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What HTC phones can I use on boost?

I have Boost's unlimited $50 plan (unlimited talk, messaging, data), I have a sim card. I consider myself a smart guy but I want to make absolutely sure the HTC phones I can use on boost before I go back on ebay and mess this up. What phones can I use? Does anyone know?
Thanks guys.

Boost is one of the few iDEN-based carriers still in operation, since it uses Nextel's network. That means that NO GSM PHONE WILL WORK WITH YOUR BOOST SIM, i.e., the majority of HTC phones won't work. Boost also operates on Sprint's CDMA network, so a CDMA-based HTC phone will maybe be usable, but Boost is in the process of moving all its subscribers to iDEN. This may sound like crap advice, but if you want to go with WinMo, consider switching carriers.

well the good news from what I read is that they will still service the CDMA phones, and allow users to switch over to CDMA upon request, from what I read from your linkage, so what CDMA HTC phones would you suggest? I know the Mogul is out of the question because it has no sim card port but...

CDMA phones don't use SIM cards at all. In order to use an unlocked CDMA phone with your plan, you need to take it to your carrier and have them register it to your account. The majority CDMA carriers allow this - I know Verizon does - but it's totally up to your phone company. You should call Boost customer support first and ask them if they'll allow you to sign an unlocked CDMA phone to your plan. Once you're sure they'll allow it, there's a couple of good phones I'd recommend: the best would probably be a CDMA Touch Diamond or Touch Pro. If you're looking for something less expensive the Mogul is still a great choice.

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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

Device Hopping with 4GLTE SIM

So as I await my call from BB for my pre-ordered T-bolt my mind was thinking, would it be possible to take the 4GLTE Sim card from my new T-bolt and throw it in my Xoom, see where i am going with this....so although i don't have service on my Xoom and only use wifi, theoretically this should work but i won't know until i try. I did find this bit of info in the T-Bolt Manual....
"The 4G SIM card provided to you by Verizon Wireless contains your phone number, service details, and phonebook/message memory. It enables you to make calls and access the Internet using a 4G LTE network. While you’re abroad, you could also connect to a CDMA network.
The Verizon Wireless 4G SIM card is compatible with any Verizon Wireless 4G certified device. You can move the 4G SIM card from one device to another and your wireless service will work seamlessly as long as you have a compatible device and service plan. To see which devices are compatible with the Verizon Wireless 4G SIM card, visit verizonwireless.com/certifieddevice."

I was thinking the same thing exactly. Obviously we will have to wait until we get our Xooms upgraded, as there is no 4g hardware in there to currently take advantage of the sim card, but since right now LTE is only used for data, I don't see why this wouldn't work. Only time (and upgraded Xooms) will tell.

This would be fantastic.

sounds like it would be possible.
try it

I'm pretty sure it wouldn't work. Verizon needs the IMEI number to activate data on the device. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't activate IMEI's for the Thunderbolt.

Not necessarily. When the SIM is loaded into the device the MEID is sent to the system and if the MEID isn't compatible with the plan, either it will make you change your plan (somehow) or it will just not work. I'm pretty sure T-Mobile and AT&T used methods like this to keep you from just taking your SIM from a feature phone with a $10 unlimited data plan to a smartphone, thus blocking your data till you switched to the smartphone data plan. Or avoid customers putting their SIM's in their tablets/mobile broadband devices (which require a mobile broadband plan) and expecting to still have unlimited data for $29.99 just for forfeiting their minutes.

My Thunderbolt 4G SIM with the hotspot feature and unlimited data works great in the 4G MiFi from Verizon. Just pulled it from the phone, plopped it in the MiFi and it worked.

bogatyr said:
My Thunderbolt 4G SIM with the hotspot feature and unlimited data works great in the 4G MiFi from Verizon. Just pulled it from the phone, plopped it in the MiFi and it worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 I can confirm this works. I have the Samsung LTE Mifi and my Bolt and my SIM can walk from one to the other.

