RE: To data plan or not to data plan [was Re: new to the group and some questions]
As did I. If not, that's a very expensive iPod touch! Now, if you get it from Craigslist it might be different; though I've known folks who have stayed hidden under the radar but that it's only temporary. In other words, eventually the carrier be it aTT, Verizon, etc, find out and put the phone on a data plan. Amy Billman Check out my company for your screen protector and phone accessory needs! SpeedDots: the makers of the tactile screen protector http://www.SpeedDots.com Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SpeedDots Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SpeedDots -Original Message- From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Ryan Mann Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 2:43 PM To: viphone@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: To data plan or not to data plan [was Re: new to the group and some questions] I'm confused. I thought that for iPhone contracts you were required to buy a data plan. Sent from my iPhone On Jun 7, 2012, at 1:04 PM, Raul A. Gallegos r...@raulgallegos.com wrote: This makes sense. In fact, this is what I did for my daughter. She has an iPhone, but we don't pay for data plans. So, when she uses apps which require data, she just uses it on wi-fi. All other times she can use it to text and make calls all she wants. -- Raul A. Gallegos CALENDAR FACT: All the seasons are named after coils of metal. Except Winter and Summer. And Autumn. Home Page: http://raulgallegos.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/rau47 Facebook: http://facebook.com/rgallegos74 On 6/7/2012 12:20 PM, Christopher Chaltain wrote: I've been researching smart phones for my son, and I had a thought. You said I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email,, but I was thinking, with wifi, someone could still use there smart phone for web and email and wouldn't need a data plan. In fact, if I could, this is exactly what I'd like to get my son, i.e. a smart phone with voice and texting but no data plan. He'd just have to wait until he had access to a wifi to use his smart phone on the network. Does this make sense or am I forgetting something critical here? On 03/06/12 13:48, Arnold Schmidt wrote: Well, it appears the old cliche applies one more time. I just called the number given in the following message, and this is what I was told. First, the following does not apply to the IPhone at all, one must buy a data plan for the IPhone. Apparently, for the android phones, and blackberries, one can apply for this exemption, but it does not mean one can get free data. Under normal circumstances, one has to buy a minimum data plan, even if they are not going to use it, just to get one of these devices. This exemption will allow the device to be used for phone calls, maybe texting (I am not sure about texting), but not for data, meaning the web and email. I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email, being that now some companies are offering unlimited text and phone calls for cheap prices, using a regular phone. Apparently, their data networks are being overwhelmed by smart phones, and they want people to buy and use the simple phones for texting and phone calls. Oh well, I hoped. Arnold Schmidt - Original Message - From: Eric Caron ecar...@comcast.net To: viphone@googlegroups.com Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 11:33 AM Subject: Re: new to the group and some questions Hello Arnold, If the price of the data plan is the only thing keeping you from getting the iPhone you may want to consider asking for a waiver. AT ant T allows Blind users in the US to fill out a application that allows for certain services. One is free information. Another is exemption from the data plan. I don't know if other service providers have a option like this for blind users. I am using the free information service. I did not use it often as I preferred Bing 411. However, Bing 411 is ending at the end of june so I'm glad I have the AT and T information option in place and ready to use. It works very similar to the Bing 411 service, even the same voice, but an operator takes over if there is a need. The application process is a bit tedious and takes time to complete and requires a doctor's portion to be completed. I think the phone number to call AT And T for a application is: 1 866 241 6568 eric Caron On Jun 3, 2012, at 6:30 AM, Arnold Schmidt wrote: I am even newer than you, in that my subscription was approved only hours ago. Also, I do not have an IPhone yet. The idea of getting one greatly appeals to me, but if I do not, it will be for the same reason that I have not gotten one so far, I am too cheap to want to pay that hundred dollars a month after month, after month after month to the phone carrier. However, I know I would love my IPhone and would probably not mind that charge too
