Database Users

How to save alot of $$$ on data

Ok so I got my G1 and a tmobile account, judging by there coverage map I should of had great service at home, work, and everywhere in between. Well after a week of struggling with no service more then half the time I decided to unlock my phone and use my old razr's sim (att). So I knew I would want data, I go onto the att site and low and behold I can use the cheap $15/month data plan!! It works perfectly (edge only but I'm not in a 3g area either way) I have been using it for over a month now with no problems, got my bill and didn't get any overages or anything what-so-ever. The trick is that att doesn't have any G1 IMEI's in there database so they just have it listed as a unknown device and can't force you to use a smartphone data plan.
For anyone who gets ****ty tmobile service, or no 3g and no hopes of ever getting it then this is a great choice. Yea you need someone else to use the tmobile account unless you can get out of it for free (do alot of roaming they will let you out of your contract, or complain about bad service for 2-3 months). Anyway I thought I would share this with the community, hope some of you find it useful.

I think there is a similar method for the G1 where you can use the old "tzones" plan for 5$? but cheap services are REALLY slow...

Yea I read about that on modmyg but tmobile is now checking IMEI's for that to see if anyone with a G1 is using it. I don't know about the speed on there but with att I get full speed on edge just like I do on there smartphone data plan. A lot better then the GPRS I got with tmobile, if I got any service from them at all.

There was an article on boygenius and other places that as of September 9th, AT&T would start requiring the $30 data plan for all smartphones. Those on the $15 data plan (such as I) would be grandfathered in. IMEI database be damned
And the $15 data plan is not slower. I regularly clock 1 - 1.5Mbps. There are other issues however. You don't get a real internet IP which might cause issues with some apps such as VPN. VPN doesn't work well, or at all.
Generally speaking though, I've had no issues using my Rooted G1 on AT&T's cheaper $15 data plan.
Personally I think $30 data plan with a real IP address on 3G is well worth the money, it's the damn voice minutes that are way overpriced.
-James

jmacdonald801 said:
There was an article on boygenius and other places that as of September 9th, AT&T would start requiring the $30 data plan for all smartphones. Those on the $15 data plan (such as I) would be grandfathered in. IMEI database be damned
And the $15 data plan is not slower. I regularly clock 1 - 1.5Mbps. There are other issues however. You don't get a real internet IP which might cause issues with some apps such as VPN. VPN doesn't work well, or at all.
Generally speaking though, I've had no issues using my Rooted G1 on AT&T's cheaper $15 data plan.
Personally I think $30 data plan with a real IP address on 3G is well worth the money, it's the damn voice minutes that are way overpriced.
-James
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I read that too.The thing is ATT doesn't have the G1 in there database because it's not a device they (officialy) support. They have no way of knowing it is a smartphone, which is why you are able to choose the $15 plan, when I had my fuze on there it wouldn't even show it as a choice. If they knew it was a smartphone you wouldn't even be able to choose it. I am in a area where 3G isn't, and probably never will be so I don't care about having it you know. If it was available then I would of gotten the Roger's dream so to be compatible with the ATT 3G bands.
edit: here is that artricle
Data plans (on everything but the iPhone) are incredibly profitable for carriers like AT&T. Most smartphone users pay for way more bandwidth than they will ever actually use. That's why ATT has made the choice to start requiring data plans with all of their smartphone purchases. If you already have a smartphone with AT&T but no data plan, your phone will be grandfathered in and you will not have to buy a plan.
According to a leaked internal email found by Boy Genius this change will come to the AT&T network on September 6th. If you currently use a non-smart phone with a data plan, you will have to upgrade to a non-MediaNet plan when you buy a smartphone. Unlocked handsets will not be affected by this change.
AT&T claims that this change has been made in order to give customers the “best possible experience” by ensuring they have a “predictable bill”. That's a funny way to say, “we want more money, and you have to pay.”
To be honest, this change probably won't affect very many people. ATT notes that the vast majority of customers with smartphones use data plans. When people buy an Internet phone they tend to want to have access to the Internet. This is a pretty transparent ploy to buff profit margins, but it's also not a big enough change that it is going to get a lot of customers up in arms.

