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here in canada as many already knows data plans prices are off the roof. However, they recently came out with a $30 for 6g data plan which i find reasonable for canada. (since the land lines internet has a cap itself then wireless is hard not to have cap) but the only problem is, unlike the flex data plans, they claim that this data plan will not work with pc cards, so that does mean it wouldnt work with the htc shift? on the other hand, this same plan will for sure work for windows mobile. so my question is, is there a way to use vista's side wireless data making the computer think that its hooked up with a modem which will be the windows mobile side?

That is the beauty with the shift. If it works in a pda phone, it should work in the shift. I also have a data card that is supposed to be used with a pda phone but i use it in my shift. The vista side basically taps into the WM side and borrows the data connection from the phone. That is also why SMS and other "phone like" features work on the shift.
The short anser is yes, it should work just fine.

o wow, thats great to hear, o basicly you're saying shift uses the hspa network through the wm side without needing to link it up ourselves. so unlike other umpc, we wouldnt need a pc card data plan to work, as long as it works for wm then shift will run just fine. but disreguard of all the good news, canada still sucks with the capping.

data plans
are you able to get 6 GB data plan from Rogers and use it on shift?
I have a Shift and use PDA Net to connect to Telus
for $30 I would consider a Rogers connection
Even better would to use wife; on snapview

yes, you should be able to use the 6gb data plan from rogers on the shift. According to x5-rwk, the vista side of shift uses the wm side as a modem for hspa meaning rogers will assume that u're using the data for windows mobile which is allowed. Moreover, I have also comfirmed with some rogers rep that the data plan works for ALL devices expect pc cards. but i guess as long as okay on windows mobile, we're good to go

Rogers Data
Thank You for the update.
The final question. what about voice, do you need a voice plan to get 6GB data plan?
I have HTC Touch on Telus and have unlimited data for $15 and voice plan, I would not want a Rogers voice plan as well.
Any suggestions?
Thank You
Dave

No you do not need to get a voice plan with it. As since Shift doesn't have voice calling and the fact that rogers launched the shift already themselves. however, i am still unclear on if there will be a $10 fee per month to maintain the account. That fee is meanly for people who wants to open a plan with nothing, no minutes or price plan. However, as since the 6gb data is an option, the $10 fee may apply. Too bad you can't use your telus phone to hook up to the shift and use it as a modem since the $15 is limited. What you want to get is a lot like what i want to get too. So I've been looking at the price plans for a while thinking about it.
Currently I'm with fido (which luckily has the same data plans as rogers). After being in a contract with them for 3 years and loyal customer for 4, they said they can knock $10 off my plan. But since the shift can't have voice, i'm looking into getting the iphone to run it as a modem, sounds stupid and all but best i can do with a small buget. Or another thought would be to get a cheap family plan, for fido, all the family minutes is sheared (rogers has pool of minutes + each line's own) so if you add data plan for shift on one line and the other line only for voice, that works cuz you'll have too much minutes to use from a pool of family minutes into one line. Lol So i'll advice on waiting if you can. The offer for 6gb will be up till end of aug thus theres a high chance of back to school offers will be launch mean while. moreover, i'll try to stay in touch with my buddy who works at rogers see what kind of under table offeres he can give me.
ps: in case you're wondering, the 6gb data option does not allow data pooling which sucks.

Roger Data
Thank You for the update.
When Rogers announced the new data plans, I went to a Rogers store, they told me I could not use 6GB plan on Shift.
I sounds like I need to be vague with Rogers when signing up for plan so they think I am using on unlocked windows mobile device.
Did you advise Roger your intention to use data for Shift?
Can I get 6GB plan for unlocked phone?
As for the Telus and using Touch as modem, I can and haved used it to connect, I do not think the Snapview side can use the Touch as modem.
I do have to be careful, tethering is not included in data plan, I have to use PDAnet to get under the radar screen.
If Apple offers the ability to use iPhone 3G as modem, that would be excellent for you, I am still guessing you will need additional solution for Snapview side of Shift (can you remove SIM from iPhone as install in Shift, that would be ideal for you)
I also have AT&T Pay as you Go for US, unlimited data for 30 days for $20, I activate when I travel to US.
Thank You
Dave
PS: If you move to Telus, they have Touch Diamond coming, you can use PDAnet and tether for unlimited data for better deal!!!!

called Rogers
I called Rogers to ask about data plan.
After being on hold and transferred numerous times, I was advised I needed a voice plan to get the $30 data plan.
Cheepjing, if you have any further information as to how to get the $30 data plan even if I have to pay an extra $10, I would be very appreciative of the assistance.
Dave

I have thought about switching to telus many times. Mainly since they have the thought of adding GSM before the olympics in canada. Too bad nothing have been comfirmed yet and I know its a fact its gonna cost them way too much to do so. Maybe Kodoo is making them enough for that plan, who knows. lol. But anyways.
Back to the point of rogers. Most of the agents on the phone are not well trained. I can bet 90% of people on this site who lives in canada knows more than most of the reps they have at the call center. I'm sure the agent advised you to get a voice plan cuz of two main reasons. 1: he/she has no freaken clue on why or what you want. 2: after asking his/her manager, they were advised to just sign you up for something and maybe they'll get a sale too! So far, i'm almost 100% sure you can just open a line with rogers for $10 with no voice and just add the 6gb option. Just the matter of the sales you talk to if he/she is dying for a sale or not then most likely they'll just force you into something you don't want. Thus, my advise would be, just wait for a few weeks if you can. Mean while, i'll ask the other rogers reps i know. Just to give you heads up, most likely i'll find a chinese sales since those are the only ones i know. lol. I'm going to wait till aug before i ask for some rogers plans for the end of summer cuz even if i ask know they know very little. But as back to school comes closer, more info will be release.
now side track a bit, damn i wish that rogers/fido offers two sim in one number or something. If there are anyone here who has or knows people who can do that let me know! I guess my best chance is still family plan, gotta somehow think of a way to bypass their system a bit.
Moreover, rumors says rogers maybe launching the touch pro or diamond.

