Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

I would like one of the Palm, Q, Blackberry, type phones for their organizer, planner, calendar advanced features but don't need or can't justify the data plan costs.

A Verizon rep. told me they changed last year and if you had one of those phones you were grandfathered in but now you had to have a data plan. I have unlimited texts and pics and was told that would now come under the data plan since they changed.

Has anyone got a work around with Verizon to use one of these phones without the data plan and still use your unlimited texts and pics?

Thanks.

Reply 1 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

Unless you are a business with many, many lines (hundreds), and spend the kind of money that could warrant such as exception.

I'm not aware of anyone (yet) buying one used and seeing if Verizon CS would allow such a device to be placed on their account w/o a data plan. Worth a try however. I'd also see what the contract says regarding how long one has to keep data on the plan to get the phone discount/subsidy. Maybe you could remove the feature eventually? Again, you'd probably be better off asking this type of detail over @ howardforums.com. They have a very active Verizon sub-forum.

-Pedro

Reply 2 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

Hi mike62,

What the Verizon rep told you is true. Verizon now requires customers to subscribe to a data plan if they use either a PDA phone or a Smartphone on their network. It doesn't matter from where or how you got your phone. If it is a PDA phone or Smartphone, you must subscribe to a data plan.

The reason is actually quite sad. Verizon has had enough of people buying these phones without a data plan, using data features on their phones, incurring high per megabyte fees (when you're not on a data plan, you can still transmit/receive data but it is at a higher per megabyte fee), and then calling to complain about it.

Evidently Verizon is unwilling to deal with this issue any longer and that's why they created the new rule.

As far as I'm aware there are only two ways to avoid a data plan if you use Verizon:

1 - Get a "dumb" phone that does not require a data plan. Then get a separate PDA device (without a phone) for your PDA needs.

2 - If you don't need the features of a true PDA phone or Smartphone, then there is one way to avoid the data plan AND get some of the "PDA-like" features in a phone: Choose a "multimedia phone" like the LG Voyager. It has Calendar, Contacts List, and Notepad applications. It also handles both text-only and multimedia texting. Plus it has a full QWERTY keyboard AND touchscreen (it actually has two full-size 400x240 pixel displays). It's about as advanced as you can go and still have a "dumb" phone. But here's the trick: You MUST buy the phone at the full non-commitment price (or obtain it from a third party with no plan commitment) in order to qualify to use it on the Verizon network with no data plan. If you purchase it (or any "multimedia" phone) from Verizon or a Verizon representative AND you buy it at the discounted price with a requirement for a 1-year or 2-year contract, then Verizon will require you to subscribe to a data plan for it the same as they do for the PDA phones and Smartphones.

Like it or not, that's the way it is.

Best regards, WiredNot

Reply 3 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

Thanks guys.........that is what I was afraid of I was just hoping there was something out there that I might not be aware of.

Its a shame Verizon did not inactivate those services instead of trying to give them credit but of course they probably also generated some revenue from it too.

I called and asked them right off the bat to disable my phones ability to connect to the web so I would not accidently connect.

Oh well.

Reply 4 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

Just this year (last few months) I got a new Dare and my wife got a new Voyager, both from Verizon with plan related discounts and they did not require a data plan for us.

Reply 5 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

where did you find this. I've been talking to verizon and I'm not getting anywhere.

Reply 6 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

Yes, it is true that any smartphone launched after Nov 14 requires a data plan but any phone that was introduced prior to that can still be had without a data plan except the Blackberry. I know this is true I got it from a Verizon rep that there is a list of phones that still don't require a data plan. I got one of those phones and was able to activate it without the plan.

Reply 7 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

could i have the list

Reply 8 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

i am soo glad i checked this site out. I too am stuck with a data package phone, i missed the trial by one day and they would not let me change the phone. So pleaaase send me the list so i too can purchase a non data phone. thank you

Reply 9 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

could I get a copy of teh list you got from verizon of phones that don't require a data plan?

thanks
Ricc Havens
rv.havens@gmail.com

Reply 10 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

I'm in the same boat - just found out you can buy the Palm Centro or Voyager online (like EBay) - they work like a smart phone without the data plan - although I think with the Voyager you have to get a 3rd party app to sync with Outlook.

Reply 11 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

After March 2010 all Smart phones phones require a data plan even if you buy them used. I had a Palm in 2009 that I bought on Ebay and I used it without the data plan then broke it last month then bought another one on Ebay and now it they require a data plan. It's the same phone and I went to the Verizon store they would not budge and call 1-800 and they wouldn't budge. Even if I have to get a data plan I am just going to switch to AT&T so I can get the iphone

Reply 12 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

This is ridiculous! I can totally understand if you purchased one of verizon's smart phones under a 2yr contract because they are in a sense extending credit to you. But on a phone that you got used off of ebay makes no sense. I was about to get the HTC Eris or Motorola Droid so that I can have all of my contacts in a nice pda and have some decent apps...and verizon said the same thing...all smart phones must have a data plan. I sit at a friggin' wifi connection all day at work and all night at home...I don't need to pay $30 a month for the few hours a week I'm away from home.

What if you agree to verizon's stupid rule...pay the first month's data plan and then call up the following month and let them know you want to keep the voice but cancel the data plan? Could that looophole work? Would that satisfy their stupid rule? Would they shut your voice off too if you didn't agree to pay next month's data plan? There's gotta be a way to fly under the radar here...the only reason I like verizon is because they're the ONLY cell network that works in my apartment...otherwise I would've been on t-mobile or at&t.

