Can i get a Droid X from Verizon, with DATA ONLY?

[MikeMike]

Well, I figure since i have both Skype, Google Voice, etc. I can pretty much not use my cell for any phone calls, just texting and data use...

Has anyone done this? anyone have any idea exactly how this would work out?

thanks

 

[abaez]

They won't let you have a data only plan. AFAIK AT&T allows you to go on prepaid, data only with voice optional (well voice minutes are option and cost alot if you do use them), but the network is so crappy that voip is essentially unusable. They also throttle pre-paid users.

Even if they did, you'd have to have very good latency and an excellent network connection to get VOIP calls anyway. It just doesn't happen with today's networks. I have tried TMO, AT&T and Sprint and sometimes you can get a decent call going (with a delay), but most of the time it's just too much delay and not enough of a good signal to do it.

 

[MikeMike]

They won't let you have a data only plan. AFAIK AT&T allows you to go on prepaid, data only with voice optional (well voice minutes are option and cost alot if you do use them), but the network is so crappy that voip is essentially unusable. They also throttle pre-paid users.

Even if they did, you'd have to have very good latency and an excellent network connection to get VOIP calls anyway. It just doesn't happen with today's networks. I have tried TMO, AT&T and Sprint and sometimes you can get a decent call going (with a delay), but most of the time it's just too much delay and not enough of a good signal to do it.

i dont care about AT&T, after experiencing their completely crappy service in SAN FRANCISCO on an iPhone 3g, i would never touch them again, EVER.

basically, i dont want to pay for what i don't use, i use voice for maybe 10 minutes max, a day, and when i do use voice, i normally have a wifi signal available anyways...

 

[Bateluer]

Its certainly possible, but I'm certain you might have to buy the phone and plan separately, meaning no subsidized pricing. And there's always the likelihood that Vzw would catch it in one of their sweeps and add a voice plan.

 

[MikeMike]

Its certainly possible, but I'm certain you might have to buy the phone and plan separately, meaning no subsidized pricing. And there's always the likelihood that Vzw would catch it in one of their sweeps and add a voice plan.

they seem to "offer" it, a text and data plan for $59 but they say for the "hearing impaired"... however, technically, is that not discrimination? lol

 

[Bateluer]

they seem to "offer" it, a text and data plan for $59 but they say for the "hearing impaired"... however, technically, is that not discrimination? lol

Tell them your deaf and you try to buy the phone? :-D

 

[thescreensavers]

^ Damn that might work, buy it online or say your buying it for a friend who is deaf.

 

[basslover1]

You know that calls with GV still use your minutes, right?

 

[SunnyD]

You know that calls with GV still use your minutes, right?

You obviously aren't aware of how Google Voice works in the real world.

 

[TheWart]

I don't mean to thread hijack, but I figured since the OP's question has been answered a little side tangent won't hurt.

Has anyone from the major wireless providers given any indication what is going to happen once we move to LTE? Are they still going to divide plans into voice+data? Are they going to use the excuse that there won't be enough LTE coverage to 'drop' 3G voice support or whatever?

It would make more sense to me for them to move to a tiered plan (say 1gb, 2gb, etc) as voice calls will essentially all be VOIP, no?

 

[boomhower]

I think that is going to be the endgame but it'll be a while until we get there. Once LTE is up and running bits will be bits and hopefully they will treat them the same. It could get interesting.

 

[abaez]

i dont care about AT&T, after experiencing their completely crappy service in SAN FRANCISCO on an iPhone 3g, i would never touch them again, EVER.

basically, i dont want to pay for what i don't use, i use voice for maybe 10 minutes max, a day, and when i do use voice, i normally have a wifi signal available anyways...

I agree with you. I always choose the lowest minute plan on any provider and barely use 60 minutes a month, if that. But right now we're stuck with the way the market is. No competition so no need to provide options for those who don't use voice.

 

[basslover1]

You obviously aren't aware of how Google Voice works in the real world.

