Database Users

Avoiding an AT&T Data Plan

I was happily using my Nexus One on AT&T without a data plan (and with data blocked) since it was released, but I made the mistake of giving AT&T the IMEI number of my Nexus today. Now they tell me that I am required to get a $30 data plan because it is a "PDA", despite the fact that it cannot use 3G on AT&T's network.
Does anyone know of a way to ditch the data plan? Is it possible that I could give AT&T the IMEI of an old phone, then switch my SIM to the Nexus?

as a user who uses the nexus one on att, heating something like this is
infuriating.how is it their business to make you buy a data plan? I can understand if they subsidized the phone but obviously in this case it was not. thanks for the heads up. i would never disclose this kind of information to att unless I absolutely had to do so.

use this as a way to break your contract and come to tmobile and enjoy the way a real provider is sposed to treat you... pretty much if you have ATT and dont have an iphone, they dont care about you

Postal76 said:
I was happily using my Nexus One on AT&T without a data plan (and with data blocked) since it was released, but I made the mistake of giving AT&T the IMEI number of my Nexus today. Now they tell me that I am required to get a $30 data plan because it is a "PDA", despite the fact that it cannot use 3G on AT&T's network.
Does anyone know of a way to ditch the data plan? Is it possible that I could give AT&T the IMEI of an old phone, then switch my SIM to the Nexus?
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I am kinda surprised they are doing this... Then again, times are "tough"...
I would ask them where in the contract you signed it says you have to have a data plan? Let them know that if they start charging you for a service you didn't sign up for or agree to, they will be hearing from an attorney.

When AT&T began mandating the smartphone dataplans (September?) people that already had a smartphone on their account without a smartphone data plan were given a feature called "smartphone exclusion". If you had this and they took it off when you gave them the nexus one imei, you may be able to call customer service and get them to put it back on. That's the only way I can think of. They're implementing a system which automatically adds a smartphone data plan onto your account when you put your sim card into a smartphone and it reports a recognized smartphone imei to AT&T unless you have the smartphone exclusion feature.
http://howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1618214

maxh said:
When AT&T began mandating the smartphone dataplans (September?) people that already had a smartphone on their account without a smartphone data plan were given a feature called "smartphone exclusion". If you had this and they took it off when you gave them the nexus one imei, you may be able to call customer service and get them to put it back on. That's the only way I can think of. They're implementing a system which automatically adds a smartphone data plan onto your account when you put your sim card into a smartphone and it reports a recognized smartphone imei to AT&T unless you have the smartphone exclusion feature.
http://howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1618214
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Very interesting. This make sense, since AT&T should be able to find out what kind of phone you're using even if you don't give them your IMEI. I suppose I might have had a "smartphone exclusion" put on my account back when I was using a myTouch 3G on AT&T without a data plan.
However, I doubt AT&T is going to work with me on this, given the extremely unsatisfactory customer service I received today after speaking to 3 representatives.

What happens when your using just a normal phone with att, and your buddy has a nexus one. and so you go over to his house and put your sim on it just to see how it works, cause your interested in it and all. so you borrow it for a day to test it out. and att starts charging you for data? Sounds bull**** to me that they can do that if your not using 3g data service... period

I've had these issues with ATT as well. In September they "discovered" my Touch HD on their network and zapped it from working. I was on the "pay as you go" plan. I switched the SIM to my old HTC Trinity and my service was useable again. Since the Trinity was one of the first full featured phones, they must not have had it in their "kill" database.
I dumped ATT like a hot rock, then went to T-mobile and I've never looked back. ATT has nothing over T-mobile.

Matterhorn said:
I've had these issues with ATT as well. In September they "discovered" my Touch HD on their network and zapped it from working. I was on the "pay as you go" plan. I switched the SIM to my old HTC Trinity and my service was useable again. Since the Trinity was one of the first full featured phones, they must not have had it in their "kill" database.
I dumped ATT like a hot rock, then went to T-mobile and I've never looked back. ATT has nothing over T-mobile.
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Trust me, I'd love to do the same. But A&T is much cheaper for me (it would be $120 for a 2 line family plan with data vs. $155 on T-Mobile) even when I don't include my AT&T premier discount. I was pretty sad to learn that T-Mobile's pricing isn't very competitive, at least when it comes to Nexus One plans.

