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I don't know if this is the appropriate place for this..
anyway I have an HTC Fuze. I just got off the phone with ATT and had my data enabled. I got the 30 dollar unlimited messaging and data plan. does this only apply to some media max garbage, or can I use Opera and browse the web without getting charged rediculiously
It is unlimited. You can download and use the internet as much as you want, and to your content. There are 2 different versions of the internet on ATT.
The $15 MEdia Net for "dumb" phones, that has limited internet.
The $30 PDA Unlimited Plan that has unlimited/full internet.
amarpatel said:
I don't know if this is the appropriate place for this..
anyway I have an HTC Fuze. I just got off the phone with ATT and had my data enabled. I got the 30 dollar unlimited messaging and data plan. does this only apply to some media max garbage, or can I use Opera and browse the web without getting charged rediculiously
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this with my Fuze for about 2 months now. No Problems. Download things, Use Opera, Google Maps, and have no charges yet! Except for the $30 a month for the data plan.
wow this is great. unlimited data and text for 30 bucks a month. I'm posting this from my fuze!
amarpatel said:
wow this is great. unlimited data and text for 30 bucks a month. I'm posting this from my fuze!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whats the plan called where you get the unlimited Internet AND Texts?
PwnCakes193 said:
Whats the plan called where you get the unlimited Internet AND Texts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MediaWorks Unlimited, you need to sign up with a non-PDA IMEI, (or call customer service and change IMEI on record), $30 will get you unlimited messaging and unlimited internet. Tethering is also possible if you use \windows\intshrui.exe. Yes, everything ATT wants to charge $60+ for is entirely technically possible on a $15 data plan. There are no functional differences between MediaNet Unlimited and PDA Personal.
Keep in mind that the $30 plan does not allow for tethering your FUze to a laptop, that plan is like $50/month. BUT... there's a way around it so that you can still use the cheaper plan and get tethering on your laptop. It requires a registry hack, if anybody is interested let me know and I'll find the reg keys and post them here.
I remember reading some fine print verbage a while back stating that they generally limit you to 5gb of data transfer per month. On the rare chance they notice you're getting anywhere in that range they might investigate your usage and start charging you per kb over - most likely to dissuade you from downloading pr0n, warez, and mp3z.
ginhou said:
I remember reading some fine print verbage a while back stating that they generally limit you to 5gb of data transfer per month. On the rare chance they notice you're getting anywhere in that range they might investigate your usage and start charging you per kb over - most likely to dissuade you from downloading pr0n, warez, and mp3z.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Give me pr0n or give me death!!!
k-semler said:
There are no functional differences between MediaNet Unlimited and PDA Personal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmmm I dont think they are the same my friend. One allows you to connect to isp.cingular and use [email protected] ( Supposedly able to precache certain pages for PDA'S to make them load faster ) as your log on and apn. I have noticed that depending on my area, I get MUCH better throughput / lower latencies depending on my area.
Just my opinion though I suppose
ginhou said:
I remember reading some fine print verbage a while back stating that they generally limit you to 5gb of data transfer per month. On the rare chance they notice you're getting anywhere in that range they might investigate your usage and start charging you per kb over - most likely to dissuade you from downloading pr0n, warez, and mp3z.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats a possibility for AT&T,
For Verizon (Like myself), we get unlimited, period. They cannot turn us off, or charge us for going over. They can however slow us down if we reach 5GB, but still if they charge us per kb if we go over 5GB then theres trouble.
the 5GB limit before charges applies only to their tethering plan, which you need to pay double for. However you can just use wmwifirouter or something else to do it.
Note. According to their ToS, And legal docs, they can shut you down for doing things against their terms which are
Hosting a server
Streaming data FROM your phone (Not to it)
and torrenting.
however, they cannot terminate your contract for tethering without their software, nor can they change your plan.
would love to get the hack.
smittyofdhs said:
Keep in mind that the $30 plan does not allow for tethering your FUze to a laptop, that plan is like $50/month. BUT... there's a way around it so that you can still use the cheaper plan and get tethering on your laptop. It requires a registry hack, if anybody is interested let me know and I'll find the reg keys and post them here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i used to have my fuze ready to go. then i traded in for a refurb. now i cant remember what i did to tether.
thanks
amarpatel said:
wow this is great. unlimited data and text for 30 bucks a month. I'm posting this from my fuze!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a ATT Fuze with unlimited internet for $30 but the text messaging is seperate from the $30 internet, its like $5 a month for 200 texts or $20 for unlimited texting.
