$30 prepaid plan and mobile hotspot - Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I currently own a SGH-T989 (Samsung S2 T-mobile) phone and I have the $30/month prepaid plan that gives me unlimited data. However I can not use mobile hotspot, I am shown a message that I need to upgrade my plan.
I am planning to get a LG Nexus 5 phone directly from google play store and NOT from T-mobile. My understanding is that when you buy the phone from T-mobile they put restrictions on the phone which doesn't allow you to use mobile hotspot. If I get the phone from google play store since it isn't tied to any particular carrier it should not have a restriction on mobile hotspot. Will I be able to use mobile hotspot on my $30/month prepaid plan or does T-mobile still finds a way to restrict mobile hotspot on a factory unlocked phone?

nikosbocho said:
I currently own a SGH-T989 (Samsung S2 T-mobile) phone and I have the $30/month prepaid plan that gives me unlimited data. However I can not use mobile hotspot, I am shown a message that I need to upgrade my plan.
I am planning to get a LG Nexus 5 phone directly from google play store and NOT from T-mobile. My understanding is that when you buy the phone from T-mobile they put restrictions on the phone which doesn't allow you to use mobile hotspot. If I get the phone from google play store since it isn't tied to any particular carrier it should not have a restriction on mobile hotspot. Will I be able to use mobile hotspot on my $30/month prepaid plan or does T-mobile still finds a way to restrict mobile hotspot on a factory unlocked phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Last time I was on it recently, there was a 100mb limit to hotspot usage on the 5GB data plan. Maybe you can get around it with rooting the phone. This was with a phone I bought from Google Play directly. It is internal in the new way Android handles hotspots with 4.4 KitKat, I believe.

nikosbocho said:
I currently own a SGH-T989 (Samsung S2 T-mobile) phone and I have the $30/month prepaid plan that gives me unlimited data. However I can not use mobile hotspot, I am shown a message that I need to upgrade my plan.
I am planning to get a LG Nexus 5 phone directly from google play store and NOT from T-mobile. My understanding is that when you buy the phone from T-mobile they put restrictions on the phone which doesn't allow you to use mobile hotspot. If I get the phone from google play store since it isn't tied to any particular carrier it should not have a restriction on mobile hotspot. Will I be able to use mobile hotspot on my $30/month prepaid plan or does T-mobile still finds a way to restrict mobile hotspot on a factory unlocked phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't matter if you get it from T-Mobile, or through the Play Store. They are the exact same phone. The restrictions are not tied to the place of purchase, but to the carrier itself and what plan you are using. Apparently, this was introduced in Android 4.4 to allow carriers to know whenever you use your phone as a hotspot. I am currently on this $30 T-Mobile plan using my N5 I bought off the Play Store. Unfortunately, the free 100MB of hotspot usage does not apply to this plan, so everytime you try to use hotspot, it directs you to T-Mo's "upsell" page. HOWEVER, there are ways around it. The search button is your friend. :good: Search out some of the threads in these here forums. There's a fix where you can edit a database file on the root of the phone so it doesn't block you from tethering. I can tell you from experience that it works like a charm. I can tether as much as I want now (at least up until the 5GB "limit" of this plan). I've never really needed to surpass 5GB.

charesa39 said:
Doesn't matter if you get it from T-Mobile, or through the Play Store. They are the exact same phone. The restrictions are not tied to the place of purchase, but to the carrier itself and what plan you are using. Apparently, this was introduced in Android 4.4 to allow carriers to know whenever you use your phone as a hotspot. I am currently on this $30 T-Mobile plan using my N5 I bought off the Play Store. Unfortunately, the free 100MB of hotspot usage does not apply to this plan, so everytime you try to use hotspot, it directs you to T-Mo's "upsell" page. HOWEVER, there are ways around it. The search button is your friend. :good: Search out some of the threads in these here forums. There's a fix where you can edit a database file on the root of the phone so it doesn't block you from tethering. I can tell you from experience that it works like a charm. I can tether as much as I want now (at least up until the 5GB "limit" of this plan). I've never really needed to surpass 5GB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for explaining it to me. I thought the phones that T-mobile sell you are tweaked for T-mobile in particular, so they are locked to the T-mobile carrier while the ones from google are factory unlocked and might not have some of the restrictions. But basically both T-mobile and Google play sell you exactly the same phone and the $30 T-Mobile plan won't allow you for tethering and mobile hotspot. I'll look into rooting the phone and changing the settings when I get one.

