Wi-Fi without a data plan?

[#1]

I am going to purchase this phone but ATT can not seem to answer a simple question. I have been to their stores (two of them) and talked to on-line representatives and they do not have a solid answer.

I will be using it in a restricted over air cell phone access area for several months but the building I will be in has wi-fi through a cable TV company. I do not want to add a data plan while at this location (it would be a complete waste of money) but  - Can I still use the wi-fi feature of the phone?

ATT says I would still need a data plan but am I not using ATT at all when connected via wi-fi, correct? I plan on using a pay-as-you-go plan from ATT for that time frame since I will probably only use the voice cell phone feature a few times. ATT seems to think the phone wi-fi will not work without their data plan but all seem to have never come across my situation.

I just want to have access to my e-mail and perhaps use a web browser.

Anybody know if this will work?

Thanks,

Mark

[Dr_Chris]

Personally I use an unlocked W995 with internet usage over Wi-Fi being free, irrespective of which Pay as you go network/SIM card I have in my phone.So on that basis,unless there's something about ATT I don't know,you are correct in your assumption.Mobile phone data plans are associated with internet usage over the mobile network and not WI-Fi, unless of course you are being charged by the Wi-Fi network you are connecting to.

[#3]

Finally, an honest answer. Many thanks for the info.

[#4]

I have my data turned off on my providers end, though not ATT, and I use wifi at home without any trouble.

[#5]

I can't get my Wi-Fi to work in any way. it just doesn't connect to my home network. any ideas?

[#6]

Check your router settings. Make sure its set to G type of siginal only and not a mix of B/G. I've had issues when set to mixed. Also please be a little more specific how it doesn't connect. Does your phone see you network? Is there security on your network?

[Dr_Chris]

No problem.I have since read that ATT has wrongly told some of its customers that they need a data plan to use Wi-Fi, so there seems to be a lot of confusion as to how Wi-Fi works by people who should know better.Anyway, a strong indication that internet usage over Wi-Fi is free,is that the data counter on my phone does not even register the amount of data or the time spent browsing over Wi-Fi, but only registers when using the internet over my mobile network.

[#8]

doesn't work with any type of signal, G, B or mixed, doesn't even work if I make the network opened. I can see the network on my phone (X10 mini pro), but when I try to connect it doesn't do anything.