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.
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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.
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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!
Related
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
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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.
There has been a lot of talk about ATT bull**** N1 people into data plan.
However, if I buy a normal phone from them, 2 years contract with DATA BLOCK.
Insert the sim onto the New Nexus ATT version
Can they force me into a data plan? (I mean, I am not using their data service at all, not trying to cheat them for a $15 data plan vs $30)
So can they still force me?
I hope they don't, but if they do, I am going straight to ABC News and have a field day with the media.
NexusX said:
There has been a lot of talk about ATT bull**** N1 people into data plan.
However, if I buy a normal phone from them, 2 years contract with DATA BLOCK.
Insert the sim onto the New Nexus ATT version
Can they force me into a data plan? (I mean, I am not using their data service at all, not trying to cheat them for a $15 data plan vs $30)
So can they still force me?
I hope they don't, but if they do, I am going straight to ABC News and have a field day with the media.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no how would they know you have a Nexus ? if you don't tell them ? just swap you phone and it should work fine
shwan_3 said:
no how would they know you have a Nexus ? if you don't tell them ? just swap you phone and it should work fine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I beg to differ... the IMEI of every phone is different. It identifies the manufacturer, model and other characteristics of the phone (Smartphone or Dumbphone). Based on this information, AT&T has recently sent notifications to "unlocked Smartphone" users telling them that they are required to get a Data Plan. The AT&T support forum is full of folks complaining that they have received this warning and have subsequently been put on data plans. Below is the URL to a typical thread on this issue.
http://forums.wireless.att.com/cng/board/message?board.id=gsmgprs&thread.id=28657
They can see the IMEI of the device on the network. The first 8 digits (the TAC) give the Make/Model info. So, that said, they always know what device you're using.
Yes they can... I have had an iphone since the second month they were out. I purchased an iphone 3g off of craigslist and then a 3gs and just kept moving the Sim card to each phone. Over the last few months I have texts and emails from them saying I have to upgrade my data plan... My contracted ended over a year ago lol.
Was waiting for the supersonic but I just bought this ATT Nexus. will switch the Sim and see how they react. LOL
My plan expired 3 years ago and I move my sim all the time. It so great not to be on a plan. I used a G1 for over a year and an N1 since the first day they came out. I never received any notifications about anything. I do have a PDA plan so maybe that's the difference.
i've got two smart phones(nokia n95 and htc polaris) on att's family data plan for $10 each, and have for over 2 years now. will att change it to the $30 data plan once i get my nexus 1?
Good chance. I'm not going to say 'likely' but, good chance.
If ATT carries the phone - they will likely scan for it on the network at some point. It's just a matter of time.
Folks like mlott who already have an expanded dataplan (not the $10 one) should be fine.
Fake IMEI app in 3...2...
Illegal in 2... 1...
--edit--
Ah yes:
US
The Commission considers any knowing use of cellular telephone with an altered ESN to be a violation of the Communications Act (Section 301) and alteration of the ESN in a cellular telephone to be assisting in such violation. The Wireless Telephone Protection Act (Public Law 105-172) was signed into law on April 24, 1998, expanding the prior law to criminalize the use, possession, manufacture or sale of cloning hardware or software
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UK
3. The Mobile Telephones (Re-programming) Act creates a number of offences relating to the electronic identifiers of mobile wireless communications devices. In particular it becomes an offence to reprogramme the unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number which identifies a mobile telephone handset. It is also possible to interfere with the operation of the IMEI by the addition of a small electronic chip to the handset and this too is made illegal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, federally
Yeah I am interested in the hiding your IMEI too. I know this was done on Iphone, but anything on android? given how programmable these Android are, is it possible?
I mean faking MAC address was said to be impossible in the beginning, but now you can do it with a flip of a registry on windows.
I don't know if it's possible, but ring up ATT and ask for the "smartphone exclusion" feature on your line. Apparently, the ATT scanner is honoring that and NOT adding plans to those types of lines.