nikosbocho said:
Thank you for explaining it to me. I thought the phones that T-mobile sell you are tweaked for T-mobile in particular, so they are locked to the T-mobile carrier while the ones from google are factory unlocked and might not have some of the restrictions. But basically both T-mobile and Google play sell you exactly the same phone and the $30 T-Mobile plan won't allow you for tethering and mobile hotspot. I'll look into rooting the phone and changing the settings when I get one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
first of all the other user is right. there are no differences between two phones. no carrier is allowed to put any restriction on nexus 5
with kitkat google introduced a feature for tagging tethered data so the telecoms (if they wish) can check it against their user list to determined if it is allowed. search here for the link called nexus 5 tethering block?
to sum it up, this could be done with root or without root. that like will explain both ways. spend couple of hours reading that than having couple of days headache when the phone bootloops . does not sound plausible? do a search here for bootloop and you will see half of them are related to this.
the phone has to be properly connected to the computer. proper usb drivers installed and adb & fastboot working properly.
apply the settings.db hack. with or without root.
change the apn protocol to ipv4
if necessary use a user agent switcher for your browser.

nikosbocho said:
Thank you for explaining it to me. I thought the phones that T-mobile sell you are tweaked for T-mobile in particular, so they are locked to the T-mobile carrier while the ones from google are factory unlocked and might not have some of the restrictions. But basically both T-mobile and Google play sell you exactly the same phone and the $30 T-Mobile plan won't allow you for tethering and mobile hotspot. I'll look into rooting the phone and changing the settings when I get one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. The restrictions are more from whatever SIM you put in it. In fact, when supply was short, or when people wanted to have the phone in hand same day, they would just buy it from a T-Mobile store and pop in their own AT&T or Sprint SIM card. Also, not sure if you know this, but T-Mobile only sells the 16GB version, and it's $50 more than what it sells for on the Play Store.

charesa39 said:
Correct. The restrictions are more from whatever SIM you put in it. In fact, when supply was short, or when people wanted to have the phone in hand same day, they would just buy it from a T-Mobile store and pop in their own AT&T or Sprint SIM card. Also, not sure if you know this, but T-Mobile only sells the 16GB version, and it's $50 more than what it sells for on the Play Store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since my original idea of getting a Nexus 5 because it would be factory unlocked and would not have this restriction is not valid anymore, I might as well look into other Android phones too, not just the Nexus 5. Thank you.

nikosbocho said:
Since my original idea of getting a Nexus 5 because it would be factory unlocked and would not have this restriction is not valid anymore, I might as well look into other Android phones too, not just the Nexus 5. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there seems to be some confusion here. nexus 5 is unlocked period.
as of now any phone with jelly bean or kitkat has the tagging enabled by default. so unless you want something with ICS or older the other options are iphones?

Related

Can I use a Verizon-labelled NO CONTRACT Xoom on Sprint?

