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[Q] Need advice on good phone (AT&T) to use with Xoom

Although I do have the Xoom 3G I'd like to use my phone (unlimited data plan) for the rare occasion that I need to access the internet w/o WiFi. Apparently I am eligible to upgrade my company phone (from iPhone 3GS).
I was following several threads about people complaining about problems they had trying to tether their phones to the Xoom. My attempts to get an answer to which phone is currently good (the best?) failed.
So here's my question: What phone from AT&T would be a good substitute for the iPhone 3GS? It needs to be able to tether with the Xoom.
Thanks everyone!
(PS: Please spare me replies like "every phone is better than the iPhone"... )

Nexus S would make for the ultimate pair with the Xoom.

I have the HTC Inspire and have used the Wifi hotspot for my Xoom many times with no problem of holding signal, plus the fact that the Inspire is 802.11N and so is the Xoom and the speed is great with the inspire. AT&T is also releasing the HSUPA update for it starting next week so it will be great also, I already have Hsupa because I am running Coredroid on my rooted phone and it screams.

Nexus S, Inspire "4G", and the Atrix "4G" if you can live without roms. OR wait for the Galaxy S 2. It has a quadrant HIGHER THAN THE XOOM'S!

Thank you all for the input. I checked the Nexus S but it doesn't seem to be available from AT&T. I can still wait though!
[sent with Xooming Android technology]

highly recoommend the atrix. Would stay away from samsung,

Best qHD Android Phone that does AT&T 3G & 4G, but isn't their device?

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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Click to collapse
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?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App

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

Rogers doesn't allow tethering for LTE Plans

Hey guys,
Rogers doesn't allow tethering for my LTE plan (( I have a i727) what other ways can I tether without paying?

What plan do you have? I have been tethering on a LTE plan without extra cost...
I downloaded 2.8GB of data in under 8 minutes tethered in Toronto on LTE...wanted to see how quickly I could use the rest of my data lol.
Sent from my SGH-I727R using xda premium

Hey guys. I'm assuming you both own the SGS2 LTE from Rogers. How are they? Do your devices also have the screen defect? How long have you had your devices? I'm asking because I want to get one, but am reluctant because of the screen defect many of the devices have.

huh
im tethering all the time lol , no charges

RoLo. said:
Hey guys. I'm assuming you both own the SGS2 LTE from Rogers. How are they? Do your devices also have the screen defect? How long have you had your devices? I'm asking because I want to get one, but am reluctant because of the screen defect many of the devices have.
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Click to collapse
Lol thread jacking much? I don't have the screen defect as stated in this forum and the t989 forum.
Coming from the gt-i9100m, the screen isn't quite as sharp but it's almost identical.
Sent from my SGH-I727R using xda premium
Addition:
had a gs2 since august 20, but my 727r since december 5
i like the phone alot. I miss the amount of development that was on the 9100m, but whatever. There is still good dev's helping out and the phone works well. Not quite as fast, not as much support with some games, but it's coming along...oh...and LTE works really well.....heh.

apparently my 2gb lte plan doesnt come with tethering access & on the rogers bill when I switched from a blackberry 1gb data to the 2gb lte plan they removed tethering access. I had the phone since it came out, its nice but sometimes overheats. The screen could be better

What does really prevent you from tethering? Forget the stupid "restrictions" on paper. I'm not on an LTE plan but despite Rogers' contract specifically stating that my 6GB data plan cannot be used for tethering, I was tethering both wireless and/or USB without any problems or additional charges. Give it a try, I just don't see how they could prevent it. The phone comes with everything you need.
@ RoLo
As far as the phone itself, I have been using it for about 2 months now and I'm quite pleased with it - no screen defect/problems. The only downfall is the battery - definitely not the worst among Android devices but with only 8-10 hrs of medium-heavy duty usage I needed to buy another battery just to make sure it survives the day without additional charge.

Rogers LTE Data Plans do include tethering.
If you have LTE you should jump on the 6 gig my 10 plan.

Keep the Verizon version or not?

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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[Q] Good, inexpensive, contract-less smartphone

I hope that this is the right area to post, if it is not I am sorry and please move it. Thank you!
So, I am heading off to college and I want to get a smart phone. But I am way too cheap to pay for a data plan from a major carrier.
I currently have a Net10 brick phone and use their $30 for 60 days cards. So, I am essentially paying a $15/month service. I like the idea of Net10's "bring your own phone" plan that is $50/month with unlimited everything.
I have decided that what ever phone I may get, it needs to be under $250, run Android 4+, have a dual-core 1GHz or higher, and have 4G capability.
Now, I really like the Samsung Galaxy S2 and I can get one from eBay used for around $250, but I found the BLU Quattro 4.5 for $240 and it looks like one heck of a phone for the price. So my question is, which one should I get, or should I get something else?
Thank you,
saleenman95

I just received the Blu Quattro 4.5 from Amazon. It's a great phone, crazy fast. It doesn't support 4G LTE, but I'm pretty sure it will work on Tmobile's H+ 4G, haven't tried it yet though. Also Tmobile now does unlimited plans with 500MB data for $50/month no contract.

I see what the development for the Blu Quattro is and compare things like micro SD and removeable battery. If you're buying the phone yourself I think being able to replace the battery will really extend the life of the device and save you trouble. I'd check the bands against your provider and service area.
Just taking a peek, the SII has multiple 4.2.2 ROMs. Another quick look doesn't really turn up anything for the other phone. Something like re-flashing the stock ROM can save you in some situations even if you haven't used custom ROMs. Things can go wrong.
T-Mobile still has the 100min/unlimited text/5Gb 4G data plan through WAL*MART if that's enough minutes for you or you'd be able to call over VOIP (data or wifi) to extend that.

Boost mobile .....the plans shrink as you pay on time and the phone are pretty cheap....unlimited everything
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