Database Users

Avoiding an AT&T Data Plan

I was happily using my Nexus One on AT&T without a data plan (and with data blocked) since it was released, but I made the mistake of giving AT&T the IMEI number of my Nexus today. Now they tell me that I am required to get a $30 data plan because it is a "PDA", despite the fact that it cannot use 3G on AT&T's network.
Does anyone know of a way to ditch the data plan? Is it possible that I could give AT&T the IMEI of an old phone, then switch my SIM to the Nexus?

as a user who uses the nexus one on att, heating something like this is
infuriating.how is it their business to make you buy a data plan? I can understand if they subsidized the phone but obviously in this case it was not. thanks for the heads up. i would never disclose this kind of information to att unless I absolutely had to do so.

use this as a way to break your contract and come to tmobile and enjoy the way a real provider is sposed to treat you... pretty much if you have ATT and dont have an iphone, they dont care about you

Postal76 said:
I was happily using my Nexus One on AT&T without a data plan (and with data blocked) since it was released, but I made the mistake of giving AT&T the IMEI number of my Nexus today. Now they tell me that I am required to get a $30 data plan because it is a "PDA", despite the fact that it cannot use 3G on AT&T's network.
Does anyone know of a way to ditch the data plan? Is it possible that I could give AT&T the IMEI of an old phone, then switch my SIM to the Nexus?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am kinda surprised they are doing this... Then again, times are "tough"...
I would ask them where in the contract you signed it says you have to have a data plan? Let them know that if they start charging you for a service you didn't sign up for or agree to, they will be hearing from an attorney.

When AT&T began mandating the smartphone dataplans (September?) people that already had a smartphone on their account without a smartphone data plan were given a feature called "smartphone exclusion". If you had this and they took it off when you gave them the nexus one imei, you may be able to call customer service and get them to put it back on. That's the only way I can think of. They're implementing a system which automatically adds a smartphone data plan onto your account when you put your sim card into a smartphone and it reports a recognized smartphone imei to AT&T unless you have the smartphone exclusion feature.
http://howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1618214

maxh said:
When AT&T began mandating the smartphone dataplans (September?) people that already had a smartphone on their account without a smartphone data plan were given a feature called "smartphone exclusion". If you had this and they took it off when you gave them the nexus one imei, you may be able to call customer service and get them to put it back on. That's the only way I can think of. They're implementing a system which automatically adds a smartphone data plan onto your account when you put your sim card into a smartphone and it reports a recognized smartphone imei to AT&T unless you have the smartphone exclusion feature.
http://howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1618214
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very interesting. This make sense, since AT&T should be able to find out what kind of phone you're using even if you don't give them your IMEI. I suppose I might have had a "smartphone exclusion" put on my account back when I was using a myTouch 3G on AT&T without a data plan.
However, I doubt AT&T is going to work with me on this, given the extremely unsatisfactory customer service I received today after speaking to 3 representatives.

What happens when your using just a normal phone with att, and your buddy has a nexus one. and so you go over to his house and put your sim on it just to see how it works, cause your interested in it and all. so you borrow it for a day to test it out. and att starts charging you for data? Sounds bull**** to me that they can do that if your not using 3g data service... period

I've had these issues with ATT as well. In September they "discovered" my Touch HD on their network and zapped it from working. I was on the "pay as you go" plan. I switched the SIM to my old HTC Trinity and my service was useable again. Since the Trinity was one of the first full featured phones, they must not have had it in their "kill" database.
I dumped ATT like a hot rock, then went to T-mobile and I've never looked back. ATT has nothing over T-mobile.

