Database Users

MyTouch 3G from Craigslist: what about OTA updates?

If I purchased a MyTouch 3G from Craigslist and then used it on ATT, how would OTA updates work when released (from TMo)?
Are OTA updates possible via WiFi or do you have to be using TMo SIM to get it to work?
Can't get out of ATT contrac for a good while but keen to try Android phone.
Can I buy a $10 prepaid SIM from TMo (if that is indeed a possibilty) and use the MyTouch that way? I don't want to buy an extra monthly paid SIM or anything like that cause that would be a waste of $ as I currently have coverage. Hope someone in he know can help. Thank you.

If you purchased a MyTouch 3G from Craigslist and then used it on AT&T, you would NOT get any OTA update from T-Mobile because the updates are pushed through T-Mobile data connection, not WiFi. So even if you were using the phone on T-Mobile (say via a $10 prepaid SIM card) without a data plan, you wouldn't get the update either.
But I don't see why not getting OTA updates is such a big deal, as any official T-Mobile update will appear on XDA 10 minutes after it becomes available. Also, the joy of using Android is flash custom ROMs onto the phone, and custom ROMs are often WAY ahead of T-Mobile's.
Just so you know, AT&T will detect that you're using a smartphone and automatically sign up for a data plan (if you don't already have one) without telling you.
The myTouch is really crippled without a data plan though. For instance, the deal breaker for me is that you can't send or receive MMS (picture/video messages) without a data plan.

I know when I had my G1, I received the cupcake OTA over wifi.
I'm on AT&T and don't have a data plan.

kindrich said:
Just so you know, AT&T will detect that you're using a smartphone and automatically sign up for a data plan (if you don't already have one) without telling you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How would ATT know I had a smartphone if the phone is a TMo phone that is unlocked? I thought they only knew about smartphones from "their" arsenal of devices?
Can anyone confirm for sure if you would need a data plan using a non-ATT (smart)phone?
I already have a data plan (GRRR!) that I "had" to have, so hopefully I could do all the "nice" things the MyTouch can do.
I phoned TMo and asked about a $10 prepaid card for a phone purchased on Craigslist but the CSR said I had to have a monthly tariff thingy with data. Was he just trying for a hard-sell or can I indeed just get a simple cheap $10 prepaid SIM and play with the unit until it can get unlocked?
Thanks for the help.

IconBoy said:
How would ATT know I had a smartphone if the phone is a TMo phone that is unlocked? I thought they only knew about smartphones from "their" arsenal of devices?
Can anyone confirm for sure if you would need a data plan using a non-ATT (smart)phone?
I already have a data plan (GRRR!) that I "had" to have, so hopefully I could do all the "nice" things the MyTouch can do.
I phoned TMo and asked about a $10 prepaid card for a phone purchased on Craigslist but the CSR said I had to have a monthly tariff thingy with data. Was he just trying for a hard-sell or can I indeed just get a simple cheap $10 prepaid SIM and play with the unit until it can get unlocked?
Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They do automatically tack on the data plan for people who buy the Nexus 1. They are only able to tell it is a Nexus One however because Google gave them a list of all of their phones IMEIs.
If you are using a T-Mo phone or from any other carrier, their is no way for AT&T to beable to tell what kind of phone it is unless the carrier the phone oringinally belonged too decides to share their IMEI listing with AT&T. Which they don't do.
but you already have a data plan anyways so it doesn't even really matter. What sucks tho is that you are paying for the data plan and you will be stuck with EDGE. You will not beable to use AT&Ts 3G network. You should have looked for a Rogers over a T-MO.
[Edited-mainly for spelling]
WTH happened to my post count? I kno It's been awhile since I've been on but damn.........
lmao

msgnyc said:
You should have looked for a Rogers over a T-MO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be a good idea, but being in the middle of USA, I am guessing there won't be too many people who have Canadian phones to sell on my local Craigslist.
Twice, I nearly was able to trade for a MyTouch 3G and each time, the person pulled out at the last minute
Will keep trying though.

