On Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:43:24 -0800, mpm wrote:
> Damn it. Why doesn't this work?
> http://www.wirelessadvisor.com/

That URL didn't work before, but now it does.

From that URL, for my zip code, I can get a wireless phone plan from:
1. AT&T (GSM)
2. Verizon (CDMA)
3. T-Mobile (GSM)
4. Nextel (IDEN) / Sprint (CDMA)

AT&T is GSM which I want. However, AT&T charges for data plans on all
smartphones, even those not bought from AT&T (which makes me livid).
Also, AT&T seems to charge 10% California sales tax on the full-resale-
value of all phones when they subsidize them so even a "free" phone costs
about $50 in California.

Verizon is CDMA, so they are out of the question.

T-Mobile is GSM, which I want. T-Mobile does NOT seem to charge for a
dataplan if you don't get the phone subsidized by them (yippee!). In
addition, T-Mobile doesn't charge $50 sales tax on a "free" phone like
AT&T does (so they must "structure" the sale differently from a legal
standpoint).

Nextel / Sprint seem to have similar plans but they're not GSM so they're
out of the question.

If my summary is correct, it looks like I have two options given my
Blackberry 9800 GSM smartphone.

I. Remain on the AT&T voice-only network and figure out how to spoof the
IMEI of the smart phone to look like a dumb phone.

II. Switch to the T-Mobile voice-only network and plug in my own smart
phone which won't then require a data plan because it's not subsidized by
T-Mobile.