Dumb phones can also be tethered to a laptop. I know that it is hard coded and that is exactly why it is so hard to do. I know to people who are using Centros as we speak on Verizon as a dumbphone.
Get an iPhone, sell it, and buy a dumb phone from ebay
doesnt verizon give you problems if you upgrade to a smartphone and then switch back to a basic?
Centro
Verizon seems to consider that a smartphone now
-1.Just need to talk to a competent rep.