Database Users

PPP over Cellular

Since some companies charge insane amounts for GRPS and not minutes, is it possible to work around this by using dialup PPP over the cellular (not GRPS) modem in the connections area?

YES, BUT I THINK DEPENDING ON WHICH SERVICE U USE; THEY WILL STILL CHARGE U FOR THE AMOUNTS OF DATA TRAVELING BAK N FORTH

The various carriers in Australia (except Virgin, which don't support any data at all yet) all charge data calls over GSM as standard peak/off peak calls, just like voice.
So to answer your question, here in Oz I'll often switch back to Analogue CSD line type and dial into my office via our RAS server (ie. use the GSM line) if I plan to browse / download large content, because the peak call works out cheaper than would downloading the data via GPRS (albeit significantly slower!).
8)

Thanks for the responses
Here's what I've decided to do (USA). I am keeping my AT&T GSM plan for use with voice only. Don't let them scam you into buying a data plan. T-Mobile offers an unlimited internet plan at about 50% of what AT&T and Cingular offer. Once mobileplace lets me know if they have planned for a better dual sim solution than the ghost or cutting, I will switch between sims based on my needs at the time.

CSD Connection Is Beautiful!
JUICEe said:
YES, BUT I THINK DEPENDING ON WHICH SERVICE U USE; THEY WILL STILL CHARGE U FOR THE AMOUNTS OF DATA TRAVELING BAK N FORTH
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I presume otherwise, i.e. most service providers charge air time as if it were a voice call. This is the case with T-Mobile US at least. Nights and weekends are free data time - nice! 9kbps is not too bad to surf the net without graphics.
I posted detailed set-up in thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=4723

Can you disable data, and use a voice plan only?

Greetings All,
After some disagreement with Bell, I've tried to find some truth regarding smart phone plans and the OMNIA II. The Bell representatives stated the Omnia II will only work with a smartphone plans (which conveniently start at $50 Ouch!)
Supposedly if I outright buy the phone (full price) I won't be forced into a contract. Assuming I'm contract free... can I subscribe to a cheaper monthly voice plan only?
The goal is to use the phone as a WM 6.5 PDA and surf only when in the vicinity of WIFI (home and office etc). For the few phone calls I make (which avg 4-5 a month - yes I hate talking on a cell phone), a simple voice plan with basic text messaging should suffice?
The issues surrounding this are:
A. Has this been done successfully before - is anyone doing it now???
B. When a WIFI hotspot isn't available, will the browser fail or will it secretly connect to the cellular network and ding me with data charges?
C. Having no prior experience with a GPS enabled cell phone - this "A-GPS" needs the data package to work? Or can I use it with a voice plan only?
D. I've heard stories of smartphones constantly talking to the cellular network, is this an issue? or is there a way to disable the data connections forcing it to use WIFI only?
E. Would any of this warrent unlocking the phone? Bell stated it comes locked with a Bell SIM card (its on their HSPA+ network).
Again, the goal is to use it as a suped' up PDA, surf only on WIFI and subscribe to a bare bones phone package for that occasional call I might make.
Suggestions? Comments? Advice?

KevinStraight said:
Greetings All,
After some disagreement with Bell, I've tried to find some truth regarding smart phone plans and the OMNIA II. The Bell representatives stated the Omnia II will only work with a smartphone plans (which conveniently start at $50 Ouch!)
Supposedly if I outright buy the phone (full price) I won't be forced into a contract. Assuming I'm contract free... can I subscribe to a cheaper monthly voice plan only?
The goal is to use the phone as a WM 6.5 PDA and surf only when in the vicinity of WIFI (home and office etc). For the few phone calls I make (which avg 4-5 a month - yes I hate talking on a cell phone), a simple voice plan with basic text messaging should suffice?
The issues surrounding this are:
A. Has this been done successfully before - is anyone doing it now???
B. When a WIFI hotspot isn't available, will the browser fail or will it secretly connect to the cellular network and ding me with data charges?
C. Having no prior experience with a GPS enabled cell phone - this "A-GPS" needs the data package to work? Or can I use it with a voice plan only?
D. I've heard stories of smartphones constantly talking to the cellular network, is this an issue? or is there a way to disable the data connections forcing it to use WIFI only?
E. Would any of this warrent unlocking the phone? Bell stated it comes locked with a Bell SIM card (its on their HSPA+ network).
Again, the goal is to use it as a suped' up PDA, surf only on WIFI and subscribe to a bare bones phone package for that occasional call I might make.
Suggestions? Comments? Advice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Re: Disabling GPRS - try NoData from Modaco - its a freeware, just google for it and disable all your data plans.

