I want an iPhone but I don't want to talk in it.

September 10, 2009 7:36 PM

I want one of those iPhones that have access to a broadband connection, but I don't want a voice plan. I would want it only for its web access capability and jamming tunes through my ears. Maybe texting friends as well. Is there such a thing? Does it work like this? How much does it cost per month? How much for the phone itself?

Some people have suggested that I just get an iPod Touch thingy, but those require that you be in some sort of wifi zone for them to access the Internet. I live in the Raleigh, NC area, so I assume that I could get an iPhone cell phone plan that covers the entire Triangle area so I could access the Internet anywhere around here.
Am I being a delusional idiot thinking that I could do this? Does the exclusive cell phone carrier for the iPhone have requirements that shoot my dreams down?

posted by NoMich to Technology (17 answers total)

Outside of a wifi connection, you would require a 3G connection to use Skype. The phone bought and subsidized through ATT requires a voice and data plan. I've tried to get just the data plan, but AFAIK, you have to get both, which gives you 450 anytime minutes plus unlimited data for Skype calls.
posted by limited slip at 7:40 PM on September 10, 2009

Follow up, you could maybe jailbreak a phone bought straight from apple (~$500), then use another carriers EDGE data network, which is useful for basic web but very slow.
posted by limited slip at 7:43 PM on September 10, 2009

In order to get an iPhone on AT&T you have to have a voice plan as well. Adding it onto a family plan would let you get one for $39.99 a month that way, but if you're on a plan by yourself it'll be at least $69.99 for 450 min and unlimited data. (Add texting as you wish)

The phone itself runs $99, $199, or $299 with a new contract, $299, $399, or $499 as an early upgrade or one year contract, and $499, $599, or $699 at the no contract price.

You can get one straight from Apple or off of Ebay and use it on another carrier (jailbreak) or by tossing a prepaid sim card into it, but at $20 for 100 megs of data on a prepaid account it'll add up very quickly.
posted by joshgates at 7:46 PM on September 10, 2009

You say you want broadband internet but you don't specify 3G, if WiFi is enough for you then what about an iPod Touch?
posted by Bonzai at 7:50 PM on September 10, 2009

I'm surprised people are being so nice to you, to be honest.

You already know you want an iPhone without a voice plan, and there's only one place in the United States that offers it. So, why don't you call AT&T and ask them?

[spoiler: The "cheapest" plan with voice that they offer is roughly $100/month when all is said and done with taxes and other fees - I'm on that plan - it's 450 minutes. I've never heard of them offering a plan with no voice, but guess who's best equipped to answer that question? Yep. AT&T]
posted by twiggy at 7:54 PM on September 10, 2009

Can not tell you much on this but can say Itouch not what you want. I have one.Enjoyh ikt but almost never able to get WiFi when not using my own..a few places will let you onto wifi but most lock you out.
posted by Postroad at 7:55 PM on September 10, 2009

Get a Verizon MiFi (portable 3G Wifi hotspot) and an iPod touch. It's a dataplan without voice.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:59 PM on September 10, 2009

If you don't want to jailbreak an iPhone and want access everywhere you can get a cell network, you could get an iPod Touch and a product like the MiFi from Sprint or Verizon. I think that a few other products may work like the MiFI as well. You would not be able to use traditional SMS, and there is still a two year contract for $63 a month all-in with Sprint. You should be able to find deals to get the MiFi for free with the contract. Maybe Verizon has a better deal.
posted by iknowizbirfmark at 8:11 PM on September 10, 2009

Note that the MiFi has a usage cap which the AT&T iphone data plan does not. May or may not be a better deal. I only used 130 MB last month but I don't stream any music or video.
posted by Wood at 8:16 PM on September 10, 2009

This doesn't really help you now, but rumor has it that Apple's going to introduce a device that gives you exactly what you're looking for . . . a tablet, a little bigger than the iPhone, is what they're saying. January-ish (or early 2010) and NOT on AT&T are two key nuggets from the more common rumors.

I'm not aware of any data-only plans with either AT&T or T-Mobile (the latter is my carrier; I use an unlocked iPhone on it, but I also use it for calls), except for a special plan T-Mobile has for hearing-impaired Sidekick users, who use their devices pretty much exactly like you want to use your iPhone (i.e., no phone). My dad's actually one of these people (he later moved to a G1), but we never really had to investigate this, because they just went ahead and got a family plan with shared minutes, and my mom and sister would use them.

The part about being hearing-impaired isn't central to the data-only plan -- they'll sell them to anyone.

Only down side is that T-Mo uses different 3G frequencies, so you wouldn't be able to get 3G speed on an iPhone on T-Mobile.

So . . . yeah, I dunno what to tell you, but . . . that's the overall landscape, I guess . . .
posted by CommonSense at 8:24 PM on September 10, 2009

Seconding the MiFi. Not only can you use it with your iPod Touch, but you can use it with any other device you have now or get later.
posted by me & my monkey at 9:11 PM on September 10, 2009

T-Mobile offers a "Blackberry plan" (which is Edge service) with no voice service for $40/mo. Then again, T-Mobile offers the same service for $20 with a voice plan.
posted by neckro23 at 12:26 AM on September 11, 2009

Last I checked, a Mifi is going to cost you $40 / month just for the data plan. Get an iPhone, fail the credit check at activation and you get a $50 / month plan with unlimited data and 200 minutes. You may have to put down a security deposit, however.
posted by sophist at 1:53 AM on September 11, 2009

I live in Durham (hi!) and I have an iPod touch and have found its wifi sufficient for my needs. Free wifi is available at home, at work (I'm on a university campus, like many people in our area), at the public library, at many coffee shops and restaurants, and walking through downtown or 9th street I can frequently grab a connection whenever I need one. I guess it depends on where you spend most of your time, but the only time I really miss it is on the bus, where I content myself with apps and pdfs.
posted by hydropsyche at 4:24 AM on September 11, 2009

Damn, you guys really get screwed over by your telcos, right? In the UK you could buy a pay as you go iPhone and get unlimited data for ~$8/month. Are there really no similar deals in the US for a jailbroken iPhone?
posted by turkeyphant at 5:48 AM on September 11, 2009

iPod touch does fine for me, but I'm near free wireless nearly everywhere I go (in NYC, where I have it at work and home too) and have a Boingo account ($12/month for mobile) for those occasions when I need to find a Starbucks or a McDonalds to connect or am on the road. Depends where you live, I guess.

Also, I can and do Skype on my 1st gen iPod Touch. Works fine.
posted by fourcheesemac at 12:27 PM on September 11, 2009

Got my iPod Touch "thingy" about a month ago. I've found more wifi connections than I thought I would. Got the Starbucks card (free wifi as long as you buy something with the card once a month) and I'm golden. I have my iPod set to automatically search for networks.

There are apps that allow you to send text messaging, but I haven't tried any yet.

You could also try to buy a used iPhone from someone who is upgrading to the newest one. then you wouldn't have to get the phone/data plan.

turkeyphant-yes. screwed over, under and in between.
posted by Ochre,Hugh at 10:25 PM on September 11, 2009