Smartphone Plan on The Cheap Advice - General Topics

A Lot of steps but this is the cheapest way to enjoy Smartphone without all the hassle of $100 bills
1. Sign up for google voice and get a number
2. Visit Walmart online or in store and buy their $30 plan for 100 minutes, unlimited text, and 5gb of Data (alot)
3. Buy their cheapest lil phone ($30)
4 Activate that lil phone on tmobile.com
5. Get a different android GSM Smartphone (hopefully you already have one)
6. Take the sim card out of the cheap lil walmart phone and place it in your smartphone
7. Go to android market and buy Groove IP ($4)
8. Port your old number to Google voice (optional)
Now you have 5gb of data, unlimited text on both your cellular and google talk and unlimited minutes using Groove IP all for what?
$30/month...minus the walmart phone and the $4 for the app!!!
(only reason why you have to buy the walmart phone is because the plan is exclusive to phones bought at walmart but what you do with it after activation is your business...and then go online to tmobile to re-up the $30 each month...)
No on asked and Didnt know where exactly to post this...but I have done this. And although I had to pay $100 ETF to get out of my old contract...this plan has paid dividends. Im saving $65 a month. Only thing to be cognoscente of is that the Groove IP does use data at about 20kps up and down so if your using service only on 4G you might burn threw your full speed data quickly...I always put my phone on wifi as soon as I get home. Enjoy!

Dam, wish we had prepaid plans like those in Canada

you can work for a corporate store or a third party store and most of the time depending ont the provider you get almost 50% off your bill

This is brilliant! Probably the only thing better is to have someone else (ie. company) paying your phone bill.

Nice! Great way to save, OP!

Depending on your luck, you might be able to get away with a Prepaid activation kit ($7 max). It requires a new level of Hell to get working if the signup doesn't work, though (since technically the customer service reps don't have direct access to the plan if that's what you use).

