If I sync my phone to my aol email account, will there be any data charges, or will the wifi take care of this? Any opinions, suggestions will be appreciated.
Yes, and no. Email itself is completely dependent on the connection you are on, just like the browser. By default, 3G is turned on, and can't be turned off. You can connect to a wifi connection, and then that will become the priority network that it functions on. However, if you lose connection, even temporarily (which most wifi networks have pockets of drop-out), it will fall back on the 3G network, which does charge you data. Furthermore, if you are doing an auto-sync for your emails, it will likely use the 3G network, which charges data.
Solution: have data blocked through Verizon. What this does, is block all data networks (except for the network used for picture/multimedia messags, if done right) so you can't connect to those networks, period. aka, you can't be charged for data, period (assuming the blocks were correctly placed). You can't be charged for connecting to a wifi network by Verizon, period. But unless you place this data block on your account/phone, there will be no way to ensure that you are only on that wifi network you intend to be on instead of Verizon's 3G network, which does charge. That being said, if you do block data, you won't be able to auto-sync emails, you will have to use a manual sync, unless you are permanently in a wifi-zone, and you permanently keep the wifi on. However, that will likely drain your battery very quick. So if you expect to get auto-syncing email, don't expect to get it without a data plan. You get what you pay for, simple as that.
You can also access your email through the browser, just like you would on a computer. And yes, you can block all data and still send/recieve MMS. Hope this helps.
"By default, 3G is turned on, and can't be turned off."
A couple of days ago someone (link) discovered how to force the Twom to be in 1x/CDMA mode instead of 3G mode.
Step #1 of 2:
Go to the Phone applicaiton. and dial this number
##77647266488
This will take you to the hidden menu application, the first thing it is going to ask you is to “Type the Service Programming Code:” This code by default is: 000000
This gives you the option to select the following.
Field Test Menu
Authenication Key
Network Tools
Cloud Server
Other
Import Contact
Step #2 of 2:
in the service menu under field test menu, [...] you'll have to swipe few times to the right and under data parameters scroll all the way down, change the preferred mode from automatic to CDMA
Sorry, you're right. You can disable data through the phone programming menu, but i believe that also disables picture messaging. Can anyone confirm if you can send MMS with data disabled through the phone, or if it is only a complete disabling of data in and out of the device?
"You can disable data through the phone programming menu, but i believe that also disables picture messaging."
I think you're referring to a different step#2.
That alternate step#2 would be ...
"Now from there, go to 'Network Tools', and then choose to Block data connections. This will not affect wifi, but data wont work anymore "
The step #2 that I'm quoting in my earlier post involves going into the submenu 'Field Test' and changing the mode from 3G to CDMA.
When you force the phone to use 1x instead of 3G, you're forcing the phone to use CDMA 1x transmission instead of CDMA EV-DO transmission. People who live in remote areas have said making this adjustment has extended their battery time a little bit if the EV-DO coverage in their area is spotty. Awhile ago Verizon made a change to their standardized UI so that the (feature) phones say "3G" on the screen instead of "EV-DO".
more info:
(1) [scroll about half-way down the page]
http://forums.crackberry.com/f141/turn-off-3g-246979/
You're right, i was thinking of something else. However, one thing i'm not sure we are on the same page, how does setting it to CDMA in any way block data? What that does, if i'm understanding it correctly, is disables 3G, but then still fully allows you to stay on the 1X/EVDO network, which still is a data network (my old phone had no 3G, only EVDO/1X, that was its primary data connection). It does seem very reasonable that it claims to save battery because then it isn't ever searching for hte 3G network, but data can still be regularly transmitted and recieved. Correct me if i'm wrong.
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