What phones qualify for $10 T-Mobile Unlimited Web? or Carrier Alternatives? - General Questions and Answers

I just got some crap from T-Mobile about how I cannot use a HD2 or a Nexus one with T-Mobile without upgrading my plan from the $9.99 unlimited to the $29.99 unlimited even though I bought the phone off contract. It's a T-Mobile branded US version so I'm wondering what kind of guidelines they have? The rep said that all smartphones have to be upgraded to $29.99 but I've been using my iPhone on the $6.99 T-Zones and just recently upgraded to $9.99 because T-Mobile "no longer offers it to iPhones", says the customer support. My sister runs the Nokia Neuron and I've tried it with a Touch Diamond and both iPhone 2G and 3G and those are smartphones right? I believe the Shadow and Dash use the same data plan?
Basically, I'm trying to figure out what kind of smartphone I can use? And how do they know what phone I'm using?
What alternatives do I have for a cheap unlimited data plan from a different carrier? MetroPCS and Boost seems awesome for offering a $50 unlimited voice, text, and web, but they're only CDMA.

it seems that if you are using a tmobile branded phone, then they'll tag you if you are not using the right data plan. for unbranded smartphones, they seem not to look too deeply into what kindof phone you are using, thus many people use their unbranded smartphone with the $10 data plan. the nuron is not considered a smartphone.

echow said:
it seems that if you are using a tmobile branded phone, then they'll tag you if you are not using the right data plan. for unbranded smartphones, they seem not to look too deeply into what kindof phone you are using, thus many people use their unbranded smartphone with the $10 data plan. the nuron is not considered a smartphone.
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No, that's not how it works at T-Mobile.
If you want to use your HD2 on the $10 web plan you must change your apn to internet2.voicestream.com

Also, there is a new company that recently came out (a la MetroPCS/Boost) called SIMple Mobile (http://www.mysimplemobile.com/), which is a no-contract, unlimited kind of deal but GSM. The poster above me is right though. If your internet is set up to go via web2go, they will charge you the $29.99.

egzthunder1 said:
Also, there is a new company that recently came out (a la MetroPCS/Boost) called SIMple Mobile (http://www.mysimplemobile.com/), which is a no-contract, unlimited kind of deal but GSM. The poster above me is right though. If your internet is set up to go via web2go, they will charge you the $29.99.
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They are pretty cheap, but I believe that for $60 you can just go with T-Mobile and get 500 minutes, unlimited text, and unlimited data and be able to use any of the T-Mobile smartphones. Or, do as I did and signup for the $39.99 plan with Unlimited Texting + 500 minutes then for $10 add unlimited web separately for a total of $49.99/month. I'm using a Touch Pro2 with this plan without any problems.
With simple mobile can you use any unlocked GSM phone?

i neglected this thread for a while and i just found it. anyway, i did try internet2.voicestream.com but it was blocked (it just wouldnt connect to the internet, opera shows "page not found" type of thing). same thing with wap.voicestream.com. it wasn't running a stock rom either.

the folks at tmobile are full of it,I have an HD2 and have the 15.00 200meg data plan,they just promote the larger plan and you have to ask for something diff

