I am considering getting a Samsung Vibrant these days. There is one thing that bother me a lot.
I am a student from China. And I am getting a prepaid SIM from T-mobile without any kind of plan right now for the price reason.
I was wondering if I got a unlocked Samsung Vibrant from eBay and use it on the T-mobile network, do I have to pay for the data plan?
The thing is I owned a AT&T Fuze before and everything works fine on the T-mobile network except for the 3G. That's okay for me cuz I don't use 3G anyway. But there is one time that my friend who is on AT&T network borrow my Fuze for couple days, and AT&T just added the data plan for it automatically. My friend try to call the staff in AT&T and they said that since HTC Fuze is a smart phone from AT&T, it require a data plan so he cannot cancel it. And they can tell when he insert the SIM card and AT&T will get the IMEI from him automatically.
I just wondering will the same thing happen in T-mobile? 30$/month is way to much for me.
BTW, there is another question for you guys. There is a lot of unlocked Galaxy S on eBay, which is nice. I was wondering how they get it unlocked? Can I get them unlocked right in the "carrier shop"? Or there is other ways that I can get the unlocked code?
Thx you guys anyway for answering these questions. BIG HAPPY FACE
You might have to spoof the IMEI, you're in the same boat as my friend. He wants to use his old Sidekick plan with the phone but since's it's not a Sidekick he can't use the data at all because they know he's using a smart phone. Discussing IMEI's is not usually allowed on xda because it's illegal in some countries. I think that's your only solution though.
Wait a few months until the phone is more popular and you'll be able to easily find ways to spoof the IMEI. So far I have found none.
you have to have the android web spoofed or not. Without it TMO will lock you out of the market and mms
Sent from the best phone from TMO... Vibrant
as long as you use t mobile prepaid, you won't be charged for a data plan.
Why do you want to buy those expensive vibrants from ebay? I'd rather buy it from tmobile with 2 year contract, then cancel the plan and pay the ETF.
You can try to ask a t mobile online csr for the unlock code. Just tell him you will travel outside of us.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
neasoon said:
as long as you use t mobile prepaid, you won't be charged for a data plan.
Why do you want to buy those expensive vibrants from ebay? I'd rather buy it from tmobile with 2 year contract, then cancel the plan and pay the ETF.
You can try to ask a t mobile online csr for the unlock code. Just tell him you will travel outside of us.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He said he is a student from china so I assume he does not have a SS# and without one he cannot sign up for a contract.
The best thing you can do OP is buy a Galaxy S i9000 off ebay. Tmobile only has the IMEI for the vibrants. That way you can pop your sim into the international version and they wont know.
Or get a sim card from mysimplemobile.com $60 a month for unlimited everything and it uses tmobile service. That is what I switched to and it works with my vibrant without an unlock.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
PathogenX said:
He said he is a student from china so I assume he does not have a SS# and without one he cannot sign up for a contract.
The best thing you can do OP is buy a Galaxy S i9000 off ebay. Tmobile only has the IMEI for the vibrants. That way you can pop your sim into the international version and they wont know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. You are right. I don't have the SSN right now so it's difficult for me to sign a contract.
The international version which is the i9000 is not bad. But I notice the price for the international version are significantly more expensive than the vibrant, for like 100-200$.
Anyway, thx for the suggestions.
j0eyred said:
Or get a sim card from mysimplemobile.com $60 a month for unlimited everything and it uses tmobile service. That is what I switched to and it works with my vibrant without an unlock.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the suggestions. But 60$ still seems to be a lot for me.
So I might try to figure out another way to make it happen. lol
Im using the vibrant on tmo after upgrade. you can go online and remove the service. I paid for one month and canceled. you just change the type of phone to one not requiring android data plan ie a non android phone and it will let you remove it. I'm using it purely on wifi. just remember you will need it unlocked or w/ 3g to activate it initially or after wipe.
vnamee said:
Im using the vibrant on tmo after upgrade. you can go online and remove the service. I paid for one month and canceled. you just change the type of phone to one not requiring android data plan ie a non android phone and it will let you remove it. I'm using it purely on wifi. just remember you will need it unlocked or w/ 3g to activate it initially or after wipe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh, Hmmm I paid the full 500 and today is the last day I can return mine. How much was the termination fee out of curiosity?
Another question, I have been using mine prepaid for almost a month now and TMO hasn't given me any trouble with it. (Aside from the reps in the store when I went to buy it).
Do you think I should bother to spoof my IMEI? Is that something that can get a fellow into trouble in this paranoid new world?