Cut Off Date 6GB
Hi Cheapjing,
Thank You
Is the cut off date for 6GB plan end of Aug or Aug 6th?
Dave

the offer stops end of aug. mind if i ask where u get aug 6th from?

Aug6th
I thought I read it in Toronto Star somewhere, I am wrong.
Dave

hey, just comfirmed with fido that offer ends aug 31st. also, i'd also asked about not getting voice but data only plan from them (since rogers and fido offers the same data plans now) they told me that u can get a base plan of $15 which includes system access fee (6.95) and 911 fee (50cents) and then add on a 6gb option on top of that. catch is, it must be on a three year contract good and i'm not too too sure if u'll be able to get that as a new costumer but then again, it wouldnt be too too hard to get a frd whos with fido to open a new line in the same account for that plan and then transfer that line to ur name one or two months down the road. also, this plan cannot be purchases at any retail store, u'll have to call rentention department for that. good news is, since u'll be signing a 3 year contract for that, might as well get an iphone 3g for the 3 year contract price and resell it back out, or gift it, or use it as a mouse for your shift! lmao. choice is your's, i'll sure let you know on any updates with going around the data plans.

Follow Up
I will call Fido and ask for retention dept. I will likely wait until middle of Aug, I am waiting for Telus to release EVDO Rev A update for HTC Touch.
My issues are simple:
Is $45/month worth it to have SIM Card in Shift vs the 3 min it takes to connect Touch via PDAnet and use as modem, this is as long as Telus does not charge me for tethering.
Telus has the HTC Touch Diamond coming out, would I rather pay upgrade for Touch Diamond or purchase iPhone
with DAVE and Globalive winning spectrum, when will Rogers/Fido lower their data prices, if I am locked into a 3 year contract with Fido, will they lower prices for existing contracts when other GSM carriers enter market?
One other thing I have is once I liberate Shift, there is a way to use Wifi with Snapview (need Vista on/battery drain)
Since I have the Touch, it provides me all the Windows Mobile capabilities I need in Canada and I use Snapview in US with AT&T MediaNet service @ $20/month for unlimited data (I can add feature when needed, based on having pre paid plan with AT&T).
I am leaning towards not moving on the Fido plan for the above reasons, if it was $30 and only system access fee and not a long term contract or if Fido/Rogers offered data on pre-paid plans I would consider.
I also have to consider my past experience with Rogers, they truly suck at customer service, I understand Fido is pretty good, however, I am not sure if I want to contribute to the 300 plus million profit Rogers earned. I also have friends who have contracts with Rogers that Rogers lied/changed.

i fully understand what you're worried about. However, like you said with Globalive winning a high amount (while in the end it was still rogers who took the most spending just under 1billion) thinking deeper into it, yes, they should drop their prices. But once again, after spending that amount of money how much are they willing to drop prices by? nevertheless, they already knew that they were gonna blow 1billion away before where as i'm sure that was one of the main reason to wanting to launch the iphone with choppy data plans. and with new companies coming in, yes they will drop the price, but on data? highly unlikely. if a new company was to come into the three way battle, its hard for them to start up with both voice and data. personally, i love fido. though rogers is kind of effecting fido's customer's services, in the end, they are still the best i've had out of so many other places i called for help.
Either ways, personally, i would go on with what u had in mind as long as telus does not charge u extra. reason being, the longer you stay with a company and then call to have upgrades, the better deals you'll get. i've been with fido for 4 years now with two lines. my main line's price went from $50+ (150day, unlimited eve, fido-rogers free +plus all the junk) now it went down to $28 after tax with everything i need and a little bit more. took me a while to get a deal like that, were as i'm sure telus can do the same since i've heard some frds of mine who's been with telus for long and now have really really cheap plans. but in the end, that is all about the voice plans. in order for us to afford fair data plans, we'll need cheap voice. in the end, rogers should go right into the trash can unless you get ur plans for like $10 from your work place and or able to retention a $15 plan where i've seen happening but its one of those dont try it urself risks. luckily fido started having data plans. (i'm a apple hater somewhat) but it was all because of them thats why now we have cheaper plans so, good stuff. lol
if you ask me, is paying $45 for 6 gb on shift worth it, my answer is no. unless you're always on the go online, which cannot happen since shift has short battery life. other options includes investing a little on the side. you've heard of the unplugged dsl, right? offered by both rogers and bell. that could work in the car too (as i heard) costing almost the same price with 4 more gb of data but, limited to when u're near a power supply. on the side, you can always use your touch to modem up with ur shift. but in the end, will rogers drop the hspa data prices? i'll recommand not to have hopes up though in canada people knows how to complain, but they have no clue what they were complaining about to begin with. wait till mid aug and see, we still have some time.
on the side note, if only the us cdma shift can make it work here with telus or bell. if so, i'll really think about it. maybe i should read up on that. ha

Follow Up
Hi,
I agree with you 100% on almost everything.
I may call Fido to see if they can cut me a deal for the 6GB plan for convenience, I would be willing to pay around $40, for Fido, they get a brand new customer for 3 years.
BTW, I have a friend who used to work at Rogers as a executive, he told me Rogers rapes their customers on long distance (they use their own backhaul network to carry voice), LD calls cost Rogers same as local calls.
Rogers screws their customers on data because if you have GSM device, you have only one choice.
On the subject of CDMA Shift, Bell and Telus will not allow any ESN (Electronic Serial Numbers) that they do not sell on their networks.
I do think you will see competition on data from Globalive, maybe Quebecor and maybe DAVE, the money backing Globalive has 70 million wireless users globally and have the better clout than Rogers with Erisson and handset manufacturers to build a network more cost effectively than Rogers. They can also use current technology like Dragonwave for backhaul or Wi-Max to lower their costs.
In the short term, they will have to sign roaming agreements with Rogers, however, they will be able to offer more affordable voice and data.
If these new entrants do not lower prices, Jim Prentice(Industry Canada) should be lynched.
Remember, the Canadian government allowed Rogers to purchase Fido, Rogers is just taking advantage of the cards that were delt.

