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Nexus One AT&T Data Plan Question

Currently, people with a G1/Dream, Magic, Hero etc. on AT&T are able to get the $10 Family Data or $15 Unlimited Data option on their phone, because AT&T does not recognize it as a smartphone since they do not sell it (I know this is true because we have one in the house).
Can anyone tell me how AT&T recognizes the Nexus One? Does it show up as a smarphone on your online account, forcing you to use the $30 PDA Data plan? Or does it show up as "unidentified," meaning you are free to choose one of the cheaper plans?

Before I switched to T-Mobile it showed up as unidentified in the account on the web page. They must got have gotten the maker IMEI codes to the phones to figure out who's using a N1 on their network. I had the option to change it back, but I don't know if it would have reverted it or not.

chambo622 said:
Currently, people with a G1/Dream, Magic, Hero etc. on AT&T are able to get the $10 Family Data or $15 Unlimited Data option on their phone, because AT&T does not recognize it as a smartphone since they do not sell it (I know this is true because we have one in the house).
Can anyone tell me how AT&T recognizes the Nexus One? Does it show up as a smarphone on your online account, forcing you to use the $30 PDA Data plan? Or does it show up as "unidentified," meaning you are free to choose one of the cheaper plans?
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clarification:
the tmo g1 will show 'unknown' or whatever, and you'll be stuck with edge. afaik the tmo nexus will be the same way.
now, the ATT nexus, i'll bet they hit you with the "OMGZ YOU HAZ SMARTZPHONE ON OUR NETWORKZ !!! PAY ME PWEEZ !" rediculousness. $30 sounds about right for them.
please, do update the thread if you find concrete. i'm only going on the bs they spouted about a 5 year old palm treo. yes, a treo supposedly burned $30 worth of data. please.

Good point, although if they don't identify one version of the Nexus, I don't see why they would the other. Hopefully someone who has the new one right now on AT&T can answer.
And while the G1 does get restricted to EDGE, if it was a Rogers Dream, it would get 3G and as far as I know AT&T would still see it as "unidentified."

chambo622 said:
Good point, although if they don't identify one version of the Nexus, I don't see why they would the other. Hopefully someone who has the new one right now on AT&T can answer.
And while the G1 does get restricted to EDGE, if it was a Rogers Dream, it would get 3G and as far as I know AT&T would still see it as "unidentified."
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That's correct. I had a Rogers HTC Magic before getting the N1 and I was on AT&T, the device was not identified but I still got 3G @ the $15 price point for data. It wasn't until I put in my SIM in the N1 to check it for defects that I got the texts and emails saying my phone was on the wrong data plan.

chambo622 said:
Good point, although if they don't identify one version of the Nexus, I don't see why they would the other. Hopefully someone who has the new one right now on AT&T can answer.
And while the G1 does get restricted to EDGE, if it was a Rogers Dream, it would get 3G and as far as I know AT&T would still see it as "unidentified."
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the IMEI includes data that identifies the phone make/model and at&t must have access to that info, lol. pop in that N1 SIM and it's just a matter of time before you're conveniently upgraded to the Smartphone data plan. there are a couple of threads on the N1 forum that provide more detail about the data plan changes.

Well that should answer my question then...if the Rogers Magic was unidentified but the Nexus One triggered it right away, then AT&T is obviously recognizing it as a smarphone and triggering the Smartphone data plan.

ohgood said:
clarification:
the tmo g1 will show 'unknown' or whatever, and you'll be stuck with edge. afaik the tmo nexus will be the same way.
now, the ATT nexus, i'll bet they hit you with the "OMGZ YOU HAZ SMARTZPHONE ON OUR NETWORKZ !!! PAY ME PWEEZ !" rediculousness. $30 sounds about right for them.
please, do update the thread if you find concrete. i'm only going on the bs they spouted about a 5 year old palm treo. yes, a treo supposedly burned $30 worth of data. please.
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My experience was that AT&T knew when even the T-Mobile Nexus One was being used as my account triggered the $30 data with it as well. Currently seeking a kind AT&T rep who can add a smartphone exclusion to my account on both lines for the AT&T Nexus One's I picked up yesterday.

Logged into my ATT account and all I see for my Nexus One that operates on the ATT fequency is a gray outline of a flip phone.
So in my case it has not been recognized as Google N1.

I got my T-mobile n1 for use on AT&T on 2-18. 8 hours into ownership I got the text saying I need to upgrade my data plan, which at that point had been unlimited text/[email protected]$30 for use with my Nokia N85. That threw me into a rage, as I'd be GD'd if I was going to pay 30+ a month for edge.
On 2-22 I switched to T-Mobile.
18 hours later, came back to AT&T. Grass isn't greener on the other side.
From 2-23 until 3-18, no nasty text from AFee&Fee asking to upgrade. 3-18 and ongoing, no upgrade text sent for the 850mhz N1 (I hate calling it the "AT&T Nexus One").
I'm back on the $30 unlimted text and data plan, and i've been with it steady for one month now. YMMV, as may mine, good luck

I ordered the At&t N1 the day it was released and have been using it ever since I got it the next day. So far they haven't changed my data plan.

possibly its region based
ive had tmo band n1 and att band n1, tmo band one for about 3 weeks and now att band n1 for a week or two, no texts to update plan, yet...ive been streaming music on last fm all day long in high quality so we'll see

The grass is totally greener on the T-Mobile side in Seattle. That's all I can say.

maxawesome said:
The grass is totally greener on the T-Mobile side in Seattle. That's all I can say.
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Probably. I only had 3g in a few parts of metro Tulsa, Edge everywhere else. My mindset was if i'm gonna be stuck with edge, I might as well keep my 6k rollover minutes and m2m, since everyone I know is on AT&T. I did run a speed test after getting the 8fiddy, and here's what I got:

Please stop asking about AT&T forcing you into data plan or not. Here's why:
1. Their definition of smartphones are smartphones that they sell. If you buy unlocked phone, that shoild be fine.
2. If you've been forced to upgrade, most likely, you've used A LOT of data. When I say A LOT, I mean like a few GB worth. They will most likely flag yout account.
If you keep asking, either BGR or Engadget will write an article about this and inquire AT&T. And they will have to respond. What if DeLaga just goes: Gee, maybe we should force N1 user to upgrade, let's go hunt them all.
Just FYI, I have the AT&T N1 on AT&T family data plan for 10 and it's fine. So hush hush and keep this btw ourselves.