(Please google for more info before you do this.)
i have the N1 (TMobile version) on ATT right now and i have the smartphone exclusion so i never got one of those texts requiring me to get the data plan (others using the N1 on ATT were getting this texts and were forced to add the $30 plan); also, i recently called ATT and added data block on my line; they still think that i have my older phone (blackberry) as that showed up on their system
but i don't know how they will work on this new N1; also, i want to know if i get the AT&T version, will they take off the Data Block feature from my line
They can probably tell very easily what phone you are on. I called T-Mobile (yea yea, not ATT but still) a few days after I got my N1 on launch day to transfer the insurance or whatever, and when I was talking to the rep, he said "so you are calling from your new Nexus One." I didnt say a word about what phone I was on So if T-Mobile can tell what phone is calling them, I can only imagine ATT can too.
They will likely force you into some sort of data plan.
staulkor said:
They can probably tell very easily what phone you are on. I called T-Mobile (yea yea, not ATT but still) a few days after I got my N1 on launch day to transfer the insurance or whatever, and when I was talking to the rep, he said "so you are calling from your new Nexus One." I didnt say a word about what phone I was on So if T-Mobile can tell what phone is calling them, I can only imagine ATT can too.
They will likely force you into some sort of data plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that may be true, but they can't forced me onto a plan because i have the smartphone exclusion grandfathered into my line and i just added the data block
ATT system doesn't have the TMobile N1 imei; hell, i've been with ATT since 2005 with family plan and they still don't have the right phones for 3 of the numbers in their system
mazzarin said:
Illegal in 2... 1...
--edit--
Ah yes:
So, federally
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Luckily for us in the United States, IMEI is not ESN. I have not been able to find anything showing that changing IMEI #s is illegal here, and nobody else has been able to show me any either. We don't use IMEIs to blacklist phones like they do in other countries, so it's not illegal to change them. We do use ESNs that way so it is illegal to change those.
I think it really all depends on whether or not Google gave AT&T a file with all the IMEIs for the AT&T band N1s.
I do know that AT&T has no idea what phone I'm using currently (see sig), but knows immediately when I put my sim into a branded phone (tried w/iPhone, HTC Pure & Pantech Matrix Pro). Not only have I confirmed this over the phone, but I've confimed it by logging into my account after putting a sim into a branded phone, and seeing the phone pop up. No such thing happens with my unbranded phone and unbranded phones I've used in the past.
mazzarin said:
I don't know if it's possible, but ring up ATT and ask for the "smartphone exclusion" feature on your line. Apparently, the ATT scanner is honoring that and NOT adding plans to those types of lines.
(Please google for more info before you do this.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The smartphone exclusion plan is now being phased out internally. They are no longer authorizing reps to add lines into that category as of two months. I think it have something to do with the Nexus One launch?
This I got as 'news' from an AT&T rep direct.
NexusX said:
not trying to cheat them for a $15 data plan vs $30
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Click to collapse
How is this "cheating" them ? They offer unlimited data at 2G speeds and you pay them for it.
NexusX said:
So can they still force me?
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Click to collapse
If they want to they can. Not all companies are anti-evil. Cingular is long dead now.
Ok here the way it works, well for me. I'm on the AT&T network, I'm been out of contract for 10 years. In those 10 years I've always used a smart phone.
When I used an AT&T branded smart phone, within the last few months they will automatically place me on a smart phone data plan. When I used none AT&T smart phones, they don’t know what’s going on.
While using the AT&T smart phone I would call and update my IMEI to a Motorola RAZR IMEI, within two hour or so of use it would switch back. I did this several times, each time it would switch back automatically when I started using the smart phone.
If I use a none AT&T smart phone, there was no problems, they accepted the RAZR IMEI never changed it at all.
I’m not smart enough to tell you how they are getting this info from their phones, I thought it was when I connected via HSDPA/HSUPA but I disabled that and there were still able to tell with I used the AT&T phone.
On the legality of them changing your plan if you read their terms of use, it clearly states if you have a Smart Phone, Iphone, or Blackberry you must have a smart phone data plan of $30 & up. Under contract or not, if you use their service you must comply with their terms of use. But this is America, and if people make enough noise about this it may cause them to change their ways. But these terms of use is similar to most of the major carrier if not all.
What do you do?
Use an AT&T phone smart phone and get charged for the smart phone data plan. Make lots of noise with AT&T and see what it gets you, gets us.
Use a NONE AT&T smart phone use the cheap unlimited data plan.
The AT&T phones I tested were the Fuze, Pure, & IPhones 3GS, all had the smart phone plan added even when I provide the IMEI or the RAZR.