Related

ATT Media net 10$/month family

So i've seen a few threads here saying that the new deal with media net unlimited package was 10 dollars a month now. Well i called today to get it and was told that not only was it for my fuze(i did the sim swap trick to make it seem we all had regular phones) but also the other two phones in my family, all three of us now have unlimited data for 10 dollars a month. This seems too good to be true. Did anyone else have a similar experience?
ech230 said:
So i've seen a few threads here saying that the new deal with media net unlimited package was 10 dollars a month now. Well i called today to get it and was told that not only was it for my fuze(i did the sim swap trick to make it seem we all had regular phones) but also the other two phones in my family, all three of us now have unlimited data for 10 dollars a month. This seems too good to be true. Did anyone else have a similar experience?
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Click to collapse
So your saying the Rep said that this applied for your fuze or did it apply to your fuze because it had another sim card?
Are you saying your paying $10 a month for all 3 phones... or $10 a month PER phone ($30).
I think I might jump on this. I have a Fuze and my fiance has her old blackjack. She has unlimited messaging for $20 and I have MediaNet Bundle (Unlimited Data, 200 SMS, Unlimited AT&T Messaging) for $25.
So we spend about $45 a month.
If we could get unlimited Family Messaging for $30, then both unlimited data for $10... that would be $50.
I'd pay $5 more so my fiance can get online.
I assume this is only for Family Plans
I used to do that. I worked at radioshack though, and our rep for ATT told us that he used to be a manager at an ATT store and would add the non-pda data plan to peoples accounts, and some would come back later with giant bills because they were revised and billed per byte.
He said it didn't happen a lot, and a lot of times ATT would be full of mercy and not charge the full amount, but he did tell me it occured.
I say be careful because you would be breaking the terms and conditions and they would have every right to charge you 3 cents/KB
has anyone on this forum been caught?
from my understanding it was 10 dollars total for all three lines(as in a total of 10 a month, not 30). I specifically said to the rep, "no no i don't want the family plan i only want it on the one line" to which he replied that it was a family bundle that i qualified for since i had a family unlimited texting plan. I didn't mention my fuze so i don't know what will happen, perhaps this month will have some ridiculous charges but i'll play ignorance and try to fight them. So we shall see. My online account has not updated yet so i have no way of knowing 100% what is going on but i'm rather curious.
also it's only 1c/KB not 3 for their standard charges.
I've been using the MediaNet plan on my Samsung Blackjack, Samsung Epix, and HTC Fuze for 3+ years.
Their expensive internet plans are stupid. When I bought my Epix... the sales guy said, "Since the Epix is a newer faster phone... it won't work with the Media Net plan because the MediaNet plan doesn't send the data packets fast enough and so it won't work".
I'm a Network Engineer. What kind of crap is that?
I popped in my old sim and started checking my email.
Unlimited Data = Unlimited Data.
Every time I call CS and they get me started on that crap I give them an earful. Plus data plans are outrageous. Why would anyone want to pay for a Data plan which is the same, if not more, then the data plans they have in their homes.
SMS is nothing more then free money for them and people don't use that much data. Unlimited Data and Messaging should be MAX $20.
AT&T over-chargingn for data
I see someone else shares my irritation (exasperation) with AT&T (and the other carriers, since they all charge about the same).
I pay $30.00 a month for DSl (3mb down, 768 up). Why or why should I pay the same for speeds that are less than half that on AT&T's network just because its mobile?
Yes I can check my mail (almost) anywhere but.....thirty bucks is ludicrous, I cancelled my data plan on my Kaiser and my wifes Blackberry because it wasn't worth the service. We were paying over $60.00 a month for unlimited data on two phones. (Everyone kick me me becaause I deserve it).
Now you are telling me you are getting it on two phone on the "family plan" for $10.00 a month ?
WoW !
player911 said:
I've been using the MediaNet plan on my Samsung Blackjack, Samsung Epix, and HTC Fuze for 3+ years.
Their expensive internet plans are stupid. When I bought my Epix... the sales guy said, "Since the Epix is a newer faster phone... it won't work with the Media Net plan because the MediaNet plan doesn't send the data packets fast enough and so it won't work".
I'm a Network Engineer. What kind of crap is that?
I popped in my old sim and started checking my email.
Unlimited Data = Unlimited Data.
Every time I call CS and they get me started on that crap I give them an earful. Plus data plans are outrageous. Why would anyone want to pay for a Data plan which is the same, if not more, then the data plans they have in their homes.
SMS is nothing more then free money for them and people don't use that much data. Unlimited Data and Messaging should be MAX $20.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me clear this up, I might be new to this forum but I am very familiar with AT&T rates and plans. Lets just say I use this information almost daily.
THIS APPLIES FOR STANDARD MOBILE DEVICES (NOT PDA/BLACKBERRY/iPHONE)
For Individual Lines (AT&T Nation)
-Data Unlimited (formerly known as 'MediaNet Unlimited')
cost $15 per phone.
-Unlimited Messaging (SMS+MMS+IM)
cost $20 per phone.
-Messaging & Data Unlimited (Data+SMS+MMS+IM)
costs $30 (save $5 from getting the two seperately)
For Family Plans (AT&T Family Share)
-Data Unlimited
cost $10 per line in the family plan (instead of $15 for individuals)
-Family Messaging Unlimited
cost $30 (one price covers every line on the plan)
THE FOLLOWING IS FOR PDA/BLACKBERRIES
For Individual Lines (AT&T Nation)
-PDA Personal or Blackberry Basic
cost $30 per phone.
-Unlimited Messaging (SMS+MMS+IM)
cost $20 per phone.
-PDA/BBRY Messaging Bundle
costs $50
For Family Plans (AT&T Family Share)
-PDA Personal / Blackberry Data
cost $30 per line
-Family Messaging Unlimited
cost $30 (one price covers every line on the plan)
During the sign-up process, the IMEI number of your device will be registered to your account. If the system detects the IMEI of a device that falls under the PDA or BLACKBERRY category, the Data Plans populate itself only to 'PDA Personal $30' or 'BBRY BIS Personal $30'. If an IMEI of a regular phone was entered, it will populate the options for 'Data Unlimited' for $15