Question for you guys who got texts from AT&T. Did you ever tlel them you were switching to an N1? Many threads I read people going from $30 => $15 and saying they had an N1. Sometimes the rep would let them and then a few days later they get a nasty text... What should I expect with the ATT N1?

vnphantom said:
Please stop asking about AT&T forcing you into data plan or not. Here's why:
1. Their definition of smartphones are smartphones that they sell. If you buy unlocked phone, that shoild be fine.
2. If you've been forced to upgrade, most likely, you've used A LOT of data. When I say A LOT, I mean like a few GB worth. They will most likely flag yout account.
If you keep asking, either BGR or Engadget will write an article about this and inquire AT&T. And they will have to respond. What if DeLaga just goes: Gee, maybe we should force N1 user to upgrade, let's go hunt them all.
Just FYI, I have the AT&T N1 on AT&T family data plan for 10 and it's fine. So hush hush and keep this btw ourselves.
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Let me clear up some of the misconceptions you seem to have from what I've experienced thus far.
1. Even with an unlocked Nexus One, AT&T can still change your plan as this is exactly what they did to me. I bought an unlocked AWS Nexus One and less than a month after popping my SIM into it, I got the message and my data plan was changed, even though I was only using EDGE.
2. AT&T knows which phone you're using. It may not seem as such with your online account showing an unknown device, but the device still registers on their network and there are ways for them to see which device it is. The CSR's and Customer "Solutions" rep didn't know what phone I was using when I called to complain about the data plan change, but the woman from AT&T's corporate response team had no problem finding out that I was using a Nexus One when she was responding to my BBB complaint.
3. The amount of data may play into all this, but I will tell you that I used over 4gb of data with my i8910 months before I had the Nexus One and didn't hear a word from AT&T.
4. You are most likely to receive the text message to change your data plan on the day your billing cycle ends, so if you haven't gotten the text yet, wait til your next bill comes before you start celebrating.
I hope that helps.

in response to both your statements i believe its both. because all the friends i know working at ATT swear up and down that its incredibly rare to get flagged. Might be almost random if anything. Doesnt meant it wont happen for either reason.

tribalmunky said:
That's correct. I had a Rogers HTC Magic before getting the N1 and I was on AT&T, the device was not identified but I still got 3G @ the $15 price point for data. It wasn't until I put in my SIM in the N1 to check it for defects that I got the texts and emails saying my phone was on the wrong data plan.
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how long between putting in the SIM and getting the "convenience" texts?
I've had my N1 since the day after it was released and haven't gotten anything yet. In fact, all the phones in my sig have been on this account in the past year at some point - including the Fuze which I've had on there since the day it came out. Still on the MediaMax200.
Notes: My billing cycle starts on the 27th and I rarely go over 100MB a month.

dmo580 said:
Question for you guys who got texts from AT&T. Did you ever tlel them you were switching to an N1? Many threads I read people going from $30 => $15 and saying they had an N1. Sometimes the rep would let them and then a few days later they get a nasty text... What should I expect with the ATT N1?
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I didnt tell them. I went from a phone they didn't sell/support (nokia n85 unlocked) to a phone they don't sell/support (N1). Didn't tell anyone, just swapped my sim out. 8 hours into ownership, at 3AM no less, the nastygram showed up via text and Gmail. Granted, the N85 is a 3g phone, but I doubt my data use was over a gig last month. I'm always under 2 gigs even on my heavy flow months. I doubt seriously that it had anything to do with data consumption.
All of their smartphones being sold must now be on an unlimited data plan, i know that much, but they didn't sell me my N1, and i'm still in contract for my iphone 3g.. breaking their terms of the contract by forcing me into an unnecessary data plan upgrade can emancipate me from it. I know they force the upgrade to try to recoup some of their subsidy for the other phones, but that doesnt apply here!
And to the poster telling us to stop asking about it-its happening to people, it's happening irregularly and without reason, and that is cause for discussion. BGR and the other tech sites can ask AT&T all they want, but a material change to the service, such as cramming (i miss that term) an unwanted/unwarranted plan upgrade, is still a contract violation and is cause for emancipation. Not that I'd jump ship now, because I just got the 850mhz N1, but it's certainly a bargaining chip to get your plan switched back relatively hassle free.

Nexus One WITHOUT data plan on Tmobile?

Hi to all the Tmobile users out there. Anyone have the nexus one on Tmobile network WITHOUT data plan? As far as I know all you have to do is buy the unlock nexus one and pop in a sim card right? (does Tmobile have the same system as ATT that automatically force you into a data plan?)

NexusX said:
Hi to all the Tmobile users out there. Anyone have the nexus one on Tmobile network WITHOUT data plan? As far as I know all you have to do is buy the unlock nexus one and pop in a sim card right? (does Tmobile have the same system as ATT that automatically force you into a data plan?)
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AFAIK, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but you can pop a SIM-card with an "data-less" associated T-Mobile account and the phone will work. Data won't, and I don't believe T-Mobile will force you to buy a data plan.
Cheers,
Kermee

Never mind.. Not thinking correctly.