The phones I’ve tested from T-Mobile are the Touch Pro2, G1, & Dash 3G, plus countless amounts of none branded AT&T phones I’ve used in the past.
I’m currently using the T-Mobile Touch Pro2, $15 data plan, AT&T recognizes my phone on their site under my account as a RAZR V3.
Hi everyone,
I recently purchased an unlocked T-Mobile version of the HD2 and am using it on AT&T.
I had a couple of questions:
1) The phone is registered as a blackberry 7290 so will I be required to get the data plan?
2) Is there any way to avoid the data plan while still using the phone? This really is a deal breaker for me since I don't want to shell out 30 bucks to AT&T. I don't need a data plan but if I would have to get it, I wouldn't use the phone and go back to my old flip phone.
Have any of you guys had any success in avoiding the data plan?
Thanks in advance for any answers.
P.S. I really don't care much for the data features or the social networking. Mainly wanted this phone for the beautiful screen and the great camera.
Call them up and tell them you changed phones and want the data plan dropped. Give them the IMEI of a dumbphone when they ask for it (Google for one if you have to.. people give them away on message boards all the time when they want to unlock their phones). Ask them to drop your data plan and add a data block on the line so you don't get billed for WinMo accessing the network on your behalf. From there, you're set.
I've done this and I can get away with AT&T's $10 data plan. I still get full 3G service.
I'll try that tomorrow. That sounds much better. I didn't tell them I have a smartphone obviously. But I did ask them if they can do such a block but they said that its dualband so their system registers it as a sort of "smartphone". Did your AT&T rep tell you that?
On a side note, isn't there a way for them to verify the IMEI? I mean I can give them my IMEI for an old Nokia Phone, but wouldn't they know that isn't the case since they can see the HD2 IMEI?
Thanks for the reply!
[email protected] said:
I'll try that tomorrow. That sounds much better. I didn't tell them I have a smartphone obviously. But I did ask them if they can do such a block but they said that its dualband so their system registers it as a sort of "smartphone". Did your AT&T rep tell you that?
On a side note, isn't there a way for them to verify the IMEI? I mean I can give them my IMEI for an old Nokia Phone, but wouldn't they know that isn't the case since they can see the HD2 IMEI?
Thanks for the reply!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No they didn't tell me that. Call and try again because that CS rep is an idiot or trying to get you some data charges.
At present they can't verify the IMEIs, not over the phone at least.
ATT royally screwed me, they said I had a black berry, I told them I did not. They said if I used any "smart phone" off contract I had to pay for data.
They forced me onto a black berry plan, and told me I had to take my phone to the store and prove it was not a black berry, and if it was in fact a smart phone they would "back" bill me
So then I asked to block the data plan, since I am off contract, they told me that they could not do it, so I told them I was changing carriers.
I will just sell my HD2 and be done with att, go to verizon and hope for better service.
I have been an ATT customer for over 8 years
friend'scatdied said:
No they didn't tell me that. Call and try again because that CS rep is an idiot or trying to get you some data charges.
At present they can't verify the IMEIs, not over the phone at least.
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Click to collapse
The AT&T system does a scan every so often and updates the IMEI that is being used with the sim, that is how they can tell what phone you are using, The system can can only recognize ATT phones that is why it sees it as an old BB.
zelendel said:
The AT&T system does a scan every so often and updates the IMEI that is being used with the sim, that is how they can tell what phone you are using, The system can can only recognize ATT phones that is why it sees it as an old BB.
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Click to collapse
Yes, my OLAM shows that I have a BlackBerry Bold 9700. Yet I am on $30 unlimited data/text for dumbphones since they have a different IMEI on file. AFAIK the only IMEIs AT&T can recognize ATM besides their own is that of HTC Google Nexus Ones of the T-Mobile variety.
I'll call today and see what they will do. AT&T sucks though and their CS in my experience are jerks soooo...yeah.
Thanks for all the help you guys.
@friend'scatdied: Are you using the Australian version to get AT&T 3G? aren't those different and perhaps totally unrecognizable by AT&T?
[email protected] said:
@friend'scatdied: Are you using the Australian version to get AT&T 3G? aren't those different and perhaps totally unrecognizable by AT&T?
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Click to collapse
Yeah, I'm using the Australian Telstra T9193 version. It's more complicated than that but suffice to say I will be among the last to be caught by them, if ever.