Related

ATT Media net 10$/month family

So i've seen a few threads here saying that the new deal with media net unlimited package was 10 dollars a month now. Well i called today to get it and was told that not only was it for my fuze(i did the sim swap trick to make it seem we all had regular phones) but also the other two phones in my family, all three of us now have unlimited data for 10 dollars a month. This seems too good to be true. Did anyone else have a similar experience?
ech230 said:
So i've seen a few threads here saying that the new deal with media net unlimited package was 10 dollars a month now. Well i called today to get it and was told that not only was it for my fuze(i did the sim swap trick to make it seem we all had regular phones) but also the other two phones in my family, all three of us now have unlimited data for 10 dollars a month. This seems too good to be true. Did anyone else have a similar experience?
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So your saying the Rep said that this applied for your fuze or did it apply to your fuze because it had another sim card?
Are you saying your paying $10 a month for all 3 phones... or $10 a month PER phone ($30).
I think I might jump on this. I have a Fuze and my fiance has her old blackjack. She has unlimited messaging for $20 and I have MediaNet Bundle (Unlimited Data, 200 SMS, Unlimited AT&T Messaging) for $25.
So we spend about $45 a month.
If we could get unlimited Family Messaging for $30, then both unlimited data for $10... that would be $50.
I'd pay $5 more so my fiance can get online.
I assume this is only for Family Plans
I used to do that. I worked at radioshack though, and our rep for ATT told us that he used to be a manager at an ATT store and would add the non-pda data plan to peoples accounts, and some would come back later with giant bills because they were revised and billed per byte.
He said it didn't happen a lot, and a lot of times ATT would be full of mercy and not charge the full amount, but he did tell me it occured.
I say be careful because you would be breaking the terms and conditions and they would have every right to charge you 3 cents/KB
has anyone on this forum been caught?
from my understanding it was 10 dollars total for all three lines(as in a total of 10 a month, not 30). I specifically said to the rep, "no no i don't want the family plan i only want it on the one line" to which he replied that it was a family bundle that i qualified for since i had a family unlimited texting plan. I didn't mention my fuze so i don't know what will happen, perhaps this month will have some ridiculous charges but i'll play ignorance and try to fight them. So we shall see. My online account has not updated yet so i have no way of knowing 100% what is going on but i'm rather curious.
also it's only 1c/KB not 3 for their standard charges.
I've been using the MediaNet plan on my Samsung Blackjack, Samsung Epix, and HTC Fuze for 3+ years.
Their expensive internet plans are stupid. When I bought my Epix... the sales guy said, "Since the Epix is a newer faster phone... it won't work with the Media Net plan because the MediaNet plan doesn't send the data packets fast enough and so it won't work".
I'm a Network Engineer. What kind of crap is that?
I popped in my old sim and started checking my email.
Unlimited Data = Unlimited Data.
Every time I call CS and they get me started on that crap I give them an earful. Plus data plans are outrageous. Why would anyone want to pay for a Data plan which is the same, if not more, then the data plans they have in their homes.
SMS is nothing more then free money for them and people don't use that much data. Unlimited Data and Messaging should be MAX $20.
AT&T over-chargingn for data
I see someone else shares my irritation (exasperation) with AT&T (and the other carriers, since they all charge about the same).
I pay $30.00 a month for DSl (3mb down, 768 up). Why or why should I pay the same for speeds that are less than half that on AT&T's network just because its mobile?
Yes I can check my mail (almost) anywhere but.....thirty bucks is ludicrous, I cancelled my data plan on my Kaiser and my wifes Blackberry because it wasn't worth the service. We were paying over $60.00 a month for unlimited data on two phones. (Everyone kick me me becaause I deserve it).
Now you are telling me you are getting it on two phone on the "family plan" for $10.00 a month ?
WoW !
player911 said:
