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Hey guys, I'm new to Android and
just coming off a feature phone. I want to keep the Captivate, but can't justify spending so much on the data plan. Is there any way to fool At&t into thinking I don't have a smart phone? I've heard some things about people messing with apn's.
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Long and the short of it is, you can "try" but good luck. IMO its worth the money as the Captivate is a data hungry device. ATT tracks phones by IMEI numbers and as soon as they detect your phone theyll add a data plan for you.
BTW if you actually get through and are able to have ATT block a data plan for you good luck with the data charges .....Unless your always connected to wifi you will most likely get some charges.
IMO if you get a smartphone its worth the money for a data plan, if you dont ahve one unless you are around wifi it almost defeats the purpose.
jel7 said:
Hey guys, I'm new to Android and
just coming off a feature phone. I want to keep the Captivate, but can't justify spending so much on the data plan. Is there any way to fool At&t into thinking I don't have a smart phone? I've heard some things about people messing with apn's.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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So basically you want all the features of a smartphone without having to pay? Don't we all.
I understand where you're coming from. Even the "lower" cost of $15 a month is $180 a year. The way cellular plans and data plans work in this country is absolutely ridiculous. They are expensive.
But what are you going to do? It boils down to if you want it, you gotta pay for it.
I am a person that travels the world. I used to think the same way, that this that or the other is way expensive. Until I started doing buisness abroad. Data plans in other countries are more expensive than ours, less bandwidth and restricted usage. So yeah, as much as I hate to have to pay, it could be worse.
One way is to grab the IMEI of a non smart phone and get someone at AT&T to input it manually. That will only last till you need to contact support for any reason.Then you are back to square one. Sooo, if you want to play you will more and likely have to pay.
My friend had the same thing. When he we went to the att store, they said it's absolutely mandatory to have the data plan as it is with the iPhone. My friend told them that he had a blackberry and it's mandatory for a data plan and he was able to block it by caling in head quarters. Then another guy made up some bull **** and said "after september 1st, 2009, we no longer block internet to internet required phones". Doesn't make sense, but what ever. We explained that to him, but he said "well ATT usually gives a 1 time courtesy". The next morning, he calls ATT headquarters and askes to block the internet. took about 10 minutes on the phone, and it was completely blocked from here on out.
rurouni572 said:
So basically you want all the features of a smartphone without having to pay? Don't we all.
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There's a lot more to do with smartphones than use a data plan. My first year with a Touch HD I didn't have a data plan. Finally decided to get one some months ago and I've maybe checked out 5 websites. That's all I've done with it.
So I can totally understand why some people could care less if they had a data plan and would rather not pay for something they aren't going to use.
I don't see the point in this. If you don't want to pay the $30 a month dataplan, then just buy a normal cell phone and an iPod Touch.
nah the capti can still be pretty useful without data in my opinion.
Also, you're best bet is to call them and ask to talk to higher ups. Be honest and tell them what you want. If they say no, say well i guess i'll have to find a service provider that is more understanding. See how they grovel after that. And if they don't do it for you, call again.
Many of the apps and games dont require a data plan, so if you purchase them directly from the publisher and sideload them onto your phone, you'll be saving that 15-30 bucks a month. It's all really about what you want out of the device. I'd rather have an android w/o a data plan than no android at all..
I have heard if you call with a flip phone and say you lost the other phone, then you can cancel the data and have them put a block on it. I have heard of success doing it that way. But it is worth it to pay the data IMHO.
SeriousBizznass said:
I don't see the point in this. If you don't want to pay the $30 a month dataplan, then just buy a normal cell phone and an iPod Touch.
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This is absolutely ridiculous that you guys are brainwashed into thinking a smartphone is useless without data. It is not, my brother wants a smartphone and he's mostly at home around wifi. But most of all he wants android and to play the games and emulators that you can use on the phone. He doesn't want to hunk around a gba, psp, ds, etc. Just wants a music/video playing, high quality camera, video game, ebook reading, app installing mini computer. Doesn't need data and some people don't like iOS.
The only reason I need data mostly is to use google maps. Thats practically 80% of my data usage.
i've read the other threads about people not wanting to talk about it because thieves who steal phones change imei numbers to bypass an imei block when you report the phone stolen.
