Database Users

3G data only plans?

Bought the NS no-contract and was wondering if anyone knows of, and can recommend a 3G data only plan? I don't need voice, just a data plan, preferably no contract. Thanks!

aimfire72 said:
Bought the NS no-contract and was wondering if anyone knows of, and can recommend a 3G data only plan? I don't need voice, just a data plan, preferably no contract. Thanks!
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Im sure you could go to Tmobile and just ask them to put a data plan on the phone...it is 30 bucks though

You have few choices:
1. webconnect 5GB semi-unlimited: $40 a month (I use it with nexus one and NS)
2. smartphone data only plan: $40 plus 40 cents a min voice
3. $1.5/day PAYG webpass
#1 and #2 are Even More Plus internet plans.

Minkee, these are Tmob plans? Thanks.

aimfire72 said:
Minkee, these are Tmob plans? Thanks.
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Yes these are TMobile plans.

Ugh, went to a T-Mobile store near me tonight and neither of the clerks had any clue what I was talking about. Only thing they knew about was a 2-year contract plan for $40/month, which I think is actually the Tab plan. I'm just gonna need to call the main #, I have the sim that came in the box, hopefully they can activate it from there.

aimfire72 said:
Ugh, went to a T-Mobile store near me tonight and neither of the clerks had any clue what I was talking about. Only thing they knew about was a 2-year contract plan for $40/month, which I think is actually the Tab plan. I'm just gonna need to call the main #, I have the sim that came in the box, hopefully they can activate it from there.
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From what I remember, they have to program the SIM in-store or back at HQ/factory.

tekkitan said:
From what I remember, they have to program the SIM in-store or back at HQ/factory.
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Nope. Any SIM can be activated by giving them the number on the SIM card. I've done it with T-Mobile and at&t
Sent from my Nexus S

Going nuts over here, lol... called T-Mobile and no one knows anything... one guy even said they did not have 3G plans because they're going over to 4G now... try again tomorrow, lol
EDIT: It seems like a lot of those other plans may be grandfathered, looks like Tmob has raised prices and the month-to-month plans are a rip-off. I'm thinking of giving SimpleMobile a try with their $60/month-to-month, unlimited everything plan (uses Tmob's network)

I have the Even More Plus plan for $59 a month. 500 minutes/unlimited text/web
I had to call to get it - doesn't show on the website

Dunno what the problem is, just go to tmobile.com, go to Shop/Plans/Individual.
Type in your zipcode.
Then on the left, uncheck everything except "DATA ONLY"
You should see "Even More Smartphone Unlimited Web & E-mail" for $49.99/month

aimfire72 said:
Going nuts over here, lol... called T-Mobile and no one knows anything... one guy even said they did not have 3G plans because they're going over to 4G now... try again tomorrow, lol
EDIT: It seems like a lot of those other plans may be grandfathered, looks like Tmob has raised prices and the month-to-month plans are a rip-off. I'm thinking of giving SimpleMobile a try with their $60/month-to-month, unlimited everything plan (uses Tmob's network)
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Don't ask for a 3g plan, just ask for a data plan. If you get too specific you'll confuse the monkeys behind the counter

mingkee said:
You have few choices:
1. webconnect 5GB semi-unlimited: $40 a month (I use it with nexus one and NS)
#1 and #2 are Even More Plus internet plans.
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Thanks, this is what I went for. Had to call to ask for it and they were able to activate the sim that came with the NS. Was activated in about a minute, lol.

$10/month unlimited data

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

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

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

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

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

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

You will eventually get caught

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anyone that has the Galaxy Note also has U.S.A AT&T service ?

Currently I have the U.S.A T-mobile service so when I get the Galaxy Note, I will only have Edge speed.
I am willing to switch over the AT&T for 3G service or higher internet speed but only for month to month basis since this Galaxy Note will be an unlocked phone so I will not be require to sign up in a contract.
For those in the U.S.A that has AT&T and also has just received the Galaxy Note, do you like the internet speed of AT&T ?
I have heard bad things about AT&T such as dropped call and poor signal, etc...
so I am just a little bit worry about signing up with AT&T.
My initial intention was to get the Nexus and go with Verizon but the Nexus is not as good as the Galaxy Note.
Also, which AT&T plan should I get?. I don't talk much on the phone but I do a lot of surfing on the internet. I need internet speed that is fast and reliable.

Just get the lowest minute plan and get 2GB internet. I'd get on contract, buy the Nexus or the iPhone and sell them on ebay for $700 and use that towards your note, that's what I did. I can't comment on internet speeds because I'm always on wifi.