Sounds like a plan to me. To be honest, they wouldn't be cutting the cost ON the data plan itself. As contract with iPhone and the fact that data is all on rogers network. The rep told me that himself. However, that all just means not to pitch them that way. They do have $10 plan with no minutes, you may be able to pull it off IF u already have a relation with them. Nevertheless, give it a shot. The $10 plan i was told that was ONLY for people who paused their accounts (though most of the time that $10 is a CR for max of a year) Also, like i said before, $15 plan does include the SAF fee. Come to think about it, you might just be able to pull it off. They might ask you to sign contract for 2 or 3 years giving you a $5cr for the contract term and give u the $15 plan. Moreover, if they still hard push you to the full $15, just be like, "I'm signing a contract WITHOUT taking a phone" so that itself is a $75cr.
Yes, rogers are sons of scammers. I guess thats why they offer so many rogers to rogers accross canada. If you were to go with fido, i highly recommand to do it before fido becomes more n more like rogers (as i see them going that path). Well, fast i don't mean like within days, more like within a year.
I do see strong advancments with Yak. But honestly, i highly doubt thats going to happen anytime soon. With Kodoo (from telus) entering this year bombing the lower class market like mad, it makes it harder. I'm sure they can pull it off. How, i will not question yet since most likely they going to blow us with some surprises (but to me those surprises does not worth the chance of not being able to sign a 6gb deal on HSPA network). I look forward in the upcoming battle.
BUT with all aside, we should just take most advantage out from what we have now. Only god knows how long we'll have to wait till canadian data prices drops. Good luck with Fido! I'll keep you updated if i found out any more info.

WooHoo
According to Fido customer service, I can get plan for $30/month plus $7.95 access fee.
Wooo Hoo
Dave

Holy good stuff! Might as well strike for unlimited text! Since shift works with that. Also, just have the agent confirm that the $30 data plan does come with unlimited emails as i've been told so. Just tell them its for a Windows Mobile device, they don't need that much details, it'll just confuse them. Btw, SAF is only 6.95, if they are charging u 7.95 i honestly wouldn't complain.

Unlocked TP on AT&T: data plan?

Was hoping to hear from anyone with an unlocked Treo Pro on AT&T, and if they are using the data unlimited (MediaNet), or PDA personal plan?
I previously was using a Treo 650 and now that I'm using my TP, AT&T still thinks I'm using my 650 (looking at the AT&T online my account site). I never had a data plan on the 650, but I can't really justify spending for the PDA plan. Is anyone with a TP using the data unlimited plan? Since my phone shows up as my 650, am I not be able to add data unlimited to my phone?
And lastly, has anyone been "caught" with the wrong plan, and what does AT&T do? Automatically switch you to the correct plan, or charge you their per KB rate?

If you have a dumbphone you can easily call up and tell them you changed phones and want the cheaper MEdia Net plan, then put your SIM back in your TP.
You can try calling them and giving them the IMEI to your unlocked TP and they should be able to do it since it won't be in their system.
You do not need the PDA plan for an unlocked phone since its not in their system.
The dumbphone trick usually works too, and even if you go back to an AT&T PDA you can keep the MEdia Net plan, but one day you may get caught.

Aggresive AT&T
I was all excited when I got my brand new Palm Treo Pro unlocked from Dell this week. I just took my SIM card (AT&T 450m Plan W/O data) from my old phone and put it in the new phone. Everything’s fine. My new phone is good, easy to use. So I went to Palm website yesterday night and I “registered” my phone by giving my phone number and phone’s serial number. I also mentioned that my provider is AT&T. Big mistake. If you are reading this, don’t ever say who your provider is.
Today morning, I get two SMS’s from AT&T saying “Did you know your Smartphone requires a data plan ? For convenience we have added a minimum plan to your phone” WTF….
So I called up AT&T and checked what the hell is going on…they responded saying it’s a requirement that all smart phones “should” have a data plan. I reminded that I was no longer under contract nor did I bought the phone from a AT&T store at a discount with a contract. I paid full price for that phone that I bought from Dell.
I also told them that if they don’t remove the data plan ($30 bucks a month), I will go elsewhere. After 10 mins of trying to make her understand that it’s an unlocked phone, she finally washed her hands off by saying she will transfer me to “another” department which will “rectify” my situation. Then I got another lady on the phone who started off saying “Do you want to cancel your account ?” Another 10 mins of explaining and finally she said she will use the “grandfather” clause to pull out the data plan from my account.
All in all, wasted around 40 mins to get the data plan off my bill.
It is very wrong of AT&T to push plans which customers don’t need. If you are being pushed around by AT&T, fight back !!!

AT&T's evil policy
I had the same experience. I bought unlocked TP from Dell 3 days ago. Very next day morning after I swapped the SIM into TP, I received SMS saying "data plan is required for your smartphone" (I never registered AT&T as a service provider any where)
I called AT&T and asked them to remove $30 plan as I swapped SIM back into my old non-pda phone.
I did research on this issue, and found a website (can't post link here as I am considered new user and xda website won't allow me to post this message, but if you care, google for cingular selfcare and first link would get you there)
I can put my number, and it will tell me what device I have. I put SIM into TP, and it tells that I have TP!!
So, some how, my IMEI is recognized to AT&T database even if I had purchased this phone unlocked from Dell.
Now, I am left with 2 options
1. return TP back to Dell
2. Pay $30/month if I want to use it with AT&T
I want to use TP, but AT&T's evil policy would not let me. They should not have a say in what data plan I need with my phone when they never subsidized the phone for me. That is unfair.

