uh.... for WM phones, you can get the Modaco NoData.cab to disable data totally...

and you can call AT&T to get a WIX Block on your phone(NO data AND NO MMS unfortunately)

i have those blocks on my HTC Touch Pro, relying solely on wiFi(my home and campus has wifi, so don't really need a data plan{

They're not that boring. You can still use them with wifi. But then AT&T doesn't get as much money.

@l951b951: You can't use a Blackberry with wifi. At least not the Pearl, which I have.

Blame the OP for buying a Blackberry, I know.

@Laura Northrup: ah, didn't think about that fact. I have an iPhone now and that's where my head was. But I had a treo 600 & 700p. Neither of those had wifi, so I would be in the same boat had I not switched.

@taking_this_easy: i have an htc touch pro as well. great phone.

anyway, i use the wifi networks @ home and @ work. i do find it nice to have data when i don't want to connect to an unsecured network or when on the road.

i use sprint and i am not sure what kind of blocks they offer.

Now, I can understand AT&T requiring smartphones to have data plans, but my question is: When/If are they going to force smartphone users into PDA plans (which yes, do cost more!)

Furthermore, this is going to hurt sales associates in stores that are selling smartphones to customers who really only want it for texting, and have no interest in data services.

I still don't see this as a bad thing really...mostly for the reasons of your cynical translation above. On the upside, it'll prevent you from getting stories such as "I have an AT+T Smartphone and I racked up a $1K USD bill from data usage and they won't fix it!"

@Laura Northrup:

Most of the current generation Blackberries have WiFi.

I'm surprised with all thee victim-esque posts here on Consumerist, you wouldn't be more for something like this. Given how absolutely whiney this customer base is, of course they need some hand-holding.

Sure, I can understand that AT&T is sick of people complaining about their outrageous bills... But how about I've had a BlackJack II for about a year and a half without a data plan on it. I have been perfectly content without it. Yes, I know that's a personal opinion... but I should have that right to not have the data plan. My household pays about $17 a month for DSL. Why in my right mind would I go out and pay $30 for a crappier version of internet to surf on with my little 2.5 inch screen? Makes no sense. I go to a university that has Wi-Fi everywhere... I planned on my next phone having Wi-Fi capabilities in place of having a data plan. I guess that won't be happening. I guess I'll be buying an unlocked phone.

@smr13: um...unless I'm mistaking something, it says you are exempt if you have an unlocked phone OR had a smartphone with no data plan before 9/6/09

@Wolzard: Yeah, but I was planning on upgrading soon to a phone with wifi capabilities. So like I said, I suppose I'll have to get an unlocked phone.

@Wolzard: Ah, you're also referring to future phones. Perhaps if you already have a grandfathered phone you could swap the wi-fi enabled one in it's place?

Am I the only one that see's the logic from AT&T's point here? They are spending a ton on phone calls from people that are calling about high bills because they were on the wrong plain/put themselves on the wrong plain. Will the plains cost more, yep. Will you be nailed with a $1,000 bill for data usage, probably not. So it's kinda in the consumer's favor... they aren't letting you chose a plain you shouldn't.

If you don't want a data plain, why would you buy a Smartphone??? (Seriously, if someone has a valid reason, I'm all for it, but I can't think of one!)

I was one of the ones that jettisoned my expensive plan for a Go Phone due to my change in calling habits. They gave me a free cheap phone with a SIM card and I just switched it to my old Blackjack. I'm guessing they can't tell what phone I'm using and change my plan accordingly and I'm glad. Why do I have to be forced into a plan just because others don't understand usage charges? (I'm assuming this is what's happening). I love having a mobile device (iPod Touch) but there's no way I'm paying $40 a month for internet on some tiny thing.

AT&T texted me about this last week.

I'll rather switch to another network.

*oh, and I plan on going back to a regular smartphone plan eventually..which is why I'm not liking this new plan. This is the very reason why I won't buy an iPhone, they're already making a shitton on those forced data plans so why require it for the people who want a different plan but a capable and not expensive phone?

Actually, what I'll do is "upgrade" to a non-smart phone, and keep using the smart phone I already have.

@pmcpa4:

I'd buy an iPod if I didn't have to get the data plan. I'd like to be able to combine my ipod and cell phone, and I'd like to be able to go online at hotspots. I just can't justify spending $30 a month for access to the internet that I'll barely use, and isn't as fast or "good" as accessing from my desktop.

@pmcpa4: I bought my Blackjack II for a couple of reasons. I liked the form factor, including the QWERTY keyboard. I liked having a calendar that was easy to use and to sync with a computer. I liked straying away from the usual bull crap OS that the carriers put on the phones and actually having a normal OS... Even though it's Windows Mobile. It is still better than those on the "dumbphones."

