Database Info

New to Inspire? YOU NEED TO READ THIS!

I had the Check Mark under the "H+" icon like a lot of other veteran AT&T users here. I had no data service due to an incorrect APN. I bought the Inspire off-contract at a Corp store & put in my SIM from my Captivate. I called Premier Support and this was what I was told:
"The Inspire uses the 4G network and your IMEI isn't provisioned on our network. We can register your IMEI to use our network but you'll have to select a new data plan. If you choose to enter an APN manually, when our system audits the network, your IMEI will show as a "non-qualifying" device and you'll immediately be placed in the 4G 250MB data plan. I can put in a ticket stating that you request your IMEI be allowed to use our 4G network on an unlimited basis, but there's no guarantee that it will be approved. If it is not approved, you will have the option to remain on the 3G unlimited plan with your 3g-only device or 'upgrade' to a 4G plan with your Inspire. You will be contacted with our decision."
There apparently is no option to use the Inspire solely on the 3G unlimited network. To guarantee that I only use the 3G network, I'll have to go back to a 3G-only device - IE my Captivate.
I will wait to see what they come up with but my fall-back will be to return the Inspire and pay the $35 restocking fee & pursue my options with a class-action lawsuit.
This is going to have me cancelling the 5 lines I have with AT&T and switch to Verizon. Even if I can't get unlimited data with Verizon and it ultimately costs me more, I'd switch just to spite AT&T and deny them of my monthly $289. This is COMPLETE BS on AT&T's part!
EDIT: I forgot to mention that between Sunday and Tuesday morning, my Inspire used over 500MB on AT&T's network with all the Google & HTCSense.com syncronization! This is in ADDITION to the data I transferred over my 802.11n network at home! They have geared these devices to absolutely SUCK data down their pipes with their bloatware. I totally feel an anti-trust/consumer fraud lawsuit in the making!

I would suggest trying to call them back. I switched from a captivate to the Inspire and had the same issues with data. Called their support and told them to keep my unlimited data and 5 minutes later they had me all squared away unlimited 4g data and all, I think you talked to a ****ty rep is all.

Yeah I stayed on the $30 unlimited plan no problem. They told me they switched it to 4G and it would still be the same price and unlimited.

gtg465x said:
Yeah I stayed on the $30 unlimited plan no problem. They told me they switched it to 4G and it would still be the same price and unlimited.
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glad to see your using an inspire GTG

Same here. Bought the phone at Costco. Put my Captivate SIM in and no go. Went to my local corp store and the guy told me I had to change my data plan since the Unlimited plan would not work based on a Memo the store received last Friday.
After I argued a bit I told him to switch me to the 2GB plan. He then noticed in the computer that I could stay on the unlimited plan and be on the 4G network.
I would call back ATT and demand you stay on the unlimited plan that you have been grandfathered into or you will cancel and leave. They don't want to lose a account that spends that much monthly.

I really hope you guys are right. I've been with AT&Greed for over 4 years now. I will try tomorrow at the Corp store where I bought it and update on here tomorrow night.
I want to make sure you all understand I'm not trying to steer anyone away from the Inspire. In fact, I actually forgot how much I liked having an HTC phone (had the 8125, 8525, and Fuze previously). Sense has been the $hit since I loaded the WinMo 6.5 ROMs! I liked the Android experience on my Captivate (minus TouchWiz) but really like what HTC has done with Sense on the Inspire. My quibble isn't with HTC, but with AT&Greed on their data plans.
I'll update tomorrow.

You have to have a "4g" sim card placed into your inspire. There is no reason for them not to let you you keep your unlimeted data. Its a different soc code for the data as well. The idiot Rep who you talked to on the phone is the single reason why att has a bad name. Im actually an att store manager and have had att years before I started with the company. Go back to the store you bought your inspire from and tell them to register your imei to the account and to give you a "4g" sim card. The system we use will make them switch the data plan as well but don't worry... you don't have to give up your unlimited. If you have any questions ill try to stay posted to this thread to help anyone out.
PS. 4g sim cards are cross compatible with 3g phones so if you ever switch back to your old phone you can use the new sim
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App