TP on AT&T
I have unlocked TP on AT&T, got it from dell last year and I wasn't required to put a pda data plan on the phone. I do have the old media net plan and so it comes with unlimited data, but it is cheaper than the $30 plan and comes with over 1000 sms.

t-mobile?
various people on XDA talking about having switched to T-mobile for this very reason. with t-mobile it's unlimited data (includes tethering, they tell me) for $25 a month, or no data at all. They don't do the "$2/meg" garbage that ATT does. The data can be "on" or "off" which is the decent way to do it.
you just need to unlock your phone. Edge will work on t-mobile, although 3G will not.

My TP experience
I know it's an older thread but figured would post my experience.
Been with AT&T for 6 years. First phone I got from them was an MPx220. Put the MediaNet plan on it (unlimited data, 1500 sms, 200 mms) for $19.99. I switched phones over the years going from iPAQ, i-Mate, HTC, Palm, etc. All along the way, never got any message about needing a smartphone data plan.
Then I brought an unlocked iPhone for my wife and stuck my SIM in there to set it up (it was a gift). Set it up for her, pulled my SIM out and back in my Treo Pro. The next morning I had two txts from AT&T saying my iPhone requried a data plan and it has been added for me. I had been swapping SIM cards for years and this 15 minutes with the iPhone changed my entire account.
I called and said I didn't have an iPhone and need my account restored back to the MediaNet. Well since it was an old feature, they couldn't add it back for me and opened a case with the Resolutions department. In the meantime, they put me on the $15 sms plan and the $15 unlimited data for dumphones and gave me a $25 credit until the issue was resolved.
Well while I was on the dump phone plan I got two more sms stating my smartphone required a data plan and one had been added. Now I was real concern because they never knew said anything about a smartphone before.
Finally the resolution team called and said they couldn't add the package because I was on the smartphone and should have never had the plan on the smartphone. So I put my SIM back in the MPx220 and waiting for them to add the feature again. I am concerned that once I do switch SIMs again it will send me another SMS at which time I'll be heading for another provider. But for 6 years I never had a problem into that damn iPhone.

My troubles getting the tmobile/walmart $30 5gb plan

i am going to go off on quite a story here but i hope that my struggles and experience might save someone my troubles.
to start off i was on Verizon. I had the thunderbolt w/ grandfathered unlimited data plan. it was unlimited text/data but no minutes on plan. Any used minutes were $0.25 so i was basically paying $80-$90/mo for the exact same plan as this new tmo/walmart one... plus it was $50 less!
if i would have known the hassle i was about to go through i just might have stayed with verizon and waited for the nexus... If you are not planning to port a number this process might go a lot easier.
this is my experience...
To start the whole process I pulled the trigger on a local SGSII for a steal on craigslist. i thought about how to leave verizon for a few days then decided to go for it. I purchased a sim kit from tmobile.com but was unable to wait for the SIM kit (over a week to ship!) i head over to a local tmobile B&M store. i told them the plan i wanted and show them online, they said they had heard ( i call BS) of it and that i could go online and choose it. They activate the SIM and began the number port from verizon. I was told to go online at home and select the plan i wanted, so i get home and go online to select my plan, but it isn't available. Every other plan was available but not the $30 5gb plan!
I called tmo support (prepaid support is an offshore callcenter) and was told because the SIM card was activated in store i was not eligible to get this plan. i was told i could purchase another SIM kit and it would work with no problems and i would still be able to port my number (that was already in the process).
At this point i visited another tmobile store and was successfully able to swap the activated SIM kit for an unactivated one. Only after several hours (and reps over the phone) and a trip to Walmart i find this in store bought SIM would not work either.
A SIM ACTIVATION KIT PURCHASED IN A B&M TMO STORE WILL NOT WORK
FOR THIS PLAN YOU MUST PURCHASE A SIM ACTIVATION KIT FROM TMOBILE.COM OR WALMART
ok. ok. now that the confusion was cleared (i was told differently by phone and in store reps) off i head to a local Walmart for the second time. surprise surprise, for the second they were clueless of this plan and were absolutely no help at all.
Next day my SIM kit from tmobile.com finally arrives!!! YES! at this point i am pretty sure this is the only way and this will go fine and i will be activated immediately through my.tmobile.com. i go online to activate. i enter all my info and activation code. I am presented with plan options and BINGO the $30 5gb plan is there! I choose the plan click next and get a "Review your order and submit" page. when clicking on "submit" the page just errors out. FAHHHHHH! i tried again and again and from 3 computers. same error at the same place!!!!! I call support and of course their response is "we can not activate this plan over the phone. you must activate online or at walmart" and when i replied "but neither of these options are working for me!!!!!!!!!" the call mysterioulsy dropped. at this time its 4 days from starting the number port from the original SIM and i start worrying about losing my ported number... eventually (several reps and hours later) I was able to get a CS rep on the phone that put me on hold very willing to help and found a way to get me on the correct plan. I then get transfered to the number porting dept to get my number moved to this correct account. WHEW! that evening everything is working fine and im getting data and relieved to finally have this experience behind me. I am just waiting for the number port to go through then i am done and on the road to $50 savings a month! not so fast...
The next day as soon as i noticed the number port went through i got a text from TMO that i had reached my data limit!?! WTF how could i go through 5gb in a week, most of it w/o service? i used the tmobile app to check my data usage and found they changed my plan on me!!! now i have the other $30 plan with like 100mb data! i call customer support furious! little good does that do. another day on the phone and multiple hangups later i was able to find someone who said i was basically screwed and that i would have to order a new SIM online and start over. WTF!?!?!?!?!
at this point im done fighting and just order another SIM.
after some research i call back to discuss this whole ordeal w CS and find out how they will transfer my $100 deposited to this bad account to my new account when i get the new SIM in the mail. i finally found a simpathetic rep who fought to get this fixed. using my my original activation code for verification that the plan was available (from the 1st sim purchased online) the rep found a manager that was able to over ride the plan back to the correct $30 5gb plan. I refused my new (replacement)SIM when it arrived and was credited the money back. Its been almost 2 weeks now and everything seems ok... FINGERS CROSSED!
some things to i found that you should know:
A SIM ACTIVATION KIT PURCHASED IN A B&M TMO STORE WILL NOT WORK
FOR THIS PLAN YOU MUST PURCHASE A SIM ACTIVATION KIT FROM TMOBILE.COM OR WALMART
If you purchase in B&M store IT WILL NOT WORK
A FAMILY MOBILE SIM KIT WILL NOT WORK
if you are a current tmobile customer they WILL NOT PORT YOUR NUMBER.
TLDR?
1. do not expect a port of your current tmo number.
2. purchase your sim kit from tmobile.com
3. hope like hell they have the kinks out of this system!