I don't remember where I read it (I think it was on these forums) but I believe some guy did what you guys are saying.
He said that it worked, but that he was slapped with a huge overage charge or something like that.
I wish I could remember the thread.

Dnakaman said:
I don't remember where I read it (I think it was on these forums) but I believe some guy did what you guys are saying.
He said that it worked, but that he was slapped with a huge overage charge or something like that.
I wish I could remember the thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't really have an overage when you have unlimited on the SIM unless they changed your account features. If they did that to me, I'd probably drop them. The Mifi is more reliable than my TB for hotspot, and I'm paying for it so which device I use shouldn't matter.

bogatyr said:
Can't really have an overage when you have unlimited on the SIM unless they changed your account features. If they did that to me, I'd probably drop them. The Mifi is more reliable than my TB for hotspot, and I'm paying for it so which device I use shouldn't matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that was his exact reasoning. He had unlimited data on his phone sim, but it into the mifi (or something like that), ended up being charged as mifi device after so many GB's.
Let me see if I can remember some key words to search against in these forums.
EDIT: Ok found the thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1019186&highlight=lte+card

Dnakaman said:
I think that was his exact reasoning. He had unlimited data on his phone sim, but it into the mifi (or something like that), ended up being charged as mifi device after so many GB's.
Let me see if I can remember some key words to search against in these forums.
EDIT: Ok found the thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1019186&highlight=lte+card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's because a rep looked at it and instead of listening to the guy thought it was a glitch and switched his plan out of the unlimited deal. He then put it back in his Thunderbolt and called Verizon and they fixed it - no overages and restored his grandfathered unlimited plan.
Verizon says in their ads that you can move your SIM among any Verizon 4G LTE certified device.
Also there is no difference in if you use the hotspot on your phone or the MiFi, you're not stealing anything if you have the hotspot plan on your phone. The MiFi doesn't offer anything more than you get on your TB using their hotspot app already. You're just using a better device until they fix the TB data connection problems.

Pull the wool over atnt eyes with data roaming trick?

Not sure if this correct forum to post this and did a quick search, but didn't see anything that correlated. I'm a otr truck driver and 75% of the time I'm on edge network. Currently I have data roam turned off. Was wondering if anybody had a solution to "trick " network into thinking I was in a 3G area. I have unlimited data plan and my thinking was, if tethering was free with rooted dev.how come I have to pay extra to data roam when I'm not on atnt's signal?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

there is no way to "trick" a cell tower to broadcast farther.

Roostercruiser said:
Not sure if this correct forum to post this and did a quick search, but didn't see anything that correlated. I'm a otr truck driver and 75% of the time I'm on edge network. Currently I have data roam turned off. Was wondering if anybody had a solution to "trick " network into thinking I was in a 3G area. I have unlimited data plan and my thinking was, if tethering was free with rooted dev.how come I have to pay extra to data roam when I'm not on atnt's signal?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not exactly sure what you're trying to do here, but let me take a stab at it:
There is very little reason while within the continental united states to have "data roaming" turned off. So yes, technically, on an AT&T phone, you can "roam" to other data networks, but so long as you're not using excessive amounts of data, and not spending long periods of time only on the roaming network, it won't be a problem. All AT&T plans are "nationwide access" so except for one teensy tiny condition that I'll explain in a second, there's no need to manually restrict your phone. Basically let your phone "roam" to whatever networks it wants, be but warned, if there is any AT&T tower in sight, your phone will take that over any other GSM network, even if it's only an EDGE connection. Only way to get around that is to lock your phone to WCDMA (3G), but that may have undesirable effects if you're travelling over long distances where cell coverage is poor.
So here's the exception, if you are both:
- Spending multiple consecutive days on an AT&T partner "roaming" network
- Using large amounts of data (like from tethering, which you shouldn't be doing anyway w/o a tethering plan)
Then you will get in trouble. AT&T will call you first, and tell you to stop. If you don't stop, then they will terminate your contract. No ETF or other fees will be charged, but you probably won't be able to get another plan with AT&T under the same name again. The reason is that AT&T has to pay lots of money to those roaming partners to let you (the customer) use their networks. Due to FCC regs, spectrum allocations, anti-trust, etc... AT&T can only offer service in certain areas, and not in others, hence why they have to partner with other cell networks. But apparently, those agreements really r*pe AT&T up the butt, which is why they'll let it go for a while, but if you start costing them too much money, they'll just drop you as a customer.
This happened to me once in Arizona, in an area only covered by T-Mobile. I was tethering through my 3G phone at the time (an HTC Kaiser/Tilt actually) and used something like 500 MB over a week. This was back in the old days of unlimited plans, and before AT&T could enforce tethering/non-tethering plans. I got a phone call from a special department within AT&T, and they politely said, "turn the data functions of your phone off immediately, or your contract will be terminated". Apparently, through roaming agreements, they had paid out (or were contractually obliged to eventually pay out) something like $300-$400 to T-Mobile over the course of a week, and we're none too pleased about it. I stopped, and it was all good.
Long story short, don't abuse the roaming agreements, and you won't have a problem.

