I will be moving from Verizon to AT&T and buying an unlocked Galaxy Note from Amazon. I need some tips on what kind of strategy I need to take.
I don't have a sim card--what's the cheapest way of getting one?
Will I have to sign a two-year contract or can I go month to month since I'm bringing my own phone. If I have to sign a contract, I guess I would be smart to buy a subsidized phone, i.e., iPhone 4s and sell it on eBay.
Any other tips you have would be appreciated.
I don't see Verizon ever bringing a CDMA version of this phone to their network considering all their screwing around in bringing the Nexus Prime to market.
You can take the Note into the store and buy service, they will give you a SIM card. Search here for the right APN and you can enter it right there and they can activate the phone.
You may be able to call ATT and sign up and have them Ship you a SIM card.
You do not start a contract unless you get a Phone from them, you will be Month to Month.
It would be a profit to you if you bought a iPhone 4s just to sell. Even if you just get $550 for it, you win out. Say you are with ATT with the Note for only 1 year, the ETF to leave would be $205(starts at $325 and decreases $10 each month)...that's $405 you paid for the phone and ETF...and you sold the iP4s for $550...you still made a profit($150))
I wonder if I should go the dumb phone route as some people have suggested such as a KRZR and then after activating with the KRZR put the SIM in the Note.
Spartan2x said:
You do not start a contract unless you get a Phone from them, you will be Month to Month.
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Hmmm. I've never heard of this before. But I guess it makes sense!
The best route is to buy the iPhone 4S, go home, take the sim card out and put it into a dumbphone, call up and have them switch you from the expensive, limited iPhone data to cheaper unlimited dumbphone data, switch your sim card into the Note, and enjoy. You have 30 days to return the iPhone and cancel service without incurring an ETF. Use as much of this as you need to determine if you want to stay with AT&T, then sell the iPhone for a handsome profit!
Btw, you'll need a cheap micro sim adapter from Ebay to put the iPhone sim in the other phones, or you'll have to go back to the store with your dumbphone and tell them you're switching to it. They'll give you a correct sized sim card and you can change to the dumbphone data there.
If you going to go the GoPhone route, I would think buying one of the cheap $20 go phones should work. They have a phone that is only $20 for sale...it has no camera, but it does have very limited Web access, so you should be able to get the $50/month unlimited everything plan, then pop that SIM out and put it into your Note with the right APN settings....just make sure you have the right APN settings, other wise ATT will change the plan to right right one for you.
I may try this when I get my Note, as I already have that cheap $20 phone activated(in my car turned off only for emergencies) I used a iPad SIM in my iPhone 4 currently, as I plan to do with my Note when I get it. I have no other device to put my iPad SIM into now since I got a wifi iPad, I see no reason to waist it since I want to keep my unlimited 3g plan.
So let me get this straight. If I go the route of buying getting the dumbphone internet and then get it working on my note, is it 3g speeds? 4g?
yentlequible said:
So let me get this straight. If I go the route of buying getting the dumbphone internet and then get it working on my note, is it 3g speeds? 4g?
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members here have gotten it to work, yes.
You should be able to get HSDPA+ speeds if you have it in you area.
now that i have a spare galaxy s2, i may try the gophone route and see if it works including the web access
Comes down not to apn's but what device their system recognizes. You'll get crap (300-700kbps) speeds with the GoPhone sim regardless of apn's. . You'll get slightly better speeds on GoPhone with a 4G sim but they'll still be crap. The GoPhone sims are capped now regardless of imeis or sim cards. You'll even get borderline crap speeds on a 4G plan with a 4G sim because the system still won't recognized your device as 4G+.
If your on a 4G+ plan AND you get them to use a 4G+ devices imei you'll be around 7000Kbps.
They can and sometimes will do that. They hooked me up with a Skyrocket imei when I tried it and the thing sizzled.
rockky said:
Comes down not to apn's but what device their system recognizes. You'll get crap (300-700kbps) speeds with the GoPhone sim regardless of apn's. . You'll get slightly better speeds on GoPhone with a 4G sim but they'll still be crap. The GoPhone sims are capped now regardless of imeis or sim cards. You'll even get borderline crap speeds on a 4G plan with a 4G sim because the system still won't recognized your device as 4G+.
If your on a 4G+ plan AND you get them to use a 4G+ devices imei you'll be around 7000Kbps.
They can and sometimes will do that. They hooked me up with a Skyrocket imei when I tried it and the thing sizzled.
