OK please help if you can... I am a newbie. There are a few questions below.

First I have a HTC 8525 on Cingular.

Here is what I would like to know and I am sure many others would too.

I would like to do what ever I need to do to prevent OTA internet/Data usage. I would like to only use wifi where available . I do not need MMS at all *BUT* do need SMS messaging available always.

Here is what I do know, I can call *611 and have cingular CSR shut off data but they told me it would also kill messaging, whould that only be MMS or SMS also?

Do I understand the differences between MMS & SMS, is the difference that SMS is the same onld text messaging we have always had and MMS includes the ability to send pics and video with a text message therefore requiring data usage?

I was with Sprint for years with Treos, no data plan, always got text messaging, now with my new phone just want to have wifi access where available with no risk of a $500. bill and have no need to pay $40. more for a data package I will not benifit from.

How can I gurantee no chance of data usage but still receive SMS messaging?

Thank you in advance,
Kevin

I'd just like to echo this question. I've searched quite a bit and there doesn't seem to be an answer for this (that I could find)

I have a Verizon i730 and I signed up for the $/kb plan and thanks to this forum was told how to go into the settings to prevent it from ever connecting to the Verizon network.
I am now free to use the WiFi in the widely available hotspots (and at home and work)

I have a co-worker who wants the same functionality and is a Cingular customer. I recommended the 8525 for this purpose (that or an iPhone ) but the reps at the local store were telling her that there was absolutely no way they'd be able to get their email etc. without a data plan.

I think they're ignorant or "full of it". Since Cingular/ATT does not appear to offer a $/kb plan - if she purchased the phone with no data plan would she have any problems using the built-in WiFi to check her email - surf etc. like I do with my i730? I don't see any reason why it would not work just as well if not better.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

*I've done a bit of searching outside of pdaphonehome and this is what I found:

Questions about WiFi and Cingular 8525

Any WiFi only users (no data plan)? - Brighthand.com Smartphone and PDA Discussion Forums

From these threads it does indeed seem like the 8525 should be able to function just fine with no data plan. Can anyone confirm this for me/us? Thanks

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I have the answer now...

Here is the deal, you can get the phone with no data plan, that will by default assign a pay per use plan (not a good idea though, possible mega $$ bill) So anyways what I did was called the CSR for Cingular, they added parental controls to my account, I got a password so I could change it at any time back is I so desired. I had them set it so I got sms messages, but NO data, that meant no mms or internet.

So here is what happens now, mms I get a sms saying go the a website and enter a password and I can get the mms message = free.

And when I so desire to get email I turn on my wifi and if I am in a hotspot area wala. (all though I do not reccomend leaving wifi on, battery drains in hours rather then days.)

The sales guys get a perk for selling plans, tell them bite me and sell you the phone with the plan you want or you will go to another store and get it anyways.

Hope this helps.

Yep- getting parental block will work.

I did the following with my 6600 before I switched to the unlimited plan:

Go to your internet settings and just enter bad information - mess up the password or login. This way if something tries to make it connect it simply won't have authorization. Worked fine for me!

And you solved the MMS problem better than I would have... but the difference is that MMS has to use bandwidth to download any images/etc. SMS doesn't