The reason tether can be free is because it SHOULD be free. You are using an inbuilt feature of the phone to route internet requests.... its a simple feature which has been available on dumb phones since year 1995. It was not mainstream until recently and ATT realized they could simply disable it and charge. Its free in Europe because that's how it should be...
Tethering just sends internet requests to your device and your device returns the results of the request to your computer. Its very shadey of ATT to charge for it. Any internet enabled device has the inbuilt capability to route data from one device to another... even the simplest dumb phone.

Shammyh said:
Not exactly sure what you're trying to do here, but let me take a stab at it:
There is very little reason while within the continental united states to have "data roaming" turned off. So yes, technically, on an AT&T phone, you can "roam" to other data networks, but so long as you're not using excessive amounts of data, and not spending long periods of time only on the roaming network, it won't be a problem. All AT&T plans are "nationwide access" so except for one teensy tiny condition that I'll explain in a second, there's no need to manually restrict your phone. Basically let your phone "roam" to whatever networks it wants, be but warned, if there is any AT&T tower in sight, your phone will take that over any other GSM network, even if it's only an EDGE connection. Only way to get around that is to lock your phone to WCDMA (3G), but that may have undesirable effects if you're travelling over long distances where cell coverage is poor.
So here's the exception, if you are both:
- Spending multiple consecutive days on an AT&T partner "roaming" network
- Using large amounts of data (like from tethering, which you shouldn't be doing anyway w/o a tethering plan)
Then you will get in trouble. AT&T will call you first, and tell you to stop. If you don't stop, then they will terminate your contract. No ETF or other fees will be charged, but you probably won't be able to get another plan with AT&T under the same name again. The reason is that AT&T has to pay lots of money to those roaming partners to let you (the customer) use their networks. Due to FCC regs, spectrum allocations, anti-trust, etc... AT&T can only offer service in certain areas, and not in others, hence why they have to partner with other cell networks. But apparently, those agreements really r*pe AT&T up the butt, which is why they'll let it go for a while, but if you start costing them too much money, they'll just drop you as a customer.
This happened to me once in Arizona, in an area only covered by T-Mobile. I was tethering through my 3G phone at the time (an HTC Kaiser/Tilt actually) and used something like 500 MB over a week. This was back in the old days of unlimited plans, and before AT&T could enforce tethering/non-tethering plans. I got a phone call from a special department within AT&T, and they politely said, "turn the data functions of your phone off immediately, or your contract will be terminated". Apparently, through roaming agreements, they had paid out (or were contractually obliged to eventually pay out) something like $300-$400 to T-Mobile over the course of a week, and we're none too pleased about it. I stopped, and it was all good.
Long story short, don't abuse the roaming agreements, and you won't have a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Moral of the story: If you don't want to pay an ETF find a remote area of Arizona.