Re: To data plan or not to data plan [was Re: new to the group and some questions]
This makes sense. In fact, this is what I did for my daughter. She has an iPhone, but we don't pay for data plans. So, when she uses apps which require data, she just uses it on wi-fi. All other times she can use it to text and make calls all she wants. -- Raul A. Gallegos CALENDAR FACT: All the seasons are named after coils of metal. Except Winter and Summer. And Autumn. Home Page: http://raulgallegos.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/rau47 Facebook: http://facebook.com/rgallegos74 On 6/7/2012 12:20 PM, Christopher Chaltain wrote: I've been researching smart phones for my son, and I had a thought. You said I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email,, but I was thinking, with wifi, someone could still use there smart phone for web and email and wouldn't need a data plan. In fact, if I could, this is exactly what I'd like to get my son, i.e. a smart phone with voice and texting but no data plan. He'd just have to wait until he had access to a wifi to use his smart phone on the network. Does this make sense or am I forgetting something critical here? On 03/06/12 13:48, Arnold Schmidt wrote: Well, it appears the old cliche applies one more time. I just called the number given in the following message, and this is what I was told. First, the following does not apply to the IPhone at all, one must buy a data plan for the IPhone. Apparently, for the android phones, and blackberries, one can apply for this exemption, but it does not mean one can get free data. Under normal circumstances, one has to buy a minimum data plan, even if they are not going to use it, just to get one of these devices. This exemption will allow the device to be used for phone calls, maybe texting (I am not sure about texting), but not for data, meaning the web and email. I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email, being that now some companies are offering unlimited text and phone calls for cheap prices, using a regular phone. Apparently, their data networks are being overwhelmed by smart phones, and they want people to buy and use the simple phones for texting and phone calls. Oh well, I hoped. Arnold Schmidt - Original Message - From: Eric Caron ecar...@comcast.net To: viphone@googlegroups.com Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 11:33 AM Subject: Re: new to the group and some questions Hello Arnold, If the price of the data plan is the only thing keeping you from getting the iPhone you may want to consider asking for a waiver. AT ant T allows Blind users in the US to fill out a application that allows for certain services. One is free information. Another is exemption from the data plan. I don't know if other service providers have a option like this for blind users. I am using the free information service. I did not use it often as I preferred Bing 411. However, Bing 411 is ending at the end of june so I'm glad I have the AT and T information option in place and ready to use. It works very similar to the Bing 411 service, even the same voice, but an operator takes over if there is a need. The application process is a bit tedious and takes time to complete and requires a doctor's portion to be completed. I think the phone number to call AT And T for a application is: 1 866 241 6568 eric Caron On Jun 3, 2012, at 6:30 AM, Arnold Schmidt wrote: I am even newer than you, in that my subscription was approved only hours ago. Also, I do not have an IPhone yet. The idea of getting one greatly appeals to me, but if I do not, it will be for the same reason that I have not gotten one so far, I am too cheap to want to pay that hundred dollars a month after month, after month after month to the phone carrier. However, I know I would love my IPhone and would probably not mind that charge too much, considering the benefits to me. One thing that has me excited againabout getting one is the book, published by National Braille Press. Getting Started with the iPhone and iOs5 for Blind Users, by Anna Dresner with Dean Martineau. I have purchased this book, and am reading through it. I do recommend this book for new users. According to it, one can set up their IPhone independently, so long as they have ITunes on their computer, with One caveat. There are some things one has to enter onto their phone itself, so one will have to type on it very early in the game, as it were. As long as one feels confident to do this typing, it can be set up independently. The link to the aforementioned book is http://www.nap.org/ic/nap/IPHONE-IOS5.html It is $22, and can be had in hardcopy braille, as a brf file, or as a daisy audio file, read by a pretty good synthesizer, I do not know which one. Arnold Schmidt - Original Message - From: Rebecca Ilniski rilni...@gmail.com To: viphone@googlegroups.com Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 3:31 AM Subject: new to the group and some questions Hi all.
