I simply called customer service and said look I don't want any data services, put data block on my lines. Of course she gave me the standard company policy "that cannot be done with a smartphone". So I said try it and she was amazed it let her do it.
6mo+ later I still have the block, no data plan, no charges, no data, and wifi works fine despite the statements to the contrary by AT& T and ominous warnings it would automatically be re-added based on my IMEI being a smartphone. No data does not mean pay-per-use, it means none and they can not force me to pay for none. On Sep 23, 2011 4:39 AM, "Anthony Q. Martin" <[email protected]> wrote: > 1) I don't understand #3. How do you sidestep the forced data plan? I > might want to do that...can you do that and still use Wifi? > 2) Sheep. Paying for txt on top of data/voice is just silly. Charging > for it is evil, but the American way (since, WE are willing to pay for > it, apparently). > > On 9/22/2011 6:28 PM, Joshua MacCraw wrote: >> Personally I am fine with the ability to communicate things when you want to >> communicate and how you want to do so with minor qualifications. >> >> 1. SMS as a service costing money per use or in packages is redundant and >> ridiculous. Twitter serves the same role same as any other form of IM over >> data link. I don't have texting, don't send me a text it cost me money, >> that's my complaint. >> >> 2. This policy of providers of openness first privacy second has to go. I >> use the ability to share details about my life with people all the time but >> only the people but I choose to do so with. As long as privacy rules default >> to deny everything by default and have granular allow to few, I am fine with >> it. >> >> 3. Mobile data is just too damn expensive and too damn limited to be >> useful. $5/mo per GB shared by my entire family plan would be acceptable >> until then I go without mobile data also. ( yes, I have a smartphone and >> have managed to sidestep the forced data plan by opting for data-block on >> all lines, wifi or die!) >> >> That said, the texters who sit and text rather than talk to the person >> sitting in front of them is a little ridiculous. Same goes if they are still >> using sms instead of just taking advantage of data services, for as long as >> they pay for these stupid little text packages real data access will never >> come down in price. >>