When you purchase your PDA device like a Blackjack II, if you somehow manage to have an IMEI of a normal phone be entered instead of the Blackjack II, you will be billed the rates according to whatever type of phone that was entered. (This will not work with Blackberries because BBRY needs the BIS data and the PIN number to be registered.)
Also what might be possible is; get your devices and plans normally, like a Fuze with a $30 PDA Data plan, a month later, call customer service and tell them that youre switching to a different device that you bought yourself, and give them the new IMEI (imei should be from a non pda/bbry device), and have them change the data plan prices accordingly. Voila, you saved $15 dollars per month per phone.
Oh and if some of you were wondering, the carriers data service is just data, meaning it wont know the difference between data from a Sony Ericsson W350 to an HTC Fuze, or a Touch Pro, or a Touch Diamond, or Xperia, or Nokia N96, or iPhone knock-offs, etc. you get my point.
villa_bryan said:
I used to do that. I worked at radioshack though, and our rep for ATT told us that he used to be a manager at an ATT store and would add the non-pda data plan to peoples accounts, and some would come back later with giant bills because they were revised and billed per byte.
He said it didn't happen a lot, and a lot of times ATT would be full of mercy and not charge the full amount, but he did tell me it occured.
I say be careful because you would be breaking the terms and conditions and they would have every right to charge you 3 cents/KB
has anyone on this forum been caught?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=477071
cesar2010 said:
ok i had the media net unlimited ($15) with my kaiser for like 6months w/out a single problem or xtra charge. i used the upgrade option i had and ordered a fuze but to be used on another line in the fam plan, yesterday i used about 60mb with slingplayer.. today i got a text saying data disconnected due to high charges i called and they told me i didnt have a data plan and i was going to be charged about $1000 i added the $30 data plan and was wondering is there a way to fight the upcoming bill?
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Click to collapse
meh?
i'm thankful someone noticed this. i just called and changed mine to Messaging & Data Unlimited for $30. Before had the two separate plans and was $35. Save $5! that's good in these tough economic times .
oatterzonxda said:
For Family Plans (AT&T Family Share)
-Data Unlimited
cost $10 per line in the family plan (instead of $15 for individuals)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not to sure about this..i have a family plan and i did this trick way back in the day with my 8525 (was $20 at the time for medianet and i had to do it again when the price dropped while using my tilt) and unless theve dropped the price recently for family plan data rates then this is incorrect and its still $15 (what i pay a month with a fam plan)
oh and has anyone ELSE besiodes the OP confirmed this $10 all lines plan?
pazookie said:
not to sure about this..i have a family plan and i did this trick way back in the day with my 8525 (was $20 at the time for medianet and i had to do it again when the price dropped while using my tilt) and unless theve dropped the price recently for family plan data rates then this is incorrect and its still $15 (what i pay a month with a fam plan)
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Click to collapse
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/services/services-list.jsp?catId=cat1470003&LOSGId=&catName=Messaging+%26+Data
First item on the page.
evilxhwnd said:
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/services/services-list.jsp?catId=cat1470003&LOSGId=&catName=Messaging+%26+Data
First item on the page.
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Click to collapse
For me it says $15 a month for regular cell phones and $30 a month for pda's such as the fuze.
How many of you guys are doing the thing were you call up and add a regular phone as your phone and then select the $15 for data and then just switch your sim card into the fuze and still only pay $15 for data instead of $30? What would happen if att finds out?
Thanks.
techman28 said:
For me it says $15 a month for regular cell phones and $30 a month for pda's such as the fuze.
How many of you guys are doing the thing were you call up and add a regular phone as your phone and then select the $15 for data and then just switch your sim card into the fuze and still only pay $15 for data instead of $30? What would happen if att finds out?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe has to do with area you live in?
i see this: http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7439/shotwh4.png
notice first item, @ $30.
evilxhwnd said:
maybe has to do with area you live in?
i see this: http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7439/shotwh4.png
notice first item, @ $30.
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Click to collapse
Yes, I see that too, but if you look closer at the fine print for those top two items, it says they are only available to regular cell phone ie not the fuze.
i've been using this on my 8125 for a few years now i have the media net unlimited with 200 text messages for 20 a month.
i just did this recently for my wife when i added her on to my family plan she wanted a blackjack so i had her get a dumb phone first with the unlimited messaging and the 1500 text messages for 30 a month before the 30 days were up with the dumb phone i had her return it and ordered her a refrub'd blackjack off with the discount through my job
the medianet and the messing plan stuck and i just switched her from the unlimited net and 1500 text to unlimited net and unlimited text for 30 a month
so when and if i upgrade to a fuze any new att phone with a newer htc
just like the network guy said above DATA is DATA
i checked around I didn't see anything online about the unlimited data for 10 bucks a month anybody been able to enable this?
techman28 said:
Yes, I see that too, but if you look closer at the fine print for those top two items, it says they are only available to regular cell phone ie not the fuze.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
which is why you do the trick mentioned earlier and all over this forum so you can get it.
Confirmed in Chicago area!!
The catch is (as someone already mentioned) you have to put ALL THE PHONES from your Family Plan on the $10/mo. Unlim MediaNet Data Plan...and NONE of them can be PDA or iPhones. I'm saving $45/mo !!!