This should be noted
Regardless of my outcome with AT&T tomorrow, this is VERY important:
"I forgot to mention that between Sunday and Tuesday morning, my Inspire used over 500MB on AT&T's network with all the Google & HTCSense.com syncronization! This is in ADDITION to the data I transferred over my 802.11n network at home! They have geared these devices to absolutely SUCK data down their pipes with their bloatware."
Even if AT&T "allows" me "unlimited" access to their network, there are obviously programs that use their network regardless of our connection to Wi-Fi networks. Therefore, a user that isn't grandfathered into an unlimited data plan will unwittingly use data on their network even if connected via Wi-Fi. If AT&T is FORCING certain programs to use thier data network, even when connected via Wi-Fi, then it needs to be clear which programs are doing so and give the end user the ability to disable those programs. If they do not, they are guilty of a "bait and switch" scheme that is clearly outlawed by current legislation.

mgarciamma said:
You have to have a "4g" sim card placed into your inspire. There is no reason for them not to let you you keep your unlimeted data. Its a different soc code for the data as well. The idiot Rep who you talked to on the phone is the single reason why att has a bad name. Im actually an att store manager and have had att years before I started with the company. Go back to the store you bought your inspire from and tell them to register your imei to the account and to give you a "4g" sim card. The system we use will make them switch the data plan as well but don't worry... you don't have to give up your unlimited. If you have any questions ill try to stay posted to this thread to help anyone out.
PS. 4g sim cards are cross compatible with 3g phones so if you ever switch back to your old phone you can use the new sim
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
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Well being as I work for AT&T also, I have to say for a store manager you are not fully up to speed with all this.
Yes you need to have the SOC code for the PDA data plan switched to a 4g code, and yes you can keep unlimited. But you do NOT need a 4g sim card. Those new sims we got in with the new sku are only needed for LTE devices. All the non LTE 4G phones just need a regular 3G sim. The only thing different is the 4G SOC code for the Data plan.
Being as you are ripping the CS rep for mis information, you need to look in the mirror dude cause you're doing the same thing.

chocodough said:
Well being as I work for AT&T also, I have to say for a store manager you are not fully up to speed with all this.
Yes you need to have the SOC code for the PDA data plan switched to a 4g code, and yes you can keep unlimited. But you do NOT need a 4g sim card. Those new sims we got in with the new sku are only needed for LTE devices. All the non LTE 4G phones just need a regular 3G sim. The only thing different is the 4G SOC code for the Data plan.
Being as you are ripping the CS rep for mis information, you need to look in the mirror dude cause you're doing the same thing.
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You would be correct.

I say root, unlock, flash custom Rom which is already possible and stick it to att! I seriously can't complain because ATT has always been good to me, been with them since late 2004.

I had a Google Nexus One and used my upgrade for the Inspire. The ATT employee used my SIM card and just inserted my SIM into the inspire and I was able to keep my old iPhone Unlimited plan with no issue at all.

i upgraded my phone myself at my job. i made sure i had unlimited.

I've had unlimited data for 5 years now. I was able to keep mine with the upgrade to the inspire, but it required a long, long phone call to AT&T CS to keep it. The sales guy couldn't get their PC to let me keep unlimited without making special provisions w/ CS for some reason. Got to keep it, though.

I purchased mine from Best Buy and the CS reps called At&t and took care if every thing for me. I am also using the same sin from my Captivate. They also were doing the same for the guy next to me.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

Well I hate to say, but most CS reps at AT&T are clueless. Not all, there are some that know their stuff, but most are not very good.
Basically here is how it works if you already have the unlimited plan.
When we go to change from say a BB to an iPhone, or iPhone to PDA, or 4G PDA....etc....we go in and remove the current data plan, and just select the other one we need to put on there. If you already have say unlimited data on an iPhone, being as it's already on there, when we go to put on the 4G unlimited, it will list it and we select it no problem. If you don't already have unlimited it will not be a choice for us to select.
It's as simple as that. It's not rocket science. I am really sorry there are people who are dealing with reps who have no idea what they are doing. It's a pretty simple process to get things switched over.