From what I've read everywhere else, it seems that TMO needs your business and won't give you any trouble using a prepaid sim in the phone. Whose to say that won't change in the future though.
lianglqufo said:
Thank you for the suggestions. But 60$ still seems to be a lot for me.
So I might try to figure out another way to make it happen. lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can usually get a contract from T-mob with your passport and your F1 student visa (assuming you're on a F1). You'll have to wait for about an hour in order for them to get approval from headquarters, but it works fine. Got my Vibrant that way, and while the charges are high at least you get unlimited data (as in really unlimited), so watching videos, listening to pandora and all that is a non-brainer..
djupp said:
You can usually get a contract from T-mob with your passport and your F1 student visa (assuming you're on a F1). You'll have to wait for about an hour in order for them to get approval from headquarters, but it works fine. Got my Vibrant that way, and while the charges are high at least you get unlimited data (as in really unlimited), so watching videos, listening to pandora and all that is a non-brainer..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh. I do have the F1 VISA with me. But I think I need to pay the deposit for don't have the SS#. At least my friend told me so.
SquareBare said:
Ahh, Hmmm I paid the full 500 and today is the last day I can return mine. How much was the termination fee out of curiosity?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the thing I don't understand. I paid $199 for my Vibrant on a 2-year contract. I have a $200 ETF, which means that I can cancel, and get the phone for $400. For a non-contract, I would have paid the full $500.
So what one can do is use the Even More for one month (which is +$10 from the Even More Plus). Then cancel, pay the ETF, and move to the same Even More Plus plan. Which would mean you would get no contract for $400.
Am I missing something?
cparekh said:
So what one can do is use the Even More for one month (which is +$10 from the Even More Plus). Then cancel, pay the ETF, and move to the same Even More Plus plan. Which would mean you would get no contract for $400.
Am I missing something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is this really possible? amazon currently has the vibrant for $0.01 with a new contract. so in theory, one could sign a new contract, cancel and pay the ETF of $200, and get the phone for $200.01?? then sign up for an even more plus plan with no contract? (i also thought EM was $20/month more than EM+)
any input would be appreciated. this sounds too good to be true
You can buy a Vibrant and use it on prepaid you are just going to pay $500 for the phone. T-Mobile doesn't care they wont and can't charge you extra.
I would recommend checking out flexpay, you can get a monthly plan and get data if you want it. If not go with prepaid $15 a month gives you unlimited SMS and $0.10 a minute and just use wifi when you need data.
One last thing is do not recommend imei spoofing as its illegal here.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
lolcopter said:
is this really possible? amazon currently has the vibrant for $0.01 with a new contract. so in theory, one could sign a new contract, cancel and pay the ETF of $200, and get the phone for $200.01?? then sign up for an even more plus plan with no contract? (i also thought EM was $20/month more than EM+)
any input would be appreciated. this sounds too good to be true
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you cancel with amazon within 6 months you pay an added 250$ ETF to them. So it would be 450$ all day.
I got mine from costco for $99 and canceled for 200$ after ETF. So $300 total. You also get a free cheap case car charger and bluetooth from them. Oh and no activation fee.
Texted While Driving
sl0play said:
If you cancel with amazon within 6 months you pay an added 250$ ETF to them. So it would be 450$ all day.
I got mine from costco for $99 and canceled for 200$ after ETF. So $300 total. You also get a free cheap case car charger and bluetooth from them. Oh and no activation fee.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nice. i'll look into something like this. i wonder if best buy / radioshack / car toys also have ETF fees of their own... (no costco membership for me)
I am kinda confused by this.
So I am in a stick situation here.
My parents have a family plan and I bought a Vibrant adding onto their Even More plan, which requires the $5 add a line and also $30 data plan. But I kinda think I don't really need data plan/3G cuz I am mostly home and don't quite use 3G unless I am not home, which isn't too often. $30 is a little money wasting, so I was thinking of just getting my phone without contract by paying $500 and just adding to my parents' Even More plan without data plan to save money.
But since I got my phone from Costco for $200 (when did this $99 deal start? I got mine a week ago...), does that mean I can just cancel and save money instead?
Important question though: Is it really true that there is no Android Market access without Tmo smartphone data plan? Why is this so? If so, is there any way of my getting away with it in my case?
Thanks,
FYI, if you have an F1 visa or any student visa you can do a contact with T-Mobile with no deposit and no ss#. This is something relatively new to t-mo. Just go to any corporate store location and they should be able to set it up for you. It takes about 45 minutes to process. That is the only down side.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
seojuhwan said:
Important question though: Is it really true that there is no Android Market access without Tmo smartphone data plan? Why is this so? If so, is there any way of my getting away with it in my case?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a data plan, and I can access the Android Market just fine via WiFi. With Wifi at home and at work and most every place in between, the data plan is really pointless for me
Related
Now, I know there are lots of threads on this already and I took a few minutes skimming search results and didn't find this answered.