Pre-paid plans using CDMA Rhodium

I have been a long time customer (more than 10 years) with Iowa Wireless. I LOVE the plan I have, and the rate I haven't been able to find a match to. I'm a big fan of GSM and how I can change phones at will, but alas, I am moving to an area of North Dakota that doesn't have any GSM data, and very poor GSM voice coverage.
I have to move to Verizon (or any other CDMA provider), so I have taken this as my chance to get a new Rhodium to upgrade from my Kaiser to. Yay me.
BUT...
I don't like it, but I have had some financial difficulty, and now must pay a heafty deposit to get 'normal' service from Verizon (which is over priced to begin with).
If I get the Verizon pre-pay unlimited plan *shudders*, can I add a TP2 from eBay by just providing the correct serial numbers?
What about other pre-pay CDMA providers? Wal-Mart's Straight Talk is the right plan at a reasonable price, but can I mount a CMDA TP2 to thier network?
If you have access to MetroPCS in your area, and are willing to jump through a few hoops in getting the device configured, you can use a TP2 there. I have a Sprint TP2 that I bought on eBay running on MPS without issue. Data speeds will take you back to 2003, but the $40 unlimited call/text/data plan is hard to beat.
goldenu said:
If you have access to MetroPCS in your area, and are willing to jump through a few hoops in getting the device configured, you can use a TP2 there. I have a Sprint TP2 that I bought on eBay running on MPS without issue. Data speeds will take you back to 2003, but the $40 unlimited call/text/data plan is hard to beat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, I'll have to check them out. Is MetroPCS GSM, or CDMA based? Unfortunatly (in this case) the TP2 can run both GSM and CDMA... as for speeds, I'm used to a trunkated 20K, so anything is fine with me. *chuckles*
Thanks for the pointers!
Check out Page Plus it resells Verizon service thier data plans are crap 20megs and 50 megs and then prepaid $3 a meg (I think) lol but if you setup you phone right you can get allo the free data you can use. I had some issues but had it working pm me if you want details. thei unlimited plan talk and txt with 20megs of data is ~$40
Otherwise see if US Cellular is in the area still expensive for my plan but better than Verizon.
1000 anytime National plan, free nights and weekends starting at 7pm, free incoming calls txts and pics~$45
+txt plan 750 msgs ~$10
+data $24
+phone insurance ~$6
+taxes ~however much the government steals
gets my bill ~$100 per month
But I do pull about a 1megabit down and reasonable upload with 200ms to 250ms latency in my service area when tethered on my pc and I've only been in two places in all of america I did not get coverage so I like them allso the costumer service is the best I've ever had from ANY COMPANY HANDS DOWN.
If their was one company that deserves a hug in the whole world is US Cellular they are the best!
sorry for typos it's late I'm tired and lazy.
How do you get free unlimited data from Page Plus?
I am also curious as to whether or not you can tie an unlocked Touch Pro 2 to the Straight Talk network. Anybody have any ideas?
Verizon Wireless Basic Pre-Paid Plan
I've got a Blackberry through work and use that to read my work mails and for calls. I was still using the HTC P3600 as my PDA/MP3 player/Navigation/snapshots/movies/games/etc. and was thinking it's time for an upgrade. The TP2 seemed to be a worthy successor... thank god - I was waiting long enough. Anyway, I was also looking for a plan that I could use every now and then without any monthly commitments and related high charges. So the Verizon basic pre-paid plan seemed ideal for my situation - it costs 99 cents per day you use it - while giving you unlimited data for that day. I'd get a $100 charge so they let me keep my number for 1 year and I'd get OTA data for every third day during that year. So much for the plan...
First attempt: Try to get the Vz TP2 with the basic pre-paid plan. FAILED ... although the pre-paid guys told me the phone would work with the plan, they wouldn't be able to sell it to me without a monthly plan. I could have gotten it for the month-to-month price and then cancelled the plan after the first month - but I didn't want to go that far.
So I bought the phone through eBay. Slight complication - but I am very happy with my new phone so far!
Second attempt: Get the Vz pre-paid plan setup to my new TP2 that I bought off eBay. FAILED althought initially I was informed the pre-paid plan would WORK with the TP2 - Verizon Wireless refuses to set it up with the TP2 (which they will recognize as soon as you give them your MEID). They told me "the pre-paid network is not able to handle the traffic generated by the TP2 phone" right, like there's a separate pre-paid network....
Third attempt: PENDING I want to get some low-cost CDMA phone, either off eBay or from Vz directly (~$40 dollars one-time costs) and set that up with the basic pre-paid plan. Then I'll just "repair"/clone that phone's ESN to my TP2 and theoretically will be able to use my TP2 finally with the Verizon Wireless Basic Pre-Paid plan.
Anyone has any thoughts or - even better - real life experience? Will this work? Any ideas for a cheaper solution? I don't mind the workaround - it's fun so far...
Bizzled - THIS IS EXACTLY the kind of information I wanted to know! I'm reading this intently, I can't wait to hear how this went. I have a little bit of time before I have to change companies, I'd really like to do this...
I think I can get you a phone that is from VZ... used to be on the network, let me know if you need one, I'll go do the research on my end.
