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hi_vis360
November, 2024

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Upgrading my POS phone

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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
So at LEAST three years ago I upgraded phones from a motorola razr (remember those?) to some shitty pantec phone. Swam with it two months later and killed it, so i've been using a blackberry bold and older blackberry 3xxx or whatever. My bold is shitting out, so it's time for an upgrade!

Now I have some questions:

Can I buy a refurb iphone 4 (not 4s, not 3gs or 3 series, a 4) online and use it WITHOUT a data plan by switching sim cards? I've heard yes, but want to double check. Its possible to shut off data via 3/4g in phone, right?

Is it better to go that route and save on data? I don't use internet when im out and about so it wouldnt be a problem.

I know you have to get some form of data plan when buying a smartphone through AT&T (my carrier), is there any way to avoid this?

I qualify for an upgrade anyways, do i save on buying an iphone online and man up and get a data plan?

Thanks for the help guys and gals!
Mar 14 2012 4:27PM
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pbandj
Posts: 5610 - Karma: 28
yes, but may i ask what the point of having an iphone is with no data plan?
Mar 14 2012 4:31PM
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DsMoK3
Posts: 467 - Karma: 198
no point
Mar 14 2012 4:32PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
use it with wifi to save money? I like the stability of it over android (I own an android tablet and the browser and apps crash constantly), the apps, calendar function and syncing with my mac...

call me an apple fanboy, but they make a good product.
Mar 14 2012 4:37PM
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pbandj
Posts: 5610 - Karma: 28
i am aware as i own one myself...

i just don't see a point in purchasing an iphone and not being able to use it's functions while i'm on the go... which IMO is the point of having one to begin with.

when i'm in WIFI range i usually have access to a computer making the phone itself useless
Mar 14 2012 4:41PM
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
the sim card in an iphone 4 is smaller than the one in other phones. the guy in the ATT store near me told me that if you had to you could cut your sim card to fit and it would still work but i havent tried it.

yes, its possible to shut off the data. iphone 4's on ATT dont have 4g by the way.

but i would say just buy a data plan, unless you're in college and have wifi on campus. its really nice to be able to have internet access everywhere you go.
Mar 14 2012 4:45PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
haha the thing is, i'd either limit myself to not using it at all, or would EASILY go over whatever data plan i had. 5gb/month is stupid small. I may go with a 300mb plan and shut it off and only use in emergencies. I'd really love to have data access but I cant afford it :(
Mar 14 2012 4:48PM
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ChuckTesta
Posts: 960 - Karma: 258
this and att iphones have different sims than whats in your blackberry or at least thats what they told me when i got mine
Mar 14 2012 4:50PM
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eheath
Posts: 61650 - Karma: 123,503
Unless you're watching movies, you'll never go over 2gb in a month. The only time ive gone over 1gb in a month was when i watched some netflix on my phone. Just turn on wifi and when ever youre at home/school/someones house who you know you wont use data. Having a smart phone and not being able to use it outside of wifi is pointless. 30 bucks a month is not that much money...
Mar 14 2012 4:53PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
does your phone (i know you use android) default to use wifi over network automatically? or would I have to switch data off everytime i entered a wifi hotspot?
Mar 14 2012 4:55PM
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lukewalnuts
Posts: 2730 - Karma: 152
this...



if you want to do that carry around an ipod and a crappy flip phone
Mar 14 2012 4:57PM
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eheath
Posts: 61650 - Karma: 123,503
yeah if a wifi that is saved is detected, it switches over.
Mar 14 2012 5:00PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
if this is true I might get one then. I know my monthly bill is attached to my whole family's personal phone usage, so I could probably move some stuff around (reduce minutes because nobody uses our phones, etc) i could probably pull it off.

I'd be checking email and NS VERY frequently, as well as calendars for scheduling and whatnot.
Mar 14 2012 5:01PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Both the iPhone and Android phones will automatically use wifi if available unless you turn wifi off. If a new network, you may need to manually connect to it for the first time, but for future use it will automatically use the wifi. That said, having wifi turned on does drastically reduce battery life.

