Can I use a smartphone on Verizon without a data plan?

[cheesehead]

My current phone is on the fritz, and I'm wondering if I combine its' replacement with a PDA without having to buy a data plan. I'm something of a Palm fan, and have noticed that you can get a Palm 700p smartphone in good shape for about $50 shipped on eBay. Otherwise, I'll probably just get the MotoRAZR V3M, which looks to be a pretty decent and cheap replacement for my current, malfunctioning RAZR.

I've read that phones made before late 2008 don't require a data plan, and wanted to double-check this. The Verizon guy at Best Buy said that this is not possible, but then again, Best Buy employees are usually a few prawns short of a galaxy.

Can anyone verify this?

 

[JaYp146]

Not sure if they're still available as a "freebie" option through Verizon, but ... my RAZR V3m has been stellar in all the criteria you've mentioned. Dropped dozens of times, works just fine. Reception's great. Battery life is very good, built in bluetooth.

 

[cheesehead]

My Razr has been a nightmare, though it is an older version.

 

[uli2000]

I dont know how the new crop of CDMA Nokia's are standing up, but the old ones were top notch. I think Nokia is making them themselves again rather than letting Pantech rebrand them. they have a couple for free w/ contract renewal. Moto's for the most part are also very highly rated phones. Another option may be just buying a verizon prepaid phone kit and then activating the phone on your current account, then you dont have to do another 2 year renewal.

 

[TheStu]

I got the v750 Adventure. I was able to get it for free through work, so I am not sure what the 2yr contract price is, but it is a great phone. Consider it the tougher, slightly larger version of the RAZR v3m. It is ruggedized, rubber covered buttons, and a tough shell. I find that the battery lasts a good long time, oddly enough it lasts freakishly long once it gets down to the last bar on the meter.

 

[cheesehead]

Interesting info indeed.

New question: Could I use an old Palm 700P on a Verizon data plan? I've read that all smartphones made before 2008 don't require one.

 

[uli2000]

I think its any smartphone (with the exception of Blackberrys) they released before Nov 2008 you can do that with. Technically, you have to take a pay per use data plan, but you can block data access on your account. If you want to stick with Palm, I thing the Centro and 755p (did VZW carry it?) would fall under this exception.

 

[secretanchitman]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Interesting info indeed.

New question: Could I use an old Palm 700P on a Verizon data plan? I've read that all smartphones made before 2008 don't require one.

yep im pretty sure you can. i think uli2000 is right - the centro and 755p were the last smartphones to not require a data plan...