I know this is not an Apple/iPhone forum but I've seen a number of users on here that have or had an iPhone so I thought I would just ask some general questions.
Right now I'm borrowing a friends 2G iPhone to try out, still trying to get my SIM working in it without adding data temporarily, but that's a whole different story. Anyways, I also want to get an HTC Fuze and just switch back and forth between the two phones depending on which one I want to carry that day.
I am aware they both have their positives and negatives, I do not want to turn this thread into a WinMo Vs. iPhone thread.
My main confusion lies in the data plan. I would like to have data with both phones. Can I add the iPhone plan to my account and then switch the SIM back and forth and use the iPhone plan for data on the Fuze? or would I have to purchase the PDA plan from ATT for the Fuze, add the iPhone data plan when I activate it and then call and cancel the iPhone data the next day and just use the PDA plan for both phones? or would I have to purchase two separate data plans? In which case, it's going to be a very tough decision on which phone I get.
Not sure how it works in the states but here in the UK a data plan is attached to a sim so, swapping a sim from one phone to another shouldn't make any diference.
For example, I have a TD and an Omnia and I can switch between the two fine without any issues or cost.
To be honest, your best bet would be an Iphone forum as the winmob device won't care but, i'm not sure how the Ipony works ... does it use "apple" specific transport/protocol/ports etc?
g8m3rtag said:
I know this is not an Apple/iPhone forum but I've seen a number of users on here that have or had an iPhone so I thought I would just ask some general questions.
Right now I'm borrowing a friends 2G iPhone to try out, still trying to get my SIM working in it without adding data temporarily, but that's a whole different story. Anyways, I also want to get an HTC Fuze and just switch back and forth between the two phones depending on which one I want to carry that day.
I am aware they both have their positives and negatives, I do not want to turn this thread into a WinMo Vs. iPhone thread.
My main confusion lies in the data plan. I would like to have data with both phones. Can I add the iPhone plan to my account and then switch the SIM back and forth and use the iPhone plan for data on the Fuze? or would I have to purchase the PDA plan from ATT for the Fuze, add the iPhone data plan when I activate it and then call and cancel the iPhone data the next day and just use the PDA plan for both phones? or would I have to purchase two separate data plans? In which case, it's going to be a very tough decision on which phone I get.
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Do you plan to purchase the two devices with a 1/2-year plan for each?
I plan on buying the 2G iPhone from my friend, so no contract obviously. The Fuze I plan on buying with a two year contract.
Any other iPhone users out there with some ideas?
g8m3rtag said:
..Any other iPhone users out there with some ideas?
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you dont need any other iPhone users mate, you have the attention of Menneisyys, if anyone can answer this for you.... he's the one
g8m3rtag said:
I plan on buying the 2G iPhone from my friend, so no contract obviously. The Fuze I plan on buying with a two year contract.
Any other iPhone users out there with some ideas?
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Then, you'll be able to just swap the card among the two phones. I'm continuously doing the same between my iPhone 3G and other PDA's and phones.
Monty Burns said:
you dont need any other iPhone users mate, you have the attention of Menneisyys, if anyone can answer this for you.... he's the one
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Lol, I guess so.
Menneisyys said:
Then, you'll be able to just swap the card among the two phones. I'm continuously doing the same between my iPhone 3G and other PDA's and phones.
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Click to collapse
So you just have the required iPhone data plan on your bill and it works with the iPhone as well as your other WinMo phones? So the easiest thing for me to do right now would be to put my SIM in the iPhone, activate it through iTunes, add the data plan. Eventually make my way to an ATT store to get the Fuze and just tell them I want a two year contract and no data, They'll put my SIM into the Fuze and then when I want to just go back to the iPhone swap my SIM into it?
Or should I go get the Fuze, tell them I don't want a data plan, they'll swap my SIM out of my current non-smartphone into it, then I put the SIM into the iPhone and activate it and the iPhone data plan?
Well, if you are on ATT, then as soon as you start using the iPhone with your sim, ATT will automatically change your entire plan (Calls + Data) to the iPhone plan, or atlest this was what was happening till a few months ago.