If you buy the phone unlocked, there's nothing to activate. You just pop in your sim and go.
I bought the unlocked Att nexus, and i'm using my old data plan without a problem (so far). I haven't been contacted or forced into a more expensive data plan or anything like that, though I guess your experience may vary.

crackness said:
If you buy the phone unlocked, there's nothing to activate. You just pop in your sim and go.
I bought the unlocked Att nexus, and i'm using my old data plan without a problem (so far). I haven't been contacted or forced into a more expensive data plan or anything like that, though I guess your experience may vary.
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I forgot on the n1 that you can skip the google account setup process.. Lol..

I pop my sim card the first time and try syncing it on a SIM WITHOUT data plan, it connected to 3G and edge to retrieve email and stuffs then I disconnected the Edge and 3G right after. They didn't charge me for the amount of data usage because it was under 600KB. Hope this help

Thank you guys, yeah I wanted ATT, but after sporadic report that they force some Nexus users to have data plan, I now have to consider Tmobile, hopefully they don't suck too much in DC area

NexusX said:
Thank you guys, yeah I wanted ATT, but after sporadic report that they force some Nexus users to have data plan, I now have to consider Tmobile, hopefully they don't suck too much in DC area
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Thats ridiculous, how does that even make sense? There is NO way a company can force you into a new data plan because you bought a phone on your own terms.
That is 100% bull ****, it's not true.

izmar said:
Thats ridiculous, how does that even make sense? There is NO way a company can force you into a new data plan because you bought a phone on your own terms.
That is 100% bull ****, it's not true.
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You may feel it's not right, but they do it. Many people trying to use t-mobile nexus ones on at&t got hit with the automatic data plan addition. It looks like most people with at&t ones are getting away without it so far, oddly enough, but that may change at some point in the future.

izmar said:
Thats ridiculous, how does that even make sense? There is NO way a company can force you into a new data plan because you bought a phone on your own terms.
That is 100% bull ****, it's not true.
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It's 100% true and it's stated in the contract agreement.

maxh said:
You may feel it's not right, but they do it. Many people trying to use t-mobile nexus ones on at&t got hit with the automatic data plan addition. It looks like most people with at&t ones are getting away without it so far, oddly enough, but that may change at some point in the future.
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It will change when Google releases the IMEI's for those handsets.

T-Mobile doesn't force a data plan on a customer supplied handset. Only when you buy it under a new 2 year agreement.. that's what AT&T, Sprint and Verizon does.

Yup. They'll even send you a text to warn you!

Not for everybody but since I live in CA there's no way I would ever change from T-Mo. Great coverage with good options on pricing.
Option A) T-Mo --- $40/mo data only plan I can make VOIP calls with
Option B) Verizon/ATT's --- $70/mo ripoff with cell phone minutes I dont even use?
I'd much rather take option a and save $720 a month over a 24 month period thank you very much.
Verizon and ATT might be the only option for some people coverage wise but that doesnt change the fact that they are terrible companies that force their customers to buy extra plan packages they dont want just so they can steal an extra $30 a month from people instead of giving them options on what they want and dont want.
Give me choices and I'm a happy customer.

ap3604 said:
Not for everybody but since I live in CA there's no way I would ever change from T-Mo. Great coverage with good options on pricing.
Option A) T-Mo --- $40/mo data only plan I can make VOIP calls with
Option B) Verizon/ATT's --- $70/mo ripoff with cell phone minutes I dont even use?
I'd much rather take option a and save $720 a month over a 24 month period thank you very much.
Verizon and ATT might be the only option for some people coverage wise but that doesnt change the fact that they are terrible companies that force their customers to buy extra plan packages they dont want just so they can steal an extra $30 a month from people instead of giving them options on what they want and dont want.
Give me choices and I'm a happy customer.
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With AT&T I think you can get the data plan only (no minutes) for $5 extra on top of the data plan price. So $35/mo for unlimited data, no voice service. That's what I've been told, but you may wanna check for yourself.

maxh said:
With AT&T I think you can get the data plan only (no minutes) for $5 extra on top of the data plan price. So $35/mo for unlimited data, no voice service. That's what I've been told, but you may wanna check for yourself.
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Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?! interesting...
I'm looking online but does anyone have this that can confirm?

$10/month unlimited data

Ive had a $10/month unlimited data plan for a long time (3-4 years). If I buy a phone without contract from amazon will they catch on and change me to the new data plans ($15/200mb, $25/2gb)? If its very likely i might as well buy it from them at a discounted price.

AFAIK, AT&T knows the IMEI numbers of every smartphone that is designed to run on AT&T.

cmstlist said:
AFAIK, AT&T knows the IMEI numbers of every smartphone that is designed to run on AT&T.
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I have an ATT Tilt right now

It's very possible that your Tilt predates AT&T's smartphone data plan requirements. Usually when a carrier instates a new requirement it is only enforced after you upgrade or add a new line. Technically, by buying the Atrix outright you aren't "upgrading" your phone (i.e. extending your contract in exchange for a device subsidy). This could (key word) mean that AT&T won't change your data plan, but really only AT&T could answer this question with certainty.

Room7 said:
I have an ATT Tilt right now
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That is not how the only way AT&T is bumping people to the smartphone data plans.
I have empirically verified my hypothesis.
Even if I use a feature phone on 3G and download more than a certain amount of data, AT&T assumes it's a smartphone and bumps up the plan to $25.
On the other hand, I have kept my Nexus One without sync enabled and managed 7-8 days on the $10 unlimited data plan before being bumped up.

