Is it worth it to get an Android phone without the 3G data plan (only EDGE data)?

November 5, 2009 7:33 PM

Is it worth it to get an Android phone without the 3G data plan (only EDGE data)?

I did a phone plan search on Billshrink and found out that I can get the new Google phone (the mytouch) from T-Mobile, but get unlimited data (presumably by doing a SIM card swap from a different phone) for about the same amount I currently pay per month.

I like the mytouch phone and Android apps. The 3G data plan is desirable, but not enough for me to pay the 20 bucks or so per month. I'm currently using a BlackBerry with unlimited data (EDGE), and it's slow, but not unusable.

So the question is - is it worthwhile to get an Android phone without the 3G data plan? Is EDGE too slow to be practical for Android apps?

posted by kenliu to Technology (12 answers total)

Is your current data plan a blockberry-only plan? It's unlikely to work. Also, if you buy an android phone, subsidized, from t-mobile, you have to tack on data for two years no matter what. Even if you buy it to use on another line, whichever line bought the phone, keeps the data plan for two years. There's a lively discussion about it here.

I have a g1 (purchased off craigslist) on which I put data for about two second to activate, then called up t-mobile and asked to cancel the data. It wasn't without it's fair share of uncooperativituy and straight up lies from the rep, but I got them to remove the data plan, since I did not get a t-mobile subsidy.

I can't say about EDGE speeds, but I can say that while I really want data, I do just fine using wi-fi practically everywhere I go and just calling/texting the rest of the time. It obviously depends if your on-the go computing consists more of youtube or gmail, but I'd say that since you can get faster internet, via wi-fi, many/most places, you'd survive just fine with slow internet the rest of the time. That said, things like the GPS may get frustrating to use without (I may get data just for the google maps turn by turn when it comes out, can't wait!)

I'm not sure I answered your question all that well, but there's my two cents. Make sure you know what kinda contract you're signing before you jump headfirst in.
posted by R a c h e l at 7:43 PM on November 5, 2009

Response by poster: I currently have a BlackBerry only plan (ala carte voice, only unlimited data) and am no longer under contract. Presumably the way it would work is that I would get the T-Mobile Shadow with unlimited data, and then buy an unsubsidized mytouch, and do a SIM swap.
posted by kenliu at 7:51 PM on November 5, 2009

Response by poster: Also, I understand that I'm not going to be streaming video or music over EDGE, I just want a nicer way to get at email in addition to some basic web surfing (shopping, news, blogs, twitter, etc.)
posted by kenliu at 7:55 PM on November 5, 2009

With T-Mobile, any data plan should support 3G. However, their system will detect you are trying to use an Android device (via the IMEI of the phone), and I believe they will compel you to be on an Android data plan.

BTW, A good reference for learning more of the ends and outs of various cell carriers is HowardForums.
posted by dcjd at 8:29 PM on November 5, 2009

I know several people with non-TMobile Android phones, and the EDGE/3G distinction you describe above is not how their data plans work.

If you buy the data plan, you get the unlimited (or however much) data over EDGE/3G. If you do not (and get away with it), then you pay for every KB of data you transfer, and it does not lock you down to EDGE.

Also, Android phones are intended to be used with unlimited data plans. They use a lot more bandwidth than you might think (my phone transferred over 5MB today alone, and I did not actively use the network connection at all, so that was all sync/push and passive background traffic).
posted by DoomGerbil at 9:55 PM on November 5, 2009

T-Mobile forces (according to Howard Forum posters) G1 users onto the Android plan or whatever they the unlimited smartphone data plan.

You might be able to do Edge-only with a Rogers (Canadian) G1 as I think it's incompatible with T-Mobile's 3G network (but compatible with AT+Ts). This is a total guess, though, and good luck explaining it to customer service if they decide otherwise. I'd recommend checking Howard Forums to see if anyone else has blazed this trail for you.
posted by zippy at 10:04 PM on November 5, 2009

Best answer: I don't think T-Mobile offers EDGE only data plans. You need a data plan to use the G1, and I would assume you'd need it with the MyTouch as well.

I have a G1 in an EDGE only area though, and I really like it. It works over WiFi as well.
posted by delmoi at 1:41 AM on November 6, 2009

They don't have EDGE only data plans, so unless you manage to find a MyTouch or a G1 that isn't compatible with T-Mobile's data bands, I wouldn't count on it.

Also, once you go 3G, you never go back.
posted by InsanePenguin at 3:16 AM on November 6, 2009

Response by poster: @InsanePenguin

I believe the Shadow Unlimited plan is an unlimited data plan, and my BlackBerry plan is also unlimited data.
posted by kenliu at 5:59 AM on November 6, 2009

Response by poster: also the sidekick plan is unlimited data over EDGE
posted by kenliu at 6:14 AM on November 6, 2009

Best answer: Seconding delmoi -- getting a G1 six months ago locked me into TMo's unlimited-and-3G-when-the-phone-finds-it data plan.

To answer your questions, though:
1. I suspect it's not possible. You may be seeing an array of different data plans because you are a current customer with a totally different phone. Give TMobile a call and ask -- any dealings I've had with the G1/Android customer service team have been almost excruciatingly knowledgeable and pleasant.

2. I live in a region that is nearly all EDGE, and I've been satisfied with Android application performance.
posted by gnomeloaf at 6:59 AM on November 6, 2009

Best answer: I'm with gnomeloaf on performance. I get 3G maybe half the time when I'm out of the house, and I only notice the mild pain of EDGE when I'm waiting for a Google map to load.
posted by zippy at 11:01 PM on November 6, 2009