I've been using the MediaNet plan on my Samsung Blackjack, Samsung Epix, and HTC Fuze for 3+ years.
Their expensive internet plans are stupid. When I bought my Epix... the sales guy said, "Since the Epix is a newer faster phone... it won't work with the Media Net plan because the MediaNet plan doesn't send the data packets fast enough and so it won't work".
I'm a Network Engineer. What kind of crap is that?
I popped in my old sim and started checking my email.
Unlimited Data = Unlimited Data.
Every time I call CS and they get me started on that crap I give them an earful. Plus data plans are outrageous. Why would anyone want to pay for a Data plan which is the same, if not more, then the data plans they have in their homes.
SMS is nothing more then free money for them and people don't use that much data. Unlimited Data and Messaging should be MAX $20.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me clear this up, I might be new to this forum but I am very familiar with AT&T rates and plans. Lets just say I use this information almost daily.
THIS APPLIES FOR STANDARD MOBILE DEVICES (NOT PDA/BLACKBERRY/iPHONE)
For Individual Lines (AT&T Nation)
-Data Unlimited (formerly known as 'MediaNet Unlimited')
cost $15 per phone.
-Unlimited Messaging (SMS+MMS+IM)
cost $20 per phone.
-Messaging & Data Unlimited (Data+SMS+MMS+IM)
costs $30 (save $5 from getting the two seperately)
For Family Plans (AT&T Family Share)
-Data Unlimited
cost $10 per line in the family plan (instead of $15 for individuals)
-Family Messaging Unlimited
cost $30 (one price covers every line on the plan)
THE FOLLOWING IS FOR PDA/BLACKBERRIES
For Individual Lines (AT&T Nation)
-PDA Personal or Blackberry Basic
cost $30 per phone.
-Unlimited Messaging (SMS+MMS+IM)
cost $20 per phone.
-PDA/BBRY Messaging Bundle
costs $50
For Family Plans (AT&T Family Share)
-PDA Personal / Blackberry Data
cost $30 per line
-Family Messaging Unlimited
cost $30 (one price covers every line on the plan)
During the sign-up process, the IMEI number of your device will be registered to your account. If the system detects the IMEI of a device that falls under the PDA or BLACKBERRY category, the Data Plans populate itself only to 'PDA Personal $30' or 'BBRY BIS Personal $30'. If an IMEI of a regular phone was entered, it will populate the options for 'Data Unlimited' for $15
When you purchase your PDA device like a Blackjack II, if you somehow manage to have an IMEI of a normal phone be entered instead of the Blackjack II, you will be billed the rates according to whatever type of phone that was entered. (This will not work with Blackberries because BBRY needs the BIS data and the PIN number to be registered.)
Also what might be possible is; get your devices and plans normally, like a Fuze with a $30 PDA Data plan, a month later, call customer service and tell them that youre switching to a different device that you bought yourself, and give them the new IMEI (imei should be from a non pda/bbry device), and have them change the data plan prices accordingly. Voila, you saved $15 dollars per month per phone.
Oh and if some of you were wondering, the carriers data service is just data, meaning it wont know the difference between data from a Sony Ericsson W350 to an HTC Fuze, or a Touch Pro, or a Touch Diamond, or Xperia, or Nokia N96, or iPhone knock-offs, etc. you get my point.
villa_bryan said:
I used to do that. I worked at radioshack though, and our rep for ATT told us that he used to be a manager at an ATT store and would add the non-pda data plan to peoples accounts, and some would come back later with giant bills because they were revised and billed per byte.
He said it didn't happen a lot, and a lot of times ATT would be full of mercy and not charge the full amount, but he did tell me it occured.
I say be careful because you would be breaking the terms and conditions and they would have every right to charge you 3 cents/KB
has anyone on this forum been caught?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=477071
cesar2010 said:
ok i had the media net unlimited ($15) with my kaiser for like 6months w/out a single problem or xtra charge. i used the upgrade option i had and ordered a fuze but to be used on another line in the fam plan, yesterday i used about 60mb with slingplayer.. today i got a text saying data disconnected due to high charges i called and they told me i didnt have a data plan and i was going to be charged about $1000 i added the $30 data plan and was wondering is there a way to fight the upcoming bill?
