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Cellular Phones/motorola cliq from tmobile

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Expert: - 12/26/2009


Question
hello i recently went into tmobile excited to purchase a motorola cliq but unfortunately the phone needed an internet plan. my question is...does this phone need to have internet in order for it to work? because i only need it to talk, text, and im. so like if i buy the phone from somewhere i.e. ebay, will the phone be able to work if i just put my sim card without an internet plan? will it work for my needs? please and thanks!

Answer
If T-Mobile tells you that they require an internet plan for this SmartPhone, then if you want to buy the phone from T-Mobile, then you have to get an internet data plan. If it helps to know, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint all do the same thing. If you buy a SmartPhone or BlackBerry, a data plan is required. It's the carrier's choice to do this and they can require this as they are the ones who are subsidizing the cost of the device. As for whether the device works without a data plan? Yes, it does. Yes, you can buy a Cliq (be sure it is T-Mobile branded) on line (like ebay) and you can put your SIM card into it and it will work. You will be able to talk and text. You will not be able to IM. IM is data, and the data you will not be able to use unless you have a data plan. But talking and texting will work without issue. If you try to use any internet features, they will not work because you don't have that data plan. I hope this helps. Thanks. DebiN

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DebiN

Expertise

I can answer questions on cellular phones, the physical device, the network, contracts, billing, ordering, porting and what to look for when purchasing cell phones. I am located in the United States. I am an expert on BlackBerrys, Treos, HTC devices and iPhones as well as cellphones and aircards. I have over 15 years of experience in both the wireless and wireline world with the carriers. I have a lot of knowledge regarding the wireless providers - their services, prices and policies, both GSM AT&T and T-Mobile) and CDMA (Verizon, Sprint/Nextel). I am very familiar with the individual devices and their specifications. I can also answer questions regarding BlackBerrys, iPhones and other PDAs, both Palm-based and Windows-based. I can troubleshoot most any problem someone is having with their cellular device or with the provider.

Experience

Over 20 years in the Telecom industry working for the carriers with individuals, small business, medium business and large corporations(Fortune 500). Also worked as a professor in Maryland for 10 years teaching telecommunications.

Organizations
I belong to several organizations

Education/Credentials
Master's in Telecommunications

Awards and Honors
Received several awards for papers that I have published over the years

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