AdamOutler said:
The reason tether can be free is because it SHOULD be free. You are using an inbuilt feature of the phone to route internet requests.... its a simple feature which has been available on dumb phones since year 1995. It was not mainstream until recently and ATT realized they could simply disable it and charge. Its free in Europe because that's how it should be...
Tethering just sends internet requests to your device and your device returns the results of the request to your computer. Its very shadey of ATT to charge for it. Any internet enabled device has the inbuilt capability to route data from one device to another... even the simplest dumb phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree. I'm just explaining the way it works, not the way it *should* work.
In fact, I figure that as long as I don't go over my 2 GB/month allocation, I can tether as much as I want, and I do.

Shammyh said:
Not exactly sure what you're trying to do here, but let me take a stab at it:
There is very little reason while within the continental united states to have "data roaming" turned off... and it was all good.
Long story short, don't abuse the roaming agreements, and you won't have a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pardon me for redacting, but I wished to get to the heart of the matter.
A four-year member with 204 posts. I applaud both your insight and restraint, sir.

The point was, you can't access network features because they are on your network. You can access phone features because they are on your phone. Roaming is roaming no matter what. Its tracked by the network by your SIM. Change the SIM and you change your service type. Im not sure if its legal to mess with that.

Is it possible to purchase a 'data sim'? Whereby you could access a regional data network on an unlocked phone? i.e. I'm in Nowhereland but they locally sell me a pay as you go data sim to use in my unlocked phone for data, but not network telephone service.
A Unicorn? Or real?

Shammyh said:
Totally agree. I'm just explaining the way it works, not the way it *should* work.
In fact, I figure that as long as I don't go over my 2 GB/month allocation, I can tether as much as I want, and I do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OP's question boils down to this...
if tethering was free with rooted dev.how come I have to pay extra to data roam when I'm not on atnt's signal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The simple answer is because tethering is a device function and AT&T's shadey business practices make you pay to use your own device. Roaming is a network function and there's nothing that can be done about it except
1. update towers
2. change modems (sometimes yeilds better results on different AT&T towers, but wont' change roming)
3. change carriers
4. modify your SIM card to be more compatible with your current network.

AdamOutler said:
4. modify your SIM card to be more compatible with your current network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So how does one modify one's SIM card to be more compatible with one's current network?

clemmie said:
So how does one modify one's SIM card to be more compatible with one's current network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You wouldn't... you would change the identifiers so it thought you were another customer..... illegally.
I'm not sure exactly, but I may have an answer soon. I'm looking at methods of communicating with the call processor in order to device bricked phones. It might be the best way to inject code into the ram. . Ill get back to you on that.

AdamOutler said:
The reason tether can be free is because it SHOULD be free. You are using an inbuilt feature of the phone to route internet requests.... its a simple feature which has been available on dumb phones since year 1995. It was not mainstream until recently and ATT realized they could simply disable it and charge. Its free in Europe because that's how it should be...
Tethering just sends internet requests to your device and your device returns the results of the request to your computer. Its very shadey of ATT to charge for it. Any internet enabled device has the inbuilt capability to route data from one device to another... even the simplest dumb phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uncle does it on dumb kyocera and Samsung phones on metro pcs all day long

clemmie said:
Is it possible to purchase a 'data sim'? Whereby you could access a regional data network on an unlocked phone? i.e. I'm in Nowhereland but they locally sell me a pay as you go data sim to use in my unlocked phone for data, but not network telephone service.
A Unicorn? Or real?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but it's not straightforward, and not exactly kosher.
You'll have to get/calculate/steal/borrow a "data connect" IMEI. Basically you need the IMEI off of a built in data card, or a purchased data card, (like one of these).
You may also need to go to an AT&T store and buy a new SIM card (usually $35 one time fee) because usually if you re-use your existing cell SIM card, they won't allow you to sign up. So with your new SIM card in hand, and an IMEI of any data connect device, you go and sign up for one of these data plans. Rates for Domestic DataConnect Pass Plans are:
DataConnect Day Pass - 100 MB for $15
DataConnect Week Pass - 300 MB for $30
DataConnect Month Pass - 1 GB for $50
Assuming no terrible problems, you should now have a "data only" AT&T SIM card. Problem is, they'll see pretty quickly that you're not using the SIM card with the device IMEI you signed up with. That may or may not cause problems. Hasn't for me in the past, but I make no guarantees.