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meh?
i'm thankful someone noticed this. i just called and changed mine to Messaging & Data Unlimited for $30. Before had the two separate plans and was $35. Save $5! that's good in these tough economic times .
oatterzonxda said:
For Family Plans (AT&T Family Share)
-Data Unlimited
cost $10 per line in the family plan (instead of $15 for individuals)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not to sure about this..i have a family plan and i did this trick way back in the day with my 8525 (was $20 at the time for medianet and i had to do it again when the price dropped while using my tilt) and unless theve dropped the price recently for family plan data rates then this is incorrect and its still $15 (what i pay a month with a fam plan)
oh and has anyone ELSE besiodes the OP confirmed this $10 all lines plan?
pazookie said:
not to sure about this..i have a family plan and i did this trick way back in the day with my 8525 (was $20 at the time for medianet and i had to do it again when the price dropped while using my tilt) and unless theve dropped the price recently for family plan data rates then this is incorrect and its still $15 (what i pay a month with a fam plan)
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http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/services/services-list.jsp?catId=cat1470003&LOSGId=&catName=Messaging+%26+Data
First item on the page.
evilxhwnd said:
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/services/services-list.jsp?catId=cat1470003&LOSGId=&catName=Messaging+%26+Data
First item on the page.
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Click to collapse
For me it says $15 a month for regular cell phones and $30 a month for pda's such as the fuze.
How many of you guys are doing the thing were you call up and add a regular phone as your phone and then select the $15 for data and then just switch your sim card into the fuze and still only pay $15 for data instead of $30? What would happen if att finds out?
Thanks.
techman28 said:
For me it says $15 a month for regular cell phones and $30 a month for pda's such as the fuze.
How many of you guys are doing the thing were you call up and add a regular phone as your phone and then select the $15 for data and then just switch your sim card into the fuze and still only pay $15 for data instead of $30? What would happen if att finds out?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe has to do with area you live in?
i see this: http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7439/shotwh4.png
notice first item, @ $30.
evilxhwnd said:
maybe has to do with area you live in?
i see this: http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7439/shotwh4.png
notice first item, @ $30.
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Click to collapse
Yes, I see that too, but if you look closer at the fine print for those top two items, it says they are only available to regular cell phone ie not the fuze.
i've been using this on my 8125 for a few years now i have the media net unlimited with 200 text messages for 20 a month.
i just did this recently for my wife when i added her on to my family plan she wanted a blackjack so i had her get a dumb phone first with the unlimited messaging and the 1500 text messages for 30 a month before the 30 days were up with the dumb phone i had her return it and ordered her a refrub'd blackjack off with the discount through my job
the medianet and the messing plan stuck and i just switched her from the unlimited net and 1500 text to unlimited net and unlimited text for 30 a month
so when and if i upgrade to a fuze any new att phone with a newer htc
just like the network guy said above DATA is DATA
i checked around I didn't see anything online about the unlimited data for 10 bucks a month anybody been able to enable this?
techman28 said:
Yes, I see that too, but if you look closer at the fine print for those top two items, it says they are only available to regular cell phone ie not the fuze.
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Click to collapse
which is why you do the trick mentioned earlier and all over this forum so you can get it.
Confirmed in Chicago area!!
The catch is (as someone already mentioned) you have to put ALL THE PHONES from your Family Plan on the $10/mo. Unlim MediaNet Data Plan...and NONE of them can be PDA or iPhones. I'm saving $45/mo !!!

