need visual voicemail, and can easily hold off on using the internet for when I'm in a wi-fi hotspot.

I've read conflicting reports on the ease of buying a phone then calling up AT&T, threatening to cancel service altogether unless they remove the data plan, or calling AT&T and telling them that I sold the iPhone and want to activate my old SIM card, then slip my old SIM card into the iPhone.

So, what's the latest, greatest, easiest way to get me into an iPhone? Figuratively speaking of course.

Thanks!

 

[ert3]

I should remind you that using any of the features such as visual voice mail, you-tube, email, stocks, maps, safari, and weather. all use bandwidth as if you have unlimited data.

using any of them without wifi (except for the weather and stocks). will cost you allot per use (to load up cnn.com at the pay per use rate would cost 6 dollars).

Will it work. yes. Though its not really in your best interests though not having a data plan wont revoke iphone use.

you may end up paying 20 dollars for the first month though

 

[peacenik]

Thanks, but as I said, I won't be using any data features outside of a wi-fi hotspot.

 

[mrtune]

If you absolutely don't need the data plan, you might as well just keep your current phone and get an iPod Touch.

The iPhone isn't worth it's weight in gold with a data plan IMO. youtube, maps, stocks, weather, mail, safari, they all use data. At this point the only thing that would make the phone stand apart from the touch is the camera.

 

[peacenik]

If you absolutely don't need the data plan, you might as well just keep your current phone and get an iPod Touch.

The iPhone isn't worth it's weight in gold with a data plan IMO. youtube, maps, stocks, weather, mail, safari, they all use data. At this point the only thing that would make the phone stand apart from the touch is the camera.

Thanks, Mrtune, but I don't want to carry around two devices. I've thought about it a lot, and it's just maddening to be forced into a data plan for a device with wi-fi. I know I'm not, by far, the only one unhappy about this.

 

[goosnarrggh]

I should remind you that using any of the features such as visual voice mail, you-tube, email, stocks, maps, safari, and weather. all use bandwidth as if you have unlimited data.

using any of them without wifi (except for the weather and stocks). will cost you allot per use (to load up cnn.com at the pay per use rate would cost 6 dollars).

Will it work. yes. Though its not really in your best interests though not having a data plan wont revoke iphone use.

you may end up paying 20 dollars for the first month though

You're right that, by default, unsubscribing from the data plan doesn't stop the network from serving up data - it just charges you a per-kilobyte rate. As well, the iPhone can have a tendency to automatically attempt to access data services without warning you that it's about to happen.

However, it is technically possible to go even further and configure the network to entirely prevent any data traffic from ever being able to flow in/out of your phone in the first place. Many carriers offer such a service by request, but don't necessarily advertise it. I don't know what AT&T's policy is on that front.

 

[r6girl]

it's been a little while a now, but you missed this - you can cancel your iphone data plan if you want. you should just call at&t to confirm you can do this as soon as you activate your iphone...

 

[peacenik]

it's been a little while a now, but you missed this - you can cancel your iphone data plan if you want. you should just call at&t to confirm you can do this as soon as you activate your iphone...

Thanks, r6girl. I did see that, but I've read reports that say that this is not possible anymore. Apparently you can't just cancel the data plan through the AT&T website anymore: the option seems to have been taken down once folks found out about it.

And THAT'S one of the reasons I'm sure that a lot of people are wanting the iPhone but don't want to pay the extra charge for the data plan.

So, is there any way to, once the data plan is canceled after calling AT&T and threatening to take my business elsewhere if it's not removed, tweak the settings on the iPhone so that it won't be able to transfer data via EDGE?

 

[question fear]

I believe the only way to truly excise the data would be to unlock it and not enter any data settings.

Alternately, you could set up an iphone, activate it, then call AT&T and tell them you went back to your old phone, then tell them to cancel all data access on your account. Your iPhone SIM should still work in the iPhone but AT&T will cancel all data because you're not using the iPhone. However, they may try to reinstate it if they catch you using the iPhone on the network.

I do want to voice a similar opinion that if you don't text and have no interest in using the phone outside a wifi hotspot you're really jumping through a lot of hoops. Your actual usage pattern would be better suited to the ipod touch, and while I know you are dead set against two devices, you're going to have to work harder to get the same results with one device.

And not everyone wants the data plan, but for the majority of users it is fairly helpful. The phone is designed to showcase a tighter integration with data services. And the iPhone is only the beginning there...more phones are going to serve the same purpose in the future.

 

[Consultant]

Get brand new iPhone. I guess you are on AT&T? Jailbreak it (or get someone else to do it) = no contract.

There is an app that allow you to control the on/off status your Edge connection, wifi, etc.

 

[lordgaino]

You are totally degrading the device by removing the data support. It would be madness, like buying a motorbike and removing the engine so you dont have to get insurance.

 

[pacohaas]

You are totally degrading the device by removing the data support. It would be madness, like buying a motorbike and removing the engine so you dont have to get insurance.

nah, it's like getting a motorbike and removing the handlebars because you only drive it in a straight line from Point A to Point B. When you're at either point you can manually turn it around and go back. It makes sense if the handlebars cost you $240/year.

That said, I have the iPhone+data plan and mobilemaps and Safari for price checks while shopping is well worth the $20/month for me. You will have to jailbreak it as said earlier and install Services.app to turn Edge off completely since there's no Setting for this out of the box. There will be some other steps involved in bypassing the iTunes activation process which would sign you up for the Data plan in the first place, but I'm 90% sure it can be done. Just search for how to bypass activation steps and you should be able to just use your old SIM card instead of the one in the iPhone(as long as your SIM card isn't too old).

 

[bobznc]

If you absolutely don't need the data plan, you might as well just keep your current phone and get an iPod Touch.

OP, 5 months ago I wanted to do what you are attempting, and I received this useless advice pertaining to my cause then and many times since. I love how Mr. Tune knows that YOU are not 'good/ elite' enough not to own an iPhone.

There is an app that allow you to control the on/off status your Edge connection, wifi, etc.

Yes, it is called 'Services.' Once you get AT&T to cancel your data plan, Jailbrake and install this app and it will allow you to turn off EDGE on the phone. It also allows you to turn off Bluetooth and WiFi, all separately. Good luck (eventhough some may think you don't deserve it).

 

[peacenik]

OP, 5 months ago I wanted to do what you are attempting, and I received this useless advice pertaining to my cause then and many times since. I love how Mr. Tune knows that YOU are not 'good/ elite' enough not to own an iPhone.


Yes, it is called 'Services.' Once you get AT&T to cancel your data plan, Jailbrake and install this app and it will allow you to turn off EDGE on the phone. It also allows you to turn off Bluetooth and WiFi, all separately. Good luck (eventhough some may think you don't deserve it).

I don't appreciate the "you're stupid to want the iPhone without a data plan" attitude either. I don't dis people who spend the extra money for data plans, so why dis me? I just don't like to be nickeled and dimed to death on monthly charges for services that I know I don't want/need. Same reason I don't pay for cable TV: I'd watch a handful of channels, but I'd be paying for a hundred more that I'd never use.

Thanks, bobznc. I'm wary of the jailbreaking because I get nervous tinkering with firmware. It's one thing to overcome my nervousness once, but if I have to keep doing it everytime Apple releases an update to the firmware, then I'm setting myself up for regular doses of anxiety that I just don't want to deal with.

It's a lousy business model, making the data plan mandatory, limiting choices for the consumers who keep these big companies in business.

 

[pacohaas]

It's a lousy business model, making the data plan mandatory, limiting choices for the consumers who keep these big companies in business.

write a letter to Ralph Nader.