My cell phone is on its last legs. The port doesn’t work, so not only does it not charge, but I cannot use the headset or upload photos onto my computer. 🙁 So after a bit of cell phone shopping, I’ve decided to wait ’til October until my contract is up for renewal – hopefully, I can get a free phone.
One thing that I have kinda-sorta settled on is that I do not want to pay for a data plan. Not only are the monthly plans expensive, but so are the phones…especially the iPhone! Starting from $659 for the iPhone 4, where would I have any money leftover for the phone bill? I do consider myself a Mac definitely over a PC, but $700 for a phone – with cell phones lasting an average of 1-1.5 years* – is a bit excessive for my needs!
Aside from the iPhone, it seems as though most cell phone carriers are moving towards the smartphone market…away from the basic, grandpa cells. During my cell shopping, the selection of non-smartphones was very limited, a.k.a. crappy. While there seemed to be an endless selection of androids with all the bells ‘n whistles. So isn’t this just a sneaky way for carriers to force its customers into “upgrading” to data plans?
After reading this article about a possible “cheaper” 8 GB iPhone 4 – “the price is hard to go below $200” – it’s alluring to make the switch to a data plan, if this rumour actually becomes the truth. However, I’m not sure why Apple would release a cheaper version, since many people are willing to shell out big bucks for their existing iPhones.
So if you’re in the same position as I am, i.e. one of the last few remaining people who doesn’t own an iPhone/smartphone/android, would you buy a cheaper iPhone, only to sign up for a monthly data plan?
* Based on personal experience.
Would 7 Eleven’s PLAN work for you. I’m planning to switch when my Virgin PLAN runs out as my cell phone needs are minimal but I need the data plan. 7 Eleven is $10/mo. unlimited.
You can get a smartphone w/o a dataplan. Periodically these phones exist where there is no requirement to get a dataplan (just a voiceplan). I.e. I got a samsung smartphone via Bell this way ( on contract, but paid only $30 for the phone)
http://www.speakout7eleven.ca/rates-add-ons#browsing
Like I said, my cell needs are minimal so it might not meet your needs but I figure it’ll knock my bills down by 70% and they tell me I can get my phone unlocked to use on their plan.
With Telus, my sister signed up for a three-year contract and got her iPhone completely free. She pays $60 a month, and since she uses the thing absolutely nonstop, it ends up being worth it for her.
If you want (almost) all the goodies of an iPhone without paying a monthly fee, you can get an iPod Touch. You can talk to people for free via Facetime or Skype wherever you have access to wifi, which most people have at home these days anyway.
it would probably be cheaper to get a non iphone and then buy an ipod touch. this way you can get a cheaper phone that meets your needs and you wont have to shell out extra for the data plan every month. however you still get most of the same benefits out of the ipod touch. you also wont have to worry about going over your data plan and paying the extra fees if you do. i’m not sure about where you live but we have free wifi provided by the city that can be accessed almost everywhere.
also if you do get a phone and an ipod touch you wont have to worry about draining your battery if you are playing games or going online.
First of all you don’t have to take a data plan with an iPhone.
I have an iPhone 3g (ok real old by now) but no data plan.
Secondly if you don’t want a contract and still a “good” phone then most smart phones will end costing you around the price of an iPhone.
nobody knows right now what Apple is gone do with it’s new phones if the stories are right then there could be another cheap iPhone but on the other hand you can get and iPhone 3gs now for almost nothing on a plan.
I don’t like to spend bundles of money on a phone but the new iPhone will be the one i am getting. And if you worry about the phone dying on you then maybe think of extra warranty. I had it on my iPhone 3g but i never needed it.
Gawd you really do a beating to your cellphone…i had a cellphone that lasted 5 years it only started to give up when I dropped it one final time. But at the time I didn’t have the money while going to college to buy a new one. Did ya see that they are now offering iphones through koodo…so if ya want to do that…it might be an option.
i have a cheap phone with wind – coverage is so – so. I had the 7 – 11 in the past and i recommend it – they are prepaid, but they are good for 365 days (versus a month)
Also i’ve seen the iPhone3s for pretty cheap
If you sign a contract an iphone will not be $600. I have had an iphone since Dec and have only used it as a phone half a dozen times. I use it for so much other stuff. With Telus, if there is 6 months or less left on your contract you can get out of it and get a new contract without a fee. Other companies may be the same.
