I'm not sure about the claims about data access without a plan. I had a Chinese phone that could use GPRS to get out to the web. I added a mediaNet plan and then decided against it when the N800 wouldn't tether with it. When I did that all access to the Net stopped working and only started working again when I got a data plan with a new phone specifically for tethering. The thing is that under the plan I have, if I am not in reach of a 3G signal I get no data connectivity. So I would think that a 900 under such circumstances would have the same issue. I'll probably end up testing out a unit at a Nokia store to see what happens. I don't want to pay more just to get edge network access and I'm spoiled now that I can access the 'net anywhere I go.