WOW! that's quite a horror nightmarish story you got there for Halloween
i feel for yah
most people would have quit at that point and moved on to another company

AllGamer said:
WOW! that's quite a horror nightmarish story you got there for Halloween
i feel for yah
most people would have quit at that point and moved on to another company
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
after dropping my unlimited data at verizon i figured i was pretty much screwed and any other company (AT&T and Sprint suck in DFW from my experience) it was gonna cost more for worse... I was pretty determined to get this plan working. i guess its the cheapo in me

My experience was super simple……after reading up online prior to attempting.
Walked into T-Mobile store after seeing Wal-Mart did not have the SIM only activation kits. I paid 10$ for the kit after insisting to the Tmo store that I did not need them to set me up with anything.
Went home then plugged in the EMI,SIM & Activation code to the T-Mobile website. Funded the account and picked the plan… Done
(using Google voice for my number)
Did not have to talk with anyone and the whole process took maybe an hour.

My experience is delightful too. Since i read about ur post, i have little bit of scare about the walmart prepaid SIM card and Tmobile prepaid SIM card.
Luckily, I been into the shop so many time. All the employee know me, when i get in...they thought i getting the 49.99 value family plan, but i tell them i got the $30 prepaid plan from walmart but walmart run out of SIM card and was told to get one from Tmobile store. They had their time, they were very puzzle when i told them. But there is one experience lady went online and read about the plan, and surprisingly, she manage to figure thing out. One thing she mentions is "they had to activate the SIM card through the Tmobile website instead of their system" I think that is what saved me.
From my experience, if you going to let Tmobile employee do this, be sure they know what they are doing and you know what they are doing.
---------- Post added at 12:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:48 AM ----------
btw, i join Tmobile Samsung Galaxy S2 family. Welcome me?
hahhahhahahah!

I did this today, didn't have any problems at all activating.
Followed the discussion on Slickdeals on this, and bought my sim card from Amazon for less than free, like 2 something, and it came with 3 something of T-Mobile credit on it.
I went onto the T-Mobile online activations website, and activated my sim card on the 5GB $30 plan. To pay I bought a discount refill pin that came instantly from CallingMart.
Smooth sailing all around.

theyownus said:
i am going to go off on quite a story here but i hope that my struggles and experience might save someone my troubles.
to start off i was on Verizon. I had the thunderbolt w/ grandfathered unlimited data plan. it was unlimited text/data but no minutes on plan. Any used minutes were $0.25 so i was basically paying $80-$90/mo for the exact same plan as this new tmo/walmart one... plus it was $50 less!
if i would have known the hassle i was about to go through i just might have stayed with verizon and waited for the nexus... If you are not planning to port a number this process might go a lot easier.
this is my experience...
To start the whole process I pulled the trigger on a local SGSII for a steal on craigslist. i thought about how to leave verizon for a few days then decided to go for it. I purchased a sim kit from tmobile.com but was unable to wait for the SIM kit (over a week to ship!) i head over to a local tmobile B&M store. i told them the plan i wanted and show them online, they said they had heard ( i call BS) of it and that i could go online and choose it. They activate the SIM and began the number port from verizon. I was told to go online at home and select the plan i wanted, so i get home and go online to select my plan, but it isn't available. Every other plan was available but not the $30 5gb plan!
I called tmo support (prepaid support is an offshore callcenter) and was told because the SIM card was activated in store i was not eligible to get this plan. i was told i could purchase another SIM kit and it would work with no problems and i would still be able to port my number (that was already in the process).
At this point i visited another tmobile store and was successfully able to swap the activated SIM kit for an unactivated one. Only after several hours (and reps over the phone) and a trip to Walmart i find this in store bought SIM would not work either.
A SIM ACTIVATION KIT PURCHASED IN A B&M TMO STORE WILL NOT WORK
FOR THIS PLAN YOU MUST PURCHASE A SIM ACTIVATION KIT FROM TMOBILE.COM OR WALMART
ok. ok. now that the confusion was cleared (i was told differently by phone and in store reps) off i head to a local Walmart for the second time. surprise surprise, for the second they were clueless of this plan and were absolutely no help at all.
Next day my SIM kit from tmobile.com finally arrives!!! YES! at this point i am pretty sure this is the only way and this will go fine and i will be activated immediately through my.tmobile.com. i go online to activate. i enter all my info and activation code. I am presented with plan options and BINGO the $30 5gb plan is there! I choose the plan click next and get a "Review your order and submit" page. when clicking on "submit" the page just errors out. FAHHHHHH! i tried again and again and from 3 computers. same error at the same place!!!!! I call support and of course their response is "we can not activate this plan over the phone. you must activate online or at walmart" and when i replied "but neither of these options are working for me!!!!!!!!!" the call mysterioulsy dropped. at this time its 4 days from starting the number port from the original SIM and i start worrying about losing my ported number... eventually (several reps and hours later) I was able to get a CS rep on the phone that put me on hold very willing to help and found a way to get me on the correct plan. I then get transfered to the number porting dept to get my number moved to this correct account. WHEW! that evening everything is working fine and im getting data and relieved to finally have this experience behind me. I am just waiting for the number port to go through then i am done and on the road to $50 savings a month! not so fast...
The next day as soon as i noticed the number port went through i got a text from TMO that i had reached my data limit!?! WTF how could i go through 5gb in a week, most of it w/o service? i used the tmobile app to check my data usage and found they changed my plan on me!!! now i have the other $30 plan with like 100mb data! i call customer support furious! little good does that do. another day on the phone and multiple hangups later i was able to find someone who said i was basically screwed and that i would have to order a new SIM online and start over. WTF!?!?!?!?!
at this point im done fighting and just order another SIM.
after some research i call back to discuss this whole ordeal w CS and find out how they will transfer my $100 deposited to this bad account to my new account when i get the new SIM in the mail. i finally found a simpathetic rep who fought to get this fixed. using my my original activation code for verification that the plan was available (from the 1st sim purchased online) the rep found a manager that was able to over ride the plan back to the correct $30 5gb plan. I refused my new (replacement)SIM when it arrived and was credited the money back. Its been almost 2 weeks now and everything seems ok... FINGERS CROSSED!
some things to i found that you should know:
A SIM ACTIVATION KIT PURCHASED IN A B&M TMO STORE WILL NOT WORK
FOR THIS PLAN YOU MUST PURCHASE A SIM ACTIVATION KIT FROM TMOBILE.COM OR WALMART
If you purchase in B&M store IT WILL NOT WORK
A FAMILY MOBILE SIM KIT WILL NOT WORK
if you are a current tmobile customer they WILL NOT PORT YOUR NUMBER.
TLDR?
1. do not expect a port of your current tmo number.
2. purchase your sim kit from tmobile.com
3. hope like hell they have the kinks out of this system!
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Click to collapse
If you werent soo impatient you would'nt have has the problems you had, smh its only a week.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

