G1 without a data plan?

[apglazer]

Howdy everyone! I'm super pumped about getting an Android device on Verizon, but I'm not currently eligable to upgrade (I was offered the one year contract pricing, but I'm going to wait until after the holidays or whenever the Dragon/Passion comes out).

I would still like to have a G1 to root and play around with though (try out 2.0 and maybe Google Nav).

So I have a couple questions:

If I buy a G1 online through Walmart, I get the G1 for free with a 2 year contract. The cheapest option it gives me is the $39.99 Even More Individual 500 plan with the required $30.00 data plan. Am I able to cancel the data plan once I activate my G1 through my gmail account (I read online that it's impossible to active over wifi), or am I tied to the data service for the duration of the contract? (From my understanding, a lot of people seem to think the phone is completely inoperable without the data plan, which is not true.)

My other option is this:

I've seen some relatively inexpensive (as far as smartphones go) unlocked g1s on ebay, so I'm wondering if I buy one of those, then pick up a SIM card from T-mobile ($29.99 Even More Plus 500 Talk Plan) and then add internet to my plan ($10 Unlimited Web), can I use the data to activate the phone through my gmail account, then cancel it since the G1 is unlocked and wasn't purchased in conjunction with the SIM card?

Also, why is "Unlimited Web" with a SIM card $10 a month, when with a G1 it's required and is $30? I'd probably just end up keeping the web with the SIM card since I'd be paying $40 monthly rather than $70 (if buying the G1 through Walmart).

Thanks so much

 

[tallbruva]

Unfortunately, to get the full power of a G1 you *need* a data plan. It can *operate* without a data plan. But if you're going to do that, you might as well buy a flip phone. You can check but I don't think the Unlimited Web covers the G1 because they lump it all into data (since that's all web traffic is anyway). I highly doubt you'll be able to get over on T-Mobile at their own game.

 

[TaeKwonDonkey]

The $10 Unlimited Web you are referring to only applies to dumbphones, smartphones need the $30 data plan according to Tmobile. When you ask for data, they are probably going to ask you what phone you're using, and thats where they might tell you that you have to pay the $30 a month.
I too once wanted a G1 without the data plan and I thought all the people who said that you need a data plan were crazy and just spoiled by having data, but without the data plan, the phone pretty much becomes a dumbphone. I'd only recommend getting it if you're in wifi all the time and no I don't mean when you get home from work, I mean all the time because phones like these need data. Otherwise, its just another texting phone.

 

[Dr. Tyrell]

... without the data plan, the phone pretty much becomes a dumbphone. I'd only recommend getting it if you're in wifi all the time and no I don't mean when you get home from work, I mean all the time because phones like these need data. Otherwise, its just another texting phone.

That's rather overstated. If you can afford a data plan for the G1, which I can't for now, it gives you some added convenience and immediacy, but you don't gain any functions. Indeed, if you can break the addiction of being constantly connected, the quiet interludes are refreshing.

Depending on where you live and your travel pattern, Wi-Fi may work quite well. In fact, one direction smart phones are headed--this scares the heck out of the phone carriers--is internet-based voice and messaging so that you would not need overpriced voice, text and data plans. With a PAYG voice plan and free local Wi-Fi, the G1 is far more capable than any "texting phone" and significantly less expensive to boot (to the tune of up to $1000 per year).

In any case, data coverage isn't available in many areas I travel. I became used to using Wi-Fi where possible, so that when I had to drop the data plan to save money it was an easy transition. A data plan is desirable but it is certainly not necessary to make good use of the G1. This is one advantage a stock G1 has over newer phones like the Droid that have been restricted by the carrier to create revenue.

 

[racewater#AC]

Dr.Tyrell, I am thinking of getting a G1 and using on att PAYG plan, I'm coming from a Treo. The question is, w/o a data plan, will my contacts stored in phone be able to dial there #? Calander and emails, can they be stored on phone when I retrieve or sync via wifi? I know on the treo, the calender, contacts and email stay on the phone and can you them, then sync later in the day when I get home, so my basic question is, can I do something like this on a G1. Thanks for your help, I want to go to a droid phone and hope this will work.

 

[Dr. Tyrell]

Re: ATT without data

Dr.Tyrell, I am thinking of getting a G1 and using on att PAYG plan, I'm coming from a Treo. The question is, w/o a data plan, will my contacts stored in phone be able to dial there #? Calander and emails, can they be stored on phone when I retrieve or sync via wifi? I know on the treo, the calender, contacts and email stay on the phone and can you them, then sync later in the day when I get home, so my basic question is, can I do something like this on a G1. Thanks for your help, I want to go to a droid phone and hope this will work.

The data is with Google, not the phone company, so Google features such as contacts and calendars work great off-line and sync when Wi-Fi is available. Phone functions are normal with PAYG. In fact, everything works pretty much the same as if the phone had a data plan--the way it should be.

When I first got the G1, I bought a month of unlimited service with a temporary phone number to set it up on Google. That type of promotional one-month SIM card does not appear to be available any longer, so you might have to use an existing card (your own or a friend's) to get started. When the month was over, I replaced the card and number with a PAYG account. That is with T-Mobile; I don't know how ATT's system works.

Transferring contacts from the Treo to Google on my computer required some rework because they are formatted differently. Fortunately, I don't have a huge number of contacts. Google help has some guidance on importing data. Once the contacts were in the cloud, they appeared on the G1 after a sync.

Whatever you do, good luck!

In a few days we will see what the Nexus One, the G1's successor, is all about. Evidently, it's not the universal freedom phone we were hoping for but is a step in that direction. It is interesting to watch the phone carriers being dragged, kicking and screaming, into a new way of doing business where the customer has control.

 

[racewater#AC]

Dr.Tyrell, thanks for the input. I still don't have everything in place yet, but will in the next month or so. Just want to switch to android and looks I will be able. Thanks

 

[pbrennan42]

This makes me glad to be in the UK as we get far better deals.

I only have to top up ?10 a month to get unlimited internet access (unlimited data in your terms) on T-Mobile. Yeah, the free internet goes on the following month, but no big deal. I am up to date on it so no worries.

Phil.

 

[Kunk]

T-Mobile G1 Data

When I went to T-Mobile they told me that I have to cough up the extra $30.00 or not connect to data. they then said I could future bill it but it would not be active until the twenty fifth of this month.