Basically, I was hoping to switch myself to the $10 internet plan on T-Mobile rather than paying the $25 internet plan. I bought my phone unlocked from Google.com and not subsidized through T-Mobile. However, when I asked to switch to the other plan, they asked me for my IMEI number on my phone.
Has anyone else been asked for their IMEI when switching to a different data plan? Do they actually have a database of the existing N1 IMEI numbers or are they simply trying to build one? Would I be better off grabbing an old Razr and giving them that IMEI then switching back to my N1?
Lots of questions! Haha.
Anyway, if anyone could shed a bit of light on this I would very much appreciate it.
No, a few months after the initial G1 release T-Mobile caught on to the "scam" and closed the loophole. You have to have an Android data plan now or nothing.
evilkorn said:
No, a few months after the initial G1 release T-Mobile caught on to the "scam" and closed the loophole. You have to have an Android data plan now or nothing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Confirmed--when I got my N1 and switching from a BB plan to an Android plan.
evilkorn said:
No, a few months after the initial G1 release T-Mobile caught on to the "scam" and closed the loophole. You have to have an Android data plan now or nothing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bloke226 said:
Confirmed--when I got my N1 and switching from a BB plan to an Android plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm.. I was under the impression that this was solely for subsidized phones which they already had IMEI's for.
So, in the end, you're stuck paying the extra cost for the Android version of Web even if you bought it unlocked then huh?
Nedlinin said:
Hmm.. I was under the impression that this was solely for subsidized phones which they already had IMEI's for.
So, in the end, you're stuck paying the extra cost for the Android version of Web even if you bought it unlocked then huh?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much--don't know what to tell you I bought the phone outright since I didn't want to kill my plan to be forced on the N1 T-Mobile individual plan for at least 4 months...and I was forced to go onto the $25/mos plan from my $20/mos BlackBerry plan.
EDIT: They didn't ask me for what my IMEI number was though. In T-Mobile's system it will probably say I still use a BlackBerry device
The IMEI numbers update automatically in the system on a 2 day lag. So whatever phone you use today will reflect in their system on Saturday. As far as the $10 data plan, it will not work. It should say something to the effect that "you don't have the proper provisioning" or something like that. Basically your eating up too much bandwidth. You obviously had enough money to buy a Nexus 1, but won't pay for the premium data plan? That's the same thing as buying a brand new Ferrari and asking your friends for gas money to go out? At least I see it that way
srt4john said:
The IMEI numbers update automatically in the system on a 2 day lag. So whatever phone you use today will reflect in their system on Saturday. As far as the $10 data plan, it will not work. It should say something to the effect that "you don't have the proper provisioning" or something like that. Basically your eating up too much bandwidth. You obviously had enough money to buy a Nexus 1, but won't pay for the premium data plan? That's the same thing as buying a brand new Ferrari and asking your friends for gas money to go out? At least I see it that way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see... bummer.
And, as far as buying an N1 and not paying for the premium plan, the premium plan is great as long as you have a job to afford it. When you get laid off, not so much.
Nedlinin said:
I see... bummer.
And, as far as buying an N1 and not paying for the premium plan, the premium plan is great as long as you have a job to afford it. When you get laid off, not so much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously, you're joking right?
You can't afford the $15 price difference?
Then you should cancel your phone altogether.
Wow, some people are douchebags.
Re: T-Mobile Data Plan?
Now, I know there are lots of threads on this already and I took a few minutes skimming search results and didn't find this answered.
Basically, I was hoping to switch myself to the $10 internet plan on T-Mobile rather than paying the $25 internet plan. I bought my phone unlocked from Google.com and not subsidized through T-Mobile. However, when I asked to switch to the other plan, they asked me for my IMEI number on my phone.
Has anyone else been asked for their IMEI when switching to a different data plan? Do they actually have a database of the existing N1 IMEI numbers or are they simply trying to build one? Would I be better off grabbing an old Razr and giving them that IMEI then switching back to my N1?
Lots of questions! Haha.
Anyway, if anyone could shed a bit of light on this I would very much appreciate it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am currently using a 5.99 plan on my nexus. fast 3.5g internet for really cheap price. it works just fine. they have my imei. they know I am using the internet like that but they don't do anything about it. by simply putting in the epc.tmobile.com apn you'll get full internet on any plan. but this only works for the nexus. no other android phone can use this because tmobile provides the phones not Google.