I had the 2g iphone for 13 days and I was able to use the 3g sim card and the data plan (not 3g though) on my stock att 8125. I think the main difference between plans is unlimited SMS.
I do not believe you can use an old sim to activate to an iphone, I might be wrong or outdated on this but my old sims and even my new one do not work with the iphone. I was told some time ago that only new 3g sim cards and the iphoen imei can activate for an iphone plan.
Am I outdated?
Well I'm on a family plan with my parents so I would hope it doesn't change the voice plan, only the data?
And what order should I activate the phones, should I do the iPhone through iTunes and then go get the Fuze or should I go sign the two year contract with the Fuze and then add the iPhone through iTunes?
If I sign a two year contract with the Fuze and then activate the iPhone through iTunes will they charge me the $175 ETF? I don't think they would since I believe the contract is for the line of service, not the device but I want to make sure?
Anyone got an idea on which way I should do it?
Your scenario is so specific that it is beyond my iphone experience. I think you should move over to the forums at wireless.att.com and ask over there. DARE I SAY...They are a good resource and has good depth of knowledge about sims/plans/iphone.
Maybe you can convince the 'Rents to allow you your own plan. Go to LetsTalk and get a free Fuze from Att. )
I cant wait for the iphone to come out on another provider...with a better data plan...
I like many of you, have a love for the newest, fastest phones, but am also around wifi all the time. Then comes the companies forcing us to buy data plans along with our phones. Currently with AT&T, I have a smartphone without a data plan, I believe it's because I got this before AT&T changed it's T&C about data plans. When I got a smartphone in the past, I would be required to have the data plan at first, but I would be able to cancel it after the first 30 days.
Looking at t-mobile, you cannot cancel the data plan or any other services during the life of the contract.
AT&T, will now add a data plan onto your account regardless
Verizion's terms and conditions page was apparently down for me
Sprint's terms and conditions are really abstract =(
Is there any way you can still get around the data plan requirement?
Possibly like I did with at&t before but also put a data block on the account to prevent them from adding a new data plan?
t-mobile is ok if i pay for the phone out of pocket with their no contract plan, but i'm looking to buy 4 smart phones, or at the very least 2.
anyone have any ideas about this issue?
please no arguments like: "the phone is meant to be used with a data plan"
because the phone is meant to be used with the internet and wifi = internet
kanwal236 said:
Is there any way you can still get around the data plan requirement?
Possibly like I did with at&t before but also put a data block on the account to prevent them from adding a new data plan?
t-mobile is ok if i pay for the phone out of pocket with their no contract plan, but i'm looking to buy 4 smart phones, or at the very least 2.
anyone have any ideas about this issue?
please no arguments like: "the phone is meant to be used with a data plan"
because the phone is meant to be used with the internet and wifi = internet
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Click to collapse
The only answer is to not sign a contract with the carrier. Buy a phone from a 3rd party, or pay the extra money up front for a no-contract.
Even then, most android phones are set to automatically transmit data back to the carrier, so you will have to go over all the settings very carefully to make sure that the carrier doesn't have a reason to charge you off-plan data rates.
As far as I know, the smaller carriers don't require a data plan for user-owned equipment. I know AT&T does for the iphone and I imagine that Verizon probably does for their android line
Background:
* I have 2 lines on Family Plan, both with "smartphone exclusion"
* On 1st line, I had Samsung Jack with Medianet Unlimited Plan for 2 years without any problems. Loved the unlimited data for $15 bucks w/ light WIFI and USB tethering, never exceeded 2-3 GB/month.
* On 2nd line, I had a dumb phone
Recently, I upgraded the dumb-phone to Infuse 4G at Best Buy, came home and switched the SIM back into a dumb-phone, called ATT, and had them take the data plan off. I understand that at this point I have lost "smartphone exclusion" on this line because I have upgraded.