Well I've had the $15 data plan forever. I don't even remember what **** phone I used to sign up for it.
But if you want the cheap data plan here's what you do. Did this for a friend.
Find the cheapest 3G phone AT&T sells,. go on ebay, buy it for $25. Call AT&T up and register it on your account with the IMEI number, then get online and add your $15 data. Then put the sim in to your Rogers G1.
Better get on it before the due date.
Just went through my email. I bought an LG 255 off ebay for $25 and gave it to my buddy. He called in and had it added to his line. After that he could add the $15 data plan. He popped his sim out and put it in his G1.
Simple as that.
Don't feel bad about this, as AT&T is going to start enforcing this, now this the time to get on it.
-James

jmacdonald801 said:
Well I've had the $15 data plan forever. I don't even remember what **** phone I used to sign up for it.
But if you want the cheap data plan here's what you do. Did this for a friend.
Find the cheapest 3G phone AT&T sells,. go on ebay, buy it for $25. Call AT&T up and register it on your account with the IMEI number, then get online and add your $15 data. Then put the sim in to your Rogers G1.
Better get on it before the due date.
Just went through my email. I bought an LG 255 off ebay for $25 and gave it to my buddy. He called in and had it added to his line. After that he could add the $15 data plan. He popped his sim out and put it in his G1.
Simple as that.
Don't feel bad about this, as AT&T is going to start enforcing this, now this the time to get on it.
-James
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but then it seems like you cant really use your g1 as a phone anymore b/c the sim does not have a service plan.

shaolinx said:
but then it seems like you cant really use your g1 as a phone anymore b/c the sim does not have a service plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What exactly do you mean by that? Of course you still have a plan. What he is saying is to set everything up(minutes, data, text) while the sim is on the other phone then switch it to the G1 when you are done.
James- As long as you still use a unlocked phone then you will never have to upgrade the data, even if you are a new customer after sept 6th. Like I was saying before it WILL NOT affect unlocked phones, only ATT branded ones.

crpercodani said:
Like I was saying before it WILL NOT affect unlocked phones, only ATT branded ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's a releif, because if you look at $15 less per month over 24 months, you are saving $360 by staying off the $30 plan. More than enough to make up for the AT&T contract price on their phones, so I can stick with an unlocked GSM phone of my choice. I like choice.
So if I buy a new smartphone from AT&T, I won't be grandfathered anymore right?
-James

crpercodani said:
What exactly do you mean by that? Of course you still have a plan. What he is saying is to set everything up(minutes, data, text) while the sim is on the other phone then switch it to the G1 when you are done.
James- As long as you still use a unlocked phone then you will never have to upgrade the data, even if you are a new customer after sept 6th. Like I was saying before it WILL NOT affect unlocked phones, only ATT branded ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
boo, that sucks... pretty much your just using a different carrier on your g1... Here i thought it was something special, like having Tmobile service plan(txt,phone,min) with AT&T 3G Data plan.

shaolinx said:
boo, that sucks... pretty much your just using a different carrier on your g1... Here i thought it was something special, like having Tmobile service plan(txt,phone,min) with AT&T 3G Data plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be some trick for sure.
-James

jmacdonald801 said:
Well that's a releif, because if you look at $15 less per month over 24 months, you are saving $360 by staying off the $30 plan. More than enough to make up for the AT&T contract price on their phones, so I can stick with an unlocked GSM phone of my choice. I like choice.
So if I buy a new smartphone from AT&T, I won't be grandfathered anymore right?
-James
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if you were to buy it and add it to your current line of service I think you would be grandfathered. If you opened a new line or renewed to get a discount on the phone I don't think you would get it. The main thing is though that if it's a smartphone branded with att they wont even let you choose the $15 plan to begin with, only the $30.
shaolinx said:
boo, that sucks... pretty much your just using a different carrier on your g1... Here i thought it was something special, like having Tmobile service plan(txt,phone,min) with AT&T 3G Data plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may suck to you, but what sucks to me is tmoblow's coverage. When I signed up they showed me a coverage map that had my home, work, and all other areas I am usually in getting GOOD-GREAT Edge coverage. I got home and I was lucky to get GPRS, and more then %50 of the time I would get no service, now I am getting service everywhere I go with att and it is stellar. Added to that, I am only paying $15 for data vs $25 from tmoblow. I thought I made it clear from the get go that I was using a different carrier, next time read slowly.