chocodough said:
Well being as I work for AT&T also, I have to say for a store manager you are not fully up to speed with all this.
Yes you need to have the SOC code for the PDA data plan switched to a 4g code, and yes you can keep unlimited. But you do NOT need a 4g sim card. Those new sims we got in with the new sku are only needed for LTE devices. All the non LTE 4G phones just need a regular 3G sim. The only thing different is the 4G SOC code for the Data plan.
Being as you are ripping the CS rep for mis information, you need to look in the mirror dude cause you're doing the same thing.
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Thanks for correcting me..... but try using that 3g sim card when lte rolls around. I retract my previous statement about "needing" a 4g sim card but any att store will put one in for free. And it sounds like someone is a cs Rep?
And far as looking in the mirror... I do it every morning with a big smile! Knowing that att has paid for my house, my two vehicles, and all other necessities, I'm obviously doing something right.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

mgarciamma said:
Thanks for correcting me..... but try using that 3g sim card when lte rolls around. I retract my previous statement about "needing" a 4g sim card but any att store will put one in for free. And it sounds like someone is a cs Rep?
And far as looking in the mirror... I do it every morning with a big smile! Knowing that att has paid for my house, my two vehicles, and all other necessities, I'm obviously doing something right.
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Hehe sorry, I come across too strong sometimes.
No I am not a CS rep. I work in a COR store as well.

my unlimited data plan was removed as well. even after i specifically asked if i was able to keep it, and if not i would not upgrade. ended up spending time on the phone with customer service...and they said they had to put in a case to reinstate the unlimited data plan. i was quoted 9 days before a resolution...wtf???

man, i must have gotten one of the lucky guys in a corp store that really knew his stuff. he had made the captivate->inspire jump as well and fully understood why i was doing it. i kept my same sim that i've had since my iphone 3g and kept the same unlimited data plan. he actually told me that he recommended i keep it rather than switching to the 2gb plan because once i switch from it, there is no going back. he had my inspire up and running in no time at all and i still have my unlimited iphone account grandfathered in.

[Q] NO data plan?

If i was to buy an Inspire from craigslist and pop my sim card in that has no data plan, would i stil be ablke to use the phone just without a data plan? thanks!

Probably, until att emails you and tells you they are going to upgrade you to a data plan when they do and imei check.

haha o man that will get me in trouble with the rents! haha, is there anyway i can be like no, you cannot do that, i didnt buy it from yall

Can't do that
ATT will detect which phone you are using and automatically add the data plan on.

i am currently using an iphone 3g for about a year now and they havent done that to me yet...before using the iphone however, my dad told them to cut off any access or ability for me to use data. is that why they havent made me add on a plan?

ThroughHymn said:
i am currently using an iphone 3g for about a year now and they havent done that to me yet...before using the iphone however, my dad told them to cut off any access or ability for me to use data. is that why they havent made me add on a plan?
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Its possible you have a old smartphone opt out feature on your account. This was added for people that had a smartphone b4 data was a requirement and had to be grandfathered in.
I was under the impression that the iPhone overrode this but i could be wrong
Drew

ThroughHymn said:
If i was to buy an Inspire from craigslist and pop my sim card in that has no data plan, would i stil be ablke to use the phone just without a data plan? thanks!
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I've recently updated to the inspire from an original unlocked iphone 2g. I've been using it without a data plan for the past 3 years. At the start, they used to send me text messages about not having a data plan. That lasted about a month or two when I originally bought the phone. And I never heard another thing about it since then.
One little note I found in the contract of the new agreement. It states that "You realize that your smartphone requires a data plan, and if detected you allow AT&T to add the according data plan to your contract." I'm not really happy about that because I did infact not want to keep the data plan. To me it's a waste of money as I live in Philly and wi-fi is everywhere which is faster.
Anyways. I say that if you buy the phone from craigslist and pop in your old sim card, there is nothing AT&T can do. You didn't sign a new contract that has those agreements within. Therefore that can't just turn a data plan on for you if you didn't sign that contract/agreement.
So my answer from experience is that without a doubt you can use the phone bought from craigslist without a data plan. And provided that agreement isn't in your contract, AT&T cannot just turn on the data plan without you knowing.

