Android without the data
September 29, 2010 3:05 PM Subscribe
How do I get an Android without having to get a data plan?
I want an Android--I want a smartphone with all the goodies to use as a planner, mini computer for notes, storage, etc etc.
I don't want a data plan; I want to use wi-fi if it's available and never use data. (I also want to block texting. I'm only a little bit of a Luddite. Really.)
*Can* I do this with any of the carriers who have compatible Android phones? From what I've heard so far, it looks like even if I pay full price for the phone, any of the carriers will require me to buy a data plan to be able to use a smartphone.
I want an Android--I want a smartphone with all the goodies to use as a planner, mini computer for notes, storage, etc etc.
I don't want a data plan; I want to use wi-fi if it's available and never use data. (I also want to block texting. I'm only a little bit of a Luddite. Really.)
*Can* I do this with any of the carriers who have compatible Android phones? From what I've heard so far, it looks like even if I pay full price for the phone, any of the carriers will require me to buy a data plan to be able to use a smartphone.
Response by poster: My suggestion is to buy an unlocked phone and buy voice service separately.
How?
Yes, US.
posted by galadriel at 3:20 PM on September 29, 2010
How?
Yes, US.
posted by galadriel at 3:20 PM on September 29, 2010
How?
A number of retailers such as Newegg carry unlocked phones. Buy the phone, make sure it's compatible with the carrier you'll be using (Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.) Then, contact the carrier, sign up for whatever voice plan you like, and tell them you already have a phone.
Be sure to really quiz your carrier of choice first, because around here, Verizon requires a data plan if you plan to use a smartphone, no matter where you got it from. Other carriers may let you get just a voice plan, which is the way it should be.
posted by xedrik at 3:28 PM on September 29, 2010
A number of retailers such as Newegg carry unlocked phones. Buy the phone, make sure it's compatible with the carrier you'll be using (Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.) Then, contact the carrier, sign up for whatever voice plan you like, and tell them you already have a phone.
Be sure to really quiz your carrier of choice first, because around here, Verizon requires a data plan if you plan to use a smartphone, no matter where you got it from. Other carriers may let you get just a voice plan, which is the way it should be.
posted by xedrik at 3:28 PM on September 29, 2010
Virgin Mobile (Sprint) is rolling out their first Android phone soon. $25 a month for 300 minutes of voice, plus unlimited data. So the data plan is there - but cheap.
posted by COD at 3:34 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by COD at 3:34 PM on September 29, 2010
When I bought my first G1 from T-mobile, I did not get the data plan for about 2 months so it's possible, you can also try the 2nd hand market such as craigslist or ebay, where I have bought extra handsets after I bricked the original trying to root it.
posted by kanemano at 4:01 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by kanemano at 4:01 PM on September 29, 2010
You can get Android without a data plan by purchasing an Android device that isn't a smartphone. For example, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet runs Android, functions as a planner, mini computer for notes, storage, etc, and uses wi-fi exclusively. It's essentially an oversized iPod Touch, but for Android.
The Archos device doesn't support all Android apps or the Android marketplace proper but you can load many applications by e-mailing the apk files to yourself via Gmail. Note that this is an older model and both larger and smaller tablets are coming in the near future by Archos and other manufacturers.
Since this device isn't a phone it doesn't do texting other than what is supported by 3rd party apps.
But it addresses your primary question (how do I get an Android without having to get a data plan?) without strictly supporting this caveat or the unspoken caveat of potentially using the device to make phone calls.
posted by Jeff Howard at 4:04 PM on September 29, 2010
The Archos device doesn't support all Android apps or the Android marketplace proper but you can load many applications by e-mailing the apk files to yourself via Gmail. Note that this is an older model and both larger and smaller tablets are coming in the near future by Archos and other manufacturers.
Since this device isn't a phone it doesn't do texting other than what is supported by 3rd party apps.
But it addresses your primary question (how do I get an Android without having to get a data plan?) without strictly supporting this caveat or the unspoken caveat of potentially using the device to make phone calls.
posted by Jeff Howard at 4:04 PM on September 29, 2010
Response by poster: Kanemono, did you buy your phone outright and take it to T-mobile to activate it? How did you go about it?
Be sure to really quiz your carrier of choice first, because around here, Verizon requires a data plan if you plan to use a smartphone, no matter where you got it from. Other carriers may let you get just a voice plan, which is the way it should be.
Okay, see, I've read about people trying to just get phone service with a smartphone, and finding out that no matter what, once the carrier finds out they have a smartphone, they insist that a data plan is non-negotiable--no matter what the person saw on their site or was told over the phone. IS there a carrier that won't do that?