I just need a cell for emergencies and I’ve been content with 7-11 Speak Out too. Their deal is on again; buy $100 airtime, good for 365 days, get 50 percent off the phone (deal ends Sept 30) OR buy $50 and get 20 percent off your phone (limited time offer as per the site).
http://www.speakout7eleven.ca/
good info at
http://www.speakoutwireless.ca/
Good luck. It’s exasperating how bad our phone options and the costs are in Canada.
you do not need a data plan 100%.do you surf alot and use alot of movies/games/websites on your phone or do you use it for calling and browsing once in awhile..
i got telus flex 55 plan.it includes 200 minutes BUT it also includes 10 numbers long distance or not free…and up to 2 g of data.that is cheap to me considering my last bill with no smart phone was 75.
i got the samsung galaxy.i hate the iphone.i think apple comes out with things way too quick and didnt want to be stuck with an old phone 3 months after i got one…i got mine for free on a 3 year plan,upgrading from another samsung.i love this phone and often laugh at the commercials when it says “if you don’t have an iphone”.im always like “so what?” i can do all the things on this that i can on the iphone 4,this one is 4 g,and i also dropped it and it never shattered into a million pieces…lol
oh also telus does allow you to upgrade a year before..so two years with a phone aint too bad..did you mention what carrier you are with?
to answer your question though no i would not buy a cheaper iphone. ie the 3g…or even 4g as the iphone 5 is out in minutes….
It’s only cheaper because iPhone 5 is coming out in September so they are trying to get rid of the old models. If you want to buy an iPhone but not get a data plan, you can always look on kijiji to just buy the phone for 300-500 brand new and stick with your original phone plan. I got my white iPhone for 500 and I’m still using my old plan. =)
I went with a Telus pay as you go back in 2005 and I haven’t looked back. I’ve got an LG 3200 and I love it. The phone is going on 6 years old and still works like new. It doesn’t have any fancy features like a camera or internet access, facebook, music or anything like that. It’s quite simply.. A PHONE.
If this one dies I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ve replaced the battery twice now so hopefully that’s all I ever have to do. I have no use for any of this basically carrying around a computer in your pocket stuff. I don’t need a camera, I don’t need 24/7 access to my facebook, I don’t need music and I don’t need to surf the internet. All I need is a phone to use so either work or my parents (I do minor caregiving for both of my parents) can get ahold of me.
I pray and pray that if my wonderful, amazing LG dies.. that I’m not forced into a smartphone. I’m not technophobic I just really don’t see the point in buying something that doesn’t fit my needs.
Apparently the cheaper iPhones are meant for the smaller markets, and not for the larger markets, such as North America.
It is rumoured that Apple is introducing a low cost iPhone because in emerging markets like India and China there are a large number of users on prepaid arrangements who purchase a phone outright (it is the norm) rather than locking into a contract for 2 or 3 years. Apple wants to tap into this market and it is rumoured to introduce an unlocked iPhone for under $350 in October.
On rogers the early cancellation fee for data is $100. Get an $600 phone on a 3 yr contract for the ECF of 100. Or get a flex data plan starts $10/month for 150 mb.
I love my android, use tapatalk pro to browse the forums, and the rss reader gives me all the SC posts. I didn’t want data either but once you have it your phone will be so useful, don’t know how i lived without it.
Wind’s 29/month plan is amazing too.
I have an iPod Touch – 3G? – without FaceTime or whatever that feature is called. My bf is currently using it for music, so perhaps I’ll “borrow” it back so that I can use it whenever there’s wifi available.
If it helps, I’m with Fido. Don’t have any complaints about their customer service, so I’m weary of switching to nightmares such as Rogers/Bell!
I really can’t see myself paying $50/month for data. I know it’s useful, but I’d rather spend less time online and save that money. 🙂
I never had data for the 10 years that I had a cell phone, but when I got the iPhone 4, I thought I’d get data (the cheapest, lowest amount) and felt it was useful for the maps feature. Even though people just ask for directions while on the road, or call a friend, I prefer using Google Maps on the iPhone because it’s fast and loads smoothly. Maps on another smartphone like the LG Optimus One don’t load as fast or smoothly, which is why I prefer to “go big or go home” and get the iPhone 4.
Data is useful for when you need to find out the phone number of a restaurant or cafe and find out what time it’s open or whatever. I don’t want to have to drive to a Starbucks just to get a free Wifi signal to do that. I don’t want to be dependent on WiFi.
Take a look at Mobilicity, $25 a month for unlimited voice text and data on their back to school plan. Their HTC Panache is $299 and the Nexus S is $349. No contract. Only problem is they are not available
in all areas.
Koodo, you pay $25, you are month to month , no contract, they are a sister company to Telus, but cheeper, you can also get a $75 GC from the store you sign up at like Walmart and Future Shop.
