Is there a way to get a cell phone/PDA combination without needing to sign up for a data plan?

[Phokus]

I have both a cell phone and a PDA but i want to get rid of my PDA because it seems pointless to carry both devices (plus both are getting very old). I wanted to get a verizon PDA/cell phone combo, but the salesperson told me i would have to get a data plan as well. I don't need a data plan though. If i get an unlocked version of those PDA/cell combo's, will that work? Or will verizon prohibit that?

 

[Greyd]

howardchui.com forums

 

[preslove]

Ebay is pretty much your only inexpensive option.

 

[Deeko]

he's lying to you. literally, straight out lying, because they make more money on those plans.

 

[essasin]

I am almost certain you can get a pay as you go plan. Honestly if you do not get the data plan, the pda/smartphones are not worth it imo. The pda feature on the treo and moto q is half of what a normal pda is. I myself use it mostly for email and a planner/organizer.

 

[Phokus]

Ok thanks guys... might do ebay then 😉

 

[Wonderful Pork]

if you are on verizon you CANNOT get an unlocked version of the phone on ebay. Most "unlocked" phones use a different cellular technology and will be incompatible. You can however get a Verizon PDA phone from ebay.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: Wonderful Pork
if you are on verizon you CANNOT get an unlocked version of the phone on ebay. Most "unlocked" phones use a different cellular technology and will be incompatible. You can however get a Verizon PDA phone from ebay.

I take it you're referring to GSM vs CDMA. Sprint still uses CDMA. Plus, you could "unlock" a Verizon CDMA phone, thus making it an unlocked phone.

 

[kevnich2]

To answer your question, yes you can have a pda/phone with verizon and NOT have the data plan. BUT, the sales people will not sell you a phone without one, they'll just lie to you and say you have to have it. But honestly, go on ebay and buy either a treo 700w or a Moto Q, I was able to get a brand new Treo off of ebay for $60 cheaper than a new one cost through Verizon (new plan with 2 year agreement).

 

[Wonderful Pork]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: Wonderful Pork
if you are on verizon you CANNOT get an unlocked version of the phone on ebay. Most "unlocked" phones use a different cellular technology and will be incompatible. You can however get a Verizon PDA phone from ebay.

I take it you're referring to GSM vs CDMA. Sprint still uses CDMA. Plus, you could "unlock" a Verizon CDMA phone, thus making it an unlocked phone.

I was referring to GSM v. CDMA. While Sprint does use CDMA is basically isnt possible to get a Sprint branded phone on Verizons network and vice versa. I don't quite understand how you'd "unlock" a CDMA phone (mabe reflash it to the original manf. firmware?). I just didnt want him to hit eBay and buy a treo or something and have it not work.

 

[torpid]

We didn't have to sign up for a data plan until we tried to activate the phone. Then they required us to sign up for one. we signed up for pay as you go and have used 0 bytes. I don't get the comment above about it not being a full-featured PDA. As far as I can tell my pda phone (samsung sch-i730) does everything a PDA does.