I suspect ATT doesn't know what phone your actually using, and won't try to find out if you buy something off contract -- then again since the Atrix is a '4G' phone, its possible the dumbphone data plan might not work for it or trigger a flag in their system. My Dad upgraded his phone once through a Walmart, and it was a year or more before our account showed the new phone model, though that was a feature phone.
If you ask ATT, they definitely will force you to change data plans. If you don't, my guess is that you'll stay in limbo a while longer at the mercy of ATT's sporadic policy enforcement/changes.
As for the data plan requirements, I also have the ATT Tilt (original), and it did require the $30/mo unlimited plan when I purchased it on contract. At the time though, the data plan was only required for a few months until your rebate cleared, and not as part of the contract.

You will eventually get caught

darkkterror said:
It's very possible that your Tilt predates AT&T's smartphone data plan requirements. Usually when a carrier instates a new requirement it is only enforced after you upgrade or add a new line. Technically, by buying the Atrix outright you aren't "upgrading" your phone (i.e. extending your contract in exchange for a device subsidy). This could (key word) mean that AT&T won't change your data plan, but really only AT&T could answer this question with certainty.
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They will.
I went from using a Motorola Razr to an 8525 back in the day and they immediately started billing me for smartphone data. I bought the phone outright with no contract from a third party. They check IMEI numbers fairly often.

Since switching to ATT after a buy out of the company I was with, I've had the $30/month unlimited data/texting. For the last year plus I have been using my HTC magic I got from rogers. I've used on average about 2.5GB a month, and part of that as a tether for my netbook. I have never gotten any calls or had my bill change.

because you are using a magic from rogers and they will not get you
use the atrix and they will "upgrade" you within 48 hrs
ask me how i know

How dou you know?
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

I have been told by at&t reps as well as seen it on my account that any time you power on your phone it sends the imei information to the service for verification, and in doing that gets flagged as the class of phone (smartphone, messaging phone etc.)
I got around this issue with my galaxy 3 as it was not a phone they offered and as such had no record of the type of service it fell under in the system, but when I renewed the contract had to upgrade the plan to get the discount on the atrix.

Yes, they'll get you. I had the $10 media unlimited for a few years, I used have unlocked Nokias which had 3G (as well as 3.5G) and got by. Then, this past summer, within minutes of turning on a phone sold by AT&T, I got a text telling me I was switched data plans. So if they sell it, you'll get busted, if not, you won't

What about...let's say....the Atrix from Bell Mobility???? If we buy and unlock it from Canada.......anyone think At&t will have those IMEI numbers????
I plan on trying this but it would be worthless if they have all the Atrix IMEI numbers

Sounds like a crap shoot to me. I have a family plan with 4 smart phones, 3 Fuzes and a tilt 2 (soon to be atrix ).
Two of the fuze lines have no data plans on them even though they tried to add data to one (a couple phone calls cleared that up). The third Fuze line has been running on a $10 feature phone unlimited plan for over a year and a half. The funny thing is when I added data to that line I told them it was a smart phone and they told me that their system still listed a razr on the line and the only option was the $10 plan. I wasn't going to argue. :-D
The way I see it. If you bought the atrix outright you would have to get away with the cheaper data plan for around 2 years (if not more) to make up for the added cost of the device.

cheerup38 said:
What about...let's say....the Atrix from Bell Mobility???? If we buy and unlock it from Canada.......anyone think At&t will have those IMEI numbers????
I plan on trying this but it would be worthless if they have all the Atrix IMEI numbers
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AT&T doesn't need all the specific IMEI numbers to know which phone you are using. They only need to know the identifying string of the IMEI which are the first few numbers. These numbers indicate manufacturer, model, production date, etc. You will get caught even if you bought it from another country as long as AT&T carries the same model. It's just like how iPhones bought from other countries automatically get the data plan added when you put in the AT&T SIM. I believe the only device that AT&T does not sell, but still gets the added data plan is the NexusOne, which is what happened to me.

Remind me nevet to get AT&T even as prepaid. They sound like damned nazi's really. Changing your plan on you even if you dont buy a phone through them doesnt exactly sound legal.
If a phonecompany did that here it would cause an outroar like no other.

cheerup38 said:
What about...let's say....the Atrix from Bell Mobility???? If we buy and unlock it from Canada.......anyone think At&t will have those IMEI numbers????
I plan on trying this but it would be worthless if they have all the Atrix IMEI numbers
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If u REALLY want to take ur chance, go for it.

[Q] AT&T $50 Prepaid Unlimited - Smartphone Data Working Included??

Ok, so I found a bit of information about this data plan working with the Samsung Galaxy S II reaching HSPA+ speeds, however I would like to know if it is possible to get the data from this plan working on any other SMART PHONES.
A few things I am interested in is...
1. Has anyone got the data working on any other smartphone? What kind?
2. Does changing the APN settings work?
3. Do you have to initially register a basic phone?
4. Is it possible to modify the IMEI of a smart phone to represent a basic phone so that the data may work.
5. Does anyone have any good ideas to get this working?
If so we can all have Unlimited Talk, Text, and Web on a smart phone for $50.00 plus normal sales tax.
If anyone has or is capable of getting this working on any (or all) smart phones, then it would be mutually beneficial to everyone

I have the plan running on my Galaxy S II, it was kind of tough to get going, and until I turned on airplan mode and then turned it off again, was I able to connect to 3g and H+ instead of just edge. The AT&T store employees also had a hell of a time, getting it to work at first. I did pop the SIM into an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S, and it worked after I went too settings, wireless networks, and then selected GSM only. The only APN available is Cingular 410, which is the wap.cingular. I am getting full 4g service on both devices, so I'm happy.
Note the AT&T stores dont always have the $50 pre-paid sim card in the store because I believe you can only do this on "International phones" according to the guy who helped me (whatever that means, I'm sure they are wrong.) I did explain how the Galaxy S II was unlocked and that I had bought it in Europe, but they still didn't have the actual $50 dollar sim card, so instead they gave me a regular 4g sim card ($25 charge) and then used two $25 pre-paid data plan cards (actual cards like iTune gift cards.) As I said above, they had some issues getting the $50 dollar plan to work, but it eventually did using this method. If anyone is in NJ the store I used was in the Paramus Mall.
Hope this was decent first post.