I don't have a smartphone, have not ever had one. Is it possible to just get phone service with a different phone, and swap out the SIM? Or will they not have compatible SIMs?
It doesn't make sense to buy a phone (yet), unlocked or not, unless I know I'll be able to get service for it.
I'm rural, and Virgin Mobile doesn't come close to where I am. Which is too bad. I need minimal minutes but I *do* need the phone, and I don't need the carrier to do more than let me talk for ~100 minutes a month (if that).
posted by galadriel at 4:39 PM on September 29, 2010
Be sure to really quiz your carrier of choice first, because around here, Verizon requires a data plan if you plan to use a smartphone, no matter where you got it from. Other carriers may let you get just a voice plan, which is the way it should be.
Okay, see, I've read about people trying to just get phone service with a smartphone, and finding out that no matter what, once the carrier finds out they have a smartphone, they insist that a data plan is non-negotiable--no matter what the person saw on their site or was told over the phone. IS there a carrier that won't do that?
I don't have a smartphone, have not ever had one. Is it possible to just get phone service with a different phone, and swap out the SIM? Or will they not have compatible SIMs?
It doesn't make sense to buy a phone (yet), unlocked or not, unless I know I'll be able to get service for it.
I'm rural, and Virgin Mobile doesn't come close to where I am. Which is too bad. I need minimal minutes but I *do* need the phone, and I don't need the carrier to do more than let me talk for ~100 minutes a month (if that).
posted by galadriel at 4:39 PM on September 29, 2010
From what you say, if you want the functionality you mentioned rather than Android specifically, you might be perfectly happy with having a dumbphone plus an iPod Touch.
The "iTouch" is everything that you desire, apart from actually making phone calls.
I don't know why no one seems to have made an Android equivalent to the iPod Touch, which sells tremendously well for Apple.
posted by philipy at 4:48 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
The "iTouch" is everything that you desire, apart from actually making phone calls.
I don't know why no one seems to have made an Android equivalent to the iPod Touch, which sells tremendously well for Apple.
posted by philipy at 4:48 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
There's no activation process for T-Mobile. You get a SIM card - just pop it in your phone and it works.
posted by letitrain at 4:50 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by letitrain at 4:50 PM on September 29, 2010
Get the phone, get the service, get the data plan, then call up and cancel the data plan once you have everything in hand. Mr. molasses had a coworker or two who did this, but it was not recent so if they've closed that loophole YMMV.
posted by molasses at 5:15 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by molasses at 5:15 PM on September 29, 2010
Response by poster: you might be perfectly happy with having a dumbphone plus an iPod Touch.
I want to carry as little as possible. One technogadget. I have a cute, functional old Handspring that I never manage to use because I just am not willing to carry it and a phone. This is why I want a smartphone, despite not being interested in a lot of the functionality.
Get the phone, get the service, get the data plan, then call up and cancel the data plan once you have everything in hand.
With who? What carrier? Who did this work for?
There's no activation process for T-Mobile. You get a SIM card - just pop it in your phone and it works.
Oh really? How useful to know! Thanks a ton.
posted by galadriel at 5:45 PM on September 29, 2010
I want to carry as little as possible. One technogadget. I have a cute, functional old Handspring that I never manage to use because I just am not willing to carry it and a phone. This is why I want a smartphone, despite not being interested in a lot of the functionality.
Get the phone, get the service, get the data plan, then call up and cancel the data plan once you have everything in hand.
With who? What carrier? Who did this work for?
There's no activation process for T-Mobile. You get a SIM card - just pop it in your phone and it works.
Oh really? How useful to know! Thanks a ton.
posted by galadriel at 5:45 PM on September 29, 2010
I as well previously had a smart phone through T-Mobile without a data plan. Now you can't buy one through them without signing up for a data plan. But you CAN get an unlocked phone and then just put your SIM card in it and not get a data plan.
posted by mittenbex at 6:42 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by mittenbex at 6:42 PM on September 29, 2010
i bought a used Tmobile G1 and am using it on Tmobile prepaid without a data plan. The only hitch was i needed to root the phone and do some well-documented console trickery to activate as it needed to sync with a google account and the Wifi is disabled in the default activation settings.
posted by ennui.bz at 7:22 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by ennui.bz at 7:22 PM on September 29, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
This is in the US, right? In Europe I'm pretty sure this is a lot more obvious.
posted by GuyZero at 3:10 PM on September 29, 2010