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Which android phone and provider?

palmickey

Newbie
Is there a combination of Android Smart phone and provider, where I am NOT required to have a data plan, in order to use the non-internet dependent properties of the smart phone?

I have been looking at Verizon, and they require a data plan just to use a smart phone.

I really want the benefits of a smart phone, that are NOT internet connection dependent. I do not want to carry around an additional cell phone to support a standard (not smart) cell phone plan.
 
Welcome to the forums, palmickey!

I'm gonna move this to the carrier comparison sub forum located in the android lounge. But as far as i know, none of the big 4 carriers allow this in the US. There might be prepaid options that may allow you to activate a smartphone with data. Hopefully at the carrier comparison forum, someone can confirm.

Have a good one.
 
I'm gonna move this to the carrier comparison sub forum located in the android lounge. But as far as i know, none of the big 4 carriers allow this in the US. There might be prepaid options that may allow you to activate a smartphone with data. Hopefully at the carrier comparison forum, someone can confirm.
For postpaid, T-Mobile does if you bring your own device. If you do go that route, though, it doesn't really hurt to get a data plan since the rates on their Value Plans are so cheap.

For 500 Minutes + Unlimited Text + Unlimited Plus Data (throttled after 2GB):

T-Mobile Classic: $70/mo or $1,680 for 2 years
Galaxy S II (subsidized): $200 (after $50 rebate)
TOTAL COST: $1,880 + regulatory fees and taxes

T-Mobile Value: $50/mo or $1,200 for 2 years
Galaxy S II (retail): $550
TOTAL COST: $1,750 + regulatory fees and taxes

Data is optional on T-Mobile Value Plans so if you choose to forgo data, it's going to be:

T-Mobile Value: $40/mo or $960 for 2 years
Galaxy S II (retail): $550
TOTAL COST: $1,510 + regulatory fees and taxes

The $550 is recommended retail pricing for the S2. I think you should be able to find it for less than that. Alternately, Google is selling the Samsung Galaxy Nexus directly for $400 and it supports both AT&T and T-Mobile frequencies. That drops down the 2-yr cost for the Value Plans to $1,600 with data and $1,360 without.

If you really want to go cheap and don't make a lot of calls/messages, either AT&T or T-Mobile prepaid will also work. Just buy a phone and get a prepaid SIM card. If you're not a heavy user, cost is as low as $100/365 days on AT&T and $10/365 days on T-Mobile (after initial $100 load for Gold Rewards status). AT&T charges $0.10/min and $0.20/msg on their Pay As You Go plans while T-Mobile charges $0.10/min and $0.10/msg (with Gold Rewards).
 
Im on straight talk i get unlimited everything for $45 you also get 4g speeds and you can take your own phone. also i heard something in some forums about international phones not requiring data. Might want to check that out
 
Welcome to the forums, palmickey!

I'm gonna move this to the carrier comparison sub forum located in the android lounge. But as far as i know, none of the big 4 carriers allow this in the US. There might be prepaid options that may allow you to activate a smartphone with data. Hopefully at the carrier comparison forum, someone can confirm.

Have a good one.

Thank you.

I ended up going with Verizon (my current carrier) and committing to the 2 year data plan, and almost $70 a month for 2 years.

But the phone is "free", and purple and comes with a pair of low quality non-tangling head phones.
 
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