I use maybe 5% of my 2gb in a month mainly because I have wifi at work and at home and I don't stream music while in areas without accessible wifi.
Mar 14 2012 5:03PM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,846
messing with this sounds sketchy to me,                   why not just get the data.   youll use it because its really handy!
and isnt a phone plan with data in the USA stupid cheap?   thats what the commercials seem to say
Mar 14 2012 5:09PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
just what I wanted to hear.
Mar 14 2012 5:10PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
no its retardedly expensive. like for my family i think the bill is $160 a month for four phones that arent even used that often besides mine.
Mar 14 2012 5:10PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
lay off the razr man! It was like, the coolest phone in 2005
Mar 14 2012 5:16PM
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japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,956
This! I had one and loved it. Its the best selling flip phone ever.
Mar 14 2012 5:19PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
I'm impressed that you can still even use it. I had one when they were "the" phone to have. After one year of use, the battery would go dead in 15 minutes if out in the cold, and it would last maybe 4 hours tops if kept somewhere warm.
Mar 14 2012 5:20PM
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momentz
Posts: 875 - Karma: 285

How much does it cost for unlimited data per month?

Mar 14 2012 5:21PM
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japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,956
ATT doesnt have unlimited data unless you are grandfathered into by signing up for it when it first came out with the iphone 3
Mar 14 2012 5:22PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
oh mine is looooooonnnnnngg dead, but it was a decent phone up until the small front screen cracked, the keys started to not respond, and the battery went.
Mar 14 2012 5:23PM
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pbandj
Posts: 5610 - Karma: 28
if i recall correctly, mine got dust under the screen after about 2 months.
Mar 14 2012 5:38PM
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act.resist
Posts: 8875 - Karma: 513
you can buy the phone but you also have to buy the data plan from your carrier to activate the phone...i think
Mar 14 2012 5:39PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
oh shit, mine definitely had dust/sand too
Mar 14 2012 5:40PM
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pbandj
Posts: 5610 - Karma: 28
incorrect, just need the sim card, and the know-how to put it in.
Mar 14 2012 5:45PM
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act.resist
Posts: 8875 - Karma: 513
oh ok. i remember having to go to the att store to activate the phone in a different way that just inserting the sim card. but maybe thats just att, or maybe im just making things up haha
Mar 14 2012 5:46PM
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pbandj
Posts: 5610 - Karma: 28
that's what at&t would like you to believe, also why the U.S. iPhone doesn't come with the little pin to open the sim card slot, but it is not true.
Mar 14 2012 5:49PM
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Lucas
Posts: 4881 - Karma: 1,575
I use about 300mb a month because I just browse ns/Facebook/twitter
Mar 14 2012 5:50PM
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,663
Yeah word. My dad has an iphone, my mother, sister and i all have regular phones and our bill is around $135. Unlimited text, and like 750 call minutes..Stupid expensive
Mar 14 2012 5:52PM
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act.resist
Posts: 8875 - Karma: 513
lol yea thats what i figured. they easily come out anyways
Mar 14 2012 5:57PM
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Algebra
Posts: 5215 - Karma: 1,677
i would get it. it really would be like having an iPod and only using wifi but texting anywhere
Mar 14 2012 5:58PM
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soulskier
Posts: 17806 - Karma: 3,841
apple fanboy
Mar 14 2012 6:10PM
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steep
Posts: 6063 - Karma: 298
I am one of the lucky ones who still has it :D hahah never have to worry about going over (I use my 3G EVERYWHERE, all the time) In fact I am posting via it right now
Mar 14 2012 6:35PM
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japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,956
You know that you will still have unlimited data if say you went to a galaxy s2 or the iphone4s. You have it foooorevvvvverrrrrrr



The sandlot...anyone?
Mar 14 2012 6:46PM
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Deluge
Posts: 4401 - Karma: 805
YOURE AN APPLE FANBOY
Mar 14 2012 6:51PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 361
why the fuck would you want to carry around two things when you could have one?

i've been using an unlocked iphone without a data plan for 2 years, i just view it as a phone with an ipod function, wifi, and sweet games. idk why i would want to carry around some POS flip phone and an ipod.
Mar 14 2012 6:57PM
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theater.thug
Posts: 441 - Karma: 671
Yes you can do it like that without a data plan by switching sim cards, but after a month or so your carrier will send you a message telling you you need a data plan. I did it.
Mar 14 2012 7:25PM
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