Re: To data plan or not to data plan [was Re: new to the group and some questions]
So how did you get an iPhone without a data plan then? I'm sure there are ways to do it. I'm just curious. On 07/06/12 12:04, Raul A. Gallegos wrote: This makes sense. In fact, this is what I did for my daughter. She has an iPhone, but we don't pay for data plans. So, when she uses apps which require data, she just uses it on wi-fi. All other times she can use it to text and make calls all she wants. -- Raul A. Gallegos CALENDAR FACT: All the seasons are named after coils of metal. Except Winter and Summer. And Autumn. Home Page: http://raulgallegos.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/rau47 Facebook: http://facebook.com/rgallegos74 On 6/7/2012 12:20 PM, Christopher Chaltain wrote: I've been researching smart phones for my son, and I had a thought. You said I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email,, but I was thinking, with wifi, someone could still use there smart phone for web and email and wouldn't need a data plan. In fact, if I could, this is exactly what I'd like to get my son, i.e. a smart phone with voice and texting but no data plan. He'd just have to wait until he had access to a wifi to use his smart phone on the network. Does this make sense or am I forgetting something critical here? On 03/06/12 13:48, Arnold Schmidt wrote: Well, it appears the old cliche applies one more time. I just called the number given in the following message, and this is what I was told. First, the following does not apply to the IPhone at all, one must buy a data plan for the IPhone. Apparently, for the android phones, and blackberries, one can apply for this exemption, but it does not mean one can get free data. Under normal circumstances, one has to buy a minimum data plan, even if they are not going to use it, just to get one of these devices. This exemption will allow the device to be used for phone calls, maybe texting (I am not sure about texting), but not for data, meaning the web and email. I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email, being that now some companies are offering unlimited text and phone calls for cheap prices, using a regular phone. Apparently, their data networks are being overwhelmed by smart phones, and they want people to buy and use the simple phones for texting and phone calls. Oh well, I hoped. Arnold Schmidt - Original Message - From: Eric Caron ecar...@comcast.net To: viphone@googlegroups.com Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 11:33 AM Subject: Re: new to the group and some questions Hello Arnold, If the price of the data plan is the only thing keeping you from getting the iPhone you may want to consider asking for a waiver. AT ant T allows Blind users in the US to fill out a application that allows for certain services. One is free information. Another is exemption from the data plan. I don't know if other service providers have a option like this for blind users. I am using the free information service. I did not use it often as I preferred Bing 411. However, Bing 411 is ending at the end of june so I'm glad I have the AT and T information option in place and ready to use. It works very similar to the Bing 411 service, even the same voice, but an operator takes over if there is a need. The application process is a bit tedious and takes time to complete and requires a doctor's portion to be completed. I think the phone number to call AT And T for a application is: 1 866 241 6568 eric Caron On Jun 3, 2012, at 6:30 AM, Arnold Schmidt wrote: I am even newer than you, in that my subscription was approved only hours ago. Also, I do not have an IPhone yet. The idea of getting one greatly appeals to me, but if I do not, it will be for the same reason that I have not gotten one so far, I am too cheap to want to pay that hundred dollars a month after month, after month after month to the phone carrier. However, I know I would love my IPhone and would probably not mind that charge too much, considering the benefits to me. One thing that has me excited againabout getting one is the book, published by National Braille Press. Getting Started with the iPhone and iOs5 for Blind Users, by Anna Dresner with Dean Martineau. I have purchased this book, and am reading through it. I do recommend this book for new users. According to it, one can set up their IPhone independently, so long as they have ITunes on their computer, with One caveat. There are some things one has to enter onto their phone itself, so one will have to type on it very early in the game, as it were. As long as one feels confident to do this typing, it can be set up independently. The link to the aforementioned book is http://www.nap.org/ic/nap/IPHONE-IOS5.html It is $22, and can be had in hardcopy braille, as a brf file, or as a daisy audio file, read by a pretty good synthesizer, I do not
Re: To data plan or not to data plan [was Re: new to the group and some questions]
