looking for a decent/cheap phone for daughter...

[BoldtotheMax]

Hoping to get a little more info as some of the reps I am getting from TMobile as of late on the phone don't seem to know what I am asking and keep getting bounced around like a pin-ball machine.

So I am sure I can get an answer here or hope too. I was wondering if I got a Blackberry 8520 if I "had" to have a data plan in order to purchase the phone? They keep saying I need to have it, but I can't just buy it and add it later if I wanted too?

Have a 9700 now with data and she really don't need it, nor can I warrant the 25 bucks extra a month really. Couldn't I just use the wifi through my router to access some stuff if she wanted too? I believe some or most apps won't work, but not worried about that for now.

Only reason interested in this phone as I can get it for 30 bucks new and I could use UMA on her phone, which is god sent as most cells are bricks in our house, so in long run, could drop the cable phone and save more$

Is this not possible? I could have sworn I read other people using BB's and not using a data plan.

If I can't use that phone, does anyone know about the Nokia Nuron? Had a couple people suggest that as it would be free and web for that is only 10 bucks, so I could probably swing that if I had too, but isn't wifi enabled and woudlnt do much good in our house, till you step foot out the door....just something with the house, lol!

Hoping a rep may see this as I know a couple frequent these forums.

Thanks for any help.

PS, trying to stay under 50 smacks for a phone. Thanks for any help.

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[Artemis68]

If you buy the BB Curve phone at discount price at T-Mobile, then you need a data plan. If you buy at full price or get it from elsewhere (eBay, friend, etc) and then add it to your account, then you don't need a data plan.

if you want to pay no more than $50, I'd look on ebay. Look for older models for T-Mobile that have wifi calling, like the Curve 8320 or something. Or do you have a spare BB lying around for her to use?

There are also other cheap phones with UMA that you can get for cheap without a data plan...Samsung Katalyst, SE 506 (that's a flip phone), and I've seen some T-Mobile BB flip phones going for cheap too.

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[K Bear]

You are better off with the Nuron as this is considered a feature phone. & not a smartphone. Unless you buy the 8520 out right, you will be require to have a smartphone data plan on the line.

[Skidooman93]

I just went through the same thing with my wife's phone. She doesn't use internet or any apps, and only sends a few txts per month, but we rely on UMA pretty heavily around here. If I bought a new phone for her from t-mobile then we needed to have a data plan, and the would be a waste of money. Her 8220 was on it last leg when it was new, but have gotten 2 years out of it. So now it is ready for the trash. I bought a 8520 off ebay for $140. Not a great price but a clean phone in excellent condition.

[Artemis68]

$140 is not too bad for an excellent 8520, especially considering that the 8520 isn't that old.

OP, if you are looking for a price at 50 or below, I'd check out eBay for T-Mobile UMA "dumbphones" as they tend to be a lot cheaper.

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[NorrisCell]

Originally Posted by Artemis68

There are also other cheap phones with UMA that you can get for cheap without a data plan...Samsung Katalyst, SE 506 (that's a flip phone), and I've seen some T-Mobile BB flip phones going for cheap too.

The TM506 doesn't do UMA. The Katalyst is a good choice though. Also, you can usually find a Nokia 6086 for fairly cheap with UMA as well. If full web browser is a must, the 8320 or 8220 can both be had for reasonable prices, as mentioned above.

[Artemis68]

Oops, thanks for correcting me, Norris. Funny thing is, I think I said the same thing before! Grr...gotta get that in my mind, the TMO506 doesn't have UMA.

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[NorrisCell]

Originally Posted by Artemis68

Oops, thanks for correcting me, Norris. Funny thing is, I think I said the same thing before! Grr...gotta get that in my mind, the TMO506 doesn't have UMA.

No worries. It's actually a common misconception. Not too long ago, I had this discussion with my assistant manager, who's been selling TMO as long as I have.

To the OP: On second thought, avoid the 6086. I saw too many white screens on that. Katalyst, T409, Nokia 6301, all good choices

[BoldtotheMax]

Well ended up getting a LG Sentio, all TS...and took a shot at the signal, thinking she is out and about much and while at home, she has the landline....read up on it some and most liked it, very few bad reviews, but most raved how good the signal was in bad areas....turns out, she gets 3-4 bars at all times in our house, given it is just EDGE bars, but better than my 9700(but use UMA) and wifes mytouch3G(Her phone is a brick for voice, lol) and my other daughters Samsung Gravity 2.(Complete brick)

So in the end, we lucked out, she has one months worth of free net and actually works pretty well, TS is pretty snappy and what matters the most is....she loves it!

Thanks for all the help!

One question for the reps or someone that may know. This phone was 69 dollars with 50 dollar mail-in-rebate, but I can't find the rebate anywhere....where would that be? I guess I can call, but keep forgetting, lol!

Again thanks for all the help!

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[NorrisCell]

www.tmobilerebates.com

It will ask for some numbers from the phone box and will find the correct form for you.