I purchased a Xoom through a wholesaler for full price without any contract.
It is a Verizon labelled device - both wifi and 3G
I don't want to use Verizon as they are rapists on data plans and was hoping to use on the sprint network.
I believe that even though there is no contract, Verizon are SOB's and won't unlock the device, so I'm sure there are some smart people on here who can/will?
I want to use Sprint's network as I will use a lot of data and the unlimited plan is great.
Additionally, I will travel to other countries that have CDMA networks that I would want to utilize when I am there.
But most important is the ability to use on Sprint network - is this possible?
Thanks!
i doubt they will activate the verizon xoom on their network
your best bet would be to tether to your phone for data service
try reading forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1016158
extrafuzzyllama said:
i doubt they will activate the verizon xoom on their network
your best bet would be to tether to your phone for data service
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting....I chatted with sprint today and they seemed to think there would be no problem with me running the xoom on their network since I have never had a contact with verizon our other carrier.
Thanks for that other link, it seems incredibly complicated to achieve something that is surely very simple given both verizon and sprint essentially use the same technology?

T-Mobile Mobile Hotspot

I use my phone as a Mobile Hotspot quite often on my other phone and just wanted to confirm for anyone wondering it works fine for the One S.
I don't have a tethering plan with T-mobile and the default mobile hotspot is working just fine. No changes were needed.
Update
I take back everything I said before. When I picked up my One S the sales rep switched my data plan and didn't tell me. I was moved to the $35 plan with tethering.
I called in and switched it back to the preferred android plan and can no longer tether the phone.
It looks like T-mobile also locked down the APN's on the phone. You don't seem to be allowed to switch or change them on the stock rom.
With the phone rooted I'm able to use: WiFi Tether for Root Users that you can get at the link below.
http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/downloads/detail?name=wifi_tether_v3_1-beta14.apk&can=2&q=
T-mobile will usually let you hit an amount and then give you a message that you need to upgrade. The new 5GB and 10GB plan include tethering though.
Scupra said:
T-mobile will usually let you hit an amount and then give you a message that you need to upgrade. The new 5GB and 10GB plan include tethering though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have heard this before. I've heard 200 MB is the "courtesy limit". I'll pull down 200 MBs right now and see.
The one s has a block on it.. If you don't have the tether on your plan. it will let you connect but you can't view any web pages but the t-mobile one, letting you know you need to add the option. Also right now you can get it free if you have the 5gb plan. Does not work with android preferred plan .
zylith said:
The one s has a block on it.. If you don't have the tether on your plan. it will let you connect but you can't view any web pages but the t-mobile one, letting you know you need to add the option. Also right now you can get it free if you have the 5gb plan. Does not work with android preferred plan .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an Android Preferred Plan and using the default mobile hotspot I just downloaded 220MBs from drop box and was surfing the web on my Nexus One that was tethered to my One S
I hope that we can just flash over the international ROM on this phone.
Root it and put ad block. Then it would be perfect.
I take back everything I said before. When I picked up my One S the sales rep switched my data plan and didn't tell me. I was moved to the $35 plan with tethering.
I called in and switched it back to the preferred android plan and can no longer tether the phone.
It looks like T-mobile also locked down the APN's on the phone. You don't seem to be allowed to switch or change them on the stock rom.
With the phone rooted I'm able to use: WiFi Tether for Root Users that you can get at the link below.
http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/downloads/detail?name=wifi_tether_v3_1-beta14.apk&can=2&q=
dc211 said:
I have an Android Preferred Plan and using the default mobile hotspot I just downloaded 220MBs from drop box and was surfing the web on my Nexus One that was tethered to my One S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the answer I wanted to hear!
Am I the only one that has been blocked because I don't have the wifi tether on my account? Anyone else on with the android preferred plan able to connect? I did find a work around. a app called wifi tether works great for me

[Q] Can AT&T detect my Nexus S and charge data?