crpercodani said:
It may suck to you, but what sucks to me is tmoblow's coverage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amen to that. I actually want to be able to use my phone without standing in the middle of my street, facing 45% west with no breeze lol. It literally is that bad where I live, and it's in the middle of the city. My room mate had to get a wifi phone from T-Mobile to connect to our router just so he could at least hold a call.
I want to like T-Mobile, but their coverage is not so good in Salt Lake City, not compared to AT&T and everyone else.
-James

Exactly. I was excited try them out, they have really good voice plans and the myfaves is a great idea. But it is all useless when you have "No Service" on your screen all day. When I wanted to use my phone I had to put my head upto the window and I felt like a idiot. I get to work that day and have to go outside and walk in circles until I get a glimmer of hope that my call will go through, until I put the phone to my ear and get that deathly vibration.

I signed up for AT&T with my ADP1 back in December of last year, and, it did work, sorta.
I had the following issues:
HTTPS communications didn't work - not websites directly, nor Twidroid over SSL.
SSH via connectbot didn't work - only over WiFi
VPNs didn't work - again, only over WiFi
IMAP email over SSL didn't work.
POP3 email over SSL didn't work.
Exchange ActiveSync didn't work.
Basically, any form of encrypted connection went out the airlock.
If you can live with that, then the cheaper price is really great. If, however, any of the above is of value, you'd have to weigh that against the extra money. I went to the PDA Net plan to get those 6 things working. I use my phone regularly for SSH, and I tether my phone to my netbook frequently, and use it to access encrypted sites, VPN into work, check my email over IMAP/SSL, etc... The difference in price is worth the features, to me. YMMV...

PhaseBurn said:
I signed up for AT&T with my ADP1 back in December of last year, and, it did work, sorta.
I had the following issues:
HTTPS communications didn't work - not websites directly, nor Twidroid over SSL.
SSH via connectbot didn't work - only over WiFi
VPNs didn't work - again, only over WiFi
IMAP email over SSL didn't work.
POP3 email over SSL didn't work.
Exchange ActiveSync didn't work.
Basically, any form of encrypted connection went out the airlock.
If you can live with that, then the cheaper price is really great. If, however, any of the above is of value, you'd have to weigh that against the extra money. I went to the PDA Net plan to get those 6 things working. I use my phone regularly for SSH, and I tether my phone to my netbook frequently, and use it to access encrypted sites, VPN into work, check my email over IMAP/SSL, etc... The difference in price is worth the features, to me. YMMV...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a valid point. Honestly I don't use any of that so it doesn't affect me, but if I needed those features I would have to switch. I use regular email for everything through gmail so I am all good. Are you saying tethering wouldn't work for you? Because I have tethered my aspire one a few times, granted you don't get the 3G speed but it does work for me. I don't really know what SSL is used for exactly or VPN, so don't take my advice on this plan if you use those things. I just browse the web, maybe do some ebaying, make orders for supplies, and lots of email and texts.

crpercodani said:
That is a valid point. Honestly I don't use any of that so it doesn't affect me, but if I needed those features I would have to switch. I use regular email for everything through gmail so I am all good. Are you saying tethering wouldn't work for you? Because I have tethered my aspire one a few times, granted you don't get the 3G speed but it does work for me. I don't really know what SSL is used for exactly or VPN, so don't take my advice on this plan if you use those things. I just browse the web, maybe do some ebaying, make orders for supplies, and lots of email and texts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I'm saying that when I tethered, my netbook adopted the same limitations I stated above. Other than those, it worked fined.
I use gmail, too, for my primary account, but I also check my work account on my phone via K9 or the Work Email program that does ActiveSync. Additionally, I use Thunderbird on my netbook to access my gmail over imap/ssl. That didn't work from my netbook while tethered using the normal non-PDA plan.
When I signed up for service, the sales agent actually suggested the cheaper plan at first, which is why I went with it. He said most people don't have issues, but if you do, we can change you to the PDA one. I tried it, had issues, and changed.