Well the reason for this imei "spoofing" would be for the ATT customers. They force smartphone/iphone users into having to pay for a data plan. That's 25 bucks for 2 gigs and $10 more for any gig over. Forget tethering and all that. The people who had unllimited data plans BEFORe this was enacted STILL have unlimited data to tether and watch videos all they want on their smartphones WITHOUT a 2 gb cap.
Solution? Here's what i've come up with (a theory/model).
A rom (like clockwork ) could implement a imei spoofer at boottime. You can only put in one imei number to change it to at the time of installation of the clockwork mod. It would be locked down though so you can only switch it back to the real one or that other one. So if you uninstall/reinstal/wipe the phone you can't change the imei again.
That one imei number that you put in should be an older phone you have (nokias, lg shine, aka anything that ISNT a smartphone). Everyone has older phones lying around before you upgraded to a smartphone. Just use that one and either destroy the phone or just make sure no sim goes into the dumbphone imei your using. Then you can get the original medianet unlimited available to non smartphones
What do you think of this?
also as of now im thinking of just getting the 200 mb , turning off all data connections (power control widget) permanently and just use wifi. ATT won't let you actually turn off the data plan (thus another need for this imei spoofing/changing)
I think it is absolute nonsense. Honestly..
RunTimeWorld said:
I think it is absolute nonsense. Honestly..
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nah.. the whole goal is to get ATT to switch their plans. Tmobile, verizon, everyone else has a real unlimited plan. PErhaps just limit the iphone users if its really a network problem.
Since they don't want to offer unlimited internet, this would be the only way to. People would do it the same reason they jailbreak iphones, root androids, etc.
also note:
"The new top-ranging data plan is called DataPro and gives users a monthly cap of 2GB for $25/month. Once customers fly past their monthly cap, AT&T will charge an additional $10 for another gigabyte of data. For example, if a customer uses 2.01GB of data, you'll be charged $35."
Have you ever considered the possibility that you might jeopardize someone else's profile by using his IMEI ?
RunTimeWorld said:
Have you ever considered the possibility that you might jeopardize someone else's profile by using his IMEI ?
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No because You are supposed to use only imei's you own. Old phones in shoe boxes, closets, etc. I dunno about you guys, but my mom/dad/myself/others i know have always had old backup phones or phones they just keep in boxes when they get others. In fact I have a couple blackberries, palm treo 600/650, nokias, lgs & the such lieing around now.
Just like macchanger on linux allows you to change your mac, a imei changer at boot time could switch to that one so you could save money on your bill (regain the ability to disable all att internet instead of being FORCED to pay for internet if you have a smartphone... or just pay for unlimited)
Both options IMHO are better than the 200 mb cap, and 2 gb cap they offer
I see.. well in that case i misunderstood. There's a good IMEI tool on berryreview for these purporses.. but still.. not a big fan about the idea.. however, it should work
RunTimeWorld said:
I see.. well in that case i misunderstood. There's a good IMEI tool on berryreview for these purporses.. but still.. not a big fan about the idea.. however, it should work
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I thought it was illegal to do that, but will this let an android work on regular plans?
It is illegal as far as i know, since you violate the contract you made to a certain IMEI.
Plus not everything that is illegal is negative - sometimes there is nothing but a protection for consumers behind.
baalpeteor said:
No because You are supposed to use only imei's you own. Old phones in shoe boxes, closets, etc. I dunno about you guys, but my mom/dad/myself/others i know have always had old backup phones or phones they just keep in boxes when they get others. In fact I have a couple blackberries, palm treo 600/650, nokias, lgs & the such lieing around now.
Just like macchanger on linux allows you to change your mac, a imei changer at boot time could switch to that one so you could save money on your bill (regain the ability to disable all att internet instead of being FORCED to pay for internet if you have a smartphone... or just pay for unlimited)
Both options IMHO are better than the 200 mb cap, and 2 gb cap they offer
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If you can afford so many devices, you might be able to pay for a decent plan too.. that's an advice with good intention..
Let me kn ow if anything comes of this as I am interested in hobnobbing this IM3I trickster. I have an older samsung Eternity that I have wanted to test and switch IM3I numbers with my Captivate.