Now I took the SIM from my 1st phone (Samsung Jack) and inserted in my Infuse. I used it for happy 3 weeks, no sms from ATT, unlimited data plan stayed on just fine. My billing cycle starts on the 4th; so, today I can see that my unlimited medianet data has been removed, but no data plan has been added (I think smartphone exclusion saved me), but when I look under usage, I can see
Data
GPRS MB WAP/BBRY/ISP 2GB DOM $10.00/1GB ADDL - HSSMTD4O
and then for my data usage, I see:
11.62 MB of 2048 MB
My interpretation is that technically if I wanted to, I could just disable data on my phone, and I wouldn't be forced into a data plan, but they are making sure I can't take advantage of the MediaNet plan either. Any thoughts?
I'm thinking of selling the Infuse and getting a non-ATT smartphone.
Any insightful comments would be appreciated. Please don't bother posting if you don't know what 'smartphone exclusion" is. Or, please don't make a reference to ATT TOC. Thanks!
sumeet909 said:
Background:
* I have 2 lines on Family Plan, both with "smartphone exclusion"
* On 1st line, I had Samsung Jack with Medianet Unlimited Plan for 2 years without any problems. Loved the unlimited data for $15 bucks w/ light WIFI and USB tethering, never exceeded 2-3 GB/month.
* On 2nd line, I had a dumb phone
Recently, I upgraded the dumb-phone to Infuse 4G at Best Buy, came home and switched the SIM back into a dumb-phone, called ATT, and had them take the data plan off. I understand that at this point I have lost "smartphone exclusion" on this line because I have upgraded.
Now I took the SIM from my 1st phone (Samsung Jack) and inserted in my Infuse. I used it for happy 3 weeks, no sms from ATT, unlimited data plan stayed on just fine. My billing cycle starts on the 4th; so, today I can see that my unlimited medianet data has been removed, but no data plan has been added (I think smartphone exclusion saved me), but when I look under usage, I can see
Data
GPRS MB WAP/BBRY/ISP 2GB DOM $10.00/1GB ADDL - HSSMTD4O
and then for my data usage, I see:
11.62 MB of 2048 MB
My interpretation is that technically if I wanted to, I could just disable data on my phone, and I wouldn't be forced into a data plan, but they are making sure I can't take advantage of the MediaNet plan either. Any thoughts?
I'm thinking of selling the Infuse and getting a non-ATT smartphone.
Any insightful comments would be appreciated. Please don't bother posting if you don't know what 'smartphone exclusion" is. Or, please don't make a reference to ATT TOC. Thanks!
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Click to collapse
More than likely eventually they will get you on the Infuse for the regular Smartphone data plan when the system realized the IMEI is from an Infuse.
MisterEdF said:
More than likely eventually they will get you on the Infuse for the regular Smartphone data plan when the system realized the IMEI is from an Infuse.
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OK, then the remaining option is to get unlimited plan via iPhone 2g route, correct?
I think they could not put me on data plan, but they've put me on some kind of "pay per use" data plan with 2GB/$25 to start of. If I don't use any data, I don't pay anything, but if I use even just 1MB, they charge me $25 that month. Smart move by ATT. So, the medianet option is over.
Unlimited Data Grandfathered
AT&Ts Policy is ,"If they squal loud enough,let them keep their data" I have an Inspire & an Iphone 4 both with 30.00 per month Unlimited Data,Rooted for no Additional Cost for Internet Tethering & Hotspot Use, I came from Blackjack and Palm SMartphones ,said I was leaving for another carrier after I was told I could have a 200mb or 2 gig Data Plan with Overage fees after my Limits were reached,Supervisor was questioned by AT&T Operator and Data was Grandfathered,I have since added a 3rd Line with the Infuse and have Unlimited on that and never even had a 3rd line on the old Plan. SQUEAL LIKE A PIG!!
don't know what smartphone exclusion is but i'm still going to post and ask what is it?
and to my knowledge, when you bought the infuse 4g, the data plan is bounded by the contract for 2 years, how did you tell them to take it off?
Want an unreasonable request granted write the oop.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
seeing how i am a sales rep with at&t i will chime in with some thoughts to your question... your old medianet plan isn't compatible with the 4g phone vs wap.cingular apn the new 4G android phones use. So for starters with out modification your internet never would have worked without adding new apn's to the phone.
