Drop your iPhone data plan, keep voice

Ive been looking at iPhones for sometime now and my concern is the data plan. I live with a technologically inclined father who insists on having WiFi with repeaters set up so I could go to the grocery store on the other side of town and still pick up signal. I have no need for Edge and would rather spend the 20 bucks on unlimited text. Is there a way to drop all data and disable its usage but still have text?

This is ridiculous. I am not tied to the hip to my iPhone and only use WiFi when I want to go online or check mail. I never signed a contract when activating my iphone which I bought directly from the Apple Store and don't plan on spending $20 extra anytime soon. It IS possible to use the iPhone not under contract WITHOUT the EDGE feature. This was my intention from the get and I've verified that all I need to pay is my 40/month plan directly with AT&T, having them remove any extra text messaging/edge-related feature.
Get off the soapbox, if you want to pay extra then do it. If not, exercise your options.

Well, I have a hacked-iPhone on Cingular (aka AT&T). I called them today to ask them about putting an iPhone on AT&T w/out a dataplan. They said they couldn't do that. I then asked whether I could put an iPhone on AT&T and then drop the dataplan. They also said they couldn't do that. So, is there something I'm not understanding here? BTW, the guy had to go talk to his manager, as the rep. couldn't answer my question.

@ 19 Justin, and everyone else for that matter:

Callwave has launced a new free beta of a "voicemail to text" scheme for those who use its' (free) desktop sms widget. Documentation is few and far between, but it looks like it might be what you're looking for. They claim advantages over Google's Grand Central system. The only detriment for me is that by using it, one could incur long distance charges if not on a nationwide plan (I'm on T-Mob's regional 49.95 for 3000 anytime minutes, because I hate worrying about minutes).

I know it's veering off topic, but If anyone has used both, perhaps you'd relay your experiences?

Okay, I called AT&T and had a voicemail box put on the account, but I still don't receive notification when there is a new voicemail and the voicemail button trick doesn't seem to be working, anyone?

To anyone considering doing this: Note that it can simply be removed on the website, but cannot be added back online. Once you remove the "feature" it disappears completely from the optional features list. I assume you would have to call at&t to get it back.

I removed the data plan via the website and called AT&T and had medianet and all internet access blocked (no edge). Here's my problem, they said my voicemail box was tied to the data plan, now I have no voicemail box.

Anyone who has had the data removed, how do you get dial voicemail? Did you call AT&T and have them create a new voicemail box for you?

Also, did you use the *5005*86*xxx# trick to dial voicemail? If so, how did you find out what your three digit number was?

Thanks.

Why do you need a landline to check your voicemail ??? You can reprogram the "voicemail" button of the iPhone to call your ATT regular voicemail (not the visual one). No need for a landline...

Is there a way to actually do something about the voice part of iPhone plan? EDGE connection is mostly a good thing to have with the iPhone – come on, how many people have constant uninterrupted WiFi access everywhere they go? And it's just $20. Voice however is at LEAST $40!
I wonder where carriers got the idea that people buy pricier phones to talk more. I have like 3/4 of my minutes going unused every month. I'll probably rack up more than a day of talk time in rollovers by the end of the year this way!
And don't get me started on international messages. Not included, extra 20¢ each.

I did this the old-school way as soon as I got my phone. While having Internet access everywhere would be nice, I really don't need it as I have WiFi available nearly everywhere I go. Plus WiFi is way faster than EDGE.