why do YOU need a data plan?

Jul 10, 2007
12,041
3
0
for non-business folks, do you really need data/email on your phone?
if my phone plan wasn't company paid for, i wouldn't have a data plan. i rarely use it as it is for personal reasons.

i can wait until i get home to check personal email.
it's not really fun or efficient to surf the web on a small screen with a slow connection.
it's not worth another $360 a year to me.

do you guys really need data and personal email on your phone?
 

Spoooon

Lifer
Mar 3, 2000
11,563
203
106
I don't need a data plan. Just like I don't really need internet at home (internet access at work 8 hours a day, could go somewhere for free wife, etc.) I don't really need cable either.

It's just really convenient to have and I'm willing to pay for that convenience. :D
 

dguy6789

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2002
8,558
3
76
I don't need it but it's very nice to have.

*I like being in touch at all times. Texting, IM, Email, etc.. It's nice to be able to send and receive messages of any type over any medium at any time.

*I like browsing news sites and comic sites when I'm out but need to kill time.

*Online multiplayer games

*I love being able to search for a place in Google Maps and have it show me exactly where it is, what it looks like, the phone number for the location, and reviews of it.

*Anytime I'm out and about and have a question about anything, I can look it up.

The highest end smartphones today are pretty much like having a hand held PC with internet anywhere you go, not just near wifi hotspots. If web browsing on your phone isn't a pleasant experience you just need a better phone/service. Being connected is awesome.
 

Phobic9

Golden Member
Apr 6, 2001
1,822
0
71
I think "need" is a bit extreme, but I pay for it because it makes life far more convenient.

$30/month for instant information wherever you are isn't much.

Agreed. No one really needs data, let alone a cell phone but it's very handy to have the internet in your pocket that's instantly accessible.
 

MJinZ

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2009
8,192
0
0
Pretty much "need"...

It's basically a computer in your pocket. Get directions, GPS, restaurants and events, news when you're waiting in line, check forums on the toilet, email (of course), Banking, trading and finances...

It's basically impossible to be without when you're out and about.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
12
81
I don't need it, I want it. I like browsing while I'm idle. I like being able to look things up on demand. I like being able to get my emails (both personal and work) immediately. I like using maps/gps services.
 

bigrash

Lifer
Feb 20, 2001
17,648
28
91
Yes I need a data plan. Don't tell me how to spend my money. You're not my father.
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,947
1,138
126
Verizon told me I needed data on my smartphone, I told them "no I don't" they said "no service for joo!" So I took my business elsewhere, fuck em. And now I have my smartphone with no data on a carrier that doesn't give a rats ass.
 

disports

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2008
1,176
0
0
I don't need a data plan and haven't had one. If I really needed to look something up, I would just pester one of my friends who have it :) Besides, I think having it would just make me more attached to my phone which I don't want.
 

M0oG0oGaiPan

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2000
7,858
2
0
digitalgamedeals.com
having a data plan is awesome. Sometimes you'll be out and no one knows the address for a place and I can do a quick google search for it. I can watch pr0n on it when I'm bored. Email is a plus.

I don't think I would pay extra for a data plan. Right now I'm on sero so it's "built in".
 

AstroManLuca

Lifer
Jun 24, 2004
15,628
5
81
I don't need it but it is nice. Plus if you want to get any decent phone these days you pretty much have to have one.
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
I don't need tv but have it. I don't even need a cellphone as we've gone thousands of years without them but it makes life more convenient.
 

Pantlegz

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2007
4,627
4
81
I don't NEED it, but it's nice to have. being able to pull up a website when i'm out. Or check prices online when I'm in a store. GPS is also nice...
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
I'm still very much on the fence on jumping into this 3G thing with the Incredible on Verizon. I can get it for $150 after everything and $23/mo. for data after corp discount but still, I am home for work and home most of the time... the convenience... is that really worth the money? Hmm....

Hmm...

Anyone know if I can cancel the data plan after a few months, but keep the phone? It'd still be better than my dated HTC Titan w/o 3G. Is there a $$$ penalty?
 

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
4,795
2
81
Say why do I need a voice plan if I am deaf/hearing impaired? I need a data plan for anything else
 

M0oG0oGaiPan

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2000
7,858
2
0
digitalgamedeals.com
slightly off topic but how much do you guys pay for your data plans? Or are you on an all in one plan? Before I switched to sprint I was on att and I didn't have a data plan but they only charged like $1 for 1MB of data so I would still browse with opera mini/im to pass the time. Stuff like check sport scores, facebook, news, etc.
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
I'm still very much on the fence on jumping into this 3G thing with the Incredible on Verizon. I can get it for $150 after everything and $23/mo. for data after corp discount but still, I am home for work and home most of the time... the convenience... is that really worth the money? Hmm....

Hmm...

Anyone know if I can cancel the data plan after a few months, but keep the phone? It'd still be better than my dated HTC Titan w/o 3G. Is there a $$$ penalty?

Nope it's part of the contract and you'll have to pay all the penalty fees. It's like that with any smartphone with any company when you get the phones for a discount through them.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
I use mine for everything, it's nice to have a GPS, MID, phone all in one.

Although I am considering a man bag, dumb phone and a 3G iPad...