Buy an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note. Put it on Straight Talk Mobile prepaid for $45/month which uses AT&T's network. You would have to buy a refurbed Nokia E71 phone for $99 to do it and put the sim card in the Note with some settings changes. You get unlimited talk/text/data with no contract using AT&T's 3G network.

No Sim
adelmundo said:
Buy an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note. Put it on Straight Talk Mobile prepaid for $45/month which uses AT&T's network. You would have to buy a refurbed Nokia E71 phone for $99 to do it and put the sim card in the Note with some settings changes. You get unlimited talk/text/data with no contract using AT&T's 3G network.
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I went in to a Walmart to check this straight talk out and they said they don't carry sim cards. it's like sprint.

getmouse said:
I went in to a Walmart to check this straight talk out and they said they don't carry sim cards. it's like sprint.
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My understanding is that they employ different network types in different regions.

Get the MediaNet plan which is either $10 or $15 (depending if you have messaging or not) a month for unlimited data.

Earthbrain said:
Currently I have the U.S.A T-mobile service so when I get the Galaxy Note, I will only have Edge speed.
I am willing to switch over the AT&T for 3G service or higher internet speed but only for month to month basis since this Galaxy Note will be an unlocked phone so I will not be require to sign up in a contract.
For those in the U.S.A that has AT&T and also has just received the Galaxy Note, do you like the internet speed of AT&T ?
I have heard bad things about AT&T such as dropped call and poor signal, etc...
so I am just a little bit worry about signing up with AT&T.
My initial intention was to get the Nexus and go with Verizon but the Nexus is not as good as the Galaxy Note.
Also, which AT&T plan should I get?. I don't talk much on the phone but I do a lot of surfing on the internet. I need internet speed that is fast and reliable.
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even I was thinking of doing the same thing, after a lot of discussion here on forum I have learnt that you go for att pay as you go prepaid plan which is $50/month, you get unlimited call/sms/data even sms to some 100 countries! the only thing you have to follow is activate the card using a dumbphone like razr or similar and then put your card in unlocked phone with correct APN and profit!
Only care you have to take is never put that sim in att smartphone or network will detect and you will be charged for smartphone plan..
if anyone else knows a better way, please post here..

So is there any other suggestions on the best AT&T plan?
I am currently using the Note for the last 4 days.
I am still using T-mobile plan since my contract won't be up until next month in December.
However, I am only getting EDGE speed for my $10/month for 200 MB and it is so slow.
I really need to take advantage of Note since it is an expensive phone and I want to get at least 3G speed at AT&T. I have never signed up with AT&T so I am not familiar with its plans or any good tricks to get the best data plan.

waghoba said:
even I was thinking of doing the same thing, after a lot of discussion here on forum I have learnt that you go for att pay as you go prepaid plan which is $50/month, you get unlimited call/sms/data even sms to some 100 countries! the only thing you have to follow is activate the card using a dumbphone like razr or similar and then put your card in unlocked phone with correct APN and profit!
Only care you have to take is never put that sim in att smartphone or network will detect and you will be charged for smartphone plan..
if anyone else knows a better way, please post here..
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Click to collapse
I just went to an AT&T store about 2 hours ago (in San Diego) and spoke with a sale rep and he told me that using a smart phone with the prepaid plan for non-smart phone will not work.
I don't know if he is just want to prevent me from getting a good deal or he just doesn't know any loophole.

Earthbrain said:
I just went to an AT&T store about 2 hours ago (in San Diego) and spoke with a sale rep and he told me that using a smart phone with the prepaid plan for non-smart phone will not work.
I don't know if he is just want to prevent me from getting a good deal or he just doesn't know any loophole.
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that is correct, its a loophole, you should never tell them that you are using a smartphone!
that is why I said 'activate using a dumbphone and then put the card and APN in your note, att can only detect their own subsidized smart phones and not the unlocked ones, so you are safe...
EDIT: and I dont think att representative will tell you this method even if he is using it! as he wants his job, right?

I've heard using prepaid services (gophone, straight talk) with a smart phone only give you around 500Kbps speeds. So even if its unlimited (I've heard straight talk caps you at 70MB per day) its hardly worth it considering how slow the internet is. And yes. Those speeds were with HSPA+ compatible phones on AT&T.
Can anyone confirm/deny/elaborate? At 500kbps I should just stay on Tmo since Edge speeds are not much slower.