PhaseBurn said:
I signed up for AT&T with my ADP1 back in December of last year, and, it did work, sorta.
I had the following issues:
HTTPS communications didn't work - not websites directly, nor Twidroid over SSL.
SSH via connectbot didn't work - only over WiFi
VPNs didn't work - again, only over WiFi
IMAP email over SSL didn't work.
POP3 email over SSL didn't work.
Exchange ActiveSync didn't work.
Basically, any form of encrypted connection went out the airlock.
If you can live with that, then the cheaper price is really great. If, however, any of the above is of value, you'd have to weigh that against the extra money. I went to the PDA Net plan to get those 6 things working. I use my phone regularly for SSH, and I tether my phone to my netbook frequently, and use it to access encrypted sites, VPN into work, check my email over IMAP/SSL, etc... The difference in price is worth the features, to me. YMMV...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can access Google services, Paypal, and use SSH with my $15 Media Net plan. Not sure why any of this won't work for you.

coolbho3000 said:
I can access Google services, Paypal, and use SSH with my $15 Media Net plan. Not sure why any of this won't work for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I have used paypal a bunch of times with it. I use it almost daily along with some stuff on Google, no SSH though. Honestly I don't even know what it is, heard of it before but never payed much attention to it.

PhaseBurn said:
HTTPS communications didn't work - not websites directly, nor Twidroid over SSL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. This explains a lot. I've been *****ing I couldn't log in to my online banking and now I know why.
Ya I think the $30 is worth it if you need it. Interesting that they choose to cripple certain things, but for $15, I can't complain.
I use RoadSync for work mail and it uses SSL, so this SSL restriction must be port specific.
Oh, and a question. If I go to the $30 data plan, does it use a different APN? like isp.cingular or something?
-James

Can ATT force me into a data plan?

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
Click to expand...
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?
Click to expand...
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.

Can you run Android Web instead of WebConnect on the T-Mobile tab?

Please forgive me if this has been posted, but it did not show in similar threads.
I have T-Mobile and was wondering if there was a way to run my tab off of the android web feature instead of the web connect plan. im NOT looking for voice feature or anything like that, just to be able to use android web instead of web connect. It would definitely save me some money.

donniestarko said:
Please forgive me if this has been posted, but it did not show in similar threads.
I have T-Mobile and was wondering if there was a way to run my tab off of the android web feature instead of the web connect plan. im NOT looking for voice feature or anything like that, just to be able to use android web instead of web connect. It would definitely save me some money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People have been trying their hardest to find a way to get this working, as somewhat described in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=845263
Problem is that T-mobile is blocking web access to the tab IMEI's that try to use anything other than the Webconnect data packages. At least, that's the current theory that I've seen. Everyone has reported that they get taken straight to T-mobile's site or some similar page when trying to navigate the web. IMEI makes the most sense, and I believe that its not possible (or just very difficult) to change the IMEI of a device. There's no way to change that value on T-mobile's end since their systems automatically recognize the device based on its IMEI once it has been in use for ~3 days. (I work as a sales rep there, and I've tried to find a way to no avail).

Im wondering, Tmobile has a fairly decent prepaid plan, unlimited talk and text w/2gig data. I wonder if that'll work. Im probably going to try it if no one else has. Im using simple mobile right now, but definitely dropping them after my month is over. Supposedly unlimited data, but apparently capped at 1gig, and very rude customer service!! But I think by doing prepaid with tmobile, it shouldnt matter what device you are using, you dont even have to tell them what its for when you purchase it.

They will know because their network will detect the IMEI number. Unless you buy a tab from a different carrier or an unbranded one, they will know.

jtc442 said:
Im wondering, Tmobile has a fairly decent prepaid plan, unlimited talk and text w/2gig data. I wonder if that'll work. Im probably going to try it if no one else has. Im using simple mobile right now, but definitely dropping them after my month is over. Supposedly unlimited data, but apparently capped at 1gig, and very rude customer service!! But I think by doing prepaid with tmobile, it shouldnt matter what device you are using, you dont even have to tell them what its for when you purchase it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm assuming it will treat it similarly to the postpaid accounts, seeing how they just came out with the prepaid webconnect plans. My guess is that they still use the IMEI detection, but it could be worth a shot. $70 is a steep price for testing purposes, so I'd say if anything spend the $30 for the 1500T&T/30MB plan and see if the web will even work.

very true!! i will probably give it a shot tomorrow.
stefvan2k1 said:
I'm assuming it will treat it similarly to the postpaid accounts, seeing how they just came out with the prepaid webconnect plans. My guess is that they still use the IMEI detection, but it could be worth a shot. $70 is a steep price for testing purposes, so I'd say if anything spend the $30 for the 1500T&T/30MB plan and see if the web will even work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[REQ]How to use this with android/web2go internet

