iphone plans

iphone plans

by cmdemone Mar 26, 2011 3:50AM PDT

I am confused about data plans for the iphone and smart phones in general. When AT&T, for example, says they will charge $15/month for 200MB of data, does that mean 3G data? If I only wanted to use the phone for data thru my existing home wi-fi, could I just buy the AT&T voice plan and still have internet on the iphone thru the wi-fi? AT&T also brags about its wi-fi hotspots. Do I have to have the data plan to access those? And would that data then be limited to the 200MB in the plan I mentioned previously?

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From AT&T...

by Rider3 Mar 26, 2011 9:06AM PDT

"Please note: A data plan is required for the life of your iPhone service and cannot be removed in the future."

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If you purchase an iPhone from Verizon or AT&T

by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Mar 26, 2011 9:09AM PDT

then you must also purchase a Data Plan to go with it.

As you rightly point out, you could very easily use your home wi-fi to access the internet.
Using your home Wi-Fi or one of the many other hotspots, including the AT&T ones, does not count against the monthly limit (the 200MB that you quoted)

The 200MB limit is for data that is downloaded via the 3G network and NOT via Wi-Fi, wherever you can find it.

Bottom line. If you have an iPhone, you will also have a Data Plan, they will not sell you one without it.

P

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thanks for the very helpful info

by cmdemone Mar 27, 2011 4:13AM PDT

So assuming I plan to predominantly use wi-fi, I would (I think I'm asking a rather obvious question here) go with the cheapest data plan I could get?

Can the phone be set up to default to wi-fi anytime a signal is available? Will it tell me when I am burning up 3G data?

Any thoughts on Verizon v. AT&T?

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Location, Location, Location.

by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Mar 27, 2011 9:58PM PDT

That is what the difference between AT&T and Verizon boil down to.

If you live in a good AT&T coverage area, then go with them, otherwise, check out Verizon.

Yes, the phone will, by default, take a Wi-Fi signal over the 3G signal. No need to set it up.

Either provider you go with, choose the cheapest data plan

P

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The only way you can ontrol which

by orlbuckeye Mar 28, 2011 12:56AM PDT

data source is used is to remove your simms card. I purchased the Inspire Android phone and they took my simms card from the Iphone 3GS and put it in the Inspire. Now my iphone is basically an Ipod and only accesses the internet using wifi.

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Not true

by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Mar 28, 2011 5:07AM PDT

the iphone will default to the fastest connection it can find.

If Wireless is available, it will use that instead of 3G.

The poster wants an iPhone, not an iPod

P

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thanks all

by cmdemone Apr 2, 2011 4:38AM PDT

Thank you all for your informative responses.

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