12 x $25 = $300 per year + you get at $75 GC = $225.00
12 x $45 = $540 per year
12 x $35 = $420 per year
this adds up fast
Mobilicity for $25 a month is amazing..you cant find a plan that beats that..i got a t-mobile phone from U.S for $80 (works with mobilicity) and have no complaints with mobilicity..it gives you unlimited data, minutes and messages..
I have an Iphone 3gs, I got it off craigslist for $300, but that was in January, they’re probably cheaper now. I’m on Chatr, which doesn’t have data, but I don’t mind not having data. Usually I’m in a place that has free wireless so it really doesn’t matter. If you’re going somewhere and you need the gps, you program it ahead of time and it still works while you’re on the road.
I love my flip phone 🙂 I’ve dropped it a million times and it has lasted me four years and still looks and works good 😉 I think the data phones are a bit of a money grab 🙁 my hubby plus a lot of my family have had to constantly replace their iphones plus blackberry phones. So no I would not pay for a cheap iphone to have it break down even quicker 😛 better to have an Ipod or Ipad and find free wifi 😉
I absolutely love my Iphone. I use it for EVERYTHING! I have a decent camera in it, I use the notepad all the time, I love the GPS, I love the Ipod on it. I utilize the email and internet all the time. Its my calculator (which I require for my job), I have apps for work that I use all the time, I have games for when I’m bored, it entertains my stepson on a car trip, I have movies installed on it that I can watch while travelling. I have a discounted data plan (I work for the government), but I still find it pricy. However, I use my phone for personal reasons ALL THE TIME. I have cut off my home phone as we no longer need it. I have been with Rogers for so long that they have offered me some incredible deals to stay with them, so our plans aren’t that bad. If you don’t think you’ll be using the data portion of the phone, I wouldn’t even consider a data phone, but for me, I’ve had my Iphone for 2.5 years, and couldn’t imagine going to anything else. Well worth the price for me.
My grandma and I just got new phones. (We are on a family plan)
While mine (htc desire hd)is on a 55$ data plan,
hers (htc status) is not. She only pays 25$ (special deal for being a long time customer, has all the bells and whistles added too!)
telus has a few smartphones that do not require a data plan.
I believe rogers has a few that only requre the 40$ plan.
Shop around, some reps with give you anything to have you sign a contract! 🙂
i have an iphone– no data plan. you can pick up a used iphone for cheap, and add it onto your plan. the phone still works on wifi, so it’s like having an ipod touch with a cell-phone feature. my sister upgraded her phone and passed her iphone down to me– i love it!
Depending on your provider just call them and tell them your phone is on its last legs. See what they will offer you. You could possibly just be eligible for a hardware upgrade. Depending on your contract and provider. With Rogers if you are on a 3 year contract, you are eligible for an upgrade after 2 years usually.
Then negotiate a plan that is right for you with their loyalty or retention department. DH and I have BlackBerrys, with data plans, home phone, cable and internet and we pay under 200 a month for it all.
I personally need a dataplan
If you are on Rogers and your contract is almost up, ask to talk with Customer Retention. They can swing some pretty sweet deals. I have an iPhone plan that is awesome due to some talking with CR… 400 daytime, unlimited evening, unlimited incoming, 100 long distance minutes, the iPhone data pack, call display, visual voice mail etc etc etc… for under $65/month.
The iPhone 5 is rumored to be coming out in the beginning of October (net says the official announcement will be at the end of Sept.). Expect the cost of iPhone 4’s to drop dramatically. Telus also has a deal out right now that you can get an iPhone 4 for $99 with any 3 year contract worth over $50/month (in BC at least)… When you are talking with CR, mention it and say that your contract is almost up and you are thinking of going to Telus because of this deal… they should be able to at least match it.
You will get as many different responses as people replying. I would recommend going to the stores and testing out the various phones available for both look and feel. Like some have said, it may be better to get an ipod touch or ipad to use for other non-phone stuff and I tend to agree. I don’t have an iPhone (gasp) but an android and I love it. I initially wanted a blackberry because I wanted to support a Canadian company but went for the android after speaking with some friends.
I am not anti-Apple – I have a macbook, and various versions of the ipods. I just think that the iPhone is not all that. Also, as a reader pointed out, the cheaper version will be for a non-North American market so you shouldn’t count on that.
As for data plans, it really comes down to what you need, and what your budget allows. If you don’t need a data plan, then yes, it’s a way for the carriers to force you to upgrade your plan. If you don’t need a data plan, then why buy a smart phone? Contracts will lower the price of the phone, but probably averages out at the end of the contract because of the monthly fees.
