Expert: DebiN - 10/10/2010

Question
My daughter broke her cell phone and I bought her a used blackberry not realizing Verizon charged extra for Blackberries. I am looking to purchase her another used phone that allows her internet and was wondering if the Motorola Q or Palm Treo carries those extra charges by Verizon. Her plan is up in February and we are planning on switching companies at that point so we do not want her to get another phone and have to extend her contract.

Answer
All SmartPhones will cause you the same issue with Verizon. A BlackBerry, Q, Treo, Droid, anything that is a SmartPhone requires a data plan ($29.99). Unfortunately, you will run into the exact same thing with Sprint and AT&T and T-Mobile. They also require a SmartPhone data plan with a SmartPhone. With those companies, the plans are less expensive to start (as low as $15.00), but they all require them. So, if you want to just get her a phone, find a Verizon branded cell phone and go with that. They can all access the internet. Perhaps a Quick Messaging phone but not a SmartPhone. And remember that when you leave Verizon, you will be paying extra for a SmartPhone if you want one for her, otherwise, just get her a Quick Messaging phone from the new carrier and then you only need a $10 to $15 plan for the internet access. Hope this helps.