Yeah around here the only thing you can get for AT&T as the absolute minimum per month is the 450 anytime minutes for $40\Month, then the 200 messaging plan for $5, and the data plan for $30\month. That's $75 a month. 200 messages isnt NEARLY enough per month, I really need to have unlimited, which is $20\month. So that is $90 a month. That's way too much! Thats why when I get my Fuze I will not be going with the Data plan. $60 per month is still a lot.
Hi!
I will soon travel to London for a while and I realized I have no idea whatsoever on what providers exist over there and which is the best.
I will mainly use it for 3G (or are there lots of free WiFi-spots?) and phoning home to Sweden. I will probably need to send SMS and call inside UK sometimes to, but mostly Sweden. It should be a prepaid alternative.
Any recommendations?
I used an Orange card when I was there for a few days last winter. I used it for calls and texts, but I think they had 4 different pre-paid plans, depending on your preferences. It was cheap, and I'd use them again.
Thank you
Best coverage is vodafone, cheapest pay-as-go is orange (£1/day data). Vodafone has 3g pay-as-go, but cannot get 3g on my orange pay-as-go. Many wi-fi hotspots around. Best look at vodafone/orange websites - they are the biggest & best in UK
I'm with O2 and can't really fault them, but Vodafone currently have a deal where you don't pay extra for roaming, so you could take it back to Sweeden and not get caught for extra cash (check terms and conditions though...) O2 do a 'bolt on' which you can buy unlimted web data for a fixed fee (was about £7.50 when I subscribed).
Lots of free wifi (McDonalds is one, but there are more) and plenty of idiots that don't have security on their wifi access points. I know it's stealing, but it can get you out of a fix and it's not like you'll use it for hours on end sitting in someone's front garden...
Check out the '3' network.
Every time you top-up (GBP10) you get 150MB of free data, and a lot of free sms messages.
If 150MB is not enough for you, for GBP5 you can get the Internet Monthly add-on which allows up to 2GB limit over 30 days.
Also, they have a free Skype facility using a modified version of ISkoot (search XDA-Developers for details of how to make it work on WM devices).
I use data far more than calls and sms and I find '3' to be the best deal.
66mustang said:
I'm with O2 and can't really fault them, but Vodafone currently have a deal where you don't pay extra for roaming, so you could take it back to Sweeden and not get caught for extra cash (check terms and conditions though...) O2 do a 'bolt on' which you can buy unlimted web data for a fixed fee (was about £7.50 when I subscribed).
Lots of free wifi (McDonalds is one, but there are more) and plenty of idiots that don't have security on their wifi access points. I know it's stealing, but it can get you out of a fix and it's not like you'll use it for hours on end sitting in someone's front garden...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I do. £7.50 for unlimited 3G is brilliant, and even though I get EDGE on my Elf, it's still really quite fast. Albeit I only get G or 2G coverage where I live (north of Bristol) but it's still quite nice to have the ability to forget about my emails, and then pick it up and they're sitting there for me.
O2.
I've always liked the versatility of a PDA/smartphone but I could never justify the cost of a voice plan that I barely use and a data plan. It occurred to me to try getting a data only plan and running Skype with a subscription for the few voice calls I get. I'm hoping someone here has tried this before and can give me some feedback on their experience.
AT&T's coverage maps claim Houston is blanketed in 3G/HSPDA. For the majority of my day I'm in a WiFi area and not really mobile too much, but the quality of both the call and 3G service when driving around Houston is still a slight concern.
What will happen to my phone number when I switch to a data only plan? If I keep it, what happens when someone tries to call it or send me a text message?
I can't really upgrade to a smartphone to try it out and drop the data plan if it doesn't work, considering AT&T has made data plans mandatory for smartphones, and I'll be stuck paying for one.
