Just a quick piece of info:

ATT will force a data plan on any smartphone, this is not negotiable. I don't agree with the policy, but the fact is they will never give in on this and it's a waste of time to try.

However, you aren't forced to KEEP the data plan on. You can switch the SIM to a "dumbphone" and call 611, and they will happily remove the data plan. Problem solved. That's really the only thing you can do.

Now others will tell you that every major carrier requires you to have a data plan with a smartphone, but that is not entirely true. If you bring your own phone that you bought yourself or are out of contract on, T Mobile gives you the option of no data, or 200MB of for only $5.

However if the company gave you the phone, you will have to get a data plan. That's how they make back the money on the smartphone you get, which cost quite a bit.