One of the annoying things when wanting an iPhone, Windows Phone, or any flavor of Android is that you are now forced to consider a data plan.

I do realized that having a data plan enables you to enjoy additional services and apps. But, many of those apps simply depend on you connecting to the internet regardless if it was through your phone carrier or your WiFi Connection.

My kids will eventually get to the age where I will want them to get a phone. They currently enjoy their iPods and Mini iPads and I don’t see them outgrowing such gadgets any time soon. But, I also do not want them to get an iPhone where they will be forced to get a data plan from a provider.

It’s not really a cost saving issue for me. But, I am sure everyone will benefit the option of saving money if we were not required to get a data plan.

The issue why I don’t want them to get an iPhone is that they have been able to do just fine with their data needs without the need of having a data provider with them all the time.

They get WiFi at home, WiFi at school, WiFi at the library, and even WiFi at the local Coffee Bean.

As a parent it’s more important that they have phone and text service rather than data service. I know the solution would be to get them a “Feature Phone” or a traditional phone. But, then they will have to deal with two devices.

I know 3rd party data only providers exist where I can bring voice and text services to the iPod with VoIP and text with Google Voice or similar providers. But, fast data services for high quality calls are not available nationwide. Many of us who live in large cities forget that.

Lately T-Mobile has made some very aggressive moves to try and pull people away from Verizon and AT&T. I am not an T-Mobile customer but the CEO’s demeanor makes me feel that he is willing to try different things and really disrupt what we have come to accept as the norm from other providers that I am now considering trying out T-Mobile.

I personally think adding voice and text support into the iPod wont make the iPod any bulkier. I think making the iPhone possible to support all the high end data transmissions is what makes the form factor bulkier.

There are a handful of people still using regular cell phones that would love to get an iPhone but they just don’t need the data plan, want the data plan, or can afford the data plan.

I think many parents would like the idea of upgrading their kids iPod to one that they can call and text to when they need to get hold of their kids.

So, I am not sure why but I feel that Apple would make a new iPod that will support voice and text if a carrier such as T-Mobile makes it possible for people to activate such iPods without the need of data plans because the phone it self doesn't support data transmissions such as LTE.

Maybe this would force the rest of the carriers to reconsider their silly policy that when you get a so called “Smart Phone” you are required a data plan.

#justmy2cents ☺