SIM question for the experts. - General Questions and Answers

I am looking to buy either a HTC Fuze or G1. I am leaning toward the Fuze because I am a former Tytn II user.
Here is my scenario.
I will buy a Fuze off of Craigslist and unlock the phone.
My sister has a Motorola phone...not PDA...just a phone...with ATT. The phone has a 3G SIM with a $15.00 per month unlimited data plan. I would like to move this SIM card to my new unlocked Fuze. Any problem doing this? I want the 3G data connection.
I would then take her Motorola phone and add it to her Family plan (with no data)...for just $9.99 per month. Since this phone was active with the 3G SIM card will there be a problem reactivating it with a new SIM card and new phone number?
The reason for the sneakiness is that ATT won't let you add a phone with unlimited data unless you buy the phone from them with a new plan. The options they have are:
1. New Phone with New Plan and Unlimited Data ($30 bucks per month)...not really an option since my sister already has a family plan and my credit is ruined right now thanks to my soon to be ex-wife's stupidity.
2. Used Phone with no plan and no data....not an option for me since I need unlimited data.
3. Used Phone with Pay As You Go for $50 bucks a month plus another $20 bucks per month for 100 megs of data($70 bucks plus fees)....not a good option either since that is WAY TO DAMN MUCH MONEY for data.
I really want to use ATT since they have the best 3G coverage in my area.
If the SIM card switch-a-roo idea I invision would work I would end up with unlimited data on my Fuze and a new number(on the Motorola) and I'm just adding $9.99 per month to her bill. SWEET!
Thanks in advance if you can answer my question about the viability of my proposal!!!!
PS....I would do the exact same things if I chose the G1.

You can always try it, but they can chaeck the imei version of the phone the sim is plugged into (so they WILL know you are using a fuze once you plug it in)
You can put the card in and use the data plan but att is always able to revoke the data because they become suspicious (i which most times you can just claim ignorance.) Like i said though they WILL know once you plug the sim in and you are technically liable for any data charges you may rack up once that sim is in your phone.
And by the way, you can add an unlimited data package, its thirty a month and can be added in store, online, or over the phone.

Thanks!
Found the same question being answered at HowardForums. Definitly works. Even better if the phone is unbranded...aka...Raphael. ATT won't list the number if it's not one of their own. Thanks!

Related

Anyone understand AT&T data plans

I used to have $30 Smartphone data on my Tilt, I removed it last september, had data blocked... fast forward to January, I called AT&T and changed my listed IMEI to a KRZR IMEI and popped my Sim into a unlocked G1, added the unlimited $10 data plan... Now I want to play with my Tilt again for a little while, Will anything happen if I throw my sim card back in my Tilt? will they change my data plan? will they text me or notify me about it? or will I just go unnoticed on my $10 plan?
Once in a great while they might scan for it, but they'll send you a text/notify you before they change your data plan.
On a Tilt, you'll probably go unnoticed.
However, with a Nexus One or iPhone, you are automatically set to a $30 plan.
This happened to me, I had the 10/month medianet plan with a lg shine. The next the att changed me to the 30/month for my pure. I called them and they changed it back but the next day slapped the sim back on the pure. Within 3 hours got a text again and my plan was changed yet again.
My G1 has gone unnoticed... just slapped my sim in, if anything happens, I'll post it up.
jmhalder said:
My G1 has gone unnoticed... just slapped my sim in, if anything happens, I'll post it up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is your G1 a t-mobile brand or is it unbranded?
TheChemist187 said:
Is your G1 a t-mobile brand or is it unbranded?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile, as far as I know its gone unnoticed, Although I honestly havent looked at the bill (on my folks familytalk plan still, lol) but I havent gotten any sms saying otherwise.
jmhalder said:
I used to have $30 Smartphone data on my Tilt, I removed it last september, had data blocked... fast forward to January, I called AT&T and changed my listed IMEI to a KRZR IMEI and popped my Sim into a unlocked G1, added the unlimited $10 data plan... Now I want to play with my Tilt again for a little while, Will anything happen if I throw my sim card back in my Tilt? will they change my data plan? will they text me or notify me about it? or will I just go unnoticed on my $10 plan?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They will notice it right away and change your data plan to the $30 plan without even telling you.
It is in your AT$T agreement that all smart phones now require a data plan.
My son broke his LG Vu which was still under contract so I could not cancel the service without early termination fees. The contract on my Tilt was up so I cancelled the service on the Tilt and put my son's sim from his Vu in my Tilt, did not tell AT$T anything. Within a week my son's account showed his phone as being a Tilt and a $30 data plan was added.
They can and will find out and change it.
http://howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1618214
denco7 said:
They will notice it right away and change your data plan to the $30 plan without even telling you.
It is in your AT$T agreement that all smart phones now require a data plan.
My son broke his LG Vu which was still under contract so I could not cancel the service without early termination fees. The contract on my Tilt was up so I cancelled the service on the Tilt and put my son's sim from his Vu in my Tilt, did not tell AT$T anything. Within a week my son's account showed his phone as being a Tilt and a $30 data plan was added.
They can and will find out and change it.
http://howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1618214
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want to know what you think about a Tmobile smart phone or a unbranded. Will they still find out? There are people who say they have not auto changed their accounts yet. I had a LG Shine, and slapped my sim in a ATT PURE and they noticed right away.

