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AT&T Data Plan Requirement ?

Can somebody who actually knows confirm some particulars on this new policy that went in to effect on Sept 6th .
Under what conditions will AT&T be forcing you on a data plan ?
Is it just on "contract" extension plans ?
Example : If I buy a new TP2, but I pay full retail instead of paying the 2-year contract-extend price, will they still try and put me on data ?
Thanks for any info (no postulating please, I can do that myself. I'm looking for facts here)

I saw this too on my last bill.
I quote:
Data Plan Requirement for Smartphones
An eligible data plan is required for Smartphones (including
iPhone, Blackberry & PDA devices) per AT&T's Wireless Rate
Plan Terms & Wireless Data Service Terms & Conditions at
www.att.com/planterms. If you begin using a Smartphone after
9/05/09 without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to
add an eligible data plan to your account & bill you the proper
monthly fee.
To me it means that if they catch you using a smartphone and you don't have a data plan, they can put (force) a data plan on your account & then they'll bill you.
So my question is, how can they find out?

So my question is, how can they find out?
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Click to collapse
In basic terms, when you connect to their network, they see your IMEI #, which they can then plug into a database and determine the type of device.
Of course that's all theoreitical, and I've never heard of this happening to someone with an HTC phone, only with the iPhone (in that case, they actually send you a txt mentioning that you need to get the iPhone-specific data plan).
Personally I have been using the MediaNET Unlimited ($15/mo) data plan for a few months now on a range of devices (Xperia, Nokia E71, Touch HD), all of which 'should' be considered smartphones by AT&T (which would require a more expensive data plan). But, thus far, nothing has happened and I don't expect anything to happen in the near future. If I didn't have a data plan at all, that probably wouldn't be an issue either.
If you have an AT&T branded phone like the Tilt or Fuze, you may run into a problem, but based on what I've read on howardforums.com, you'll probably be OK (there are many people running Tilts and Fuze's without data plans or with the 'cheaper' MediaNET plan).
My suggestion to the OP would be to see if you can purchase the Touch Pro2 without actually attaching it to a line, just the device outright (which AT&T should allow). When you get it, just pop in your SIM. There's no guarantee, but you shouldn't be forced to get a data plan.

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.
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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?
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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

[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.
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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?
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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
....
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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.
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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.

[Q] Have you ever bought an unlimited data plan on ebay?

As in this link - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Verizon-Gra...a-Plan-Under-Contract-till-7-14-/231102238905
If so, how did it go? Smooth as butter?
Summary of the auction details:
I have a grandfathered Verizon 4G LTE data plan for $29.99/month that is still in the contract period until July that I am willing to transfer via Verizon's assumption of liability (AOL) process.
Verizon's Assumption of Liability process works like this:
1) You buy this item. I will confirm the name you want to have registered on the account and we swap contact information.
2) I call Verizon and give them your name and contact information.
3) You then call Verizon and they will transfer the account to you.
4) Done! Register your smartphone and enjoy unlimited gigabytes of data on Verizon's 4G LTE network.
This listing is for 1 unlimited data plan. Currently it also includes 700 voice minutes for $59.99/month, and unlimited SMS for 29.99/month but you can change the voice and text parts of the plan to whatever you prefer during the AOL process without losing the unlimited data. Verizon will honor the unlimited data part of the plan as long as you do not take a discounted or subsidized device from them. You must bring or buy your own Verizon-compatible device.
Buyer assumes all responsibility for making sure Verizon upholds the unlimited data package on the transfer. I can vouch only for the current status of unlimited data. Please call Verizon before bidding if you have any questions or concerns about the transfer process. You will need to either have an existing Verizon account or create a new account. You may be subject to a credit check, so if your credit isn't good enough to get you a Verizon account, this won't work for you.
This data plan is for smartphones. I do not believe that it will work for tablets or mobile wifi devices
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awskier08 said:
As in this link - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Verizon-Gra...a-Plan-Under-Contract-till-7-14-/231102238905
If so, how did it go? Smooth as butter?
Summary of the auction details:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never had to. Here in Europe prepaid contracts are quite useable and cheap, so I don't need a full contract.

homepage said:
Never had to. Here in Europe prepaid contracts are quite useable and cheap, so I don't need a full contract.
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That would be nice to live over there.
Anyone else?

awskier08 said:
As in this link - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Verizon-Gra...a-Plan-Under-Contract-till-7-14-/231102238905
If so, how did it go? Smooth as butter?
Summary of the auction details:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never did on Ebay I guess.... There are a lot of software actually are also offering you this kind of service while you buy their product. I got this service on my paid Cloud. So already good for me.

No I never try buy a plan on ebay..