If you just want a cheap pay as you go try petromobility.
I buy a $100 card and it’s good for 1 year. They now have the new nokia C3 which has a qwerty keyboard. When I got it, the phone was $40 off if you bought a $50 card. So I got the phone and $50 airtime which is good for 6 months. The phone was $89 plus the $50 card. I’ve been using it since May, I love it and haven’t paid a dime since then. My airtime is almost done though, but $50 for 4 months is great.
Also with Petro you can top up and get minutes online OR in the gas store where as 7-11 speak out you have to go to the store and buy a card. It’s sooo convenient. Good luck. For me it’s a very cheap option since I only have it for emergencies and text.
You should just buy an unlocked iphone. they are arounf d $250 for the iphone 3, and then put it on a cheap plan like wind, or koodo.
I’m current with virgin Mobile, contract’s up in Oct. I’ve been looking for a new plan for less than 25$ that includes talk, national text, voicemail and call display. Data is a nice to have, but not necessary. Everytime I wanna switch providers, I end up buying a new phone. Why can’t I use my old phone?
When I lost my phone last January I opted to get a smart phone. I looked at the different options online and the iphone 4 was at the top of the list with the iphone 3 not far behind. I decided to get the iphone 3 and a new contract which included 1GB data, unlimited text messaging, a favorite 10 plan along with some other great options. The bill is only around $60 a month and I love having a smart phone.
Wind won’t work with an iphone.
I just bought an Android LG Optimus One for 129 at Future shop.. Its the pay as you go phone, unlocked it for $14 and using it on my Phone only plan at Chatr. No Data plan but i can use it on WIFI if i want the internet.
Im happy with that, my flip phone had an accident in the washer so i needed a low cost replacement.
You DON’T have to get a dataplan. If you sign up for the contract then yes. But it is just a marketing scheme to make you think you are spending less on the phone and since you planning on using it for a while, a contract might seem like a good choice. But do some calculations. You will save ~$200 off the phone price but then you are stuck with expensive monthly charges. BS in my opinion. Just pay full price once and then have the freedom to select better plans for yourself. And unless you addicted to smartphones and feel the need to be online 24/7, don’t get the dataplan. You will barely use it. All smartphones come with WiFi. So at home you will always have internet connection on your phone. Most work places would also have WiFi. Plus numerous public WiFis. I once went the whole year without dataplan and whenever I needed to go online I could do it 9/10. And I didn’t even live in a big city.
To conclude, getting a smartphone doesn’t mean you NEED to get a dataplan. Also, you can unlock your phone and choose any mobile carrier. 😉
Cheaper iphone? Thats a fake iphone :S lmao. I can sell you one of those for $150! Lmaoo. They dont look at all the same and are made out of plastic, and are super slow responsive.
The iPhone 4 8gb is NOT a “CHEAPER” phone! it is just less expensive because the other phone has more memory! There is no difference, and unless you really need to import all 2500 songs into your itunes folder on your phone, then you will not miss the memory!
I have the 8gb iPhone4 and I LOVE it!!!
you will never, ever, ever want another phone! Get yourself an OTTER BOX case for it, and you won’t be able to destroy it!!
besides being a great phone, Mac programs compatible and iTunes synced and backed up… you WILL use this thing more than any phone out there! The amount of FREE apps will make your head spin!! I use COZI, an app that is FLY LADY Endorsed and FREE and it syncs my whole family’s schedule and shopping lists and to do lists and bill payments to each other – so simple!!
I do my banking faster on my phone then on my computer. I have never even come close to using my monthly data plan max, because my phone automatically uses the wifi at my home or anywhere before it will use the 3G network. IBooks is usefull and I can import my ebook from my reader library to it anytime.
I love the FaceTime option and can see my husband at work when I chat with him at home…or my daughter can FaceTime us using her iphone Touch when she is in a wifi spot too. Brilliant and easy to use!
This phone is an investment. You will not be disappointe. All other Android and windows phones just wish they could be this…just mere copycats…I know, because i spent 4 years hating HTC touch smartphone before this…that said it could, but never could do, a fraction of what this phone can.
I will never own another phone. I wonder how they could improve on it, and doubt the iPhone 5 has many changes to it. Go buy this phone! 🙂
Guess some of us have suggested this already: Get a used iPhone from Craigslist, etc, and stay with your existing plan!
I have an iPhone 3GS, and love it. I understand the data plans aren’t for everyone, but if you’re the type to actually use it, it’s worth the price. I have friends that are paying $60+ a month for plans and barely use their phones.. they should definitely consider a plan downgrade.