Matterhorn said:
I've had these issues with ATT as well. In September they "discovered" my Touch HD on their network and zapped it from working. I was on the "pay as you go" plan. I switched the SIM to my old HTC Trinity and my service was useable again. Since the Trinity was one of the first full featured phones, they must not have had it in their "kill" database.
I dumped ATT like a hot rock, then went to T-mobile and I've never looked back. ATT has nothing over T-mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trust me, I'd love to do the same. But A&T is much cheaper for me (it would be $120 for a 2 line family plan with data vs. $155 on T-Mobile) even when I don't include my AT&T premier discount. I was pretty sad to learn that T-Mobile's pricing isn't very competitive, at least when it comes to Nexus One plans.

i've had the N1 on ATT for about a month now and i don't have data plan and never signed up for one; i am near wifi 80-90% of the time and don't need the data plan; never got any texts from them forcing me to get data;
btw, i am on a family plan

jblazea50 said:
i've had the N1 on ATT for about a month now and i don't have data plan and never signed up for one; i am near wifi 80-90% of the time and don't need the data plan; never got any texts from them forcing me to get data;
btw, i am on a family plan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Supposedly they are turning on their new system for automatically adding data plans market by market. Some people's areas don't have it yet, but I know for a fact they're doing it in Austin, TX because I got hit by it. I had 2 lines with smartphones and put my SIM card into a dumbphone for a few minutes then back into my smartphone. That triggered it, but I have the "smartphone exclusion" on my main line (which happens to be the phone I did the SIM switch in) so only the other line got a $30 data plan added. I ported that line out within a couple of days.

maxh said:
Supposedly they are turning on their new system for automatically adding data plans market by market. Some people's areas don't have it yet, but I know for a fact they're doing it in Austin, TX because I got hit by it. I had 2 lines with smartphones and put my SIM card into a dumbphone for a few minutes then back into my smartphone. That triggered it, but I have the "smartphone exclusion" on my main line (which happens to be the phone I did the SIM switch in) so only the other line got a $30 data plan added. I ported that line out within a couple of days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how do you add smartphone exclusion to your phone

It's really simple to ditch the data plans on ATT...
I have a total of 6 phones with ATT. 4 ATT PDAs, 1 ATT non-PDA and mine - which is usually UNLOCKED/UNBRANDED WinMo phone.
I wait a few months after buying any ATT branded phone and call them to let them know I've switched phones. They ask for the IMEI. I run my trusted IMEI Generator (Google it) and start spewing phoney IMEIs to them. When they don't show in their systems as an ATT phone, I can then change all their $30 unlim PDA unlim data plans to the $10 unlim data plan version.
Of course, every rep I every spoke to swears there's a difference between the $30 vs the $10 plan...but WE know better. They work exactly the same!
Come on ATT!!!
My way of stickin it to the MAN!!!

technillion said:
They ask for the IMEI. I run my trusted IMEI Generator (Google it) and start spewing phoney IMEIs to them. When they don't show in their systems as an ATT phone, I can then change all their $30 unlim PDA unlim data plans to the $10 unlim data plan version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But won't AT&T recognize your phone as a PDA if you ever actually use it? For instance, you couldn't do the same thing with an iPhone -- if you give them a bogus IMEI then put your SIM in an iPhone, AT&T will find out and they will force you into a data plan.

In some areas of the country they've implemented the system for automatically detecting when you're using a smartphone and adding the data plan. It seems that not all areas are doing it yet, but I have no doubt they eventually will. My area already does it.
jblazea50 said:
how do you add smartphone exclusion to your phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was added automatically to people's accounts back when they first started requiring data plans. If you had a smartphone but no smartphone data they simply put that exclusion feature on your account. I've heard of people that had it removed from their account calling in and arguing until they put it back on, but if you never had it on your account, you're probably out of luck. It's worth a try, though. Maybe if you get a nice rep and use the term "smartphone exclusion feature" they'll give it to you.

maxh said:
In some areas of the country they've implemented the system for automatically detecting when you're using a smartphone and adding the data plan. It seems that not all areas are doing it yet, but I have no doubt they eventually will. My area already does it.
It was added automatically to people's accounts back when they first started requiring data plans. If you had a smartphone but no smartphone data they simply put that exclusion feature on your account. I've heard of people that had it removed from their account calling in and arguing until they put it back on, but if you never had it on your account, you're probably out of luck. It's worth a try, though. Maybe if you get a nice rep and use the term "smartphone exclusion feature" they'll give it to you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i had the blackberry curve 8310 with ATT without data plan as i paid the 2 year upgrade price (no rebates, that required the $30 data plan) so would that mean that i have the exclusion feature?