I'd love to do a deal like this. How do you get the phone? They go for over $500! I'm getting one via T-Mobile corporate rate and it's still twice that $30 rate for only 2gb data,unlim text and 500 talk! I'd much rather have the $30 5g data unlim text 100 min deal....

Quite the horror story indeed...can't help but wonder if you had waited for your original sim in the mail if you would have had all these issues...

I really wish reps would read their email. But it may have been indirect you went to. This plan is only avalible at walmart and online. Tmobile retail stores have no way of activating this plan or switching you to it. If for some reason you change off of it there is no going back you will need to start again per the training materials provided by corporate. As for the number once a number is ported to tmobile no you cant port it again. They need to do a reuse request that can take up to 72 hours to complete. Glad its all working for you now and am very impressed you got prepaid to credit you anything.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

iloveandroid16 said:
If you werent soo impatient you would'nt have has the problems you had, smh its only a week.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This must be the most helpful answer in the history of xda! You win!
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

Born_Immaculate88 said:
Quite the horror story indeed...can't help but wonder if you had waited for your original sim in the mail if you would have had all these issues...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not as much trouble for sure, but remember after I received it I still ran into problems trying to activate online...
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

Hotspot?
Can you get an Android phone to act as a hotspot with this plan?

Dang, I feel for you man.
I didn't have to go through all that though.
I was already a T-Mobile customer out of contract. I seen that the prepaid plans were so much cheaper than the 95 something I was paying a month, so I switched over to prepaid.
All I did was pick up a prepaid phone from Target that was $30, popped the prepaid sim card into my Galaxy S2, and activated it online with the $30 web only offer.
No hassle whatsoever
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

kikbuttcheerleader said:
All I did was pick up a prepaid phone from Target that was $30, popped the prepaid sim card into my Galaxy S2, and activated it online with the $30 web only offer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Were you able to keep your old T-Mobile phone number, or did you need to activate with a new number?

My ordeal was not as bad as yours (for which sounds like a hell of a time.)
I purchased a $30 dollar phone from Wal-Mart the night prior to the $30 dollar plan being released.
Then purchased outright a GS2 from the local T-Mobile store, activated the SIM card on the $30 dollar pre-paid phone, then called T-Mobile support to port the number over.
I was quoted 24-48 hours, I was previously on Virgin Mobile with a Triumph and realized this really takes like 5 minutes.
After 48 hours I called and complained, they told me, it'll port over soon, no worries.
Called 24 hours after that, demanded to talk to the 'porting department' if there is one, and I talked to someone who did it right then and there, right to the point where he told me to reboot the phone and voila, my number was ported. From then it took about 4 hours to get full service/data, and a full 24 hours before I could go in and edit settings/profiles and stupid WebGuard settings on T-Mobile.com
Here's to hoping T-Mobile stays afloat and the pre-paid plan, If I have to port again i'm going to literally just call directly to the port department.
We all learn from these things, but the $30 plan is sooo worth it.