I'm confused. I thought that for iPhone contracts you were required to buy a data plan. Sent from my iPhone On Jun 7, 2012, at 1:04 PM, Raul A. Gallegos r...@raulgallegos.com wrote: This makes sense. In fact, this is what I did for my daughter. She has an iPhone, but we don't pay for data plans. So, when she uses apps which require data, she just uses it on wi-fi. All other times she can use it to text and make calls all she wants. -- Raul A. Gallegos CALENDAR FACT: All the seasons are named after coils of metal. Except Winter and Summer. And Autumn. Home Page: http://raulgallegos.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/rau47 Facebook: http://facebook.com/rgallegos74 On 6/7/2012 12:20 PM, Christopher Chaltain wrote: I've been researching smart phones for my son, and I had a thought. You said I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email,, but I was thinking, with wifi, someone could still use there smart phone for web and email and wouldn't need a data plan. In fact, if I could, this is exactly what I'd like to get my son, i.e. a smart phone with voice and texting but no data plan. He'd just have to wait until he had access to a wifi to use his smart phone on the network. Does this make sense or am I forgetting something critical here? On 03/06/12 13:48, Arnold Schmidt wrote: Well, it appears the old cliche applies one more time. I just called the number given in the following message, and this is what I was told. First, the following does not apply to the IPhone at all, one must buy a data plan for the IPhone. Apparently, for the android phones, and blackberries, one can apply for this exemption, but it does not mean one can get free data. Under normal circumstances, one has to buy a minimum data plan, even if they are not going to use it, just to get one of these devices. This exemption will allow the device to be used for phone calls, maybe texting (I am not sure about texting), but not for data, meaning the web and email. I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email, being that now some companies are offering unlimited text and phone calls for cheap prices, using a regular phone. Apparently, their data networks are being overwhelmed by smart phones, and they want people to buy and use the simple phones for texting and phone calls. Oh well, I hoped. Arnold Schmidt - Original Message - From: Eric Caron ecar...@comcast.net To: viphone@googlegroups.com Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 11:33 AM Subject: Re: new to the group and some questions Hello Arnold, If the price of the data plan is the only thing keeping you from getting the iPhone you may want to consider asking for a waiver. AT ant T allows Blind users in the US to fill out a application that allows for certain services. One is free information. Another is exemption from the data plan. I don't know if other service providers have a option like this for blind users. I am using the free information service. I did not use it often as I preferred Bing 411. However, Bing 411 is ending at the end of june so I'm glad I have the AT and T information option in place and ready to use. It works very similar to the Bing 411 service, even the same voice, but an operator takes over if there is a need. The application process is a bit tedious and takes time to complete and requires a doctor's portion to be completed. I think the phone number to call AT And T for a application is: 1 866 241 6568 eric Caron On Jun 3, 2012, at 6:30 AM, Arnold Schmidt wrote: I am even newer than you, in that my subscription was approved only hours ago. Also, I do not have an IPhone yet. The idea of getting one greatly appeals to me, but if I do not, it will be for the same reason that I have not gotten one so far, I am too cheap to want to pay that hundred dollars a month after month, after month after month to the phone carrier. However, I know I would love my IPhone and would probably not mind that charge too much, considering the benefits to me. One thing that has me excited againabout getting one is the book, published by National Braille Press. Getting Started with the iPhone and iOs5 for Blind Users, by Anna Dresner with Dean Martineau. I have purchased this book, and am reading through it. I do recommend this book for new users. According to it, one can set up their IPhone independently, so long as they have ITunes on their computer, with One caveat. There are some things one has to enter onto their phone itself, so one will have to type on it very early in the game, as it were. As long as one feels confident to do this typing, it can be set up independently. The link to the aforementioned book is http://www.nap.org/ic/nap/IPHONE-IOS5.html It is $22, and can be had in hardcopy braille, as a brf file, or as a daisy
Re: To data plan or not to data plan [was Re: new to the group and some questions]
