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Android without data plan on tmobile

T

TechieGeek

Lurker
I want to get an Android phone without a data plan. :) I know everyone says I can't do it but I can't. Yesterday I talked to tmobile through their live chat and I asked the lady if tmobile would force a data plan on me if I put my sim card into an Android phone and she said they don't do that.

So I could buy an Android phone from Amazon or prepaid from tmobile and put my SIM card into it and I would still be able to call and text :) and they wouldn't force a data plan on me.

My question is would I be able to use all the apps when I'm on a WiFi network? Would Google Maps work on WiFi? I'm wondering about this because I have a blackberry with no data plan now and it won't let me open messengers or Google Maps even when I'm on WiFi. Is Android different? Will I be able to use the App Store and apps on WiFi?

I'm planning on getting the tmobile Comet :)
 
My question is would I be able to use all the apps when I'm on a WiFi network?
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Yes. The phone sees wifi and 3g as the same, its just a way to get to the internet.

Would Google Maps work on WiFi?
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Yes, it works on wifi, but if you plan on leaving the hotspot you wont get maps anymore. So you cant use navigation in your car.

Will I be able to use the App Store and apps on WiFi?
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App Store is for apple. Android uses the Android Market, and yes you can use it on wifi.
 
Ok that makes sense.

This is what shows up on my Blackberry when I try to use some apps even when I'm on WiFi.

1004122.jpg
 
Just make sure the phone you buy has a way to shut off data access completely, otherwise you may incur data charges from applications running in the background. I believe all phones with Android 2.2 have this feature but I'm not sure about older versions.

You could also contact T-Mobile and have them shut off data service completely.
 
TechieGeek said:
Ok that makes sense.

This is what shows up on my Blackberry when I try to use some apps even when I'm on WiFi.
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This is because some providers (like T-mo) modify the firmware so that you can't use wifi if you don't have a data plan. I had a t-mo branded RIZR that had the same issue. If you get your new phone unlocked and not from T-mo, you won't have this problem.
 
niea said:
This is because some providers (like T-mo) modify the firmware so that you can't use wifi if you don't have a data plan. I had a t-mo branded RIZR that had the same issue. If you get your new phone unlocked and not from T-mo, you won't have this problem.
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Do you know anything about Tmobile PrePaid phones? I was thinking about ordering the Comet from Amazon as a tmobile "prepaid" phone and just putting my sim card in it.
 
So does anybody have the answer here? If you get a Tmobile android phone from ebay, put your nondata plan SIM in it, can you use the phone for calls and the WIFI for data?
 
I work for TMO Uk and you even when i use my phone with a pay as you go sim with no data plan on it i can still use the wifi for everything that would normally use data. i dont know if this is the same for US
 
I have a Nexus One which I am currently using on a T-Mobile US prepaid account. Since activating my phone, it has worked perfectly with no data plan. Even without a SIM card installed, I have full WiFi access and I can even receive OTA updates. Now that T-Mobile offers prepaid data day-passes for $1.49/day, I can also surf the internet when I am away from a WiFi area.

From what I've heard, this will also work with any Android phone available, though some carriers (AT&T) will automatically add on a data plan to your account if they know you are using smartphone of any kind.
 
A few weeks ago, I bought a mytouch tmobile from a guy off craigslist. Put my sim in and can get internet from any wifi. I can dl and use all apps from market that don't need constant 3g. I have checked my billing and have incurred no data charges. Does anyone know what happens if I try to buy an app? So far, I have only dl'd free apps. Who bills for these apps? Tmobile, Google, what?
 
hippo57 said:
A few weeks ago, I bought a mytouch tmobile from a guy off craigslist. Put my sim in and can get internet from any wifi. I can dl and use all apps from market that don't need constant 3g. I have checked my billing and have incurred no data charges. Does anyone know what happens if I try to buy an app? So far, I have only dl'd free apps. Who bills for these apps? Tmobile, Google, what?
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You can buy as many apps as you can afford. All app purchases are made through your google account. Nothing is billed through your carrier.

Update: AT&T customers can now purchase apps and charge it to their AT&T account.
 
TechieGeek said:
Do you know anything about Tmobile PrePaid phones? I was thinking about ordering the Comet from Amazon as a tmobile "prepaid" phone and just putting my sim card in it.
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The T-Mobile Comet and the Huawei U8150 Ideos are the same phone. The U8150 (not U8150-A, U8150-B, or U8150-C) should be unlocked and unbranded with no carrier specific software.