msgnyc said:
They do automatically tack on the data plan for people who buy the Nexus 1. They are only able to tell it is a Nexus One however because Google gave them a list of all of their phones IMEIs.
If you are using a T-Mo phone or from any other carrier, their is no way for AT&T to beable to tell what kind of phone it is unless the carrier the phone oringinally belonged too decides to share their IMEI listing with AT&T. Which they don't do.
but you already have a data plan anyways so it doesn't even really matter. What sucks tho is that you are paying for the data plan and you will be stuck with EDGE. You will not beable to use AT&Ts 3G network. You should have looked for a Rogers over a T-MO.
[Edited-mainly for spelling]
WTH happened to my post count? I kno It's been awhile since I've been on but damn.........
lmao
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure how but AT&T WILL detect that you're using a smartphone, regardless what kind of smartphone it is. I'm currently using a Sony Ericsson Xperia X1i, which is not supported by any of the US carriers. One day, I popped my friend's AT&T SIM card (he had been using a RAZR without a data plan) in and voila, I was surfin' the net after less than a second over EDGE (the X1i can't use 3G in the US). The next day, my friend checked online and a data plan was enabled for his line. Luckily, he was able to turn it off but only after an hour of explaining. He was reprimanded by the AT&T rep for putting their SIM card into an unsupported device which could potentially cause damage to their network (WTF?!!!).
I phoned TMo and asked about a $10 prepaid card for a phone purchased on Craigslist but the CSR said I had to have a monthly tariff thingy with data. Was he just trying for a hard-sell or can I indeed just get a simple cheap $10 prepaid SIM and play with the unit until it can get unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And yes, the Tmo CSR was just trying to sell you the data plan. When I had my myTouch, I was using it with a prepaid SIM card without data plan and it was fine. But, ON A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: you will need a SIM card with data plan to activate the phone. There is simply no other way around it. When I bought mine from Craiglist, I wiped the phone right on the spot and borrowed the seller's SIM card to activate it (your AT&T SIM card would work provided you have already unlocked the phone - which can be done on eBay for about $12). Luckily, back then the myTouch was still running Android 1.5 which allowed for rooting. You should do the same or don't wipe the phone until you have root it. However, if the phone is running Android 1.6 or higher, well, you're out of luck. The process is a bit more tedious. Check theunlockr.com for how-to.

kindrich said:
I'm not sure how but AT&T WILL detect that you're using a smartphone, regardless what kind of smartphone it is. I'm currently using a Sony Ericsson Xperia X1i, which is not supported by any of the US carriers. One day, I popped my friend's AT&T SIM card (he had been using a RAZR without a data plan) in and voila, I was surfin' the net after less than a second over EDGE (the X1i can't use 3G in the US). The next day, my friend checked online and a data plan was enabled for his line. Luckily, he was able to turn it off but only after an hour of explaining. He was reprimanded by the AT&T rep for putting their SIM card into an unsupported device which could potentially cause damage to their network (WTF?!!!).
And yes, the Tmo CSR was just trying to sell you the data plan. When I had my myTouch, I was using it with a prepaid SIM card without data plan and it was fine. But, ON A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: you will need a SIM card with data plan to activate the phone. There is simply no other way around it. When I bought mine from Craiglist, I wiped the phone right on the spot and borrowed the seller's SIM card to activate it (your AT&T SIM card would work provided you have already unlocked the phone - which can be done on eBay for about $12). Luckily, back then the myTouch was still running Android 1.5 which allowed for rooting. You should do the same or don't wipe the phone until you have root it. However, if the phone is running Android 1.6 or higher, well, you're out of luck. The process is a bit more tedious. Check theunlockr.com for how-to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They activated a data plan on your buddies account because you put his sim into your smartphone and started browsing the web with it over edge.
Did you think they weren't going to charge you for that?
They didnt know you had a smartphone. They knew you were browing the web using data.
If you hadn't begun browsing the web, they wouldn't have tacked on the data plan. They tacked on the data plan because you began using it.

[Q] HD2 USA and AT&T

Hey I'm gonna buy a tmobile HD2 from a friend of mine and I want to know if it can be use with AT&T.
Also do I haave to get a data plan with this phone?

Yes it can be used with AT&T but you will not get 3G speeds due to the specific bands the phone has.
I have an international HD2 and am using it on AT&T without data plan because AT&T does not have the IMEI for my phone in their database and thus cannot automatically add the smartphone plan. I'm not sure if they have the T-Mobile HD2 IMEIs.

I too have an international HD2 and am runing it on AT&T. You can't use the T-Mobile US one - the bandwidth doesn't work on AT&T only an international version will work.

