Database Info

Pay as you go or contract what's the best??

Is it better to be on a pay as you go or contract if you intend to use your phone for surfing. I recently managed to get on the Internet using my phone (pay as you go Virgin on the back of tmobile) but it cost me over 1 pound 50 pence for what I don't believe was very long. I was only looking at google. Is this correct?? I am not sure how this only pay for downloads works. surely if you go to google you must download the pages you put in for a search? and then if you drill further down you must download more and more data. Someone told me you only pay if you download attachments etc?? What is true. Would appreciate any replies to get my thinking straight.
John

All data transferred to from your device is counted. An allowance is usually made for connect disconnect overhead. I found it extremely easy to run up a couple of megs

I manage to get 300 minutes free internet on O2 payg, just topup a tenner a month and you get the free internet using the settings on this board, gprs too, the gprs just saves time logging on, there is no speedgain when surfing. You get full access to internet, I use it to check my ebay sales and to access this board sometimes, its also great for winning pub bets as you have access to all the info. 8) You also get 300 free sms text messages or a mix of multimedia messages and sms free. The phone calls arent that cheap but you get your full tenners worth of calls along with the freebies. The sms freebie is worth 30 quid alone. You cannot rollover any free internet time or unused sms. There are many bolt ons available also.
I also use Tesco payg, you get 3 favorite numbers which give half price calls to any mobile or landline, that works out at 10p per minute, standard calls to any mobile or landline are 20p a minute. I am going to get a dual sim holder so I can use O2 for sms and internet and Tesco for calls.

cruisin-thru said:
...just topup a tenner a month and you get the free internet using the settings on this board, gprs too...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
free GPRS with 02 Uk? Have I understood this right? Can you tell me how, or point me towards these Magical settings?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=12334&highlight=
* I recommend deleting any existing GPRS settings you have under the work connection settings before entering these to avoid confusion *
1. Go to Start -> Settings -> Connections Tab -> Connections.
2. You'll see 2 sets of option links. 'My ISP' and 'Work'. Under the work links, choose 'Add a new modem connection'.
3. Name for connection: o2 gprs. Modem: Cellular Line (GPRS). Tap Next.
4. Access Point Name: payandgo.o2.co.uk
5. Username: payandgo
6. Password: password
7. Tap Finish.
8. Back in the connections settings screen, tap 'Edit My Proxy Server'.
9. Tick 'This network connects to the Internet' and 'This network uses a proxy server to connect to the Internet'.
10. In the proxy server box enter: 193.113.200.195
11. Tap OK.
12. Back in the connections settings screen, tap the Advanced tab.
13. Tap 'Select Networks'
14. In both drop down boxes choose 'Work' as the connection. Tap OK.
15. Tap OK again.
16. You are now ready to surf o2 pay as you go gprs full internet.

thanks cruisin-thru...
Do those settings give you free GPRS access then? i.e. Is this some kinda 'back door' to 02 GPRS?
I'm on 02 contract with 250 mins a month which I don't normally use completely. From your other posts, do I understand that I can use those minutes when I want to surf the web? I have a GPRS connection and a WAP network GPRS connection available to me when I tap the Connectivity icon but I've do idea why... Is one of them normal cost-per-MB GPRS and one a cost-per-minute connection, perhaps, which I can use with My free contract minutes?

I am referring to payg only, I have no knowledge of contract costs and whether you can use the free minutes for internet over gprs.

Aaah. OK. Never mind - thanks though.

does this work on the 300free txt o2 sims?
I cant get it to work on my xda 2, ive checked the connection settings over and over
it connects but no pages load "The page you are looking for cannot be found"

Ryan, yes it works with that sim, have you double checked the settings, the proxy and the work settings?

well yes and no..
ive got the GPRS settings menu with the authentication types etc what should they be set at.
And for some reason i dont have "Work" tab mines been renamed somehow and if i try reaming it back it says work already exists ive checked the proxy settings etc.
Any way i can restore the settings back to orginal or use a pre setup settings fine?
Thanks

I delete all settings before inserting those listed. You dont have to name a new setting, "work" is chosen from the drop down menu.

o2 payg xda2
Yeah it does work fine.I've used internet for sometime with no charge as yet!!
The only thing is,email doesn't connect.Is there an answer to this anyone.I think it's because email needs an isp connection.Thanks to anyone.