Called in today but it looks like they want proof of the phone since their system reads my phone as different. The CS was very polite but said there is nothing she could do since the system automatically scans for IMEI and the scan will change it to the BB 7290...guess I can't really keep the phone then without the lame data plan
Oh well thanks for all the help you guys, I guess I'm doomed to mediocre phones until I find one that I like which won't require a ridiculously expensive data-plan.
[email protected] said:
Called in today but it looks like they want proof of the phone since their system reads my phone as different. The CS was very polite but said there is nothing she could do since the system automatically scans for IMEI and the scan will change it to the BB 7290...guess I can't really keep the phone then without the lame data plan
Oh well thanks for all the help you guys, I guess I'm doomed to mediocre phones until I find one that I like which won't require a ridiculously expensive data-plan.
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Click to collapse
That's just plain stupid. I never get abysmal customer service like that though I am on a FAN plan (so I get Premier Business CS). There should be no reason for them to disallow you from downgrading or removing your data plan.
Its just AT&T wanting to mooch off people. Its ok...I guess I can still use the HD2 as a super duper expensive PDA with a lot of cool features and a *****in' camera right?
[email protected] said:
Called in today but it looks like they want proof of the phone since their system reads my phone as different. The CS was very polite but said there is nothing she could do since the system automatically scans for IMEI and the scan will change it to the BB 7290...guess I can't really keep the phone then without the lame data plan
Oh well thanks for all the help you guys, I guess I'm doomed to mediocre phones until I find one that I like which won't require a ridiculously expensive data-plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah its a major downer considering that the HD2 is on edge only and has very few apps that pull much data.
Its reason enough for me to sell mine, I can't use tmobile as they dont have service where I live, so verizon here I come!
digitallysick said:
ATT royally screwed me, they said I had a black berry, I told them I did not. They said if I used any "smart phone" off contract I had to pay for data.
They forced me onto a black berry plan, and told me I had to take my phone to the store and prove it was not a black berry, and if it was in fact a smart phone they would "back" bill me
So then I asked to block the data plan, since I am off contract, they told me that they could not do it, so I told them I was changing carriers.
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Click to collapse
That is absolute crap. I can understand requiring a data plan if they subsidize a smart phone, but if you are off contract and bring your own phone there is absolutely no reason they should do this. If I were you I would file a complaint with the FCC.
BAMF said:
That is absolute crap. I can understand requiring a data plan if they subsidize a smart phone, but if you are off contract and bring your own phone there is absolutely no reason they should do this. If I were you I would file a complaint with the FCC.
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Click to collapse
Or go through retentions. I understand their retentions department wouldn't try to pull moves like this.
I was in the EXACT same predicament, att tried making me get the mandatory data plan which in fact I kicked and screamed about..What I found out is, that once you unlock the phone it doesnt register to att, basically it reads as the same phone you had currently registered with att. You WONT be required to but you will have wifi
chochard said:
I was in the EXACT same predicament, att tried making me get the mandatory data plan which in fact I kicked and screamed about..What I found out is, that once you unlock the phone it doesnt register to att, basically it reads as the same phone you had currently registered with att. You WONT be required to but you will have wifi
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Click to collapse
Really? Do explain more please..
[email protected] said:
Hi everyone,
I recently purchased an unlocked T-Mobile version of the HD2 and am using it on AT&T.
I had a couple of questions:
1) The phone is registered as a blackberry 7290 so will I be required to get the data plan?
2) Is there any way to avoid the data plan while still using the phone? This really is a deal breaker for me since I don't want to shell out 30 bucks to AT&T. I don't need a data plan but if I would have to get it, I wouldn't use the phone and go back to my old flip phone.
Have any of you guys had any success in avoiding the data plan?
Thanks in advance for any answers.
P.S. I really don't care much for the data features or the social networking. Mainly wanted this phone for the beautiful screen and the great camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm paying $15 / 200MB data plan with att. I once had no data plan, pay per use. I might just switch to tmo.
Just curious, if i install a custom rom on my hd2 do i still have to unlock it to use it on at&t?
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
chip0 said:
Just curious, if i install a custom rom on my hd2 do i still have to unlock it to use it on at&t?
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea you do, the ROMs don't unlock the device.
So I'm on a 3g android smartphone with AT&T right now and if i got a 4g off contract would i have to pay for the 4g service which is really expensive or could i just stay on my good Ole 3g service i am currently using?