O2 will work with just voice plan
A. Omnia 2 will work with just a voice plan, I used mine in the Cook Islands last week with just a voice plan SIM.
B.The problem is that Bell offers data with the phone setting so you would have to make sure you disable the data, not just with Opera or the GPS, or you will incur data charges and they will roll up quickly. Most likely they offer the bundle (I have it and fine it a very reasonable plan for my phone use) because people regularly use data by mistake.
C. GPS Worked just fine. I couldn't use google maps but no problem, there's only one real road
D. As long as you are not using push email or any application that accesses the internet automatically you should not incur charges.
E.You don't have to unlock the phone unless you want to go with a different provider than Bell.
Are you set on having an Omnia 2? Perhaps a better option would be to purchase an unlocked Omnia 2 and a pay as you go SIM from a provider that does not have data.
Good luck.

post deleted

That rep was full of ****. Buy the phone outright, and call Bell and ask them to disable the data for you so you never have to second guess or accidentally use data on your phone. Be careful, you must disable data on every sim card you decide to use.

KevinStraight said:
Greetings All,
After some disagreement with Bell, I've tried to find some truth regarding smart phone plans and the OMNIA II. The Bell representatives stated the Omnia II will only work with a smartphone plans (which conveniently start at $50 Ouch!)
Supposedly if I outright buy the phone (full price) I won't be forced into a contract. Assuming I'm contract free... can I subscribe to a cheaper monthly voice plan only?
The goal is to use the phone as a WM 6.5 PDA and surf only when in the vicinity of WIFI (home and office etc). For the few phone calls I make (which avg 4-5 a month - yes I hate talking on a cell phone), a simple voice plan with basic text messaging should suffice?
The issues surrounding this are:
A. Has this been done successfully before - is anyone doing it now???
B. When a WIFI hotspot isn't available, will the browser fail or will it secretly connect to the cellular network and ding me with data charges?
C. Having no prior experience with a GPS enabled cell phone - this "A-GPS" needs the data package to work? Or can I use it with a voice plan only?
D. I've heard stories of smartphones constantly talking to the cellular network, is this an issue? or is there a way to disable the data connections forcing it to use WIFI only?
E. Would any of this warrent unlocking the phone? Bell stated it comes locked with a Bell SIM card (its on their HSPA+ network).
Again, the goal is to use it as a suped' up PDA, surf only on WIFI and subscribe to a bare bones phone package for that occasional call I might make.
Suggestions? Comments? Advice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just signed a three year contract with Bell, a few weeks ago i was surfing on their site and like you said , impossible to get a Omnia 2 without a data plan, last week i went back on, and I dont know if its a bug, but you can order one with a regular voice plan, i took the 30$ plan ( cheapest) got the phone by mail , free.
If i click on my connections on top you can disable all data, and only use wifi. If it does want to use data it warns you before activating it.
Hope this helps

Ulimited Data -Amazon Purchase

I just received my Focus from the Amazon $49 deal and was able to transfer my iPhone's unlimited data plan to it. This is only possible if you have a "grandfathered" device which already has unlimited data on it, as AT&T has dropped the unlimited plan.
Heres How:
Order your phone on Amazon. Choose any data plan, doesn't matter.
When your phone arrives, charge it, but, DO NOT PUT IN THE SIM CARD.
Have your SIM Card and Box out and available as you will need them.
DO NOT ACTIVATE THE PHONE AS PER AT&T'S INSTRUCTIONS on their web-site.
Call AT&T Wireless [1-800-331-0500]
DO NOT ACTIVATE YOUR PHONE USING THE AT&T MENU
Press "0" to speak to an agent.
Ask to migrate your existing plan over to your new Samsung Focus. This will move your Unlimited Data Plan to your new phone.
Provide the numbers from the phone box
Provide the SIM number from your new SIM.
Have the Agent activate the phone and call your phone to make sure it is working.
There, you should now have a fully activated phone with Unlimited Data.
This is how I was told to do it from Amazon and it works.
If you miss your Visual Voicemail from the iPhone, sign up for Google Voice (www.google.com/voice). You will never miss it!
Enjoy

should this work for any phone purchased through amazon wireless?

yes, I had activated with the $15 plan but then I called them to put back my old unlimited data plan.

my billing cycle is up today so tomorrow i have to see if its still unlimited if its not then im going to call them because on my plan now it still says unlimited.

I wonder if there is anyone out there who could shed some light on this?
I was not able to apply my $15 unlimited data plan that I was on before upgrading to the new Focus because my old device was not a smart phone? I upgraded from the Pantec Matrix.
Thanks,

konkie said:
I wonder if there is anyone out there who could shed some light on this?
I was not able to apply my $15 unlimited data plan that I was on before upgrading to the new Focus because my old device was not a smart phone? I upgraded from the Pantec Matrix.
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Smartphone and Non Smartphones are 2 different data plans. Since the Focus is a smartphone the only way for you to get unlimited data for a smartphone, you have to have had a smartphone and that data plan.

