Well, for the most part, Verizon Wireless is the best wireless company, at least in the mid/south west. The coverage in the entire USA is the best, and the network is more far reaching than ATT’s. Plus, there are no roaming charges anymore since 2007, so even if I am out of network or in a non-home area, there are no roaming costs anyway. However, the one thing that Verizon does that is annoying, is force users of Smartphones to have a data package. Just like ATT does with the iPhone, where you are required to have the iPhone data package just for owning an iPhone, Verizon does the same with all Smartphones (Windows Mobile and Blackberry/Palm devices)
So, recently my wife and I decided to downgrade our plan and phones, to save money. We both have Windows Mobile phones, and we both have unlimited data plus tethering (using phone as a modem). Well, that, plus 1400 shared plan minutes between us was almost $200 a month. We decided to revisit this since we both together only use about 400 minutes total. So, if we go down to the 700min plan, and remove all the data junk that I was intensely using, yet could live without, then that shaves about $90 off our bill a month 
The problem here was that I knew about the forced data feature that Verizon implemented at the beginning of 2009, however since we were removing data that meant we would have to switch to non-Smartphones right? Well, after a LOT of looking, and in-hand comparisons at different Verizon stores (as well as Sprint stores, since they are also CDMA phones), I found that nothing compared to the ease of use that Windows Mobile gives you. All the other phones were using proprietary OS’s, and for the most part were extremely limited and hard to use. Not to mention that you cannot install any 3rd party apps. So, as I was in one of the stores, I asked if there were any Smartphones that did not require the forced data package. One opf the representatives told me that the “Motolola Q9c” or “Q9m” did not require it. So, although the Motorola Q was a REALLY old phone, and I hated the design, it was still Windows Mobile based, so I would not have to relearn anything, plus I could install all my favorite Windows Mobile apps, like TomTom, and games, etc…
So, after more digging, and using the online help chat on Verizon’s site, I found that the Motorola Q was not the only Smartphone that was available w/o data after all! In fact, here is the list of available Smartphones that do not require data: Palm Centro, MOTO Q9c, SMT5800, XV6900, and the SCH-i760.
I was pleased to see the XV6900 (Vogue) in the list, and also pleased that my wife’s current phone was in the list as well (SMT-5800), so she will not even have to change anything. My new phone, the XV6900, is is a Windows Mobile based phone, and ALSO has a development community online on various sites, namely PPCGeeks.com and XDA-Developers.com, with programmers who “cook” up custom ROMs for the device for people who just don’t want the standard bloated ROM image that ships with the phone. This is something I have enjoyed with my Touch Pro, and with my old phone, XV6800 (Titan). So, long story short – I ordered the XV6900 for $49.99 (low price for 2-yr contract extension). For all of you nay-sayers out there, who say “Oh, you had to extend your contract”….so what? Cell phones are not going out of style, plus these days it is pretty much a necessity, and Verizon still has the best network, so if it was a 10-year contract I still would have done it. I have not had one dropped call from my end since I have been on Verizon (8 years). I have been talking to people on T-mobile, and ATT and they get cut off on their end all the time due to their lack of coverage, then they call back and blow it off as how it happens all the time with people they talk to. I tell them “You know, it doesn’t have to”, ha, but they just ignore me.
At any rate, this is not a rant about Verizon being better than ATT, but rather a post about how if you are wanting a Smartphone on VZW but do not want to be forced to use data, then get one of those. One last note: I asked the representative why the list is so small. She said that only older Smartphones can be activated without data, and that they have dates in their system on when a phone was released, and if it was released before November of last year then you can use it without data. I told her that there were TONS of more phones than that short list that came out before then. She said she cannot confirm that, but that is the list they were given that is allowed w/o data. I though that was sort of ludicrous, since my old phone the XV6800 was released in 2007, yet when I asked about it she said that the XV6800 requires a data package. I asked her literally, “Think logically about this, why is an older model, the XV6800, required to have a data package, yet the newer XV6900 model doe snot require it, based on your rule that it must be released pre-November of last year?” She repeated the allowed list to me, as if I had not heard it the first time and totally ignored my question. Note to self: Never ask a wireless company representative to ‘think logically’.
Bottom line: There is good news for those who want a Smartphone, yet do not want to pay for data. Pick one of those models.
Here is the list again, with photos of each model…
Tags: att, boost, boost mobile, boostmobile, cingular, data plan, data plans, dataless phone, forced data, forced data plans, no data, phone w/o data, phone without data, smartphone, smartphone but no data, t-mobile, tmobile, unimited data, unlimited data plan, unlimited data plans, verizon, verizon xv, virgin mobile, vx6900, without data, without data plan, without data plans, xv6900
I have the Verizon SM5800 and do not use it to access the internet. I have, however, been incurring data charges. Any insight into that??? Verizon has not been able to tell me other than “oh you received data”. Any info would be appreciated.
Thank you for this article!!! I wish Verizon would publish one like this instead of acting all shady.
