So you have an iPhone and for whatever reason, you don't actually need your data plan.  You really like your iPhone and all of the apps you have grown to love, but really could get by just using Wi-Fi from time to time.

Of course, AT&T will tell you that you cannot have an iPhone with out a data plan, so what is one to do?

Just follow these instructions and you will be on your way to having an iPhone with no data plan!

1.  Walk into your AT&T store with a non-smart phone and a completely different SIM card than the one that is in your iPhone.  If you bring them the SIM from your iPhone, you are less likely to garner their cooperation.  Additionally, just leave your iPhone in the car.

You can achieve #1 in a number of different ways:

           -  If you have an old GSM phone, use it.
           -  Borrow a phone from someone.
           -  Buy a refurbished Go Phone from http://wireless.att.com for around $10.  They usually throw in free shipping.

2.  Tell them you want to activate this new phone/SIM for your phone number.

3.  Make sure you request to deactivate data and to completely block data from that number.  This will prevent any billing for accidental data use on your iPhone later.

4.  Because the iPhone uses data to download your voicemails for the Visual Voicemail feature, you need to tell your representative to make sure that you have standard voicemail enabled.  This is an easy one for them to miss and could mean some inconvenience for you later as you work with AT&T again to enable it.

5.  Perform some final in-store tests:

           -  Call the representative from your phone to ensure it works and to ensure that your number is what is coming up on their caller ID.
           -  Call your own number to make sure it prompts you to setup your voicemail.
           -  If your phone could support data, try browsing a web site or use some data dependent feature to ensure that data is blocked and that it fails.

6.  Thank them :-), then walk to your car and slap the SIM into your iPhone.

You should be all set to go with data free goodness on your iPhone!

~ boogybren