Page Plus is a prepaid service that uses the Verizon network. They will activate any unlocked CDMA phone (even phones from another carrier).
Most Verizon PDA phones work out of the box with no unlocking or anything needed.
See here:
http://www.pagepluscellular.com/
Sounds like exactly what you are looking for.
bizzled said:
I've got a Blackberry through work and use that to read my work mails and for calls. I was still using the HTC P3600 as my PDA/MP3 player/Navigation/snapshots/movies/games/etc. and was thinking it's time for an upgrade. The TP2 seemed to be a worthy successor... thank god - I was waiting long enough. Anyway, I was also looking for a plan that I could use every now and then without any monthly commitments and related high charges. So the Verizon basic pre-paid plan seemed ideal for my situation - it costs 99 cents per day you use it - while giving you unlimited data for that day. I'd get a $100 charge so they let me keep my number for 1 year and I'd get OTA data for every third day during that year. So much for the plan...
First attempt: Try to get the Vz TP2 with the basic pre-paid plan. FAILED ... although the pre-paid guys told me the phone would work with the plan, they wouldn't be able to sell it to me without a monthly plan. I could have gotten it for the month-to-month price and then cancelled the plan after the first month - but I didn't want to go that far.
So I bought the phone through eBay. Slight complication - but I am very happy with my new phone so far!
Second attempt: Get the Vz pre-paid plan setup to my new TP2 that I bought off eBay. FAILED althought initially I was informed the pre-paid plan would WORK with the TP2 - Verizon Wireless refuses to set it up with the TP2 (which they will recognize as soon as you give them your MEID). They told me "the pre-paid network is not able to handle the traffic generated by the TP2 phone" right, like there's a separate pre-paid network....
Third attempt: PENDING I want to get some low-cost CDMA phone, either off eBay or from Vz directly (~$40 dollars one-time costs) and set that up with the basic pre-paid plan. Then I'll just "repair"/clone that phone's ESN to my TP2 and theoretically will be able to use my TP2 finally with the Verizon Wireless Basic Pre-Paid plan.
Anyone has any thoughts or - even better - real life experience? Will this work? Any ideas for a cheaper solution? I don't mind the workaround - it's fun so far...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you buy a verizon branded TP2? Just curious, since I'm dealing with my own issue with verizon.
@cdmccul - I'll definitely share the results once I'm done. Got a Verizon Phone already for the cloning process... just need to figure the cloning out now. Thanks for the offer though!
@SaltyDawg - thanks for the hint. I won't go with PagePlus though since they charge you $1.20/MB for data and that's all I'm interested in for my future TP2 plan...
MadM3rlin said:
Did you buy a verizon branded TP2? Just curious, since I'm dealing with my own issue with verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I did.
bizzled said:
@cdmccul - I'll definitely share the results once I'm done. Got a Verizon Phone already for the cloning process... just need to figure the cloning out now. Thanks for the offer though!
@SaltyDawg - thanks for the hint. I won't go with PagePlus though since they charge you $1.20/MB for data and that's all I'm interested in for my future TP2 plan...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
$1.20 per MB? That's only if you take the standard plan.
http://www.pagepluscellular.com/Plans/Talk n Text 1200.aspx
That says you get 1200 minutes, 1200 text messages, and 50 MB of data for $29.99 per month (which is the same as the $1.00 per day that you were talking about on Verizon). And data is billed at .60 per MB if you go over the 50 MB.
I looked at PagePlus, but the web site wasn't working well for me, and it appears as though they won't get me a phone number near where I need one. Doesn't mean I won't try a different area code, but for now, if I can get Verizon to work, that would be 'better.
However, Verizon doesn't have any LOCAL numbers to exactly where I am. The closest town to where I am moving to is considered long distance to where I will be living.
cdmccul said:
I looked at PagePlus, but the web site wasn't working well for me, and it appears as though they won't get me a phone number near where I need one. Doesn't mean I won't try a different area code, but for now, if I can get Verizon to work, that would be 'better.
However, Verizon doesn't have any LOCAL numbers to exactly where I am. The closest town to where I am moving to is considered long distance to where I will be living.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just port your number in. Keep your existing number. If you don't have an existing number, buy a cheap prepaid phone and then port that number.
SaltyDawg said:
Just port your number in. Keep your existing number. If you don't have an existing number, buy a cheap prepaid phone and then port that number.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have to see if I can find any - the town I'm moving to isn't THAT small, but I haven't found any local cell numbers. I'll have to do more research, there's got to be somebody... That or I'll try to do something with the GoogleVoice thingy I read about a while ago.
Well if push comes to shove, you can port landline numbers too. So you could sign up for a landline from whoever the local phone company is, and then after a few days port it out to your cell phone.