i've had the N1 on ATT for about a month now and i don't have data plan and never signed up for one; i am near wifi 80-90% of the time and don't need the data plan; never got any texts from them forcing me to get data;
btw, i am on a family plan

jblazea50 said:
i've had the N1 on ATT for about a month now and i don't have data plan and never signed up for one; i am near wifi 80-90% of the time and don't need the data plan; never got any texts from them forcing me to get data;
btw, i am on a family plan
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Supposedly they are turning on their new system for automatically adding data plans market by market. Some people's areas don't have it yet, but I know for a fact they're doing it in Austin, TX because I got hit by it. I had 2 lines with smartphones and put my SIM card into a dumbphone for a few minutes then back into my smartphone. That triggered it, but I have the "smartphone exclusion" on my main line (which happens to be the phone I did the SIM switch in) so only the other line got a $30 data plan added. I ported that line out within a couple of days.

maxh said:
Supposedly they are turning on their new system for automatically adding data plans market by market. Some people's areas don't have it yet, but I know for a fact they're doing it in Austin, TX because I got hit by it. I had 2 lines with smartphones and put my SIM card into a dumbphone for a few minutes then back into my smartphone. That triggered it, but I have the "smartphone exclusion" on my main line (which happens to be the phone I did the SIM switch in) so only the other line got a $30 data plan added. I ported that line out within a couple of days.
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how do you add smartphone exclusion to your phone

It's really simple to ditch the data plans on ATT...
I have a total of 6 phones with ATT. 4 ATT PDAs, 1 ATT non-PDA and mine - which is usually UNLOCKED/UNBRANDED WinMo phone.
I wait a few months after buying any ATT branded phone and call them to let them know I've switched phones. They ask for the IMEI. I run my trusted IMEI Generator (Google it) and start spewing phoney IMEIs to them. When they don't show in their systems as an ATT phone, I can then change all their $30 unlim PDA unlim data plans to the $10 unlim data plan version.
Of course, every rep I every spoke to swears there's a difference between the $30 vs the $10 plan...but WE know better. They work exactly the same!
Come on ATT!!!
My way of stickin it to the MAN!!!

technillion said:
They ask for the IMEI. I run my trusted IMEI Generator (Google it) and start spewing phoney IMEIs to them. When they don't show in their systems as an ATT phone, I can then change all their $30 unlim PDA unlim data plans to the $10 unlim data plan version.
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But won't AT&T recognize your phone as a PDA if you ever actually use it? For instance, you couldn't do the same thing with an iPhone -- if you give them a bogus IMEI then put your SIM in an iPhone, AT&T will find out and they will force you into a data plan.

In some areas of the country they've implemented the system for automatically detecting when you're using a smartphone and adding the data plan. It seems that not all areas are doing it yet, but I have no doubt they eventually will. My area already does it.
jblazea50 said:
how do you add smartphone exclusion to your phone
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It was added automatically to people's accounts back when they first started requiring data plans. If you had a smartphone but no smartphone data they simply put that exclusion feature on your account. I've heard of people that had it removed from their account calling in and arguing until they put it back on, but if you never had it on your account, you're probably out of luck. It's worth a try, though. Maybe if you get a nice rep and use the term "smartphone exclusion feature" they'll give it to you.

maxh said:
In some areas of the country they've implemented the system for automatically detecting when you're using a smartphone and adding the data plan. It seems that not all areas are doing it yet, but I have no doubt they eventually will. My area already does it.
It was added automatically to people's accounts back when they first started requiring data plans. If you had a smartphone but no smartphone data they simply put that exclusion feature on your account. I've heard of people that had it removed from their account calling in and arguing until they put it back on, but if you never had it on your account, you're probably out of luck. It's worth a try, though. Maybe if you get a nice rep and use the term "smartphone exclusion feature" they'll give it to you.
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i had the blackberry curve 8310 with ATT without data plan as i paid the 2 year upgrade price (no rebates, that required the $30 data plan) so would that mean that i have the exclusion feature?

How come you have to *tell* them your IMEI for them to figure this out? Surely they can see exactly what the IMEI of your phone is the minute it connects to their network?
In other news, I hear that Comcast are going to charge more for your internet connection if you have an XBOX connected to it. Their rationale is that with Netflix support and XBOX Live capability, you're capable of using more of their bandwidth.
OK, I'm (obviously) kidding on that last point. But that's effectively what AT&T are doing here.