Contracts yes, I didn't get this under contract. So, no data plan required. -- Raul A. Gallegos Vegetarian: Native American definition for lousy hunter. Home Page: http://raulgallegos.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/rau47 Facebook: http://facebook.com/rgallegos74 On 6/7/2012 5:42 PM, Ryan Mann wrote: I'm confused. I thought that for iPhone contracts you were required to buy a data plan. Sent from my iPhone On Jun 7, 2012, at 1:04 PM, Raul A. Gallegos r...@raulgallegos.com wrote: This makes sense. In fact, this is what I did for my daughter. She has an iPhone, but we don't pay for data plans. So, when she uses apps which require data, she just uses it on wi-fi. All other times she can use it to text and make calls all she wants. -- Raul A. Gallegos CALENDAR FACT: All the seasons are named after coils of metal. Except Winter and Summer. And Autumn. Home Page: http://raulgallegos.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/rau47 Facebook: http://facebook.com/rgallegos74 On 6/7/2012 12:20 PM, Christopher Chaltain wrote: I've been researching smart phones for my son, and I had a thought. You said I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email,, but I was thinking, with wifi, someone could still use there smart phone for web and email and wouldn't need a data plan. In fact, if I could, this is exactly what I'd like to get my son, i.e. a smart phone with voice and texting but no data plan. He'd just have to wait until he had access to a wifi to use his smart phone on the network. Does this make sense or am I forgetting something critical here? On 03/06/12 13:48, Arnold Schmidt wrote: Well, it appears the old cliche applies one more time. I just called the number given in the following message, and this is what I was told. First, the following does not apply to the IPhone at all, one must buy a data plan for the IPhone. Apparently, for the android phones, and blackberries, one can apply for this exemption, but it does not mean one can get free data. Under normal circumstances, one has to buy a minimum data plan, even if they are not going to use it, just to get one of these devices. This exemption will allow the device to be used for phone calls, maybe texting (I am not sure about texting), but not for data, meaning the web and email. I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email, being that now some companies are offering unlimited text and phone calls for cheap prices, using a regular phone. Apparently, their data networks are being overwhelmed by smart phones, and they want people to buy and use the simple phones for texting and phone calls. Oh well, I hoped. Arnold Schmidt - Original Message - From: Eric Caron ecar...@comcast.net To: viphone@googlegroups.com Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 11:33 AM Subject: Re: new to the group and some questions Hello Arnold, If the price of the data plan is the only thing keeping you from getting the iPhone you may want to consider asking for a waiver. AT ant T allows Blind users in the US to fill out a application that allows for certain services. One is free information. Another is exemption from the data plan. I don't know if other service providers have a option like this for blind users. I am using the free information service. I did not use it often as I preferred Bing 411. However, Bing 411 is ending at the end of june so I'm glad I have the AT and T information option in place and ready to use. It works very similar to the Bing 411 service, even the same voice, but an operator takes over if there is a need. The application process is a bit tedious and takes time to complete and requires a doctor's portion to be completed. I think the phone number to call AT And T for a application is: 1 866 241 6568 eric Caron On Jun 3, 2012, at 6:30 AM, Arnold Schmidt wrote: I am even newer than you, in that my subscription was approved only hours ago. Also, I do not have an IPhone yet. The idea of getting one greatly appeals to me, but if I do not, it will be for the same reason that I have not gotten one so far, I am too cheap to want to pay that hundred dollars a month after month, after month after month to the phone carrier. However, I know I would love my IPhone and would probably not mind that charge too much, considering the benefits to me. One thing that has me excited againabout getting one is the book, published by National Braille Press. Getting Started with the iPhone and iOs5 for Blind Users, by Anna Dresner with Dean Martineau. I have purchased this book, and am reading through it. I do recommend this book for new users. According to it, one can set up their IPhone independently, so long as they have ITunes on their computer, with One caveat. There are some things one has to enter onto their phone itself, so one will have to type on it very early in the game, as it were. As long as one feels confident
Re: To data plan or not to data plan [was Re: new to the group and some questions]