I was going to say the same thing they said

You can use an Australian HD2 with AT&T and get 3G speeds. Mine works just fine.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=633404

I am running an unlocked TmoUSA HD2 on AT&T and it works just fine. Other than the fact that I have no 3G with this on the AT&T network. I am very happy with the performance since I live in an area with no 3G coverage at all. I have to drive 15 miles to get into 3G coverage area.
Yeah Baaaby AT&T .... not!!
When in the hell is AT&T going to take expanding their 3G coverage areas seriously? I wonder what it feels like to be the AOL of the cellular world, all those customers and so little speed. This really sucks bigtime!
HTR

omershahab said:
Yes it can be used with AT&T but you will not get 3G speeds due to the specific bands the phone has.
I have an international HD2 and am using it on AT&T without data plan because AT&T does not have the IMEI for my phone in their database and thus cannot automatically add the smartphone plan. I'm not sure if they have the T-Mobile HD2 IMEIs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do not put your AT&T sim card into a T-Mobile HD2. They will automatically "upgrade" your account to $30/month blackberry data. I had a $10/month unlimited that disappeared and I can't get it back now.

OCedHrt said:
Do not put your AT&T sim card into a T-Mobile HD2. They will automatically "upgrade" your account to $30/month blackberry data. I had a $10/month unlimited that disappeared and I can't get it back now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is not true.
I've been using my HD2 on ATT for 2 months now and my plan has not changed at all.

sorry I didnt explain well. Im gonna buy an HD2 tmobile phone which is lock to only tmobile I think is there a way I can unlock it to use with ATT I dont wanna have a data plan I dont wanna have internet.

eddym123 said:
sorry I didnt explain well. Im gonna buy an HD2 tmobile phone which is lock to only tmobile I think is there a way I can unlock it to use with ATT I dont wanna have a data plan I dont wanna have internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes there is a way to unlock it.

eddym123 said:
sorry I didnt explain well. Im gonna buy an HD2 tmobile phone which is lock to only tmobile I think is there a way I can unlock it to use with ATT I dont wanna have a data plan I dont wanna have internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used a T-Mobile HD2 for 5 months on AT&T without any problems except for no 3G. I used the $10mo data plan and still am. I now use a Telstra HD2 and enjoy full 3G coverage on AT&T. Both HD2's are unlocked and yes, the AT&T sim works fine. Just don't walk in to their store and expect them not to hammer you with the $30 data plan.
There's a real nice fellow from Australia that sold me my 2 HD2's. Very honest and reasonable. If you want his eBay ID, anyone can PM me and I will forward it. Beware of other internet store sellers! Some are selling the same phones for $100+ more and some people have been either screwed out of their money or have gotten refurb/used phones. Honesty is in short supply these days so be careful.

I unlock it... Just call T-mobile and ask for the pin that was yesterday and today got it by email.
Now the phone is for my girlfriend and I she doesn't have any data plan and she doesn't want any....Can this be done? have the phone without any data plan on AT&T?

eddym123 said:
I unlock it... Just call T-mobile and ask for the pin that was yesterday and today got it by email.
Now the phone is for my girlfriend and I she doesn't have any data plan and she doesn't want any....Can this be done? have the phone without any data plan on AT&T?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if they happen to add it on there (by doing a maintenance sweep daily), give them a call and demand that they put DATA OPT-OUT on that line.

Thanks ill call before putting the don card in....I thought that it was mandatory with the phone.
Sent from my HD2 One using XDA App

eddym123 said:
Thanks ill call before putting the don card in....I thought that it was mandatory with the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It IS mandatory, that applies to ANY smartphone. Whatever you do, DO NOT tell them you are using any smartphones. iPhones are all in their database since they were the exclusive dealers for them so it's impossible (as far as I know) to use an iPhone on AT&T without them nailing you for a $30 data plan since all the IMEI's are pre-loaded in AT&T's system. At least with the HD2's and other non-AT&T branded smartphones, they don't have the IMEI's and can't just hit you with the data plan.
It's in their contract, any smartphone use requires a data plan. Of course, they also hit you for a tethering fee as well for the privilege of using tethering (computer to smartphone connection) even though there's nothing special about it nor does it use the data service any differently. Just another way for AT&T to stick it to the consumer.

Calling all att sgs2 users!

Does anyone have an ATT Sim card in this beast yet?
If so, did you need to enter any settings? like APN settings? or did you put the sim in and it picked up the signal right after that..
thanks for the help in advance.

All i did was put my ATT sim in and it worked fine.