AT&T data plan question

Hello all, I have a question I hope someone has an answer to.
I bought the original iPhone a few months after release and got the $20 data +200 text messages plan. I have gotten rid of that phone and over the last year and a half have used the Lg Incite, Tmobile G1 and the Mytouch 3g all using my original SIM card and never changing my data plan. These phones all used 2g service only, T-mobile 3g is not compatible with ATT 3g.
My question is, if I were to purchase the Samsung Captivate at full price, could I still use my original iphone plan? My SIM card says 3g, and I have no doubt it would work on 2g, I just wonder if it would actually use 3g and if so would ATT notice this and switch plans for me? I don't mind paying a few bucks more for data if I have too, I'm just not cool with extending my contract another 2 years, hence I want to pay full price for phone.
Thanks
bobbylx said:
Hello all, I have a question I hope someone has an answer to.
I bought the original iPhone a few months after release and got the $20 data +200 text messages plan. I have gotten rid of that phone and over the last year and a half have used the Lg Incite, Tmobile G1 and the Mytouch 3g all using my original SIM card and never changing my data plan. These phones all used 2g service only, T-mobile 3g is not compatible with ATT 3g.
My question is, if I were to purchase the Samsung Captivate at full price, could I still use my original iphone plan? My SIM card says 3g, and I have no doubt it would work on 2g, I just wonder if it would actually use 3g and if so would ATT notice this and switch plans for me? I don't mind paying a few bucks more for data if I have too, I'm just not cool with extending my contract another 2 years, hence I want to pay full price for phone.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By purchasing the phone at full price, you won't be forced into a contract. Therefore, your plan will stay the same. The reason you sign a contract with the subsidized phones is because the carrier payes $200-300 of the phone for you. In return, your plan most likely raises in price because AT&T usually does something to jack the price up every year. You will still get 3G and AT&T does not have authorization to change your plan since, you didn't sign a contract with them. So, all will still be the same except for your new phone
you should be fine. You may just need to change your plan to $15 data and $5 text plan. I am not sure if you have any contract with ATT but their current data plan is 15 data of 2GB max and 5 for texting. So you virtually are not paying more (unelss you have unlimited data plna).
Captive should work with 3G network so my guess is that you may be able to use 3G.