Pre-paid plans using CDMA Rhodium

I have been a long time customer (more than 10 years) with Iowa Wireless. I LOVE the plan I have, and the rate I haven't been able to find a match to. I'm a big fan of GSM and how I can change phones at will, but alas, I am moving to an area of North Dakota that doesn't have any GSM data, and very poor GSM voice coverage.
I have to move to Verizon (or any other CDMA provider), so I have taken this as my chance to get a new Rhodium to upgrade from my Kaiser to. Yay me.
BUT...
I don't like it, but I have had some financial difficulty, and now must pay a heafty deposit to get 'normal' service from Verizon (which is over priced to begin with).
If I get the Verizon pre-pay unlimited plan *shudders*, can I add a TP2 from eBay by just providing the correct serial numbers?
What about other pre-pay CDMA providers? Wal-Mart's Straight Talk is the right plan at a reasonable price, but can I mount a CMDA TP2 to thier network?
If you have access to MetroPCS in your area, and are willing to jump through a few hoops in getting the device configured, you can use a TP2 there. I have a Sprint TP2 that I bought on eBay running on MPS without issue. Data speeds will take you back to 2003, but the $40 unlimited call/text/data plan is hard to beat.
goldenu said:
If you have access to MetroPCS in your area, and are willing to jump through a few hoops in getting the device configured, you can use a TP2 there. I have a Sprint TP2 that I bought on eBay running on MPS without issue. Data speeds will take you back to 2003, but the $40 unlimited call/text/data plan is hard to beat.
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Click to collapse
Wow, I'll have to check them out. Is MetroPCS GSM, or CDMA based? Unfortunatly (in this case) the TP2 can run both GSM and CDMA... as for speeds, I'm used to a trunkated 20K, so anything is fine with me. *chuckles*
Thanks for the pointers!
Check out Page Plus it resells Verizon service thier data plans are crap 20megs and 50 megs and then prepaid $3 a meg (I think) lol but if you setup you phone right you can get allo the free data you can use. I had some issues but had it working pm me if you want details. thei unlimited plan talk and txt with 20megs of data is ~$40
Otherwise see if US Cellular is in the area still expensive for my plan but better than Verizon.
1000 anytime National plan, free nights and weekends starting at 7pm, free incoming calls txts and pics~$45
+txt plan 750 msgs ~$10
+data $24
+phone insurance ~$6
+taxes ~however much the government steals
gets my bill ~$100 per month
But I do pull about a 1megabit down and reasonable upload with 200ms to 250ms latency in my service area when tethered on my pc and I've only been in two places in all of america I did not get coverage so I like them allso the costumer service is the best I've ever had from ANY COMPANY HANDS DOWN.
If their was one company that deserves a hug in the whole world is US Cellular they are the best!
sorry for typos it's late I'm tired and lazy.
How do you get free unlimited data from Page Plus?
I am also curious as to whether or not you can tie an unlocked Touch Pro 2 to the Straight Talk network. Anybody have any ideas?
Verizon Wireless Basic Pre-Paid Plan
I've got a Blackberry through work and use that to read my work mails and for calls. I was still using the HTC P3600 as my PDA/MP3 player/Navigation/snapshots/movies/games/etc. and was thinking it's time for an upgrade. The TP2 seemed to be a worthy successor... thank god - I was waiting long enough. Anyway, I was also looking for a plan that I could use every now and then without any monthly commitments and related high charges. So the Verizon basic pre-paid plan seemed ideal for my situation - it costs 99 cents per day you use it - while giving you unlimited data for that day. I'd get a $100 charge so they let me keep my number for 1 year and I'd get OTA data for every third day during that year. So much for the plan...
First attempt: Try to get the Vz TP2 with the basic pre-paid plan. FAILED ... although the pre-paid guys told me the phone would work with the plan, they wouldn't be able to sell it to me without a monthly plan. I could have gotten it for the month-to-month price and then cancelled the plan after the first month - but I didn't want to go that far.
So I bought the phone through eBay. Slight complication - but I am very happy with my new phone so far!
Second attempt: Get the Vz pre-paid plan setup to my new TP2 that I bought off eBay. FAILED althought initially I was informed the pre-paid plan would WORK with the TP2 - Verizon Wireless refuses to set it up with the TP2 (which they will recognize as soon as you give them your MEID). They told me "the pre-paid network is not able to handle the traffic generated by the TP2 phone" right, like there's a separate pre-paid network....
Third attempt: PENDING I want to get some low-cost CDMA phone, either off eBay or from Vz directly (~$40 dollars one-time costs) and set that up with the basic pre-paid plan. Then I'll just "repair"/clone that phone's ESN to my TP2 and theoretically will be able to use my TP2 finally with the Verizon Wireless Basic Pre-Paid plan.
Anyone has any thoughts or - even better - real life experience? Will this work? Any ideas for a cheaper solution? I don't mind the workaround - it's fun so far...
Bizzled - THIS IS EXACTLY the kind of information I wanted to know! I'm reading this intently, I can't wait to hear how this went. I have a little bit of time before I have to change companies, I'd really like to do this...
I think I can get you a phone that is from VZ... used to be on the network, let me know if you need one, I'll go do the research on my end.