ShadowLegion said:
Smartphone and Non Smartphones are 2 different data plans. Since the Focus is a smartphone the only way for you to get unlimited data for a smartphone, you have to have had a smartphone and that data plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, I've have a HTC Hermes since '07 with a UL Data plan. Ordered 2 Focus's today through ATT Premier (buy one get one free) and was able to apply the UL plan to it, 2GB plan to my Wife's.

psills said:
I just received my Focus from the Amazon $49 deal and was able to transfer my iPhone's unlimited data plan to it. This is only possible if you have a "grandfathered" device which already has unlimited data on it, as AT&T has dropped the unlimited plan.
Heres How:
Order your phone on Amazon. Choose any data plan, doesn't matter.
When your phone arrives, charge it, but, DO NOT PUT IN THE SIM CARD.
Have your SIM Card and Box out and available as you will need them.
DO NOT ACTIVATE THE PHONE AS PER AT&T'S INSTRUCTIONS on their web-site.
Call AT&T Wireless [1-800-331-0500]
DO NOT ACTIVATE YOUR PHONE USING THE AT&T MENU
Press "0" to speak to an agent.
Ask to migrate your existing plan over to your new Samsung Focus. This will move your Unlimited Data Plan to your new phone.
Provide the numbers from the phone box
Provide the SIM number from your new SIM.
Have the Agent activate the phone and call your phone to make sure it is working.
There, you should now have a fully activated phone with Unlimited Data.
This is how I was told to do it from Amazon and it works.
If you miss your Visual Voicemail from the iPhone, sign up for Google Voice (www.google.com/voice). You will never miss it!
Enjoy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
forgot to mention this only works for people already using the unlimited data plan!

Thanks everyone. Now I feel sad for not taking any upgrade offers to smartphones in the past

I did exactly what is said in the first post. Ordered from Amazon with 2gb and 1500 message plan. I called att to transfer my plan but the rep said I could not. The rep said that I could Not transfer my existing plan (media net 200 bundle with unlimited data) because my previous phone was not a smart phone. I told her I had htc fuze and she was puzzled. She talked to supervisor and still said I could not keep my old plan.

Does sprint charge for roaming?

For the past couple days I haven't been able to make/receive calls or text so I go to a local sprint today and they say that they have been having a lot of complaints from people in my particular location. However, Sprint isn't acknowledging that there is an issue for whatever reason, so i'm left sol unless I force my phone to roam (which i'm currently doing through an app). Everything is working fine now, however i'm worried that I may incur unknown charges as I do not know sprints policy regarding this.
Also, I read a while back that there is a hack that allows us to default to Verizon's towers and I was wondering if anybody could point me towards that thread because I can't seem to find it, assuming it's still active.
Thanks for any help guys.

It depends on your plan. My plan includes roaming at no charge. Even with that though there is a danger. Sprint reserves the right to terminate your contract (and service) for "excessive roaming". I do not know if there is a hard limit that defines "excessive". I do know that I have hard of people being terminated if a majority of their voice minutes were roaming or if they used large amounts of roaming data. I sure fire way to get your service terminated is to use the hack to force your phone to roam on Verizon too often.

I believe most sprint customers can roam for data up to 300mb a month, and your voice calls can roam up to half of the amount of minutes you used on sprint. So if you have used 100 minutes on sprint this month, you could roam for up to 50. These arent strictly enforced, they arent going to charge you for using 52 minutes, but if you start to abuse it, they could charge you or force you to leave sprint.

I've been using the Verizon PRL at work because of horrible data reception. Been using roughly 200mb roaming a month with no issues and no charges.

As long as your plan has roaming...
Off-network Roaming: The primary use of your Device must be for domestic purposes within the Sprint-owned network. Domestic means use in the 50 United States and U.S. Territories (except Guam). Sprint reserves the right, without notice, to deny, terminate, modify, disconnect or suspend service if off-network usage in a month exceeds: (1) voice: 800 min. or a majority of minutes; or (2) data: 300 megabytes or a majority of kilobytes. The display on your device may not always be on and will not indicate whether you will incur roaming charges. You can monitor usage online through My Account. Roaming is not available with single-band phones, or to customers who reside or whose primary use is outside an area covered by the Nationwide Sprint Network. Sprint may limit or terminate service if you move outside of the Sprint owned-network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I just got booted for excess roaming. I told them there was something wrong with my evo months ago because it would be roaming even when it said it wasn't.
Either way though, now I go to boost. But just one last thing. I had 3 different reps at sprint tell me that roaming is "included in my bill", but no matter what, it still uses your anytime minutes or whatever they are called. I had it clarified several times by supervisors and everyone else... If you look on your bill, you will see that your total usage (in the downloadable excel file) will include any of the minutes that say "out of network".
So basically, even if they tell you roaming is included, what they mean is you aren't being charged cash for it... it simply uses up your anytime minutes. If you keep heavy track of that stuff with the nifty apps in the market or even by hand, you will notice if you have say 1200 minutes, use 100 anytime minutes on sprint during the day, and 100 roaming minutes at night, you will only have 1000 minutes left. Don't trust the vague answers sprint will give you, do the math yourself. It is scary how they can make a lie sound like you are not getting screwed.