unlock question

so my friend is wanting to jump from at&t so here is my question. if he unlocks the phone will he be able to move to virgin mobile, to my knowledge the answer is no because virgin mobile does not use sim cards. but i would like so incite on this from people that know more then i do about these companies.
No
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
virgin mobile is CDMA so no .... you can use Straight talk, T-Mobile, AT&T prepaid but out of any if I wasnt using at&t i would use straight talk
unlimited talk text and web 45 bucks a month
http://www.straighttalk.com/ServicePlans
....
thank you for the conformation.
SuicideMyk said:
virgin mobile is CDMA so no .... you can use Straight talk, T-Mobile, AT&T prepaid but out of any if I wasnt using at&t i would use straight talk
unlimited talk text and web 45 bucks a month
http://www.straighttalk.com/ServicePlans
....
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Click to collapse
Hey suicide - so I have been thinking about going this route with my phone. It would save me about 100$ a month, but I haven't because I have had varying answers when looking for whether or not web is unlimited or whether it will work. Do you have any insight here to clarify on the unlimited web?
Edit: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1100085&page=2
Still sounds nifty
always gotta read the fine print
7. STRAIGHT TALK UNLIMITED PLANS CANNOT BE USED FOR: (1) access to the Internet, intranets, or other data networks except as the device’s native applications and capabilities permit, or (2) any applications that tether your device to a laptop or personal computer other than for the use of Wireless Sync. I
for unlimited talk and text it's a good deal but their definition of "unlimited data" is useless
T-Mobile pre paid $50 unlimited plan
11. * Data Plans and Other Features. You will be charged for data usage on a pay per use basis unless you are required to maintain a data plan (“Data Plan”) as part of your Service, or as otherwise provided by your Rate Plan or prepaid data pass. Permissible and Prohibited Uses: Your Data Plan is intended for Web browsing, messaging, and similar activities on your Device and not on any other equipment. Unless explicitly permitted by your Data Plan, other uses, including for example, using your Device as a modem or tethering your Device to a personal computer or other hardware, are not permitted.
AT&T Go Phone $50 unlimited plan
**Smartphone users: You may use your smartphone on all GoPhone plans. A data package is required to use any data services on your device. Pay-per-use data is not available on smartphones.
***
$5 for 10 MB
$15 for 100 MB
$25 for 500 MB
basically $75 bucks a month
Do you use this?
I am gonna do a little more research and see which would be better, ST or T-Mobile. I guess ST is atnt for pre-paid? If t mobiles allows data (web surfing) I definitely would be interested in that a little more. That thread I linked mentioned having to drop 200$ on a new Nokia. That hurts there.
dyliho said:
Do you use this?
I am gonna do a little more research and see which would be better, ST or T-Mobile. I guess ST is atnt for pre-paid? If t mobiles allows data (web surfing) I definitely would be interested in that a little more. That thread I linked mentioned having to drop 200$ on a new Nokia. That hurts there.
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Click to collapse
no Im stuck in a AT&T contract, I pay about 90 bucks a month for unlimited talk/text and 250mb of data..... majority of my data I use is wifi thats why i went with the smaller data package
seems like out of the three if you want the data T-Mobile would be the way...
as far as dropping 200 bucks on a nokia I have no clue Im pretty sure you can find someone selling a sim card if that's the case
T-Mobile Sim Card Prepaid Kit
With This 10 minutes ($3.34) Pre Paid Kit, you will Get everything you want in a wireless plan without an annual contract, credit check, or a monthly bill! Buy a Prepaid phone kit now. Activation Card will work on any T-Mobile and Unlocked GSM cell phone (t-zones not available on all devices.) Initial 10 minutes talk time, expires 90 days after activation
http://www.amazon.com/T-Mobile-Sim-...4WFM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1313702671&sr=8-2
Actually my talk with ATT wound up far better than I ever ever expected and they totally hooked me the heck up. So for now, I stay. Thanks though - it'll help some friends who have phones but can't get a contract.