Postal76 said:
Trust me, I'd love to do the same. But A&T is much cheaper for me (it would be $120 for a 2 line family plan with data vs. $155 on T-Mobile) even when I don't include my AT&T premier discount. I was pretty sad to learn that T-Mobile's pricing isn't very competitive, at least when it comes to Nexus One plans.
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How is that possible? I'm on Even More Plus with my N1, my Dad's G1, and my Bro's G1 and we're paying $145 a month for 1500 mins + unlimited web (no need for text plan since we all use Google Voice), and we aren't bound to 2-year terms. @[email protected]

jblazea50 said:
i had the blackberry curve 8310 with ATT without data plan as i paid the 2 year upgrade price (no rebates, that required the $30 data plan) so would that mean that i have the exclusion feature?
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There's probably a good chance you do have it. Supposedly you can find it listed somewhere on OLAM, but I don't know where people are looking.

Postal76 said:
Trust me, I'd love to do the same. But A&T is much cheaper for me (it would be $120 for a 2 line family plan with data vs. $155 on T-Mobile) even when I don't include my AT&T premier discount. I was pretty sad to learn that T-Mobile's pricing isn't very competitive, at least when it comes to Nexus One plans.
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You can get a discount easily with T-Mobile there are tons of discounts. My 20% discount with T-Mobile right now is because I'm in college. My previous one was for working at Wal-Mart 5 years ago [lol they never took it off].
I work for AT&T and I have T-Mobile and I don't plan on switching. Even though AT&T would give me my 20% discount it would still cost more. You can get on T-Mobile without a contract. T-Mobile is the cheapest cell company and they're advertising that a lot right now. The prices for non contract services are great. I can't wait till mine expires because I'll be saving even more money. The Non-contract services aren't "pay as you go" either, they're just monthly usage plans as normal but you're not under contract. The only reason why prices are so high is because you're paying for the phone in your monthly bill.
I love working for AT&T [best company I've ever worked for] but I don't agree with a lot of our ways of doing things. Like how we're the only ones raising prices right now in this economy. There are multiple things I disagree with but it's all business
Oh and the "if you don't have an iPhone they don't care" statement is kind of ridiculous. Sounds a little biased and senseless.

HD2 caused ATT to add Data Plan!!!! What can I do?

I have an TMobile unlocked touch pro2 with att. Just got myself the HD2, and put in my sim card--got a text message (2 actually) from att stating:
"Did you know a data plan is required for your Smartphone?"
and then
"your Smartphone requires a data plan. We have added the appropriate plan for you smartphone"
I went to the account online, and it states that I suddenly am the proud owner of a Blackberry RIM!!!!
This whole time (since the Tilt days) I have been using unlocked phones, and as soon as I try my sim in it, ATT tells me this!!!
Any ideas on what to do????
Should I go to a store? Will they honor the fact that I don't want a data plan even though I have a Smartphone--but not ATT???
Urgent!
Thank you!!!

telegraph0000 said:
Should I go to a store? Will they honor the fact that I don't want a data plan even though I have a Smartphone--but not ATT???
Urgent!
Thank you!!!
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No they won't. They'll laugh in your face if you go in their with a HD2 and ask to drop the data plan.
Get a dumbphone IMEI. Call them with 611 and tell them you want to add a data block to your account because you recently switched phones. Give them the dumbphone IMEI if they ask for it. Bam, you're done. No worries about being charged either -- you'll be blocked off the data network.

Since the phone is not from ATT they can't make you add data.

Okay...and where do I get a dumbphone Imei??
How and why the heck did they go and do this??!!!

Even with your phone IMEI number since it won't show up in there system they can't do that. Thisi is the first time I have heard about this. With my HD2 on ATT I pay $15 since I need the internet but you can just tell them I don't want it.
Never go to the Store. Call is better, especially in this case.
Cheers

Nimche said:
Even with your phone IMEI number since it won't show up in there system they can't do that. Thisi is the first time I have heard about this. With my HD2 on ATT I pay $15 since I need the internet but you can just tell them I don't want it.
Never go to the Store. Call is better, especially in this case.
Cheers
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It makes sense to me since as far as I can tell the OP doesn't have a data plan and the HD2 uses data like a hog unless you set it up very specifically to turn of all data connections. If sense polled even once I imagine AT&T would go straight to the more expensive plan as a recommendation even without knowing what phone it is.