AdamOutler said:
You wouldn't... you would change the identifiers so it thought you were another customer..... illegally.
I'm not sure exactly, but I may have an answer soon. I'm looking at methods of communicating with the call processor in order to device bricked phones. It might be the best way to inject code into the ram. . Ill get back to you on that.
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Doubt that's possible, not the injecting into the CP, but rather the changing what the phone "identifies" as. Injecting into the CP opens up all sorts of cool possibilities, but I believe actual network identification and communication is reliant upon the SIM card. In particular the Authentication Key (Ki) which I believe never leaves the internal memory of the smart card (aka SIM). Without messing with that, there's no way a phone could "pretend" to be anyone other than itself. Even when I fake out my IMEI on my Captivate (by deleting the EFS data and using the "default IMEI"), my phone still happily connects and works with AT&T. Basically, the cell network doesn't really care as long as your ICCID and crypto package are valid.
PS, been following your work closely w/ regard to the un-bricking business. Best of luck figuring out an "external" way of getting us booted w/ a corrupted PBL/SBL.

Shammyh said:
Doubt that's possible, not the injecting into the CP, but rather the changing what the phone "identifies" as. Injecting into the CP opens up all sorts of cool possibilities, but I believe actual network identification and communication is reliant upon the SIM card. In particular the Authentication Key (Ki) which I believe never leaves the internal memory of the smart card (aka SIM). Without messing with that, there's no way a phone could "pretend" to be anyone other than itself. Even when I fake out my IMEI on my Captivate (by deleting the EFS data and using the "default IMEI"), my phone still happily connects and works with AT&T. Basically, the cell network doesn't really care as long as your ICCID and crypto package are valid.
PS, been following your work closely w/ regard to the un-bricking business. Best of luck figuring out an "external" way of getting us booted w/ a corrupted PBL/SBL.
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Thanks...
Like I said, I've not done any investigation into the modification of the SIM card, but I know it DOES have a programming pin on it. I'm thinking that may be for programming the SIM card.
I just received a cool communication toy in the mail. It's a Bus Pirate. so this weekend may be fun and turn up something.

MikeyMike01 said:
Moral of the story: If you don't want to pay an ETF find a remote area of Arizona.
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Or anywhere where AT&T coverage is through a partner network. Brand new iPhone 4? Go find a nice spot somewhere, use lots of data, wait for AT&T to call, and get out of your contract scott free.
Nifty trick, eh? Just don't expect to get AT&T service again...

AdamOutler said:
Thanks...
Like I said, I've not done any investigation into the modification of the SIM card, but I know it DOES have a programming pin on it. I'm thinking that may be for programming the SIM card.
I just received a cool communication toy in the mail. It's a Bus Pirate. so this weekend may be fun and turn up something.
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Click to collapse
Sounds fun...

Help a 4g Noob

hey guys.
I know my way around around and all but I need to ask a few questions about 4g.
right now I have a vibrant with a $60 T-Mobile unlimited plan ( includes data/ no contract).
I plan on getting a g2x(not from T-Mobile) . would I have to get a 4g plan? or I can use my current one with 3g only? is 4g free as long as the phone is capable? and do I need a different sim card for the g2x?
lol sorry for bombarding u all with these questions.....thanks in advance.

You'll will need to have at least a $30 premium plan.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

If by $60 unlimited plan you mean the prepaid/monthly 4g then yes it will work. Same 2gb data cap though.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

rsalina9 said:
If by $60 unlimited plan you mean the prepaid/monthly 4g then yes it will work. Same 2gb data cap though.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
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yes is the $60 prepaid/ monthly plan but idk if its 4g....right now I get 3g (H) with 5gb cap then its slowed to 2g speed.
my main issue is I do no want to change the plan.....just phone

I may be misinformed but when I went from a Blackberry to the G2x, TMobile told me I would have to change the sim card to a 4g sim. Just throwing that out there.