Pulled my SIM from my Inspire 4G, put it in the SGS II and away I went!
Sent from my SGS II GT-I9100 on ATT using XDA Premium App

Sweet thanks guys.
I'm going into the ATT store in a short bit, hopefully they will just add a line to my account and give me a Sim for that line i want added.
Do you think they will ask me 20 questions? like ask me WHAT type of phone i want that line added for?

misticjeff said:
Pulled my SIM from my Inspire 4G, put it in the SGS II and away I went!
Sent from my SGS II GT-I9100 on ATT using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you guys i called ATT and spoke with them about this they said i would need to bring my SGS2 into the store to show them the phone so they can get the IMEI number off it before activating it.. is this true?
I thought some people were able to put Medianet on this thing...
I have no idea what to do now... I mean.. HOW can I get a sim from these people without them knowing what type of phone I have.. I don't want them talking me into the 25G limited data plan... I just want them to give me a phone line and let me add the features from the website later...
=/

Never ever give ATnT your imei from international phone , you give them some dumphone to make them shut up , and be done with it. Why would you even tell them you getting Galaxy 2 whats wrong with you.

i agree, don't bring in your SGS2 phone in. Give them some BS. Don't ruin it for the rest of us & good luck.

Yep, you must know someone or have an old dumbphone that you can borrow for this purpose if you must go into the store.

This is how I switched to the $10 unlimited MediaNet plan. I called in & gave my IMEI # & told him I have an old Razr phone. Told them I wanted to get the unlimited MediaNet plan. Sadly, they warned me since I had a grandfathered Smartphone plan, I would lose it & will never be able to get it back. I told them yes go ahead & cancel my old smartphone plan.
Thank you to all that suggest this idea by getting an International phone. I will save a boatload of $ that I can use towards accessories!

Mine well be here Monday I can't wait and I got all kinds of tricks for att. Tell me this are the speeds up there with or better than the other att android phones

RMXO said:
This is how I switched to the $10 unlimited MediaNet plan. I called in & gave my IMEI # & told him I have an old Razr phone. Told them I wanted to get the unlimited MediaNet plan. Sadly, they warned me since I had a grandfathered Smartphone plan, I would lose it & will never be able to get it back. I told them yes go ahead & cancel my old smartphone plan.
Thank you to all that suggest this idea by getting an International phone. I will save a boatload of $ that I can use towards accessories!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So should we give the actual IMEI# from our GS2 or should we give the IMEI# from a dumbphone but then put the SIM card into our GS2?
I thought the former and not the latter... but there seems to some disagreement here.
Doesn't the IMEI# you give to AT&T have to match the phone you end up using?

bendispo said:
So should we give the actual IMEI# from our GS2 or should we give the IMEI# from a dumbphone but then put the SIM card into our GS2?
I thought the former and not the latter... but there seems to some disagreement here.
Doesn't the IMEI# you give to AT&T have to match the phone you end up using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You tell ATT that you want to register a new phone & get rid of your old phone. Tell them you have a Razr & then give them the IMEI (your SGS2), so yes to your question about giving the IMEI of your SGS2. Ask for the unlimited MediaNet plan for $10.
I made the call using my SGS2 the whole time. You could put the SIM in the SGS2 & make the call as I did.

My corporate AT&T rep knows I'm establishing service for my SGS2 and he put me on the Medianet plan and overnighted me a SIM. He said to call him with the IMEI so he can add it to make sure I have no future probems. The i9100 isn't and won't ever be in their database. He wanted to add the IMEI so if I'm talking to support about network issues they don't hassle me. He's a phone geek and totally gets it. YMMV.

RMXO said:
You tell ATT that you want to register a new phone & get rid of your old phone. Tell them you have a Razr & then give them the IMEI (your SGS2), so yes to your question about giving the IMEI of your SGS2. Ask for the unlimited MediaNet plan for $10.
I made the call using my SGS2 the whole time. You could put the SIM in the SGS2 & make the call as I did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
btw, the $10 medianet plan is only if you are also paying for unlimited texting, no? Otherwise, it's $15 for data? (I plan on using google voice for texts)

I'm starting to have 2nd thoughts about switching to MediaNet because of the possible future cost for unlimited data when LTE comes out. I lost my grandfathered unlimited data plan by switching to MN.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Wait... if AT&T doesn't have the IMEI for this phone, does that mean I could get the $10 unlimited plan for "basic and quick messaging phones" and use it with this?

MXIIA said:
Wait... if AT&T doesn't have the IMEI for this phone, does that mean I could get the $10 unlimited plan for "basic and quick messaging phones" and use it with this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use the medianet plan i think.

Can anyone confirm this?
And, what are the chances that AT&T detects this and throws you onto one of their data plans?

