<p>Supposedly there was a software fix for this as it was a known early problem…</p>
<p>We last refreshed when Verizon had the stupid policy of requiring a data plan on almost everything, so I got an Intensity.</p>
<p>Biggest piece of junk I’ve ever used. Hated the keyboard, super flimsy, and if you drop it parts go flying everywhere.</p>
<p>My kids got the Cosmos, I think it is pretty cheap and flimsy as well.</p>
<p>I switched back to my old enV2, which was grandfathered to not need a data plan.</p>
<p>My understanding is that Verizon has backed off the data plan requirement for many phones. If I was getting one now I would probably get the Octane or a refurb-ed enV3.</p>
<p>I’m so glad to read that there are others out there who don’t have data plans with Verizon! </p>
<p>We had to upgrade this past week. Offered the option of a phone with data plan to our 2 D’s if they paid for it and the upcharge themselves, but neither took us up on the offer. One got the Octane, the other got the “tween” phone w/ WiFi access (can’t remember the name, but it is square and a little chunky - I think you can only get it online. We had the data feature deactivated). DH has an Android through work, but rarely uses the data features - like me, he is on his computer most of the day.</p>
<p>A year ago, the girls thought we were punishing them by not allowing them to get smart phones - now they are happy with their new phones and don’t feel they are missing out. The allure has worn off a bit for them, I guess.</p>
<p>I hate it when you go into a Verizon store and literally, there is maybe one non-data phone on the floor. Guess people really are that gullible that Verizon figures “if we don’t have it out, they won’t ask for it” so that people just go ahead with the fancier data phones. </p>
<p>It seems that if you don’t want data, your main options offered include one flip up phone (“old fashioned”), one “tween” phone (currently often the Intensity) and one over-all middle of the road (currently Octane).</p>
<p>I’m wondering how soon before these won’t even be an option. :(</p>
<p>^ I would probably get a Droid if I could get it without a data plan. Wireless would be sufficient for me, and there are so many useful and cool apps that don’t require cellular internet.</p>
<p>It’s frustrating for sure.</p>
<p>We wound up disabling data access on most of our phones. It’s too easy to hit the internet button by mistake, and you pay $2 for the first byte.</p>
<p>I got my son a Cosmos last year with a Verizon unlimited text (but no voice) plan. Works out well, since he sends thousands of texts a month but talks maybe 5 minutes. Couldn’t be more satisfied and it’s dirt cheap.</p>
<p>Verizon didn’t even know they had this particular plan. I had to print out the webpage and show them. I think it’s mostly marketed to those with hearing disabilities.</p>
<p>guidedbywire - interesting tidbit. </p>
<p>There was a time when I though that the kids getting dataplan would mean they didn’t need much texting anymore (due to instant email access). But truly much of what they do is texting. </p>
<p>Although my teen son sometimes paid too much attention to his text messages, I did like the way that he was able to do aa lot of hs socializing without having the family phone ring off the hook. Somebody would send out a grou text suggesting an option to be at the movie theater at a particular time… or not as desired. Very flexible, without extensive phone coordination.</p>
<p>Wow. Wish I had been told about the software fix for the Octane echo problem. I liked it better than the Cosmos. (I really hate this phone!) If I had to make a choice now I would definitely go with the Octane.</p>
<p>Thanks all - it sounds like I should look for the Octane. </p>
<p>Now I need to figure out all of our phone expirations and hatch a plan. The Verizon website seems to make it harder to figure out which phones are eligible for upgrade.</p>
<p>Actually, if you log into your Verizon account, you can easily see which phones are eligible for an upgrade.</p>
<p>LG Octane is great, got it after 2 pantech jest phones proved worthless. D has a Samsung Intensity 2 and likes it as well.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>"Actually, if you log into your Verizon account, you can easily see which phones are eligible for an upgrade. " - It used to be easy. Now “eligible for an upgrade” wording seems to show as “eligible for a discount”. </p>
<p>Hopefully it’s just terminology change. But darn, it seems harder to drill down to phone options/prices from there.</p>
<p>Click the button that says upgrade status, that may help. But yes, they aren’t as generous as they once were.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the feedback! </p>
<p>At this point, the Octane is my favorite choice.
