Internet access really necessary for Sprint Smart phones?

[Staples]

I have Sprint and I currently have an unlimited text plan. If you try to buy a phone that is somewhat useful nowdays, they require you to get a full plan which includes internet access. My brother bought one of these phones off someone and low and behold, if you try to activate it, it tells you that you need to upgrade your plan.

Is there really a functional reason that a Samsung Instinct NEEDs internet access to work? I have always thought it was just a way to rip you off and was not really a requirement. Sure it may be for a new subsidized phone (because you have to play by the rules for their subsidy) but this is a second hand phone.

 

[dguy6789]

In short, it exists exclusively for the purpose of getting more money from customers. They do it because people are willing to put up with it. There isn't a single cell phone company in the US today that doesn't charge several times what their network use costs them.

 

[vshah]

on t-mobile if you supply your own phone you can choose whichever damn plan you want.

 

[BigSmooth]

T-Mobile still allows you to use most smart phones without a data plan. In some cases they might require you to activate a phone with a data plan in order to get a mail in rebate, but you can cancel it later. For years I used T-Mo smart phones without a data plan because I have wifi at home and at work (finally I gave in and got a data plan earlier this year so I can get data anywhere).

It really irks me that the other carriers force data plans onto certain phones. I was going to give my mom my old BlackBerry Pearl on ATT but I realized she would be forced to get an expensive data plan she'd never really use, even though the original Pearl by today's standards is very slow and would barely be considered a "smart phone" IMO.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Yeah, I think T-Mobile is the only one that will let you skip the data plan. But you can't buy a subsidized phone from them; you have to buy it from somewhere else. And they probably still require it if you get one of the newest phones.

A lot of people instead go for a cheap, basic phone with a basic plan and then an iPod Touch to use on WiFi. Kinda sucks having to carry two devices around instead of just one, but it's an option.

 

[Spoooon]

It really irks me that the other carriers force data plans onto certain phones. I was going to give my mom my old BlackBerry Pearl on ATT but I realized she would be forced to get an expensive data plan she'd never really use, even though the original Pearl by today's standards is very slow and would barely be considered a "smart phone" IMO.

This. Fine, if you get the phone with a subsidy, require whatever. But if I want to give my old phone to someone, they should be able to use it with whatever plan and deal with limiting the functionality.