[Q] Possible to use Android without any data plan at all? - Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]

I'm sorry if this has been asked already.
I'm very interested in getting a Samsung Vibrant. I wasn't a big fan of Android at first, but it's really growing on me. However, I have absolutely no interest in getting a data plan -- Everywhere I frequent has open wi-fi. If I got the phone, I know no carrier would let me leave the store without a data plan, so I'd just get one on eBay.
Is it possible to completely disable data, contact/email syncing, cloud connection, etc. and still use the full capabilities of an Android phone through wi-fi without screwing anything up? I've heard that if you don't have a data connection it's possible that your contacts will delete themselves when the phone tries to sync -- Is this true? Is there anything I should know about using Android without data, or are there any apps I should get to help with the whole process?

I have no data plan at all, G1 on T-Mobile. Vibrant shouldn't give you any problems, but if you're worried about contacts deleting (which has never happened to me), you can turn sync on and off, so just toggle it when you connect to wi-fi. Glad to see more interest in Android, hope you can make some contributions to the community.

Thanks for the info -- I didn't know you could actually toggle the syncing!
I hope I get more into Android, too. I'm a huge Windows Mobile person right now, but after looking at the Vibrant, I think I've been converted.
I also hope I can help in the community a bit, too -- I've been coming here for a long time, and I think you guys are amazing at what you do.

guitargler said:
I have no data plan at all, G1 on T-Mobile. Vibrant shouldn't give you any problems, but if you're worried about contacts deleting (which has never happened to me), you can turn sync on and off, so just toggle it when you connect to wi-fi. Glad to see more interest in Android, hope you can make some contributions to the community.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry, I've got one more thing to ask: So can you disable ALL data, except for the phone data (calls, texts, etc.)? I can actually still get apps and do pretty much everything data allows all through wi-fi without any issues?

You can do syncing/cloud connection over WiFi too.

Thee other say my wife forgot to pay her bill.they shut her phone off.. Connected phone to wifi in the house and was able to use google talk email market... No text or calls though
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

well i had a first gen my touch 3g, i unlocked it and put it on att. what i endened up doing was i set up a different apn and since the settings were wrong i couldnt get on the internet. i could be wrong, but i think thats what kept me from getting on the net with it. and then i realized i had a data plan on my contract so i put the correct info for the apn and got data.

U can delete all your APN Info so that your phone will not be able to connect via 3G or Edge only with WIFI ;-)
Have fun with this great os!

There is literally an option in the network settings to disable the "mobile network". This disables internet/3g data traffic but does not affect call/text (that is not considered "data").
Also, Android actually disables the mobile network connection when Wifi is active (at least on CDMA devices)

Awesome, this is exactly what I was looking for. I have no idea why I was told it wasn't worth using Android without data - This all sounds like just what I had planned to do. Thanks, everyone! :-D

deathsled said:
Also, Android actually disables the mobile network connection when Wifi is active (at least on CDMA devices)
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Click to collapse
Relying on that alone won't work as soon as you get in the car with the phone...when it loses the wifi connection, it looks for a cell data connection again. You are right though, so long as it has a wifi connection, it doesn't look for 3G data at all.

People say it's no use having Android without data because there's literally TONS of awesome stuff you can do with data (Google Maps walking turn-by-turn, for example. And Zombie, Run!, which is the best game ever made). But if you're like me and are cheap/broke, or you just don't see yourself using data much, you'll be golden. But I think as you get into Android more and discover what you *could* be doing, you'll want to add data. I intend to put data on when I upgrade

i dn't have a data plan and when i attempt to use a data connection w/o wifi i get an msg from my provider (asking if i really want to and telling me how much it will cost). If your provider allows you access to their data network without you agreeing and then charges you that's pretty bull**** and i would definitely switch providers.

Related

WP7 - Usable without Data?