[LG</a> Octane | Verizon Wireless](<a href=“http://www.verizonwireless.com/lg-octane.shtml]LG”>http://www.verizonwireless.com/lg-octane.shtml)</p>
<p>I’ll wait a while to decide. DH just brought home his first data-plan phone (a Droid). That may tempt me into a blackberry, which could interface with my work email and calendar.</p>
<p>H & I have the Intensity II; DD had one too until hers was stolen so she now has the KinOne. We are happy enough with the Intensity since our old phones did not have qwerty keypads so we were duds at texting. DD’s first KinOne’s keyboard went out after a month or two so she had it replaced. She loves the tiny size and WiFi access. After reading the reviews on the Verizon site, we made sure to block out the data option so we wouldn’t be hit with a huge data bill. There aren’t very many options for cells if you don’t want to pay for a data plan, are there?</p>
<p>I wish I had seen this thread sooner; last week our family went to verizon for upgrades, and I was surprised and chagrined that there were few choices without a data plan. I got a lame Pantech Crux and my son got an LG Cosmos. I need to check out that blocking option for data. I will refuse to get a data plan, even if I have to end up going with that phone company in the commercials with those two old guys who are twins, LOL!! (“Hey, ugly!”).</p>
<p>“DontPanic1” - Not sure if this still works, but Verizon used to allow you to swap phones within the first 30 days. (I think I overheard at the store that you can do it, but there is a restocking fee). </p>
<p>A few years ago I picked a Razor phone. For color I thought pink would be nice and different from the rest of the family. But yikes, the shiny silver keypad was terrible for me (reflective and hard to read)! I swapped it for the silver phone with black keypad. </p>
<p>I really should have switched to another model since the Razor battery life was terrible. When I mentioned that a few months later at the store, the salesperson said, “Yea, a lot of customers complain about Razor battery life”. Lots different than my salesperson who said all the phones were pretty much the same…</p>
<p>TODAY I UPGRADED TO AN LG OCTANE (Verizon).</p>
<p>When I started this thread, I was only considering basic phones. Last week as I got closer to upgrade date, I toyed with the idea of a smartphone. My manager has his Droid set up to access work email and calendar. That seemed appealing, but I decided not to spend the extra money (we already have 3 data plans). Usually have my laptop already running at home… .and accessible on vacation (my followup to email problems would involve logging onto mainframes etc not possible on smartphone. So I went back to basic/qwerty idea.</p>
<p>SO FAR THE OCTANE SEEMS FINE. I took the $10/month deal that gives limited internet, vznavigator, etc. But not sure I’ll keep it. I purchased a case and protective film (installed by the salesperson at Verizon - yay). I’ll report more in a few days.</p>
<p>We did learn that “eligible for early update” show online at Verizon means you can end contract 6 months early and only pay $20. That’s good - 2 years is a long time if you don’t love the phone choice.</p>
<p>S is eligible for a new phone. I still see the only real option for a non-smart phone to be an Octane (which two of us have). I was hoping by now that dataplans might not be as expensive. 
The Octane is nice, but for him, I don’t think it feels like much of an update. So disappointing.</p>
<p>Unfortunately data plans don’t seem to be coming down in price. In fact, for new contracts I hear that Verizon is giving a limit (I think 2GB) for $30 instead of unlimited. My college students do use their data plan function a lot, but it is pricey. Still for the ADHD-ish one, I wish we had splurged sooner. </p>
<p>I got the $10 mini-data plan just to try, It may be fun to have on vacation. Access to my comcast email account was very quick. My family assures me that email won’t get me past the 75MB monthly limit, but I am not sure how much web/VZNavigator I’ll do. The Verizon site will allow me to check on it.</p>