I bought my unlocked Nexus S (i9020) back when it released and have been using it in India. Now I've moved to the States and bought myself an AT&T plan.
I've read that if I insert a SIM into a smartphone, AT&T automatically detects the IMEI as a smartphone and starts charging a data plan. But since my phone was bought unlocked and it isn't an AT&T branded one either, can AT&T start charging me? Also, if they do start charging me, will they charge $20 on the 300MB plan or any other plan?
Not sure how it works in US, but pretty sure AT&T can bill you if you use data on their network, despite you having an unbranded Nexus.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA
I'm not going to be switching on data any time cause I have WiFi around me most of the time. So can they still charge me?
As I said I'm not 100% sure, but as long as you don't use data they shouldn't trigger any plan. For all effects for them your nexus S is a dumbphone. At least that's how it works in Europe.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA
WinterAce said:
WiFi around me most of the time. So can they still charge me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they will eventually detect your smartphone
if you are under contract they apparently can
force a data plan on your line
they got tired of people *****ing about
[and fighting]
giant bills after "not knowing" about data upcharges
...or so the story goes
fwiw
for what it's worth, if you're worried about data usage charges on a line you do not have a data plan for you can call AT&T and ask them to block cellular data on that line. I've done that with my wife's flip phone since the kids keep fiddling with it and accidentally browsing the internet. They were happy to put the block and avoid the alla cart data charges for that line.
Mind you I do have a data plan on my Nexus S.
Thanks for the replies everyone! I'll call AT&T and request them to disable the dataplan. Or I will have to just continue with my N95.
[email protected] said:
for what it's worth, if you're worried about data usage charges on a line you do not have a data plan for you can call AT&T and ask them to block cellular data on that line. I've done that with my wife's flip phone since the kids keep fiddling with it and accidentally browsing the internet. They were happy to put the block and avoid the alla cart data charges for that line.
Mind you I do have a data plan on my Nexus S.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont think on att and verizon with a smartphone plan they allow you to block data as then whats the point according to them of having a smartphone and only using it on wifi. I did get a vzw lg android for $5 for my son and it has no service he only uses it on wifi and can use other programs that are web based to text or use free voip like yahoo messenger video chat.
ive been using an i9020a on att for 6 months and they have not detected it or cared. It shows up as a generic dumbphone on my att account. i have data blocked on it to make sure i dont accidentally use data. i also switch between this and an inspire 4g (an official att phone) and they have not added data. Same goes with my brother who uses a hand me down att gs2 on att.
shahravi94 said:
ive been using an i9020a on att for 6 months and they have not detected it or cared. It shows up as a generic dumbphone on my att account. i have data blocked on it to make sure i dont accidentally use data. i also switch between this and an inspire 4g (an official att phone) and they have not added data. Same goes with my brother who uses a hand me down att gs2 on att.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please explain to me how did you manage to make them block data ? Didn't they argue that you have a smart phone and that you need to keep the data plan if you have a smart phone ? Thanks
bhaismachine said:
Can you please explain to me how did you manage to make them block data ? Didn't they argue that you have a smart phone and that you need to keep the data plan if you have a smart phone ? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Supposedly AT&T detects a Smartphone based on the IMEI number of the phone matched up to a database of IMEI numbers of phones that AT&T sold. The latter is a very important point as they did not sell the Nexus One phone, therefore, many argue on various forum posts that AT&T cannot recognize this non-AT&T sold phone as a Smartphone. The same would be true of any phone not sold by AT&T. However, I have yet to come across any posts of anyone that actually owns a non-AT&T sold smartphone who can confirm this and I've been searching far and wide for this confirmation. I'm getting ready to buy a non-AT&T branded unlocked smartphone to try this myself so perhaps I'll be able to confirm. It would be great if the Original Poster provided his experience with this. i.e. did AT&T detect this phone via the sweeps?
To address some other questions and comments in this forum post...keep in mind that AT&T required a data plan for all smartphones activated on its network after September 6, 2009. However, this policy is far from clear and there are many gray areas, this being one. For example, if I had a smart phone active on September 5 with no data plan, and I buy a used Nexus One on eBay and stick my SIM in it, do I need a data plan? I didn't purchase a new phone or "activate" anything on AT&Ts network so I would argue not.
