cell phone data plan vs free wifi?

Mark Villifana: joe.atte, but do I still need to have a data plan on my phone to get Wifi from my optimum? If I cancell my data plan will i not be able to get optimum wifi on my phone?

Trena Berum: You misunderstand how this works.1. When you take out a plan with a cell carrier, you include "data access" on the plan. You pay them a monthly fee and that gives you permission to use their data network with your device to access the Internet. The data network part is different from the voice call/text message part. Your data plan can have a cap (i.e., a 2 GB max per month) or be unlimited.2. The wi-fi capability on your phone is simply a built-in feature that allows your phone to connect with and use wireless hotspots (like the free wireless at Starbucks, McDonald's or the airport) or wireless networks (like your home network or a friend's wireless network). This is because the phone has wireless network hardware built in. You can connect to any open network. You can ! also connect to encrypted or locked networks if the provider of the network gives you the password to connect (this is the case in some bars, restaurants, etc. so you can surf on a protected network). What Optimum does has nothing to do with this. If you have home networking from Optimum and you have a wireless router on the network, you can connect to it with your phone. You can connect to ANY wireless network with your phone (for the most part). There is no fee for doing so.When you're connected to a wi-fi/wireless network, you will not be connected to Verizon's data network. All smart phones are designed to use one or the other, but not both at the same time. Once you go out of range of a wi-fi hotspot or router, the Verizon signal will kick in and make the Internet available to you.You are billed in your data plan only for the time you spend on Verizon's network. If you have a 1 GB cap with Verizon, only data you download or transfer on their network counts. You are NOT! charged or billed for wi-fi connections. The fact that you PA! Y optimum for your home network has nothing to do with your phone. You can use that network or Verizon's. You can turn wi-fi access off on the phone if you like, and just use Verizon's network. It's your choice. Got it now?...Show more