How come you have to *tell* them your IMEI for them to figure this out? Surely they can see exactly what the IMEI of your phone is the minute it connects to their network?
In other news, I hear that Comcast are going to charge more for your internet connection if you have an XBOX connected to it. Their rationale is that with Netflix support and XBOX Live capability, you're capable of using more of their bandwidth.
OK, I'm (obviously) kidding on that last point. But that's effectively what AT&T are doing here.

Postal76 said:
Trust me, I'd love to do the same. But A&T is much cheaper for me (it would be $120 for a 2 line family plan with data vs. $155 on T-Mobile) even when I don't include my AT&T premier discount. I was pretty sad to learn that T-Mobile's pricing isn't very competitive, at least when it comes to Nexus One plans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is that possible? I'm on Even More Plus with my N1, my Dad's G1, and my Bro's G1 and we're paying $145 a month for 1500 mins + unlimited web (no need for text plan since we all use Google Voice), and we aren't bound to 2-year terms. @[email protected]

jblazea50 said:
i had the blackberry curve 8310 with ATT without data plan as i paid the 2 year upgrade price (no rebates, that required the $30 data plan) so would that mean that i have the exclusion feature?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's probably a good chance you do have it. Supposedly you can find it listed somewhere on OLAM, but I don't know where people are looking.

Postal76 said:
Trust me, I'd love to do the same. But A&T is much cheaper for me (it would be $120 for a 2 line family plan with data vs. $155 on T-Mobile) even when I don't include my AT&T premier discount. I was pretty sad to learn that T-Mobile's pricing isn't very competitive, at least when it comes to Nexus One plans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can get a discount easily with T-Mobile there are tons of discounts. My 20% discount with T-Mobile right now is because I'm in college. My previous one was for working at Wal-Mart 5 years ago [lol they never took it off].
I work for AT&T and I have T-Mobile and I don't plan on switching. Even though AT&T would give me my 20% discount it would still cost more. You can get on T-Mobile without a contract. T-Mobile is the cheapest cell company and they're advertising that a lot right now. The prices for non contract services are great. I can't wait till mine expires because I'll be saving even more money. The Non-contract services aren't "pay as you go" either, they're just monthly usage plans as normal but you're not under contract. The only reason why prices are so high is because you're paying for the phone in your monthly bill.
I love working for AT&T [best company I've ever worked for] but I don't agree with a lot of our ways of doing things. Like how we're the only ones raising prices right now in this economy. There are multiple things I disagree with but it's all business
Oh and the "if you don't have an iPhone they don't care" statement is kind of ridiculous. Sounds a little biased and senseless.

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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

HD2 caused ATT to add Data Plan!!!! What can I do?

I have an TMobile unlocked touch pro2 with att. Just got myself the HD2, and put in my sim card--got a text message (2 actually) from att stating:
"Did you know a data plan is required for your Smartphone?"
and then
"your Smartphone requires a data plan. We have added the appropriate plan for you smartphone"
I went to the account online, and it states that I suddenly am the proud owner of a Blackberry RIM!!!!
This whole time (since the Tilt days) I have been using unlocked phones, and as soon as I try my sim in it, ATT tells me this!!!
Any ideas on what to do????
Should I go to a store? Will they honor the fact that I don't want a data plan even though I have a Smartphone--but not ATT???
Urgent!
Thank you!!!

telegraph0000 said:
Should I go to a store? Will they honor the fact that I don't want a data plan even though I have a Smartphone--but not ATT???
Urgent!
Thank you!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No they won't. They'll laugh in your face if you go in their with a HD2 and ask to drop the data plan.
Get a dumbphone IMEI. Call them with 611 and tell them you want to add a data block to your account because you recently switched phones. Give them the dumbphone IMEI if they ask for it. Bam, you're done. No worries about being charged either -- you'll be blocked off the data network.

