Cell phones with just a data plan + Google Voice?

[Scythiroth]

Curious if anyone has tried getting a cell phone + a service plan that is just data and using Google Voice. Is this a good idea and would this work as a full time cell phone? I don't really talk on the phone much, but would probably use the internet on it a little bit. Not many providers really seem to offer data only (for obvious reasons), but I did find one called Ting (I think?) and there might be others.

I'm just really cheap and don't feel like paying crazy amounts for a cell phone every month, feels like such a waste.

[jinkazama]

There is one, I work for sprint and had to set it up for a lady the other day, its a pain in the ass. Its really only given to hearing impaired people who need data but no phone, its thru an online chat tho so I guess if you wanted to cheat the system you could.

[TheDangerousDave]

Won't be long til data only plans are the only plans if people stop letting service providers jew them

[jmc]

This was like 2-3 years ago, so probably gone by now.

However my sister use to have a t-mobile plan that just had texting, and data on it. Might have only been with the sidekick line of phones though.

[Omniyoji]

Tmo still has a plan (prepaid) monthly4G or something like that with 5GB of data, unlimited text, and 100 minutes for $30 a month. After the 5GB cap you'll be throttled down to 2G speeds or something like that so it is unlimited data in a sense >_>. Need a phone tho that supports Tmobo's bands.

[Don Katsu]

Google Voice uses your minutes. You need a talk plan

[DAKPluto]

Google Voice uses your minutes. You need a talk plan

This. Long time ago the apps used to use data only, but the carriers had enough of that and ever since then the app is required to use your minutes to make calls. Essentially, when calling or being called, it's like the number is being spoofed.

[Caiyuo]

What happens if it's a smartphone connected to wifi without a carrier / sim card? Doesn't work? Is it the same for Skype?

[dejet]

you can do voip with google voice. I use it sometimes and have been thinking of moving over to T-mobiles 100min/unlimited text/data plan

There are a few apps that let you do this. Groove IP is the one I use. It however does not always play well with all phones(it works on my LG rev, but never got it to work well on my droid3)

I forgot where the post about it is. let me see if I can dig up the xda post about VoIP

[dejet]

I dont no if this was it, this seems to be a more up to date one then the one I used to set it up about a year back.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1646755

edit: This is a warning if you are not great at using a cell phone I would not do this, it takes a lot of fine tuning to get it working. The guide itself is a starting point, you will need to tweek settings to get everything working as best as it can,