I bought a capitvate off of ebay 6 months ago and put my sim card in without a data plan, and a month ago I bought an inspire and att has never sent me a message or nothing.

ooo ok i see, thakns guys! now ill just need to generate some money to go buy one! haha

If you unlock it, AT&T can't tell what phone you are using.....
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App

3G to 4G issue and ?

History:
Company issued BB Curve 3g
Bought my own Captivate, took SIM from BB and put into Captivate. Voice and DATA work great. Now I have a nice phone that work pays for
Yesterday I bought an Infuse, took 3g SIM from cappy and put in it. Voice calling works NO data though.
Go to AT&T cust center this morning and they replace the sim with a new 4g one. Still NO DATA. Put the new 4g sim in the cap everything works fine - in Infuse only voice but no data which means no email = can't use for work & out a lot of money.
Does anyone know a fix for this or even why it's happening ? Will rooting it fix it ?

Yes, they have to switch you to a 4g plan in the system, your features and cost will still be the same but you will have "4g data plan". I know because I had the same issue. They had to enter my imei number into the system and then make the switch. It works in the captivate because that's a 3g device.
infuse 4g "a lot a screen real estate"

Which means I'm screwed because my IT people would not authorize that to be done as I am only allowed to use a BB or Iphone. Neither do I like. They were quite pissed when I told them I removed the sim from my BB. So no way to use the new Infuse. Not going to make the wife happy considering I shelled out cash for it last night.

Just curious, did you actually check to make sure 'packet data' was enabled in wireless settings under mobile networks?
That's the probable cause, you shouldn't need to change your data plan if coming from a captivate
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App

yep. Everything is checked. Its a 4g issue and my company won't authorize attaching my blackbery data plan to the iemi of the new infuse because we aren't allowed to used android devices

scottcwhite said:
yep. Everything is checked. Its a 4g issue and my company won't authorize attaching my blackbery data plan to the iemi of the new infuse because we aren't allowed to used android devices
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Ugh, that's stupid
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App

its not that you need a "4g plan" its some network protocol they have to change. its actually the same one that the iphone uses. the guy in the att store showed me. i was making sure they would not touch my plan. no way im getting rid of my unlimited data.

The Jack of Clubs said:
its not that you need a "4g plan" its some network protocol they have to change. its actually the same one that the iphone uses. the guy in the att store showed me. i was making sure they would not touch my plan. no way im getting rid of my unlimited data.
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Click to collapse
He needs the 4g plan because when they enter the imei of the infuse, the Rep can't proceed unless they select the appropriate 4g plan, trust me I spent almost 2 hrs on the phone with ATT last week before they finally figured it out. He will still have the same features he has now but they need to select "4g".
infuse 4g "a lot a screen real estate"

Yup, I had the same issue, upgrade from cappy to infuse - DATA not working with the 3G sim. I had to activate the 4G sim came with the phone - NO DATA connectivity until the att technical support had set me up for "4G plan" and IMEI should be set for that. Then got the DATA working like a breeze. All happened in 10 mins.

I've switched back and forth between an iPhone 3g, Samsung Vibrant, Motorola Atrix and the Samsung Infuse with the same sim card and I've never had any of the issues that you all are having.
I get voice, text and data flawlessly with any of the phones, without the need to change my plan. Just because you may be on a 3G plan shouldn't hinder you from being able to use data on your Infuse. Unless you've somehow come across some kind of fluke, I would start looking at something else as the problem rather than what they have your plan designated as.

I concur with everyone above. Same exact plan on the surface, so your IT guys wouldn't even know, but the plan code is different....
You actually have to own or be authorized to make plan modifications in order to even switch the plans. If its through your company, I don't think they would put you on the account as an authorized person to change plans...
BUT you can always try.... sorry....