I'm considering moving away from my WP7 device. It doesn't appear to have much resale value so I was thinking of giving it to my son to replace his again original iPhone.
I don't want to pay for data and honestly would prefer him not online at all for now.
First can I disable data on the phone in a way that wouldn't let him turn it back on easily, perhpaps through a diagnistic code? Any way to disable wifi again to make it tough to turn back on?
Next, how usable is the phone with data disabled? So much uses the internet that its hard to tell what would happen. For instance, would all the XBOX games still work? What would be broken? People hub I'm guessing, not sure what else.
Thanks!
You can always just take out the SIM card I suppose? Or do you want it keep as a phone and not just gaming device?
There is an off-switch for data connection in Settings, it prevents from connecting all together I think.
Btw, what device is it?
Games work with no data. Even livegames, you just won'thave the benefits of live (acheovents, posting scores online) Phone works.
Turn off data through settings to see how it works.
Do you have a focus?
I think there might be a diagnosis setting that will turn off data. I'll check.
Sent from my SGH-i917 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
I have been using it on a no-data plan for 6 months now...no problems whatsoever, except for navigation, which depends on data connection to pull maps...but even GPS gets a lock without data. I have apps like Weave installed that cache data for reading while away from WiFi or in commute...
If Settings you can disable Data & WiFi as has been stated. As for hiding them so it'd not be easy to re-enable, it should be possible through the registry to add a redirect reg value. I'm not sure how to implement that though & of course you'd need it unlocked & a registry editor installed. Also, the device can get internet via a USB link with Zune. So, if he's at home where he has access to a pc/laptop with internet, the device would still get data, but as he'd have internet access anyway via the pc/laptop.
@kapanak: GPS should work find if you are using Navigon as it has the maps installed locally.

Skyrocket: no free internet access on WIFI??

