Hello. Does anyone have any suggestions for a cheap (sub $200) Android phone with no contract for AT&T? My wife is wanting to get her first smart phone, but she is not due for an upgrade until January 2012. We are on AT&T through a business plan. I'm looking for something cheap and something that can run custom ROMs (has an active development base). I'm running a Samsung Captivate with Serendipity 7 now. I'd like to get an android phone for my wife and I don't have a problem setting her up for a data plan, but I'm trying to keep it under 200.
You might want to try one of the prepaid networks some like virgin/boost etc. many have decently cheap phones android phones off contract. If you do not mind being on a CDMA network instead of GSM you could always try the LG Optimus V it retails for 149.99 and the plans are cheap as well. Just food for thought.
Buy X10, its cheap **** when you buy it used, and until you dont have custom ROM/Kernel it really sucks, so you can play with this things Had it before really pain, even Had LG Optimus V/One yes that one have official dev in cyanogen. But i suggest something like Xperia Mini, i dont know price bcuz its still not out.
Ok I am a little noobish when it comes to the differences between networks. Can I unlock a boost or virgin phone and use it on att's network? I have thought about changing carriers too, but I would hate to do that and then never have a signal anywhere (i work IT in a rural town). The price difference between like att and tmobile is crazy though. I currently am on a business plan through my work and pay around 75 a month for 550 minutes and another 35 per month for unlimited data on one line.
G.Hook said:
Ok I am a little noobish when it comes to the differences between networks. Can I unlock a boost or virgin phone and use it on att's network? I have thought about changing carriers too, but I would hate to do that and then never have a signal anywhere (i work IT in a rural town). The price difference between like att and tmobile is crazy though. I currently am on a business plan through my work and pay around 75 a month for 550 minutes and another 35 per month for unlimited data on one line.
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No you can not use a CDMA phone (boost/sprint/metropcs/alltell-verizon/virgin) on a GSM network, (AT&T/T-Mobile). I'd go on to each of the carriers I mentioned websites and use their coverage maps to determine if you have service where you are.
Greetings!
First time poster, long time reader.
I have been using a SE Xperia X1a that I bought off Ebay since Sept. 2009. I have stuck with this phone because I have an unlimited Medianet HSDPA service that costs $10/Mo. I frequently tether as a wireless router for either my laptop or Ipod Touch 4g. ATT still has not recognized this despite using 2gb+/mo.
The hardware in the phone is breaking down. I am looking for a replacement device that can do a similar service for me- $10/mo/unlimited internet. Are there any foreign branded Androids that can do this?
I did do a search for about an hour before giving up and asking this. Thanks are coming your way for responding
I'm really not sure why you think your plan is tied to your phone? Just get whatever phone tickles your fancy and put your sim card in it.
I don't think my plan is tied to my phone. I'm sorry if that's how it came across.
I am able to capitalize on unlimited MediaNet data because ATT doesn't recognize my Xperia's IMEI- they think I have a dumbphone.
The hardware is failing on my Xperia, and I am looking into a replacement. I'm fully willing to buy an foreign phone out of contract if it's known that ATT can't recognize the IMEI.
If anyone could point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated :-D
They dont think you have a dunb phone(Non Smart Phone) They just havent cared to check. In my experience they only check what style of phone when upgrading services, such as data plans and such. As deathsled said, get any phone that makes you happy and insert yoour sim card. P.S. Make sure phone is able to accept a sim card, and if unlocked make sure its able to listen to the carries specific signal.
Well they do think I have a dumbphone. That's what I had to tell them when I signed up for MediaNet after purchasing the phone.
I don't want to buy a phone that they their system will instantly recognize and upgrade me from my MediaNet to a smartphone plan.
Is there a resource to check the phones that they know of? I could always just purchase the same model and continue doing what I'm doing if not.
Is the problem that nobody knows, or that nobody has seen this thread that does know?