ZeroIsntTheHero said:
I've switched back and forth between an iPhone 3g, Samsung Vibrant, Motorola Atrix and the Samsung Infuse with the same sim card and I've never had any of the issues that you all are having.
I get voice, text and data flawlessly with any of the phones, without the need to change my plan. Just because you may be on a 3G plan shouldn't hinder you from being able to use data on your Infuse. Unless you've somehow come across some kind of fluke, I would start looking at something else as the problem rather than what they have your plan designated as.
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its not so much the plan as the fact that my company won't allow the current plan to be tied to the new infuse. I'll post the email exchange I had with my company in a bit.

slider2828 said:
I concur with everyone above. Same exact plan on the surface, so your IT guys wouldn't even know, but the plan code is different....
You actually have to own or be authorized to make plan modifications in order to even switch the plans. If its through your company, I don't think they would put you on the account as an authorized person to change plans...
BUT you can always try.... sorry....
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Click to collapse
That be the case. So I'm stuck with the captivate which is better than my company policy of BB or Iphone only.
So if anyone would like a BRAND NEW Infuse in the box for the same $500 I bought it for last night let me know. Free shipping

AT&T Contract vs. Data Plan vs. Android.

At the moment I'm using a HTC Tilt 2 WM 6.5 without a data plan due to the fact I'm Grandfathered in via the pre data forcing by AT&T. Since I have never purchased a cell phone from AT&T my contract has never been renewed. Hence I can switch from one smartphone to another with no activation of a data plan.
My question:
I plan to get, and root, a used HTC Inspire. I have heard all Android phones must have a data plan or they physically will not work. Is this true? Or is this coming from individuals that have not been Grandfathered in and just do not know better?

i was in the same boat as you months ago when the inspire came out. I have an unlimited data/txt/MMS plan which cost me $29.99 a month. I have not renewed a contract in about 5 years. My unlimited data plan is grandfathered in. I can use as much data as i want and dont have to worry about overages.
Yes, ATT will detect that you are using the new phone. They will also tell you that you HAVE to upgrade your data plan. You dont. They will also tell you that they will automatically update your data plan when they detect you are using the '4g' phone. That is wont, its actually illegal.
I have had the inspires since the day it came out and i still pay $90 a month for 900 min of talk time and unlimited text/data/mms.
I did the math the last time they tried to make me upgrade my plan to the $35/month "4G" data plan. Over two years of paying more for less (data), i would save money by buying the phone for the list price and not upgrading my plan. They i would have to buy a plan for text and mms messages.
So i would suggest you buy the phone outright for whatever it costs now.
I go so far as to not even give them my phone number and tell them the phone is a gift for a friend. When they give me a problem about that, and say the MUST have a phone number, i give them the phone number of one my friends that has an iphone, or use my work number, since the are both ATT phone numbers.
---------- Post added at 02:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:09 PM ----------
note though, if you do not have a data plan, you may want to make sure the data radio is turned off and simply use the wi-fi on the phone to access the internet. Android is always running stuff in the background that uses your data plan.
I turn mine off so that i dont get emails when i am out and about at night or asleep.
never had an issue except with the sales people and the store that 'know it all' because they are paid to get you to upgrade to the latest plan. they tell you that you MUST upgrade just so they can get their commission or meet some quota i guess. call their bluff. its worked for me ever since i went to the original tilt a few years back.

Your android phone will work without a data plan. However ATT will detect it and can hook you up to a data plan and charge you without asking you. There is nothing illegal about that. ATT has every right to do that. It is their policy.
But ATT is not the evil cellphone provider that everyone thinks they are. Most likely what I said above will happen. But since you are in a grandfathered plan and have been a valued ATT customer I would talk to an ATT representative. Most likely they will just put a block on your data and you will be able to continue on as you have in the past. That is as long as you buy the phone outright.

Agoattamer may be right about automatically signing your up for a data plan. I am lucky because I signed up for the unlimited plan years ago, so technically, i do have a data plan.
I do know for a fact that they have told me they will automatically change my plan to one of their newer plans because now i have a smarter phone. I pretty much got in an argument about it with the sales rep on why i should 'upgrade' my plan when it is already unlimited. His only answer was, as Agoattamer stated, it's ATT policy for the newer, smarter phones.
They have not 'automatically upgraded my plan' though, but have told me they will each time i go in there. The first time was when i bought the tilt 1, and then i had to get a international roaming plan for a vacation, and they looked at my account and said the same thing. Has not happened yet, and it has been a few years.
i am sure that if i were to consume 10 gigs of data in one month though, i would probably get automatically upgraded, so thats why i fly under the radar and mostly use wi-fi. Only use my cell data radio on the road or when i NEED it outside of wi-fi coverage. To this date, i still have not consumed more than a 1 gig in a month on my cell data radio.