However, I knew I wouldn't want to pay 50% more for internet on my phone than I pay for internet at home. I could not justify that.

@Wolzard: I could do that, but I would need to buy an unlocked phone. I wouldn't be able to buy a phone at a subsidized 2-year-contract price.

@geargutz: Exactly. I do know people who have smartphones just because they want the keyboard for texting.

Meh if you can afford a smartphone you should be able to afford the data plan.

@smr13: Grab a Nokia N810 or something. Wifi internet device, and keep the old phone just for calls.

@Pixelantes Anonymous: But if you already have a smartphone you are exempt from the new policy.

@TehQ: That doesn't mean you'd want to.

@wrjohnston19283: I just bought an iPhone and popped my prepaid sim in it. Costs me less than $10 per month, and all the free wifi access I want. You can always buy one unlocked if you want that capability.

I'm with those who own a Touch Pro (Fuze) and I don't have a data plan, constantly already surrounded by wifi already so I really don't need it, literally. I can understand enforcing this on smartphones with no wifi capabilities, but this makes wifi on a phone redundant.
If this was for the consumer they wouldn't enforce such draconian methods, but offer a cut and dry choice data plan or data block, either one would make billing easier on the customer. Or they can just include data in plans similar to what Sprint does I beleive.
Also the article is a little misleading in the exemptions, I believe those without data plans are also grandfathered in, not just those with previous medianet packages.
I'm enjoying my smartphone as is, without data. Looks like the next phone I'll get is unlocked.

Alltel made me get a data plan when I got my Treo a little over a year ago. I was thinking about dumping the data at the end of my contract, though. Although I use the data, I could probably do without it. I miss my $40 a month calling plan. And boring Smartphone without data? Hardly. It has an ebook reader, an mp3 player, a calendar, tasks, and contacts I can sync with Outlook, and a stylus that keeps me from having to move around using the number pad or keyboard and cursor keys. I've been using a Palm since long before I combined it with my cell phone. All I did was cut down on the clutter in my pocket.

@smr13: Well you don't have to worry.

@wrjohnston19283: Once you have the internet (even Edge) at your hands at almost all times, you'll understand. :)

@geargutz: I am a sales consultant for AT&T, and while I can't speak for the entire company, I can throw in my 2 cents on this.

Smartphones are made for data usage. They are mobile offices. While they have the full keyboards, their intended use is for much more than texting.

That being said, AT&T has a wide variety of full-keyboard phones that are not considered smartphones. For example, the Xenon, Impression, Eternity, Vu, Surge, Propel, Matrix, Magnet, Solstice and a few more that are currently out.

Sure, I'll lose a sale or two per month to someone who has their heart set on a blackberry because it's "in" and they just want texting on it, but in the end, I'm ok with that because that particular phone wont fit their needs.

@TehQ: Not really true. It only takes 7 months @ $30 to spend $210 on data plan charges, and the cheapest subsidized iPhone is $200. I saved up that $200 when I didn't have a steady job yet (but knew I was starting one soon). Doesn't mean I can always justify that $30/month to go on Twitter 22 hours a day. But I do it anyway lol.

@smr13: Wow. You haven't used the right "dumbphones" then. Let me point you in the general direction of Japan.

To the people saying this is pro-consumer, and that while some will have to pay more but at least it will prevent the $1000 pay-per-usage charge, I think you're missing the real scam these companies run. If they really wanted to protect the consumer from big bills, they could simply have a tiered system of data plans THAT AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTS BASED ON USAGE! This system is easier to understand when you think about telephone minute plans. These plans are tiered, so for instance you pay $25 for 200 minutes per month, $40 for 350 minutes per month, $60 for 600 minutes per month, etc. Now if my normal usage is 300 minutes per month, I would obviously want the $40 plan. But if I go over one month and use 600 minutes, my overage at 10c per minute will be $25, making my total bill $65 dollars. The TRULY pro-consumer thing for the companies to do would be to automatically bump me up to the next tier for that month. Likewise, if I only used 150 minutes the next month, they could automatically bump me down to the lower tier. A computer could do this just as automatically as it calculates overage fees now. The same type system could apply to data usage.

FWIW, my wife has a motorola Q which she bought solely for the full keyboard for texting. She never uses data and we don't have a data plan for it. ATT forcing me to get a data plan on that phone 'for my own good' would NOT be for my own good.

Verizon did the same thing earlier this year. Not sure if you could get around it by buying a Verizon phone off site, however, it doesn't matter because I'm ending my 5 year relationship with them at the end of my contract.

I don't think it has anything to do with customers getting a nasty bill for data usage they weren't aware of. The phone companies are simply tightening the grip they have on our balls and are trying to squeeze as much money out of us as possible. Where's the regulation to prevent this sort of crap from being forced down on customers???