$50 prepaid simcards lol I would never pay that much for a prepaid sim card ever. I bought both my phones: previous Rokr E6 and the current X1i and simcards from myworldphone.com. For the E6 my $15 T-mobile simcard cost me about $15 with credit and my [email protected] prepaid one cost me $8.50 non active. Now for the non active simcard I had active it and then put money on it(depending on the plan I wanted) but it beats paying $50 for simcard when you can buy one for $8.50 and then switch to the $50 unlimited plan. Now looking at the rate plan options it says: " 1Monthly Unlimited Talk, Text & Web plan requires an eligible device. Smartphone users must purchase a data package to use Data on this plan. Pay per use data is not available on Smartphones." I'm not sure what exactly eligible device really means but when I first bought my phone I had the option to switch to the unlimited plan, something funny I noticed was it says smartphone cannot use pay per use data, well it's available to me . I only use wifi for my internet because I use my laptop for browsing the internet and really only use the internet on my phone for updating Touch Weather but if I need to I can use the pay per use data which I rarely only do for MMS. I don't know if it's the type of prepaid simcard(National prepaid simcard) I'm using that allows me to get through this loop hole or not but if it is I'm not complaining . Just my .2cents

JKDEM85 said:
I have the plan running on my Galaxy S II, it was kind of tough to get going, and until I turned on airplan mode and then turned it off again, was I able to connect to 3g and H+ instead of just edge. The AT&T store employees also had a hell of a time, getting it to work at first. I did pop the SIM into an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S, and it worked after I went too settings, wireless networks, and then selected GSM only. The only APN available is Cingular 410, which is the wap.cingular. I am getting full 4g service on both devices, so I'm happy.
Note the AT&T stores dont always have the $50 pre-paid sim card in the store because I believe you can only do this on "International phones" according to the guy who helped me (whatever that means, I'm sure they are wrong.) I did explain how the Galaxy S II was unlocked and that I had bought it in Europe, but they still didn't have the actual $50 dollar sim card, so instead they gave me a regular 4g sim card ($25 charge) and then used two $25 pre-paid data plan cards (actual cards like iTune gift cards.) As I said above, they had some issues getting the $50 dollar plan to work, but it eventually did using this method. If anyone is in NJ the store I used was in the Paramus Mall.
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ok a few things. First to answer OP's question is yes, it is possible with any unlocked phone. problem is that AT&T has certain IMEI numbers that are recognized as smart phone IMEI's. Like my friend had an HD2 that he brought to AT&T and they recognized it and immediately changed his data plan to a smartphone data plan. Although there are other people with smartphones who have the AT&T system tricked because the system doesnt know what their IMEI number is for.
So yes, it is possible. And yes, as for the NON-Smartphone $50 unlimited talk, txt, and data plan, yes it does exist. AT&T just started it recently and no its not for just international. Its directed towards NON-Smartphones. But again, if they cant recognize your smartphone IMEI, then they wont know.
As for the $50 sim card, no there's no such thing as a $50 sim card and no, its not "just for international phones" haha. Sim cards are $5.95 and if a store tells you anything higher, then call AT&T sales. Because they are ALWAYS $5.95 over the phone.
BOOM! glad to help haha

caffeinated chris said:
ok a few things. First to answer OP's question is yes, it is possible with any unlocked phone. problem is that AT&T has certain IMEI numbers that are recognized as smart phone IMEI's. Like my friend had an HD2 that he brought to AT&T and they recognized it and immediately changed his data plan to a smartphone data plan. Although there are other people with smartphones who have the AT&T system tricked because the system doesnt know what their IMEI number is for.
So yes, it is possible. And yes, as for the NON-Smartphone $50 unlimited talk, txt, and data plan, yes it does exist. AT&T just started it recently and no its not for just international. Its directed towards NON-Smartphones. But again, if they cant recognize your smartphone IMEI, then they wont know.
As for the $50 sim card, no there's no such thing as a $50 sim card and no, its not "just for international phones" haha. Sim cards are $5.95 and if a store tells you anything higher, then call AT&T sales. Because they are ALWAYS $5.95 over the phone.
BOOM! glad to help haha
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Thanks for clearing some things up, so it's the IMEI number that determines if they can tell if it's a smartphone or not. I probably got lucky with buying the international version of the X1 .

Viper89 said:
Thanks for clearing some things up, so it's the IMEI number that determines if they can tell if it's a smartphone or not. I probably got lucky with buying the international version of the X1 .
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exactly. As far as I know, that is how they determine which phone you have is thru your IMEI.
So to answer OP's question, yes, you probably want to initially set it up with a NON smartphone IMEI and then switch the sim card to your SGSII.
OR get lucky and give them the IMEI and they dont recognize it and just assume it is a non smartphone. (So if you are setting this up over the phone and they ask you what type of phone it is, its some basic flip phone. DO NOT tell them its a smartphone. Or you will have ruined that idea haha)
PS. there is a possibility that later on they will recognize your IMEI and will notify you (usually by a text msg) telling you that they are switching your plan to a smartphone plan. If they have done this, then they probably finally found out that the IMEI you're using is actually a smartphone. And that sucks haha.
Its also possible they wont ever know. chances are they will once they get the list of IMEI's and what phones they actually are for. I dont know how often they update their list of IMEI's so no telling how long you'll get away with it. some people have successfully done so for months or years. so we will see
good luck!!