Re: T-Mobile Data Plan?
I see... bummer.
And, as far as buying an N1 and not paying for the premium plan, the premium plan is great as long as you have a job to afford it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously, you're joking right?
You can't afford the $15 price difference?
Then you should cancel your phone altogether.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
$15 more a month over years adds up. and in this economy money is hard to come by. no need to flame the guy.
Henchman said:
Seriously, you're joking right?
You can't afford the $15 price difference?
Then you should cancel your phone altogether.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate your input but I need my phone.
@Carbon: did you give them your Nexus's IMEI number or a different phones? Also, did you buy yours unlocked or subsidized?
carbonfiber1 said:
I am currently using a 5.99 plan on my nexus. fast 3.5g internet for really cheap price. it works just fine. they have my imei. they know I am using the internet like that but they don't do anything about it. by simply putting in the epc.tmobile.com apn you'll get full internet on any plan. but this only works for the nexus. no other android phone can use this because tmobile provides the phones not Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting to know more how you were able to achieve the $5.99 plan
bloke226 said:
Interesting to know more how you were able to achieve the $5.99 plan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I have been able to find out, if you had the old $6 T-Zones, you were able to be grandfathered in when they cancelled the service. The cheapest net they offer now is the "Phone First/Web2Go" internet which is $10 a month. Essentially the same thing just 4$ more.
Nedlinin said:
From what I have been able to find out, if you had the old $6 T-Zones, you were able to be grandfathered in when they cancelled the service. The cheapest net they offer now is the "Phone First/Web2Go" internet which is $10 a month. Essentially the same thing just 4$ more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, interesting they do grandfathering
srt4john said:
Basically your eating up too much bandwidth. You obviously had enough money to buy a Nexus 1, but won't pay for the premium data plan? That's the same thing as buying a brand new Ferrari and asking your friends for gas money to go out? At least I see it that way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good analogy. However, people don't get rich by spending money. If you can find a way to pay less, you do it. Some people made a financial stretch to afford the N1 and now cannot afford to pay for a premium data service.
Data service is data service and should not be dependent on device. At least I see it that way.
Hey, I'm all fur finding ways to pay as little as possible.
But let's not pretend an extra $15 is breaking the bank.
Hello, I just cancelled my cable TV after realising u rarely watch the 200 channels available.
And all the network channels i can get using a $15 pair if rabbit ears.
HD, .5.1
Next to go is the phone. Experimenting with magic jack this month.
All I want to pay for is high speed internet.
I'll save at least $120 a month
I think the grandfathering is BS because when I first got my G1 I had T-Zones on my old v3 and they made me switch to the newer data plan. To clarify, they had to do it because of activating the phone, so I don't know if you just buy it outright and don't tell them it could work.
Nedlinin said:
@Carbon: did you give them your Nexus's IMEI number or a different phones? Also, did you buy yours unlocked or subsidized?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got my phone unlocked. I didnt give them my IMEI, they automatically know it once your sim card is in the phone. Ive had the 5.99 tzones plan for a while now, but this article should help you out http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/5381...ed-data-for-5-99-works-wiphone-and-nexus-one/
edit: this comment by a user might also be helpful.
"as an alternative, i was able to set this up without customer service's help. this was more than a year ago when I setup tzones to work on my treo 650. the trick was that i had an old phone sony ericcson t300 that i had purchased back in 2000 or 2001. I keep it around because if i have an emergency where my phone or my wife's phone stops working i can transfer the sim card quickly to a working phone to make/receive a call. So here's what i did:
setup my sim card in the t300.
make a call or send a text message; long enough to let the t-mobile servers detect that I have switched phones.
log in to t-mobile.com
verify that my phone is now detected as a t300. if not, click on the "not my phone" and change it.
next, adjust service plans, t-zones appears on the list.
add tzones to your billing cycle. make any additional changes you need to make.
save the settings.
change your sim card back to the original phone.
setup the phone for t-zones service"
T-mobile has two data plans.
1) Data plan
2) Sidekick data plan
They have a ton of different pricing for number 1) , the $10 smart web, the $15 dollar smartphone plan, and the $25 android plan.
(I'm not even including all the grandfathered plans like t-zone/t-mobile shadow/blackberry,etc)
The point being they are all the same, they use the same servers, they are all unlimited, so If you can manage to get any of those plans on your bill you will have full 3g/HSPA speed internet on your phone, regardless of what phone it is.