Bamp 10char
Is there another forum I should be trying?
Donteventrii said:
Well they do think I have a dumbphone. That's what I had to tell them when I signed up for MediaNet after purchasing the phone.
I don't want to buy a phone that they their system will instantly recognize and upgrade me from my MediaNet to a smartphone plan.
Is there a resource to check the phones that they know of? I could always just purchase the same model and continue doing what I'm doing if not.
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I'm rather puzzled, why can't you just buy an unlocked phone from (say) Amazon? They do sell nice Nexus One units there...
I know exactly what you are talking about Donteventrii
I can give you a list of phones that might be suitable for you, that are unlocked and use AT&T 3G but their IMEI will still not be recognizable and therefore, you get to keep your $10 unlimited MEdiaNet data plan
Amazon: Any Nokia Phone - E72, N8, E7, E6 etc
NExus S - the one for AT&T which will have the 850/1900 3G bands - http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Googl..._1_1?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1310519566&sr=1-1
T-mobile Galaxy S vibrant - Unlocked. It has AT&T's 3G 1900 band so you will be able to get 3G speeds in many areas since 1900 is the more widespread one.
Any Rogers (Canadian telephone service provider) smartphone unlocked since it uses the same bands as AT&T for it's 3G. I'm using a Rogers unlocked Xperia Play that I bought off a guy who'd bought it off Ebay.
That's just the ones I can think off the top of my head. I'll post again if I remember some more
Thank you very much Abudabu!
I may have some follow ups, but I'm heading to bed.
I would just get another phone like tmobile
Abudabu, do you also use MediaNet for your Xperia Play? I see that ATT is getting Xperia play, do you think this will cause problems for you?
The Nexus S is quite costly still, though 2.3 has me drooling. I believe the Galaxy S may be my best option. I might buy it online and unlock it myself.
Any thoughts?
I don't use MediaNet actually. I'm on the $30 unlimited data plan that I opted for when I went with the iPhone 3GS.
You can swap your SIM card out of your current phne to any phone that does not have an AT&T logo on it and you should be fine. AT&T has the IMEI's of all the phones that IT sells, in it's database. So if you put your sim in an Unlocked Xperia Play from Rogers or from United Kingdom, you can continue using the MediaNet without any hassle. If however, you put your SIM card in a AT&T Xperia Play, the SIM recognizes the IMEI of the phone, and will transmit this data back to AT&T indicating you need to upgrade your plan since you are on a smartphone
Any reason you don't switch back to MediaNet?
I'm aware of the 10$ Medianet plan. But for those that use it with unlocked smartphones, how do you get around the texting?
I see a $30 unlimited data and messaging plan which defeats the purpose of the thread. Are you combining this with the 1000 messages for $10?
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Donteventrii said:
Any reason you don't switch back to MediaNet?
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Well couple of reasons:
1) I wasn't sure if they even offer it anymore. I was under the impression they have tiered data plans now. $15 for 200 mb, $25 for 2GB, etc.
2) I switch phones quite a bit. So I prefer to just have the $30 unlimited data plan standard and I switch sim's in and out irregardless.
Ah if you switch phones that makes sense.
But yes, they do indeed offer MediaNet unlimited for 10/month. I am sitting at 2.5gb this month with a week left in my billing cycle.
I mainly use it to tether my laptop while at work. We don't have wifi, and I don't want to use my work computer for personal business. In fact, I'm tethering it right now from work
so where can I find a list of smartphones, compatible with AT&T, not in the IMEI database?
Just to be clear, I can purchase a dumbphone with:
$30 unlimited messaging/mobile to mobile
+
$15 unlimited data
with no voice plan (like the $39.99 for 450 minutes), go home and pop the SIM card to one of these unlisted phones and done.
$45 + tax for unlimited everything on a smartphone.
I can use Google Voice for landlines and international without incurring call forwarding fees and such.
