Using Droid Eris without VZN data plan

[cryptiq]

I think OP needs to clarify intended usage.

1) Are you looking to get an Eris just to use on WiFi networks, with no calling plan?

Or,

2)are you looking to get an Eris with just voice plan and use WiFi only for data.

If 1, you can pickup a used Eris that's been previously activated or find bypass for activation as previous poster mentioned and use it to your heart's content on WiFi.

If 2 is your intent, I think you're SOL. I think I remember reading something to the fact that they routinely check the customer database and if a phone requiring a data plan exists without a data plan, a data plan is automatically assigned.

 

[Dapke36]

I was at a VZW store and witnessed a return of the ENV Touch because of this.

Verizon has a REALLY liberal definition of "smartphone requiring dataplan" these days.

Their definition of phones requiring data plans has been tiered, actually. I was browsing the site last night, and they have "3G Smartphones" (Droid, BB, Eris), that require $30 data plans, "3G Multimedia" phones (EnV line, Nokia Twist, etc) that require a $10/month data plan, then just the general dumbphone category, which has some pretty horrid stuff.

 

[Dapke36]

I like to get a droid eris but some say I can use it without the data plan. Is this true? I hate to fork out extra $30. If you can, please let me know how.
Thanks.

I believe the last "Smartphone" that Verizon let work on their network without a data plan was the Palm Centro.

 

[toadster007]

Just a quick question about data plans...last I heard they made phones such as the ENV 3, the Samsung Rogue, the ENV Touch, Chocolate Touch...all have data plans now. Is this true?

It is true but it is not the $30 data plan. They require a $10 plan that only gives you 5mb limit. You should call now and see if VZN still will give you the vcast package. That will give you unlimited data for non smartphone only. If they say no, just keep pressing and ask for manager. I recently got my again.

 

[toadster007]

I think OP needs to clarify intended usage.

1) Are you looking to get an Eris just to use on WiFi networks, with no calling plan?

Or,

2)are you looking to get an Eris with just voice plan and use WiFi only for data.

If 1, you can pickup a used Eris that's been previously activated or find bypass for activation as previous poster mentioned and use it to your heart's content on WiFi.

If 2 is your intent, I think you're SOL. I think I remember reading something to the fact that they routinely check the customer database and if a phone requiring a data plan exists without a data plan, a data plan is automatically assigned.

Yes, my intent is to use the Eris without the data charge. I know I am dreaming about that one. But it would be nice to use eris for voice and use wifi for data. Since I like to have the camera/camcorder and the ability to maybe use all other google offered stuff with wifi.

 

[Jared DiPane]

Yes, my intent is to use the Eris without the data charge. I know I am dreaming about that one. But it would be nice to use eris for voice and use wifi for data. Since I like to have the camera/camcorder and the ability to maybe use all other google offered stuff with wifi.

It would be awesome, and just a few years ago this would have been possible. but due to policy changes through verizon they will no longer allow any current smartphone to be active without data.

 

[sc00bz]

You can get it past the activation screen, I work at a Verizon and have done this. You just have to start the activation portion of the phone and then get it so it says called failed I believe(don't hold it against me) and it takes you to the typing tutorial screen, hit skip and skip through other screens then bam, you're on the home screen without ever activating the phone and can use WiFi.

This is correct. I recieved my Eris in the mail and plugged it in to let it fully charge before booting it up as the instructions said. When I came home later that night I couldn't activate on-line or over the phone because it failed every time so I kicked back and went through the setup. I surfed the internet via WiFi and downloaded some apps that night and waited to activate on VZW the next morning.


And to the OP, you have to have a data plan on the Eris on VZW.

 

[toadster007]

thanks, I guess i have no choice but to shell out the $30/month...

 

[Jared DiPane]

Many seem to think the $30 is a lot, which I understand everyones financial situations are different, but just save $1 a day from another purchase and use it towards this. Thats one less candy bar, one less bottle of soda, one less slice of pizza, etc. This can be done easily and make the phone affordable and you will probably get more use out of the phone then you ever will out of any of the other items.

 

[Chaos5]

Many seem to think the $30 is a lot, which I understand everyone's financial situations are different, but just save $1 a day from another purchase and use it towards this. That's one less candy bar, one less bottle of soda, one less slice of pizza, etc. This can be done easily and make the phone affordable and you will probably get more use out of the phone then you ever will out of any of the other items.

Agreed, the reason they implement these data plans is people were using the data without the plans and getting massive overage chargers. So instead of having to deal with idiotic customers who complain about how they got these outrageous MB charges they just put a feature on there. Also why have a smart-phone if your aren't going to be doing smart-phone things another reason they implement it. I can understand WiFi reason, but not everywhere has WiFi.

 

[Cory Streater]

My 2 cents: It seems like they should be able to provision your account to allow voice and texting and just block internet access if you don't have a data plan. This "you have to have a data plan" doesn't seem right to me. People should be allowed to use it for just voice & text and wifi for internet if they want to.