I think you can keep your current plan, but don't hold me to that. It may have changed since I've asked about it.
Source
This is the latest thing I've found regarding you question. I asked a little while after that. xD
Since when did they start offering a 4g plan?
I know with my AT&T Sony Ericsson Xperia X10a that when I unbranded and updated to 2.1, my mobile data automatically increased from 3G to "H" or HSPA which is like 3.5G without any rate changes.
I am guessing with AT&T that 4G will be more money, so I am happy with HSPA at 3G rates. Especially since the competition is limiting the speeds of their unlimited data plans.
i thnk the 4g prices will be the same as 3g then 3g prices will drop down.
But will using "4G" route you through a different WAP? If not and it's all a matter of wording and phrasing, I say root/rom and use unlimited data as if you were on a non-smartphone. They don't have to know, you don't have to throw your $ away.
Skv012a said:
But will using "4G" route you through a different WAP? If not and it's all a matter of wording and phrasing, I say root/rom and use unlimited data as if you were on a non-smartphone. They don't have to know, you don't have to throw your $ away.
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Click to collapse
The fact is that with AT&T data is measured in MB or GB, not speed or time. Regardless of how fast or slow you download or use data, it is metered.
However, I do agree that it could be as easy as changing your settings to access 4G, but it won't save you any money.
AT&T's "4G" technology is technically 3G according to the standards committee that oversees these technologies. However, when AT&T starts deploying real 4G, LTE, the prices have a good chance of changing. For now, "4G" plans cost the same as any other.
Sent from my SGH-i917 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
jonandkym said:
AT&T's "4G" technology is technically 3G according to the standards committee that oversees these technologies. However, when AT&T starts deploying real 4G, LTE, the prices have a good chance of changing. For now, "4G" plans cost the same as any other.
Sent from my SGH-i917 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly, it is based on volume of data used, not on speed of use.
I personally plan to switch to verizon once they allow data roll over and family-plan sharing.
wcdolphin said:
I personally plan to switch to verizon once they allow data roll over and family-plan sharing.
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Click to collapse
Verizon also limits data speeds on unlimited plans. Either way you are going to pay for data in time or money.
I have a very similar question. Hopefully someone can shed some light.
HERES WHAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW:
I am currently using a Rogers HTC Dream, unlocked rooted and running Gingeryoshi on AT&T. On my line, "Line A," I have the $10 unlimited dumbphone data plan and AT&T thinks I have a Samsung A737 (ancient slider phone). When I bought the phone on ebay, I just put in the APN settings and off I went.
Thanks to a contract renewal discount on "Line B" on my account, whose user does not need a new phone, I recently purchased an HTC Inspire 4G.
HERE IS THE QUESTION:
When I receive the phone, AT&T told me that I can use it on Line A, even though it was purchased through Line B. However, they said I need to call in to activate it. They said that until I do the upgrade will be listed as "incomplete" on their end. Further, they said that I will have to bump up to at least the $15 200MB data plan.
I told them I just want to sell the phone and not use it. They told me I still have to call and activate it, but that I can then "remove" it from the account and "reactivate" my dumbphone, at which point I will be reverted to the $10 a month dumbphone plan.
The $1,000,000 question: when I receive the new AT&T branded HTC Inspire, can I just pop my existing sim that I'm using in my Rogers Dream into the Inspire, and use it without calling to activate?
**to be clear, I'm not talking about bypassing the Android activation screen. Seeing as how there was no "activation" process for my Rogers Dream, I'm unfamiliar with the process as to AT&T branded phones. So, I guess the questions is if it is any different. I am comfortable rooting and roming, so if either of those processes will get me an Inspire working with my $10 data plan I'm ready to pull the trigger.
ALSO: THANK YOU XDA FORUMS. I think this is my first real post here, but I have browsed the forums for hours and you all helped me along from tethering my A737 to rooting my first T-Mobile G1, to installing roms and the DangerSPL on my Rogers Dream, so hopefully you can help me with this!
okachowwa said:
So I'm on a 3g android smartphone with AT&T right now and if i got a 4g off contract would i have to pay for the 4g service which is really expensive or could i just stay on my good Ole 3g service i am currently using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jessehclark said:
I have a very similar question. Hopefully someone can shed some light.