I through my old sim card that was in my old Mytouch 3g slide into the G2x when i got it. Same plan nothing changed, just new phone. There really isnt a "4g" plan. And T-mobile's 4g network is technically 3g, they just call it that for whatever reason.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

They are all technically 3g. True 4g is around 100+ Mbps.

I think its just a selling technique. I had an old sim cards from years ago and transferred it into my g2x and ive had no issues at all. I did end up getting a new sim card anyway but the speeds remained the same. Also, it is unecessary to get a "4g" plan. I was talked into getting it when I upgraded the phone but then realized I could have just stuck to my old cheaper plan and the speeds wouldnt have changed. I talked to retentions at Tmobile and the lady even told me she has no idea why i was told to upgrade and she switched me back.

thanks everybody.....i am only limited to 5 thanks a day lol.

GTWalling said:
They are all technically 3g. True 4g is around 100+ Mbps.
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Well 4g stands for fourth generation. Which is a new technology or method. What Tmobile uses is improved hspa that's why its called fake 4g. Nothing new just really fast 3g. speed doesn't matter nor count has to be a new method of cellular transmittion.
Sent from my CM 7.1.0 G2x using XDA app

K2sInteg98 said:
I think its just a selling technique. I had an old sim cards from years ago and transferred it into my g2x and ive had no issues at all. I did end up getting a new sim card anyway but the speeds remained the same. Also, it is unecessary to get a "4g" plan. I was talked into getting it when I upgraded the phone but then realized I could have just stuck to my old cheaper plan and the speeds wouldnt have changed. I talked to retentions at Tmobile and the lady even told me she has no idea why i was told to upgrade and she switched me back.
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Representatives aren't necessarily knowledgeable on this subject. However, the '4G SIMs' they often refer to are usually UICC/GBA/IMS SIMs. The difference between these SIMs and the old LEGACY SIMs (as they are labeled on the T-Mobile system) is that the legacy SIMs have a lifetime of around 90,000 authentications. Once these authentications run out, the SIM will no longer register on the network.
These authentications are pretty much each time you connect or hand off to a new data tower. On HSPA and HSPA+, these handoffs are occurring far more often than they did on EDGE or GPRS. In essence, with a legacy SIM you are running on borrowed time before your SIM simply begins to refuse to connect to the network. It sounds like a lot of authentications, but they run out astoundingly fast and some people have actually hit the SIM exhaustion point. This won't cause slow data speeds or inability to connect to data but still being able to use voice. Your phone will not authenticate on the network at all.
Any data plan will give you '4G', or rather HSPA+ as long as your phone has the appropriate modem and you are within the area covered by HSPA+ towers. You do not have to change data plans if you already have one. You also do not need a new plan for a new SIM card. If you have a legacy SIM card T-Mobile should replace it free of charge, unless that policy has changed. They are trying to be proactive in preventing customers from not reaching the authentication limit of the legacy SIM cards.
Your SIM card has absolutely nothing to do with your data speed, however on certain phones some features are tied to certain types of SIM cards, especially new IMS featured phones.
lanlee212 said:
Well 4g stands for fourth generation. Which is a new technology or method. What Tmobile uses is improved hspa that's why its called fake 4g. Nothing new just really fast 3g. speed doesn't matter nor count has to be a new method of cellular transmittion.
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No carrier in the US at this time uses anything approaching the original 4G specifications, nor will be capable of doing so for years to come. Current LTE, HSPA+, and WiMax networks are stopgaps and were marketed by carriers as 4G despite them not being so, as they needed a way to market faster phones and networks to customers in a way that customers would understand. The specifications board that handles the generational specifications decided to submit to the desires of carriers and lower the boundaries for '4G'. HSPA+ was the quickest, easiest, least battery intensive, most reliable and most cost effective of the three to implement; which is why both T-Mobile and AT&T have been rolling these upgrades out to towers for some time.