[RdBrd83]

When I activated my used Apache on Verizon about a year ago, the customer service person told me that I needed the $45 data plan for the phone to work. After a little bit of whining and explaining I have access to Wi-Fi almost 24 hours a day, she put me on the pay as you go plan, and then I disabled the Verizon connection in the phone. As far as I understand the $0 pay as you go is still considered a "data plan", however it wouldn't surprise me one bit if you had to get the $30 plan in order to get the discounted phone.

Edit: Took to long to type my post, didn't see that the $30 plan is now the minimum you have to have.