Newbie Questions AT&T help

[Fallguy]

OK , I am about to buy a used Iphone 3G 8gb that is not unlocked and not Jailbroken . It is a AT&T phone and that is who I have my service through . I have a family plan of 1400 min with 2 phones and a discounted price plan of about $81 a month .
Now if I get this iphone and use my sim in it from my normal plan , what is going to happen ?

Am i going to be able to use it as a normal phone without internet hookup ?

Will I be able to download/sync apps from my computer ?

Or will I have to upgrade my plan ?

I have more questions but I want to see what the answers are to these first . Thanks to any and all that reply .

[CaptainChaos]

You have to have a data plan with the iPhone. There is no way around this. So that is $30. If you have the family text message plan then you do not have to pay for texting on your iPhone.

You take your sim from your current phone and stick it in the iPhone and then you can sync apps from iTunes through an iTunes account.

[Fallguy]

So I will have to change my plan to a data plan ?

Will I be able to do things on the iphone without doing this ?

And the account with Itunes , is that free ?

Sorry , just trying to get an idea of what i will be getting myself into .

[MikeYuse0406]

All iTunes accounts are free; however, you are still responsible for the price of priced apps, songs, video, etc. There are tons of free apps, but songs cost 99 cents (cheaper if you purchase the whole album).

In my opinion, an iphone without data plan is just a big brick in your hands. If you do not have data, you will not have visual voicemail, not internet on the go. You will only be able to use many of the application that require internet via wifi. Besides, for only 30 extra bucks a month you get unlimited data.

[Fallguy]

Thanks guys ,
I guess a Iphone without the data plan is alot like a ipod .
Are there better plans out there besides AT&T that is not as expensive and maybe doesnt have to have a 2 year agreement ?
I hope I wont have to sign up for a data contract with AT&T , because my plans contract ran out a year ago .

[MikeYuse0406]

Since you have the iPhone and are not purchasing it from Apple or AT&T, I do not think that you will need to get in the contract. Just called them ans ask them to add the iphone plan to your existing plan. As far as being expensive, I have a family plan with 2 iPhone 3G and a Motorola and all I pay is 175 with all taxes and fees. That is with 1400 minutes, unlimited data on both 3Gs, 200 messages on each 3G. However, I do not know if this pricing is for everyone or if it was available to me for being a costumer for more than 12 years. I am with AT&T since they used to be Bellsouth Mobility in 1996. Just give them a call.

[Fallguy]

Thanks Mike ,
Thats a little to steep for me . I am looking to maybe drop my plan down and lose one phone to make up for the $30 data fee .

[JackSchitt]

I am pretty sure that when you activate youriphone via itunes if makes you sign a new 2 year agreement. Thats what happened to me when i bought a used 2G last summer. I know the prices are high with the data you have to pay for and such but the iPhone is the best phone on this planet when it comes to all that can be done with it, like the app store, mms, the jailbreaking and tweaking. It is a wonderful device and i personally will never look back.