There seem to be a number of conflicts of understanding showing in this topic, much due to O2's less than transparent pricing and information policies.
First though, the difference between GSM WAP/Web and GPRS. Any tariff which mentions Minutes refers to GSM (=dialup) only. Anything referring to Data volume relates to GPRS.
GPRS is a digital connection piggybacked onto the normal GSM signal, and is theoretically up to 6X faster than GSM, and is capable of being "Always On" like domestic broadband. Most times, the speed is only about 2-3 times faster due to network congestion.
The Free GPRS WAP was offered by O2 on some of its PAYG plans, and on some PostPay contracts. AFAIK this has now been discontinued, but some PAYG plans do give 1Mb free GPRS as long as you top up £10 in a month. Current WAP GPRS charge is £2.35 per Mb, and the billing is often up to 2 months behind so if you have an older PAYG SIM, and think your GPRS is free, make really sure before you go merrily surfing!
The ability to make settings changes to the XDA II Work Connection (which is actually the WAP APN) is due to the proliferation of more advanced phones like the Nokia 660 which allow enhanced WAP, by using a proxy setting to enable Web content over WAP. This was a great workaround earlier this year when all WAP GPRS was free. This APN does not and will not allow MSN and POP3 email, except for the O2.co.uk domain.
O2 are now starting to offer cheaper GPRS bundles as "Bolt-On's"- currently Data 36 giving 36Mb of GPRS for £17 per month, plus the old Data5 at £8 (?) per month.
As to the original question- what is better, PostPay or PAYG, at the moment, the GPRS charges are the same, for new customers. WAP or Web is £2.35 per Mb, but bolt-ons favour PostPay customers. PAYG remains an expensive way to make phone calls!

Thanks for explanation.So I might not be connecting gprs,and a bill in two months.Wow.

lovemyxda said:
Thanks for explanation.So I might not be connecting gprs,and a bill in two months.Wow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will know you are connecting via GPRS cos the signal icon changes to show the 2 horizontal arrows.
And the 2 month GPRS charge delay is extreme- more commonly 2-3 weeks. That is on an online contract- can't give any definitive times for PAYG, but I can't see them being much different.

I have never been charged, there is free access bundled with the monthly topup.

Thanks to everyone for replying to this topic as it has made it a lot clearer, I will look at the option crusin-thru stated and those referenced by NeilM. Much appreciated..thanxs j

cruisin-thru said:
I have never been charged, there is free access bundled with the monthly topup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How old is your PAYG SIM card?
I think the T&C's changed about 3 months ago, so you anyone buying a PAYG SIM since then will only get the 1st 1Mb free, with £10 top-up

Thanks Neil I asm PAYasuG on virgin for over 2 years expensive I know but not being a large phone/text user then it is expensive. If I want to upgrade my phone I realise I can buy on ebay/private etc but it would probably be better biting the bullet and buying a contract to get the upgrade. Thanks john

Opera using 3G / EDGE?

I just signed up for a regular plan without the "data plan" meaning i dont get wireless internet. I plan on only using WiFi, but i just tried using opera, and typed in yahoo.com and it started to go to the site with wifi off.
How can i completely shut off internet except for wifi so i dont get charged!!!!
blahhh!

One way would be by going to Start / Settings / Connections (tab), press the Connections icon and then the link "Manage my existing connections" and ensure that no connections are set up. If there any just delete them.

A safer way would be to call your carrier and have them disable data on the account so it is their responsibility not yours. (had to do it for my son's phone)

Hi Here is an application
Hi Here is an application (cab) by installing it you can disable or able your GPRS/3G connection whenever you like.

[help] internet trouble.

This phone is bugging me. ill be home, where I have low/no service, ill try to connect to wifi, but the phone will try to connect to gprs/3g. then sometimes ill have service and it wont connect at all. IE will work but not opera or some other programs. WIFI is searching 24/7 telling when theres a connection. anyone else have this problem?
I want to leave wifi on but only connect to networks registered.
I want if there's no 3g connect to wifi if available.
seems simple to me. possible? maybe i need to change some settings?

There is "no data" but that don't really solve the problem.
I have expereinced the same, especialy if I have low signal then the gprs/3g connections starts up.
It would be neat with an application that gave you a pop up where you had to confirm that you want to connect thru anything other than wifi or bluetooth.