I bought a unlocked Huawei U8150 from newegg.com for 150 US dollars, no tax, free shipping. They are currently sold out.

With no SIM card, everything works over WiFi. One crumby exception is that the Skype program from Skype sux on this phone. Skype program for the Nokia E71 works great over WiFi or cell phone data plan.

I moved my AT&T SIM from E71 to the U8150. Voice worked fine. You should get the same results with a T-mobile SIM. What sucked for me, may be great for you. I was unable to use the AT&T data signals at all.

I will be trying the phone with SIM cards from other carriers in the future. I will also be trying other programs that let you connect to Skype via another service. eg Nimbuz
 
neonam said:
I will be trying the phone with SIM cards from other carriers in the future. I will also be trying other programs that let you connect to Skype via another service. eg Nimbuz
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From my experience the Skype app works quite well and the sound quality is decent for Skype to Skype calls. Before the official Skype app came out, I attempted to use Fring and Nimbuzz to make VoIP calls because they integrated Skype into their service. From my experience, Fring and Nimbuzz were poor substitutes for Skype because the connection constantly cut out and the sound quality was horrible. The problems may have been due to incompatibilities with 3rd party apps using Skype's services so you may have a better experience trying to make Fring to Fring or Nimbuzz to Nimbuzz calls.
 
Regarding: I work for TMO Uk and you even when i use my phone with a pay as you go sim with no data plan on it i can still use the wifi for everything that would normally use data. i dont know if this is the same for US -by scabbott


Same for me here in the USA
 
Just got it. Works great. But you do have to remember that this is a simple android. So its a small screen with low resolution. But for me its perfect.
 
To the op; yes tou can use wifi instead of a data plan. I can dl apps/music/web browse on my MT3G which doesnt even have a sim in it while connected to wifi
 
i just got a t-mobile comet put my non-data plan Sim card in and it works fine with wi-fi. and as far as i can tell, there aren't any charges being made to my account for data.
 
That's because the data for blackberry's comes straight from blackberry's servers. That's why when you get a blackberry, you get a blackberry data plan. When you get any other smart phone, you just get a data plan. So if you don't have a blackberry data plan, you don't have access to their servers. So you have no data.
 
When I purchased my Samsung Vibrant, a Google phone, in July 2011 from TMO, I was told I HAD to purchase the required data plan. So for 11 months I have been paying for what don't use. I want to cancel this data pkg in August (contract end date) to save money, but TMO has told me the only way I can do that is, I HAVE to purchase a new phone from them that is not Android.

Does anyone know how to get around this arm-twisting? Purchasing a new phone is not in my budget, along with a data plan but I like the large screen and phone. I thought about putting an older SIM card from my old non-Android phone in the Google. I just want it to be fool proof, whatever I do.

Thank you.
 
one sure way is to buy a phone outright (no contract) New or used (craigslist,eBay,etc.) and just pop in your sim card. They won't charge you off contract unless you opt for the plan voluntarily.
 
Genny said:
When I purchased my Samsung Vibrant, a Google phone, in July 2011 from TMO, I was told I HAD to purchase the required data plan. So for 11 months I have been paying for what don't use. I want to cancel this data pkg in August (contract end date) to save money, but TMO has told me the only way I can do that is, I HAVE to purchase a new phone from them that is not Android.

Does anyone know how to get around this arm-twisting? Purchasing a new phone is not in my budget, along with a data plan but I like the large screen and phone. I thought about putting an older SIM card from my old non-Android phone in the Google. I just want it to be fool proof, whatever I do.

Thank you.
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The only way to do it is to get a non-android phone, and then just put the sim card back into the android.
 
Genny said:
When I purchased my Samsung Vibrant, a Google phone, in July 2011 from TMO, I was told I HAD to purchase the required data plan. So for 11 months I have been paying for what don't use. I want to cancel this data pkg in August (contract end date) to save money, but TMO has told me the only way I can do that is, I HAVE to purchase a new phone from them that is not Android.

Does anyone know how to get around this arm-twisting? Purchasing a new phone is not in my budget, along with a data plan but I like the large screen and phone. I thought about putting an older SIM card from my old non-Android phone in the Google. I just want it to be fool proof, whatever I do.

Thank you.
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$20 craigslist flip phone. Use it a couple times then call tmobile(they should now be able to see it tied to your acct) tell them you dont want the data cause you plan to stick with the flip phone because the vibrant was too much phone. once they take off the data throw your sim back into the vibrant
 
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