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I've read thjat people have gotten 6,000kbps down with GoPhone plans....huh. Well personally I'm going to play around with it first and try and find what works best. I'll start with the Data only, then try a GoPhone plan, then if those do not work, I'll bite the bullet and get a full 4G plan.
Related
Is the non-American SGS recognized by AT&T's network as a smartphone?
I ask because some people have successfully tricked AT&T's network in allowing them to use the $15 unlimited data plan for non-smartphones (of course most are caught and forced to upgrade their plan, like with the nexus one).
I've had the SIM for my iPhone 3G in my Singapore version of the Galaxy S for over 48 hours now and the website at wireless.att.com for my account still shows the SIM as being inside the iPhone. When I put the SIM inside my Razr, it usually switches on the website within a few minutes.
That's a good sign, in my opinion, but I wouldn't bank on it.
INeedYourHelp said:
Is the non-American SGS recognized by AT&T's network as a smartphone?
I ask because some people have successfully tricked AT&T's network in allowing them to use the $15 unlimited data plan for non-smartphones (of course most are caught and forced to upgrade their plan, like with the nexus one).
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it doesnt recognise it in the att olam. It shows my stupid dumbphone i had to throw on since att started cracking down on the nexus one.
So right now im using it with the $15 dollar media net plan with unlimited data
I plan on buying a brand new sim from AT&T, is that okay? Or should I just buy a used sim card from one of those non-smartphones?
Thanks for your replies.
INeedYourHelp said:
I plan on buying a brand new sim from AT&T, is that okay? Or should I just buy a used sim card from one of those non-smartphones?
Thanks for your replies.
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Honestly i dont think it would be a problem. Just buy a cheap phone or even get a free one with a simcard in it. Because if they ask you for the imei and the device you are using, you would have your crappy free phone to give the info.
When that is done just pop in the simcard into the galaxy s
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.
Ok, so I found a bit of information about this data plan working with the Samsung Galaxy S II reaching HSPA+ speeds, however I would like to know if it is possible to get the data from this plan working on any other SMART PHONES.
A few things I am interested in is...
1. Has anyone got the data working on any other smartphone? What kind?
2. Does changing the APN settings work?
3. Do you have to initially register a basic phone?
4. Is it possible to modify the IMEI of a smart phone to represent a basic phone so that the data may work.
5. Does anyone have any good ideas to get this working?
If so we can all have Unlimited Talk, Text, and Web on a smart phone for $50.00 plus normal sales tax.
If anyone has or is capable of getting this working on any (or all) smart phones, then it would be mutually beneficial to everyone
I have the plan running on my Galaxy S II, it was kind of tough to get going, and until I turned on airplan mode and then turned it off again, was I able to connect to 3g and H+ instead of just edge. The AT&T store employees also had a hell of a time, getting it to work at first. I did pop the SIM into an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S, and it worked after I went too settings, wireless networks, and then selected GSM only. The only APN available is Cingular 410, which is the wap.cingular. I am getting full 4g service on both devices, so I'm happy.
Note the AT&T stores dont always have the $50 pre-paid sim card in the store because I believe you can only do this on "International phones" according to the guy who helped me (whatever that means, I'm sure they are wrong.) I did explain how the Galaxy S II was unlocked and that I had bought it in Europe, but they still didn't have the actual $50 dollar sim card, so instead they gave me a regular 4g sim card ($25 charge) and then used two $25 pre-paid data plan cards (actual cards like iTune gift cards.) As I said above, they had some issues getting the $50 dollar plan to work, but it eventually did using this method. If anyone is in NJ the store I used was in the Paramus Mall.
Hope this was decent first post.
$50 prepaid simcards lol I would never pay that much for a prepaid sim card ever. I bought both my phones: previous Rokr E6 and the current X1i and simcards from myworldphone.com. For the E6 my $15 T-mobile simcard cost me about $15 with credit and my [email protected] prepaid one cost me $8.50 non active. Now for the non active simcard I had active it and then put money on it(depending on the plan I wanted) but it beats paying $50 for simcard when you can buy one for $8.50 and then switch to the $50 unlimited plan. Now looking at the rate plan options it says: " 1Monthly Unlimited Talk, Text & Web plan requires an eligible device. Smartphone users must purchase a data package to use Data on this plan. Pay per use data is not available on Smartphones." I'm not sure what exactly eligible device really means but when I first bought my phone I had the option to switch to the unlimited plan, something funny I noticed was it says smartphone cannot use pay per use data, well it's available to me . I only use wifi for my internet because I use my laptop for browsing the internet and really only use the internet on my phone for updating Touch Weather but if I need to I can use the pay per use data which I rarely only do for MMS. I don't know if it's the type of prepaid simcard(National prepaid simcard) I'm using that allows me to get through this loop hole or not but if it is I'm not complaining . Just my .2cents
JKDEM85 said:
I have the plan running on my Galaxy S II, it was kind of tough to get going, and until I turned on airplan mode and then turned it off again, was I able to connect to 3g and H+ instead of just edge. The AT&T store employees also had a hell of a time, getting it to work at first. I did pop the SIM into an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S, and it worked after I went too settings, wireless networks, and then selected GSM only. The only APN available is Cingular 410, which is the wap.cingular. I am getting full 4g service on both devices, so I'm happy.