 

[toadster007]

Agreed, the reason they implement these data plans is people were using the data without the plans and getting massive overage chargers. So instead of having to deal with idiotic customers who complain about how they got these outrageous MB charges they just put a feature on there. Also why have a smart-phone if your aren't going to be doing smart-phone things another reason they implement it. I can understand WiFi reason, but not everywhere has WiFi.

ppl are right, 1$ a day doesn't seem much but if you look at 2years contract with $30/mo thats $720. Thats a lot of money I can't shell out. But I see it as a personal preference to have what "I" like. I just don't like it when vzn gives me reasons that just because some people can't manage their bill so I have to suffer for others mismanagement. I already pay a $15/mo vcast for my lg dare for unlimited data. I just can't see why I can't continue with that for the droid eris... i tell ya, phone company find anyway they can to take your money. Thanks for all your suggests... if some how, you can have a droid without data... please do let me know... thanks everyone

 

[Jared DiPane]

Unfortunately, we are at the control of the cell phone providers. They do have control over us. They know we all want the high tech phones, and they are willing to provide these for us, but at a cost to us. I agree with Cory, you should be able to put a block on those features from your account entirely, and still be able to use voice and SMS, but then the problem comes with MMS because of the data transfer.

I think the price of the data plans will drop as they become more standard, it will just take one provider to make the move, but who would want to do it considering they are getting people to pay the current pricing already?

 

[kilofoxtrot]

The problem is that US customers are enamored with low cell phone prices (i.e. subsidized phones). People want their cake and eat it too.

If you get a subsidized smartphone, then you have to play by their rules. If you pay full retail, then you should be able to stipulate what services you do and do not want. In both situations, parties are wrong IMO. Customers buying subsidized smartphones wanting to block data, and Verizon not offering Full Retail customers the option of declining data if they dont want it.

 

[toadster007]

My 2 cents: It seems like they should be able to provision your account to allow voice and texting and just block internet access if you don't have a data plan. This "you have to have a data plan" doesn't seem right to me. People should be allowed to use it for just voice & text and wifi for internet if they want to.

Amen! Cory.

 

[ancient_dragon]

Personally I'm not a fan at all of the "most have a data plan" thing for most of todays good phones. Thats why up until this point, I haven't had a true smartphone. I have had only an LG Voyager so far. I'm finally getting a smartphone with data, but its only cuz Sprint deal works out nicely when I've got a 4 person family plan to sign up for. I wish the data plan situation wasn't how it is, but its pretty much gonna be here to stay.

 

[toadster007]

Personally I'm not a fan at all of the "most have a data plan" thing for most of todays good phones. Thats why up until this point, I haven't had a true smartphone. I have had only an LG Voyager so far. I'm finally getting a smartphone with data, but its only cuz Sprint deal works out nicely when I've got a 4 person family plan to sign up for. I wish the data plan situation wasn't how it is, but its pretty much gonna be here to stay.

i am in the west coast, hows sprint reception? I know they have a family plan that includes everything for $42. I am waiting for my vzn contract is over before i switch, possibly. What are your thoughts? don't they have the htc hero instead of the eris? Do you know the difference?

 

[gemmy#AC]

Getting my Eris phone activated with no data plan

I know this has been discussed alot and answered everyway possible but I just wanted to let those know would also like to use an eris as a voice and texting phone without being forced to have a unlimitd data plan what I have heard from Verizon. I emailed them to let them know I was unhappy that they can tell me how to use a phone I purchased myself, not through them. I bought my eris through ebay. I siad there must be a way to disable the features that make it constantly search for the internet so I did not have to purchase the unlimited data plan if I chose not to. I told them I understood that if I had bought a discounted phone through then they would want to recoup their money. But this was my personal phone.

He stated that they did not require it because they would recouping money.
That the phone required it. I emailed back and siad that I know there must be some way to pick and choose which features to turn on they just did not want to give us the option.

I recieved a 2nd email from a different employee who siad that yes you could turn the features off on the Eris but that Verizon still would make you purchase the unlimited plan. She thanked my for my feedback and siad it would be forwarded to the company and that sometimes if they got enough people complaining they would change it. So if you are unhappy about being forced to choose a plan you do not need for a phone that you bought let them know!

 

[Butthead007]

I know this has been discussed alot and answered everyway possible but I just wanted to let those know would also like to use an eris as a voice and texting phone without being forced to have a unlimitd data plan what I have heard from Verizon. I emailed them to let them know I was unhappy that they can tell me how to use a phone I purchased myself, not through them. I bought my eris through ebay. I siad there must be a way to disable the features that make it constantly search for the internet so I did not have to purchase the unlimited data plan if I chose not to. I told them I understood that if I had bought a discounted phone through then they would want to recoup their money. But this was my personal phone.

He stated that they did not require it because they would recouping money.
That the phone required it. I emailed back and siad that I know there must be some way to pick and choose which features to turn on they just did not want to give us the option.

I recieved a 2nd email from a different employee who siad that yes you could turn the features off on the Eris but that Verizon still would make you purchase the unlimited plan. She thanked my for my feedback and siad it would be forwarded to the company and that sometimes if they got enough people complaining they would change it. So if you are unhappy about being forced to choose a plan you do not need for a phone that you bought let them know!

Having seen how much data these phones use, I would not dream of activating it without a data plan. These Android based phones are so connected in with internet services that there is really no way of shutting them off completely unless you use the device without activating it.

Verizon is not going to change their policy. All carriers are moving toward data plans for smartphones. Maybe you need to ask yourself if you really need a smartphone.

 

[tropper]

seems to me you have to have a data plan because to use it, the phone needs to log into google right ?