[boblpn]

From my own personal usage experience;

If this is common knowledge, I apologize, but the following may help save some users some $ on their monthly bill if they are non-the-wiser.

If you are an Alltel user, and bring your own phone to Alltel to avoid a contract, you ARE NOT required to be suckered into a data plan, unless that's what you want.

I opted out of the data plan, but, I do occasionally use the Internet on my Titan 6800 to check email; at MOST, probably 2x a day, some days not at all, and for no more than 5 or 10 minutes. Also occasionally use Google Maps.

With this low usage, I am not charged for any data minutes. I have been doing this for close to a year, and have not been charged. I'm sure there's probably a threshold where they look at data usage, and if they do tag you, I've been told that you might incure a $1.99 per day charge for a day-rate usage.

So, if you are a light to rare data user on Alltel, you may be able to save yourself some $$ by letting your contract expire, and dump your data plan.

And yes, I still have Alltel. In my market area (MI), VZW isn't slated to take over or change the signage for another year or two.