Note the AT&T stores dont always have the $50 pre-paid sim card in the store because I believe you can only do this on "International phones" according to the guy who helped me (whatever that means, I'm sure they are wrong.) I did explain how the Galaxy S II was unlocked and that I had bought it in Europe, but they still didn't have the actual $50 dollar sim card, so instead they gave me a regular 4g sim card ($25 charge) and then used two $25 pre-paid data plan cards (actual cards like iTune gift cards.) As I said above, they had some issues getting the $50 dollar plan to work, but it eventually did using this method. If anyone is in NJ the store I used was in the Paramus Mall.
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ok a few things. First to answer OP's question is yes, it is possible with any unlocked phone. problem is that AT&T has certain IMEI numbers that are recognized as smart phone IMEI's. Like my friend had an HD2 that he brought to AT&T and they recognized it and immediately changed his data plan to a smartphone data plan. Although there are other people with smartphones who have the AT&T system tricked because the system doesnt know what their IMEI number is for.
So yes, it is possible. And yes, as for the NON-Smartphone $50 unlimited talk, txt, and data plan, yes it does exist. AT&T just started it recently and no its not for just international. Its directed towards NON-Smartphones. But again, if they cant recognize your smartphone IMEI, then they wont know.
As for the $50 sim card, no there's no such thing as a $50 sim card and no, its not "just for international phones" haha. Sim cards are $5.95 and if a store tells you anything higher, then call AT&T sales. Because they are ALWAYS $5.95 over the phone.
BOOM! glad to help haha
caffeinated chris said:
ok a few things. First to answer OP's question is yes, it is possible with any unlocked phone. problem is that AT&T has certain IMEI numbers that are recognized as smart phone IMEI's. Like my friend had an HD2 that he brought to AT&T and they recognized it and immediately changed his data plan to a smartphone data plan. Although there are other people with smartphones who have the AT&T system tricked because the system doesnt know what their IMEI number is for.
So yes, it is possible. And yes, as for the NON-Smartphone $50 unlimited talk, txt, and data plan, yes it does exist. AT&T just started it recently and no its not for just international. Its directed towards NON-Smartphones. But again, if they cant recognize your smartphone IMEI, then they wont know.
As for the $50 sim card, no there's no such thing as a $50 sim card and no, its not "just for international phones" haha. Sim cards are $5.95 and if a store tells you anything higher, then call AT&T sales. Because they are ALWAYS $5.95 over the phone.
BOOM! glad to help haha
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Thanks for clearing some things up, so it's the IMEI number that determines if they can tell if it's a smartphone or not. I probably got lucky with buying the international version of the X1 .
Viper89 said:
Thanks for clearing some things up, so it's the IMEI number that determines if they can tell if it's a smartphone or not. I probably got lucky with buying the international version of the X1 .
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exactly. As far as I know, that is how they determine which phone you have is thru your IMEI.
So to answer OP's question, yes, you probably want to initially set it up with a NON smartphone IMEI and then switch the sim card to your SGSII.
OR get lucky and give them the IMEI and they dont recognize it and just assume it is a non smartphone. (So if you are setting this up over the phone and they ask you what type of phone it is, its some basic flip phone. DO NOT tell them its a smartphone. Or you will have ruined that idea haha)
PS. there is a possibility that later on they will recognize your IMEI and will notify you (usually by a text msg) telling you that they are switching your plan to a smartphone plan. If they have done this, then they probably finally found out that the IMEI you're using is actually a smartphone. And that sucks haha.
Its also possible they wont ever know. chances are they will once they get the list of IMEI's and what phones they actually are for. I dont know how often they update their list of IMEI's so no telling how long you'll get away with it. some people have successfully done so for months or years. so we will see
good luck!!