So instead of a one-lined smartass answer, you could of actually corrected me, instead you didn't.

I'm aware of how GV works, I have GV and use it regularly.

If you place a call on your cell phone with GV, it first calls their routing numbers, to know which number the call is coming in from, so it knows which account to look for (or which GV number), then it calls out using your GV number as the caller ID.

Guess what, still uses minutes.

Of course there are ways around this, like a friends and family type plan but my guess is that the OP wanting data only, won't have this option. So thanks for playing.

 

[Deeko]

A year and a half ago (12/08) ago, I went to both Sprint and Verizon about signing up for a data-only plan on a Blackberry. Both would let you do it. Its expensive (something like $50/month, no texting or minutes, JUST data), but they did allow it at the time.

Its a very rare request so you might get blank stares from the sales people, but if they look into it, it should exist (at least it did then).

 

[SunnyD]

So instead of a one-lined smartass answer, you could of actually corrected me, instead you didn't.

I'm aware of how GV works, I have GV and use it regularly.

If you place a call on your cell phone with GV, it first calls their routing numbers, to know which number the call is coming in from, so it knows which account to look for (or which GV number), then it calls out using your GV number as the caller ID.

Guess what, still uses minutes.

Of course there are ways around this, like a friends and family type plan but my guess is that the OP wanting data only, won't have this option. So thanks for playing.

Or you could have easily used google to figure it out before looking like a dumbass. But since you insist - GV + Sipdroid + VOIP provider of choice = free calls, NO minutes used. There, that should get you started.

 

[SunnyD]

Anyway.. OP, isn't THIS what you are looking for?

 

[basslover1]

Or you could have easily used google to figure it out before looking like a dumbass. But since you insist - GV + Sipdroid + VOIP provider of choice = free calls, NO minutes used. There, that should get you started.

Right, because that's how GV works...needing third party services.

You could have said that originally. Actually your original statement is still incorrect because that isn't how GV works. That's how GV works when you use two different third party services in combination with it. Again, thanks for playing.

 

[abaez]

Anyway.. OP, isn't THIS what you are looking for?

Verizon won't let you have any sort of smartphone (especially the droids) on that plan. You'll need a voice plan + the $30 smartphone plan.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Wow, lots of nerd-snark in this thread.

 

[MikeMike]

Verizon won't let you have any sort of smartphone (especially the droids) on that plan. You'll need a voice plan + the $30 smartphone plan.

yup, thats the issue.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

i belive skype also uses verizon's minutes for any local calls...which actually makes it pointless.

 

[Spoooon]

Wow, lots of nerd-snark in this thread.

Holy crap, too funny.

 

[SunnyD]

Right, because that's how GV works...needing third party services.

You could have said that originally. Actually your original statement is still incorrect because that isn't how GV works. That's how GV works when you use two different third party services in combination with it. Again, thanks for playing.

Okay, you're right. Apparently it doesn't work the way I've been using it for the last year.

 

[cbn]

Verizon won't let you have any sort of smartphone (especially the droids) on that plan. You'll need a voice plan + the $30 smartphone plan.

EDIT: After reading the fine print it appears "unlimited web" really isn't part of the deal (someone correct me if I am wrong.)

 

[zerocool84]

I don't mean to thread hijack, but I figured since the OP's question has been answered a little side tangent won't hurt.

Has anyone from the major wireless providers given any indication what is going to happen once we move to LTE? Are they still going to divide plans into voice+data? Are they going to use the excuse that there won't be enough LTE coverage to 'drop' 3G voice support or whatever?

It would make more sense to me for them to move to a tiered plan (say 1gb, 2gb, etc) as voice calls will essentially all be VOIP, no?

Seeing as they make tons more money making people have a voice+data plan on all smartphones, I don't see them changing that at all for LTE. I really wish they'd do what you propose but we all know they could care less about making things more convenient for us consumers.