(sorry I posted it in the wrong place so now re-posting it here)
Hi -
I just got this white Skyrocket phone with 200MB data plan.
I heard that when connected to 4G, the phone uses data allowance from the data package, whereas if connected to WIFI (like at home), the data usage doesn't come off my AT&T data allowance.
So I want to disconnect from 4G and connect to my WIFI when I am at home.
At the store, the just told me to make sure that WIFI is showing as on on the top bar (or when you swipe that bar down). They said if WIFI is showing on, it means that the phone is using WIFI connection.
However, I see that at the same time when WIFI is showing on, the "4G" icon is also showing on and looking active! So- they are both looking active! That's why I wonder which connection is my Skyrocket actually using?
It looks like the data I use on WIFI also comes out of my data plan because the data packet is on.
So I had an idea, went to settings-wireless-mobile networks and unchecked "Use Data Packet".
When the above was unchecked, 4G icon disappeared and I could see only WIFI icon on the top bar, which would be good - however, the problem is that now I cannot connect to internet. (I turned the phone on and off- no change)
Does it mean that there is no way on Skyrocket to bypass AT&T data allowance and whether I use 4G or my own WIFI, there is no free internet access on this phone?
Or is there something else I can do to make sure I am connected just to my WIFI and data is free?
I would appreciate your help.
Thank you
It just shows both icon to double check get speedtest and do one. You can see in results if you get wifi or 4g LTE.
justcalled said:
(sorry I posted it in the wrong place so now re-posting it here)
Hi -
I just got this white Skyrocket phone with 200MB data plan.
I heard that when connected to 4G, the phone uses data allowance from the data package, whereas if connected to WIFI (like at home), the data usage doesn't come off my AT&T data allowance.
So I want to disconnect from 4G and connect to my WIFI when I am at home.
At the store, the just told me to make sure that WIFI is showing as on on the top bar (or when you swipe that bar down). They said if WIFI is showing on, it means that the phone is using WIFI connection.
However, I see that at the same time when WIFI is showing on, the "4G" icon is also showing on and looking active! So- they are both looking active! That's why I wonder which connection is my Skyrocket actually using?
It looks like the data I use on WIFI also comes out of my data plan because the data packet is on.
So I had an idea, went to settings-wireless-mobile networks and unchecked "Use Data Packet".
When the above was unchecked, 4G icon disappeared and I could see only WIFI icon on the top bar, which would be good - however, the problem is that now I cannot connect to internet. (I turned the phone on and off- no change)
Does it mean that there is no way on Skyrocket to bypass AT&T data allowance and whether I use 4G or my own WIFI, there is no free internet access on this phone?
Or is there something else I can do to make sure I am connected just to my WIFI and data is free?
I would appreciate your help.
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They both should not show up at once unless something that needs access to att data like voicemail is checking for messages. Sounds more like either you are not connecting to your wireless router correctly or the wifi antenna is messed up on your phone.
Well sometimes for me it shows both icons in status bar. All i do is turn off wifi and turn back and the 4G LTE icon disappears.
draztikrhymez said:
They both should not show up at once unless something that needs access to att data like voicemail is checking for messages. Sounds more like either you are not connecting to your wireless router correctly or the wifi antenna is messed up on your phone.
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Click to collapse
appdroid said:
Well sometimes for me it shows both icons in status bar. All i do is turn off wifi and turn back and the 4G LTE icon disappears.
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Click to collapse
Yea same for me but that means something is not allowing the phone to connect to wifi hence having to turn the wifi radio off n on.
Normally it shouldn't do that. Plus if op restarted the phone entirely and still no connection something is just not establishing the connection correctly
Well not exactly because i did speed test and i got my connection as wireless connection so for me it was fine with both icon.
draztikrhymez said:
Yea same for me but that means something is not allowing the phone to connect to wifi hence having to turn the wifi radio off n on.
Normally it shouldn't do that. Plus if op restarted the phone entirely and still no connection something is just not establishing the connection correctly
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Click to collapse
Some functions require the data connection (mms, some syncing etc) and will trigger your data connection even when on wifi
If truly concerned use tasker or juice defender to disable cell data while wifi is on. Or manually turn it off
Or as someone else mentioned...you wifi is not maintaining connection
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA App
Not sure if this will help but there are many apps in the market to help with connection issues. I have two widgets that tells me which one im using and how strong they are just do a search for mobile traffic or cell /wifi. Hope that helps.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
I think a lot of people are ignoring the op said no data is working at all when trying wifi.
Yes both icons will show sometimes because like mentioned mms, voicemail, etc requires it.
If the phone has no data period even after reboots then wifi is not connecting
Download "My data manager" from the market. It will show you your data useage, both wifi and data. Use that and check to see if you really are using your wifi or if its still using data.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA App
Thank you for all your replies, each one taught me something about this new phone and I downloaded a few of the apps that you mentioned.
So all day I was being very careful about the internet, tracking my 4G/WiFi usage all day and then in the evening my kid pressed on a game icon and some kind of car game downloaded =adding over 70MB to my data transfer right away!! (and my monthly budget is 200MB)
It took a couple of seconds - he actually just pressed on the icon and then pressed home when he saw a car because he decided he doesn't want to play it. But it downloaded anyway! I am so mad!
I think it is unethical and very sneaky of AT&T to place all those unnecessary apps on the phone - especially if they turn out to be so costly.
So the only way to delete all those stupid apps is to root the phone? I am not a programmer and I am so afraid that I am going to mess it up
Don't need to root in order to uninstall apps just go to setting>application>manage application>Downloaded apps> and uninstall them. This is all the bloatware that you don't need so go through carefully and uninstall what you don't need. It will help you increase battery life.
justcalled said:
Thank you for all your replies, each one taught me something about this new phone and I downloaded a few of the apps that you mentioned.
So all day I was being very careful about the internet, tracking my 4G/WiFi usage all day and then in the evening my kid pressed on a game icon and some kind of car game downloaded =adding over 70MB to my data transfer right away!! (and my monthly budget is 200MB)
It took a couple of seconds - he actually just pressed on the icon and then pressed home when he saw a car because he decided he doesn't want to play it. But it downloaded anyway! I am so mad!
I think it is unethical and very sneaky of AT&T to place all those unnecessary apps on the phone - especially if they turn out to be so costly.
So the only way to delete all those stupid apps is to root the phone? I am not a programmer and I am so afraid that I am going to mess it up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I noticed that I can remove what I have installed. However, I wanted to get rid of pre-installed apps and their icons. I have not found a way to remove those.
Yes root and Rom toolbox app will help you with that.
justcalled said:
Yes, I noticed that I can remove what I have installed. However, I wanted to get rid of pre-installed apps and their icons. I have not found a way to remove those.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And if you call Att and tell them that it wasn't authorized they'll credit your account
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
Your wifi is turned on but you aren't connected to your Hoke network...go to settings>wireless and networks>wifi settings>then pick whichever network is yours and put in a password if it requires one
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
nthknd ,
I was hoping for that, but when I called AT&T, they didn't want to credit my account, just the opposite, they made me up my data plan to 2G. They said in the beginning people tend to use data more as they explore the new phone - in a few months, once I figure out my monthly usage, I can change my plan and go back to 200MB or whatever.
They also tried to fix my issues with internet (when only WiFi was showing -no 4G- the phone would not connect to internet). So they fixed it and now I have internet access when only WiFi is showing on the top bar.
On the other hand, now 4G completely disappeared! I haven't seen it all day..
Either AT&T is having technical difficulties or I got disconnected from 4G!
Sorry my advise didn't work but they should credit you since your phone malfunction,guess it depends on who you get guess it's a crap shoot.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
appdroid said:
Well sometimes for me it shows both icons in status bar. All i do is turn off wifi and turn back and the 4G LTE icon disappears.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727
They can't make you!
justcalled said:
nthknd ,
I was hoping for that, but when I called AT&T, they didn't want to credit my account, just the opposite, they made me up my data plan to 2G. They said in the beginning people tend to use data more as they explore the new phone - in a few months, once I figure out my monthly usage, I can change my plan and go back to 200MB or whatever.
They also tried to fix my issues with internet (when only WiFi was showing -no 4G- the phone would not connect to internet). So they fixed it and now I have internet access when only WiFi is showing on the top bar.
On the other hand, now 4G completely disappeared! I haven't seen it all day..
Either AT&T is having technical difficulties or I got disconnected from 4G!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They can't make you upgrade your data. The guy you talked to is just trying to rip you off so he gets commission for upgrading you to a "better" data plan. It's your account and you can pick what you want for it. If you want 200 MB then call and switch it back and say the last rep said you had to and made you do it.