Another thing that i was looking into but never went anywhere was ROMing a Galaxy S so it would work WITHOUT a SIM card. simply using the WIFI only "off the grid"
It does not seem too impossible at all and I dont understand whay this is not been looked into.
I cant run my Captivate without a SIM or I get major NAGing
I'm affraid you'd have to google yourself, since I don't want to put myself into trouble.
But there are tons of tools for that out there...
RunTimeWorld said:
If you can afford so many devices, you might be able to pay for a decent plan too.. that's an advice with good intention..
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Yeah. The one I have now is an aria though (they were giving them away free in exchange for a 2 year extension). I should have done my research first about ATT's new policies. Sure 2 gb isnt the end of the world, but I would love the ability to choose no internet at all. That way I can just use wifi. Since I am forced into paying for some kind, I would love to pay for unlimited so I can tether or use it however way I want. They charge $20 or $25 on top of the original $25 to tether (so 45-50 bucks) and you still have the same 2gb cap. nomore bandwidth although you paid 20-25 bucks more. That is not right.
I will check that app out. If push comes to shove though, I will just keep the 2 gb and just keep data off (thanks to cyanogen!) and just use wifi. the $25 for the 2 gb is less than the $30 I paid for unlimited on a normal phone (which they just removed 2 days ago when it sensed the aria)
baalpeteor said:
Yeah. The one I have now is an aria though (they were giving them away free in exchange for a 2 year extension). I should have done my research first about ATT's new policies. Sure 2 gb isnt the end of the world, but I would love the ability to choose no internet at all. That way I can just use wifi. Since I am forced into paying for some kind, I would love to pay for unlimited so I can tether or use it however way I want. They charge $20 or $25 on top of the original $25 to tether (so 45-50 bucks) and you still have the same 2gb cap. nomore bandwidth although you paid 20-25 bucks more. That is not right.
I will check that app out. If push comes to shove though, I will just keep the 2 gb and just keep data off (thanks to cyanogen!) and just use wifi. the $25 for the 2 gb is less than the $30 I paid for unlimited on a normal phone (which they just removed 2 days ago when it sensed the aria)
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I had a Blackberry Bold with the original $30 unlimited data plan before I got my Captivate. After I got the Captivate I just had to call up AT&T and they transferred the plan to my Captivate's IMEI number with no problem.
The reason I'm researching this is for when I get my Motorola Atrix next month. I'm going to transfer my unlimited plan to the Atrix's IMEI number but change the IMEI on my Captivate to the Atrix's IMEI number also. That way when I use the Captivate as a backup phone I would just move my SIM card over and not have any data network problems.
yahooserious said:
Another thing that i was looking into but never went anywhere was ROMing a Galaxy S so it would work WITHOUT a SIM card. simply using the WIFI only "off the grid"
It does not seem too impossible at all and I dont understand whay this is not been looked into.
I cant run my Captivate without a SIM or I get major NAGing
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Couldn't you blacklist or rmmod whatever kernel driver module operates the SIM card?
RunTimeWorld said:
If you can afford so many devices, you might be able to pay for a decent plan too.. that's an advice with good intention..
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That was such a stupid remark. Please don't talk unless u think. So ur saying if I have an old Motorola flip phone and own a couple phones from 1995 that I should be able to afford a $60+ plan?? Some people amaze me with their stupidity.
From the Tab.
www.twitter.com/ayman07
So, if I were to switch the imei and device id I could name T-Mobile think I'm using my old note 5? My kid broke his and I can't get it replaced because it's now been too long. If I can change the s4 and spoof the note 5 for a day I can get it replaced. Would this work?
I know this is probably the 100th thread about forced data plans on AT&T.
My wife and I have been using our unlocked Windows Mobile phones for a couple of years now. We recently switched from Centennial Wireless to AT&T, since the two companies merged.
When we went into the AT&T store to set up our plan, we took our phones in with us. I specifically asked the sales rep if we were required a data plan, and he responded with "no". We were not put under contract since we had our own devices.
Since then, AT&T has an automated system that recognized smartphones and other similar devices. This system adds a data plan to your device and notifies you via text and email.
