Blackberry Pearl Verizon

I am thinking of buying a BB Pearl with Verizon. They said in order to buy the phone i HAD TO get the BB data plan with that. I simply want to use it for voice and no internet or data at all. Does any one else use a BB device on the Verizon network? Is it true that i HAVE TO get the data plan with them and can't just have the voice plan?
FYI, i know for a fact none of the other major companies, Sprint, Tmo, ATT, make you get the data plan with a BB.