Question about cellphones and AT&T

[UglyCasanova]

I need a new phone, mine is essentially broken. I have just a regular old school cell phone, but I would like to have an iPhone (I'm with AT&T). The thing is I don't want to pay for a data plan. Although it would be nice, I don't really need it at the moment. I want the iPhone to basically have an iPod as well as some kind of date planner and a way to surf the web via wifi if need be. Anyways, is there any way to get an iPhone but keep my current plan? Can I buy one off ebay and then put my SIM card in there and voila!?

Thanks

 

[dfuze]

I got an old 2g iphone from CL and use it w/ a tmobile sim card as a pay as you go phone.

 

[SpongeBob]

I need a new phone, mine is essentially broken. I have just a regular old school cell phone, but I would like to have an iPhone (I'm with AT&T). The thing is I don't want to pay for a data plan. Although it would be nice, I don't really need it at the moment. I want the iPhone to basically have an iPod as well as some kind of date planner and a way to surf the web via wifi if need be. Anyways, is there any way to get an iPhone but keep my current plan? Can I buy one off ebay and then put my SIM card in there and voila!?

Thanks

If you buy an unlocked one. Or buy one and unlock it yourself. I'm running an unlocked 2G on AT&T with no data plan.

 

[MotionMan]

I need a new phone, mine is essentially broken. I have just a regular old school cell phone, but I would like to have an iPhone (I'm with AT&T). The thing is I don't want to pay for a data plan. Although it would be nice, I don't really need it at the moment. I want the iPhone to basically have an iPod as well as some kind of date planner and a way to surf the web via wifi if need be. Anyways, is there any way to get an iPhone but keep my current plan? Can I buy one off ebay and then put my SIM card in there and voila!?

Thanks

Last time I checked, you cannot activate or use an iPhone without a data plan.

There MAY be ways around it if you want to go pirate, so YMMV.

MotionMan

 

[secretanchitman]

buy the original iphone - you arent required to have a data plan on it because it was sold unsubsidized. even though at&t says "all" iphones require a data plan, you dont. my dad uses his original iphone without a data plan, and on our account on at&t's website, it gives us the option of specifically selecting "no data", data with text, etc. on the 3G/3GS/4, you need a data plan. some people have gotten away without one on the newer phones, but at&t does periodic sweeps of accounts and automatically adds on the "correct" plan, aka a data plan of at least $15 now.

the original iphone comes in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB. be sure to pay UNDER $200 for it. if you pay more then that, it better be brand new/unopened in the box.

 

[UglyCasanova]

If you buy an unlocked one. Or buy one and unlock it yourself. I'm running an unlocked 2G on AT&T with no data plan.

Is unlocking it the same thing as jailbreaking it?

 

[webdave]

Is unlocking it the same thing as jailbreaking it?

No jailbreaking is gaining root access and gives you access to install what you like. Unlocking lets you use the phone with other SIM cards like T-Mobile.

 

[UglyCasanova]

No jailbreaking is gaining root access and gives you access to install what you like. Unlocking lets you use the phone with other SIM cards like T-Mobile.

Ahh. I am with AT&T though, so is this still necessary to use the phone without a data plan?

 

[SpongeBob]

Ahh. I am with AT&T though, so is this still necessary to use the phone without a data plan?

Yes, because AT&T won't activate the phone without you buying a data plan (this is the huge scam all the wireless providers are running). If you unlock it, then it doesn't need to be activated.

 

[Rottie]

unlock 1st or 2nd gen iphone won't let you use 3G network if it is cool with you

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

To unlock your iPhone you would have to jailbreak it. But if you have any problems you can just restore to official firmware and you can't even tell it was jailbroken.