I'm on an unlimited family plan with my best friend right now & we're splitting the $150 bill, but he's been seriously pissing me off lately & I'm thinking of just telling him to go to hell & switching to this plan. Are there free night & weekend minutes or mobile to mobile with this? If not I'm thinking I could get around that with google voice & GrooveIP. Hmm.......

kabuk1 said:
Are there free night & weekend minutes or mobile to mobile with this? Hmm.......
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Click to collapse
Unfortunately not, and I haven't dabbled with VOIP yet. I'll share what I find out

Yeah, it kind of went like that for me too... I was a post-paid customer (on the old Even More Plus, 500 & UL text/data for $60) and they converted me to pre-paid, but I couldn't pick the WM plan online. I had to order a SIM kit and wait for it to get here. Supposedly WM won't sell just the activation kit (I cannot confirm or deny this, didn't try).
I was told the whole time that I could port my old T-Mobile number over once it was done. That was wrong, basically ran into the same problem the OP had... I would lose the WM plan if I did. Not a huge deal to email all of my friends with a new number and put a voice mail message on the old number, small hassle to cut my monthly nut in half.
Keeping on forum topic, my new SGSII is pretty sweet!!

djmasters said:
Yeah, it kind of went like that for me too... I was a post-paid customer (on the old Even More Plus, 500 & UL text/data for $60) and they converted me to pre-paid, but I couldn't pick the WM plan online. I had to order a SIM kit and wait for it to get here. Supposedly WM won't sell just the activation kit (I cannot confirm or deny this, didn't try).
I was told the whole time that I could port my old T-Mobile number over once it was done. That was wrong, basically ran into the same problem the OP had... I would lose the WM plan if I did. Not a huge deal to email all of my friends with a new number and put a voice mail message on the old number, small hassle to cut my monthly nut in half.
Keeping on forum topic, my new SGSII is pretty sweet!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something to consider, unless you have already cancelled your post account, is to port your number out to another service provider without picking up hardware (to avoid restock fees/wasting a store's on-hand stock) then giving the activations department a ring and having them port in your number from X to replace the "temp" number you have now with the WM plan.

Nexus 4 on AT&T GoPhone

I've seen people saying they have their Nexus 4 on AT&T's Prepaid GoPhone service at $50.
I was wondering the best way to go about doing this.
Do I go into the store and get a GoPhone SIM with the $25 Monthly Plan (250 minutes, unlimited texts) along with the $25 1GB data package?
Or do I just get the SIM with the $50 Monthly Unlimited Plan? The AT&T rep I spoke to said that I would only be able to access mobile web via a feature phone with the $50 plan.
Thank you guys for any help.
-Randy

I am also curious about this. I am probably going to do the $25 plan plus a 1gb dataplan for $25, coming to $50/month. However, I want to know the best action. I've heard that you have to give AT&T a different IMEI because they don't integrate well with N4 (although I think that is only for LTE; so you don't have to for HSPA+?) Sorry, I'm kind of new the whole mobile development scene, and I'm switching to the N4 so I can start developing for and tinkering with Android (plus, it's an amazing device).
I guess what I'm (and I think the OP is) asking is, which GoPhone plan to sign up for, and do I just walk in to the store with my Nexus 4, say "I need x GoPhone plan for this phone", pop in the sim they give me, and I'll have access to full HSPA+ speeds? If not, do I just need to change the APN (if so, to what)? If not that, do I need to give them a different IMEI to get access to HSPA+ like I've heard you need to do for LTE?

Johmama said:
I am also curious about this. I am probably going to do the $25 plan plus a 1gb dataplan for $25, coming to $50/month. However, I want to know the best action. I've heard that you have to give AT&T a different IMEI because they don't integrate well with N4 (although I think that is only for LTE; so you don't have to for HSPA+?) Sorry, I'm kind of new the whole mobile development scene, and I'm switching to the N4 so I can start developing for and tinkering with Android (plus, it's an amazing device).
I guess what I'm (and I think the OP is) asking is, which GoPhone plan to sign up for, and do I just walk in to the store with my Nexus 4, say "I need x GoPhone plan for this phone", pop in the sim they give me, and I'll have access to full HSPA+ speeds? If not, do I just need to change the APN (if so, to what)? If not that, do I need to give them a different IMEI to get access to HSPA+ like I've heard you need to do for LTE?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just walked into an AT&T store (corporate not an authorized dealer) and asked for a GoPhone microsim and they handed me one for free. The rep then said that they could port my number over and set up my service for me if I wished or I could do it myself. I let them setup my service, the $25 monthly plan + $25 1 GB data plan, took him about 10 minutes to get it all setup and the number ported over. Once it was all setup and good to go the store manager walks out and says to me that my phone won't work with that data plan as it not for 4G phones (meaning LTE). I showed him my data was working just fine and said the Nexus 4 isn't a 4G phone anyways. He said it was a fluke that it was working but I knew better from the threads in here. It's now been 3 weeks and I've had no problems. The APN settings I used were the default ones already on the phone after I restarted it with the new microsim card in place (they are listed in the other thread linked to below).
GoPhone discussion in General Section:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2195150&highlight=gophone
The $25 monthly plan is the third one down:
http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/prepaidplans.html
Data packages are right below the monthly plans; 1GB, 200 MB or 50MB. That's all that's offered with these plans.

kzoodroid said:
I just walked into an AT&T store (corporate not an authorized dealer) and asked for a GoPhone microsim and they handed me one for free. The rep then said that they could port my number over and set up my service for me if I wished or I could do it myself. I let them setup my service, the $25 monthly plan + $25 1 GB data plan, took him about 10 minutes to get it all setup and the number ported over. Once it was all setup and good to go the store manager walks out and says to me that my phone won't work with that data plan as it not for 4G phones (meaning LTE). I showed him my data was working just fine and said the Nexus 4 isn't a 4G phone anyways. He said it was a fluke that it was working but I knew better from the threads in here. It's now been 3 weeks and I've had no problems.
GoPhone discussion in General Section:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2195150&highlight=gophone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, thanks for the reply; that's exactly what I was asking (and hopefully the OP. I feel like I kind of hijacked his thread if he didn't gain anything from it). When you bought the service and had them set it up all up, you had your Nexus 4 device there with you and had them do what needed to be done on it? Thanks for the link too.
I have to say, one of the reasons I'm excited to go to prepaid is the service I get from cellphone companies/representatives. About 2 weeks ago, before I even decided to go with the Nexus 4 and prepaid service, I walked into an AT&T store to inquire about how that all works, and if they could work with a Nexus 4 and everything (I was ignorant, I like to think I've learned from browsing these forums). Anyway, the first thing they tried to sell me was post-paid service for like $90/mo. I then said I wanted to try prepaid. Without hesitation the woman helping me said "Ok, that'll run $65/mo". That is their most expensive prepaid plan, she didn't even lay out the options of the other plans. I then said I found on their site online that there are these other plans like the $25/mo plan and I wanted to add $25/mo for a gig of data. She then said "Yeah, you can do that." then walked over to where the prepaid plan info things were hanging and handed them to me.
If you're still reading this unnecessarily long post, I guess the point I'm trying to make is: I'm browsing for info here and asking for a lot of advice on here because everyone here knows what they're talking about. Even if the people working for AT&T know what's going on, I feel like all they're trying to do is sell me the most expensive plan and not outlining options (I get it, it's their job; they're salesmen, but still). That's a big reason why I want to go to prepaid. If I catch them signing me up for stuff or all-around jerking me around, I can tell them to buzz off and take my business elsewhere.