What ngravatt says here is true. They may get you and they may not get you. There are many that get by under the radar and then I have heard of many that get caught the first day. It is a coin tossup. But as ngravatt also said which I said above: Talk to them and they will work it out with you usually. But since you have no data plan your phone will begin using data shortly after you turn it on. And I think that will be a major red flag to ATT. So either they will catch you and add you to a plan or you will get charged for the data you use which can be quite expensive.

ngravatt said:
Yes, ATT will detect that you are using the new phone. They will also tell you that you HAVE to upgrade your data plan. You dont. They will also tell you that they will automatically update your data plan when they detect you are using the '4g' phone. That is wont, its actually illegal.
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well...they can, but they ahve to send you a notice saying they're changing your contract terms, but they give you an option to back out of your contract if you disagree with the new terms.
You should be able to buy it outright or upgrade, and turn off your data plan. You could just use the sim card swap technique to put it in another phone and say you lost the other one (after a month) and that you want them to turn off ALL data. This way you can upgrade and get the cheapest price on the phone (?free) AND only pay a month of data. ATT *does* let people with smartphones disable data and they don't force you onto a data plan. I have friends that do this with iphones and other smartphones. This might be your cheapest option.
off topic here, i was on a tilt2 up until the beg of march when my screen refused to turn on, and since it was 6 months after my warranty expired (90 day refurb warranty), i had to upgrade. mannn, wish i could've held out until att lte phones came out...

If you buy at upgrade pricing you have to re-sign your service agreement. That is when they hit you with the data plan change. If you purchase your phone outright then you will not sign a new service agreement. If you get a text saying that you need a new data plan call 611. Tell them that you have unlimited data and you are receiving text messages. They will update the data plan you are on to the new grandfathered data plan and you are all set. At least in my experience that was what happened to me. Text messages stopped and I am on the corrected unlimited data plan. And I pull about 5-6 gigs a month so yes it is unlimited, and no I do not tether.

Sorry just re read a little more. They will require a data plan for you and they will not grandfather you since there is nothing to grandfather. I would buy outright online from a private party and pop your SIM in.

i have been using smart phones for a while since the windows mobile times, and have upgraded since sometimes buying the phone on ebay or sometimes renewing my contract
i put a data block on my phone and just use wifi
the other people on my plan have data on there phone

What if you have a desire HD, would they tag you too?
Sent from my CM7 Nightly HTC Desire HD

Yes. They will still notice. Using a desire hd still requires your sim and still uses att network.
Phone: HTC Inspire 4gRadio: 26.13.04.19
Ril: 2.2.0179Rom: GB Sense 4.0i by fshami

Oh okay, thanks
Sent from my CM7 Nightly HTC Desire HD

How about h2o?
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App

Gizmoe said:
Yes. They will still notice. Using a desire hd still requires your sim and still uses att network.
Phone: HTC Inspire 4gRadio: 26.13.04.19
Ril: 2.2.0179Rom: GB Sense 4.0i by fshami
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Click to collapse
But how will they know it's a smartphone? My understanding was that if the imei is not in their database, they have no way of determining what device you actually have.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using the power of the dark side

biglittlegato said:
But how will they know it's a smartphone? My understanding was that if the imei is not in their database, they have no way of determining what device you actually have.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using the power of the dark side
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This is true from what I hear. You can buy a Telus DHD (uses the same frequencies as AT&T) and add an unlimited non-smart phone data plan for like $10/month. Your Telus DHD will get 3G/4G just like an Inspire, but won't be flagged as a "smart" device by AT&T. This could all change at any time though if AT&T gets wise to you.

