What if you could rely only on 3G for all your telephony needs?
- Phone, unlocked: $529
- Data-only plan, unlimited (if actually available): $40/mo x 24 = $960
- SkypeIn phone number: $60/yr x 2 = $120
- Skype unlimited calls in the US+Canada: $2.95/mo x 24 = $70.8
- Fring app to use Skype on Android: $0
Total cost of ownership for two years: $1679.80, or $70 a month including the initial cost of the device. The flip side, of course, is the spotty 3G coverage. The flip-flip side -- no contracts.
Update (Jan 6 '10): Nevermind. It appears that data-only plans are not available for Android phones (see the comment below).
I wanted to try a data-only plan from TMO with the Nexus One.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the TMO agent at the store said you cannot buy a data-only plan for any Android device (but you can buy a data-only plan for Windows Mobile or BB.)
He said that Android connects to the internet differently (he didn't explain that) and thus, you had to have a specific data plan. That data plan, he said, requires you to also buy a voice plan.
Thank you. Sucks, though.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI just read that people are using data plans on the Nexus without any problem:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google+Mobile/thread?tid=4d40b8546185a1fe&hl=en
It seems that T-mobile doesn't know or doesn't like it ;)
Despite what T-Mobile says, I've seen a few comments online indicating that the data-only plan works just fine with the Nexus One. However, this guy says the VoIP call quality is terrible:
ReplyDeletehttp://davestechshop.net/blog/how-to-set-up-voip-on-the-nexus-one-google-phone-using-sipdroid-for-free-calls
T-mobile doesn't want you to use the data only plan because of people using VOIP (uses a load of bandwidth, they don't make as much money). You can't request it, but there is a way around it. Sign up for the data only plan, then don't buy a phone but just the SIM card (free or $10, depending on specials), insert the SIM card into your Nexus One and voila!
ReplyDeleteI tried that with my G1 last month and it didn't work.
ReplyDeleteWell, it worked for a day, but after that the data stopped and opening a web browser brought up a screen saying the plan was incompatible with the device and that I had to upgrade.
You can do this now www.facebook.com/pages/Data-Only-iPhones/123448764383617
ReplyDelete