All the cell phones I like require a data plan....

Horrible, isn't it? I upgraded to an enV3 this past spring, and didn't have to get a data plan. But I started using my old phone since I was working outside, and even in my pocket the phoen was getting dusty, wet, and scratched up. Well, after I got laid off earlier this month, I decided to reactivate the LG. Well now I have ot have the data plan. Like you, it's $10, for 25 mb, or $25 for unlimited. I just went with the $10 plan, and I must admit it's nice sitting in the coffee shop with the girlfriend and cheacking craigslist, but I'd rather save the money for rent.

I've done it but have you thought about switching providers or checking out other providers? But seriously 10/month for data is cheep. I had to pay 35/month for data. But I didn't mind because it was worth it. I did end up using some of the features so it wasn't a complete waste of money. If the phone meets my requt irements I need in a phone, I get it, end of story no questions asked.

I'm not sure what carrier you have as a service provider. I have T-Mobile & I have a blackberry through them. I'm not sure what type of phone you want but I'm on T-Mobile's web-site & it looks like there are a lot of phones that don't require data plans. Unfortunately smart phones are geared towards internet access so if you don't need internet access on your phone, then you need to look at other styles of phones or pay extra $120/year to have a phone you want. That's it. It's almost like saying, I like 18 wheeler tracter trailer but I only live 1/2 mile away from where I work & I have no need for that sized vehicle. Well, if that's the case, then don't get it. I'm not trying to be mean or anything but it seems like you have a choice. Get the phone you want & pay $120 extra per year or get a basic phone & don't pay $120/year. May not be the phone you want but it'll do what you want it to do & essentially, that's what you wanna do, isn't it? Being able to make & receive a call, may be text messages, without having to pay extra every month?

I think since you are really wanting a smartphone, you will not avoid to have features like mobile internet. I myself, is using a smartphone now while responding to this discussion. And believe me, it doesn't require data plan because I am accessing the web via wifi connection for free. And it's awesome.

There are guide lines for taking care of touch screens just follow them.I don't think that touch screens are so sensitive that they will stop responding so quickly.

okay wow. uhm. i sell cell phones and have been for over a year, so let me try to respond. first, what kind of phone do you have? it's true that a lot of the earlier touch screen phones do experience problems, i currently AT&T's first touch screen smart phone (that isn't the iphone) and let me tell you, it kinda sucks. slow processor, insufficient memory, touch screen is shoddy at best. but that's one of those things that you have to take into consideration when you want the newest of technology. yes, there are a lot of smart phones out on the market these days because they're in high demand - they're amazing little things to have with you. having the internet is NOT what makes a smart phone a smart phone... ANY phone can have the internet (sometimes called MMS, phone first web, web2go, etc... depending on your carrier). even the cheapest, crappiest candy bar nokia phones are web capable. a smart phone is something that has full html internet capacity (meaning you can see the pages load as they would in a web browser rather than not seeing the pictures or just having text), they have the ability to receive and send emails just as you would on a computer, it's constantly sending and receiving data through the air to have all of your messages, email, weather, alerts, etc updated automatically. they're like mini computers. that's what a smart phone is. they do not tack on the data plan to sell the phones "cheaper." that's ridiculous. the reason a lot of carrier require you to sign up for the data (and trust me, depending on the store, kiosk, dealer, whatever, you won't be required to sign up for it) is because when you upgrade and you renew your 2 year contract, you are essentially forcing yourself into having that data plan for 2 years and then the carrier doesn't have to deal with people calling up and saying "why are there usage charges on my bill, erase these, blah blah" because a smart phone sends/receive data whether you're using it or not. that's why they are what they are. the data plan requirement is the carrier covering their end because with that extra feature, the customer can NOT incur usage charges for doing nothing on their phone. it is not a "scam." because as i've said, the way a smart phone is designed, even so much as receiving a picture message on a smart phone can incur some serious usage charges on your bill and come on, would you want that? the data feature prevents those charges and ultimately saves you money over the long run. and smart phones, regardless if you get the data feature or not, are incredibly expensive in relation to other phones. a cheap touch screen (like t-mobile's samsung hilite) can be only $250 outright (buying the phone without any sort of service agreement attached) and yet, the blackberry bold was introduced at a ridiculous price of $550. with a 2 year contract, the hilite may have been $100, but the blackberry bold was easily still like $250, and even more expensive with only an upgrade. so trust me, these aren't "scams" to make them less expensive. cell phone carriers get their money back on the phones when they discount them through the 2 year service agreement, it's true, but very little of the revenue is actually from the data plans or features. that's why a phone can be $100 on a basic talk/minute package, or $100 on an unlimited everything plan. there are plenty of phones out there that are both touch and hardware, such as the AT&T impression or the t-mobile cliq. you can use the virtual (on screen) keyboard, or the hardware keyboard. if you love your phone, then stick with it. do you have any sort of epuipment protection on it? what about the manufacture's warranty? if not, troll ebay or craigslist and see if you can find one for cheap. my current phone was just bought last may and yet i saw someone on craigslist selling a brand new one for just $80. you could get just as lucky. sorry for my ridiculously long post, but i hope i eased your anxiety a bit, or at the very least, cleared some things up. if you have any questions, feel free to hit me up and i'll try to help the best i can.

I don't have a smarphone and I am paying $10 a month for the data plan, and it is all worth it to me, as I can access the internet anywhere when I can't be home. I don't have flash or java on it, so I am limted as to waht sites I can do, but all in all it isnt' a bad phone, but I am hoping to upgrade to one that I can do more with and maybe have wifi on it too. It seems like verty time I purchase a cell phone, a better one comes algone, go figure. I figure if I wait long enough, then I can get what I really want, hopefully. I am with Veriazon and I can upgrade every year but have to pay full price but that is okay, as it is hard to wait for a full 2 years, as I like to keep up on things. Take care, and happy mylotting.

yes even i love to get the all the new cell phones be witha data plan even i try saving most of the confidental data in my phone so that no one can acces my phone and get the secrets of mine for that i feel if the keypad is thier that is easier for me to gain all the acces to the data but the problem with the keypad phones they cost heavy and also they are delicate most of the phone i have are nokia i ahvea weaknes of throwing the cell down when i get angry so i fear to purcashe the costly cell phones which effects me so trying for some good phones in nokie which are strong enouf ;) when i hit it down on the flooe :)

I got the cheapest, and oldest phone ever. And I don't have any data plan. I have simple plan, simply call and text. The data if I accidentally touch it, it will charge me like $1.99 per MB or something. I just hate how they trick you into those data plan features, and you are absolutely don't need it at all. Unfortunately, majority of the new phones nowadays require data plan, and it just add to your phone bill monthly.

If you dont want to pay for Data the best option would be to buy the phone simfree.Both the phones i use are simfree and dont need any commitments its a great thing when theyre the bold 9700 and the 3G S.Depending on the phone you might actually want data,like a blackberry without the blackberry service is no fun.But all other phones let you do everything over wifi.