It’s time to stop forcing smartphone users to buy data plans

June 25, 12:08 PMGadgets ExaminerDan Appleman

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These are among the phones that require data plans.

According to a new study by StrategyAnalytics, 48% of Americans would be willing to drop their mobile data service to cut household costs. Considering that many smartphones have wifi support built-in, they can be very practical without mobile data service. Why then do carriers require you to purchase a mobile data plan at a minimum of $300/year plus tax?

Arguing that these plans are required for the phone to work properly is misleading. Even if true, it would be due to an intentional choice by the carrier – there are no technical reasons why these phones can’t work perfectly well without a data plan.

The obvious answer is profitability.

Apple has already sold over a million of the new iPhone GS. If the data plan was optional, and in fact 48% of customers went with out it, it would cost AT&T a cool $170 million a year – not something they are likely to give up easily.

Forcing smartphone owners to buy a bundled service that they don’t need or don’t want is a problem. The fact that this is common for all of the carriers and phone providers… well, can you say anti-trust? Perhaps it’s time for someone at the Department of Justice to take a good look at this situation.