So i have a family plan with my parents... We have a 1500 minute account, i have unlimited text and web, they are old school and dont like texting or webing. So i upgrade my phone to a mytouch 7 months ago.. My parents are both elegible to upgrade price.. And i really like the Vibrant.. but t-mobile wants you to put a data plan on the line that you upgrade the phone... So my question is if i get the Vibrant using my moms phone number, Do i have to put Web on her line?? even tough she will not be using the phone.. I will Thanks
There should be a workaround for this, I would visit a store and ask a rep.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
The Data has to be added to the line that is upgraded. and the data has to stay on that line for the required 2 years or untill you do another upgrade.
deviusdragger said:
The Data has to be added to the line that is upgraded. and the data has to stay on that line for the required 2 years or untill you do another upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this doesnt make sense how about if some one looses the phone, and gets a non internet capable phone? they are going to pay for a service that they cant use??
I mean the disconnected price is because you are increasing your contract 2 years more..
How about if i just want the phone for testing purposes and i dont want internet on it... or i want to use it as an ipod..
This suks
there is a way around it, upgrade the line to a vibrant on your moms line....then go into the store a day later and upgrade the same line to the cheapest dumb phone, you will have to pay full price, should be about 50-60 bucks, that line no longer requires a data contract
turbosix said:
There should be a workaround for this, I would visit a store and ask a rep.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I called a tmo store, and wold told the same thing, that the data plan has to stick with the line that it was upgrade it, that i can use the phone with my other number, but i would have to play internet double :S WTF and that if i call tmobile and try to cancel that internet that they would charge a cancellation fee ($200) to remove this...
How stupid is this??
PolishDude said:
there is a way around it, upgrade the line to a vibrant on your moms line....then go into the store a day later and upgrade the same line to the cheapest dumb phone, you will have to pay full price, should be about 50-60 bucks, that line no longer requires a data contract
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ummm will they be mad about this since ?? like can they say no?
The data is required for 2 years. If you switch to a non data phone they'll make you switch to unlimited messaging for $15 on that line (best case scenario)
Sent from my Samsung Vibrant using XDA App
Wait a minute. I though data plans only went in to effect once TMO detected the IMEI number for a particular SIM? I've done this in the past, and I understood I could do this in the future when speaking to TMO last week.
well seems like if i buy a phone make a 2 year contract and then later on i buy a full price phone trough t-mobile i dont have to keep that data plan...
well i just purchase it for $164 on the t-mo site.. Lets see what happens... You guys want me to update with the resolution??
btw if everything goes wrong i have 30 days to return the device correct???
I work for T-mobile, there is a work around to this. but you'll be paying full price for the vibrant. the $199 price for the vibrant is so cheap because of the internet and the data plan is locked in for 2 years regarless if you buy a cheaper phone, theres no way to take it out unless you want to pay the $200 early termination fee, its call "Required data plan". its better just to buy the phone out right. if you really want the vibrant as an upgrade PM and ill tell you what to do.
SuperMiguel said:
well i just purchase it for $164 on the t-mo site.. Lets see what happens... You guys want me to update with the resolution??
btw if everything goes wrong i have 30 days to return the device correct???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe their return policy is now only 14 days.
just to let everyone know, any smartphone you get you are locked in for a 2 year data plan regarless if you get a dumb phone, that data plan is locked in. I work for T-mobile so I know, there is a way to do this, its my company secret so I can't say it here.
lmfaznboi said:
just to let everyone know, any smartphone you get you are locked in for a 2 year data plan regarless if you get a dumb phone, that data plan is locked in. I work for T-mobile so I know, there is a way to do this, its my company secret so I can't say it here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well i called t-mo and they told me that if i buy a dumb phone for full price that i didnt have to keep playing data plan...
if you data plan was before november of 2009 your free to take it off without cancellation anything after that it is required. you can try calling in but I gaurentee you that there will be a $200 cancellation fee on your next bill
lmfaznboi said:
if you data plan was before november of 2009 your free to take it off without cancellation anything after that it is required. you can try calling in but I gaurentee you that there will be a $200 cancellation fee on your next bill
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you said to PM you, that you know a way to get around this.. i pm you already...
SuperMiguel said:
I called a tmo store, and wold told the same thing, that the data plan has to stick with the line that it was upgrade it, that i can use the phone with my other number, but i would have to play internet double :S WTF and that if i call tmobile and try to cancel that internet that they would charge a cancellation fee ($200) to remove this...