Why would I want a wi-fi receiver in my phone if I am forced to pay for a data plan? Stinking phone carriers.
Yes. The way it works, with Smartphones, is that pix/flix (picture and video messages) use the Data network to be sent and received from smart phones. If you have a “dumbphone” (anything not running Windows Mobile or Palm/Blackberry OS), then pix/flix do NOT charge for Data usage. It is a stupid semantic that makes no sense at all. For example, I am on Verizon, and pay $5 for 250 messages. However, once I switched from a flip phone to my Windows Mobile phone it is using the data network now to send/receive, so I have to pay per MB for data. If you are getting data charges and do not send pix/flix messages, then you can tell Verizon to put a “Data block” on your phone. This will prevent you from getting charged anything accidentally, however it will also disable picture messaging for your WM phone.
I have a question about this. I have a Palm Centro and have been told REPEATEDLY that I am required to have a Smartphone Data plan for this phone. I do not want it and have asked for it to be removed and have been told it cannot be. Was told that if I remove the smartphone data plan, that the phone will not ‘work right’. I just want to use the phone for the phone purposes — none of the PDA type deals. So why can’t I remove it? Based on your article here, it is not a phone that requires the data package.
Any help?
Tiffaney,
My husband and I are both owners of Palm Centros with Verizon and neither of us have a data package. When shopping for our smartphones, we had representatives by phone and at kiosks tell us both YES and NO that the data plan was required.
Bottom line: the data plan is not required for the Centro. If you can’t have the Data plan removed, I would advise you to speak with a manager in customer service. There are other Verizon customers, like us, who have Centros that are not paying for a data plan and neither should you.
I have a Palm Centrol and other than the freezing and it being slow…it is a decent phone. I got it for internet and my home business, but the website I need is too large for using on my phone. I wanted to “downgrade” to a 3G Multimedia Phone but they also require a data package.
Since I have a Centro and no data package, I fine it extremely annoying that I now have to get one even though I won’t need the feature. Of course my upgrade is now instead of before this was in full effect, but what can you do.
I checked out all companies and I don’t want to switch as Verizon I fell has the best coverage areas, and all companies are requiring this data package.
I would recommend the XV6900. No data package required, and you can flash it to Android from Windows Mobile if you want (cool!). Just make sure you buy a no-contract/used on on ebay, and then call in to activate it (do not go on the web, because the website forces you to select a data package), but on the phone if you tell them this phone is old and was manufactured before a certain date (see my main post), then they will not force the data package. I have had the XV6900 for 2 years and love it. Currently running Android on it, but it runs Windows Mobile 6.1 or 6.5 just fine. Find custom ROMs for the Vogue on the http://www.xda-developers.com forum!
I’ve had an XV6900 for about 2 years with Verizon but I’m ready for an upgrade. The touch screen has stopped working on an ever increasing portion of the screen which is pretty annoying. In addition I’ve had multiple occasions where just holding it to my ear has started dialing someone else in the middle of a call or something of that nature. I put a data block on it when I first got it because I have internet at work and home. I don’t need it while driving between the two or the handful of hours each week that I’m away from home and not at work. I’m pissed that I can’t just get a smartphone that I can sync with my contact list and calendar at work without paying $360 a year. I guess I’ll just look for an XV6900 on ebay or something, just no way I can justify $360 a year for a feature I don’t need and would rarely use if I had it.
You can sync the XV6900 natively with Windows/Outlook Calendar. I use Thunderbird, so no syncing for me, which is fine, since I do not use any program’s calendar feature, but ActiveSync on XP w/Outlook will sync fine with any Windows Mobile phone. Also will work fin on Windows Vista/7 with Mobile Device center and Outlook. I am just not an Outlook fan, and never needed to sync.
I have had a Blackberry Curve for VW which is coming up on contract in a week. I had downgraded in the last year from the corporate data (exchange) package for my small business, to the $29 data package, as I moved my solo business to Google Apps. An android OS would be nice as I could easily synch my calender and email, but I am trying to save on the data package. I was looking at a decent messaging phone, as my wife’s plan on her LG Voyager is a little cheaper than mine, even with data ($10 a month as I recall). Would the XV 6900 be an option for me without the data package, or should I simply settle for a crappy messaging phone??
I was wondering how do you flash to the android OS on the XV6900 phone? I was looking for a smart phone and this sounds like the phone for me.
See my How-To thread here…
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=636024
Yes, the XV6900 is what I currently use, and have for nearly 2 years now. It is a great phone, and can make/receive calls clearly and send TXT, but you need a data plan to sent picture/video messages. I do not use this feature, but smartphones require data to send pix/flix, where as ‘dumbphones’ do not reuire a data plan. It is backwards logic, I know, but how the networks do business. By default the XV6900 ships with Windows Mobile, bu if you are willing to forgo the warranty/tech support then you can flash to Android OS.
See my guide here on how to flash the XV6900 to Android: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=636024