I can confirm I'm on MediaNet using the method listed in this thread.
I admit saving 240 a yr is nice but I'm afraid losing my grandfarthered unlimited plan might bite me in the wallet down the road once LTE is implemented.
Someone mentioned that if ATT kills MediaNet in the future we are screwed. I'm starting to question if saving now us worth it because I use over 5GB a month.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Just get a sim card from them but activate it at home. You can call at&t customer service for activation
I just plugged in my sim card from captivate and it worked without a hitch. Based on the post, i called at&t and told them that i wanted to actiavte my new cell phone and told them it was a fliphone and i was offered a medianet plan

[Q] Question about AT&T data plans.

So I'm on a 3g android smartphone with AT&T right now and if i got a 4g off contract would i have to pay for the 4g service which is really expensive or could i just stay on my good Ole 3g service i am currently using?

I think you can keep your current plan, but don't hold me to that. It may have changed since I've asked about it.
Source
This is the latest thing I've found regarding you question. I asked a little while after that. xD

Since when did they start offering a 4g plan?

I know with my AT&T Sony Ericsson Xperia X10a that when I unbranded and updated to 2.1, my mobile data automatically increased from 3G to "H" or HSPA which is like 3.5G without any rate changes.
I am guessing with AT&T that 4G will be more money, so I am happy with HSPA at 3G rates. Especially since the competition is limiting the speeds of their unlimited data plans.

i thnk the 4g prices will be the same as 3g then 3g prices will drop down.

But will using "4G" route you through a different WAP? If not and it's all a matter of wording and phrasing, I say root/rom and use unlimited data as if you were on a non-smartphone. They don't have to know, you don't have to throw your $ away.

Skv012a said:
But will using "4G" route you through a different WAP? If not and it's all a matter of wording and phrasing, I say root/rom and use unlimited data as if you were on a non-smartphone. They don't have to know, you don't have to throw your $ away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fact is that with AT&T data is measured in MB or GB, not speed or time. Regardless of how fast or slow you download or use data, it is metered.
However, I do agree that it could be as easy as changing your settings to access 4G, but it won't save you any money.

AT&T's "4G" technology is technically 3G according to the standards committee that oversees these technologies. However, when AT&T starts deploying real 4G, LTE, the prices have a good chance of changing. For now, "4G" plans cost the same as any other.
Sent from my SGH-i917 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

jonandkym said:
AT&T's "4G" technology is technically 3G according to the standards committee that oversees these technologies. However, when AT&T starts deploying real 4G, LTE, the prices have a good chance of changing. For now, "4G" plans cost the same as any other.
Sent from my SGH-i917 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly, it is based on volume of data used, not on speed of use.

I personally plan to switch to verizon once they allow data roll over and family-plan sharing.

wcdolphin said:
I personally plan to switch to verizon once they allow data roll over and family-plan sharing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon also limits data speeds on unlimited plans. Either way you are going to pay for data in time or money.

I have a very similar question. Hopefully someone can shed some light.
HERES WHAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW:
I am currently using a Rogers HTC Dream, unlocked rooted and running Gingeryoshi on AT&T. On my line, "Line A," I have the $10 unlimited dumbphone data plan and AT&T thinks I have a Samsung A737 (ancient slider phone). When I bought the phone on ebay, I just put in the APN settings and off I went.
Thanks to a contract renewal discount on "Line B" on my account, whose user does not need a new phone, I recently purchased an HTC Inspire 4G.
HERE IS THE QUESTION:
When I receive the phone, AT&T told me that I can use it on Line A, even though it was purchased through Line B. However, they said I need to call in to activate it. They said that until I do the upgrade will be listed as "incomplete" on their end. Further, they said that I will have to bump up to at least the $15 200MB data plan.
I told them I just want to sell the phone and not use it. They told me I still have to call and activate it, but that I can then "remove" it from the account and "reactivate" my dumbphone, at which point I will be reverted to the $10 a month dumbphone plan.
The $1,000,000 question: when I receive the new AT&T branded HTC Inspire, can I just pop my existing sim that I'm using in my Rogers Dream into the Inspire, and use it without calling to activate?
**to be clear, I'm not talking about bypassing the Android activation screen. Seeing as how there was no "activation" process for my Rogers Dream, I'm unfamiliar with the process as to AT&T branded phones. So, I guess the questions is if it is any different. I am comfortable rooting and roming, so if either of those processes will get me an Inspire working with my $10 data plan I'm ready to pull the trigger.
ALSO: THANK YOU XDA FORUMS. I think this is my first real post here, but I have browsed the forums for hours and you all helped me along from tethering my A737 to rooting my first T-Mobile G1, to installing roms and the DangerSPL on my Rogers Dream, so hopefully you can help me with this!