That's correct. I know with VZW as soon as you put an iPhone on the account the data charges are automatically applied. Sent from my Verizon iPhone! On Jun 7, 2012, at 6:32 PM, Christopher Chaltain chalt...@gmail.com wrote: Interesting, but I was under the impression that the carrier can detect if you've popped the SIM card into a smart phone. I was told this by an ATT rep and by someone who got charged for a Blackberry plan when he popped his SIM card into a borrowed Blackberry. On 07/06/12 17:02, Raul A. Gallegos wrote: Contracts yes, I didn't get this under contract. So, no data plan required. -- Raul A. Gallegos Vegetarian: Native American definition for lousy hunter. Home Page: http://raulgallegos.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/rau47 Facebook: http://facebook.com/rgallegos74 On 6/7/2012 5:42 PM, Ryan Mann wrote: I'm confused. I thought that for iPhone contracts you were required to buy a data plan. Sent from my iPhone On Jun 7, 2012, at 1:04 PM, Raul A. Gallegos r...@raulgallegos.com wrote: This makes sense. In fact, this is what I did for my daughter. She has an iPhone, but we don't pay for data plans. So, when she uses apps which require data, she just uses it on wi-fi. All other times she can use it to text and make calls all she wants. -- Raul A. Gallegos CALENDAR FACT: All the seasons are named after coils of metal. Except Winter and Summer. And Autumn. Home Page: http://raulgallegos.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/rau47 Facebook: http://facebook.com/rgallegos74 On 6/7/2012 12:20 PM, Christopher Chaltain wrote: I've been researching smart phones for my son, and I had a thought. You said I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email,, but I was thinking, with wifi, someone could still use there smart phone for web and email and wouldn't need a data plan. In fact, if I could, this is exactly what I'd like to get my son, i.e. a smart phone with voice and texting but no data plan. He'd just have to wait until he had access to a wifi to use his smart phone on the network. Does this make sense or am I forgetting something critical here? On 03/06/12 13:48, Arnold Schmidt wrote: Well, it appears the old cliche applies one more time. I just called the number given in the following message, and this is what I was told. First, the following does not apply to the IPhone at all, one must buy a data plan for the IPhone. Apparently, for the android phones, and blackberries, one can apply for this exemption, but it does not mean one can get free data. Under normal circumstances, one has to buy a minimum data plan, even if they are not going to use it, just to get one of these devices. This exemption will allow the device to be used for phone calls, maybe texting (I am not sure about texting), but not for data, meaning the web and email. I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email, being that now some companies are offering unlimited text and phone calls for cheap prices, using a regular phone. Apparently, their data networks are being overwhelmed by smart phones, and they want people to buy and use the simple phones for texting and phone calls. Oh well, I hoped. Arnold Schmidt - Original Message - From: Eric Caron ecar...@comcast.net To: viphone@googlegroups.com Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 11:33 AM Subject: Re: new to the group and some questions Hello Arnold, If the price of the data plan is the only thing keeping you from getting the iPhone you may want to consider asking for a waiver. AT ant T allows Blind users in the US to fill out a application that allows for certain services. One is free information. Another is exemption from the data plan. I don't know if other service providers have a option like this for blind users. I am using the free information service. I did not use it often as I preferred Bing 411. However, Bing 411 is ending at the end of june so I'm glad I have the AT and T information option in place and ready to use. It works very similar to the Bing 411 service, even the same voice, but an operator takes over if there is a need. The application process is a bit tedious and takes time to complete and requires a doctor's portion to be completed. I think the phone number to call AT And T for a application is: 1 866 241 6568 eric Caron On Jun 3, 2012, at 6:30 AM, Arnold Schmidt wrote: I am even newer than you, in that my subscription was approved only hours ago. Also, I do not have an IPhone yet. The idea of getting one greatly appeals to me, but if I do not, it will be for the same reason that I have not gotten one so far, I am too cheap to want to pay that hundred dollars a month after month, after month after month to the phone carrier. However, I know I would love my IPhone and would probably not mind that charge too much,
Re: To data plan or not to data plan [was Re: new to the group and some questions]