Page Plus is a prepaid service that uses the Verizon network. They will activate any unlocked CDMA phone (even phones from another carrier).
Most Verizon PDA phones work out of the box with no unlocking or anything needed.
See here:
http://www.pagepluscellular.com/
Sounds like exactly what you are looking for.
bizzled said:
I've got a Blackberry through work and use that to read my work mails and for calls. I was still using the HTC P3600 as my PDA/MP3 player/Navigation/snapshots/movies/games/etc. and was thinking it's time for an upgrade. The TP2 seemed to be a worthy successor... thank god - I was waiting long enough. Anyway, I was also looking for a plan that I could use every now and then without any monthly commitments and related high charges. So the Verizon basic pre-paid plan seemed ideal for my situation - it costs 99 cents per day you use it - while giving you unlimited data for that day. I'd get a $100 charge so they let me keep my number for 1 year and I'd get OTA data for every third day during that year. So much for the plan...
First attempt: Try to get the Vz TP2 with the basic pre-paid plan. FAILED ... although the pre-paid guys told me the phone would work with the plan, they wouldn't be able to sell it to me without a monthly plan. I could have gotten it for the month-to-month price and then cancelled the plan after the first month - but I didn't want to go that far.
So I bought the phone through eBay. Slight complication - but I am very happy with my new phone so far!
Second attempt: Get the Vz pre-paid plan setup to my new TP2 that I bought off eBay. FAILED althought initially I was informed the pre-paid plan would WORK with the TP2 - Verizon Wireless refuses to set it up with the TP2 (which they will recognize as soon as you give them your MEID). They told me "the pre-paid network is not able to handle the traffic generated by the TP2 phone" right, like there's a separate pre-paid network....
Third attempt: PENDING I want to get some low-cost CDMA phone, either off eBay or from Vz directly (~$40 dollars one-time costs) and set that up with the basic pre-paid plan. Then I'll just "repair"/clone that phone's ESN to my TP2 and theoretically will be able to use my TP2 finally with the Verizon Wireless Basic Pre-Paid plan.
Anyone has any thoughts or - even better - real life experience? Will this work? Any ideas for a cheaper solution? I don't mind the workaround - it's fun so far...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you buy a verizon branded TP2? Just curious, since I'm dealing with my own issue with verizon.
@cdmccul - I'll definitely share the results once I'm done. Got a Verizon Phone already for the cloning process... just need to figure the cloning out now. Thanks for the offer though!
@SaltyDawg - thanks for the hint. I won't go with PagePlus though since they charge you $1.20/MB for data and that's all I'm interested in for my future TP2 plan...
MadM3rlin said:
Did you buy a verizon branded TP2? Just curious, since I'm dealing with my own issue with verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I did.
bizzled said:
@cdmccul - I'll definitely share the results once I'm done. Got a Verizon Phone already for the cloning process... just need to figure the cloning out now. Thanks for the offer though!
@SaltyDawg - thanks for the hint. I won't go with PagePlus though since they charge you $1.20/MB for data and that's all I'm interested in for my future TP2 plan...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
$1.20 per MB? That's only if you take the standard plan.
http://www.pagepluscellular.com/Plans/Talk n Text 1200.aspx
That says you get 1200 minutes, 1200 text messages, and 50 MB of data for $29.99 per month (which is the same as the $1.00 per day that you were talking about on Verizon). And data is billed at .60 per MB if you go over the 50 MB.
I looked at PagePlus, but the web site wasn't working well for me, and it appears as though they won't get me a phone number near where I need one. Doesn't mean I won't try a different area code, but for now, if I can get Verizon to work, that would be 'better.
However, Verizon doesn't have any LOCAL numbers to exactly where I am. The closest town to where I am moving to is considered long distance to where I will be living.
cdmccul said:
I looked at PagePlus, but the web site wasn't working well for me, and it appears as though they won't get me a phone number near where I need one. Doesn't mean I won't try a different area code, but for now, if I can get Verizon to work, that would be 'better.
However, Verizon doesn't have any LOCAL numbers to exactly where I am. The closest town to where I am moving to is considered long distance to where I will be living.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just port your number in. Keep your existing number. If you don't have an existing number, buy a cheap prepaid phone and then port that number.
SaltyDawg said:
Just port your number in. Keep your existing number. If you don't have an existing number, buy a cheap prepaid phone and then port that number.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have to see if I can find any - the town I'm moving to isn't THAT small, but I haven't found any local cell numbers. I'll have to do more research, there's got to be somebody... That or I'll try to do something with the GoogleVoice thingy I read about a while ago.
Well if push comes to shove, you can port landline numbers too. So you could sign up for a landline from whoever the local phone company is, and then after a few days port it out to your cell phone.