I have the nodata program on my phone and it works great. Search the forum for the program and if you cant find it tell me and I'll attach the .cab

jaszek said:
I have the nodata program on my phone and it works great. Search the forum for the program and if you cant find it tell me and I'll attach the .cab
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
whats the program do

http://letmegooglethatforyou.com/?q=nodata+pocketpc

aonavy said:
whats the program do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NoData is probably not what you're looking for. It will allow you to disable traffic through a selected data connection. But it must be enabled / disabled manually. Sounds like you're looking for something that will toggle automatically, giving priority / preference to your WiFi connection when it's available.
There's a program called CommMgrPro that will do what you're looking for. That is, enable and disable connections based on things like cell tower location, detection of WiFi, etc. There's also a forum page for the program here.
A program called Bandswitch (at the same site as CommMgr Pro) will do similar to NoData, except it will let you choose enable / disable based on Time of day presets.
Also here in the forum you can find a program called WifiLocations. It will do similar to the first program above above. If you search the forum there are a few more (some free) programs that will do what you're looking for. Good luck!

My problem with the nodata program is that I can't seem to disable gprs/3g traffic while using wifi. It might be that I have an old version, but I have found many times that even with nodata running in the background with disabled data traffic, it still connects me if I loose my wifi connection.

hotmail said:
NoData is probably not what you're looking for. It will allow you to disable traffic through a selected data connection. But it must be enabled / disabled manually. Sounds like you're looking for something that will toggle automatically, giving priority / preference to your WiFi connection when it's available.
There's a program called CommMgrPro that will do what you're looking for. That is, enable and disable connections based on things like cell tower location, detection of WiFi, etc. There's also a forum page for the program here.
A program called Bandswitch (at the same site as CommMgr Pro) will do similar to NoData, except it will let you choose enable / disable based on Time of day presets.
Also here in the forum you can find a program called WifiLocations. It will do similar to the first program above above. If you search the forum there are a few more (some free) programs that will do what you're looking for. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you very much for the info. I think I sorta fixed it pretty well on my own.Still need the toggle off and on though.
I hard resetted it with out the bloat. then configured my interenet like this:
http://forums.wireless.att.com/cng/board/message?board.id=cingular&message.id=110811
then i went to sounds/notifications in settings, i think, and disabled the wifi notification.
seems to work pretty well.

i take back what i said.it goes in and out. I had 3g service and it said I was connected to media net, but it wouldnt let me get to the net. this phone is a pain when it comes to internet and gps

what do you guys have for internet settings under start>settings>connections>connections>advanced>select network
what setup do i use in the first in the first box and the which setup in the second.
mine 1st media net
2nd my work network (whatever that is)

aonavy said:
i take back what i said.it goes in and out. I had 3g service and it said I was connected to media net, but it wouldnt let me get to the net. this phone is a pain when it comes to internet and gps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Edit your MEdiaNet connection settings so your proxy is DISABLED. If it is enabled your WiFi will try to use it too - which is not possible. Unchecking the proxy will have have no discernible impact to your browsing speed when you are using the AT&T data connection.
aonavy said:
what do you guys have for internet settings under start>settings>connections>connections>advanced>select network
what setup do i use in the first in the first box and the which setup in the second.
mine 1st media net
2nd my work network (whatever that is)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can safely set both to MEdiaNet. If you have WiFi enabled and you're connected to your access point it will take precedent over your GPRS (Edge) or UMTS (3G) connection. It is not necessary to disable the AT&T data connection if you are connected and browsing over your WiFi connection. As soon as you turn off or lose your WiFi signal, your phone will go back to using the AT&T data connection.

hotmail said:
Edit your MEdiaNet connection settings so your proxy is DISABLED. If it is enabled your WiFi will try to use it too - which is not possible. Unchecking the proxy will have have no discernible impact to your browsing speed when you are using the AT&T data connection.
You can safely set both to MEdiaNet. If you have WiFi enabled and you're connected to your access point it will take precedent over your GPRS (Edge) or UMTS (3G) connection. It is not necessary to disable the AT&T data connection if you are connected and browsing over your WiFi connection. As soon as you turn off or lose your WiFi signal, your phone will go back to using the AT&T data connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
okay..thanks for the post.
set media net for both and disable proxy and I should be okay correct?
2 questions:
how do I disable the the proxy? delete wap.cingular from the settings? click disable proxy icon?
also i heard if you have one of these disable you cant use your mms?

up up up and away...

[Q] How to force the phone to never use anything but wifi?

I sometimes uses the wifi connection to surf the web on my touch pro, problem is that the wifi reciver don't look to be very strong so sometimes I loose the connection, especially if I'm moving around.
I have found the program nodata, but it doesn't seem to work that well. Even if I activate nodata and have it running in the background while surfing the phone still connects to gprs/3g connection if the signal is lost. My guess is that if I click a link after I loose the wifi connection the phone seem to override the funtion of nodata. Is there any other software that I can use instead?
I want the phone to wait until a wifi connection is established again instead of changing to a 3g/gprs connection.