Im probably gonna get flamed but W/E ..i already looked around and cant find it.
First let me say i am a T-mobile retail manager. I got myself a tab, as the past would portray, u used to be able to have a device as such and use the basic web2go data and be fine. I will tell you guys flat out. they do not educate myself or my employees as to how the apns/data SOCS fit each device as far as system wise.. obviously android gets android data and so on. I was under the impression i would be able to use this tab with my existing android data. Now as a T-mobile employee we usually get good perks. Not as good as Att but pretty good. However, with data cards and now the tab we are to pay the same amount as the customers...39.99 for 5gbs...NO THANKS. I was thinking we would be able to change the imei to say a basic phone but i know i know its illegal or W/E. My PLEA great wizards of XDA how the hell do we get around this. i already tried the main three apns epc.tmobile.com, wap.voicestream.com, internet2.voicestream.com. No luck just defaults me to my.t-mobile.com
So i was wondering if maybe its easier than just changing imei. maybe just device ID. Any insight would be awesome cause im gonna be kinda pissed i bought this thing as a wifi device only.

so im the only one in xda that does not want to pay 40 a month when we can pay 10 or 30.

This is my first reply since I get registered today
I'm on your same situation but I'm not employee I'm a Tmobile costumer with an Unlimited Voice and Data Plan and I paid around 85 dollars monthly. I just purchased the GT on eBay and I don't want to pay for a contract for additional data access when I just paid one.
I know about people tethering, but I don't know what consecuences this could be have. I know the smart people of XDA would found a way we can take the godbless of use internet on the go without a new contract.
So I will be seeking for this theme here and other great stuff at this Forum!!!!

It is really not that easy since more then likely it is done on the network side not the phone.
I am also trying to do the same thing. Switched out the build.prop file (id file if you will) with that of a virbant on froyo and same result.
Changed the uid to desktop. same problem
But If i wifi tether to my mytoch it is fine - just a huge battery killer for my phone.
There is same identifier that the network is finding (highly doubt it would be imei since happens imedialty) that the device accessing is the tab vs what ever phone.
Any one try with a foreign sw version?

M9x3mos said:
It is really not that easy since more then likely it is done on the network side not the phone.
I am also trying to do the same thing. Switched out the build.prop file (id file if you will) with that of a virbant on froyo and same result.
Changed the uid to desktop. same problem
But If i wifi tether to my mytoch it is fine - just a huge battery killer for my phone.
There is same identifier that the network is finding (highly doubt it would be imei since happens imedialty) that the device accessing is the tab vs what ever phone.
Any one try with a foreign sw version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ur absolutely right its the network verifying the device via IMEI. i was thinking the same thing maybe a euro rom would fix this issue...any devs have any input for us

Im in the same boat also and I'm an employee also. I have been using pp mbb with mine till i figure a way aroind the data soc and the imei blocking
Sent from my SGH-T849 using Tapatalk

*around
Sent from my SGH-T849 using Tapatalk

so only three of us now

I'm not sure about just changing the IMEI but if you want to use your phones data plan and tether it wifi here is a good way to do it.
http://www.modadroid.com/showthread.php?t=63

I would like to know as well.
Sent from my Galaxy Tab using XDA App

Me too. I could care less about the voice capabilities, but I would love to be able to stick my android sim in the device and have internet. I am almost at the point where I would rather go ahead and flash it with the euro modem and be stuck with EDGE since I only need the data for google maps and such.

So in this post, the person indicates it's the IP range. Wonder if there's anyway to do this from the device.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=840907

If you did flash the Euro rom, would you even get 2g without the webconnect plan?

Did you see this? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=876178
I don't have a custom rom installed. I just backed up EFS folder and then removed everything inside and it worked perfectly.

let me get this straight
what ee talking about here is to get a basic say 5 dollar a line add on, then use a web to go 10 dollar plan and it would work on the tab? by the way, if I tether from my cutom HD2, will they care if I wifi tether to my tab? its supposed to be an unlimited data plan (tmo us)..

T-zones / web2go
So if I flash rom on my mytouch 4g I will able to use my 5.99 t-zones plan or a 9.99 web2go plan?

I'm using a vibrant to tether to my tab. I am, however, using t-zones as my internet as opposed to an android plan. 5.99 unlimited 3g, woot.

timur.1337 said:
So if I flash rom on my mytouch 4g I will able to use my 5.99 t-zones plan or a 9.99 web2go plan?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'd have to block your imei.

