[Mojary]

for the phone to function as a phone, you just need to have a voice plan activated. since you are trying to upgrade to a ppc (or smartphone), it is now the norm for any phone carrier to "require" you to have a data plan with it. like everyone said, sprint can give you the phone and just add the optional data plan on top of your service plan. they're just trying to get you to a more expensive plan to make you pay more.

but you have to consider the b$o$t$t$o$m line tho. will it be cheaper to have a regular plan with data added on (if they do agree to give you this), or is it comparable to the cheapest all data plan they have (which is i think $70)? but do try to make it work out for you by trying to see if retentions can work their magic! good luck!