[bluruld]

I'm 100% sure that data plans are required on certain phones which is tracked by ESNs. There was a deadline that any smart phone or ppc released after a certain date would require a data plan. I forget the exact date but it was around Nov08.

The good is the data plan is attached to the phone and not your contract. Lets say I get into money issues and need to save $30/mo. You can change your phone to a non data required phone and get rid of the data plan.

I have a friend who slaves at one of Verizon's Walmart like stores. This is how he has explained it to me.