vB Easy Archive - Do I need a texting plan to accomplish this?

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Do I need a texting plan to accomplish this?
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Posted by: Floski

I'm planning on getting the Droid. I know I need that $30 unlimited data plan for any smart phone, so that's not an issue. The only issue is the texting.

The difference, as far as I can tell, between the $40 Basic plan and the $60 Select plan is that one has unlimited texting. I plan on using Google Talk, Google Voice(for texts), and an AIM client. Are these handled by texting or by data? Would I be able to get the $40 Basic plan and the mandatory $30 data plan and not incur texting charges if I limited myself to those programs?

Posted by: C DM

It's going to depend on the applications that you will use for all of this and which ones will be available on the phone either through VZW or perhaps through other places like the Android app store. Some might use messaging, while others might just use data. Hard to tell right now without the all of the details of the applications.

Posted by: Flowah

What about just Google Talk and Google Voice? Those two are programs that are out now and that some people use with phones on Verizon aren't they?

Posted by: C DM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flowah

What about just Google Talk and Google Voice? Those two are programs that are out now and that some people use with phones on Verizon aren't they?

They might be, but those would be for let's say BlackBerry OS or Windows Mobile, so they can definitely work differently than the way they would work on Android. Chances are they would simply be using data, but the only way to be sure is to check on them when they are available.

Posted by: Flowah

Quote:

Originally Posted by C DM

No one's used them before on an older version of Android?

Posted by: C DM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flowah

No one's used them before on an older version of Android?

Not on VZW, which could make a difference. For example, instant messenger applications on VZW often use messaging, while on other carriers, if they even offer any, they might use data. So, again, based on all indicators it seems like that at least any non-VZW applications will likely simply use data, but it's hard to know for sure at this point.

Posted by: micmac0720

got my droid today. i only have the 250 texts plan for $5. now that people have been able to use it for a couple weeks does anyone know if using the chat from GMAIL with the AIM client uses data or messaging?

Posted by: C DM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micmac0720

got my droid today. i only have the 250 texts plan for $5. now that people have been able to use it for a couple weeks does anyone know if using the chat from GMAIL with the AIM client uses data or messaging?

Seems like the applications on it, be they chat ones or anything like that, are just basically the regular Android ones (and not anything VZW-specific) so they should all simply be using data.

Posted by: balazer

The Android Google Talk and Google Voice apps do everything over the internet connection, not SMS. You'll get away fine without a messaging plan, though incoming messages in Google Voice are received instantly: it can check for new messages as frequently as 5 minutes.

The IM apps in Market also use data, not SMS. (eBuddy, Nimbuzz)

The G1 comes with an AIM client that uses SMS. I don't know if the Droid comes with something similar.