How stupid is this??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SuperMiguel said:
So i have a family plan with my parents... We have a 1500 minute account, i have unlimited text and web, they are old school and dont like texting or webing. So i upgrade my phone to a mytouch 7 months ago.. My parents are both elegible to upgrade price.. And i really like the Vibrant.. but t-mobile wants you to put a data plan on the line that you upgrade the phone... So my question is if i get the Vibrant using my moms phone number, Do i have to put Web on her line?? even tough she will not be using the phone.. I will Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I called the loyalty department at t-mobile.
Upgraded my father-in laws liine and got ordered the vibrant to put on my account.
The cost??? $149!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Call the loyalty department!!
They even took off the web on my father-in law's line.
I had to call in a couple times though.
Depends on who you talk to.
Hope this helps.
On your line, give that to one of your parents, take one of their lines upgrade it get the vibrant add text and web, and then remove all web and text services from your old line.simple. Hit my google voice number and I'll explain better for you, 2158217393. Tone.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I had that happen to me when I upgraded a different line for my MyTouch. They will let you do it you just have to keep telling them you want to talk to a supervisor until one will give permission.
I've been following the Galaxy S and Vibrant releases for a while and love the Vibrant. I however have a problem concerning plans. Since I will only be using its Internet capabilities where I have Wi-Fi (college, home, work), I have no need or desire for a data plan. T-Mobile REQUIRES new devices are sold with data plans so my question is.
1.Would getting a Vibrant from Ebay (for ~$500) and using my old SIM be the best option?
2. Can I just walk into a Tmobile store and tell them I want to purchase a RETAIL ($500) Vibrant with no contract or SIM and get one that way (or are they going to add a data plan and ask me for my Tmobile line credentials to do so)?
3. Is getting a Vibrant on contract for $200 + data plan and then cancelling the contract after the 15th day the cheapest option?
I suppose I would prefer to buy it from Tmobile, even at retail price since I get the manufacturer insurance of 1 year (have needed it before) free though if not possible, Ebay is an option too. I'm just looking at getting it as cheap as possible without having to do a 2-year data plan contract.
Thx.
I bought it at T-mobile off contract, however i made some other account changes while i was there so not sure if they require anything account wise when buying off contract.
I see. What kind of changes did you make? Adding a data plan or something else?
Do you think I can walk into a store, and buy a Vibrant for $500 WITHOUT providing any account information so that they cannot associate my account with the phone?
I'd like to keep my contract AS IS currently, and if possible not renew it (it just passed the 2 years mark so I can technically get a discounted phone if I renew it but I do not like T-Mobile's new contracts. I have unlimited texting on my line through a Family plan)
you might try asking this over in the the Tmobile vibrant forum
i believe you can cancel the data plan after or during the first month but i'm not the expert
costco WAS selling Vibrants off-contract (even more plans) for $229. not sure if its still ongoing.
Either costco or t-mobile. At costco they have to tie it it to a new phone line, which you can cancel at any time since you aren't under contact, pretty sure there is no fee.
I opted to but at tmo, and have the price split up over 20 payments interest free. I already had an existing android plan though.
andy2na said:
costco WAS selling Vibrants off-contract (even more plans) for $229. not sure if its still ongoing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even More plans are contract plans. Are you talking about Even More Plus plans?
Go by a T-Mobile store and ask or call their customer service. You'll get a much better answer straight from the horse's mouth than you will from here.
I've heard about people trying to get a discounted phone with a new contract or making changes to their plan so they qualify and then immediately change things around in a manner that would disqualify them from the discount after they got it and then T-Mobile hit them with the remaining amount for the full price of the phone in their next bill. I guess it's their way of saying "cheaters never prosper".
If I buy it from Tmobile with ANY sort of contract...Even more Plus or Even More, they WILL add a data plan to it. There is also activation fees for a new line so not only will I have to pay the $500 for an even more plus plan, but I would have to CANCEL the line...in that case I may as well get it off of Ebay and save myself the hassle of all that.
The T-Mo forums are really helpful with everything other than development. Try there or stop at an official T-Mo store. The third party official partner places get paid to sell contracts. I've had some bad experiences on eBay and had to go to resolution with the seller twice on pre-smartphone phones, so beware.
What kind of bad experiences exactly?
If I were you and looking for a SGS I'd buy the full model that has all the extras... or possibly even the version with a slide out keyboard and ffc. The SGS Pro i believe it is.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
}{Alienz}{ said:
What kind of bad experiences exactly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong carrier on one occasion and got a refurbished instead of new phone the other time. I have gotten good deals as well, so it's a crapshoot. I probably didn't screen the seller as well as I should have, just looked at the overall rating.
Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using XDA App
you could probably call tmo or stop in to a tmo corp store and ask, I find they are usually very helpful about things like this. side note i actually had a long conversation w/ the rep at the store when i bought my vibrant about cyanogenmod and phone modding, which he has done to his phones.
OMG, costco was selling this for $250 no contract and noone spread the good news. SHAME ON YOU ALL.
Know if i can still get it @ 250?
if you find any good deals please post it here. thanks
engineer14 said:
OMG, costco was selling this for $250 no contract and noone spread the good news. SHAME ON YOU ALL.
Know if i can still get it @ 250?
if you find any good deals please post it here. thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. A memo was sent out and they raised the price Tuesday morning to $479. Think the $250 was a pricing error.
The best deal is with Bing cashback! $325
Go to bing.com
search for tmobile (you should see gold dollar sign w 35% off)
click on the link to tmobile site then do your shopping
I got my phone for $325 and on top of that, 35% off activation and the $59 plan.
so my total saving was $208
But bing is ending its cashback program at the end of july so better hurry!
I don't see the gold $ when I search t-mobile nor when I do my shopping after clicking through bing do I get the discount.
Is there supposd to be some code you put? Is it possible for you to just post a link?
too bad Bing cashback is gone at the end of the month.
@killer bee
See picture
hpz937 said:
you could probably call tmo or stop in to a tmo corp store and ask, I find they are usually very helpful about things like this. side note i actually had a long conversation w/ the rep at the store when i bought my vibrant about cyanogenmod and phone modding, which he has done to his phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went to check the phone out the phone at a local store and someone was playing with the demo so the rep let me play with his personal phone. I noticed he had the su app installed lol
Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using XDA App
engineer14 said:
OMG, costco was selling this for $250 no contract and noone spread the good news. SHAME ON YOU ALL.
Know if i can still get it @ 250?
if you find any good deals please post it here. thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally agree! I recently switched our 5 phones over from AT&t and we went with Even More Plus because it's cheaper in the long run and no contract. However, we had to pay full price for the phones. Two of them were basic flip phones, but three of them were Samsung Vibrants at $500 apiece. We bought them at a T-Mobile corporate store and the most they did for us was waive the activation fee (which I found out would have been done anyway as a AAA member) and give us one free car charger when we bought the other two. We shelled out $1500 for the three Vibrants and we could have paid $750 at Costco!!!!! We're still in our 14 day return period, obviously, so if this is all true I'm going to call T-Mobile and see what can be done.
I went to the verizon store and they said to get the tablet you have to buy a contract with 3g.
Yep same as t-mobile: USD 599 + taxes + activation fee + at least one month of service.
The Euro version with 16gb internal memory and voice capability looks like a better deal...
Ordering through the website looks like you can do it without a contract.
Yaotl said:
Ordering through the website looks like you can do it without a contract.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bought mine through Tmobile, no contract, 599 + tax,, payed 100 upfront and making payments of $23 for 19 months and i had to get the lowest data plan, 24.99. i dont want to keep paying for extra data plan, i would like to use it via wifi at home or connect through my vibrant, anyway to maybe do this? i know it needs a SIM otherwise it wont boot up.
adinis78 said:
bought mine through Tmobile, no contract, 599 + tax,, payed 100 upfront and making payments of $23 for 19 months and i had to get the lowest data plan, 24.99. i dont want to keep paying for extra data plan, i would like to use it via wifi at home or connect through my vibrant, anyway to maybe do this? i know it needs a SIM otherwise it wont boot up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure you don't need a SIM card with service attached. Any old sim card should work. Probably must be a T-mobile one since its sim locked; otherwise it'll probably ask for a PIN but not accept any input (at least thats what I got with sim-locked phones previously).
Signing up for any plan is still a contract in my book...
You forgot to mention an extra 35.- activation fee charged to your first cell phone bill.
Volker1 said:
I'm pretty sure you don't need a SIM card with service attached. Any old sim card should work. Probably must be a T-mobile one since its sim locked; otherwise it'll probably ask for a PIN but not accept any input (at least thats what I got with sim-locked phones previously).
Signing up for any plan is still a contract in my book...
You forgot to mention an extra 35.- activation fee charged to your first cell phone bill.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so would a prepayed SIM work? the i can just connect via wifi at home or via my vibrant... nothing in regards to an activation fee i have the paperwork i signed and there is nothing mentioned about it.
Prepaid SIM would probably work.
The t-mobile.com checkout process slaps you with a 35.- activation fee at the end. Its possible that you got it waved somehow at the t-mobile store. But I wouldn't be surprised if you find it on your cell phone bill in a month
Volker1 said:
Prepaid SIM would probably work.