Huh, that's very nice!
nathanpc said:
Huh, that's very nice!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I suppose it is. Instead of paying $50 for a bunch of minutes I don't use, I can pay $35 for unlimited data and messaging and a couple $ more for unlimited calling and a phone number with Skype. I end up paying about the same amount but getting a much better deal.
IF it works. I've been able to test a call on Verizon but that doesn't tell me anything about AT&T's data network. I tried streaming Pandora while driving when I got my current phone and that was a disappointment - though I think the Pandora app was the majority of the problem. Still, I have no idea if the call quality will be terrible or if calls will be dropping on me while having full signal, etc, etc. Has anyone tried this recently?
It's a little bit expansive...
Just to make sure, I'll drop it after this: There is no one out there who has tried this already?
haven't / cant try it here, often wondered about this too. id say double check att's buyer remorse policy (i think its 30 days return) make sure you can undo any contract changes, but take the phone and try it. all you would stand to lose is the time lost with returning bureaucracy, a small risk given the potential reward
Sprint sell smartphones with data only plans
including plam pre and touch pro 1 & 2 with 2 year contract what's great about it's the data plan is just $30
http://www.sprintrelaystore.com/
they don't ask for proof that you are really are deaf
Still being under contract with AT&T kind of limits me to sticking with them. As soon as I can get some pricing for upgrade on the LG Expo's, I'll probably be moving ahead with this. I spoke with three people at AT&T to make sure there wouldn't be any trouble and confirmed I'll be able to get the data only plan on a smartphone and fulfill the data plan requirement.
The plan isn't actually just data with voice disabled, it's really the reverse of a regular voice plan: package with minutes, billed per Kb of data usage VS unlimited data package, voice/messages billed per minute/message. Beauty of it is that you can forward incoming calls on your cellphone and you won't be charged - which solves the problem of everyone still calling me on my cellphone.
Unfortunately sms/mms will still go through and I'll be charged. Still working out the kinks on that. I figure I'll have to start giving out a different number at some point in time so I'll probably use Google Voice for this and forward SMS to email, but that doesn't work for MMS. Maybe I'll just have to get the cheap messaging plan, or maybe just eat the cost of the occasional MMS. Unless I can also forward messages to a different number or email from the phone which would just solve everything.
Of course, none of this is a problem for me, but trying to make this seamless and hassle free for people calling me is the goal.
llvllerlin said:
I've always liked the versatility of a PDA/smartphone but I could never justify the cost of a voice plan that I barely use and a data plan. It occurred to me to try getting a data only plan and running Skype with a subscription for the few voice calls I get. I'm hoping someone here has tried this before and can give me some feedback on their experience.
AT&T's coverage maps claim Houston is blanketed in 3G/HSPDA. For the majority of my day I'm in a WiFi area and not really mobile too much, but the quality of both the call and 3G service when driving around Houston is still a slight concern.
What will happen to my phone number when I switch to a data only plan? If I keep it, what happens when someone tries to call it or send me a text message?
I can't really upgrade to a smartphone to try it out and drop the data plan if it doesn't work, considering AT&T has made data plans mandatory for smartphones, and I'll be stuck paying for one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does not work very well.
also - skype absolutely drains the battery. we are talking 1-2 hours of standby time before the battery goes from 100% to 0%.
llvllerlin said:
Still being under contract with AT&T kind of limits me to sticking with them. As soon as I can get some pricing for upgrade on the LG Expo's, I'll probably be moving ahead with this. I spoke with three people at AT&T to make sure there wouldn't be any trouble and confirmed I'll be able to get the data only plan on a smartphone and fulfill the data plan requirement.
The plan isn't actually just data with voice disabled, it's really the reverse of a regular voice plan: package with minutes, billed per Kb of data usage VS unlimited data package, voice/messages billed per minute/message. Beauty of it is that you can forward incoming calls on your cellphone and you won't be charged - which solves the problem of everyone still calling me on my cellphone.
Unfortunately sms/mms will still go through and I'll be charged. Still working out the kinks on that. I figure I'll have to start giving out a different number at some point in time so I'll probably use Google Voice for this and forward SMS to email, but that doesn't work for MMS. Maybe I'll just have to get the cheap messaging plan, or maybe just eat the cost of the occasional MMS. Unless I can also forward messages to a different number or email from the phone which would just solve everything.