Neither of us use the internet on our phones. Each phone has wifi, but my wife doesn't know how to use much on her phone. We mostly use our phones for texting and thats about it.
I've called AT&T, to make a long story short, nothing happened.
Going to try to switch to the GoPhone setup and use our smartphones on that.
Getting tired of all this forced B.S.
I'm just about ready to ditch cellular companies and go back to the "string and cup" method.
Are there any programs that mask your IMEI number?
Pretty sure you're out of luck if they've already recognized your smartphones.
It's a horrendous policy...one of the main reasons I switched actually. Probably going to be forced to leave T-Mobile if the merger happens. (AT&T will surely put a stop to prepaid smartphones, won't they?)
I'm not sure, but I think hiding/altering your IMEI is illegal? Don't quote me on that, though.
It seems that I'm in a catch 22. I'm on a great unlimited data plan, but AT&T insists that if I move to a Atrix or similar device that is recognized by their network, the network will automatically update my data plan to one of the newer ones. As a result, I won't just loose my unlimited data, but I'll have to pay more.
That leaves me only one obvious alternative. Get another non-network phone, that is capable of working on their network (much like my current phone, the Telus Motorola Milestone). That way, I get a newer device with the features I want, but they don't see the phone as an Atrix or whatever... and they don't change my plan.
Would REALLY like the Atrix. The qHD display is something I really want at this stage. Otherwise, a Galaxy S II would be a no-brainer. So I'm hoping with all the great users we have on these forums, someone can recommend a qHD Android 2.2+ device that I can buy unlocked and fits my needs.
Thanks in advance.
merkman said:
It seems that I'm in a catch 22. I'm on a great unlimited data plan, but AT&T insists that if I move to a Atrix or similar device that is recognized by their network, the network will automatically update my data plan to one of the newer ones. As a result, I won't just loose my unlimited data, but I'll have to pay more.
That leaves me only one obvious alternative. Get another non-network phone, that is capable of working on their network (much like my current phone, the Telus Motorola Milestone). That way, I get a newer device with the features I want, but they don't see the phone as an Atrix or whatever... and they don't change my plan.
Would REALLY like the Atrix. The qHD display is something I really want at this stage. Otherwise, a Galaxy S II would be a no-brainer. So I'm hoping with all the great users we have on these forums, someone can recommend a qHD Android 2.2+ device that I can buy unlocked and fits my needs.
Thanks in advance.
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Well, I'm a representative @ a corporate-owned AT&T store and you WILL NOT lose that unlimited data plan. I deal with this on a day-to-day basis. I'm in the Dallas,TX market. We GRANDFATHER the unlimited data plan. It is the NATIONAL policy. We hire the biggest idiots to run the pen. Bro, you keep that data plan unless YOU change it. Don't let them fool you. I PROMISE this is the case. You even have ways of sideloading the wireless tether apk to avoid having to subscribe to the tethering plan. The ATRIX is a great qHD phone. I've seen the GreyBlur and GingerBlur ROM for it. Snappy device with unlimited potential once development starts snowballing.
Bullet,
Thanks. I've spoken to several good people at AT&T, but the "hiccup" is this. When I joined AT&T, I had the $20/month unlimited data plan with the Cingular 8525 phone. But since then, we added unlimited texting to our family plan with 5 phones. At that point, my data plan dropped from $20/month to $10/month. The explination at the time was the unlimited texting was part of my data plan, so my data plan price decreased.
However, now everytime I speak to an AT&T representative and they look at my plan, they tell me I'm on plan OTHER than the standard unlimited smartphone plan. They called it something else last night, I can't remember which. So they say that if I put my sim in an AT&T smartphone, like the Atrix, the network will see I'm using an AT&T smartphone, and change my plan automatically. They say the network will poll my phone, and even if they change the plan back after it switches the first time, that before long it would switch again.
Since several users here have reported to using an Atrix and never having their plan changed, I'm not sure this is true. But maybe with my plan being changed without my knowledge in the past... maybe I AM doomed to change my plan unless I use another non-standard phone?
While my phone is personal, I've spoken to my corporate account mananger who I work with on a daily basis. We didn't get very far with a representative at a store last night, despite her knowing him well. He said the system will change it, and there is nothing we can do. But if anyone knows better, I'd sure appreciate their input.