1.) A smart phone works perfectly without a data plan.
2.) It's pretty easy to disable wireless broadband usage.
3.) I got my smart phone so I could browse with WiFi. Is there anything wrong with that?
4.) If I don't *want* to use wireless broadband, I shouldn't be forced to.
5.) As far as I'm concerned, this is illegal.

We need a couple new Google Translate languages: "Business PR BS" and "The Truth".

@Skaperen: I like your idea. The translator will be easy to write:
It's not about the money = We want more of your money.
We're doing it for you = We want more of your money.
We want the customer to have a better experience = We want more of your money.
The customer will benefit = It will cost more.
There is enough competition = We will raise our fees.
We will never raise our fees. = We will create new fees.
We will improve customer service = We will automate more and make sure our phone system never gives you a real person.
We will give you more. = We will give you more fees.
Unlimited = capped.

Even though I used to get by just fine in life without it, the times I use google maps on 3G it has definitely been worth the price of the data plan. That and the fact that I'm always using my data plan regardless is a nice luxury. I could easily do without that extra fee each month, but it's worth it to me.

@dr88: Well there is much more to a smartphone than data connectivity. The iPod Touch is completely like an iPhone minus the phone parts. It still has WiFi and people find the multitude of apps great including being a great iPod

This also exists for Windows Mobile which actually started on PDAs that didn't have data connectivity. You can do alot on smartphones, not just data.

Unfortanetly phone companies are being greedy, and even if I buy an unlocked phone I still pay the same amount per month as a subsidized user. So unless we confirm to their definition of life, we get raped.

@LJKelley: The Simon is considered the world's first smartphone. ([en.wikipedia.org]) It did everything it was marketed to do over the mobile network.

You can compare the iphone with the ipod touch and make that argument, but there are tons of wifi internet tablet devices out there. They serve different purposes. One is for internet/emails/phone calls on the go, and the other one is mainly for internet/emails when you are chained to a wifi hotspot.

Why would there be 2 different prices for people who bring their phones and people who don't? Bringing an unlocked phone to a wireless service provider gives you the freedom to move to any other carrier at any time. You pay the full retail price for that freedom when purchasing the unlocked phone. People who sign contracts get the phone subsidized, but are also locked into a 2 year commitment. Pricing of the service has no correlation to the subsidized vs. unlocked phone argument. Comparing it to being raped is also childish.

@jamar0303: Let me point to the general direction of the United States... Japanese phones mean nothing to me when I can't use them.

Naw, this won't fly. I've been working with computers forever. I remember when the satellite companies tried this too. Their clientele dropped and complaints went up significantly. More than that though, nothing beats a router, with an assigned IP, on a regular high speed network, even if it is a PDA phone... This is just another dumb idea by some stupid vice president, that will piss off their customers. Really it's just forcing them to another network and they deserve it... More 'Indentured Servitude' crap...

@dr88: Why does it matter what smart phones are used for? Do I not deserve my palm centro because I don't use the internet on it? Why does intended use even factor in?

@lotussix: Sprint does the same thing. All data services can be blocked, which includes picture mail/mms. The block does occasionally allow data access for the phone (i.e., a webpage may incidentally load from time to time if you reload the browser), but most importantly, it blocks billing of casual data charges.

@dr88:

I follow with what you were saying, yes are plenty of decent QWERTY Phones, however, I DARE any of the ones you listed to go toe-to-toe with a Blackberry curve on durability, build quality. And for the record, the Vu, and the Eternity shouldn't be on your list, because their keyboards are virtual, not physical.

That is a bullshit PR response. AT&T is a greedy corporation that wants to boost its profits. A way to do this is to force smartphone users on a data plan.

@themonkrat: Nobody deserves a palm centro ;) There are other phones more suited towards your needs if you don't need data on your phone. There are dumbphones that have in-depth calendars, sync capabilities, etc..

Verizon also has a mandatory data requirement on smartphones. Every week i see people with thousand dollar bills from overages on smartphones. Parents who took the data plan off and their kids thought they still had it on, 35 year old businessmen who thought it was included in their voice rate plan, and people who "thought it was on wifi".

Those people usually get credits, and the process of crediting the account is a lengthy one that costs at&t money. large amounts of money (wages, im not talking about revenue lost). Like the release, at&t is trying to prevent that process from happening. They can dictate which phones are required to have data plans because it's their network. Correct me if im wrong, but the iphone, blackberry storm, palm pre, as well as the mytouch or G1 all require data plans.

@geargutz: The LG Incite and Iphone have virtual keyboards, but are considered to have a full keyboard.

Any phone with moving parts is going to be less durable than a phone with minimal moving parts. Sure, blackberrys can withstand a lot of abuse, but the trackball on the 8310 is susceptible to wear and failure. My money would be on the Eternity or the Vu, which have minimal moving parts, versus the blackberry.