[Q] Sudden massive data use

I recently used Windowbreak, and set up internet sharing on my Samsung Omnia 7, following the instructions here. It all seemed to work fine, but I've now had messages from my network (Orange UK) saying that I've gone way over my monthly data allowance. My allowance is 750MB, and I never usually use more than about 400. This month I went over 750 in the first two days!
Orange won't send me a full breakdown, but they did say that the phone is using huge amounts of data at apparently random times in the middle of the night. Not only was I not using it, but it was connected to my home wifi at the time, so shouldn't have been using any 3G data at all! I have only used internet sharing a couple of times, and it's always turned off when I'm not using it.
I'm on 7.10.7740.16. Can anyone help me? Sorry if this has been posted before, I've searched, but only found people with the opposite problem (i.e. no data at all, instead of too much!)
I'm no expert with this stuff, just following instructionhs really, so I'd be really grateful for any help.
Thanks,
Steve.
Did you change any other settings when you used Windowbreak? Have you installed any apps that use frequently-updating Live Tiles? Do you have the user feedback option enabled? When you say the phone is on WiFi, is it actually plugged in? If not, it will turn off the WiFi when the screen is locked in order to conserve battery.
There have been some spikes of data usage in the past, but they were generally tracked down (having an auto-updating Yahoo mail account was a data hog for a few months, for example Some kind of breakdown would help, but You can always just try turning off as many data-using features (Find My Phone, email sync, Live and Facebook messaging, Live Tiles, etc.) as you can find. Then, re-enable them one or two at a time and try to find the culprit. Some people here in the US get by on 200MB or less of data limit (I have no idea how; I can use several times that in a day) so it should be possible.
Thanks for the reply. No, I don't think I changed anything at the same time as setting up Windowbreak and internet sharing, I just followed the instructions for each one. I haven't got any new apps either that would explain the sudden spike in data.
My phone is always plugged in overnight, so I don't understand why it didn't use wifi instead of 3G for whatever it was doing. It might be that it had always used that much data, but it had previously done it through wifi so I hadn't seen it.
The annoying thing is that Orange won't give me a breakdown of what data I'm using until after the end of the billing month, so I can't get real time information to show me what's working and what isn't. Is there any way to monitor data use, or to see which apps are using what?
Thanks,
Steve.
Sadly, that's not currently possible. You could just turn off the cellular data connection (in Settings) at night, but that's awkward and you'd need to remember to re-enable it.