data plan and premier

hello guys,
i am planning to order the captivate through the premier website
when i check out, i didn't have to add data plan to my account, but if i add the iphone, i have to add the data plan.
does this mean at&t will not add the data plan even after i activate my phone?
anyone ordered through premier and able to use it without at&t forcing a data plan into your account?
no, eventually you'll get a text saying they've added a data plan so you can avoid large charges.
their system got smart, if they have you imei, they know what model phone you have and they can dole things out accordingly
V DidDy 210 said:
no, eventually you'll get a text saying they've added a data plan so you can avoid large charges.
their system got smart, if they have you imei, they know what model phone you have and they can dole things out accordingly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i switched from touch pro to pure last year in november( not upgrade, got it somewhere else), and i didn't get any text nor any data plan even though they recognize my phone in the system
It was just made mandatory sometime in November or December of 2009. I believe people that had smart phones before then are still allowed to stay on the pay per use(.02 per kb). Although when they upgrade their phone they will be forced into a data plan.
fsrkewd said:
hello guys,
i am planning to order the captivate through the premier website
when i check out, i didn't have to add data plan to my account, but if i add the iphone, i have to add the data plan.
does this mean at&t will not add the data plan even after i activate my phone?
anyone ordered through premier and able to use it without at&t forcing a data plan into your account?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you order from Premier without data plan? I am in the same boat and would like to know about this as well. I am eligible for an upgrade in Sep and would like to get a Captivate (or any other Smartphone) to replace my Fuze (no data plan currently). Thanks.
As I said in the post before you, the data plan is added for you automatically. I went round and round with at&t when they added it to one of my lines(in december). I was even able to get the data plan turned off, just to be enabled again only an hour later. Moral of the story is if you want the phone you have to have data (with at&t atleast). Even if you have a phone that currently does not have data and you upgrade. The primary account holder will receive an email addressing this once a smart phone is detected.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
I think they can override it if they want to. I lost my SIM during an overseas travel and got a new one for the same old number last month from AT&T.
After I put that in my Fuze and activated it, I got a text saying an "appropriate" data plan has been added for this smartphone.
I didn't contact them, just waited to see what happens in the bill, it still came just for the voice. No data plan. So it might be possible if one can convince them. $15 plan is not a biggie but I work from home so even that would be a waste.
Does anyone know if you have the $30 data and text plan, will that be changed if I order through the premeir website? I tried to upgrade at a corporate store and was told since my phone of record was a Samsung Eternity, I did not have a smartphone plan and would therefore have to upgrade to the new data plans. I refused the upgrade. When I first got the Eternity, I had a $35 data plan. A couple of months before the change to the data plans, I changed the data plan to the $30 a month smartphone plan, saving $5 a month. Does anyone know how this would go? Thanks.
specularius said:
Does anyone know if you have the $30 data and text plan, will that be changed if I order through the premeir website? I tried to upgrade at a corporate store and was told since my phone of record was a Samsung Eternity, I did not have a smartphone plan and would therefore have to upgrade to the new data plans. I refused the upgrade. When I first got the Eternity, I had a $35 data plan. A couple of months before the change to the data plans, I changed the data plan to the $30 a month smartphone plan, saving $5 a month. Does anyone know how this would go? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your Eternity is not a smartphone. And smartphone data plan does not include any texting. $30/m is for data only. Texting is extra.
So, whatever your current plan is, it won't carry over to a smartphone. And since you don't have any unlimited smartphone data plan, you will only get the 2GB data plan if you buy a smartphone now.
i have the medianet unlimited data for $10 (with family txting), and i bought my captivate from ebay..is ATT gonna figure out that i need to change data plans?
SiL3nTKiLL said:
i have the medianet unlimited data for $10 (with family txting), and i bought my captivate from ebay..is ATT gonna figure out that i need to change data plans?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is highly likely. I called AT&T a while back when I got my Nexus and told them I got a "new generic phone" and that I wanted Media Net. They asked me for the IMEI and said "Thats a Nexus One, thats not a generic phone!" and forced me to get the $30/mo plan. Basically they have the IMEI ranges for nearly every device out there and if its a smartphone they will charge you for the smartphone data package.
I would say yes, because it is a ATT branded phone. I had G1 and used their $10 data package without a problem. I did have a pantech matrix when I got the data package though, just didn't tell them about the G1.
sent from a 42 node T.I. 89 cluster
You guys are all asking the same exact question. No one, but AT&T knows.
I have had a Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 on my AT&T account with the $30 unlimited data/txt package from Nov 2008 - January 2010. I wasn't switched over at all. But this was an unbranded unlocked smartphone.
Then I had a AT&T branded Motorola Q9h smartphone on the same $30 plan from January until I got my Captivate on the 18th. I wasn't switched over at all while using the Q9h even though, the online account manager recognized by phone.
It's going to be hit or miss. Just use your phone and if you aren't caught, well congrats. If you are, just pay or switch carriers.
I put my old tilt on my wife's line and she used it for about 5 months without a data plan. AT&T says in their ToS they have the right to add a data plan to your line if they find you are using a smartphone without one, but they never added it to her account.
Most likely because she had 0 data usage. When I upgraded through At&T to the captivate I was forced to add it.
AT&T only recently started adding the data plans automatically for smartphones. The system can now detect and add the service to your plan without your approval or interaction. The data service CAN be removed and blocked from ever being added to your plan again by a manager, but if you have a new phone that you bought at the subsidy price (read: with contract) then you will probably have to either pony up for the non-contract price or keep the data plan.
If you already had a data plan your service will remain unchanged if you upgrade your phone wether a data plan is required or not.
In 07-08 my wife and I both had Blackberry Pearl 8110's, hers was just the standard was AT&T locked and had been given to her by her mother, mine was purchased unlocked and unbranded. I dropped mine and the screen broke, but I kept it around. In April her phone started to act up ... so I took her phone apart and put the screen on my old unlocked BB inserted her SIM and she was back in business like nothing ever happened. 2 days later she recieved a text that an "appropriate" data plan had been added. She never wanted a dataAT&T only recently started adding the data plans automatically for smartphones. The system can now detect and add the service to your plan without your approval or interaction. The data service CAN be removed and blocked from ever being added to your plan again by a manager, but if you have a new phone that you bought at the subsidy price (read: with contract) then you will probably have to either pony up for the non-contract price or keep the data plan.
I have a Premier account with unlimited talk, text and data on my and my son's lines and unlimited talk and text on my wife and daughters lines.
When I contacted AT&T they informed me that unless the service has a block put on it by a manager that the data plan will indeed re-add itself.
EDIT: IDK WTH happened here .... it was like 3 posts in one, hopefully fixed!!!
have been using the phone for two days
no message about the data plan
i will keep you guys posted
2) WIRELESS DATA SERVICE TERMS AND CONDITIONS (applies to all customers)
I. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO AT&T'S WIRELESS DATA SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FEATURES THAT MAY BE USED WITH WIRELESS DATA SERVICES AND WIRELESS CONTENT.
General Requirements: AT&T provides wireless data services, including but not limited to, features that may be used with wireless data services and wireless content and applications ("Services"). The absolute capacity of the wireless data network is limited. Accordingly, service is only provided for prescribed purposes and pricing for Data Services is device dependent and based on the transmit and receive capacity of each device. A pricing plan designated for one type of device may not be used with another device. Some devices or plans may require you to subscribe to data plan. If AT&T determines that you are not subscribed to the required plan(s), AT&T reserves the right to switch you to the required plan or plans and bill you the appropriate monthly fee. The Services may be subject to credit approval. An activation fee of up to $36 may apply to each new data line. Compatible data-enabled wireless device required.
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Source: AT&T TOS