The t-mobile.com checkout process slaps you with a 35.- activation fee at the end. Its possible that you got it waved somehow at the t-mobile store. But I wouldn't be surprised if you find it on your cell phone bill in a month
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol you are right i was going to be charged an activation fee but they waived it and i canceled my data plan, and i can use the tab with no sim card at all just remove it and just use it via wifi, tried it with my vibrant and it works no issues.... now let the rooting and flashing begin..lol!!!
Well I called Verizon and they connected me to a guy from Samsung. I'm getting just the WiFi tablet )) great day for me
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
I thought the WiFi-only tab is delayed until Jan 2011?
I'll show a picture Monday if my mom let's me have it. Hahah its a Christmas gift but I'm sure ill persuad her
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
I got a pay as you go sim for 10 bucks so I'd not be faffing moving my card between my existing phone and the tab.
Working fine.
They tried to push me to sign up for a contract, but I held to my guns and turned to walk out. All good in the end.
I can confirm, I got my tab on day 1 with t mobile and they hooked me up with a $10 prepaid sim for data. 3g works.
So I picked up a new Galaxy Tab from someone on Craigs last night. Love the device. The problem is, it's from Sprint. I wanted Sprint because they had good coverage where I needed it. Today, I found out that there's no way to get data on it without signing a 2-year contract. Seriously? You can get an iPad without signing a contract and T-mobile and Verizon have post-paid options, but not Sprint?
What is my incentive to sign a 2-year contract for a device that was never subsidized? I talked to a rep in the store as well as on the phone and there's apparently no compromise here. I guess I should have done more research before I bought the Sprint version. Now I have to sell it and try to get a T-mobile Tab.
I just can't believe that Sprint is this lame. I could understand something like this from Verizon or AT&T, but not Sprint.
I was about to say get a gsm one - i just use a pay as you go sim in the tab and swap it with the contract one with data when i want to use the tab for 3g
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
That sucks, I just bought T-Mob GT from CL for $280 a couple of days ago. And I am digging it. I just went to T-mobile they gave me a new sim for $10.00 and paid $10.00 for 100mb to get it started and Im on a pay as you go plan. No questions asked.
What's weird to me is Sprint doesn't want your money. I bought my sprint gtab at best buy and I'm currently on a pay per month plan that I signed up for when I bought it - 2 gig limit. I can cancel it anytime and there's no 2 year contract. Maybe it was a promotional contract or something i dont know. It's weird that if I sold it they wouldn't let the owner fire up the same plan.
Sent from my SPH-P100 using XDA App
You can activate with a contract
If you paid for price for the device and its not logged in their system as being sold with a contract, you can activate it month to month it just takes some talking. I received my tab as a gift and it was bought at full price at Best Buy. I had to talk to 3 sets of higher up reps, but finally someone was able to active it on the month to month plan. Just be persistent.
That's why, despite all it's shortcomings, I bought the verizon version. AT&T blows in general and I will be damned if I'm signing a contract for a freaking tablet so Verizon it was. I'll go without before I sign a contract for any kind of phone, tablet, laptop or anything else ever again.
Can't you use Boost Mobile pay as you go?
rangercaptain said:
Can't you use Boost Mobile pay as you go?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How would I connect to Boost Mobile? Does it operate on the same frequencies as Sprint?
wolfson292 said:
If you paid for price for the device and its not logged in their system as being sold with a contract, you can activate it month to month it just takes some talking. I received my tab as a gift and it was bought at full price at Best Buy. I had to talk to 3 sets of higher up reps, but finally someone was able to active it on the month to month plan. Just be persistent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you already have Sprint service? I talked to two different reps today. They are claiming that I have to activate a line of service, which initiates the contract. I currently have a contract with AT&T, so that's not going to happen.
Still, I think it's ridiculous that it's this hard with Sprint, considering that I can buy a T-mobile Tab and just pop in a sim card and go with no issues. I've been shopping around for a T-mobile Tab, but I haven't found anything in the same price range so far. For me, the Tab is kind of crippled without always on data.
**Update**
I called again tonight and talked to a very sweet girl. She apparently talked to the right supervisor this time and they let me go month-to-month. Thanks for the suggestion, wolf. Looks like I'm good to go. Now I'll just have to go through this again if I ever cancel service and want to reactivate it.
So they do support month-to-month for tablets. You just have to talk to someone who knows that.
greyhulk said:
How would I connect to Boost Mobile? Does it operate on the same frequencies as Sprint?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its the same company.