I also not believe it matters if data is enabled on the phone or not. Try this...take the SIM out of your AT&T phone, stick it in another (different) phone, make a phone call, go to OLAM (i.e. OnLine Account Management), and look at the phone that AT&T thinks you have. Data enabled or not, if the phone was sold by AT&T, they will have identified the phone you just used.
Here is another gray area...data plans on a non-Smartphone lines were as low as $10/month. Data plans are enabled the on the line (i.e. the SIM) not the phone, so a SIM with a data plan can be moved from phone to phone (e.g. dumb phone to smart phone) and data will be active so long as the phone supports the active APN (Access Point Name). If I have a dumb phone line with active data and my phone breaks, what if I stick that SIM in a smartphone I have laying around so that I can make a phone call? What is my obligation to contact AT&T and notify them that I need smartphone data plan?
What follows is for reference only for those that may want a deeper understanding of AT&Ts data plans or desire to "experiment..."
AT&T uses two primary APNs: wap.cingular and isp.cinguar. AT&T is now using wap.cingular for dumb phone access and isp.cingular for smart phones access meaning, if your line has dumb phone data active, your phone needs to support the wap.cingualr APN. Most smarter phones allow the creation of custom APNs if it is not built-in.
The login an pw for the two APNs is as follows: wap.cingular is login= [email protected] and pw= cingular1. isp.cingular is login= [email protected] and pw= cingular1.
The ability to enable the various data plans and features on your account is dependent on what type of phone is assigned to your account based on the IMEI number assigned to that account. This is not the same as the automatic detection I mentioned above. The assignment is done by AT&T employees. I do not have exact or inside information, but I surmise that your line is associated with one of about 4 primary phone types: smart phone, iPhone, black berry, or dumb phone. This assignment dictates what data plans and other features are available to you either thru OLAM or via a CSR. For example, if your line is identified as a dumb phone, you will see the dumb phone data plans in OLAM. If you currently have a smart phone on your account, and switch to a dumb phone, you will only see the dumb phone data plans if AT&T switches the assignment to the dumb phone IMEI. This is only done by calling AT&T, not merely by making a phone call from the dumb phone and relying on the automatic detection.
[email protected] said:
for what it's worth, if you're worried about data usage charges on a line you do not have a data plan for you can call AT&T and ask them to block cellular data on that line. I've done that with my wife's flip phone since the kids keep fiddling with it and accidentally browsing the internet. They were happy to put the block and avoid the alla cart data charges for that line.
Mind you I do have a data plan on my Nexus S.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
damn you beat me to it.
I did this for my girlfreind a LONG time ago with my old iphone 2g when i gave it to her. we said she had little kids who play with her phone and could potentially hit some data use (she officially had a garbage pantech with data capabiltites but no plan).
I then would turn off data on the phone and wham she could use it as long as it was unlocked. i then gave her my 3g which i JB and unlocked for her but then just got a used 3gs from my sis who had ATT unlock it for her and then turned off data and she has been using it fine.
I think as long as data is blocked on their end they dont notice. It WILL show the correct phone if you log in her account and even if you change it it will still change back to whatever yoru using but they never tried to start charging her for data. she loves having the phone with WIFI and me tethering my nexus s to her without having to have a 30$ charge on her bill.
ps
she still uses her regular SIM in the phone and it works for calls/texts normally. she didnt need a different sim for the phone.
Surely you could just delete the APN settings so it couldn't connect on mobile data?
Kitch16 said:
Surely you could just delete the APN settings so it couldn't connect on mobile data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also just switch off cellular data.
---------- Post added at 09:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:08 AM ----------
WinterAce said:
I bought my unlocked Nexus S (i9020) back when it released and have been using it in India. Now I've moved to the States and bought myself an AT&T plan.
I've read that if I insert a SIM into a smartphone, AT&T automatically detects the IMEI as a smartphone and starts charging a data plan. But since my phone was bought unlocked and it isn't an AT&T branded one either, can AT&T start charging me? Also, if they do start charging me, will they charge $20 on the 300MB plan or any other plan?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would be great if the Original Poster provided his experience with this after using the phone on the AT&T network for a month or two. i.e. did AT&T detect the Nexus one phone via the sweeps and try to impose a data plan?