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.

[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.

unlock question

so my friend is wanting to jump from at&t so here is my question. if he unlocks the phone will he be able to move to virgin mobile, to my knowledge the answer is no because virgin mobile does not use sim cards. but i would like so incite on this from people that know more then i do about these companies.
No
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
virgin mobile is CDMA so no .... you can use Straight talk, T-Mobile, AT&T prepaid but out of any if I wasnt using at&t i would use straight talk
unlimited talk text and web 45 bucks a month
http://www.straighttalk.com/ServicePlans
....
thank you for the conformation.
SuicideMyk said:
virgin mobile is CDMA so no .... you can use Straight talk, T-Mobile, AT&T prepaid but out of any if I wasnt using at&t i would use straight talk
unlimited talk text and web 45 bucks a month
http://www.straighttalk.com/ServicePlans
....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey suicide - so I have been thinking about going this route with my phone. It would save me about 100$ a month, but I haven't because I have had varying answers when looking for whether or not web is unlimited or whether it will work. Do you have any insight here to clarify on the unlimited web?
Edit: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1100085&page=2
Still sounds nifty
always gotta read the fine print
7. STRAIGHT TALK UNLIMITED PLANS CANNOT BE USED FOR: (1) access to the Internet, intranets, or other data networks except as the device’s native applications and capabilities permit, or (2) any applications that tether your device to a laptop or personal computer other than for the use of Wireless Sync. I
for unlimited talk and text it's a good deal but their definition of "unlimited data" is useless
T-Mobile pre paid $50 unlimited plan
11. * Data Plans and Other Features. You will be charged for data usage on a pay per use basis unless you are required to maintain a data plan (“Data Plan”) as part of your Service, or as otherwise provided by your Rate Plan or prepaid data pass. Permissible and Prohibited Uses: Your Data Plan is intended for Web browsing, messaging, and similar activities on your Device and not on any other equipment. Unless explicitly permitted by your Data Plan, other uses, including for example, using your Device as a modem or tethering your Device to a personal computer or other hardware, are not permitted.
AT&T Go Phone $50 unlimited plan
**Smartphone users: You may use your smartphone on all GoPhone plans. A data package is required to use any data services on your device. Pay-per-use data is not available on smartphones.
***
$5 for 10 MB
$15 for 100 MB
$25 for 500 MB
basically $75 bucks a month
Do you use this?
I am gonna do a little more research and see which would be better, ST or T-Mobile. I guess ST is atnt for pre-paid? If t mobiles allows data (web surfing) I definitely would be interested in that a little more. That thread I linked mentioned having to drop 200$ on a new Nokia. That hurts there.
dyliho said:
Do you use this?
I am gonna do a little more research and see which would be better, ST or T-Mobile. I guess ST is atnt for pre-paid? If t mobiles allows data (web surfing) I definitely would be interested in that a little more. That thread I linked mentioned having to drop 200$ on a new Nokia. That hurts there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no Im stuck in a AT&T contract, I pay about 90 bucks a month for unlimited talk/text and 250mb of data..... majority of my data I use is wifi thats why i went with the smaller data package
seems like out of the three if you want the data T-Mobile would be the way...
as far as dropping 200 bucks on a nokia I have no clue Im pretty sure you can find someone selling a sim card if that's the case
T-Mobile Sim Card Prepaid Kit
With This 10 minutes ($3.34) Pre Paid Kit, you will Get everything you want in a wireless plan without an annual contract, credit check, or a monthly bill! Buy a Prepaid phone kit now. Activation Card will work on any T-Mobile and Unlocked GSM cell phone (t-zones not available on all devices.) Initial 10 minutes talk time, expires 90 days after activation
http://www.amazon.com/T-Mobile-Sim-...4WFM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1313702671&sr=8-2
Actually my talk with ATT wound up far better than I ever ever expected and they totally hooked me the heck up. So for now, I stay. Thanks though - it'll help some friends who have phones but can't get a contract.

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