Of course, none of this is a problem for me, but trying to make this seamless and hassle free for people calling me is the goal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FYI, AT&T still doesn't have the eXpo, but RadioShack is selling it right now. I upgraded mine for $149.
In the UK we have "Three", They allow skype calls on their mobile phones and offer plans for as little as £15 with unlimited texts, unlimited internet, 200 minutes and unlimited skype usage (I believe it comes with "SkypeOUt" or whatever it's called). Skype to skype calls are always free even if you are on pay as you go (Prepay) and have no credit!
If you don't have something similar in the US then it will more than likely come soon as this sort of thing is starting to catch on. It's actually quite encouraging because if Google Voice does launch over here and google plans on having a "google voice" only mobile phone then three would be a network willing to consider it.
coolVariable said:
does not work very well.
also - skype absolutely drains the battery. we are talking 1-2 hours of standby time before the battery goes from 100% to 0%.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I take it you've tried it out then. My phones are usually docked while I'm at work and when I get home they might go 3 hours before it's back on the charger for the night.
If you don't mind, what carrier and city, and around when did you try it out? Was it over WiFi or 3G?
SPIDERTECH said:
FYI, AT&T still doesn't have the eXpo, but RadioShack is selling it right now. I upgraded mine for $149.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have to check it out then. I still haven't seen a single word on availability yet and RadioShack's website shows nothing about it. What city?
llvllerlin said:
I take it you've tried it out then. My phones are usually docked while I'm at work and when I get home they might go 3 hours before it's back on the charger for the night.
If you don't mind, what carrier and city, and around when did you try it out? Was it over WiFi or 3G?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3G. AT&T. Tried it pretty much all over SoCal, primarily LA, San Diego and Santa Barbara.
Just doesn't work.
Ok right now i am with verizon and they got great service, but it is really expensive. I have a smartphone and a regular ol flip-phone.
Smartphone: unlimited data, 5000 messages a month and a split of 500 min.
Flip-Phone: Split of 500 min
My bill right now is around 140.00 a month, Is this right? Are there any other carriers that can offer this at a better price than what i'm getting? I would like to see the 500 min stay the same or more, and i need unlimited txtin on the smartphone. The second phone can stay as a add a line phone.
I just cant afford this right now, it's killing me inside every month i have to pay this bill. Any help would be much appreciated.
garage_man said:
Ok right now i am with verizon and they got great service, but it is really expensive. I have a smartphone and a regular ol flip-phone.
Smartphone: unlimited data, 5000 messages a month and a split of 500 min.
Flip-Phone: Split of 500 min
My bill right now is around 140.00 a month, Is this right? Are there any other carriers that can offer this at a better price than what i'm getting? I would like to see the 500 min stay the same or more, and i need unlimited txtin on the smartphone. The second phone can stay as a add a line phone.
I just cant afford this right now, it's killing me inside every month i have to pay this bill. Any help would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I have 2 lines on T-Mobile, unlimited voice and text on both, and unlimited data on one line (mine, other is my daughter's dumbphone), and it's $120/month...and I believe they have plans matching yours now (or close) for even less.
However, I would only recommend them if you know their service is solid in your area. In their major markets where they have more solid coverage, they're great, but in other places quite the opposite.
Sprint is also very cheap and there coverage in most places is very good. Im south of dallas have very good coverage and in some areas near me no other carrier has service, not verizon, tmobile or att. But it all depends on your area.
Family plan with 2 phones for $130 a month you get...
1600 shared mins- Free mobile to mobile, doesnt matter what carrier the others on.
Unlimited text
Unlimited data
Unlimited picture mail
4g network is a separate charge.. only htc evo
Also we are getting the HTC Evo on June 4. Which will be one of the best android/smart phone available, but i guess that can be argued. Sprint also is the first nation wide carrier to carry 4g network. If its in your area, it might be something to look into.
