their phones? I have the Env3 right now and i'm going to get rid of it because its such a glitchy phone, if i buy a phone over ebay? or something will i be required to do the $9.99 data plan?
If you get the phone from Verizon Wireless, they require the $9.99 data plan minimum so that they can recover part of the cost of the phone that they subsidize. For example, when you pay $99 for a Motorola Droid, Verizon WIreless actually had to pay Motorola like $500 for it. They make up the difference between what you paid and what they paid in monthly fees.
Sadly, though, even if you purchase a device from eBay or a friend, etc., when you call to activate it, they will require the data plan. This is because it's their policy for all smart phones.