HERES WHAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW:
I am currently using a Rogers HTC Dream, unlocked rooted and running Gingeryoshi on AT&T. On my line, "Line A," I have the $10 unlimited dumbphone data plan and AT&T thinks I have a Samsung A737 (ancient slider phone). When I bought the phone on ebay, I just put in the APN settings and off I went.
Thanks to a contract renewal discount on "Line B" on my account, whose user does not need a new phone, I recently purchased an HTC Inspire 4G.
HERE IS THE QUESTION:
When I receive the phone, AT&T told me that I can use it on Line A, even though it was purchased through Line B. However, they said I need to call in to activate it. They said that until I do the upgrade will be listed as "incomplete" on their end. Further, they said that I will have to bump up to at least the $15 200MB data plan.
I told them I just want to sell the phone and not use it. They told me I still have to call and activate it, but that I can then "remove" it from the account and "reactivate" my dumbphone, at which point I will be reverted to the $10 a month dumbphone plan.
The $1,000,000 question: when I receive the new AT&T branded HTC Inspire, can I just pop my existing sim that I'm using in my Rogers Dream into the Inspire, and use it without calling to activate?
**to be clear, I'm not talking about bypassing the Android activation screen. Seeing as how there was no "activation" process for my Rogers Dream, I'm unfamiliar with the process as to AT&T branded phones. So, I guess the questions is if it is any different. I am comfortable rooting and roming, so if either of those processes will get me an Inspire working with my $10 data plan I'm ready to pull the trigger.
ALSO: THANK YOU XDA FORUMS. I think this is my first real post here, but I have browsed the forums for hours and you all helped me along from tethering my A737 to rooting my first T-Mobile G1, to installing roms and the DangerSPL on my Rogers Dream, so hopefully you can help me with this!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I work for AT&T and saw this thread and thought maybe I'd help clear some of this stuff up.
First, the 3G and the 4G plans are pretty much the same thing. You should be good using a 4g phone off contract. they are labeled different in my system at AT&T but I believe them to be the same plan because AT&T does not have a full 4G plan yet. But to be safe you can switch because the 4G plan smartphone plan costs the same as the 3G smartphone plan.
Unless you are saying you have a 3G "QMD" (Quick Messaging Device), or in lamest terms, a Non-Smartphone or "DumbPhone" haha. And that leads me to my next point. Pay attention here haha. As far as I've seen, if you have an ATT phone, the system will automatically detect if you've switched phones. Like if you went from a QMD to a ATT Smartphone, the system will auto-detect that you have a smartphone and will switch your data plan and notify you of it.
BUT, from what I've seen a few times, if you get a NON ATT Smartphone, the system doesnt seem to recognize you have a smartphone because it doesnt recognize the IMEI as a smartphone but instead as a Third-Party Device. Therefore it doesnt change your plan.
Now this does not happen to ALL non-ATT smarphones. Like my buddy who went from a QMD to an unlocked Tmo HD2 on his ATT plan. the system some how recognized his phone as a smartphone and switched him. He might have one of the phones that ATT has been able to recognize I guess.
As for getting the Inspire 4G and not activating it but using it on your other line, I would have to say that is a bad idea. If you dont activate it then after 30 days that additional line is cancelled and removed off your acct and ATT will then request the phone back. and if you dont return it, then ATT will charge the price of the phone to your acct. So no, dont do that.
As far as I know, the best way to go about getting a smartphone and not be forced to change your plan from the $10 QMD unlimited data plan to the smartphone plans is to get a non-ATT smartphone and hope they cannot recognize it as a smartphone.
My guess would be if you use 2 gb of data on that though, ATT might start asking questions as to why you are using 2gb of data on a non-smartphone though, haha. so be careful.
wrote a book but atleast I cleared some stuff up for you guys
thanks for the input chris-
you got at something that i had been wondering, mainly, whats the difference (in terms of detecting whether i have a smart phone) between my G1 or my Dream and the Inspire I just ordered. Is it that AT&T has the IMEI? I thought carriers could detect the IMEI of my Dream and discover that it was a smartphone, but they haven't...
