Question about getting a new iPhone

[Cecelia5578]

So, a friend of mine has an old 3GS that she no longer uses, and she's gonna give it to me. I think it'll make a pretty good
iPod Touch, but the question I have is: can I migrate my number from my old cell phone and start using the iPhone? I already have an AT&T contract,
its pretty cheap-something like 37.00/month, no data plan. Would I have to get a whole new plan, or could I continue just paying basically for voice?
I know that when you officially upgrade/buy a new iPhone there are specific plans you have to buy, but what about in a situation like this?

Thanks, apologies if I come across as a neophyte-I've never owned a smartphone before.

[General Zod]

You might have to get a new data plan if you don't have one already, but since you're already with AT&T you should otherwise just be able to put in the SIM card and be good to go.

[FSTargetDrone]

As far as I know, you must have a data plan with the iPhone. Look at this message board for some of the various things people have tried, but unless you live outside the US or do something like unlock it and put it on another network, you might be stuck. Be very careful, call the company to double-check. You don't want to possibly get slapped with an unexpected fee if AT&T automatically turns on the data plan.

I have a 3G that was replaced with an iPhone4. The phones use different kinds of SIMs so I simply use the old phone as an iPod and web/app device in the house. I had pulled the SIM from the 3G, but every time I turn it on, I get the "No SIM Installed" message, so I stuck it back in. The 3G now shows "No Service" (though it can be used to make 911 calls!) and my iPhone4 was activated in-store, so the switch was made for me when I got the newer phone.

I'm still grandfathered in the old "unlimited" AT&T data plan, so that, at least, worked out.

[Phantasee]

You'll probably have to get a data add-on, although I would ask around (people you know who work for AT&T) to see if there's any good deals on that you should know about. Sometimes you can get your voice package for cheaper than it currently is, making the data package not as steep an increase as it would be otherwise.

If you want to use the iPhone as a phone, get the data package. If you want to use it as an iPod touch, don't bother putting a SIM in it.

[Laird]

So long as you simply put your sim card in the iphone and do not tell at&t you have an iphone. You will not be required to get a data plan. I have an at&t pre-paid plan with 100mb a month for $20 for when I travel to the states every few weeks in my iphone 3g.

[SCVN 2812]

I just went through this with a refurbished 3G that belonged to my dad. I had a Blackberry and switched the SIMs. Until I called AT&T I had no data service because they had to manually switch the data plan to an iPhone plan (equal cost, equal limit even) so theoretically you should be able to use it without a data plan at all but its worth checking with their customer service.

[Cecelia5578]

I just went through this with a refurbished 3G that belonged to my dad. I had a Blackberry and switched the SIMs. Until I called AT&T I had no data service because they had to manually switch the data plan to an iPhone plan (equal cost, equal limit even) so theoretically you should be able to use it without a data plan at all but its worth checking with their customer service.

Alas, I haven't been able to get a firm, unequivocal answer about the data plan. I'd rather not have one, (save $$) but I don't want AT&T discovering down the road that I do have an iPhone and maybe charging me the most expensive data plan. I'm probably going to go tomorrow or Tuesday and talk to them.

[Phantasee]

They shouldn't be able to just charge you for data if you turn off the cellular data slider.