PS. there is a possibility that later on they will recognize your IMEI and will notify you (usually by a text msg) telling you that they are switching your plan to a smartphone plan. If they have done this, then they probably finally found out that the IMEI you're using is actually a smartphone. And that sucks haha.
Its also possible they wont ever know. chances are they will once they get the list of IMEI's and what phones they actually are for. I dont know how often they update their list of IMEI's so no telling how long you'll get away with it. some people have successfully done so for months or years. so we will see
good luck!! [/QUOTE]
I've had my phone for 1 year and 9 months now if they were going to do something they would have already, and Sony also stopped making the X1i awhile ago so as for as my IMEI being recognized I'm not worried at all about it .

I've had my phone for 1 year and 9 months now if they were going to do something they would have already, and Sony also stopped making the X1i awhile ago so as for as my IMEI being recognized I'm not worried at all about it .
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NICE. haha yea like I said, some phones they might eventually find out, and some they wont. You happen to be one of the ones they probably wont find. Enjoy that haha

Almost 100% sure that plan does not include Smartphone data.
As well it shouldn't; I do not understand why carriers cater more to their prepaid customers by offering such low rate plans while proceeding to charge customers who sign contracts by charging them a steeper price for the same plan.

illatwill said:
Almost 100% sure that plan does not include Smartphone data.
As well it shouldn't; I do not understand why carriers cater more to their prepaid customers by offering such low rate plans while proceeding to charge customers who sign contracts by charging them a steeper price for the same plan.
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Yes, you are right, this plan is not a smartphone data plan. Thats why we are talking about ways on how to get it on your smartphone haha.
And secondly, no contract phone plans are cheaper because you have to lay down money flat out to buy a phone. Contracts are made to give you that $700 phone for $100-$199. By you being in that contract it guarantee's they are going to get their money for that phone.

caffeinated chris said:
ok a few things. First to answer OP's question is yes, it is possible with any unlocked phone. problem is that AT&T has certain IMEI numbers that are recognized as smart phone IMEI's. Like my friend had an HD2 that he brought to AT&T and they recognized it and immediately changed his data plan to a smartphone data plan. Although there are other people with smartphones who have the AT&T system tricked because the system doesnt know what their IMEI number is for.
So yes, it is possible. And yes, as for the NON-Smartphone $50 unlimited talk, txt, and data plan, yes it does exist. AT&T just started it recently and no its not for just international. Its directed towards NON-Smartphones. But again, if they cant recognize your smartphone IMEI, then they wont know.
As for the $50 sim card, no there's no such thing as a $50 sim card and no, its not "just for international phones" haha. Sim cards are $5.95 and if a store tells you anything higher, then call AT&T sales. Because they are ALWAYS $5.95 over the phone.
BOOM! glad to help haha
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Don't mean to grave-dig the post but when I went to an AT&T store for new SIM cards (activated one through a go-phone and didn't know that it locked the SIM to the phone), I wasn't charged anything for them, the store rep gave them to me for free.
That aside, I've been toying with this concept myself. I've been looking everywhere for good candidates for a smartphone that ATT doesn't sell and that is compatible with their HSPA network.
I have a couple unlocked T-Mobile phones that the data works on, but only at EDGE speeds because they don't have the proper frequencies to support ATT 3/3.5/4G.
Does anyone have any new suggestions?
EDIT: So far I've found that the HTC Wildfire S A510a, and the HTC Sensation Z710a are both compatible with ATT's HSDPA 850 and GSM 850 bands and may be good candidates. I already have a T-Mobile HTC Sensation Z710e and really don't want to buy another phone that's practically the same .

I'm digging this up because I need answers before jumping ship.
Does AT&T still make smartphone users pay extra for data? I'm thinking of moving from Boost mobile to AT&T with an LG Fathom...
Either AT&T or metroPCS, if AT&T does still charge smartphone users for data then most likely it'll be over to metroPCS I go then.

n1nj4Lo said:
I'm digging this up because I need answers before jumping ship.
Does AT&T still make smartphone users pay extra for data? I'm thinking of moving from Boost mobile to AT&T with an LG Fathom...
Either AT&T or metroPCS, if AT&T does still charge smartphone users for data then most likely it'll be over to metroPCS I go then.
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Like with a plan? Yes.

TomTheGeek3 said:
Like with a plan? Yes.
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Well what I meant was are Smartphones still supposedly uneligilble for the prepaid 50 a month unlimited plan, do they still have to pay extra for data?
If yes, how much extra?

n1nj4Lo said:
Well what I meant was are Smartphones still supposedly uneligilble for the prepaid 50 a month unlimited plan, do they still have to pay extra for data?
If yes, how much extra?
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Yes, they have to pay extra. Not all smartphones will be in their database, so if you have a European phone with the appropriate HSPA bands it could potentially trick the system into believing you have a featurephone.
As for how much extra, it's something ridiculous like 30 bucks or so.

synaesthetic said:
Yes, they have to pay extra. Not all smartphones will be in their database, so if you have a European phone with the appropriate HSPA bands it could potentially trick the system into believing you have a featurephone.
As for how much extra, it's something ridiculous like 30 bucks or so.
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Mines a Verizon LG Fathom...
Is T-Mobile just as ridiculous too? I saw they have a prepaid 50 a month unlimited plan... What jerked me back away from that was 100Mb unthrottled then every bit over that is "managed" unless ya pay for the highspeed unlimited 4g data.