Any luck with AT&T data plans not for smartphones?

Just wondering if you anybody has still be able to get passed AT&T's "smartphone" higher data rate.
I have an LG non smart phone that I am thinking about using to purchase the unlimited messaging and data plan for $30. Then swapping my sim back to my fuze.
But I dont know if AT&T has gotten wise to this or not.
yep they seem to catch ya quick now ....we signed up 3 weeks ago and got the unlimited data plan with our 2 pantech impacts ..then i bought a fuze a week later
and within 3 hours of turning on the fuze the nailed me and changed me over to the 2gb smartphone plan ...so unless someone knows a way around this looks like att gets to screw us some more
or if someone can figure out how to block the imei ..cause i think thats how they can tell
Just my experience but yesterday I had to go to the AT&T store to put the $30 data plan on my HTC Fuze. What happened was I put my sim card in my first gen iPhone so it activated the $15 data then I put my card back in my Fuze so for the last two months I had an iPhone plan running on the fuze and they never said anything but after about a week I stopped getting 3G service so I guess as the saying goes you get what you pay for. If you want to, try it but beware if anyone does have the $30 unlimited data plan if you even switch it off for a second you can't get it back good thing was that the iphone was a smartphone with unlimited data.
Signed up with AT&T years ago. Been staying with them contract free because I get the $15 medianet internet.
From what Ive seen, if you never call or contact AT&T, you're fine.
I have a Fuze and a unlocked Telstra Diamond, both with $15 a month medianet on our family plan.
Never been contacted about a change, and have been running on these phones for well over a year. (and on my phone, I frequently go around 5-10gb a month of data). Before these, we had a treo 750, and a palm centro on the medianet plan, and before that a Treo 650.
The 750 and up have all been considered "smartphones" yet Ive never been forced to upgrade.
I should note that I have never bought a phone through AT&T and all of these have been unlocked phones bought on ebay, and just switched out the sim.
As always YMMV.
Yeah IDK. When I swap in my sim card to the LG, AT&T online changes my device. Then when I put my sim back into my Fuze, it will pretty much instantly change it back on the website. Even if I go in and manually change it, it will revert right back my Fuze.
I just think it is a rip off that smartphones get charged more for the exact same network access.