okachowwa said:
So I'm on a 3g android smartphone with AT&T right now and if i got a 4g off contract would i have to pay for the 4g service which is really expensive or could i just stay on my good Ole 3g service i am currently using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jessehclark said:
I have a very similar question. Hopefully someone can shed some light.
HERES WHAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW:
I am currently using a Rogers HTC Dream, unlocked rooted and running Gingeryoshi on AT&T. On my line, "Line A," I have the $10 unlimited dumbphone data plan and AT&T thinks I have a Samsung A737 (ancient slider phone). When I bought the phone on ebay, I just put in the APN settings and off I went.
Thanks to a contract renewal discount on "Line B" on my account, whose user does not need a new phone, I recently purchased an HTC Inspire 4G.
HERE IS THE QUESTION:
When I receive the phone, AT&T told me that I can use it on Line A, even though it was purchased through Line B. However, they said I need to call in to activate it. They said that until I do the upgrade will be listed as "incomplete" on their end. Further, they said that I will have to bump up to at least the $15 200MB data plan.
I told them I just want to sell the phone and not use it. They told me I still have to call and activate it, but that I can then "remove" it from the account and "reactivate" my dumbphone, at which point I will be reverted to the $10 a month dumbphone plan.
The $1,000,000 question: when I receive the new AT&T branded HTC Inspire, can I just pop my existing sim that I'm using in my Rogers Dream into the Inspire, and use it without calling to activate?
**to be clear, I'm not talking about bypassing the Android activation screen. Seeing as how there was no "activation" process for my Rogers Dream, I'm unfamiliar with the process as to AT&T branded phones. So, I guess the questions is if it is any different. I am comfortable rooting and roming, so if either of those processes will get me an Inspire working with my $10 data plan I'm ready to pull the trigger.
ALSO: THANK YOU XDA FORUMS. I think this is my first real post here, but I have browsed the forums for hours and you all helped me along from tethering my A737 to rooting my first T-Mobile G1, to installing roms and the DangerSPL on my Rogers Dream, so hopefully you can help me with this!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I work for AT&T and saw this thread and thought maybe I'd help clear some of this stuff up.
First, the 3G and the 4G plans are pretty much the same thing. You should be good using a 4g phone off contract. they are labeled different in my system at AT&T but I believe them to be the same plan because AT&T does not have a full 4G plan yet. But to be safe you can switch because the 4G plan smartphone plan costs the same as the 3G smartphone plan.
Unless you are saying you have a 3G "QMD" (Quick Messaging Device), or in lamest terms, a Non-Smartphone or "DumbPhone" haha. And that leads me to my next point. Pay attention here haha. As far as I've seen, if you have an ATT phone, the system will automatically detect if you've switched phones. Like if you went from a QMD to a ATT Smartphone, the system will auto-detect that you have a smartphone and will switch your data plan and notify you of it.
BUT, from what I've seen a few times, if you get a NON ATT Smartphone, the system doesnt seem to recognize you have a smartphone because it doesnt recognize the IMEI as a smartphone but instead as a Third-Party Device. Therefore it doesnt change your plan.
Now this does not happen to ALL non-ATT smarphones. Like my buddy who went from a QMD to an unlocked Tmo HD2 on his ATT plan. the system some how recognized his phone as a smartphone and switched him. He might have one of the phones that ATT has been able to recognize I guess.
As for getting the Inspire 4G and not activating it but using it on your other line, I would have to say that is a bad idea. If you dont activate it then after 30 days that additional line is cancelled and removed off your acct and ATT will then request the phone back. and if you dont return it, then ATT will charge the price of the phone to your acct. So no, dont do that.
As far as I know, the best way to go about getting a smartphone and not be forced to change your plan from the $10 QMD unlimited data plan to the smartphone plans is to get a non-ATT smartphone and hope they cannot recognize it as a smartphone.
My guess would be if you use 2 gb of data on that though, ATT might start asking questions as to why you are using 2gb of data on a non-smartphone though, haha. so be careful.
wrote a book but atleast I cleared some stuff up for you guys

thanks for the input chris-
you got at something that i had been wondering, mainly, whats the difference (in terms of detecting whether i have a smart phone) between my G1 or my Dream and the Inspire I just ordered. Is it that AT&T has the IMEI? I thought carriers could detect the IMEI of my Dream and discover that it was a smartphone, but they haven't...
As for the data, what's funny is that I've been using the Dream on that line with the $10 plan for 2 years, averaging 1 to 3 GB of data a month. I even had the rep pull up my account and, in the same conversation, verify that I had an A737 dumbphone (its just easier to say) and that I was using over 2GB of data. =) hahah
so, I guess I will need to activate the phone, tell them im selling it and using a razr, give them the razr imei (i have an old one) then switch the sim to the inspire and hope they dont catch it.
i wonder if anyone has tried this (maybe using an AT&T phone that they purchased on craigslist or ebay on AT&T) and how it went for them.
I guess this is sort of the even cheaper form of the UNLIM DATA 4 EVERYONE iPhone 2G trick!
PS chris I lold when you said you worked for AT&T but your info shows you're a Tmo customer. =) Maybe soon they'll be one in the same...