Johmama said:
Wow, thanks for the reply; that's exactly what I was asking (and hopefully the OP. I feel like I kind of hijacked his thread if he didn't gain anything from it). When you bought the service and had them set it up all up, you had your Nexus 4 device there with you and had them do what needed to be done on it? Thanks for the link too.
I have to say, one of the reasons I'm excited to go to prepaid is the service I get from cellphone companies/representatives. About 2 weeks ago, before I even decided to go with the Nexus 4 and prepaid service, I walked into an AT&T store to inquire about how that all works, and if they could work with a Nexus 4 and everything (I was ignorant, I like to think I've learned from browsing these forums). Anyway, the first thing they tried to sell me was post-paid service for like $90/mo. I then said I wanted to try prepaid. Without hesitation the woman helping me said "Ok, that'll run $65/mo". That is their most expensive prepaid plan, she didn't even lay out the options of the other plans. I then said I found on their site online that there are these other plans like the $25/mo plan and I wanted to add $25/mo for a gig of data. She then said "Yeah, you can do that." then walked over to where the prepaid plan info things were hanging and handed them to me.
If you're still reading this unnecessarily long post, I guess the point I'm trying to make is: I'm browsing for info here and asking for a lot of advice on here because everyone here knows what they're talking about. Even if the people working for AT&T know what's going on, I feel like all they're trying to do is sell me the most expensive plan and not outlining options (I get it, it's their job; they're salesmen, but still). That's a big reason why I want to go to prepaid. If I catch them signing me up for stuff or all-around jerking me around, I can tell them to buzz off and take my business elsewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I walked into the store with my phone, said I need a microsim for the GoPhone plans. The guy handed me one and said he could set it up for me if I liked. I said I wanted the $25 plan + the $25 data package and if he couldn't do it for me I could do it myself. He said it was no problem setting it up on my phone. It was the manager who later came out at the end who tried to up sell me into a higher priced plan but I showed him my phone was working just fine with what I had and I walked out.

kzoodroid said:
I walked into the store with my phone, said I need a microsim for the GoPhone plans. The guy handed me one and said he could set it up for me if I liked. I said I wanted the $25 plan + the $25 data package and if he couldn't do it for me I could do it myself. He said it was no problem setting it up on my phone. It was the manager who later came out at the end who tried to up sell me into a higher priced plan but I showed him my phone was working just fine with what I had and I walked out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, thanks, I feel more confident walking in there now. Appreciate you answering my questions. My phone is in the mail and should arrive tomorrow. Today, I'm going to walk in and see if they have MicroSIM cards on site. If not, I need to order one or maybe try Radioshack.

T-Mobile Unlimited International Calls/SMS for $10 Total for Entire Family.

T-Mobile has a limited time offer of "Family Unlimited International Calling and SMS" for all lines on an account for $10. I just activated it for my account. Just thought others should know.
Mods please move to Off Topic, accidentally posted here, forgive me.

How long does this run till?

inco9nito99 said:
How long does this run till?
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Click to collapse
Its a limited time offer (to sign up), they said its active as long as you are with T-Mobile, if they intend to make changes in the future for any reason they will inform ahead.
So don't worry go ahead and activate it online or by calling, before they remove the option.

Is it $10 period and everybody within a family plan (simple choice) can call/sms internationally?

inco9nito99 said:
Is it $10 period and everybody within a family plan (simple choice) can call/sms internationally?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes $10 total, as in everyone on account is covered! NOT PER LINE! Enjoy!

They said limited time only, but it's still there so far.

Say away from T-Mobile
I purchased two phones form them and used them on their network for over a year I was traveling out of the county (I live in the USA) and asked that the phones be unlocked they refuse stating that the phones were never on their networks. So now unless I can get them unlocked by someone else I am forced to buy new phones. Don't care what kind of plans they offer if you can't get customer support it not worth it.

jazzrome said:
I purchased two phones form them and used them on their network for over a year I was traveling out of the county (I live in the USA) and asked that the phones be unlocked they refuse stating that the phones were never on their networks. So now unless I can get them unlocked by someone else I am forced to buy new phones. Don't care what kind of plans they offer if you can't get customer support it not worth it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you were out of the country, and wasn't on their network for at least 40 days, they won't unlock it. According to this page: https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1588 "The device must have been active on the T-Mobile network for at least 40 days on the requesting line."

They will unlock only after 40 days of use, and if there is an issue they are pretty quick to resolve it from my experience. I suggest you take them (phones) to the TMO store or ask for tech support via phone call.
If you switched carriers, then also they will not unlock in fact I know Sprint is the same, I was with them till last year. Sprint refused to unlock my sister's iPhone, which had been lost for 6 months and re-found, since we switched carriers even though it was paid off.