cell phone and wifi

NeilGabriel
NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
edited January 2011 in The Clubhouse
is it possible to get a cell phone that is wifi enabled without **** with the eg and 4g network?....it seems like you might have to get a 3g enabled phone, but not get a data plan....thanks...I've spent 3 hours looking at phones and plans....
Post edited by NeilGabriel on
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited January 2011
    I would have to check but think they are on different RF bands. Cell phone to WiFi, now WiFi and wireless phones can be an issue but not what you asked.

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  • markmarc
    markmarc Posts: 2,309
    edited January 2011
    My old phone was a Blackberry 8320, it was wifi capable without 3G. I paid $30 + $5 for the wifi each month thru T-Mobile.

    Now I have an iPhone 3GS that I bought for just $50 from AT&T store's refurb section. I bought the data plan, but you don't have to, of course you have the two year contract.
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited January 2011
    If you want a new, fancy phone, you'll probably have to pay for data services. Cell companies subsidize the prices of those phones so they can make the money back in service charges to you. They're not going to eat 400 bucks on an iPhone if you're not paying for the data package for the next two years. I know a few people who have tried to get a newer phone without paying for data, and none have been successful.

    YOur best bet is to buy a used phone that has WiFi on eBay or something so you don't have ot deal with the data plan requirements of carriers.
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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  • cokewithvanilla
    cokewithvanilla Posts: 1,777
    edited January 2011
    markmarc wrote: »
    My old phone was a Blackberry 8320, it was wifi capable without 3G. I paid $30 + $5 for the wifi each month thru T-Mobile.

    Now I have an iPhone 3GS that I bought for just $50 from AT&T store's refurb section. I bought the data plan, but you don't have to, of course you have the two year contract.

    that is not true. If you sign, or have resigned a contract after late 2008, a data plan is required for the iphone... and most "smart phones" on ATT. If you don't have one, they will add it without your consent, and simply send you a text message saying it was added (how nice of them). I find this to be stupid. Normally, when I mention that I don't want a data plan on my iphone, I am told that the phone is "useless" without a data plan, and "why would you want a smart phone with out the data plan, that is the point".

    I don't understand how data has anything to do with the phones capabilities. Sure, I can't get my email when I am on the road... but,,, I don't care. I do not think it is a great handicap to have wifi only, considering that it is available most everywhere I go (and the phone has many uses even if it couldn't get internet at all). Phone companies have duped people into thinking that their phone is nothing without the extra $25 a month... and now att doesn't even offer unlimited!

    /end rant

    if you want a "smart" phone without 3g, simply do not resign a contract and buy one off craigslist... you will have wifi, and not be required to have a data plan as long as you haven't signed the new contracts.
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited January 2011
    cokewithvanilla wrote: »
    that is not true. If you sign, or have resigned a contract after late 2008, a data plan is required for the iphone... and most "smart phones" on ATT. If you don't have one, they will add it without your consent, and simply send you a text message saying it was added (how nice of them). I find this to be stupid. Normally, when I mention that I don't want a data plan on my iphone, I am told that the phone is "useless" without a data plan, and "why would you want a smart phone with out the data plan, that is the point".

    It's not stupid. An iPhone without a contract costs $600. With contract you're paying $200. Where do you think that $400 comes from? It comes from the money they make on your data contract. You don't wanna pay it, don't get a subsidized phone. It's pretty simple, really.
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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  • NeilGabriel
    NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
    edited January 2011
    Let's boil this down. Most, if not all, phones that operate on 3G are also wifi compatible? My confusion is that many of the phones state that they connect to wifi but others do not. They also do not specific how they connect to wifi....i.e, they do not mention the 801.11 format....they mention GSM, but isn't that the predecessor to 3G (and now 4G)?

    The reason why I and others might want wifi is that when I need Inet connection, I am almost always in a wifi hotspot...and even if I have 3G, most wifi connections will be faster (and according to one article), have shorter latency).

    It use to be a simpler world.
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited January 2011
    NeilGabriel wrote: »
    Let's boil this down. Most, if not all, phones that operate on 3G are also wifi compatible?

    You'll have to look at the specs of each phone you're interested in. But yes, MOST modern smartphones have WiFi capabilities.
    My confusion is that many of the phones state that they connect to wifi but others do not. They also do not specific how they connect to wifi....i.e, they do not mention the 801.11 format....they mention GSM, but isn't that the predecessor to 3G (and now 4G)?

    You're correct, GSM is a cellular technology. I would really hope that no one is using the word WiFi to describe a GSM / cellular connection. WiFi should strictly refer to 802.11 in this context.
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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  • NeilGabriel
    NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
    edited January 2011
    Thanks.....the following is from AT&T on a smartphone.

    "And with Wi-Fi from AT&T and 3G network support, you've got power to go!"

    "Wireless Technology GSM/GPRS850/900/1800/1900 MHz
    3G - UMTS/HSDPA800/850/1900/2100 MHz"

    The second quote is what is confusing...the difference between wireless and wifi. But I get that now. The only indication that the phone is wifi compatible is the first quote, but it only mentions AT&T hotspots.

    Maybe someone said this above, but will AT&T phones only link to AT&T hotspots.....some of which actually charge for service.??
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited January 2011
    NeilGabriel wrote: »
    "And with Wi-Fi from AT&T and 3G network support, you've got power to go!"

    "Wireless Technology GSM/GPRS850/900/1800/1900 MHz
    3G - UMTS/HSDPA800/850/1900/2100 MHz"

    The second quote is what is confusing...the difference between wireless and wifi. But I get that now. The only indication that the phone is wifi compatible is the first quote, but it only mentions AT&T hotspots.

    Maybe someone said this above, but will AT&T phones only link to AT&T hotspots.....some of which actually charge for service.??

    In the first quote, AT&T is just touting their "20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spot locations nationwide." The Wi-Fi features on their smartphones will work on virtually any open 802.11 enabled network.

    The "wireless" technologies they are referring to in the second quote all have to do with their mobile cellular/data networks.
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  • Gadabout
    Gadabout Posts: 1,072
    edited January 2011
    GSM is for the phone only. Verizon is still running CDMA and it's why their phones don't travel internationally well compared to ATT. The 3g quote is for the spectrum it uses 3g data on. Neither is wifi.

    I had to read the manual for my phone to check to see what network protocol it uses. Which is 802.11b. According to the on screen icons, when I activate wifi, the 3G network icon goes out. I have a Palm Pre+ with verizon.

    Get to the manual of the phone and it will list what wi-fi network protocol it uses.

    Scott
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  • cokewithvanilla
    cokewithvanilla Posts: 1,777
    edited January 2011
    bobman1235 wrote: »
    It's not stupid. An iPhone without a contract costs $600. With contract you're paying $200. Where do you think that $400 comes from? It comes from the money they make on your data contract. You don't wanna pay it, don't get a subsidized phone. It's pretty simple, really.

    .... when in hell did I say I got a subsidized phone?! I buy a phone from apple... $700... I am still subject to the stupid rules. This applies to anyone going with ATT after late 2008... not just those who get 'subsidized phones'. Besides, in the past, phones were just as expensive w/o contract, but they were subsidized without inclusion of things like adding a service you don't need.
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited January 2011
    No need to get pissy, there, bud. But you're wrong about AT&T's rules. If you bought an iPhone without a contract (which I don't know how you do that, but if you did) and threw an AT&T SIM in it, it would work, and you wouldn't need a data plan if you didn't want one.
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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