Smart phones and mobile data plans are like peanut butter and jelly; they go together. Anyone who’s anyone with a smart phone has a data plan. Data plans border on necessity and many can’t imagine living without it, even at an expense of a minimum $50/month for the service. When it comes to cell phone data, I may be in the minority; I have a smartphone, but don’t have a data plan.
I was late to the smart phone revolution. When smart phones came out in 2007, I was using an unlocked samsung slide phone. It wasn’t until four years later when I won a sales contest at work that I got my hands on my first smart phone: a brand new unlocked iPhone 4. Finally, I was going to join the cool kids.
I wanted data for my shiny new phone. Again, peanut butter and jelly; who has a smartphone without data? I wasn’t able to convince myself that it was worth the money, so I settled keeping my no-contract plan. I was content connecting to wifi for data, but the itch was still left unscratched…until recently.
Experiencing Smartphone with Data
A month ago, I was in the US for a two-week long business trip. Being in a remote plant facility with limited internet connectivity and after some previous bad luck with wifi connections at the hotel, I picked up a ReadySim pre-paid SIM card to keep in touch with Emily and the Boo. The SIM card came with 1GB of data at a cost of $35.
Life with data was exciting. I was instantly in the know- up to date with blog posts, social media activity, sport scores and the news. Group messaging on Whatssap was instant like it was meant to be. More importantly, data was incredibly helpful getting around a new city. It allowed me to look up restaurants on the whim and use Google Maps during self-guided walking tours. When I was turned away from a well-reviewed over-booked sushi restaurant, I wasn’t fazed. With a couple taps on my phone, I was seated at a nearby restaurant with equally raving reviews.
Disadvantages of Data
My data’d existence came at the expense of an unexpected trade off: battery drainage. I wasn’t like nothing I’d ever experienced before since I usually turn off those radios. I was constantly on the lookout for power outlets and have never spent more time sitting in Starbucks. I was literally just waiting for the phone to charge;almost everyone else in the coffee shop was also waiting for their devices to charge. It was frustrating; my new found powers of convenience were preventing me from experiencing more of the city.
Smartphone with Data Plan Vs Smartphone Without
Reverting back to my previous data-less existence upon coming home was somewhat calming. The convenience of all information in the digital realm at my fingertips was mind blowing but frankly, I don’t need data and find its uses surprisingly limited. While it was incredibly handy to have when I was out of town- I could make free international calls at any time and never worry about getting lost- having data just meant being able to access information immediately.
There are a limited number of circumstances when I need information instantly when at home, but email, social media, and group messaging, really need not be constantly accessed. Phone notifications are not only a drain on battery, but also time. Each time I heard a ping or felt a buzz, I would reach for my phone. I realized I was always staring at my phone when I had data- not for any particular good reason, but in anticipation of what could or should do with it next (our current UrbanSimplify media fast has only confirmed our suspicions that cell phones are highly distracting and a huge productivity deterrent). All of these seemingly important updates prevent us from focusing on the task at hand and ironically, connecting with the people we care about.
Cost of a Data Plan in Canada
In Canada, a basic phone+data plan costs roughly $50/month which includes 200 voice minutes and 200MB of data. I happened to burn through the 1GB of data I had in the US in less than my two week stay. For comparison sake, a plan with 500MB of data runs for around $80/month.
Last Word
I currently pay $20/month for my data-less phone plan. If I was to get upgrade to lowest priced data plan, that would equate to an additional $30/month, totaling to an additional $360 per year (double it, if Emily was to go with a plan with data as well). I’ll stick to using my phone without data and connecting to the Internet via WiFi. Until data plan prices come down, I’m not willing to shell out the extra money for a plan that makes it easier to stare at other people’s social updates.
Could you live without a data plan?
I find having data very handy on the phone especially while travelling, as you mentioned. It’s far from necessary, but I do like the convenience. It also allows me to work on the blog away from home wherever I want to be. I just turn my phone into a portable hotspot and hook it up to the wifi on my surface and I’ve got my mobile office. It’s hard to beat that.
Data plans can be crazy expensive, but I was fortunate to grab an amazing introductory offer with Fido with better specs than you mentioned for much less cost. I’ve got 600MB of data, which I’ve yet to breach. All that takes for me is not watching videos and not streaming too much music (although I do a little). I use it as much as I want for all other things, even playing hearthstone through my surface on the go.
For $29/mth, with Fido this is what I have:
– 600 MB data
– 450 nation-wide minutes
– Free nation-wide evenings/weekends
– Unlimited text, picture, and video messaging
– Free call display, voice mail, 3-way calling, etc
The regular price for that plan at the time was $39 but they had a $10 off promo for their launch in Atlantic Canada that never expires making it $29 a month. My wife and I both have this plan.
Battery life. You’re right it can be a pain. With my old Samsung Galaxy S3, I couldn’t even make it through half the day (battery may have been defective or some phantom process draining it that didn’t show up in the battery meter). I now have the much less expensive and MUCH superiour in every way (excpept no microSD slot) and I’ve got all day battery life even with moderately heavy usage. Often times I can go 36 hours + with a fair bit of usage. I do carry around a portable charge (got 2 at Costco for $20) just in case but I rarely need to use it unless I’m doing extremely heavy usage.
Yes. With internet at home and at work, I don’t need a data plan… honestly, I feel freer without it.
If only more people did!
It’s refreshing to know that there are still individuals out in the modern world existing quite happily without a data plan. All my friends are connected with data and iphones and when I pull out my 3+ year old Samsung Galaxy 551, they stare at the ancient relic and ask how I can manage daily living with it. With all that being said however, I still feel the need to scratch the itch every so often, but not so much that I’m willing to pay for data at current prices.
I agree that it’s handy to have while on vacation. I’m vacationing solo in the near future and I’m certain that I’ll pick up a one-time use data package for access to Google Maps and TripAdvisor reviews to aid my wandering, but once I’m home again, I’ll be more than happy to disconnect.
I pay $29 on windmobile and my wife does the same. As per the phones I have always got them from a friend that likes to be updated to the latest cell phone because there is always some excuse for the so call required update. A good Internet connection at home helps but I can easily leave without Voice plan and only data plan.
I have never had data on my phone and I can not understand why everyone thinks it is a must-have and pays such high dollar for it. People stare at me like I’m from another planet when I tell them I don’t have data. I just don’t get it. If I want to look something up, I have a laptop for that. I have never felt the need for it when I’m out traveling. If you get lost- just ask somebody. Remember when there was no data on your phone? Just live like that again. It’s doable.