There is a whole thread here of people's speeds on Straight Talk. Seems like it is not capped at 500kbps.
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1737642-Post-Your-Straight-Talk-Speedtests

Earthbrain said:
I just went to an AT&T store about 2 hours ago (in San Diego) and spoke with a sale rep and he told me that using a smart phone with the prepaid plan for non-smart phone will not work.
I don't know if he is just want to prevent me from getting a good deal or he just doesn't know any loophole.
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I experienced this last month while on hols in New York. Im a Brit and took along my Galaxy Tab 7". Dropped by an AT&T shop and said I wanted to buy a pre-paid SIM to use in it. He refused to sell me one. No technical reasons why it wouldn't work. Just seemed like a policy decision. I was shocked!
Tried a T-Mobile shop nearby and picked up a PAYG SIM for around $30, which did the job, but it was slooow. Think I was on Edge network at best. Good enough for Places and navigation, but a bit crap for browsing. Lesson learned - don't tell them the device is a smartphone/tablet .

You were on EDGE on T-Mobile because ATT and T-Mobile use different freqs for 3g in US. The GTab probably doesn't support T-Mobile s 3g freqs.
Next time go to a Walmart and get a Straight Talk prepaid package. You have to buy a 99 dollar dumbphone to activate the SIM then you should get 3g data once you move that SIM to the GTab and set the APN.
The howardforum link in earlier post is good info.

I am running my Note on AT&T with a $10/mo unlimited data for non-smartphones plan (family plan) and I get 4.5mbps down and 1.06mbps up in H+ areas. Freakin sweet.

Earthbrain said:
I just went to an AT&T store about 2 hours ago (in San Diego) and spoke with a sale rep and he told me that using a smart phone with the prepaid plan for non-smart phone will not work.
I don't know if he is just want to prevent me from getting a good deal or he just doesn't know any loophole.
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Ya that was a wrong move to go in and talk to an ATT rep about it. There are many that have this plan who use the international SGS2. Check in their XDA forum. It works.

waghoba said:
Only care you have to take is never put that sim in att smartphone or network will detect and you will be charged for smartphone plan..
if anyone else knows a better way, please post here..
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I think i f'd this up just now. Got my note today and ordered the sim from at&t after porting number over from verizon. I originally signed up online for the $40 450 mins + $30 dumbphone unlimited sms/data. But when calling to activate the phone i used the galaxy note's imei to activate the sim and they were able to detect that it was a smartphone (i thought they weren't able to do that with an international unlocked phone??); so the rep signed me up for $20 sms and $25 2gb plan. so now is there any way to go back to the dumbphone unlimited plan or will my Note's imei always be detected as a smartphone now??

leaverus said:
I think i f'd this up just now. Got my note today and ordered the sim from at&t after porting number over from verizon. I originally signed up online for the $40 450 mins + $30 dumbphone unlimited sms/data. But when calling to activate the phone i used the galaxy note's imei to activate the sim and they were able to detect that it was a smartphone (i thought they weren't able to do that with an international unlocked phone??); so the rep signed me up for $20 sms and $25 2gb plan. so now is there any way to go back to the dumbphone unlimited plan or will my Note's imei always be detected as a smartphone now??
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you're screwed, you needed to give the imei of a dumbphone or just put the sim into a dumbphone first. maybe have a friend do it for you as you are likely flagged forever.

I'm currently still on contract with 2 GB data and a captivate. If I get the international note can I bump it down to the medianet plan?

I've got a note on ATT in the US. I have a 4g plan (used the note's imei) and the best speeds I've seen with speedtest are in the 5m down 1m up range. Some places it's been 1m/1m or worse, and the phone's bounced between 3g and H+.
I found some link the other day that showed ATT H+ coverage area, and I guess it shouldn't come as a big surprise.

[Q] The best pay as you go in US

Hi everybody!
Looking for some advice from US members.
I'm gonna travel in US for almost a month: couple weeks at Hawaii and couple weeks for LA, SF and NY.
Could somebody suggest a best pay as you go plan for this trip not for calls but for unlimited data or something looks like unlimited. I got Nexus S 3G. And is there this roaming prices or it doesn't matter where you actually is in US?
PS: Surely I can look through all the networks websites but I just thought that locals should know this and the answer won't take much time.
Thanks!

T-Mobile USA offers a no-contract package for US$30 a month that gives you 100 minutes talk, unlimited (to the US) SMS and unlimited 3g data (speeds throttled to 2g after 5gb use).
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans
Nationwide coverage, roaming included. You might have to pay the activation fee (usually US$35) but that's about the only option in the US that is GSM, works with any unlocked phone, and offers what you're looking for.