[Q] 1 SIM x 2 Phones on TMO (BOLD 9780/MT4G)

So here's my situation. I have a Bold 9780 and a MT4G both TMO phones. I would like to be able to use them interchangeably as I please, though when I stick my SIM which is BIS activated into my MT4G I can't get on the web, it asks me to upgrade my plan. I called TMO they said that I would have to call in every time I want to change my SIM to my other phone. Which is....well the biggest pain in the....(excuse the language) ass! Has anyone come across this type of an encounter? Is there a easier workaround of some sort?

Unfortunately, the type of data plan is different between what most smartphones use, and Blackberry's. I use the same SIM between 2 Android phones without an issue, and I know of many other people who do the same thing. But once Blackberry comes into play, the type of data plan needs to change. It's a limitation of the hardware. I don't really know of an easy way to explain it... Best advice I can give you is to choose which phone is more important for you to use data with, or get a second SIM card.

Bloodflame said:
Unfortunately, the type of data plan is different between what most smartphones use, and Blackberry's. I use the same SIM between 2 Android phones without an issue, and I know of many other people who do the same thing. But once Blackberry comes into play, the type of data plan needs to change. It's a limitation of the hardware. I don't really know of an easy way to explain it... Best advice I can give you is to choose which phone is more important for you to use data with, or get a second SIM card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, I got off the phone with TMO shortly prior to posting this, and I understand that the activation of the BIS and TMO's generic APN is different. The CSR told me that I could go online and change it, but I have a grandfathered plan, my BIS is only $25 a month. I go online and my only option is the BIS/BES "4G" plans which doesn't include the regular internet plans. How will getting a second SIM work? That means I would have to pay for an extra phone line and internet plan though, correct?

Correct. There is no way (that I know of, at least) to use a Blackberry data plan on another platform. I wish I could be more help..

Bloodflame said:
Correct. There is no way (that I know of, at least) to use a Blackberry data plan on another platform. I wish I could be more help..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not cool, I don't see why they design it that way. I'm paying the same amount for internet....end of story, let me use both. ; ) haha. As much as I don't want AT&T to acquire TMO, maybe this will change! Ha. Kidding.

I know, it's stupid. But it makes sense. From what I understand, with a Blackberry data plan, all data is sent through RIM's servers, gets compressed, then gets routed to your device. It helps keep bandwidth down. When you've got a phone on Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian, etc. it's just a regular internet connection.
You could try Google for a solution, but I doubt you'll find one that would work effectively, if at all. Personally I'd ditch the BB and stick with Android, but that's just me

Bloodflame said:
I know, it's stupid. But it makes sense. From what I understand, with a Blackberry data plan, all data is sent through RIM's servers, gets compressed, then gets routed to your device. It helps keep bandwidth down. When you've got a phone on Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian, etc. it's just a regular internet connection.
You could try Google for a solution, but I doubt you'll find one that would work effectively, if at all. Personally I'd ditch the BB and stick with Android, but that's just me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pardon my simplicity and being new here. but may run into this myself. could you not copy your sim? plenty of programs etc to do so and such>?>? one for BB and other for TMO Bold??? Just make sure that when you aren't using the one to completely shut it off.???

Bloodflame said:
I know, it's stupid. But it makes sense. From what I understand, with a Blackberry data plan, all data is sent through RIM's servers, gets compressed, then gets routed to your device. It helps keep bandwidth down. When you've got a phone on Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian, etc. it's just a regular internet connection.
You could try Google for a solution, but I doubt you'll find one that would work effectively, if at all. Personally I'd ditch the BB and stick with Android, but that's just me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, I understand the BIS thing, but in essence, it still has to go through TMO, you know what I mean? #Irritated.
t_galownia said:
pardon my simplicity and being new here. but may run into this myself. could you not copy your sim? plenty of programs etc to do so and such>?>? one for BB and other for TMO Bold??? Just make sure that when you aren't using the one to completely shut it off.???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not a matter of the SIM card. It's the matter of the network's data connection. I have no problem taking my SIM out of one phone and putting it in the other. My SIM is at the moment, BIS activated, whereas when I want to use my MT4G I have to call in to TMO to let them know so they can activate "regular internet."