How do you expect a non-gsm phone to work on a gsm network?

Stonent said:
How do you expect a non-gsm phone to work on a gsm network?
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Just because it came from a cdma carrier doesn't mean it's a non-gsm phone... It's a world phone, meaning both cdma and gsm.

Called up t-mobile and it sounds like they'd be my (our) best bet, they don't charge ya anything additional if it's a smartphone for data... So it really is flat-out 50 bucks unlimited everything, no limitations, no specification handsets required or anything.

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but has anyone tried this recently?
Will probably give this a go in a couple of months using the HTC Sensation z710a.
Pretty harsh not getting any "smartphone data" included on a $50 plan. Would be heading straight to T-mobile if my z710a was AWS compatible.

Oh, no! AT&T cops telling me they're gonna bust me for my SIM switcharoo lol

I had posted this thread earlier about trying out my phone's SIM in my Tab:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1482515
And yes, after a few minutes the SIM registered the data connection and worked.
But that's not the end of the story. I put my SIM back into my phone a few minutes later, and didn't give any of this another thought. And then, only a few minutes ago, got this text from the AT&T system:
"AT&T Free Msg: An eligible data plan is required for Laptop, Tablet, or MiFi devices. Call 611 as soon as possible for details and to avoid service interruption."
So does this mean those rat bastards saw the brief IMEI switch and won't allow me to use the Tab with my phone's SIM? Seriously WTF AT&T!
So my question to those of you with ROM'd Tabs: Are any of you using them as phones in AT&T USA? Have you ever been pestered for using an "unapproved" device with a normal SIM and plan?
You know, if I'm paying for the phone service, what the hell should AT&T care what device I use it in. What the hell are they gonna do when the Galaxy Note comes out? "Well, any devices over 5 inches are um not allowed to be phones, yeap, yeap that's it."
Seriously, AT&T is gangster.

now what if you actually bought the LEGAL GSM UNLOCKED p1000 tablet/smartphone and put AT&T sim card? could they force you to subscribe to tablet dataplan?

If you buy the factory unlocked model, AT&T won't have the IMEI in their database; in their system, they would simply see "unknown device" and wouldn't be able to enforce DER restrictions. But if your'e on an AT&T Tab flashed with the Euro ROM, the IMEI still registers and a red flag comes up when your SIM is registered on the network while inserted in the device, hence that warning message you received.
I only used my Tab as a phone for half a day, before I decided it was awkward and silly to be using such a big phone (and my BT headset wouldn't pair with it), and I never got the aforementioned message. However, I'm not on a contract; I'm not sure if that makes the difference or not.
Sent from my SGH-I987 using XDA App

Basically, the OG Galaxy Tab identifies itself as a tablet. The Galaxy Note is technically a phone and will report as such. Their digital signatures are completely different, and AT&T's system will monitor for switches like that. I agree that you are paying for the service and shouldn't be seeing messages like that when switching your SIM from one device to another, but that is the sad reality of the situation over at AT&T right now.

I did the same. I've gotten numerous emails and texts. Just waiting to see what they do. I did call the number and found out that I could get a tablet data plan but I would lose my text messaging ability. The Rep just told me to keep my plan as is and couldn't figure out how I was getting data
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium

How long have you been using the Tab as a phone device?

I'm on a family plan with AT&T and have been using smartphones without a data plan or a text plan since 2009 and have never had a data plan, or received a message saying I need a data plan. I've used iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S, Galaxy S, Galaxy S II, and Galaxy Tab 7 Tmobile unlocked. I've swaped sims with these devices numerous times and I was never forced by AT&T to get a data plan.

Is your Galaxy Tab an AT&T branded Tab or an unbranded model? Mine is branded AT&T, and I only had my phone's SIM in it for all of 15 minutes.... surfed a couple web pages and sent a couple text messages, that was it... and then put the SIM back into my smartphone (HTC Aria, Froyo)... and a few minutes later got that system text message I quoted above.

I've been using it about a week. Its an att branded one.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium

Well you better consider stopping that, because I got an email from AT&T today telling me there were recent changes to my plan. I logged into my account online, downloaded the summary, and saw a change of my phone line from my grandfathered Unlimited data plan to the 30 dollar tablet plan. When I called, the representative told me it hadn't gone through because apparently I had switched the SIM back to my phone soon enough, but if I had left it there, the system would have automatically changed the line over to a Tablet plan, and I wouldn't have been able to return to my current plan ever again. I asked her if I was paying for a service or a device, and she wouldn't answer. The end result is if the system spots the device as one in its database under "Tablet device", they will charge you an *additional* automatic 30 dollars, then eventually drop your previous plan on that line. You would then have to re-add a new line, because it doesn't convert it back automatically once the conversion has taken place.
So maybe this guy above has been ok for now, but it's only a matter of time. Probably when your next billing cycle starts. Who knows.
I really don't know for sure how it is identifying the device... IMEI I would think. I wonder if there is a way to obscure or spoof that. Otherwise I am left with a tablet that I either have to pay an additional 30 bux for, or continue to connect to my rooted Aria's wifi router. Which sux because the Aria's battery drains far quicker than the Tab's does :/
F*ck you, AT&T.

Suleeto said:
I really don't know for sure how it is identifying the device... IMEI I would think. I wonder if there is a way to obscure or spoof that. Otherwise I am left with a tablet that I either have to pay an additional 30 bux for, or continue to connect to my rooted Aria's wifi router. Which sux because the Aria's battery drains far quicker than the Tab's does :/
F*ck you, AT&T.
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You're correct in that it uses the IMEI to identify the device within AT&T's system. Just as a heads up, tampering with the IMEI could have much more drastic consequences than just loosing your unlimited plan. Changing a cellular device's serial number, (ESN, IMEI, MEID) is a federal offense in the US and is illegal in the UK under the Mobile Telephones (Re-programming) Act, so I'd steer clear of that.