Not paying for data plan on AT&T?

I just re-purchased a Inspire again, after 1 year I needed a 2nd phone and I kind of missed my inspire. But I don't want to pay for the data plan. AT&T. Is there anyway to hide my IMEI from AT&T so I don't get slapped with a data plan?
Joe momma said:
I just re-purchased a Inspire again, after 1 year I needed a 2nd phone and I kind of missed my inspire. But I don't want to pay for the data plan. AT&T. Is there anyway to hide my IMEI from AT&T so I don't get slapped with a data plan?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't turn on mobile data. You're good to go.
Sent from my LT28i using Tapatalk 2
It didn't work. I had mobile data off from day one, and hours later I got a text saying they added a data plan. It seems like they know my phone's IMEI right when I put my sim card in. Gah.
Joe momma said:
It didn't work. I had mobile data off from day one, and hours later I got a text saying they added a data plan. It seems like they know my phone's IMEI right when I put my sim card in. Gah.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You also need to remove ICQ (it's a build in software that communicate with att). Your best bet is root the phone install custom romvand keep your data off.
After all that - To fix your account, gave them an non-smart phone IMEI and insist you don't need data plan.
Good luck.
Sent from my LT28i using Tapatalk 2
There is no way to hide your IMEI from the network. The only way not to pay is to have an IMEI that is not on their network like an unlocked T-mobile phone or something of that nature.
I purchased a Galaxy for my son from CL and his account never changed from the non data plan his is listed as.., Just call At &t
as long as your current contact does not require data plan you should be good to go.
F2504x4 said:
I purchased a Galaxy for my son from CL and his account never changed from the non data plan his is listed as.., Just call At &t
as long as your current contact does not require data plan you should be good to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't forget if the device is a none of Att devices or beeing rooted. ATT will make you add data plan if it is a smartphone regardless of your contract.
The ICQ is the bug on all ATT devices that reported to ATT you need a data plan. Read other thread how to take it off or easiest is use the tool to root your device. Install a custom rom just to make sure you don't have the ICQ installed.
Sent from my LT28i using Tapatalk 2
Guys ICQ is not gonna matter if it is removed or not. Each carrier can and for along time has been able to scan their network and see the IMEI numbers that are being used on it. The only way out is to have an IMEI that is not linked to an AT&T smartphone. This has been the case for many years now.
accts said:
ATT will make you add data plan if it is a smartphone regardless of your contract.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong!! if you are not under contract for having a data plan , then AT& T will not care what phone you use...
If you are under a Data plan via a contract , till that contract expires, you will have pay for Data services regardless of what phone you have...
You can also get At&T services with out a contract with no data plan , and not be charged for using a data capable phone.
BTW it is labeled as Data OPT- out, and as you can see, my old phone is shown (Tilt II) on the account which is what is currently being used since he busted the screen on his Galaxy S.
WM is a lot different than android. Is that your main line or secondary line?
ai6908 said:
WM is a lot different than android. Is that your main line or secondary line?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you see the Galaxy S that was listed ? it has been swapped back and forth between both phones..
OK there was a time when you could block out data even if you have a smartphone and were not on contract. This is no longer the case. About a year ago ATT changed the policy on smart phones. Now you are forced into a data plan if a. You have a contract that is not grandfathered in. B. If you have a smartphone that att has in its records. When WM was around you had the option to opt out of a data plan. Now it is no longer an option unless you are not on contract or you have a phone that shows up as unknown in the data base when ATT does its IMEI sweeps.
Sent from the BatCave
Okay i did more research on this, and things have changed , ( yes i concede Almight Zen) i was wrong about that, but I do still a have a no data lock on my sons phone, and regardless of the phone he uses , i still have not had a data plan added even though they are At&T branded phones. But there still are ways around this issue.
Some very good info in this thread...
http://androidforums.com/t/455064-t-wifi-only-no-dataplan.html
AN ANDROID SMARTPHONE WITHOUT A DATA PLAN IS POSSIBLE! In fact im doing it right now! I am on At&t using a Samsung Galaxy ACE. Awesome phone, and att does not recognize its IMEI so its all good! I have been data free for almost 2 months (recently bought the phone from amazon). Weather it will work with any carrier that uses GSM im not sure, although it does work flawlessly on ATT. So it is a perfect option for anyone looking for an awesome android smartphone with full features (wifi, bluetooth, gps, full android market, full hacking capability's) with no data plan. Also, if in the future when you want a data plan, all you need to do is enable att's non smartphone $10 data plan on your line and now you have unlimited data for only $10 a month, i have not tried this yet but plan too. I am also pretty sure any GSM phone with a model number not starting with an "i" for example the Samsung galaxy s2 which is "i9100" will be required to have a data plan by att because they recognize its IMEI number, where as the Galaxy Ace starts with an "s" (s5830) it works. Hope this helps, and remember anything is possible with A LOT of Google searching!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's true that Carrier has the ability to scan for IMEI, however if you don't have mobile data on. IT will not raise a red flag for data plan. This has happened for one of my line in my account - Had my mobile data off and still get a message from ATT that automated add data plan. After research I known what caused it because ICQ required data to communicate with ATT, that's why I got hit with data plan. After root, give ATT an non-smartphone IMEI. I was good to go. Even when i login to my account online I do see my device is Inspire 4G - however the main registration IMEI is a non-smartphone. Weird but it worked.
Also you can just buy the prepaid minutes that reup off your credit card it comes out to be the same as most monthly bills if not cheaper for some and at&t don't care at all what phone you use on those
If you aren't sure then do it twice!