Gene Poole said:
This is true from what I hear. You can buy a Telus DHD (uses the same frequencies as AT&T) and add an unlimited non-smart phone data plan for like $10/month. Your Telus DHD will get 3G/4G just like an Inspire, but won't be flagged as a "smart" device by AT&T. This could all change at any time though if AT&T gets wise to you.
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Click to collapse
I assume they would notice that you are using a device that does not match your imei number and they would require you to activate it. It might not take them too long to notice but who knows. Things do slip through the cracks.
Phone: HTC Inspire 4gRadio: 26.13.04.19
Ril: 2.2.0179Rom: GB Sense 4.0i by fshami

biglittlegato said:
But how will they know it's a smartphone? My understanding was that if the imei is not in their database, they have no way of determining what device you actually have.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using the power of the dark side
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Carriers have been working with the OEMs to fix this. They are at the point where they may not be able to determine what device it is but can tell what type of device. Its not that hard to look at the data usage and other things and determine what type of device is being used.

Check my sig and you will see I am using a Telus DHD. Before that I used a T-mobile Samsung Vibrant and before that I used a Telstra HTC HD2. All three phones worked on ATT for 3G. None of the 3 showed up on the ATT web site. It still shows to this day, my samsung impression. I am using the non smartphone $10/month unlimited data plan. It has worked for 2 years but I do not abuse it. It may change in the near future, who knows.

Gizmoe said:
I assume they would notice that you are using a device that does not match your imei number and they would require you to activate it. It might not take them too long to notice but who knows. Things do slip through the cracks.
Phone: HTC Inspire 4gRadio: 26.13.04.19
Ril: 2.2.0179Rom: GB Sense 4.0i by fshami
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Did this for three years no issues. Didn't manage to upgrade to my Inspire with the same data plan though :-(
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Gizmoe said:
I assume they would notice that you are using a device that does not match your imei number and they would require you to activate it. It might not take them too long to notice but who knows. Things do slip through the cracks.
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That's the thing with GSM phones. They only care about the SIM for activation. The IMEI is secondary and only used (by AT&T anyway) to identify the type of phone. If it's not in their database, they have no way of knowing what kind of phone it is.

[Q] Sidekick on AT&T

If I use a sidekick on ATT, will I be forced to get the att smart phone data plan? I really dont want it. I just want to use it for wifi. Hopefully one of you guys can help me. :x

Bump?
/10 char

I'm gessing ull use aq gophone plan? No u won't have to, but the data that comes on the 50$ plan is unusable for our phone.
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No, Im on a family plan, unlimited talk and text, but im asking if data will be forced onto my line.

I used to work at ATT. Yes you will have to pay the price for data. Sorry
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No you won't be forced into it, just keep your mobile data connection off... One of the big problems though is you wont be able to send or receive MMS messages. If you can find ATT's APN settings for just MMS go ahead and set up your phone with just that APN and not for Data as well... I'm not sure if ATT charges extra for MMS messages or if you even want it, but they cant force you into buying data if you don't want it.

eurohomie said:
No you won't be forced into it, just keep your mobile data connection off... One of the big problems though is you wont be able to send or receive MMS messages. If you can find ATT's APN settings for just MMS go ahead and set up your phone with just that APN and not for Data as well... I'm not sure if ATT charges extra for MMS messages or if you even want it, but they cant force you into buying data if you don't want it.
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Yes they can. Trust me. If you don't want to believe me thats fine. But trust me, they will.
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I've been on T-Mobile for about 6 Years, never even got a data plan since. using my sidekick now without data. Its not being forced on me, been on android since the g1. Even back then they said your phone was unusable without a data plan ...Att shouldn't force a data plan on you, my sisters on att with an unlocked blackberry tour. She can't access the internet but the phones still fully functional. They haven't forced that ridiculous bb plan on her for 3 years.