Moto X pure with international wifi

I use my pure with t-mobile and will travel to Japan next month for 1 week. I read that wifi calling is not available on this phone at all. I plan to rent a portable hotspot anyhow, so does the sms or mms still work?
I was also checking out how to turn off data roaming on my phone and noticed it was already off but hasn't affected anything so far. Is that normal? I was hoping to at least have text working or would have to revert to email to keep in contact with my family if we separate.

I'm not entirely sure what you are asking here... SMS and MMS will need a connection to T-Mobile, the later will require data connection.
WiFi isn't really "international" or US or Japan, it is just WiFi... although there are some regulatory aspects to it (and channel restrictions in the US), your WiFi should work just fine in Japan. Before getting or renting a hotspot, check out where you are going and look into Softbank's Free WiFi Passport and Travel Japan WiFi, they require registration but can get you free WiFi at almost 500,000 locations in Japan for 2 weeks, there are also paid WiFi networks you can subscribe to. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2279.html
You might want to look into a Google Voice account, set it up before you go, or get a local SIM.
You could also change your T-Mobile plan to T-Mobile ONE and Simple Choice North America for the term you are there, it would likely cost more but offers free data, text and 20 cent/min voice calls.

chitin said:
I use my pure with t-mobile and will travel to Japan next month for 1 week. I read that wifi calling is not available on this phone at all. I plan to rent a portable hotspot anyhow, so does the sms or mms still work?
I was also checking out how to turn off data roaming on my phone and noticed it was already off but hasn't affected anything so far. Is that normal? I was hoping to at least have text working or would have to revert to email to keep in contact with my family if we separate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By chance did you end up testing your data speeds in Japan? I am going there in a month and am trying to avoid a pocket wifi unless absolutely needed.

jjchdc said:
By chance did you end up testing your data speeds in Japan? I am going there in a month and am trying to avoid a pocket wifi unless absolutely needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I leave on Friday and may end up getting a pocket wifi for 1 week @ $50. T-mobile said my data and all text is still unlimited over there but it caps at 3G speed and I prefer to to have something with us instead of looking for wifi hotspots. Voice calls are $.20/minute, so wifi will have to be enough.
acejavelin said:
I'm not entirely sure what you are asking here... SMS and MMS will need a connection to T-Mobile, the later will require data connection.
WiFi isn't really "international" or US or Japan, it is just WiFi... although there are some regulatory aspects to it (and channel restrictions in the US), your WiFi should work just fine in Japan. Before getting or renting a hotspot, check out where you are going and look into Softbank's Free WiFi Passport and Travel Japan WiFi, they require registration but can get you free WiFi at almost 500,000 locations in Japan for 2 weeks, there are also paid WiFi networks you can subscribe to. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2279.html
You might want to look into a Google Voice account, set it up before you go, or get a local SIM.
You could also change your T-Mobile plan to T-Mobile ONE and Simple Choice North America for the term you are there, it would likely cost more but offers free data, text and 20 cent/min voice calls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does google voice use data only? I have a Voice acct and if I rent a personal hotspot, that would work out nicely. I'm a little worried about not being able to make any voice calls in Japan since there's a T-mobile charge. But if our hotspot covers text and google voice, I think we're all set.

chitin said:
I leave on Friday and may end up getting a pocket wifi for 1 week @ $50. T-mobile said my data and all text is still unlimited over there but it caps at 3G speed and I prefer to to have something with us instead of looking for wifi hotspots. Voice calls are $.20/minute, so wifi will have to be enough.
Does google voice use data only? I have a Voice acct and if I rent a personal hotspot, that would work out nicely. I'm a little worried about not being able to make any voice calls in Japan since there's a T-mobile charge. But if our hotspot covers text and google voice, I think we're all set.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can... Install the Google Voice app or use the Hangouts Dialer plugin.and it can run completely on data.

thats what i am planning to do when i go to the carribean for a few months. i dont have tmobile but when i get there im going to do google voice on one of my phones and a simcard from there for another. check your prices though because what i found is amazing over there. so which ever works cheapest i may go with, but i have been integrated with google voice for years with sprint
30 Day 10 GB $30.00 a month/US