Charge for smartphone on dumb phone line?

I have a friend with a dumb phone who just has minutes and text with Verizon. I gave her my old Droid Razr with the thought that she could still use apps when she's on wifi at home. But when she went to the Verizon dealer they told her that she would have to pay $10/mo to have the phone on her line (instead of her dumb phone) even without data.

That seems crazy to me as she doesn't want data, isn't signing up for, or getting data. As far as I can tell, she'd be getting nothing for this added fee. Does Verizon really charge $120/year just because a phone can work like an iPod Touch and access the Internet via home wifi? Or did someone tell her wrong and she just needs to go back?

Thanks.

Accepted answers

breezex

SallyC wrote:
But do you have to add data to the line? Can't you keep the exact same plan of minutes and text with no data?

Yes you do. You cannot activate an Android smartphone phone (mobile data capable) on Verizon's network without a data plan being active on the line. What she would need is a WiFi only "dumbphone" and that does not exist that I am aware of.

See: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57555091-94/can-you-ditch-your-smartphone-data-plan-for-wi-fi/

for a better explanation/opinion.

All comments

Ann154

If they are activating the DROID Razr on their line, their voice and text plan wouldn't change. They would have to add the individual tiered data plan (2 GB for $30) to their line.

If they went to a premium retailer for Verizon Wireless, the store might have been trying to change the plan to the Share Everything Plan which might be more expensive than their current plan even with the data plan added.

SallyC

Ann154 wrote:
If they are activating the DROID Razr on their line, their voice and text plan wouldn't change. They would have to add the individual tiered data plan (2 GB for $30) to their line.
If they went to a premium retailer for Verizon Wireless, the store might have been trying to change the plan to the Share Everything Plan which might be more expensive than their current plan even with the data plan added.

But do you have to add data to the line? Can't you keep the exact same plan of minutes and text with no data? She's being told it's $120/yr ($10/month) but she's not adding data. It's just because there's a smartphone on the line - which sounds crazy to me.

Obviously if you didn't add data you wouldn't be able to access the Internet without wifi, but when on wifi you could, which requires nothing from Verizon. That is what she wants to do.

breezex

SallyC wrote:
But do you have to add data to the line? Can't you keep the exact same plan of minutes and text with no data?

See: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57555091-94/can-you-ditch-your-smartphone-data-plan-for-wi-fi/

for a better explanation/opinion.

B33

Just to Add I use my Droid X on Wi-Fi at Times to Keep it Going I'v updated the PlayStore and the Apps and I can go on the Web with No issues at all and it Loads up my Text messages and Emails as if I had it on a Line.. And not to long ago I done some Streaming with Winamp on it.. She ran like a champ for over 8 Hours..

B33

Sally Glad to see ya on the Forum again) Come share you thoughts more often Take Care.. :smileyhappy: b