Reply 13 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

You are not allowed to remove the data feature if you continue to use a "Smart Phone" even though you don't want it after the first month. You are requred to have a minimum voice plan at least $29.99 in addition. There is no "loophole" to get out of those requirements. Sorry, "no soup for you" (to qoute the Jerry Seinfeld show).

Reply 14 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

I've been trying to do just this for the past month. Best possible solution is getting a "dumb" phone and using Synccell.com to transfer contacts from computer to phone. However.....just tried it on my wife's RAZR and didn't like it.

Reply 15 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

i want a blackberry but my parents wont buy me a data plan which i dont blame them because its extremely expensive. i went to the verizon store and asked if there was any possible way. The guy told me that the only possible way was to go off your contract and get your own pre paid contract of minutes and everything and you wouldnt need a data plan.

hope this helped

Reply 16 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

I've to try that bad boy out. Thanks!

Reply 17 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

yes, that helped.. thank you

Reply 18 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

My contract is up in November 2010. Is the pre paid contracts from Verizon or another carrier? I want a phone, but don't want use the internet for anything.

Thanks

Reply 19 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

I know I'm not the smartest person but I don't understand this. Is there some way they can tell what phone the SIM is in? I'm with ATT and two years ago when I signed up, I took the basic phone. When I got home, I took the chip out and put it in my unlocked Palm. It has worked fine with my minute plan and pay for use data plan. But my Palm is dying so I'm looking for another unlocked phone rather than make another 2 year commitment to AT&T in order to get a free smart phone and get stuck with the mandatory data package. Any suggestions? Like the original poster, I'm mainly looking for a good organizer that I can sync with Outlook.

Reply 20 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

The SIM card is what ATT uses to authenticate you on their network. It can also store a finite number of contacts (name/number only) as well as text messages (SMS). Your line/cellular number is associated with the physical SIM card inside your phone.

That said, it is possible to grab an unlocked/unbranded smartphone for syncing w/ Outlook & PDA-like usage w/o having the mandatory ATT data plan. It will however force you to forget about that generally terrible UI of the Palm OS, as it's quite dated. There will be a small learning curve when you make the jump. If you want a very functional and economical option, the Nokia E63-2 is a great way to make the smartphone jump w/o the nasty data charges. You would also gain the ability to use wifi for free with this handset. Throw in your current SIM card and your are good to go. Price will be between $159-199. Search for it here-

http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=nokia+E63-2&aq=f&aqi=g4g-o1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=b1708ba0f296f44f

If you want/need GPS and are willing to pay a little more, do the same search for the E72.

FWIW, Howardforums.com is a great place to learn about the Symbian OS and what it can do to replace most if not all of what your Palm did. There are a heck of a lot of other symbian focuses sites as well with great tidbits on the 'how to'.

hth,
Pedro

Reply 21 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

Simply purchase an iPhone from eBay, then jail-break it, (a trivial task) or buy a jail-broken model. Then go to Walmart, purchase a $20 GSM phone with a sim card and a t-Mobile pre-paid plan. Take the sim card from the new phone and stick it in your iPhone. Now you have an iPhone you canuse for voice that will sync with Outlook, hold all you music, videos, etc and connect to the internet from wi-fi hot spots. But the best part of this solution is it will likely reduce your monthly mobile bill by somewhere between 50% and 90%.

Reply 22 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

...the person I replied to didn't say they wanted to switch carriers. This option is not viable for her since she's on ATT and an iPhone would trigger the data plan.

Reply 23 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

It took me many hours and repeat visits to a busy Verizon store to finally figure this out, but...

Verizon's Palm Centro is the last smart phone released by Verizon that does not require a data plan... ...which is exactly why I bought the Palm Centro.

*You can buy the Palm Centro at non Verizon stores online.
* There are used Centro's available on various websites like Ebay and Amazon (although I would just get a new one due to the touch screen; you never know the true condition of a used touch screen). Make sure you buy one that's setup for Verizon (And not Sprint, etc).

My plan is setup as follows-
* Nationwide Talk 450 for $39/mo.
* 500 Text messages for $10. (they offer 5000 text messages for $20/mo)

Verizon also offers cheaper data service plans that are not advertised on their site. I once had a "business data plan" that was only $29/mo which included web browsing, phone pics, a generous megabyte allowance, etc (I dropped it though because I never used the plan; you CAN drop data plans on older phones if you decide you don't want them). I heard that Verizon was offering a 2010 winter holiday promotion of $10 data plans (?) but I'm not sure if they're compatible with the Palm Centro.

To setup Palm Centro -Verizon service without the data plan, DO NOT setup service online. Instead, call Verizon directly and have a customer service rep set up service. Also, be sure to ask about any non advertised data plans.

Reply 24 : Need smart phone but not data plan-- Verizon issue

This is true. I have been a Palm user for more than 8 years now and Palm Centro is the last grandfathered smartphone under Verizon service that you can have WITHOUT a data plan.

Despite several Verizon reps telling me that I had to have it...and several times calling back to Verizon to finally get ahold of one that was helpful and has been with Verizon for a while, I was able to activate mine and my wife's Palm Centro's WITHOUT a data plan.

They charge you "pay as you go" and it is $1.99/MB. Not too shabby considering we don't get on very often except to get directions or a phone number while we are traveling.