Thanks a lot! That's what I needed
Cheers!

lol, you forgot about boost, $50 for unlimited everything with shrinkage to $35 i believe unless it changed, really don't remember

A2CKilla said:
lol, you forgot about boost, $50 for unlimited everything with shrinkage to $35 i believe unless it changed, really don't remember
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This won't work for a Nexus S though (Boost is CDMA I believe)... and the shrinkage wouldn't happen for a long time. I'm on the $30 a month T-Mobile one and it works great! Make sure you have the right radios for your phone to work on T-Mobile though. Also, the plan does come with 4G (at least if you consider HSPA+ 4G...). Otherwise, AT&T will give you 500 MB on prepaid for $25 a month and you can combine that with a few options for text and talk. The only problem with the T-Mobile deal is that it is online only (unless you get it at Walmart), so you will have to go a few days without service while you wait for your sim to arrive.

A2CKilla said:
lol, you forgot about boost, $50 for unlimited everything with shrinkage to $35 i believe unless it changed, really don't remember
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Shrinkage kicks in after how many months?
Antoxin said:
I'm gonna travel in US for almost a month: couple weeks at Hawaii and couple weeks for LA, SF and NY.
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Click to collapse
He said about a month.
T-Mobile also has a unlimited $50 plan.
He also said he has his own phone. GSM. Won't work on the CDMA / iDEN network. CDMA phones just being locked.
Antoxin said:
I got Nexus S 3G.
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You weren't very helpful A2CKilla.

zigzackattack said:
This won't work for a Nexus S though (Boost is CDMA I believe)... and the shrinkage wouldn't happen for a long time. I'm on the $30 a month T-Mobile one and it works great! Make sure you have the right radios for your phone to work on T-Mobile though. Also, the plan does come with 4G (at least if you consider HSPA+ 4G...). Otherwise, AT&T will give you 500 MB on prepaid for $25 a month and you can combine that with a few options for text and talk. The only problem with the T-Mobile deal is that it is online only (unless you get it at Walmart), so you will have to go a few days without service while you wait for your sim to arrive.
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IS there some special radio required?
AT&T with 25$ for 500 Mb is not even close to T-Mobile's offer.
Probably I have to order sim few days prior arrival. Does Walmart always have these sim's in stock?
What I didn't get is how to buy this plan. There is no option to buy simcard with this plan. So do I have to buy just simcard without a plan than activate it and choose a plan? If so why I can't do it by buing sim at tmobile office?

There are Walmart stores all across the country. When you buy it there they'll give you the activated sim right there in store. US GSM carriers toss the sim in free when you buy the plan... part of the activation fee. And no special radios required. T-Mobile uses the international 3g bands. Its at&t that uses weird frequencies
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

Andassaran said:
There are Walmart stores all across the country. When you buy it there they'll give you the activated sim right there in store. US GSM carriers toss the sim in free when you buy the plan... part of the activation fee
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
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Cool thanks!

I edited my last post right as you replied lol.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

Andassaran said:
I edited my last post right as you replied lol.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
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Got it thanks!

Roaming on your carrier

Hey guys, I wanted to know if you think this will work with waiving a early termination fee on at&t. I read that if you use a lot of roaming which uses a competitive service to your carriers network, your carrier will contact you and let you know that it's recommended to switch carriers. First I would just try calling them up and tell them I moved to a rural area and the service sucks. Let me know if any of you guys have had any information on this.

Why don't you just try to find somebody to take over your account?

greeky510 said:
Why don't you just try to find somebody to take over your account?
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How does that work, like over Craigslist? Wouldn't they just run up the bill because your the billing account.

No, you actually transfer your account over to them. They will be the account holder and you will have nothing to do with it anymore. Do a search here on XDA about transferring accounts. I'm sorry I have no more info on it as I haven't personally done it.

It's called assumption of liability and it's done rather often. I see people transferring contracts here on xda every so often. The carrier doesn't care as long as they get paid.

Oh ok, now I see what you guys are talking about. I only have about a month and a half left now though. I'm trying to get the new Htc One XL or X on a prepaid MVNO to get off these annoying 2 year contracts.

I know they do it on Sprint. When you roam on Sprint, you are using Verizon's service. There is an app called Roam Control which allows you to force roaming. If you roam too much for a several months, Sprint will tell you to go to a different carrier and waive the ETF.

adelmundo said:
I know they do it on Sprint. When you roam on Sprint, you are using Verizon's service. There is an app called Roam Control which allows you to force roaming. If you roam too much for a several months, Sprint will tell you to go to a different carrier and waive the ETF.
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Oh ok; I'm assuming the major 4 carriers offer free roaming (until it's abused) when available in the US? I just paid the ETF for my at&t contract because it was not worth it to go from one representative to the next that would have a different story. One guy told me it's not at&t's problem for having no coverage in my area. The ETF was $66, so not bad.