Since the phone is not from ATT they can't make you add data.

Okay...and where do I get a dumbphone Imei??
How and why the heck did they go and do this??!!!

Even with your phone IMEI number since it won't show up in there system they can't do that. Thisi is the first time I have heard about this. With my HD2 on ATT I pay $15 since I need the internet but you can just tell them I don't want it.
Never go to the Store. Call is better, especially in this case.
Cheers

Nimche said:
Even with your phone IMEI number since it won't show up in there system they can't do that. Thisi is the first time I have heard about this. With my HD2 on ATT I pay $15 since I need the internet but you can just tell them I don't want it.
Never go to the Store. Call is better, especially in this case.
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It makes sense to me since as far as I can tell the OP doesn't have a data plan and the HD2 uses data like a hog unless you set it up very specifically to turn of all data connections. If sense polled even once I imagine AT&T would go straight to the more expensive plan as a recommendation even without knowing what phone it is.

I looked at the usage and within 3 days of use (touch pro 2 $15 plan) and the HD2, I used only 15megs of info. So...I don't have the original phone my plan was under (a cheapo nokia)--what should I say?
Does it matter that the phone was unlocked and used for AT&T by the previous owner?
Obviously I don't have a Blackberry, why the system stated that is beyond my comprehension--what should I say as to what type of phone I have?

ATT made a mistake. Just call customer support and tell them they made a mistake. But what will you answer when they ask you what phone you have? Do you have an older non smartphone lieing around?
I have HD2 on ATT and they still think I am using my samsung impression. Even when I log into my account on the net it says samsung impression. If you go there what phone does it say you have?

Forced and automatically enrolled into DATA Plan? I would cancel my contracts with them in the heart-beat.

eenbox said:
Forced and automatically enrolled into DATA Plan? I would cancel my contracts with them in the heart-beat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what i was thinking.

eenbox said:
Forced and automatically enrolled into DATA Plan? I would cancel my contracts with them in the heart-beat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since November 2009 they have had the prerogative built-into the contract to automatically provision smartphones with smartphone data plans as detected by the system. But that only applies to users that signed a contract after then or upgraded to a different handset from AT&T since then.
You mention that the previous owner used the phone with AT&T.. there is the slight possibility he used it with a smartphone data plan and divulged the fact that it was a HD2 to AT&T. If this is the case and their system has logged it as a type of smartphone (perhaps the BlackBerry is a placeholder, or the old owner's original phone), then you're boned.
Regardless I'd call 611 and try to get a data block added. You can find dumbphone IMEIs very easily (though not very legally). Here's a hint: threads for unlocking services have dozens of people eager to publish their IMEIs for the world to see.

Reading this post made me realize that you Americans are really being screwed by your carriers. No offense meant at all, I'm just really horrified by the fact that the carrier can add extra charges to the customer just because of their choices of phone....
Freedom of choice is evidently very skewed here. I mean, why are you guys going with this kind of treatment?

kenkiller said:
Reading this post made me realize that you Americans are really being screwed by your carriers. No offense meant at all, I'm just really horrified by the fact that the carrier can add extra charges to the customer just because of their choices of phone....
Freedom of choice is evidently very skewed here. I mean, why are you guys going with this kind of treatment?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tell me about it. That's why I fight the Man.. I get unlimited texting and data for the same price as unlimited data since my network doesn't recognize my phone (and I still get the brilliant HSDPA).
I hear across the pond is a magical land where data tariffs range into a couple of euro or pounds sterling (something like 6), and messaging and even BlackBerry data plans are similarly priced (you can't use a BlackBerry for anything less than $30 a month here). I also hear they have video calling.