[Q] Free wifi hotspot gone

Since the latest Tmobile ota update my wifi hot spot feature gives me a Tmobile message on my linked device saying i need to pay for this service. Previously, i got around this by creating a new APN of epc.tmobile.com, this no longer works. Suggestions?
secular said:
Since the latest Tmobile ota update my wifi hot spot feature gives me a Tmobile message on my linked device saying i need to pay for this service. Previously, i got around this by creating a new APN of epc.tmobile.com, this no longer works. Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try open garden, the one that looks like a tree, you'll need it on both devices and it creates a mesh network, some caviets are apps tha use data wont work, so you have to do everything through your web browser. This solution also solves the screen off issue while tethering.
As of right now this has been removed or blocked in the newest update.
There is nothing yet been found to allow you to set your own APN again.
You can use wifi tethering with FoxFi as a workaround from foxfi.com/bin but for data to work over wifi tethering you will need to keep the screen on.
That is about the only workaround.
TheArtiszan said:
As of right now this has been removed or blocked in the newest update.
There is nothing yet been found to allow you to set your own APN again.
You can use wifi tethering with FoxFi as a workaround from foxfi.com/bin but for data to work over wifi tethering you will need to keep the screen on.
That is about the only workaround.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or use open garden and it makes a mesh network, data still flows with screen off, you'll need open garden on both devices. The only issue is apps that use data like the play store will say your not connected, but anything you want to do with the browser you can.
I know not perfect but thats the closest we have right now, besides keeping the screen on.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1975894
This might be a workaround worth trying..
secular said:
Since the latest Tmobile ota update my wifi hot spot feature gives me a Tmobile message on my linked device saying i need to pay for this service. Previously, i got around this by creating a new APN of epc.tmobile.com, this no longer works. Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you use google chrome or firefox look up user-agent spoofer.
diabolusmiles said:
if you use google chrome or firefox look up user-agent spoofer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changing the UA(user-agent) is just one of the few obstacles to overcome. The main problem is the tmo OTA update now prevents/locks us from entering the APN needed to bypass/trick the t-mobile tethering check.
secular said:
Since the latest Tmobile ota update my wifi hot spot feature gives me a Tmobile message on my linked device saying i need to pay for this service. Previously, i got around this by creating a new APN of epc.tmobile.com, this no longer works. Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Geez you guys...if you want the service PAY FOR IT! Why should you get it free while others pay?
Behold_this said:
Geez you guys...if you want the service PAY FOR IT! Why should you get it free while others pay?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We already do pay for it with our monthly contracts, we are allowed x amount of data per month, we go over it and the speed of data isn't even worth tethering. Do they give us money back on the data we don't use? No they don't, so why can't we use the data we pay for any way we want, it's not like data for a tablet costs more or anything like that, it's just greed on the providers end plain and simple.