buying from amazon?

ok so i am decided i want the skyrocket over my iphone. i looked at amazon and saw its $99.99 right now with upgrade. i went to the at&t store and its $199 and they wont price match, this much i knew. now the guy at the store states i can buy from amazon and keep my grandfathered "unlimited" data plan. i have the old, true unlimited plan, but how do i keep that plan using amazon? i dont see it and dont want to make any changes.
i also noticed that fry's has the phone for $149, but again how do i buy there and keep my data plan?
waxworkz said:
ok so i am decided i want the skyrocket over my iphone. i looked at amazon and saw its $99.99 right now with upgrade. i went to the at&t store and its $199 and they wont price match, this much i knew. now the guy at the store states i can buy from amazon and keep my grandfathered "unlimited" data plan. i have the old, true unlimited plan, but how do i keep that plan using amazon? i dont see it and dont want to make any changes.
i also noticed that fry's has the phone for $149, but again how do i buy there and keep my data plan?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can only comment on the fact that reading a few of the "throttled" threads leads me to believe that their isn't such a thing as "true unlimited plan" anymore. You may want to read those threads and see if it is still something that is important to you or not. Maybe someone else can help with information on how to keep if if you still want.
i dont care about reduced speeds, which is what throttled means. i mean quantity, as in how many gigs over the entire billing period, not how fast i download. i use it my phone all day as i am out of the office most of the day. so i need to use it for uploading pics, email, updating social networks. dont care if it takes 2 mins or 5 mins as i just set it and leave it while i finish work
waxworkz said:
i dont care about reduced speeds, which is what throttled means. i mean quantity, as in how many gigs over the entire billing period, not how fast i download. i use it my phone all day as i am out of the office most of the day. so i need to use it for uploading pics, email, updating social networks. dont care if it takes 2 mins or 5 mins as i just set it and leave it while i finish work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will care about being throttled on the 4G lte network when the download is usually 24-70 mb/s to 200 kb/s.
well you can flash t-mobile radio and use hspa/phone apn and get hspa data speed. which is still better than sprint!!!!!
NOw to your question call att and they will take care of it.
appdroid said:
well you can flash t-mobile radio and use hspa/phone apn and get hspa data speed. which is still better than sprint!!!!!
NOw to your question call att and they will take care of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
call them when and tell them what? after i order and have selected what ever plan is available on the site i order from?
We purchased 2 Samsung Skyrockets from Amazon for $0.01 during their black friday sale. LOVE THEIR SERVICE.
If you are grandfathered into unlimited plans, make sure that you contact AT&T prior to upgrading your phone with Amazon (or others). Make them put it in the notes that you will be continuing with an unlimited data plan. Personal recommendation, go to a real AT&T bricks store over talking to the phone customer service.
Then buy your phone from Amazon. You will not be able to select an unlimited data plan, in their ordering system, but that is ok.
Once your phone arrives, contact AT&T again before you activate it. Confirm that you will upgrading your phone, the rep needs to look at the notes and MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT ON THE ACCOUNT TO ALLOW FOR UNLIMITED DATA. Then activate your phone. Make sure that the rep (again, better in store) also marks the service for LTE otherwise you'll be stuck on just 4G speeds.
Have fun! We've seen downloads of 42 MBPS and uploads of 15 MPBS using Speedtest.net app.
Shelby317 said:
We purchased 2 Samsung Skyrockets from Amazon for $0.01 during their black friday sale. LOVE THEIR SERVICE.
If you are grandfathered into unlimited plans, make sure that you contact AT&T prior to upgrading your phone with Amazon (or others). Make them put it in the notes that you will be continuing with an unlimited data plan. Personal recommendation, go to a real AT&T bricks store over talking to the phone customer service.
Then buy your phone from Amazon. You will not be able to select an unlimited data plan, in their ordering system, but that is ok.
Once your phone arrives, contact AT&T again before you activate it. Confirm that you will upgrading your phone, the rep needs to look at the notes and MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT ON THE ACCOUNT TO ALLOW FOR UNLIMITED DATA. Then activate your phone. Make sure that the rep (again, better in store) also marks the service for LTE otherwise you'll be stuck on just 4G speeds.
Have fun! We've seen downloads of 42 MBPS and uploads of 15 MPBS using Speedtest.net app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you! so would i be ok following these steps: 1. go to att store and talk to rep about making note for unlimited, 2. ordering phone and just select any data plan, 3. once i receive phone go to att store and have them do everything? i have a sorta friend at a store but they cant match prices
waxworkz said:
thank you! so would i be ok following these steps: 1. go to att store and talk to rep about making note for unlimited, 2. ordering phone and just select any data plan, 3. once i receive phone go to att store and have them do everything? i have a sorta friend at a store but they cant match prices
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but make sure they put it in the notes on your account. Even better if you watch them. Tell them you have to have the notes in the account because their authorized retail partner has built a system on their policy that unlimited plans are no longer offered. It will only work for upgrades. If you purchase new phones/add lines, they will not allow for unlimited under any conditions for the new phone/line.
General store employees tell you that they can not match prices. I know I tried with my Blackberrys and they said no twice. However, I had a problem which was AT&T's fault and the store manager could/did match prices without documentation.
well looks like i'll either wait and buy from at&t store or loose my unlimited data. i went to the store and they said once amazon removes my plan, they might not be able to get it back. it was the manager i spoke with by the way. this sucks man
Did you go to a real AT&T store or to an authorized retailer?
If it was the real AT&T store, try a different manager. Their training (companywide) on the subject sucks. That is the reason I suggested making sure it was put into the notes on your account.
You can upgrade your existing line to a new Skyrocket from Amazon.com. I know, I've done it.
I also ordered Skyrocket from Amazon and was able to get back my unlimited plan.
I had checked with ATT stores and they said to order it online and then come to them to have the unlimited plan put back (they did not put any notes in my account). They said that they can add the unlimited plan back as long as a request is being made within 30 days of activation.
I activated my phone yesterday and called the ATT customer service today and they were able to put my $5 messaging as well as the unlimited plan back on the account.
I knew I wasn't the only one!