i had the same problem as the OP, I got 2 texts last night from AT&T stating that they added $30 data to my plan, I called them up and they said that this phone shows up as a blackberry and there is no way to cancel it unless I go to a store and show it to them, the problem is that a store will see that this is a smartphone and will not allow me to keep my $10 data plan.
it is strange because I used a lot of smartphones under my account, including a UK HD2 and telstra HD2 (R.I.P) and I never had this problem.
Well, I guess it's time to sell it and get a different one.... Thanks AT&T

I found from my OWN personal experience and having had T-Mobile and at&t that the US GSM carriers share IMEI data on high end phones. Case in point, when I attempted to use my T-Mobile USA branded HD2 on my at&t I got the same message. Whenever I use my Telstra (Australian) model, customer service stated that my IMEI could not be verified so I've been able to keep my $10 data plan with no issues.

k2trill said:
I found from my OWN personal experience and having had T-Mobile and at&t that the US GSM carriers share IMEI data on high end phones. Case in point, when I attempted to use my T-Mobile USA branded HD2 on my at&t I got the same message. Whenever I use my Telstra (Australian) model, customer service stated that my IMEI could not be verified so I've been able to keep my $10 data plan with no issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is VERY, VERY interesting. I know for a fact AT&T has ALL of the IMEIs for the T-Mobile version of the Nexus One. Anyone with a T-Mobile Nexus One on AT&T is basically forced to use the $30 plan.

kenkiller said:
Reading this post made me realize that you Americans are really being screwed by your carriers. No offense meant at all, I'm just really horrified by the fact that the carrier can add extra charges to the customer just because of their choices of phone....
Freedom of choice is evidently very skewed here. I mean, why are you guys going with this kind of treatment?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lovely AT&T - that's why I am on T-Mobile and even they may not be perfect they are whole a lot better than ****tty AT&T. Natively from Europe too cannot go with the fact of what AT&T does - built into the contract that they will assign you with the DATA plan if they "smell" you are using a smartphone... Against every possible decency and normal common sense thinking... Against human free will to put it that way...

LOL why are you guys shocked at this? If your phone used to belong to a carrier (meaning that the carrier sold the phone themselves), then they already have the IMEI. Like someone previously said, carriers do share IMEI numbers.
Just because your phone is unlocked to use on any carrier is different from a phone that hasnt been registered at ALL! Unlocked phones that are sold online are generally not registered to anyone or any carrier, therefore, you can get away with use some old/previous data plan that you have.
So in conclusion, DONT BUY CARRIER PHONES (UNLOCKED OR NOT).

lude219 said:
LOL why are you guys shocked at this? If your phone used to belong to a carrier (meaning that the carrier sold the phone themselves), then they already have the IMEI. Like someone previously said, carriers do share IMEI numbers.
Just because your phone is unlocked to use on any carrier is different from a phone that hasnt been registered at ALL! Unlocked phones that are sold online are generally not registered to anyone or any carrier, therefore, you can get away with use some old/previous data plan that you have.
So in conclusion, DONT BUY CARRIER PHONES (UNLOCKED OR NOT).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Add a regional proviso. My (then) Telus Motorola Milestone and (now) Telstra HD2 T9193 work perfectly fine under the radar with full HSDPA and dumbphone plans.
Shocking thing about the Nexus Ones is that the people that got caught bought unsubsidized (contract-free, unlocked and unbranded), brand new phones that just had the AWS bands (early adopters). Yet they still got detected.

kenkiller said:
Reading this post made me realize that you Americans are really being screwed by your carriers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah man... me too!
This is seriously ridiculous... In the UK... YOU decide whether you want a data plan or not. If you dont have one and still use data you get charged per MB.
Forcing your customers to take out a data plan just because they have a smartphone is unbelievable!

