Is Data Service Required to Use Cell Phone Wi-Fi?

Cell phone data service is not necessary to use cell phone Wi-Fi. As long as a phone has a Wi-Fi radio and there is a network within range, access to network services is available without using the cell phone data service.

Features
Cell phones with Wi-Fi radios can take advantage of the faster data connections offered by Wi-Fi networks, while still having all of their applications housed in a portable cell phone.
 
Benefits In addition to faster data transfers, a cell phone's Wi-Fi connection also saves you money. Rather than paying per megabyte of data use or adding a costly data plan to your contract, a Wi-Fi connection offers data features for free, wherever there is Wi-Fi.
 
Identification You can identify if your phone has Wi-Fi by opening the settings menu and checking for an option to activate Wi-Fi services.
 
Potential The high speeds offered by Wi-Fi connections allow a phone to download software updates quickly, and the speeds even support the use of services such as Skype, which offers voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) phone service.

Warning If using an unsecured Wi-Fi connection, such as those available at coffee shops and airports, avoid sending personal information or making online purchases using your phone. The wireless data service is much more secure than a shared Wi-Fi connection.