What happened was, you were correct when your said, your line was grandfathered with smartphone exclusion but that was only for the IMEI of the device that code was added to your account with. The second you changed that data device on that line to another data device, I am willing to bet that code was removed from your line as you lost your grandfather clause by changing device type / IMEI. Thus your plan was changed.
What happened was now since you put your other lines sim card in the phone, it also saw the IMEI didn't match the data plan you had. Removed it, and added the standard 2GB 4G phone data plan to your line. It is not pay per use, you are now most likely being charged $25/month for 2GB of data, the next plan down is $15 for 200MB of data per month, the next plan up is $45 for 4GB of data w/mobile hotspot feature.
Unless you go back to your old phone you can not get your old plan back, that is if you can even get that old plan back as it isn't in the system anymore to my knowledge unless you get a rep with grandfathered plan access over the phone.
You maybe able to call and get a lucky rep to get you on a $30 unlimited plan as you had unlimited before, but they will most likely reject it as it was a different phone/data plan type, otherwise it would have carried over as a $30 unlimited plan automatically when the system changed it.
This is just my 2 cents. I hoped this answered your question without getting in to the TOS as you stated lol
Disclaimer: These thoughts are my own, and don't represent those of at&t.
sumeet909 said:
OK, then the remaining option is to get unlimited plan via iPhone 2g route, correct?
I think they could not put me on data plan, but they've put me on some kind of "pay per use" data plan with 2GB/$25 to start of. If I don't use any data, I don't pay anything, but if I use even just 1MB, they charge me $25 that month. Smart move by ATT. So, the medianet option is over.
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Click to collapse
You're not on "pay Per Use" you are on the $25/month 2gig plan unless this is some new secret plan they have. Yes, you probably could do the "iPhone 2G trick
and get unlimited for $30/month.
Hate to be blunt, but you fubared it. The only way to do what you want to is buy an unlocked non att phone with the right gsm radio, and use a feature phone, get the ten dollar unlimited plan, then switch sim to unbranded phone setup apn for att. Not That I've ever done it but a lot of people do. There is also straight talk. 50$a month unlimited everything, but only two of Their phones have the necessary unlocked sim at200$.
CM7, Nightly. Captivate
Vegaslightsss said:
AT&Ts Policy is ,"If they squal loud enough,let them keep their data" I have an Inspire & an Iphone 4 both with 30.00 per month Unlimited Data,Rooted for no Additional Cost for Internet Tethering & Hotspot Use, I came from Blackjack and Palm SMartphones ,said I was leaving for another carrier after I was told I could have a 200mb or 2 gig Data Plan with Overage fees after my Limits were reached,Supervisor was questioned by AT&T Operator and Data was Grandfathered,I have since added a 3rd Line with the Infuse and have Unlimited on that and never even had a 3rd line on the old Plan. SQUEAL LIKE A PIG!!
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Click to collapse
Thanks! I can do this since I am well within the return policy and other 2 lines have no contract.
shadow65781 said:
Hate to be blunt, but you fubared it. The only way to do what you want to is buy an unlocked non att phone with the right gsm radio, and use a feature phone, get the ten dollar unlimited plan, then switch sim to unbranded phone setup apn for att. Not That I've ever done it but a lot of people do. There is also straight talk. 50$a month unlimited everything, but only two of Their phones have the necessary unlocked sim at200$.
CM7, Nightly. Captivate
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Click to collapse
Agreed. Let me ask you another question then, could I ebay the Infuse, buy an unlocked Galaxy S2 (International version), call them and give them IMEI of dumb phone and get the $15 plan? I did mess it up, but I'm within the 30 day return policy window to fix it; just need to find best way out.
AEDan1977 said:
seeing how i am a sales rep with at&t i will chime in with some thoughts to your question... your old medianet plan isn't compatible with the 4g phone vs wap.cingular apn the new 4G android phones use. So for starters with out modification your internet never would have worked without adding new apn's to the phone.
What happened was, you were correct when your said, your line was grandfathered with smartphone exclusion but that was only for the IMEI of the device that code was added to your account with. The second you changed that data device on that line to another data device, I am willing to bet that code was removed from your line as you lost your grandfather clause by changing device type / IMEI. Thus your plan was changed.
