Extra charges for the Google Android Phone The attraction of this phone for me was that I could purchase it without a "data plan" (an extra $30/month charge - or $720 over the life of a 2-year contract). If I can sync with my computer via Wifi, why bother with internet charges...right?Wrong! The phone companies conspire to make this charge appear whether you sign up for it or not once their network detects the phone has internet connection capabilities.Anyone know a work-around for this? Extra charges for the Google Android Phone The attraction of this phone for me was that I could purchase it without a "data plan" (an extra $30/month charge - or $720 over the life of a... » Read More Extra charges for the Google Android Phone The attraction of this phone for me was that I could purchase it without a "data plan" (an extra $30/month charge - or $720 over the life of a 2-year contract). If I can sync with my computer via Wifi, why bother with internet charges...right?Wrong! The phone companies conspire to make this charge appear whether you sign up for it or not once their network detects the phone has internet connection capabilities.Anyone know a work-around for this? « Show Less
1008899
If you are on AT&T; all phone plans default to the pay-per-use data plan. If you want to disable the data plan contact customer service and tell them you want MediaNet OptOut, then you won't have to worry about accidents anymore.
1008900
Get APNdroid or go to your dialer and type *#*#4636#*#* and go to phone information, then hit the menu button, then tap more, then Disable Data Connection and Disable Data on boot. I use both. Haven't had a Data charge yet.
1628438
The plans are the same. You get charged more for android phones because smart phones use 500x the data that a "Feature Phone" uses.
2016969
I have this phone with ATT and -no data-. That's why I like it. They don't charge for data because it's not a smart phone and very limited in what it can do. (I can surf the internet, which is about all I need in addition to text and calling.)
2067134
I actually went into a TMo store today before going to the gym, to switch from ATT and check out the $10 internet plan (with the 500 talk for $29/mo). I purposely left my phone in the car, so when they asked for it I said I didn't have it with me, that it was an old Nokia, which later made them scan another cell box for activation. I got so excited - how easy it was, that I didnt even go to the gym but drove back home to config the internet - and WOW! I have a super cheap unlimited 3-f__ken-G!!!!!!!!!!!! I went for a workout right after and now I can listen to internet radio stream, instead of the stupid crap they play at the gym. That sonovab!+ch KELLY - THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!! I actually went into a TMo store today before going to the gym, to switch from ATT and check out the $10 internet plan (with the 500 talk for $29/mo). I purposely left my phone in the car, so when they asked for it I said I didn't have it with me, that it was an old Nokia, which later made them scan another cell box for activation. I got so excited - how easy it was, that I didnt even go to the gym but drove back home to config the internet - and WOW! I have a super cheap unlimited 3-f__ken-G!!!!!!!!!!!! I went for a workout right after and now I can listen to internet radio stream, instead... » Read More I actually went into a TMo store today before going to the gym, to switch from ATT and check out the $10 internet plan (with the 500 talk for $29/mo). I purposely left my phone in the car, so when they asked for it I said I didn't have it with me, that it was an old Nokia, which later made them scan another cell box for activation. I got so excited - how easy it was, that I didnt even go to the gym but drove back home to config the internet - and WOW! I have a super cheap unlimited 3-f__ken-G!!!!!!!!!!!! I went for a workout right after and now I can listen to internet radio stream, instead of the stupid crap they play at the gym. That sonovab!+ch KELLY - THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!! « Show Less
1201346
You must turn off the data on your cell. If you use connect to internet, carrier dosent know if using wifi or 3g. You will be charged per mb.
1269128
thinking about getting android md7015 (for price) but you guys are WAY over my head. I'm 62 & obviously not very comp. literate. Just want email and basic browsing (use to firefox & internet explor), have data plan on my ATT Blackberry, wil I need another if I go w/android? if so what are cheap options. Nedd something simple & works pretty well out the box as i'm not too hot finding tech solutions, in fact, this is first time trying this type of thing. Help!!,PCC
2247704
I just recently purchased this phone from Amazon and am on AT&T. So far I've been using the phone for a month and it hasn't detected it as a smartphone only because its not in their system, so no $30 data plan. I think this phone should be fine without the data plan unless you call up AT&T and tell them your phone is a smartphone. However, I also spoke with an AT&T representative and he said all smartphones, AT&T branded or unlocked, will be charged the $30/month data plan regardless.
1189355
No (at least for an existing Verizon account). Just be sure to get help activating by calling or "chatting" Verizon. If you try to do it online by yourself, after you enter the phone's ID (under the battery), you'll get a popup window warning that you have to change your plan to at least a $10/month data package. That's when I used Chat and was told I could remove the charge after the fact. When I balked at having to remove the charges, the agent volunteered to take care of activation for me. Yay! It worked out great.
163584
Sorry Siffert but that isn't true. I have an ATT Fusion (posted up a review on there also) Which all I did was add a 100$ card to it. I chose the option to not have a data package. I use wifi @ home and use grooveip to make/receive free callsIm not sure if this phone is "banned" from doing the same thing but the fusion 100% works. I have 2 of them actually with this same setup
1523756
Yes, the internet is free on any Wi-Fi network your phone can find. That's because the data is coming from the Wi-Fi, not the cellular provider, so it wouldn't be fair for the cellular provider to charge for the data.
934529
Yes, it was a while ago that I had it but I don't remember paying for a data plan. In fact, I wanted a touch screen qwerty keyboard and did not want to pay data, so I chose this phone. I see a few others here are paying, so check with Verizon and ask if it's mandatory now.
1367882
I loved this phone, but I never had data on it. I believe that you can connect to the internet, although I am not sure what the cost of doing so would be. I finally got a smart phone, but it is costly to have internet. Hope this helped.
45433
I am on T-Mobile and have their 15$ unlimited data plan. It is only useful if you have a multimedia device like this. If T-mobile will subsidize this phone they will make you pay 30$ for data. So basically it is not a subsidy but a kind of financing. Pay less upfront and more every month.
308707
The $10 on debit/MC with sign up is no great bonus when you will be charged $3.95 for the service every month, plus additional $ if you use a credit card instead of a checking account. I skipped the preloaded MC debit card thing and just went with Google play $$. There was no additional sign in, no additional registration, and my son still gets it that when he spends his google play money, it's gone.
66111
Virgin's "Beyond Talk" plan starts at $35/month (although I'm grandfathered at $25 :) which includes 300 min of talk time (plenty for me but maybe not if you're a big talker) and has unlimited texting and data (that means INTERNET!) So the easy answer to your question is NO UPGRADES NECESSARY. However, they just started throttling data once you go past 2.5gig. But it resets each monthly pay period. And that's a fair amount of data IMHO. Anyway, if you're considering this phone/plan then you must be looking for a rock-bottom price for a good (not great) service. It delivers. But if you want truly HUGE amounts of data and a cutting edge phone then you'll have to look elsewhere . . . and pay at least 3 times as much!
2114610
Not sure why others said it works great, since it does not have WiFi. ONLY smartphones offer Wifi so that the sleazebag service providers can force you to pay for a data plan. I'm amazed it's even legal.
129194
Well, no one knows, but one would hope if they start charging that they charge $20 or $30 a year, like Magic Jack or Net Talk Duo. If that price works for those guys, it should work for Google. Paying $15 to $30 a month isn't worth it for people who already have cell phones, but at $20 or $30 a year, it's nice to have a landline.