Wow
I can't believe i am getting ripped off this bad. I should've mentioned that I live in northern michigan right around traverse city. Verizon seem to have a good 3g connection around here which is very important as i use my phone as the modem for my house. Also if i change do you think i can get away with large data usage. My bill varies from as little as 40gb a month to as much as 180-190gb.
I use tmobile prepaid plan and i pay 70.00 per month for 500 anytime min. unlimited data,free nights and weekends,free tmob to tmob. Hope this helps, oh i get like 300 or 500 texts included also or maybe its unlimited.
You think that's bad? I have;
Line 1: HTC Eris - 1400 minutes shared; Unlimited Messaging; Unlimited Data; TEC
Line 2: LG EnV3 - Shared minutes w/ above; Unlimited Messaging; Pay Per KB Data (none is ever used); TEC
Line 3: Samsung Smooth - Shared minutes w/ above
On average, I pay $192 a month. Now my fiance wants the LG Ally, which will tack another $30 on per month LOL
We're up for renewel, though, so I'll try to talk them into a month of free service which will offset the monthly cost a bit for the next 2 years.
-mak
edit: Sprint has a similar plan for $129; 1500 minutes, Any Mobile Anytime (Unlimited Mobile2Mobile on any network), Unlimited Messaging & Unlimited Data for all lines on the account. With insurance and two lines it would be $153 + tax a month.. but the phone selection isn't anything spectacular as of now, other than the Evo which will run you $299 -$100 MIR.
garage_man said:
I can't believe i am getting ripped off this bad. I should've mentioned that I live in northern michigan right around traverse city. Verizon seem to have a good 3g connection around here which is very important as i use my phone as the modem for my house. Also if i change do you think i can get away with large data usage. My bill varies from as little as 40gb a month to as much as 180-190gb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile seems to be roaming coverage in Traverse, MI, so you won't be getting a 3G connection.
Sprint on the other hand has native coverage, as well as 3G. It may be a very good idea to look into Sprint as their coverage is very comparable with Verizon in some cities, and it seems that you live in one of them.
gsvnet said:
T-Mobile seems to be roaming coverage in Traverse, MI, so you won't be getting a 3G connection.
Sprint on the other hand has native coverage, as well as 3G. It may be a very good idea to look into Sprint as their coverage is very comparable with Verizon in some cities, and it seems that you live in one of them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, thats what i was wondering cause as this is my internet i need a 3g connection at all times. I would like to see around 1mb or a little more cause right now i pull 1.3mb
garage_man, I think your best bet is to do the following:
-First, determine which carriers have adequate data coverage in your exact location. Best way to do this is to find some friends on other carriers (with smartphones preferrably) and test them at your location
-Let us know which carriers make the cut, and then I'm sure there'll be users on here who have tips on how to pay the least for the most with any of them, and then you can choose from there.
Are you sharing the connection thorough a wifi-router app, or by connecting by USB to one PC and sharing it out from there? I'm just curious really.
Ur gonna love this
sirphunkee said:
garage_man, I think your best bet is to do the following:
-First, determine which carriers have adequate data coverage in your exact location. Best way to do this is to find some friends on other carriers (with smartphones preferrably) and test them at your location
-Let us know which carriers make the cut, and then I'm sure there'll be users on here who have tips on how to pay the least for the most with any of them, and then you can choose from there.
Are you sharing the connection thorough a wifi-router app, or by connecting by USB to one PC and sharing it out from there? I'm just curious really.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hook the phone up through internet sharing to my server. I have the connections bridged to my network card. From there it goes to my router/wifi. I use the wifi for my laptops and PS3. From the wifi router it goes to a switch to connect my gaming rig and tv. The switch gives me the ability to expand my network when needed. It's a little confusing and not the fastest internet but it gets the job done lol.
garage_man said:
I hook the phone up through internet sharing to my server. I have the connections bridged to my network card. From there it goes to my router/wifi. I use the wifi for my laptops and PS3. From the wifi router it goes to a switch to connect my gaming rig and tv. The switch gives me the ability to expand my network when needed. It's a little confusing and not the fastest internet but it gets the job done lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's cool, thanks. I kinda thought you had something a little more complex going on there lol. That's farily impressive though that your phone's connection can support all that...although I don't know if the unstable ping usually associated with a cell data connection would be ideal for gaming.