I looked at the usage and within 3 days of use (touch pro 2 $15 plan) and the HD2, I used only 15megs of info. So...I don't have the original phone my plan was under (a cheapo nokia)--what should I say?
Does it matter that the phone was unlocked and used for AT&T by the previous owner?
Obviously I don't have a Blackberry, why the system stated that is beyond my comprehension--what should I say as to what type of phone I have?

ATT made a mistake. Just call customer support and tell them they made a mistake. But what will you answer when they ask you what phone you have? Do you have an older non smartphone lieing around?
I have HD2 on ATT and they still think I am using my samsung impression. Even when I log into my account on the net it says samsung impression. If you go there what phone does it say you have?

Forced and automatically enrolled into DATA Plan? I would cancel my contracts with them in the heart-beat.

eenbox said:
Forced and automatically enrolled into DATA Plan? I would cancel my contracts with them in the heart-beat.
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That's what i was thinking.

eenbox said:
Forced and automatically enrolled into DATA Plan? I would cancel my contracts with them in the heart-beat.
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Since November 2009 they have had the prerogative built-into the contract to automatically provision smartphones with smartphone data plans as detected by the system. But that only applies to users that signed a contract after then or upgraded to a different handset from AT&T since then.
You mention that the previous owner used the phone with AT&T.. there is the slight possibility he used it with a smartphone data plan and divulged the fact that it was a HD2 to AT&T. If this is the case and their system has logged it as a type of smartphone (perhaps the BlackBerry is a placeholder, or the old owner's original phone), then you're boned.
Regardless I'd call 611 and try to get a data block added. You can find dumbphone IMEIs very easily (though not very legally). Here's a hint: threads for unlocking services have dozens of people eager to publish their IMEIs for the world to see.

Reading this post made me realize that you Americans are really being screwed by your carriers. No offense meant at all, I'm just really horrified by the fact that the carrier can add extra charges to the customer just because of their choices of phone....
Freedom of choice is evidently very skewed here. I mean, why are you guys going with this kind of treatment?

kenkiller said:
Reading this post made me realize that you Americans are really being screwed by your carriers. No offense meant at all, I'm just really horrified by the fact that the carrier can add extra charges to the customer just because of their choices of phone....
Freedom of choice is evidently very skewed here. I mean, why are you guys going with this kind of treatment?
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Tell me about it. That's why I fight the Man.. I get unlimited texting and data for the same price as unlimited data since my network doesn't recognize my phone (and I still get the brilliant HSDPA).
I hear across the pond is a magical land where data tariffs range into a couple of euro or pounds sterling (something like 6), and messaging and even BlackBerry data plans are similarly priced (you can't use a BlackBerry for anything less than $30 a month here). I also hear they have video calling.

i had the same problem as the OP, I got 2 texts last night from AT&T stating that they added $30 data to my plan, I called them up and they said that this phone shows up as a blackberry and there is no way to cancel it unless I go to a store and show it to them, the problem is that a store will see that this is a smartphone and will not allow me to keep my $10 data plan.
it is strange because I used a lot of smartphones under my account, including a UK HD2 and telstra HD2 (R.I.P) and I never had this problem.
Well, I guess it's time to sell it and get a different one.... Thanks AT&T

I found from my OWN personal experience and having had T-Mobile and at&t that the US GSM carriers share IMEI data on high end phones. Case in point, when I attempted to use my T-Mobile USA branded HD2 on my at&t I got the same message. Whenever I use my Telstra (Australian) model, customer service stated that my IMEI could not be verified so I've been able to keep my $10 data plan with no issues.

k2trill said:
I found from my OWN personal experience and having had T-Mobile and at&t that the US GSM carriers share IMEI data on high end phones. Case in point, when I attempted to use my T-Mobile USA branded HD2 on my at&t I got the same message. Whenever I use my Telstra (Australian) model, customer service stated that my IMEI could not be verified so I've been able to keep my $10 data plan with no issues.
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This is VERY, VERY interesting. I know for a fact AT&T has ALL of the IMEIs for the T-Mobile version of the Nexus One. Anyone with a T-Mobile Nexus One on AT&T is basically forced to use the $30 plan.

