I want a Wi-Fi cell phone. Verizon says no!

RWP · #1 11-21-2009, 02:17 PM

I was thinking about a Blackberry like device to access the internet. But I don't want or need access other than my house via my own router, or hot spots like Starbucks. I.E. for free. I am with Verizon and say no can do. I HAVE to buy their $30 a month mobile internet package. The Apple itouch does this but I would like it to be integrated into a phone. Any advice?

Yvon · #2 11-21-2009, 02:36 PM

here it is possible to get the iphone without the internet package.
BUT if you use the internet (3G) without even knowing it for any reason it will be very very expensive!

Chunk-O-Funk · #3 11-21-2009, 02:49 PM

Can you upgrade your contract with Verizon?

I just signed up with a FIOS package including a cell phone (no land line). I remember there being a plan for a $69.00 single plan, 450 min. that included the "data package" which IIRC included Verizon hot spots.

I passed on that packed because I got a pretty basic phone, so I could be mistaken.

RWP · #4 11-21-2009, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunk-O-Funk

Can you upgrade your contract with Verizon?

I just signed up with a FIOS package including a cell phone (no land line). I remember there being a plan for a $69.00 single plan, 450 min. that included the "data package" which IIRC included Verizon hot spots.

I passed on that packed because I got a pretty basic phone, so I could be mistaken.

That is interesting because I have FIOS but on a different account. Maybe they would toss it in for free if I combined accounts. Never thought of that.

jrthebassguy · #5 11-21-2009, 02:55 PM

T-Mobile pulls the same b-s with me too. I have a Blackberry Pearl, and even though it has wi-fi, T-Mobile won't let me access it unless I buy one of their data plans.

lunarpollen · #6 11-21-2009, 02:56 PM

You should consider getting a cheap netbook instead

**BullHorn** · #7 11-21-2009, 03:11 PM

Just buy a mobile phone of a retailer and then use the provider's SIM card.

Any post 2007 Nokia S60 device has a WiFi antenna built-in.

**Jerose** · #8 11-21-2009, 03:20 PM

I have a Samsung Jack with AT&T, no data plan. What I did was sign up with the data plan because it gave me a $100 rebate on the phone ($30/month data plan) so I saved $70, then at the end of the month canceled the data plan and put a data block on the phone (VERY IMPORTANT! If WiFi even stutters it will attempt to connect to a data line even if you aren't paying for the plan, leaving you with huge charges).

Now I just use my university's WiFi that I can access just about anywhere on campus to handle my data needs without paying $30 a month. WiFi should be available on any WiFi capable phone without needing a data plan.

RWP · #9 11-21-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrthebassguy

T-Mobile pulls the same b-s with me too. I have a Blackberry Pearl, and even though it has wi-fi, T-Mobile won't let me access it unless I buy one of their data plans.

This is where I am confused. If the phone has the capability to connect to a Wi-Fi router, how can they prevent that? Maybe they don't. Maybe all the Blackberry type devices can only connect to the internet via the cell service. Anyone know?

RWP · #10 11-21-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerose

I have a Samsung Jack with AT&T, no data plan. What I did was sign up with the data plan because it gave me a $100 rebate on the phone ($30/month data plan) so I saved $70, then at the end of the month canceled the data plan and put a data block on the phone (VERY IMPORTANT! If WiFi even stutters it will attempt to connect to a data line even if you aren't paying for the plan, leaving you with huge charges).

Now I just use my university's WiFi that I can access just about anywhere on campus to handle my data needs without paying $30 a month. WiFi should be available on any WiFi capable phone without needing a data plan.

Ok then why can't they BLOCK your access to their data line leaving you with only no charge Wi-Fi access to the web?

**Jerose** · #11 11-21-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWP

Ok then why can't they BLOCK your access to their data line leaving you with only no charge Wi-Fi access to the web?

That's what the data block does. I can't access their data line at all - texting, picture messages, and phone calls still work - and I run just off the WiFi for internet. I'm not sure how Verizon handles it. I'm reading now that just after I did this whole procedure AT&T made it mandatory that all smartphones be sold with the data package that can't be canceled. I guess I signed up at the right time? I don't think I could do what I did in August today.

RWP · #12 11-21-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerose

That's what the data block does. I can't access their data line at all - texting, picture messages, and phone calls still work - and I run just off the WiFi for internet. I'm not sure how Verizon handles it. I'm reading now that just after I did this whole procedure AT&T made it mandatory that all smartphones be sold with the data package that can't be canceled. I guess I signed up at the right time? I don't think I could do what I did in August today.

Just called Verizon and they said in order to activate ANY PDA type phone on their service I MUST buy their data package, period. Sucks. The lady said I should just get an ipod itouch and be done with it.

vene-nemesis · #13 11-21-2009, 05:23 PM

Most phones' original OS include a wifi connection system... Im getting a nokia 5800, nothing fancy, but once y flash it to its original OS (not the reconfigured versions most mobile providers reprogram them with) ill be able to use wifi on hotspots regardless of the plan im attached to.

Tahoe_Ed · #14 11-21-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BullHorn

Just buy a mobile phone of a retailer and then use the provider's SIM card.

+1 Get a free phone with a voice plan that works for you then swap out the sim card to the phone that you want to use. I wife uses Go Phones for her ATT account and they work fine for her.

NJL · #15 11-21-2009, 06:16 PM

get a touch and JB it with blackra1n...

TrooperFarva · #16 11-21-2009, 06:21 PM

iPod Touch + Skype, look into it

RWP · #17 11-21-2009, 06:23 PM

Thanks for the advice. I'll have to do some research to see if this is worth doing. I am still worried that no matter which phone I get, if I can reprogram it I'll end up with data charges from Verizon.

jady · #18 11-22-2009, 12:21 PM

it sounds like you need 2 separate devices. Any Cel phone with full html browsing will default to a 3g connection whenever possible. any pda with wifi will serve your purpose well and actually be cheaper in the long run than 1 device and trying to separate the cel and wifi data.

It is possible to disable 3g signals in a device but it can be a pretty major thing depending on the phone. And costly if you make an error.

Edit: Blackberries and Palm devices are hard to reprogram, go with Windows mobile, Apple, or an Android phone (My personal fav)

RWP · #19 11-22-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jady

it sounds like you need 2 separate devices. Any Cel phone with full html browsing will default to a 3g connection whenever possible. any pda with wifi will serve your purpose well and actually be cheaper in the long run than 1 device and trying to separate the cel and wifi data.

It is possible to disable 3g signals in a device but it can be a pretty major thing depending on the phone. And costly if you make an error.

Edit: Blackberries and Palm devices are hard to reprogram, go with Windows mobile, Apple, or an Android phone (My personal fav)

I think you are right jady. I really like the itouch browser interface and that is really important anyway. Makes sense to buy a cheap itouch and not try to mix the two devices unless I end up needing true mobile web access.

NJL · #20 11-22-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWP

I think you are right jady. I really like the itouch browser interface and that is really important anyway. Makes sense to buy a cheap itouch and not try to mix the two devices unless I end up needing true mobile web access.

keep in mind, my 2g ipod touch has a faster processor than my 3g iphone - you can see it with you own eyes.. it's quite zippy..

if i were you and if you decided to go to ipod touch route, i would go with the newest ipod touch.. it's even faster.