I just ended up talking to an agent about my bill and I brought up the fact that I couldn't tether anymore, so they put that back on free of charge. I mean hell I'm already paying a decent amount monthly and I have the 5 gig package (which used to be advertised with transforming your device to a hotspot), there is no reason to ask for more other than greed?
Aydthird said:
I just ended up talking to an agent about my bill and I brought up the fact that I couldn't tether anymore, so they put that back on free of charge. I mean hell I'm already paying a decent amount monthly and I have the 5 gig package (which used to be advertised with transforming your device to a hotspot), there is no reason to ask for more other than greed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also have a 5 gig plan and the hotspot is supposed to be free, but my 5 gig plan is old and the only way for me to get the hotspot is for me to give up unlimited messaging, which I then would have to pay $15 a month for, umm, yeah, they got me coming and going. BLAH
I work for tmo, and we do give it for free with the 5 & 10gb plans.
Second, I've noticed that it works with Firefox, but no other browser when tethering to a PC/Mac. I haven't edited my APN.
Sent from my HTC One S using xda premium
I really wish it was free, especially with my unlimited 4G plan.
Haven't found anywhere in the city I don't have perfect coverage and it would be sweet to be able to use my tablet/laptop...
bruuutal said:
I really wish it was free, especially with my unlimited 4G plan.
Haven't found anywhere in the city I don't have perfect coverage and it would be sweet to be able to use my tablet/laptop...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're on unlimited, it's unreasonable to ask for wifi tethering. That's like going to a "all you can eat" restaurant, and then bringing a truck to load with food.
Hunt3r.j2 said:
If you're on unlimited, it's unreasonable to ask for wifi tethering. That's like going to a "all you can eat" restaurant, and then bringing a truck to load with food.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, exactly. That's why there's home internet providers. And if you really just want to use your phone, then just get a 10gb plan that has the free hotspot. You're paying for the investment in network upgrades, your paying the engineers salary to produce a network that's very good.
And of course, the CEO's bonus checks lol
Sent from my HTC One S using xda premium
Custom ROMs?
Do custom ROMs get rid of this pesky problem of no Wifi Hotspot?
poptartz said:
Do custom ROMs get rid of this pesky problem of no Wifi Hotspot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using other roms i can tether temporarally. Well, i get a push message to stop asap or risk losing access. (Im on that unlimited plan.) so i stop. It does work though tethering to my nexus 7, im assuming because it shows it being a mobile device vs. desktop.
The default rom pushes all tethering through pcweb.tmobile.com which depending on your rate plan, determines if you get tether access. custom roms shouldn't have this setup.
I also have a Nexus 7 and the unlimited plan. I'm rooted on the S1 (no ROMs loaded yet) and am now trying to figure out where to go from here.
poptartz said:
I also have a Nexus 7 and the unlimited plan. I'm rooted on the S1 (no ROMs loaded yet) and am now trying to figure out where to go from here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try a new APN. Menu->Settings->More->Mobile Networks->APN or Access Point Names->Menu->New APN
Name it whatever you want and set the APN to epc.tmobile.com. this should bypass tmobile's tethering block.
Also, I've noticed that even if rooted, a desktop using ie, safari or chrome still gets blocked, but Firefox does not.
Sent from a baked One S
If I've helped hit the thanks button

Categories

Resources