caitlinsmom Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 We are changing up our cell phone plans in the next week or so. We want to get an iPhone but do not want the user to access any internet services. Does anyone know if it's possible to turn off the internet access on an iPhone? If so, how easy is it to turn it back on? Can it be password protected? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Yes. They can do it for you when you buy the phone. You'll still be paying for the data portion of the service, though, because that's usually part of the deal so you can get a "discount" on the price of the phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I would check with the carrier. ATT will no longer turn off the data or text on iPhones, in my area at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hypatia. Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Yes, definitely check with your carrier. With ours we can turn off data and text when we log into our account, which we've done with the new iPhone we got to be our house phone. (The number was recently recycled, so I've had enough of the spam texts. :glare: ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Yes. My step son figured out how to do it. He can turn it back on when needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I just called our carrier last week with this very question. The AT&T rep told me that FCC regulations require that all smartphones have the *capability* of transmitting/receiving data, but that you don't have to use it. She recommended that I get pay-per-use data service (which carries no monthly fee), and then turn off the cellular data function on the phone. The service will be there if I ever need it in an emergency, but under normal circumstances, it would be turned off. The function is easily accessed through Settings (one tap on "Cellular", one swipe on "Cellular data"), and it is not password protected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deannajo Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Are you concerned about the "data plan" Or just that the user of the iphone be restricted in what he/she can do? Because even if you found a way to avoid the "data plan," if you have the phone hooked up to wifi, they could still get data and access the internet. But the iphone does offer restrictions, so you can turn off, or restrict certain things - you can't turn off or restrict texting though, but for my daughter's phone, we have it set up so she can't get online via safari, and she can't download apps (so she can't download another browser, or a social media app or something) - She can still text, and use the camera, but that's about it (oh, and make calls, but who does that anymore??) Its super easy to lift the restrictions if we want - I have the password, and she will come to me and tell me what app she wants, and if its ok by me, we'll get it,and then put the restrictions back in place. And not that it matters, but ftr, she asked for the restrictions - she was struggling with social media sites and being able to put down the phone. My other kids don't have the same restrictions because they don't have the same struggles/needs. If that ever changes, we'll start having similar conversations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 If you want to simply turn off your internet to the phone temporarily, you can set the phone to 'airplane mode'. You can google how to do it, but it's really easy to do it from settings. Not sure if you can password protect it... ETA: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1355 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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