What is a data servicing plan for a phone? Can you still make regular phone calls without it?

The blackberry requires a purchase of a data servicing plan. So I wanted to know what it is exactly?What is a data servicing plan for a phone? Can you still make regular phone calls without it?
The Data Servicing Plan is the plan that basically allows you to use the internet on the phone, download apps, etc. You can still make calls without it, but it is required for the phone. If it is Verizon, then it is $30 for unlimited data. At%26amp;t have similar rates, just a little cheaper.What is a data servicing plan for a phone? Can you still make regular phone calls without it?
It's what you pay to use 3G Internet on the phone, it is separate from what you pay for voice and what you pay for texts.



(3G Internet is when you use the phone company's cell towers to get Internet - if you use WiFi to get Internet instead, that does not use 3G and doesn't use any of the data in your data plan).



Most phone companies require you to have a data plan with BlackBerry phones - so even though the data isn't used for voice, the data *is* required for you to use the phone at all.



Data plans from most companies range from $10/month for limited data, to $30/month for unlimited.What is a data servicing plan for a phone? Can you still make regular phone calls without it?
Data service refers to usage of the carrier for purposes other than talk -- i.e., text messaging and internet applications (downloading things from the internet, browsing the web, etc).



You can still make regular calls without a data plan. However, it is very difficult these days to find a mobile provider that does not require a data plan if you have a smart phone (blackberry, iPhone, android, etc). The main reason for this (that they say anyway) is that much of the functionality of a smart phone is based on the data usable capabilities (surfing the internet, downloading apps, etc), all of which takes up a lot of data transfer, and if you DON'T have a plan, that can translate into huge unexpected bills for you. I have heard stories of people who weren't on a data plan that literally got a $10,000 bill for their first month of service because they were watching videos online from their phone the whole time. Not a fun bill to find in the mail.