you will end up needing the data plan. i have done several research on this (i want one myself, without going through AT&T) and you WILL end up needing it.
Yeah I actually have a buddy who works for AT&T and he told me the same thing, so I'm either A) hoping to just use the wifi or B) gonna have to **** it up and pay the 30 bucks a month, lol **** it. we'll see.