What happened was now since you put your other lines sim card in the phone, it also saw the IMEI didn't match the data plan you had. Removed it, and added the standard 2GB 4G phone data plan to your line. It is not pay per use, you are now most likely being charged $25/month for 2GB of data, the next plan down is $15 for 200MB of data per month, the next plan up is $45 for 4GB of data w/mobile hotspot feature.
Unless you go back to your old phone you can not get your old plan back, that is if you can even get that old plan back as it isn't in the system anymore to my knowledge unless you get a rep with grandfathered plan access over the phone.
You maybe able to call and get a lucky rep to get you on a $30 unlimited plan as you had unlimited before, but they will most likely reject it as it was a different phone/data plan type, otherwise it would have carried over as a $30 unlimited plan automatically when the system changed it.
This is just my 2 cents. I hoped this answered your question without getting in to the TOS as you stated lol
Disclaimer: These thoughts are my own, and don't represent those of at&t.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before I started using Infuse, I did Google this APN thingy and I had setup a new APN for Infuse rather than using the default one.
2nd: Actually, "smartphone exclusion" is still there. That is the strange part, but yes, to your point, it doesn't apply after equipment change - this has been mentioned by your co-workers and I understand it now.
I just need to call them and start yelling. Technically I'm within the 30 day return policy (or is it 14?). Plus, other 2 lines are not in contract. Otherwise, T-Mobile, here we come.....
tjy8tim said:
don't know what smartphone exclusion is but i'm still going to post and ask what is it?
and to my knowledge, when you bought the infuse 4g, the data plan is bounded by the contract for 2 years, how did you tell them to take it off?
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Click to collapse
Before Sept 2009, AT&T didn't require data plans w/ smartphones. So, After Sept 4, 2009 they required everyone to buy a data plan w/ smartphone. Customers who owned a smartphone prior to that date, were not required to purchase a smartphone and a feature was added to their accounts called "smartphone exclusion". I owned a Samsung Jack prior to that data. After I got "smartphone exclusion", I added $15 media-net and had it for about 2 years. To preserve that feature, I never upgraded my line; I actually upgraded my sister's line to get a new phone and then switched the SIM cards. Alas, that loophole has been shut. AT&T has a crawler in place that checks this and adds data plans unless you have the same equipment IMEI that you got the smartphone with.
I might need to research if IMEI spoofing is possible/legal. Otherwise, might just buy an unlocked non-ATT smartphone.
Do you have a recommendation for non-ATT smartphone that measures up to Infuse?
sumeet909 said:
Do you have a recommendation for non-ATT smartphone that measures up to Infuse?
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Click to collapse
Galaxy s2 from Europe. Amazon carries it 600 bones and its yours, or you could get a nexus one with att radio, not sure about it but the nexus s might be unbranded.
Read something last night, after nexus s released on att they caught people who bought it prior to release. Forced them to “rip off" data plan.
CM7, Nightly. Captivate
shadow65781 said:
Galaxy s2 from Europe. Amazon carries it 600 bones and its yours, or you could get a nexus one with att radio, not sure about it but the nexus s might be unbranded.
CM7, Nightly. Captivate
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Click to collapse
I'm getting ready to bail out Europe by approx 600. That's quite an amount, but ATT is despicable - the lag and bloatware on Infuse is unacceptable and the data restrictions just kill the experience. God save the Euro, USD are on their way.
sumeet909 said:
I'm getting ready to bail out Europe by approx 600. That's quite an amount, but ATT is despicable - the lag and bloatware on Infuse is unacceptable and the data restrictions just kill the experience. God save the Euro, USD are on their way.
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Click to collapse
Any updates on what you did? Did you just buy the GSII and use your old $15 unlimited plan?
Infuse is on sale on Craigslist. As soon as it is sold, I will use those proceeds to order a European GS2. Strange, it is so difficult to get rid off Android products compared to Apple Snapple. If I don't get good price, I might just end up returning it since I am within 30 day return period. I was hoping to subsidize the GSII cost.
oofie said:
Any updates on what you did? Did you just buy the GSII and use your old $15 unlimited plan?
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