I'm not sure. Once I removed all the data connection settings, but then I couldn't use the data ever. I've been keeping an eye for a program that does this, but it seems that everyone under the sun other than me has a data plan.

hahaha yo are noy allone out there, I would alslo like to know how to disable data conection.

the answer - modaco nodata. Its not the neatest but the only one
EDIT: and also you can do this in Advanced Configuration Tool from "connections" menu item. If you want a more permament solution (because of the long way to the choise in the app)
All the apps I mention are really easy to google for

darfri said:
the answer - modaco nodata. Its not the neatest but the only one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes...nodata is the one you want.....just search and you shall find

Not sure if this helps but when I handed down my Hermes to my Father in Law just so he could use it for phone calls and TomTom (via BT GPS). I had AT&T block all data so he can only use wifi.
It works great! when his wifi is turned off and he tried to go to the web it says connection refused.

Thanks for the input guys, but nodata don't seem to help me. It's the software I use now, but it seems that somethign is able to override the nodata software leading the phone to dial up when the wifi connection gets a low signal.
I'll give the Advanced Configuration Tool a go, but it seems to be a lot of work going in there turning things off, just to go back and activate them again if I want to check my mail "in the field".

I have an at&t Fuze with no data plan, just unlimited text/mms. I cannot disable data by using Modaco's NoData because mms requires Media Net.
What I have done so that all apps use WiFi is the follows:
Under Start / Settings, select the Connections tab.
Launch Connections.
Select Advanced tab.
Click on Select Networks.
Under Network Management, change "Programs that automatically connect to the Internet should connect using:" to "My Work Network".
With this setting, I don't have Internet connection unless WiFi is active, which is what I want. Maybe the Touch Pro has something similar.

Thanks icwinner, that seem to have made the trick.

Can I turn off data plan access on AT&T Smart Phone?

So I've had this HTC S743 for about 5 days and I thought I had it setup correctly to use wifi for data comm.
wifi enabled and selected to use my home network. I can see the radio tower status icon and my locally named network is also displayed.
Under the comm manager the data connection is off.
I have a very simple $45/mo plan with no monthly data plan.
Over the last 5 days I have been surfing the web a bit did some email tests with my ISP and used the on board GPS app which is horrible. Not heavy usage but experimentation to see if I like how the phone works.
After 2 days I get an email from AT&T that I have extremely high data usage exceeding my account limit (for having no monthly plan) and that I should sign up for a data plan at once.
$29 over 2 days for this little bit of fluff? A total of 2,900kb in data.
So I call up AT&T and they tell me this and that and want me to sign up for a plan which I may do. But I want to be able to know that the datacomm is happening via WIFI when I can see a selected WIFI is in service.
They also told me that all GPS data is forced through 3G and bypasses WIFI???
Can anyone here give me an idea about what I may be doing wrong and whether AT&T is correct about the GPS service?
Is there a better GPS app that doesn't do this? This one pretty much stinks anyway. A resolution of 1000 meters doesn't cut it.
AT&T also informed me that I can't have a smart phone without a data contract. Really? I've had one for 6 years like that but it wasn't WIFI capabale and too small to bother with web access.
Thanks for any light you shed on the subject.
One thing I have subsequently found out is that if data connection is off and WIFI is off then when I go into IE and start surfing it does bring up pages. Then when I go back to the Comm Manager the Data Connection to check the status of my connections it is still off for an instant and then it automatically turns itself on as though it had been turned on by use of IE and the status was just being updated.
Last night I installed a newer version of Google maps and was only able to install it via the web browser as opposed to via the Activesynch application on my PC. I was concerned that this might trigger turning on the 3G connection. So I had it set up for a WIFI connection ONLY and installed the app. Afterwards I went into the connection manager and once again the data conn. was turned back on so it's possible that it utilized AT&T's 3G network instead.
Is there any way to control or stop this?

GPS data doesn't have anything to do with 3G/Wifi data......

I know it's supposed to be positioning via the satellites through the GPS antenna but the the description data is coming over the network right? So it appears that even though I'm setup for WIFI access and it's showing as connected with an IP address etc. when I try the Googlemaps GPS app it turns the data conn. for 3G back on.
Thanks for chiming in ...
I have been copying over and installing some new apps to try out this morning via usb. WIFI is on and I'm loged in. None are datacomm oriented that I know of (unless they'r trying to make an internet access to notify about being installed) none the less I just checked again and my data conn. is once again turned back on. Is this typical behavior for a windows mobile phone (6.1) or is this just an AT&T "feature".

Sorry, I don't have a WM6 phone!