I guess then you also need to consider what phones each network has that can handle the way you having things setup. There's a bunch that can, but it may affect your choice in carriers.
sirphunkee said:
That's cool, thanks. I kinda thought you had something a little more complex going on there lol. That's farily impressive though that your phone's connection can support all that...although I don't know if the unstable ping usually associated with a cell data connection would be ideal for gaming.
I guess then you also need to consider what phones each network has that can handle the way you having things setup. There's a bunch that can, but it may affect your choice in carriers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes the ping isnt the best for gaming. It is a pretty consistent 150 to 100 ping lately. There are of course times when i can get it as low as 80 and other times 1000 lol, but verizon upgraded there notwork and i get around 150 every time. To keep things running smooth I usually i keep it down to one thing like playing a game, or watching a movie. It cant do all them things rly well.
If i change carriers i will most likely get another tp2. Unless there is a good android phone out there that can so the same internet sharing as windows mobile and have a awesome keyboard of a tp2 lol. Does anyone know of such phones.
sirphunkee said:
garage_man, I think your best bet is to do the following:
-First, determine which carriers have adequate data coverage in your exact location. Best way to do this is to find some friends on other carriers (with smartphones preferrably) and test them at your location
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's good advice. Also, CNET has a map where you can look up your network coverage with each carriers . It may help you as well.
I think the first thing you need to determine is where you have coverage because it won't do you any good to get a better plan and no coverage.
Sprint seems to have the best deals (though not necessarily the best customer service).
I have TMO and I like them a lot but its like another member says, if you have coverage in your area, they're great, if not, then it's frustrating. they have great plans (no-contract plans as well) and great customer service.
Hope that helps.
hmmm... I wanted to post a direct link but I guess I can't because I'm a new user.
google "root wireless cnet reviews" or "CNET compare carrier coverage in your area " and hopefully that'll take you to the right place
CNET has an interactive map where you can enter your area code and see the coverage by carriers.
Hope that helps.
Wouldn't ya know it
MyTomato said:
hmmm... I wanted to post a direct link but I guess I can't because I'm a new user.
google "root wireless cnet reviews" or "CNET compare carrier coverage in your area " and hopefully that'll take you to the right place
CNET has an interactive map where you can enter your area code and see the coverage by carriers.
Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They have no data where i live lol.
Wouldn't ya know it
MyTomato said:
hmmm... I wanted to post a direct link but I guess I can't because I'm a new user.
google "root wireless cnet reviews" or "CNET compare carrier coverage in your area " and hopefully that'll take you to the right place
CNET has an interactive map where you can enter your area code and see the coverage by carriers.
Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They have no data where i live lol.
.mak said:
You think that's bad? I have;
Line 1: HTC Eris - 1400 minutes shared; Unlimited Messaging; Unlimited Data; TEC
Line 2: LG EnV3 - Shared minutes w/ above; Unlimited Messaging; Pay Per KB Data (none is ever used); TEC
Line 3: Samsung Smooth - Shared minutes w/ above
On average, I pay $192 a month. Now my fiance wants the LG Ally, which will tack another $30 on per month LOL
We're up for renewel, though, so I'll try to talk them into a month of free service which will offset the monthly cost a bit for the next 2 years.
-mak
edit: Sprint has a similar plan for $129; 1500 minutes, Any Mobile Anytime (Unlimited Mobile2Mobile on any network), Unlimited Messaging & Unlimited Data for all lines on the account. With insurance and two lines it would be $153 + tax a month.. but the phone selection isn't anything spectacular as of now, other than the Evo which will run you $299 -$100 MIR.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That plan sounds nice, is there anyway for me to sim unlock my verizon tp2 to allow it to be used on the sprint network?
Posting this here since it's specific to the Inspire, but it applies to AT&T's smart phone policy in general. I'm looking for input from those of you who have managed to somehow get your data plans grandfathered successfully.
Here's the deal.
After some 6 years with Cingular/AT&T, four years of which were off contract while using a Kaiser (not a Tilt) and HD2 (Telstra) I upgraded last month to the Inspire. While I have no beef with the phone, I do have a problem with the data plan.