I don't think there is a list other than what's been provided already. I use the Unlimited family messaging and 10/mo unlimited internet.
So I was told that the Verizon Wireless Casio G'z One Phone would work. I paid 70 bucks for it on Amazon and when I went to activate it, Verizon said it was not compatible. I just want to know if I can get around this anyway because one I was told it would work and two I am super rough on phones and need a strong durable one and prepaid doesnt offer any.
Thanks!
I'm assuming you bought the phone non subsidized, probably used at that price? Not sure how Verizon's prepaid plans work but you could look into Page Plus. They are a prepaid service that uses Verizon towers and they allow Verizon Android phones on their prepaid plans as long as the ESN is good.
spunker88 said:
I'm assuming you bought the phone non subsidized, probably used at that price? Not sure how Verizon's prepaid plans work but you could look into Page Plus. They are a prepaid service that uses Verizon towers and they allow Verizon Android phones on their prepaid plans as long as the ESN is good.
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I will definitely look into it, thanks!
I'm currently using the Boost Moto G 2013 (XT1031) on PagePlus. I used this method. I've never been able to find information on XT1031 being activated on StraightTalk, so I've always stuck to PagePlus's 55$ plan (Unlimited TnT, 3GB data); however, StraightTalk's 45$ plan is the same but 2.5GB a month. A half a G is not worth 10$ to me, so I've always been interested in switching but I could never find any information so I basically gave up. But with these recent reports of the Moto G successfully being activated on Tracfone, my curiosity is renewed. I bought the XT1031 because I did my research and knew it could be flashed to PP. I have never been interested in anything but Verizon because in my area Verizon is by far the best carrier. With AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and every other carrier, there are dead spots everywhere. Verizon undoubtedly has the best coverage within a 200 mile radius around here.
So, now I'm reaching out to you professional XDA users. Is it possible to activate the XT1031 on ST with Verizon (NOT SPRINT) coverage? Using ST's BYOP online page, my MEID says it's compatible; nonetheless, as I've stated before, I can't find any information on ST and I'm afraid of wasting 45$ on lousy Sprint coverage or it not working. I'm a self-supporting college student at my local university and a waste of 45$ would be murder to me. Please help with any information
Thank you for reading my thread!
*DISCLAIMER: I don't know if this post belongs here or not. If not, don't comment, just request to have this post moved. Thanks. - Kris
Hello,
So I'm currently have a shared data plan w. my mom on Verizon and after I graduate I plan on switching to a GSM carrier so that I may have a wider range of phones that I can use. However I am not sure which carrier will be the best option for me. In your opinion which GSM carrier in the US offers the best service for the price. If I had to choose one based on what I know I would go w. AT&T because I believe they have the 2nd best coverage but I have no real clue.
So, what are your suggestions?
dkris2020 said:
*DISCLAIMER: I don't know if this post belongs here or not. If not, don't comment, just request to have this post moved. Thanks. - Kris
Hello,
So I'm currently have a shared data plan w. my mom on Verizon and after I graduate I plan on switching to a GSM carrier so that I may have a wider range of phones that I can use. However I am not sure which carrier will be the best option for me. In your opinion which GSM carrier in the US offers the best service for the price. If I had to choose one based on what I know I would go w. AT&T because I believe they have the 2nd best coverage but I have no real clue.
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It really depends on your area and on areas you might be traveling to and inbetween. AT&T indeed does have better overall coverage, but if you're staying pretty much in one or 2 metro areas, T-Mobile might be the better choice (unlimited high-speed!).
If you don't mind going off-contract/payment plan, pick up an inexpensive LTE phone like a Moto G LTE or the like and sign up for prepaid/MVNO service like Cricket, MetroPCS, or Straight Talk. There's a bunch of them, but they'll all use either AT&T's or T-Mobile's network as long as it's a GSM phone. Try one for a month, then switch to the other for a month. Or try both at the same time, just keep swapping the SIMs.