Data plans are an essential if you're planning on buying a smartphone. With regular cell phones, most modest plans cover basic web browsing and most people don't go over their prescribed download limits. However in most cases a smartphone user will need an unlimited data plan, because using e-mail counts toward using the Internet. A power business user could quickly rack up a bill worth hundreds or thousands of dollars without a good data plan.
Overall, smartphones offer many more features than a regular cell phone. They're not just for business users – new smartphones integrate GPS units, better cameras, and faster Internet. You just won't get this kind of use from a regular cell phone. However, if you don't need all the bells and whistles, regular cell phones will often work perfectly fine.