My problem is this. I'm 'Goldilocks'. I need a plan that's "juuuust right" for me, but AT&T is hammering me into one of three cubbyholes, none of which fit my needs.
I have spent over two hours on the phone over the past couple weeks with line reps and one supervisor to explain to them that for those 4 years I was on a MEdia Net unlimited plan at $20/month, never did I exceed 200MB of data. In fact, there were months when I used no data or text at all, but still paid for the plan. But my concern is that I can see exceeding 200MB/month on occasion with the new phone, therefore my point to them is that they should let me use the MEdia Net plan, or risk losing my account entirely.
So after all that time on the phone and almost two weeks of waiting for them to see what they were going to do, they 'Grandfathered' me into a $30/month unlimited data plan with no text.
Now, I don't mind paying another $5/month more than I used to, to cover myself for up to 2Gig of data, though I doubt I'd ever use that much. For my usage pattern, 2Gig is virtually unlimited to me. But I have no messaging units and I resent spending $10 for 1000 messages when I only use about 20 or so per month.
What I'd be perfectly content with is $25/month for 2Gig and 200 (or even just 50!) messages. But none of the rocket scientists there can figure out how to make it happen. Interestingly enough, Tmobile is offering $80/month with unlimited data, unlimited voice and unlimited texting.
So, here I am with these choices:
1) Take the $25/month plan and just tell my friends to not text me as much anymore.
2) Take the $30/month unlimited plan and use the crap out of it just for spite.
3) Tell AT&T to go pound salt, return the phone, revert to my MEdia Net plan and use my Kaiser until I go with Tmobile at $80 unlimited for voice/data/text and get the upcoming HTC Sensation
Hoping y'all have some advice for me.
Thanks!
Sign up for the 200mb plan. If you exceed your data, you can retroactively upgrade to the 2gig plan for $25 and not pay any overage.
And then you can lower it down to the 200mb plan for the next billing cycle.
Edit, also, with unlimited data from tmobile, you get 2gigs of full speed data, after which you are throttled until the end of the billing cycle.
I was with Cingular when it started and then AT&T when they bought 'em. I was lucky enough when my wife and I got our first iPhone 3g's we got the unlimited plan. At that time, texting was included. A few years later, while upgrading our phones...they told us that the unlimited data would stay the same, but we would have to pay for the texting...so we got the Unlimited Texting Family Plan. Its a few dollars more, but well worth it.
I say go for it!
Get the 2 gig plan for 25...its 10 bux for each gig after...So what...... i pay 5 dollars a month for 200 text messages. I can still see that offer when I hit upgrade.
Perhaps the bigger question is why do you need a smart phone since you don't want to pay for the best features. Internet, email, texting....
harlenm said:
Sign up for the 200mb plan. If you exceed your data, you can retroactively upgrade to the 2gig plan for $25 and not pay any overage.
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Only partially correct. Here it is, straight from the AT&T website:
On the 200MB plan:
DataPlus 200MB for Smartphone includes 200MB. Once 200MB is exceeded, an additional 200MB is automatically provided at a rate of $15 for each additional 200MB provided. Unused data usage does not carry over. For HSPA+/4G SmartPhones ONLY.
On the 2G Plan:
DataPro 2GB for HSPA+/4G Smartphone includes 2GB. Once 2GB is exceeded, an additional 1GB is automatically provided at a rate of $10 for each additional 1GB provided. Unused data usage does not carry over. For HSPA+/4G SmartPhones ONLY.
So, you're right, but only as it applies to the 2Gig plan at $25/month.
tweaked said:
Perhaps the bigger question is why do you need a smart phone since you don't want to pay for the best features. Internet, email, texting....