[Q] AT&T user Trading iphone4 for sgs2**HELP**

I am new here so apologies.. i have been trying to get all my questions answered by searching.
It seems that the sgs2 is rad. im eligible for an upgrade at AT&T and found someone at t-mobile who also is. I will buy a white iphone4 and trade for his sgs2.
I think this is possible, is it not? any information on this would be greatly appreciated.
ps. i plan on rooting and and what not

The SGS2 doesn't exist on T-Mobile. The closest thing by name they have is the Galaxy S 4G which is basically just a SGS1 with T-Mobile U.S. AWS bands. Is it someone who bought an SGS2 from overseas and is using it on T-Mobile? Before you start screwing around with your AT&T contract I'd check out what you're actually going to get in the swap. If you end up getting a SGS2 it works fine on AT&T out of the box.

yea im retarded. i just learned that you literally cannot get this phone through any carrier. you have to buy it fresh for the 700 or whatever it is.
ive been doing a lot of research and ive decided on this phone .. but at this point i save 500 bux by renewing my plan and buying an atrix. any thoughts??

koryp924 said:
yea im retarded. i just learned that you literally cannot get this phone through any carrier. you have to buy it fresh for the 700 or whatever it is.
ive been doing a lot of research and ive decided on this phone .. but at this point i save 500 bux by renewing my plan and buying an atrix. any thoughts??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of all AT&T's phones, the iP4 in white is the most marketable on eBay. You could renew your contract and get one and probably sell it for close to $600. Then order the SGS2 from the UK or Expansys-USA for about $100-150 more. You could also use the dumb-phone unlimited data plan with the SGS2 for $10 a month which would eventually pay back the difference you paid. Good luck.

i have read about using the dumbphone plan. realistically it isn't supposed to last for much longer is it?

koryp924 said:
i have read about using the dumbphone plan. realistically it isn't supposed to last for much longer is it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T has no auditing software on their network to know who is using what. They rely on a database of IEMI numbers for the phones they sell (the Nexus' being an exception). Since the SGS2 isn't an IEMI they recognize it flies below the radar. It could change at some point but its been this way for a while.

OK. so just to clarify. I would buy the iphone and a data plan. sell the iphone and buy a sgs2 online somewhere. call att when i recieve the sgs2 (put my sim card in it) and tell them i lost my iphone already and will be returning to a razr (or w.e dumbphone) and want a dumbphone plan?
edit: and worst case scenario i just pay for a data plan and the phone works fully??

there's no reason to tell them anything. when you put your sim in the new phone att's system will not be able to match the imei and will list it as an unknown phone. just go into your account online and choose data for dumbphones plan.
a word to the wise, make sure you read all the fine print where ever you get your new phone from. a lot of them have conditions where you have to keep the smartphone data for at least a certain amount of time.

He has to sign-up for a smartphone plan to get the iP4. OP, once you get the iP4 tell them it fell in the pool and you're using your Krzr until you can save up for a new one. After they make the switch, tell them you want the dumb-phone plan.

I'm pretty sure signing a new contract locks you I'm for a smart phone data(iPhone data). You can still get the SGS2 to work, you just have to call AT&T and tell them you need to change your iPhone data plan to a smartphone/Android data plan. You will need a new sim completely as well because the iPhone uses a mini sim card.

Illicit Hero said:
I'm pretty sure signing a new contract locks you I'm for a smart phone data(iPhone data). You can still get the SGS2 to work, you just have to call AT&T and tell them you need to change your iPhone data plan to a smartphone/Android data plan. You will need a new sim completely as well because the iPhone uses a mini sim card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i mean that would be pretty messed up if you actually broke your smartphone and still had to pay for a data plan for two years even though your using a dumbphone...

koryp924 said:
i mean that would be pretty messed up if you actually broke your smartphone and still had to pay for a data plan for two years even though your using a dumbphone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I started a new account with AT&T so I never had to change plans. Others have posted that what I shared with you has worked for them. Maybe someone else who's changed plans mid-contract can comment.

Will it work (SGS2) on Tmobile USA? or just 2G?

nraudigy2 said:
Will it work (SGS2) on Tmobile USA? or just 2G?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works fine on TMO USA it's just you only get edge speeds. But of the box it works no problem.

[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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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 .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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 .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like with a plan? Yes.

TomTheGeek3 said:
Like with a plan? Yes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.