Data Plans and AT&T

**jakecannon** · 12-03-2009, 01:20 PM

I just upgraded to the 8900 yesterday for $.01 and I love it

I had to add the 30.00$/mo data plan to get the phone and I'm wondering if I can take it off.. I don't want to spend 30.00$ a month when the phone has free wifi access..

Does anyone know if the data plan is required? I had a Curve 8310 without data...

**blueyestm** · 12-03-2009, 01:26 PM

at&t requires data plan with BB's now.

**ridesno159** · 12-03-2009, 02:29 PM

Yup, by signing your contract you agreed to pay the data plan for the length of the contract. It was sometime in the beginning of September that Att required all new contracts/smartphones to have a data plan.

**amrk47** · 12-03-2009, 02:48 PM

i got my 8900 with 2 year contract and I dont have data, there are ways around it

**ridesno159** · 12-03-2009, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by amrk47

i got my 8900 with 2 year contract and I dont have data, there are ways around it

How? By extending your old account you had with a data plan? From what the OP said in their post it sounds like they signed up for the first time for a Blackberry. They got a New contract with their BB.

**mddolgow** · 12-03-2009, 02:56 PM

If you don't add it when you renew your contract, they cannot make you, I don't think. I had my first BB 8700 for six months before adding the data plan, and it worked, but it is just a basic cell phone at that point. I would think the Wi-Fi would work, but not sure.

**Artemis68** · 12-03-2009, 03:19 PM

You got the phone at a subsidized price (.01) so thus you have to have the data plan. That's how AT&T profits from giving you such a low price on the BB.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

**jakecannon** · 12-03-2009, 03:38 PM

Damnit! I'm gonna be living on the streets

**aristile** · 12-03-2009, 03:59 PM

You received a $500 plus device for $0.01 so you have to pay for it somehow. Instead of having to come up with all that money up-front you now just pay for the data plan on a monthly basis.

**jakecannon** · 12-03-2009, 04:01 PM

Very true.. now if this economy would "turn around" so i could find a job!

**leskchan** · 12-03-2009, 04:07 PM

I don't remember the exact term change date, just say 11/01/09 for discussion.

The new AT&T terms state if you "begin" using a Smartphone after 11/01/09, a data plan is required.

So you have had a Smartphone before 11/01/09 without a data plan, you can continue to use it without a data plan, even when you renew your contract, as long as you don't change to a new smartphone.

**pApAsBoi** · 12-03-2009, 10:13 PM

how about for t-mobile? if you activate a new contract do you need data plan with it?

**tonyesq** · 12-04-2009, 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by pApAsBoi

how about for t-mobile? if you activate a new contract do you need data plan with it?

They better not, or i'll rage. Well I pay for Data plan anyways, but still its not fair, if i ever want to get off it.

**leskchan** · 12-04-2009, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by tonyesq

They better not, or i'll rage. Well I pay for Data plan anyways, but still its not fair, if i ever want to get off it.

It's not a matter of fairness. It's just business. I understand why.

It's either to recover the cost on phone incentives to customers or infrastructure investment.

You build a restaurant, you want customers who come in to order/eat/pay, not just sit/talk. You don't want to eat, then don't me.

**dlgus** · 12-05-2009, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by jakecannon

Very true.. now if this economy would "turn around" so i could find a job!

Not for nothing, but why did you get a blackberry, even for a penny if you don't have the money to pay for the bill? Your priorities seem a little skewed. Why not take the phone back?