jessehclark said:
thanks for the input chris-
you got at something that i had been wondering, mainly, whats the difference (in terms of detecting whether i have a smart phone) between my G1 or my Dream and the Inspire I just ordered. Is it that AT&T has the IMEI? I thought carriers could detect the IMEI of my Dream and discover that it was a smartphone, but they haven't...
As for the data, what's funny is that I've been using the Dream on that line with the $10 plan for 2 years, averaging 1 to 3 GB of data a month. I even had the rep pull up my account and, in the same conversation, verify that I had an A737 dumbphone (its just easier to say) and that I was using over 2GB of data. =) hahah
so, I guess I will need to activate the phone, tell them im selling it and using a razr, give them the razr imei (i have an old one) then switch the sim to the inspire and hope they dont catch it.
i wonder if anyone has tried this (maybe using an AT&T phone that they purchased on craigslist or ebay on AT&T) and how it went for them.
I guess this is sort of the even cheaper form of the UNLIM DATA 4 EVERYONE iPhone 2G trick!
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad I could help
But again I would strongly advise not actually using the Inspire because even if you give them the imei of a Moto Razr, if you put that sim in the Inspire, since it's an AT&T phone, They will probably recognize it automatically and sign you up on the smartphone data plan. The only way that I know of to get around it is to use a NON-ATT smartphone, therefore they dont know what the phone is.
Know what I mean?
and as for this..
jessehclark said:
PS chris I lold when you said you worked for AT&T but your info shows you're a Tmo customer. =) Maybe soon they'll be one in the same...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I love being a customer with Tmo. And I swear I'll be so mad if this merger goes thru

thanks again chris!
everyone's responses are always appreciated. thought i'd give you all a quick update:
today my inspire arrived. I called the automated activation line, entered some billing info, and accepted the terms and conditions. i did not use the new sim card sent to me at any point.
i called ATT&T just to be safe and confirm, which they did, that i had completed activation properly. my line wouldnt be canceled because i didnt put the new sim in the new phone, and i would not be charged the retail price of the inspire even though it was not registered on the line i used to order it. i told them simply that i wanted to sell the inspire, and they assured me it would work without further AT&T involvement if i put in a compatible sim card. seems like they are most concerned about 1) getting you to accept the contract in exchange for the phone and 2) getting you on a **&%*[email protected] data plan if they catch wind of you using a smartphone.
they also confirmed that NO data charges had been added to the line i used to order the upgrade, and that the 2 year contract was in effect. score.
inspire is charging, ill let you all know how it goes when i turn it on and put in my OLD AT&T sim (on the line with the $10 dumbphone plan). According to chris im rolling the dice here, so OPTIMALLY it will turn on, connect to sweet sweet 4G data, and AT&T will keep thinking I have a dumbphone. if so, chalk one up for shiftiness.

yes is it man

I have an unlocked Tmo HD2 on AT&T rooted to NexusHD Gingerbread. They think I'm still using a dumb phone. My data rate did not change.

AT&T PayBack
Egrier said:
I have an unlocked Tmo HD2 on AT&T rooted to NexusHD Gingerbread. They think I'm still using a dumb phone. My data rate did not change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(Someone) should open a new thread on the whole various factors of unlocking non att phones or actual att smartphones but being able to trick att into thinking were using a crappy dumb phone haha (;
Brought To You By:
-SystemErrorOne-

I second that notion above me!
I'm thinking about switching to the Nexus One that works with the ATT 850 and 1900 bands but, after reading all these stories of people getting switched over to the $30 smartphone data plan I'm contemplating whether I should or not. It seems as though ATT is starting to recognizing and crackdown on more and more non-att smartphone imeis and switching them to the "appropriate" smartphone data plan.
Is there a list of phones that are still unrecognized by ATTs database?