Went ahead and looked up my plan online, so I could tell you the exact plan I'm using now. It's listed as "Data Unlimited for Non-Smartphones (Messaging Unlimited required)". Which is bogus, cause I never agreed to change my plan from the smartphone plan I had in the past. If it hadn't been working just fine with non-network smartphones the last 3+ years, I guess I'd have noticed it sooner.
So I guess if I don't wanna change my data plan, I'll have to use non-network device. Really sucks, cause I don't think there IS a non-AT&T qHD phone that will work on their network at the moment. Though I'd love to hear I'm wrong...
T mobile pyramid maybe?
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So the problem is not that you wont be able to keep your unlimited plan its that you're paying $10 a month for an unlimited plan and if you get a new phone you'll have to pay $30 a month. If that is the correct issue than what they are telling you at AT&T is correct. The plan you are on has been updated and you will have to change if you get a new phone. With that said... I would tell you just to go ahead and bite the bullet and pay the difference. You will pay less going to the more expensive data plan over 2 years then you would if you buy a phone no contract phone. But that's my opinion.
Why not just go with a carrier that actually offers unlimited to anyone without jumping through hoops?
thanks of your leading i was also facing the same problem in my phone but i hope now i will cover it and this is a good news which you have updated us and thanks to share with us
mobile news
the qhd display on the atrix uses pentile display technology. Which quite frankly sucks. I was really excited about it too, and expected the screen to look something like the iphone's retina display which is 960x640. But nope, it lacks major sharpness, and text and small pixels just look bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp6JgchXFtg&feature=player_embedded#at=64
Hey all,
Like many others I preordered a GS3 before June 28 to secure unlimited data. I'm coming from a Droid Incredible 2 with 3G unlimited. My line wasn't eligible for an upgrade yet, but since I'm on a family plan I transferred an upgrade from my dad's dumb phone line.
With all the stuff going on about the locked bootloader and whatnot, it's made me question whether I should keep the GS3. I received it about a week ago and haven't opened or activated it. I'm considering:
a) Return the phone, get back the upgrade on my dad's line for later use
b) Activate the phone, try it out, if I don't like it then sell it on ebay/craigslist
c) Keep the phone
For option (a), my understanding is that in the future if I want to use my dad's upgrade, I would actually have to order the smart phone for his line by adding data to it, then activate the phone on my line and cancel my dad's data. This would be necessary to preserve unlimited data, right? The phone becomes "customer provided" for my line, and since my line didn't use an upgrade or renew its contract it doesn't affect my data package. One Verizon rep on the phone said that would not work, though. Hard to tell.
For (b), if I activate the phone then downgrade back to my D Inc 2, can I still keep unlimited? Does going from 3G --> 4G --> 3G matter? Some people are saying that Verizon is trying to push people to 4G and that "3G unlimited" might not be an option in the future.
For (c), well, there's no risk of losing unlimited there. But I'm stuck with a phone that potentially will get slow updates and lack the ability to use custom OS updates due to limited rooting capabilities. However, my understanding of how the encrypted bootloader will affect GS3 custom ROMs/updates is limited. Maybe it's been hacked enough that this won't matter?
Anyways, my main concern is whether I risk losing unlimited data if I return the phone and do a later "alternate upgrade", or if I activate/sell/downgrade to 3G phone (which I would later upgrade to 4G by purchasing full price or used).
Do you guys have any advice? Are there any known phones coming out later this year, besides the Razr HD (which will probably also be locked down heavily) that are worth waiting for? Or should I stick with the GS3 as the best possible phone currently available, for the next two years, and trust in the devs to crack it well enough and allow us to update without waiting? Droid Incredible 4G seems to not be as "future proof" in terms of specs. I'm also concerned about Samsung's lawsuits and how that might affect the phone, since they already have an update coming to limit search capabilities.
I've tried it in the store and like the phone itself - no issues there. Just the choice between uncertainty about rooting/updates vs. uncertainty about preserving unlimited data. I suppose the data is more important and I shouldn't risk that, but I'd love to hear what you guys think. Thanks a lot for reading.
Considering we already have Cm10, CM9, and AOKP, I would keep it
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