insanedrunk said:
I've been on T-Mobile for about 6 Years, never even got a data plan since. using my sidekick now without data. Its not being forced on me, been on android since the g1. Even back then they said your phone was unusable without a data plan ...Att shouldn't force a data plan on you, my sisters on att with an unlocked blackberry tour. She can't access the internet but the phones still fully functional. They haven't forced that ridiculous bb plan on her for 3 years.
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Whatever
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insanedrunk said:
I've been on T-Mobile for about 6 Years, never even got a data plan since. using my sidekick now without data. Its not being forced on me, been on android since the g1. Even back then they said your phone was unusable without a data plan ...Att shouldn't force a data plan on you, my sisters on att with an unlocked blackberry tour. She can't access the internet but the phones still fully functional. They haven't forced that ridiculous bb plan on her for 3 years.
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Yeah, I believe they can only force you into getting a data plan when signing up for a new contract with them.
In order to get the contract discounts on phones you need to sign up for a certain premium data plan or something stupid.
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I buy my phones second hand for that reason, ebays your pal. The op sounds as he already has att. So if he unlocks his sk 4g there wouldn't be a need, just take out the sim card and exchange. I have been changing phones as they come out, no problems... I pay 100$ flat for 5 phones on a family plan. Most importantly, no DATA PLAN...
My sister has used all my android phones that I leave behind on her att plan, never had any problems being forced into a data plan . You only truely needed an internet plan to sign up or sign into google servers, once you're past that, your all gravy, and can survive on wifi. The only phones I've had that didn't allow you to skip the sign in/setup wizard were the g1 and the mytouch 3g. But then root came : ( 0)

I know that Tmo doesnt force data plan, but Att does. Im just really unsure of what phone to get, cause Ive been hearing different things lol.
I've heard att cant detect a g2x, cause its exclusively a tmo phone, and a sidekick is also, so I was gonna get that instead. But now im hearing that they can force you it with a sidekick. I am so lost. Lol

I know that you can use this on ATT without being forced into a data plan. That's precicely what I'm doing right now. Here's what I'm trying to find out though. ATT doesn't know what phone I've got. Their site lists my old non-smartphone. If I choose to add the cheaper unlimited dataplan for non-smartphones (which is the only option available for me to choose online) then will my phone work like that? Or will they then be able to recognize my phone as a smart phone and switch me over to the smartphone data plan?

i know that some carriers will lock down your wifi so you cant use it without a data plan. i dont know if att does or not. the only way around that i know of is to remove the sim card. take out the sim card, and you can use wifi. but who wants to take their sim card out just to use wifi? the only time they can make you get a data plan is for discounts on new phones or when entering a new contract.

my experience with att sucked on this phone, i went with the 25$ go phone plan with 25$ of data (turns out data on the gophone doesnt work with 4g phones from other carriers boo) also if i had 1 bar it would drop said bar if i tried to send a text or make a phone call. the sad fact is here in montana (no local tmobile) i get better service through tmobile monthly then att monthly (who has local coverage)

U don't need a smartphone plan u can get the media net $10 data plan or block the data and only use wifi
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At&t will force a data plan if you have a 3g or higher phone.
The sidekick cannot run on at&t 3 or 4g, so it will not detect it, it will view it as a non-smartphone.
And to those saying at&t can't force a data plan at all, get a regular phone from ebay that's meant for at&t, pop your sim in, you will get a nice little text message saying you will not be charged $15 a month for data.

Chrimsonfire said:
At&t will force a data plan if you have a 3g or higher phone.
The sidekick cannot run on at&t 3 or 4g, so it will not detect it, it will view it as a non-smartphone.
And to those saying at&t can't force a data plan at all, get a regular phone from ebay that's meant for at&t, pop your sim in, you will get a nice little text message saying you will not be charged $15 a month for data.
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yeah and on monthly you cant even access 2g which is BS

insanedrunk said:
I buy my phones second hand for that reason, ebays your pal. The op sounds as he already has att. So if he unlocks his sk 4g there wouldn't be a need, just take out the sim card and exchange. I have been changing phones as they come out, no problems... I pay 100$ flat for 5 phones on a family plan. Most importantly, no DATA PLAN...
My sister has used all my android phones that I leave behind on her att plan, never had any problems being forced into a data plan . You only truely needed an internet plan to sign up or sign into google servers, once you're past that, your all gravy, and can survive on wifi. The only phones I've had that didn't allow you to skip the sign in/setup wizard were the g1 and the mytouch 3g. But then root came : ( 0)
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Do first boot without the sim card. The phone will turn on wifi so you can connect to Google. I do this all the time when flashing just because the first sync is faster that way.
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