Is it a good idea to buy clean-ESN phone from eBay to avoid mandatory data plan?

[New Daddy]

I was about to upgrade my XV6700 to TP2 online, but one thing bothered me that made me stop. The $30/month (or $50/month) unlimited data plan that you cannot opt out of (which comes to $720 or $1200 for a two-year contract!).

So, now I'm thinking of buying a stock, unlocked phone from eBay and have it activated. Since these unlocked TP2 range from $300 to $450, I'll still end up saving a few hundred bucks!

Is this a workable idea? Especially,

(1) Will Verizon still make me sign up for an unlimited data plan anyway if my new phone purchased from a third-party is a PDA phone?
(2) When I shop on eBay, do I still have to purchase verizon TP2 or can I buy AT&T, Sprint or T-Mobile versions of TP2 without having to worry about activating them? Will there be any problem with future updates from HTC, if I do not buy a Verizon TP2?
(3) Is an unlimited data plan a necessity? I never needed unlimited data plan with my XV6700, because I'm almost always located where WiFi is available. For the few occasions that I need 3G data network, pay-as-you-go was cheap and sufficient. Is there any reason to believe the situation will change with Touch Pro2?
(4) Any other foreseeable problem in this scheme?

Thanks~

[jshaas2]

You didn't by the phone from Verizon, so no, they will not make you buy a phone from them.

I'm sure you can buy another CDMA phone (only sprint), but i'd be nervous about buying a sprint phone on a verizon network. It should work, but I wouldn't try it. I'd stay with a Verizon TP2.

I couldn't live without an unlimited plan, but if you can, go for it.

i don't think this is a good option. If you think you are going to pay for the data anyway, than get a brand new phone with Verizon. The only reason not to get a phone from them and buy a used unlocked phone is so you don't have to pay for data.

Originally Posted by New Daddy

I was about to upgrade my XV6700 to TP2 online, but one thing bothered me that made me stop. The $30/month (or $50/month) unlimited data plan that you cannot opt out of (which comes to $720 or $1200 for a two-year contract!).

So, now I'm thinking of buying a stock, unlocked phone from eBay and have it activated. Since these unlocked TP2 range from $300 to $450, I'll still end up saving a few hundred bucks!

Is this a workable idea? Especially,

(1) Will Verizon still make me sign up for an unlimited data plan if my new phone purchased from a third-party is a PDA phone?
(2) When I shop on eBay, do I still have to purchase verizon TP2 or can I buy AT&T, Sprint or T-Mobile versions of TP2 without having to worry about activating them?
(3) Is an unlimited data plan a necessity? I never needed unlimited data plan with my XV6700, because I'm almost always located where WiFi is available. For the few occasions that I need 3G data network, pay-as-you-go was cheap and sufficient. Is there any reason to believe the situation will change with Touch Pro2?
(4) Will there be any problem with future updates from HTC?
(5) Any other foreseeable problem in this scheme?

Thanks~

[japper88]

I think only the Verizon TP2 will work on Verizon. Trying to get another CDMA phone to work on Verizon is going to be a pain messing with the radio. (GSM phones will 100% not work on Verizon, so you can forget about AT&T, T-Mobile, etc. TPs working). There is no such thing as an unlocked Verizon TP2 in the same sense you can get an unlocked GSM phone. In order to use a phone on Verizon you need to have a phone with CDMA.

You should look at the specific requirements of Verizon plans. You should call Verizon to check to see whether all PDAs need the extra data plan as opposed to Verizon only giving you that $200 price for getting the $30 addon. Because if it is the former, even if you get a Verizon TP off ebay you still have to pay for the addon.

[AVakil]

I can't recommend staying away from eBay enough. It's full of scammers and thieves. I'm pretty disappointed.

My father purchased an LG phone from ebay a few years back, it was RUSTED, couldn't get his money back. $100+ down the drain.

Hope that helps.

[isdnmatt]

You're not going to get around the data plan. It will make you add it when you try to activate, end of story. Doesn't matter where you got the phone, if you want to active, you will have to add Email and Web for Smartphone at the minimum.

[gutrrob]

I don't understand why anyone wants a TP2 without a data plan, If you don't want to cough up the dough for a data plan...You don't deserve to have a TP2. Thats just my opinion.

WIFI only gets you so far.

I use my data at least 85% of the time, The other day I found out my TP2 can actually dial/receive phone calls Lol!

[Ludacrisvp]

Originally Posted by isdnmatt

You're not going to get around the data plan. It will make you add it when you try to activate, end of story. Doesn't matter where you got the phone, if you want to active, you will have to add Email and Web for Smartphone at the minimum.

He is right you cannot no matter what activate the phone on VZW regardless of Clean or dirty ESN/IMEI/MEID without a data plan.
The VZW system knows what kind of device you have based on the number you put in and it says "Data Plan Required to activate = true" somewhere in the description stored in the system at vzw, there is no way around it.

[JimP]

Originally Posted by gutrrob

I don't understand why anyone wants a TP2 without a data plan, If you don't want to cough up the dough for a data plan...You don't deserve to have a TP2. Thats just my opinion.

WIFI only gets you so far.

I use my data at least 85% of the time, The other day I found out my TP2 can actually dial/receive phone calls Lol!

Usually, if I can get wi fi, then I'd rather be on a destop or laptop computer. A 3" screen doesn't come close to comparing to triple 19" configuration.

[jmorton10]

Originally Posted by Ludacrisvp

He is right you cannot no matter what activate the phone on VZW regardless of Clean or dirty ESN/IMEI/MEID without a data plan.
The VZW system knows what kind of device you have based on the number you put in and it says "Data Plan Required to activate = true" somewhere in the description stored in the system at vzw, there is no way around it.

Exactly.

You can have an xv6800 with no data, any PPC newer than that will not activate without data.

~John

[mjd9ball]

Originally Posted by JimP

Usually, if I can get wi fi, then I'd rather be on a destop or laptop computer. A 3" screen doesn't come close to comparing to triple 19" configuration.

I agree; why spend $400+ on a TP2 - just keep using what you've got and buy a netbook this Friday for $150 at Officemax for when you're in Wifi range.