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Click to collapse
Maybe you missed my point. I am willing pay for data. In fact, if anything, I have overpaid. My problem is that I'll probably use a bit more than the $15 plan, but not as much as the $25 plan. I wouldn't even mind it so much if they bumped me automatically to the 2G plan and charged me an extra $15 on those months where I go over the 200MB base plan. But it's the little 'scumbaggy' business of giving the modest users the shaft. Does the first byte of data over 200MB cost any more to deliver than the first byte of data over 2 Gig? Of course not. Yet they charge $15/200MB (7.5 cents/meg) for those on the base plan, and $10/GIG (ONE CENT PER MEG!!!) for those on the 2G plan. I'd really like to hear the explanation for how they justify charging nearly EIGHT TIMES the rate per meg for data overages from one plan as opposed to the other.
I work for an AT&T Authorized Reseller. IMHO take the $30 Data package if you are offered it.
As long as you can keep the Unlimited Package use the crap out of it. It really is true from what I see that the overwhelming majority (not on XDA of course) will never approach the 2GB threshold. If, however, you want to use your phone for something other than Facebook and TXTing having the Grandfatherd $30 Unlimited is SOOO worth it!
Even if you returned the phone at this point, you would be in for a hella battle with Customer Service to get your MediaNet Unlimited re-instated. In retrospect I would have purchased the phone outright without anyone touching your account. You may not have had "4G" provisioned on your phone, but thats what WiFi's are for.
Hope this helps a little ...
sraitter said:
I work for an AT&T Authorized Reseller. IMHO take the $30 Data package if you are offered it... As long as you can keep the Unlimited Package use the crap out of it...
In retrospect I would have purchased the phone outright without anyone touching your account...
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Ah, an expert authority!
Yes, the unlimited plan at $30 is an option in my 'features' section in the web account manager.
Well, here's the deal. I can still return the phone, revert to my previous plan by using my Kaiser, then next month go with Tmobile and an HTC Sensation for $80 a month for unlimted data/text/talk. And since AT&T will be buying Tmoble shortly, I'll have the benefit of the expanded network when customer accounts are migrated.
Does that make sense in your experience, or am I overthinking this?
I gotta say with your story I would return the phone and wait for the sensation. Don't get me wrong the inspire is the best phone I have ever owned and I love it but if I had the choice to revert to my captivate for a couple months and didn't have a family plan with ATT I would be gone. Tmobile has faster hspa and has way higher customer satisfaction not to mention that the sensation is gonna be the best thing out, and will probably stay that way for a while. And to top it all off this time next year your quad band sensation, that's assuming that's what tmobile is getting, you will have the benefit of two networks combined. Look at this way, no matter what you do u will be with ATT this time next year lol.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
BillTheCat said:
Ah, an expert authority!
Yes, the unlimited plan at $30 is an option in my 'features' section in the web account manager.
Well, here's the deal. I can still return the phone, revert to my previous plan by using my Kaiser, then next month go with Tmobile and an HTC Sensation for $80 a month for unlimted data/text/talk. And since AT&T will be buying Tmoble shortly, I'll have the benefit of the expanded network when customer accounts are migrated.
Does that make sense in your experience, or am I overthinking this?
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Click to collapse
Just noticing you live in Milford .... g'luck with TMobile there. Check with a friend who has them how decent the service is for them.
Huge fan of Tmobile and Sprints pricing ... but living the past few years in cities that are sub-metropolitan areas their service is spotty at best.
Also, going with the $30 Unlm Smartphone Data and Rooting your Inspire you will have the ability to WiFi Hotspot your android device w/o AT&T caching on (as long as you are not using it excessively). Don't use to stream Netflix on the old Laptop, but excellent for iPad or Nook use.
Hope this is helpful as this is my 10th post so I may now comment in the Dev Forms.
Happy Rooting!!!
sraitter said:
Just noticing you live in Milford .... g'luck with TMobile there. Check with a friend who has them how decent the service is for them.
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Click to collapse
Point taken, but I have a 10MB cablemodem connection and wifi at home, so I'm pretty much covered in the voice/data department. Already rooted and running RCMix 5.9.x so wifi router is there, though I have to admit I haven't bothered testing it yet.
Anyway, you make sense. Utica, huh? Still got snow up there?
Sadly snowed this morning ... thought about crying.
If/when you get bored with that ROM consider the MIUI ROM. Battery life is recently meh but it so much fun... screams like an eagle and purrs like a kitten ... feels like an iPhone OS without the awful and has widgets and folders!
Enjoy!