Email From ATT (I need to change to a 4G plan)

I just purchased a Atrix yesterday at the NO Committment price. After playing with it last night I received an email from ATT, telling me that I need to switch to a 4G plan. I was planning to move my iphone sim back and forth between the phones. I do not want to lose my unlimited data. Is this not possible? I have a micro sim to sim adapter so the sim card is not a problem. The data seemed to work find between the phones. If they can't do this I will have to return the Atrix as I want to keep my unlimited data.

before i sold me iphone 4 i used to do this as well. I bought a micro sim adapter from amazon and switched between the atrix and ip4. Not once did i receive an email or txt...hmm... ill keep an eye out now...

yes, you can keep your unlimited plan. many on XDA still have theirs! just go through the process they outline, make sure they keep you on unlimited, and you can still sim swap just fine. (I don't think this will muck up a sim swap from iPhone to Atrix and back)

are you happy with the Atrix?

I work at an ATT retail store just tell them you're doing a smartphone to smartphone exchange and you want to keep your unlimited data. No problems
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App

yes I am. It is a great device! I am awaiting shipment of a Samsung Galaxy S II just to see what all the hype is about. I plan on keeping my Atrix as well, so we will see how it goes. But my ordering the Galaxy S II has no bearing on what kind of phone the Atrix is. I think the Atrix is still phenomenal. If you are coming from an iPhone, there are definitely differences between each OS and you will be doing more learning of Android in general than just the Atrix. Enjoy!

motionUS said:
I just purchased a Atrix yesterday at the NO Committment price. After playing with it last night I received an email from ATT, telling me that I need to switch to a 4G plan. I was planning to move my iphone sim back and forth between the phones. I do not want to lose my unlimited data. Is this not possible? I have a micro sim to sim adapter so the sim card is not a problem. The data seemed to work find between the phones. If they can't do this I will have to return the Atrix as I want to keep my unlimited data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you already have the iphone unlimited data plan, you can just call them and tell them you want to keep your unlimited plan and switching from iphone to atrix. You are entitled to "grandfather" your current unlimited plan to atrix.

motionUS said:
I was planning to move my iphone sim back and forth between the phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OP said he/she wants to move the SIM back and forth between phones!
You cannot do this. The iPhone and Atrix are different plans. You can keep your unlimited if you choose to use one or the other, but there is a smartphone plan, iPhone plan, and Blackberry plan. You can't jump between them at will because you have 2 phones! You will have to choose one phone and stick with it. You could do this with for example 2 Android phones, 2 iPhones, or 2 Blackberry phones, but not mixing them up.

I have found that if you have the iPhone data plan you CAN sim swap, but if you have the smartphone data plan on your account data will not work on the iPhone if you swap.

Maybe I shouldn't contact them and just leave use the iphone plan on the atrix. Everything seemed to work fine. Isn't it true that there is no such thing as a 4g sim card?

Tikerz said:
I have found that if you have the iPhone data plan you CAN sim swap, but if you have the smartphone data plan on your account data will not work on the iPhone if you swap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is just not true. You can swap at will with the unlimited "4g" plan.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA Premium App

What about your voicemail..i was going to do the same thing with the sim adapter but I phone uses visual voicemail and atrix uses regular voicemail system
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

I was able to keep the plan but I did have to get a new SIM card. They said it was for the 4G support. So I'm not sure if it's compatible or not.

Voicemail will be messed up.
There is a SIM card with 4G on it but it's no different from 3G card with fireball on it. If you have card earlier than that you need new one.
Sent from WinBorg 4G via XDA premium app

I don't know if iOS supports google voicemail, but I love it on my Atrix.
Swifted from my Atrix.

When I did my upgrade from the iPhone 3Gs to the Atrix, I was told that I could keep the unlimited data plan as I was "Grandfathered" in.

Greg11784 said:
I was able to keep the plan but I did have to get a new SIM card. They said it was for the 4G support. So I'm not sure if it's compatible or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You did not need a new sim
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA Premium App

Exthero said:
When I did my upgrade from the iPhone 3Gs to the Atrix, I was told that I could keep the unlimited data plan as I was "Grandfathered" in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I changed from my Iphone 3G to my Focus, I was Grandfathered per AT&T. The rep told me "As long as you keep buying smartphones, you will be grandfathered in" IDK if I use my upgrade in June if this will still apply thouigh.

They will do something in two weeks
In my case, ATT did not do anything until 2 weeks later. ATT has different data plan names for iPhone and non-iPone smartphone. I believe iPhone plan is named dataPro and 4G plan is dataPlus. If you do not call them up, they might switch you to the 2GB/month 4G plan in two week.s

Mine was instant. I went from captive to atrix and it just would not work at all
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App