I've heard that too. However the data has remained off and we have been fine so far for these last several months. I think they detect it if your iPhone makes data calls. -- Raul A. Gallegos No wonder nobody comes here--it's too crowded. - Yogi Berra Home Page: http://raulgallegos.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/rau47 Facebook: http://facebook.com/rgallegos74 On 6/7/2012 6:31 PM, Christopher Chaltain wrote: Interesting, but I was under the impression that the carrier can detect if you've popped the SIM card into a smart phone. I was told this by an ATT rep and by someone who got charged for a Blackberry plan when he popped his SIM card into a borrowed Blackberry. On 07/06/12 17:02, Raul A. Gallegos wrote: Contracts yes, I didn't get this under contract. So, no data plan required. -- Raul A. Gallegos Vegetarian: Native American definition for lousy hunter. Home Page: http://raulgallegos.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/rau47 Facebook: http://facebook.com/rgallegos74 On 6/7/2012 5:42 PM, Ryan Mann wrote: I'm confused. I thought that for iPhone contracts you were required to buy a data plan. Sent from my iPhone On Jun 7, 2012, at 1:04 PM, Raul A. Gallegos r...@raulgallegos.com wrote: This makes sense. In fact, this is what I did for my daughter. She has an iPhone, but we don't pay for data plans. So, when she uses apps which require data, she just uses it on wi-fi. All other times she can use it to text and make calls all she wants. -- Raul A. Gallegos CALENDAR FACT: All the seasons are named after coils of metal. Except Winter and Summer. And Autumn. Home Page: http://raulgallegos.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/rau47 Facebook: http://facebook.com/rgallegos74 On 6/7/2012 12:20 PM, Christopher Chaltain wrote: I've been researching smart phones for my son, and I had a thought. You said I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email,, but I was thinking, with wifi, someone could still use there smart phone for web and email and wouldn't need a data plan. In fact, if I could, this is exactly what I'd like to get my son, i.e. a smart phone with voice and texting but no data plan. He'd just have to wait until he had access to a wifi to use his smart phone on the network. Does this make sense or am I forgetting something critical here? On 03/06/12 13:48, Arnold Schmidt wrote: Well, it appears the old cliche applies one more time. I just called the number given in the following message, and this is what I was told. First, the following does not apply to the IPhone at all, one must buy a data plan for the IPhone. Apparently, for the android phones, and blackberries, one can apply for this exemption, but it does not mean one can get free data. Under normal circumstances, one has to buy a minimum data plan, even if they are not going to use it, just to get one of these devices. This exemption will allow the device to be used for phone calls, maybe texting (I am not sure about texting), but not for data, meaning the web and email. I can't imagine why one would want a smart phone if they weren't going to use it for the web and email, being that now some companies are offering unlimited text and phone calls for cheap prices, using a regular phone. Apparently, their data networks are being overwhelmed by smart phones, and they want people to buy and use the simple phones for texting and phone calls. Oh well, I hoped. Arnold Schmidt - Original Message - From: Eric Caron ecar...@comcast.net To: viphone@googlegroups.com Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 11:33 AM Subject: Re: new to the group and some questions Hello Arnold, If the price of the data plan is the only thing keeping you from getting the iPhone you may want to consider asking for a waiver. AT ant T allows Blind users in the US to fill out a application that allows for certain services. One is free information. Another is exemption from the data plan. I don't know if other service providers have a option like this for blind users. I am using the free information service. I did not use it often as I preferred Bing 411. However, Bing 411 is ending at the end of june so I'm glad I have the AT and T information option in place and ready to use. It works very similar to the Bing 411 service, even the same voice, but an operator takes over if there is a need. The application process is a bit tedious and takes time to complete and requires a doctor's portion to be completed. I think the phone number to call AT And T for a application is: 1 866 241 6568 eric Caron On Jun 3, 2012, at 6:30 AM, Arnold Schmidt wrote: I am even newer than you, in that my subscription was approved only hours ago. Also, I do not have an IPhone yet. The idea of getting one greatly appeals to me, but if I do not, it will be for the same reason that I have not gotten one so far, I am too cheap to want to pay that hundred dollars a month after month, after month after month to the phone