Questions for T-Mobile users.

Alright, so currently I have an S3 with T-Mobile and I'm paying around $100 for just my line that includes 500mins, unlimited data and text.
I rarely break the 150min mark each month so I would definitely like to change my plan to something that offers less minutes. Makes no sense on paying for something I don't use, right.
What would be my best option right now? Go on a prepaid plan and buy the Nexus 5 from the playstore? Is there a hassle from switching to a normal plan to a prepaid plan with T-Mobile?
I would be more than happy paying less to get 200mins, unlimited text, and data. 2.5 or 5gb before throttling is fine with me.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
The T-Mobile $30 plan.. 100 minutes, unlimited texts, 5GB of 4G LTE.
Just add like $50 every month and you'll have around , what.. 275-300 minutes you can use.
But if you're still on contract with T-Mobile, the ETF is $200.
And yes, you can buy the phone from the Play Store.
Wow that's crazy expensive. My T-Mobile plan is $120/month for 3 lines, unlimited everything. Data IS throttled after 500mb though. Not an issue for me since I'm always on wifi. I can bump it to unlimited for an extra $20
IXChicharitoXI said:
Alright, so currently I have an S3 with T-Mobile and I'm paying around $100 for just my line that includes 500mins, unlimited data and text.
I rarely break the 150min mark each month so I would definitely like to change my plan to something that offers less minutes. Makes no sense on paying for something I don't use, right.
What would be my best option right now? Go on a prepaid plan and buy the Nexus 5 from the playstore? Is there a hassle from switching to a normal plan to a prepaid plan with T-Mobile?
I would be more than happy paying less to get 200mins, unlimited text, and data. 2.5 or 5gb before throttling is fine with me.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure how you're paying so much for the classic 500min plan, maybe you got extra services along with it? Should only be $85/w tax. And if you said you don't use as much minutes then go with the prepaid $30/mo like that person said. Or you can go with straight talk for $45/mo unlimited talk text and web (might throttle 2.5gb). I'm not sure if they are still selling GSM sim cards because they kept being pulled off the shelves.
Synyster06Gates said:
Wow that's crazy expensive. My T-Mobile plan is $120/month for 3 lines, unlimited everything. Data IS throttled after 500mb though. Not an issue for me since I'm always on wifi. I can bump it to unlimited for an extra $20
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you're on the new simple/value plans that T-mobile has. 3 lines should cost you $90 ($50 first line $30 second $10 add a line) for unlimited talk text and unlimited web throttled at 500mb. You might be over paying as well unless you have the 2.5gb data plan or the jump plan services.
Deekayy said:
Well you're on the new simple/value plans that T-mobile has. 3 lines should cost you $90 ($50 first line $30 second $10 add a line) for unlimited talk text and unlimited web throttled at 500mb. You might be over paying as well unless you have the 2.5gb data plan or the jump plan services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately I am over paying by $30. I didn't get the simple value plan. I switched from AT&T right before they ended the classic unlimited contracts. What really sucks is the T-Mobile service went to **** in my area a few days after my "2 week trial period" (that was really maybe a week after getting the phones shipped and activated) and they refuse to help me out in any way. It's a story for another time, but I'm absolutely furious at T-Mobile.
I got the Ptel Paygo plan (on T-Mobile network), I don't really need data (on wifi almost everywhere, with T-Mobile 4G hotspot at $17.50/mo for 1.75gb). 5 cents per minute. Bought a $100 card with coupon for $78, so 2000 minutes for a year. Haven't got my sim yet, will run speed test once I get it.
Deekayy said:
Not sure how you're paying so much for the classic 500min plan, maybe you got extra services along with it? Should only be $85/w tax. And if you said you don't use as much minutes then go with the prepaid $30/mo like that person said. Or you can go with straight talk for $45/mo unlimited talk text and web (might throttle 2.5gb). I'm not sure if they are still selling GSM sim cards because they kept being pulled off the shelves.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I think I'm being charged $8 or $10 for insurance on the phone.
How exactly do pre paid plans work? I assume the bill won't arrive to my house anymore? Do I have to to to the T-Mobile store before the month ends to pay for the following month before it gets disconnected?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Also if I were to sign up for the pre paid plan. Could I bring the phone to a T-Mobile store and could they activate the new sim at the store or do I have to do it myself online?
Thank you for the responses everyone, i really appreciate it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Synyster06Gates said:
Unfortunately I am over paying by $30. I didn't get the simple value plan. I switched from AT&T right before they ended the classic unlimited contracts. What really sucks is the T-Mobile service went to **** in my area a few days after my "2 week trial period" (that was really maybe a week after getting the phones shipped and activated) and they refuse to help me out in any way. It's a story for another time, but I'm absolutely furious at T-Mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's unfortunate, sorry to hear. So you're on a 2-year contract then I suppose? Did you get basic phones or smart phones when you signed up? If anything you can always try to call customer service (Dial 611) and ask to be switched to the new simple choice plan but they might charge you a $200 migration fee per line. In that situation, you can probably argue that your service has not been working well ever since you got it and hopefully they'll work something out.
IXChicharitoXI said:
Yeah, I think I'm being charged $8 or $10 for insurance on the phone.
How exactly do pre paid plans work? I assume the bill won't arrive to my house anymore? Do I have to to to the T-Mobile store before the month ends to pay for the following month before it gets disconnected?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only service that does that still bills to your house is T-Mobile Family Mobile (only in walmart) $39.88/mo unlimited talk text unlimited web 2.5 throttle (3G, some say 4G). That service is no contract and you can set auto pay with your debit/credit card or pay at any walmart location.
Other T-mobile pre-paid services is the "monthly 4G" which you will need to purchase a pre-paid card at any convenience store and refill your service at the end of each month. Or you can pay the balance of the bill online through T-Mobile prepaid website. If you don't pay your remaining balance by the end of the month it will get shut off and I believe T-Mobile will hold for 7-14 days before they release the number.
I can't give you a suggestion on which service you should use because I use both Verizon and T-Mobile services (note 2 and nexus 5) on a dealer line. Believe it or not, T-Mobile pulls off 21mb vs verizon 12mb in my home. If anything i'd start with the $30 pre-paid plan and test out the service to see whether or not it works in your area. If you feel that you get a lot of drop calls, you can try the actual T-Mobile service (Simple choice plan) because it's running on a primary network. Don't want to get too technical on why contracts vs pre-paid services are good or bad.
Replying to your second question:
You can purchase a Sim starter kit on the actual T-mobile site and you can activate it yourself, very easy. Follow the steps and select the plan that you desire.
t-mobile (dot) com/shop/plans/activatecodes (dot )aspx
Deekayy said:
That's unfortunate, sorry to hear. So you're on a 2-year contract then I suppose? Did you get basic phones or smart phones when you signed up? If anything you can always try to call customer service (Dial 611) and ask to be switched to the new simple choice plan but they might charge you a $200 migration fee per line. In that situation, you can probably argue that your service has not been working well ever since you got it and hopefully they'll work something out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will attempt to do this over the weekend. I am on a 2 year contract. When we signed up, I got a Galaxy S3, an LG F3, and an LG F6.
Since we started, none of the phones will reliably get phone calls or text messages. More often than not when people try to call us (even the T-Mobile reps calling me back) the phone will ring on their end, but I never get a ring or even missed call notification. A voice-mail will randomly pop up later in the day. Text messages will stop for hours on end then all of a sudden 10 or so will come to my phone at once. MMS won't reliably send or download. It's been a FRUSTRATING experience to say the least.

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