As for the data, what's funny is that I've been using the Dream on that line with the $10 plan for 2 years, averaging 1 to 3 GB of data a month. I even had the rep pull up my account and, in the same conversation, verify that I had an A737 dumbphone (its just easier to say) and that I was using over 2GB of data. =) hahah
so, I guess I will need to activate the phone, tell them im selling it and using a razr, give them the razr imei (i have an old one) then switch the sim to the inspire and hope they dont catch it.
i wonder if anyone has tried this (maybe using an AT&T phone that they purchased on craigslist or ebay on AT&T) and how it went for them.
I guess this is sort of the even cheaper form of the UNLIM DATA 4 EVERYONE iPhone 2G trick!
PS chris I lold when you said you worked for AT&T but your info shows you're a Tmo customer. =) Maybe soon they'll be one in the same...
jessehclark said:
thanks for the input chris-
you got at something that i had been wondering, mainly, whats the difference (in terms of detecting whether i have a smart phone) between my G1 or my Dream and the Inspire I just ordered. Is it that AT&T has the IMEI? I thought carriers could detect the IMEI of my Dream and discover that it was a smartphone, but they haven't...
As for the data, what's funny is that I've been using the Dream on that line with the $10 plan for 2 years, averaging 1 to 3 GB of data a month. I even had the rep pull up my account and, in the same conversation, verify that I had an A737 dumbphone (its just easier to say) and that I was using over 2GB of data. =) hahah
so, I guess I will need to activate the phone, tell them im selling it and using a razr, give them the razr imei (i have an old one) then switch the sim to the inspire and hope they dont catch it.
i wonder if anyone has tried this (maybe using an AT&T phone that they purchased on craigslist or ebay on AT&T) and how it went for them.
I guess this is sort of the even cheaper form of the UNLIM DATA 4 EVERYONE iPhone 2G trick!
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad I could help
But again I would strongly advise not actually using the Inspire because even if you give them the imei of a Moto Razr, if you put that sim in the Inspire, since it's an AT&T phone, They will probably recognize it automatically and sign you up on the smartphone data plan. The only way that I know of to get around it is to use a NON-ATT smartphone, therefore they dont know what the phone is.
Know what I mean?
and as for this..
jessehclark said:
PS chris I lold when you said you worked for AT&T but your info shows you're a Tmo customer. =) Maybe soon they'll be one in the same...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I love being a customer with Tmo. And I swear I'll be so mad if this merger goes thru
thanks again chris!
everyone's responses are always appreciated. thought i'd give you all a quick update:
today my inspire arrived. I called the automated activation line, entered some billing info, and accepted the terms and conditions. i did not use the new sim card sent to me at any point.
i called ATT&T just to be safe and confirm, which they did, that i had completed activation properly. my line wouldnt be canceled because i didnt put the new sim in the new phone, and i would not be charged the retail price of the inspire even though it was not registered on the line i used to order it. i told them simply that i wanted to sell the inspire, and they assured me it would work without further AT&T involvement if i put in a compatible sim card. seems like they are most concerned about 1) getting you to accept the contract in exchange for the phone and 2) getting you on a **&%*[email protected] data plan if they catch wind of you using a smartphone.
they also confirmed that NO data charges had been added to the line i used to order the upgrade, and that the 2 year contract was in effect. score.
inspire is charging, ill let you all know how it goes when i turn it on and put in my OLD AT&T sim (on the line with the $10 dumbphone plan). According to chris im rolling the dice here, so OPTIMALLY it will turn on, connect to sweet sweet 4G data, and AT&T will keep thinking I have a dumbphone. if so, chalk one up for shiftiness.
yes is it man
I have an unlocked Tmo HD2 on AT&T rooted to NexusHD Gingerbread. They think I'm still using a dumb phone. My data rate did not change.
AT&T PayBack
Egrier said:
I have an unlocked Tmo HD2 on AT&T rooted to NexusHD Gingerbread. They think I'm still using a dumb phone. My data rate did not change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(Someone) should open a new thread on the whole various factors of unlocking non att phones or actual att smartphones but being able to trick att into thinking were using a crappy dumb phone haha (;
Brought To You By:
-SystemErrorOne-
I second that notion above me!
I'm thinking about switching to the Nexus One that works with the ATT 850 and 1900 bands but, after reading all these stories of people getting switched over to the $30 smartphone data plan I'm contemplating whether I should or not. It seems as though ATT is starting to recognizing and crackdown on more and more non-att smartphone imeis and switching them to the "appropriate" smartphone data plan.
Is there a list of phones that are still unrecognized by ATTs database?
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.