kenkiller said:
Reading this post made me realize that you Americans are really being screwed by your carriers. No offense meant at all, I'm just really horrified by the fact that the carrier can add extra charges to the customer just because of their choices of phone....
Freedom of choice is evidently very skewed here. I mean, why are you guys going with this kind of treatment?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lovely AT&T - that's why I am on T-Mobile and even they may not be perfect they are whole a lot better than ****tty AT&T. Natively from Europe too cannot go with the fact of what AT&T does - built into the contract that they will assign you with the DATA plan if they "smell" you are using a smartphone... Against every possible decency and normal common sense thinking... Against human free will to put it that way...

LOL why are you guys shocked at this? If your phone used to belong to a carrier (meaning that the carrier sold the phone themselves), then they already have the IMEI. Like someone previously said, carriers do share IMEI numbers.
Just because your phone is unlocked to use on any carrier is different from a phone that hasnt been registered at ALL! Unlocked phones that are sold online are generally not registered to anyone or any carrier, therefore, you can get away with use some old/previous data plan that you have.
So in conclusion, DONT BUY CARRIER PHONES (UNLOCKED OR NOT).

lude219 said:
LOL why are you guys shocked at this? If your phone used to belong to a carrier (meaning that the carrier sold the phone themselves), then they already have the IMEI. Like someone previously said, carriers do share IMEI numbers.
Just because your phone is unlocked to use on any carrier is different from a phone that hasnt been registered at ALL! Unlocked phones that are sold online are generally not registered to anyone or any carrier, therefore, you can get away with use some old/previous data plan that you have.
So in conclusion, DONT BUY CARRIER PHONES (UNLOCKED OR NOT).
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Add a regional proviso. My (then) Telus Motorola Milestone and (now) Telstra HD2 T9193 work perfectly fine under the radar with full HSDPA and dumbphone plans.
Shocking thing about the Nexus Ones is that the people that got caught bought unsubsidized (contract-free, unlocked and unbranded), brand new phones that just had the AWS bands (early adopters). Yet they still got detected.

kenkiller said:
Reading this post made me realize that you Americans are really being screwed by your carriers.
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Yeah man... me too!
This is seriously ridiculous... In the UK... YOU decide whether you want a data plan or not. If you dont have one and still use data you get charged per MB.
Forcing your customers to take out a data plan just because they have a smartphone is unbelievable!

$10/month unlimited data

Ive had a $10/month unlimited data plan for a long time (3-4 years). If I buy a phone without contract from amazon will they catch on and change me to the new data plans ($15/200mb, $25/2gb)? If its very likely i might as well buy it from them at a discounted price.

AFAIK, AT&T knows the IMEI numbers of every smartphone that is designed to run on AT&T.

cmstlist said:
AFAIK, AT&T knows the IMEI numbers of every smartphone that is designed to run on AT&T.
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I have an ATT Tilt right now

It's very possible that your Tilt predates AT&T's smartphone data plan requirements. Usually when a carrier instates a new requirement it is only enforced after you upgrade or add a new line. Technically, by buying the Atrix outright you aren't "upgrading" your phone (i.e. extending your contract in exchange for a device subsidy). This could (key word) mean that AT&T won't change your data plan, but really only AT&T could answer this question with certainty.

Room7 said:
I have an ATT Tilt right now
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That is not how the only way AT&T is bumping people to the smartphone data plans.
I have empirically verified my hypothesis.
Even if I use a feature phone on 3G and download more than a certain amount of data, AT&T assumes it's a smartphone and bumps up the plan to $25.
On the other hand, I have kept my Nexus One without sync enabled and managed 7-8 days on the $10 unlimited data plan before being bumped up.