I didn’t upgrade to the iPhone 4, but I am considering getting the iPhone 5. I really want FaceTime, and it doesn’t work on my 3GS.
My only complaint on phones is the insane prices for using the phone in the states. I travel south frequently, and using a smartphone there (or any Canadian cell phone probably) is very pricey. You can purchase US roaming plans, but they are still very expensive. That’s my only complaint. When you’re used to using the phone regularly at home, it’s hard to break that habit when travelling to the states.
Air Guy who did you get to unlock your phone? I just bought a Samsung Go for $70 from Future Shop it’s for Bell but I would like to have a better choice on what company to sign up with for prepaid. Thanks
Rogers has 4 smart phones that you don’t need a data plan. I just got a Nokia x7 with a 8 mb camera. I actually wanted it for the camera, but was tickled pink to find out the data plan was an option. If I occasionally need a data plan they offer a weekly and daily plan.
Get the iphone 4 and the data plan. I didn’t think i needed it or a data plan but I got one and now I dont know how I would live without it. Cheers!
Data plan is a big money maker , however i use a Nokia and its not considered a smart phone but i can do pretty much anything a smartphone can without the cost , i use a social $20 a month deal which gives me a unlimited calling window , unlimited text in/out , unlimited browser , with that i can watch hours of you tube untill my battery dies , i usually end up with 2-4gb a month and i also dont pay download fees for any games or apps i get online for free . I can even do email on my non smartphone and it also has a built in GPS with free maps ! However Rogers is phasing out the social 20 plan next month claiming no one uses more then 100mb a month – thats phooey . They probably mean they cant make $$$
So to answer the question, if you want to change service providers now is the time, most like Telus will buy out your old contract to have them come to you, Since it ends in 2 months it will be a no brainier for them. As for I phone 5, Who knows but you can get the IPhone 4 for $99 and really you can get that waved as well. If you stick with the current carrier and you are happy with them you can also get a new phone now no issues! and get the Iphone for Free most likely. If you wait for the Iphone 5 it will cost you far more start up cost.
I work for Bell, and there are a slew of phones you can choose without a data plan! Some of them include the Samsung Gio, Samsung Galaxy 551, LG Optimus One and the HTC Wildfire S. If you are upgrading, you wouldn’t be paying full price for the phone.. most basic phones will not exceed $30 in store because you get credits for upgrading.
Do your research before you pick a phone and make sure that you protect yourself if something happens with insurance if you are accident prone. 🙂 If you have anymore questions feel free to email me!
Just do that, go to Ebay and unlock it for $3 (super easy), and then cancel if you don’t want to stay with Koodo.
I am with President’s Choice Telecom because they have $100 top up cards that last an entire year. $0.20 per min to talk and $0.15 for outgoing texts. All features are included free (VM, CID, 3 Way, call forwarding, etc) and just use minutes when you use them. They also have some great addon features and monthly plans that are very competitive.
Right now I just use Wifi for data but you can get 100MB of 3G+ data with them for $10/month. It isn’t a lot but when combined with WiFi it is more than enough for web browsing and checking email and only doing heavy stuff when connected to WiFi.
Or you could just stick with Koodo. Their plans are all long distance free anywhere in Canada now, which is amazing! No zones and no limitations. They also introduced a new $10 feature bundle that includes CID, VM, and unlimited text which is pretty good.
I signed up for a 3 year plan through Bell….I pay only $50 a month and it gives me more than I need in regards to GB usage for texts/emails/internet and in air time also. I only ended up paying $159 for the phone and that was when it first came out last August.
I refuse to sign up for a data plan, I’m so against it!
What I did is I bought a used iphone off a friend of mine, and I just put my sim in it, and started to use it. I’m still enjoying wifi when I’m around a router, but I just don’t see the need in being connected to the internet 24/7 and pay an arm and a leg for it…NO THANKS.
I had an iPhone 3gs and just upgraded to a 4, I got it on Kijiji for $450 including an otterbox commuter case. The only reason I upgraded to a 4 was so that I could create a hotspot and get internet on my computer when traveling.
I love my iPhone and would never go back to a regular phone. I had an awesome plan on my phone so I just added data. I got 6gb of data for $30 and it was well worth it. I’m with Bell and they don’t offer that data plan anymore. I very rarely use wifi on my phone and I’ve never even come close to going over my data. If I dropped my phone tomorrow I would pay for another one instead of going back to my old phone.
as long as that cheaper iphone has wifi, most of the features of the original iphone 4, and is under $300 i would be interested, although i prefer slider phones with a physical keyboards over touchscreen
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