That, and it presents technical issues as well. I was mostly venting.
So AT&T wants $30 for a 2GB/month "Tablet" plan that doesn't allow SMS, MMS, or phone calling. Just data.
T-Mobile has a prepaid $30 plan (so no credit check, no contract, month-to-month) that offers "Unlimited Web" (I read that as: unlimited data), unlimited text, and 100 phone talk minutes. Basically a fully-functional phone if I so choose.
You tell me.
SIM unlock, Overcome, T-Mobile, Tab as a convenient third line and independent unlimited data plan.

Suleeto said:
That, and it presents technical issues as well. I was mostly venting.
So AT&T wants $30 for a 2GB/month "Tablet" plan that doesn't allow SMS, MMS, or phone calling. Just data.
T-Mobile has a prepaid $30 plan (so no credit check, no contract, month-to-month) that offers "Unlimited Web" (I read that as: unlimited data), unlimited text, and 100 phone talk minutes. Basically a fully-functional phone if I so choose.
You tell me.
SIM unlock, Overcome, T-Mobile, Tab as a convenient third line and independent unlimited data plan.
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I understand, I was just putting it out there for others. You'd be surprised how many threads start like this and end with a Moderator banning someone because they start posting links about how to change an IMEI/ESN/MEID.
I would go with the T-Mobile plan, if they're willing to put your tablet on there. Although I'm not sure if they will. They'd probably end up offering the plan with a phone and you could run into the same issue as with AT&T. If they are willing to offer it for your tablet, that is a great option provided that the "Unlimited" is; 1. Truly unlimited and not capped at some arbitrary and low number
or​2. The cap is lower than the amount of data you would use in a month.
Hopefully this was helpful instead of just being a re-statement of the obvious. Good Luck!

I don't see how T-Mobile could know that I have a tablet, because this device is branded as an AT&T device (thus the IMEI would probably be unknown to T-mo). That, and the AT&T plan is $30 for a capped plan (2GB).
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans

Suleeto-
Here is my history with this, it may be enlightening:
1) I had an unlimited data plan with AT&T through my employer that I have had for years. I was able to switch and use any phone that worked on the network no problem at all.
2) About six month's ago I loaded the euro ROM onto an AT&T branded GT and put the SIM card that I had been using forever into it and everything worked like a charm for the next three months. No hassles, no nasty messages, and all services were working.
3) I then decided to bail from my company but they were willing to let me keep my phone number, all I had to do was call AT&T and take financial responsibility for it, etc. Remember the data plan was an unlimited phone data plan.
4) I called and AT&T was happy to port the phone number and the grandfathered unlimited data plan ($30/month) over to my family plan I had for everyone else, so far so good. At this point I had been using the GT as my daily driver for three months.
5) Within fifteen minutes of the phone call I got the dreaded text message as you describe.
6) I immediately called the person back and told her I wanted to save $5 a month could she please change the plan to a $25/month 2GB plan (I routinely use between 600MB and 800MB a month as I don't stream anything large). After warning me I could never go back to an unlimited plan as they are no longer offered, she made the change.
7) That was in October and I haven't heard a peep from them since and phone/text/data all work.
I will say that it is a good thing I am self-supporting because the service people would have no idea how to deal with the phone if I had any kind of problem. Also, I think they are sorry they ever had unlimited data plans.
Hope that helps,
Fred

So let me see if I am making sense of what you're suggesting here... the system recognized the AT&T branded Tab 7, warned you, and you called and switched from the unlimited plan to the more current tiered 2GB plan which is indeed $5 less like you said. In doing so, it seems to have circumvented whatever automatic process was starting to happen.
Yes?
I'm not sure that will help me tho... see, I wanted to be able to switch back and forth between the phone and the Tab. I go to school full time, and some of the classes are 3 hours long. I want to be able to send text messages and surf while in class. But I want to be able to use my phone once I'm out of class for the day (like evenings, weekends, etc.).
My concern is that switching back and forth might keep triggering the situation in the system, and your trick might only work one time. Eventually a human being is going to figure it out, if not immediately the second time. That's assuming that since you did it, they haven't figured out the loophole in the system's process and fixed it to recheck periodically. Who knows, they may even catch up with you, too.

Suleeto said:
I don't see how T-Mobile could know that I have a tablet, because this device is branded as an AT&T device (thus the IMEI would probably be unknown to T-mo). That, and the AT&T plan is $30 for a capped plan (2GB).
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans
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The IMEI is an international identifier. It is like a car's VIN. They are industry standard numbers that any system can decode. If you had the right information, you could tell exactly what type of device someone was using just from the IMEI. TMobile will be able to read it as a tablet just as easily as AT&T. Unfortunately, IMEI's and their data are not carrier-specific. Sorry.

So the real question is... do they care?

So what happens to my 9.99 per month additional phone line charge (still under contract by the way) if they switch that line to a "tablet" line with the $15 or $30 dollar tablet data plan? Wonder if they will still charge me the 9.99?

Suleeto said:
So the real question is... do they care?
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I don't think so, but it's more of a question of how their system is set up. If their network controllers are set up to trigger the message and auto-adjust your account based on a change in device type in the IMEI. You could try going to a T-mobile store and asking if there are restrictions on which type of devices can go on a prepaid plan. If they say no, then you're probably in the clear. If they have a "sim-only" prepaid option, you're probably in the clear. Hope this helps. Good luck!