WP7 is always data connected

Hello my friend,
I have recently migrate to WP7.5(Tango) and i have some little questions.
My data is always connected, but, i don't have activate the pushmail.
So, why my data are always on ?
Does Windows Phone has an autodisconnect feature ?
If no, is there a way in order to install an application in order to autodisconnect data after X seconds of innactivity.
Thanks a lot for your help,
Nixeus
What phone you are using?
Does your cellular provider charge by the minute, or something like that? All the rates for data that I've seen are either by the month or by the megabyte. I don't think I've heard of auto-disconnect as a desired feature since the days of literal modems (the kind that sent sudio tones over the telephone connection instead of using a communication protocol actually intended for data).
The only way I know of to turn off the data connection is manually, in the Settings hub. Be aware that a lot of the features of WP7 use data connectivity in the background, not just email sync. For example, syncing your Facebook (and Twitter and LinkedIn) account, syncing your contacts and calendar from the server, checking the Marketplace for updates to installed apps, and so on. These use very little data, but they connect fairly often.
In theory, I'm sure there's a way to programmatically turn the data connection on or off. It might even be possible to tell when it's not in use, and hasn't been for some time. This is not going to be easy, though, and as far as I know nobody else has figured it out.
Thanks for the answers,
So, i will coding an apps in order to turn OFF the DATA connection during a period.
( the night for me)

[Q] Disable WI-FI to Cellular handover (wifi to data fallback)?

Hi there
As you know in lollipop this fall back to data feature exists if the wifi connection has no internet(officially called "WI-FI to Cellular handover").
Has anyone investigated how does the system check for internet connection on wifi? It must ping something on the outside world.
Whats more important is there a way to disable this feature so that the system behaves like in kitkat?
Thanks
td32 said:
Hi there
As you know in lollipop this fall back to data feature exists if the wifi connection has no internet.
Has anyone investigated how does the system check for internet connection on wifi? It must ping something on the outside world.
Whats more important is there a way to disable this feature so that the system behaves like in kitkat?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It pings Google's servers.
I don't understand why google hasn't offered a switch(on-off) for this. I can imagine some situations where this is quite bad. Imagine you have a small data plan and you use wifi to download stuff and suddenly wifi stops reaching the internet so the connection falls back to data and all your data plan is vanished in just a few minutes.
There must be a switch for disabling this feature.
td32 said:
I don't understand why google hasn't offered a switch(on-off) for this. I can imagine some situations where this is quite bad. Imagine you have a small data plan and you use wifi to download stuff and suddenly wifi stops reaching the internet so the connection falls back to data and all your data plan is vanished in just a few minutes.
There must be a switch for disabling this feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just turn off data? lol
enable wifi-> remember to disable data
disable wifi-> remember to enable data
why do this shi" every time you switch to&back form wifi when you can set it ONCE for all, and let it work as it should!!
td32 said:
enable wifi-> remember to disable data
disable wifi-> remember to enable data
why do this shi" every time you switch to&back form wifi when you can set it ONCE for all, and let it work as it should!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always did it since GB so no big deal to me I guess lol, could be annoying for others.
still annoying
It is some time later but I have a particularly annoying issue with this, nothing to do with data volumes. I used to really like the feature but recently I have had to use gconnect on an internal network to sign in, by the time I have signed on the network is on 4g and he request doesn't go through. Annoyingly now I need to disconnect mobile data in order to login to my companies wifi.
Just a little inconvenient. I dont suppose anyone has a better solution?

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