[Q] Phone's not in ATT's IMEI bank

Greetings!
First time poster, long time reader.
I have been using a SE Xperia X1a that I bought off Ebay since Sept. 2009. I have stuck with this phone because I have an unlimited Medianet HSDPA service that costs $10/Mo. I frequently tether as a wireless router for either my laptop or Ipod Touch 4g. ATT still has not recognized this despite using 2gb+/mo.
The hardware in the phone is breaking down. I am looking for a replacement device that can do a similar service for me- $10/mo/unlimited internet. Are there any foreign branded Androids that can do this?
I did do a search for about an hour before giving up and asking this. Thanks are coming your way for responding
I'm really not sure why you think your plan is tied to your phone? Just get whatever phone tickles your fancy and put your sim card in it.
I don't think my plan is tied to my phone. I'm sorry if that's how it came across.
I am able to capitalize on unlimited MediaNet data because ATT doesn't recognize my Xperia's IMEI- they think I have a dumbphone.
The hardware is failing on my Xperia, and I am looking into a replacement. I'm fully willing to buy an foreign phone out of contract if it's known that ATT can't recognize the IMEI.
If anyone could point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated :-D
They dont think you have a dunb phone(Non Smart Phone) They just havent cared to check. In my experience they only check what style of phone when upgrading services, such as data plans and such. As deathsled said, get any phone that makes you happy and insert yoour sim card. P.S. Make sure phone is able to accept a sim card, and if unlocked make sure its able to listen to the carries specific signal.
Well they do think I have a dumbphone. That's what I had to tell them when I signed up for MediaNet after purchasing the phone.
I don't want to buy a phone that they their system will instantly recognize and upgrade me from my MediaNet to a smartphone plan.
Is there a resource to check the phones that they know of? I could always just purchase the same model and continue doing what I'm doing if not.
Is the problem that nobody knows, or that nobody has seen this thread that does know?
Bamp 10char
Is there another forum I should be trying?
Donteventrii said:
Well they do think I have a dumbphone. That's what I had to tell them when I signed up for MediaNet after purchasing the phone.
I don't want to buy a phone that they their system will instantly recognize and upgrade me from my MediaNet to a smartphone plan.
Is there a resource to check the phones that they know of? I could always just purchase the same model and continue doing what I'm doing if not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm rather puzzled, why can't you just buy an unlocked phone from (say) Amazon? They do sell nice Nexus One units there...
I know exactly what you are talking about Donteventrii
I can give you a list of phones that might be suitable for you, that are unlocked and use AT&T 3G but their IMEI will still not be recognizable and therefore, you get to keep your $10 unlimited MEdiaNet data plan
Amazon: Any Nokia Phone - E72, N8, E7, E6 etc
NExus S - the one for AT&T which will have the 850/1900 3G bands - http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Googl..._1_1?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1310519566&sr=1-1
T-mobile Galaxy S vibrant - Unlocked. It has AT&T's 3G 1900 band so you will be able to get 3G speeds in many areas since 1900 is the more widespread one.
Any Rogers (Canadian telephone service provider) smartphone unlocked since it uses the same bands as AT&T for it's 3G. I'm using a Rogers unlocked Xperia Play that I bought off a guy who'd bought it off Ebay.
That's just the ones I can think off the top of my head. I'll post again if I remember some more
Thank you very much Abudabu!
I may have some follow ups, but I'm heading to bed.
I would just get another phone like tmobile
Abudabu, do you also use MediaNet for your Xperia Play? I see that ATT is getting Xperia play, do you think this will cause problems for you?
The Nexus S is quite costly still, though 2.3 has me drooling. I believe the Galaxy S may be my best option. I might buy it online and unlock it myself.
Any thoughts?
I don't use MediaNet actually. I'm on the $30 unlimited data plan that I opted for when I went with the iPhone 3GS.
You can swap your SIM card out of your current phne to any phone that does not have an AT&T logo on it and you should be fine. AT&T has the IMEI's of all the phones that IT sells, in it's database. So if you put your sim in an Unlocked Xperia Play from Rogers or from United Kingdom, you can continue using the MediaNet without any hassle. If however, you put your SIM card in a AT&T Xperia Play, the SIM recognizes the IMEI of the phone, and will transmit this data back to AT&T indicating you need to upgrade your plan since you are on a smartphone
Any reason you don't switch back to MediaNet?
I'm aware of the 10$ Medianet plan. But for those that use it with unlocked smartphones, how do you get around the texting?
I see a $30 unlimited data and messaging plan which defeats the purpose of the thread. Are you combining this with the 1000 messages for $10?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Donteventrii said:
Any reason you don't switch back to MediaNet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well couple of reasons:
1) I wasn't sure if they even offer it anymore. I was under the impression they have tiered data plans now. $15 for 200 mb, $25 for 2GB, etc.
2) I switch phones quite a bit. So I prefer to just have the $30 unlimited data plan standard and I switch sim's in and out irregardless.
Ah if you switch phones that makes sense.
But yes, they do indeed offer MediaNet unlimited for 10/month. I am sitting at 2.5gb this month with a week left in my billing cycle.
I mainly use it to tether my laptop while at work. We don't have wifi, and I don't want to use my work computer for personal business. In fact, I'm tethering it right now from work
so where can I find a list of smartphones, compatible with AT&T, not in the IMEI database?
Just to be clear, I can purchase a dumbphone with:
$30 unlimited messaging/mobile to mobile
+
$15 unlimited data
with no voice plan (like the $39.99 for 450 minutes), go home and pop the SIM card to one of these unlisted phones and done.
$45 + tax for unlimited everything on a smartphone.
I can use Google Voice for landlines and international without incurring call forwarding fees and such.
I don't think there is a list other than what's been provided already. I use the Unlimited family messaging and 10/mo unlimited internet.

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