I suspect ATT doesn't know what phone your actually using, and won't try to find out if you buy something off contract -- then again since the Atrix is a '4G' phone, its possible the dumbphone data plan might not work for it or trigger a flag in their system. My Dad upgraded his phone once through a Walmart, and it was a year or more before our account showed the new phone model, though that was a feature phone.
If you ask ATT, they definitely will force you to change data plans. If you don't, my guess is that you'll stay in limbo a while longer at the mercy of ATT's sporadic policy enforcement/changes.
As for the data plan requirements, I also have the ATT Tilt (original), and it did require the $30/mo unlimited plan when I purchased it on contract. At the time though, the data plan was only required for a few months until your rebate cleared, and not as part of the contract.

You will eventually get caught

darkkterror said:
It's very possible that your Tilt predates AT&T's smartphone data plan requirements. Usually when a carrier instates a new requirement it is only enforced after you upgrade or add a new line. Technically, by buying the Atrix outright you aren't "upgrading" your phone (i.e. extending your contract in exchange for a device subsidy). This could (key word) mean that AT&T won't change your data plan, but really only AT&T could answer this question with certainty.
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They will.
I went from using a Motorola Razr to an 8525 back in the day and they immediately started billing me for smartphone data. I bought the phone outright with no contract from a third party. They check IMEI numbers fairly often.

Since switching to ATT after a buy out of the company I was with, I've had the $30/month unlimited data/texting. For the last year plus I have been using my HTC magic I got from rogers. I've used on average about 2.5GB a month, and part of that as a tether for my netbook. I have never gotten any calls or had my bill change.

because you are using a magic from rogers and they will not get you
use the atrix and they will "upgrade" you within 48 hrs
ask me how i know

How dou you know?
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

I have been told by at&t reps as well as seen it on my account that any time you power on your phone it sends the imei information to the service for verification, and in doing that gets flagged as the class of phone (smartphone, messaging phone etc.)
I got around this issue with my galaxy 3 as it was not a phone they offered and as such had no record of the type of service it fell under in the system, but when I renewed the contract had to upgrade the plan to get the discount on the atrix.

Yes, they'll get you. I had the $10 media unlimited for a few years, I used have unlocked Nokias which had 3G (as well as 3.5G) and got by. Then, this past summer, within minutes of turning on a phone sold by AT&T, I got a text telling me I was switched data plans. So if they sell it, you'll get busted, if not, you won't

What about...let's say....the Atrix from Bell Mobility???? If we buy and unlock it from Canada.......anyone think At&t will have those IMEI numbers????
I plan on trying this but it would be worthless if they have all the Atrix IMEI numbers

Sounds like a crap shoot to me. I have a family plan with 4 smart phones, 3 Fuzes and a tilt 2 (soon to be atrix ).
Two of the fuze lines have no data plans on them even though they tried to add data to one (a couple phone calls cleared that up). The third Fuze line has been running on a $10 feature phone unlimited plan for over a year and a half. The funny thing is when I added data to that line I told them it was a smart phone and they told me that their system still listed a razr on the line and the only option was the $10 plan. I wasn't going to argue. :-D
The way I see it. If you bought the atrix outright you would have to get away with the cheaper data plan for around 2 years (if not more) to make up for the added cost of the device.

cheerup38 said:
What about...let's say....the Atrix from Bell Mobility???? If we buy and unlock it from Canada.......anyone think At&t will have those IMEI numbers????
I plan on trying this but it would be worthless if they have all the Atrix IMEI numbers
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AT&T doesn't need all the specific IMEI numbers to know which phone you are using. They only need to know the identifying string of the IMEI which are the first few numbers. These numbers indicate manufacturer, model, production date, etc. You will get caught even if you bought it from another country as long as AT&T carries the same model. It's just like how iPhones bought from other countries automatically get the data plan added when you put in the AT&T SIM. I believe the only device that AT&T does not sell, but still gets the added data plan is the NexusOne, which is what happened to me.

Remind me nevet to get AT&T even as prepaid. They sound like damned nazi's really. Changing your plan on you even if you dont buy a phone through them doesnt exactly sound legal.
If a phonecompany did that here it would cause an outroar like no other.

cheerup38 said:
What about...let's say....the Atrix from Bell Mobility???? If we buy and unlock it from Canada.......anyone think At&t will have those IMEI numbers????
I plan on trying this but it would be worthless if they have all the Atrix IMEI numbers
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If u REALLY want to take ur chance, go for it.

[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.
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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
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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.
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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?
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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!
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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!
...
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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...
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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.
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(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 (;
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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?

[Q] AT&T user Trading iphone4 for sgs2**HELP**

I am new here so apologies.. i have been trying to get all my questions answered by searching.
It seems that the sgs2 is rad. im eligible for an upgrade at AT&T and found someone at t-mobile who also is. I will buy a white iphone4 and trade for his sgs2.
I think this is possible, is it not? any information on this would be greatly appreciated.
ps. i plan on rooting and and what not

The SGS2 doesn't exist on T-Mobile. The closest thing by name they have is the Galaxy S 4G which is basically just a SGS1 with T-Mobile U.S. AWS bands. Is it someone who bought an SGS2 from overseas and is using it on T-Mobile? Before you start screwing around with your AT&T contract I'd check out what you're actually going to get in the swap. If you end up getting a SGS2 it works fine on AT&T out of the box.

yea im retarded. i just learned that you literally cannot get this phone through any carrier. you have to buy it fresh for the 700 or whatever it is.
ive been doing a lot of research and ive decided on this phone .. but at this point i save 500 bux by renewing my plan and buying an atrix. any thoughts??

koryp924 said:
yea im retarded. i just learned that you literally cannot get this phone through any carrier. you have to buy it fresh for the 700 or whatever it is.
ive been doing a lot of research and ive decided on this phone .. but at this point i save 500 bux by renewing my plan and buying an atrix. any thoughts??
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Of all AT&T's phones, the iP4 in white is the most marketable on eBay. You could renew your contract and get one and probably sell it for close to $600. Then order the SGS2 from the UK or Expansys-USA for about $100-150 more. You could also use the dumb-phone unlimited data plan with the SGS2 for $10 a month which would eventually pay back the difference you paid. Good luck.

i have read about using the dumbphone plan. realistically it isn't supposed to last for much longer is it?

koryp924 said:
i have read about using the dumbphone plan. realistically it isn't supposed to last for much longer is it?
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AT&T has no auditing software on their network to know who is using what. They rely on a database of IEMI numbers for the phones they sell (the Nexus' being an exception). Since the SGS2 isn't an IEMI they recognize it flies below the radar. It could change at some point but its been this way for a while.

OK. so just to clarify. I would buy the iphone and a data plan. sell the iphone and buy a sgs2 online somewhere. call att when i recieve the sgs2 (put my sim card in it) and tell them i lost my iphone already and will be returning to a razr (or w.e dumbphone) and want a dumbphone plan?
edit: and worst case scenario i just pay for a data plan and the phone works fully??

there's no reason to tell them anything. when you put your sim in the new phone att's system will not be able to match the imei and will list it as an unknown phone. just go into your account online and choose data for dumbphones plan.
a word to the wise, make sure you read all the fine print where ever you get your new phone from. a lot of them have conditions where you have to keep the smartphone data for at least a certain amount of time.

He has to sign-up for a smartphone plan to get the iP4. OP, once you get the iP4 tell them it fell in the pool and you're using your Krzr until you can save up for a new one. After they make the switch, tell them you want the dumb-phone plan.

I'm pretty sure signing a new contract locks you I'm for a smart phone data(iPhone data). You can still get the SGS2 to work, you just have to call AT&T and tell them you need to change your iPhone data plan to a smartphone/Android data plan. You will need a new sim completely as well because the iPhone uses a mini sim card.

Illicit Hero said:
I'm pretty sure signing a new contract locks you I'm for a smart phone data(iPhone data). You can still get the SGS2 to work, you just have to call AT&T and tell them you need to change your iPhone data plan to a smartphone/Android data plan. You will need a new sim completely as well because the iPhone uses a mini sim card.
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i mean that would be pretty messed up if you actually broke your smartphone and still had to pay for a data plan for two years even though your using a dumbphone...

koryp924 said:
i mean that would be pretty messed up if you actually broke your smartphone and still had to pay for a data plan for two years even though your using a dumbphone...
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I started a new account with AT&T so I never had to change plans. Others have posted that what I shared with you has worked for them. Maybe someone else who's changed plans mid-contract can comment.

Will it work (SGS2) on Tmobile USA? or just 2G?

nraudigy2 said:
Will it work (SGS2) on Tmobile USA? or just 2G?
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It works fine on TMO USA it's just you only get edge speeds. But of the box it works no problem.