PS. there is a possibility that later on they will recognize your IMEI and will notify you (usually by a text msg) telling you that they are switching your plan to a smartphone plan. If they have done this, then they probably finally found out that the IMEI you're using is actually a smartphone. And that sucks haha.
Its also possible they wont ever know. chances are they will once they get the list of IMEI's and what phones they actually are for. I dont know how often they update their list of IMEI's so no telling how long you'll get away with it. some people have successfully done so for months or years. so we will see
good luck!! [/QUOTE]
I've had my phone for 1 year and 9 months now if they were going to do something they would have already, and Sony also stopped making the X1i awhile ago so as for as my IMEI being recognized I'm not worried at all about it .
I've had my phone for 1 year and 9 months now if they were going to do something they would have already, and Sony also stopped making the X1i awhile ago so as for as my IMEI being recognized I'm not worried at all about it .
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NICE. haha yea like I said, some phones they might eventually find out, and some they wont. You happen to be one of the ones they probably wont find. Enjoy that haha
Almost 100% sure that plan does not include Smartphone data.
As well it shouldn't; I do not understand why carriers cater more to their prepaid customers by offering such low rate plans while proceeding to charge customers who sign contracts by charging them a steeper price for the same plan.
illatwill said:
Almost 100% sure that plan does not include Smartphone data.
As well it shouldn't; I do not understand why carriers cater more to their prepaid customers by offering such low rate plans while proceeding to charge customers who sign contracts by charging them a steeper price for the same plan.
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Yes, you are right, this plan is not a smartphone data plan. Thats why we are talking about ways on how to get it on your smartphone haha.
And secondly, no contract phone plans are cheaper because you have to lay down money flat out to buy a phone. Contracts are made to give you that $700 phone for $100-$199. By you being in that contract it guarantee's they are going to get their money for that phone.
caffeinated chris said:
ok a few things. First to answer OP's question is yes, it is possible with any unlocked phone. problem is that AT&T has certain IMEI numbers that are recognized as smart phone IMEI's. Like my friend had an HD2 that he brought to AT&T and they recognized it and immediately changed his data plan to a smartphone data plan. Although there are other people with smartphones who have the AT&T system tricked because the system doesnt know what their IMEI number is for.
So yes, it is possible. And yes, as for the NON-Smartphone $50 unlimited talk, txt, and data plan, yes it does exist. AT&T just started it recently and no its not for just international. Its directed towards NON-Smartphones. But again, if they cant recognize your smartphone IMEI, then they wont know.
As for the $50 sim card, no there's no such thing as a $50 sim card and no, its not "just for international phones" haha. Sim cards are $5.95 and if a store tells you anything higher, then call AT&T sales. Because they are ALWAYS $5.95 over the phone.
BOOM! glad to help haha
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Don't mean to grave-dig the post but when I went to an AT&T store for new SIM cards (activated one through a go-phone and didn't know that it locked the SIM to the phone), I wasn't charged anything for them, the store rep gave them to me for free.
That aside, I've been toying with this concept myself. I've been looking everywhere for good candidates for a smartphone that ATT doesn't sell and that is compatible with their HSPA network.
I have a couple unlocked T-Mobile phones that the data works on, but only at EDGE speeds because they don't have the proper frequencies to support ATT 3/3.5/4G.
Does anyone have any new suggestions?
EDIT: So far I've found that the HTC Wildfire S A510a, and the HTC Sensation Z710a are both compatible with ATT's HSDPA 850 and GSM 850 bands and may be good candidates. I already have a T-Mobile HTC Sensation Z710e and really don't want to buy another phone that's practically the same .
I'm digging this up because I need answers before jumping ship.
Does AT&T still make smartphone users pay extra for data? I'm thinking of moving from Boost mobile to AT&T with an LG Fathom...
Either AT&T or metroPCS, if AT&T does still charge smartphone users for data then most likely it'll be over to metroPCS I go then.
n1nj4Lo said:
I'm digging this up because I need answers before jumping ship.
Does AT&T still make smartphone users pay extra for data? I'm thinking of moving from Boost mobile to AT&T with an LG Fathom...
Either AT&T or metroPCS, if AT&T does still charge smartphone users for data then most likely it'll be over to metroPCS I go then.
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Like with a plan? Yes.
TomTheGeek3 said:
Like with a plan? Yes.
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Well what I meant was are Smartphones still supposedly uneligilble for the prepaid 50 a month unlimited plan, do they still have to pay extra for data?
If yes, how much extra?
n1nj4Lo said:
Well what I meant was are Smartphones still supposedly uneligilble for the prepaid 50 a month unlimited plan, do they still have to pay extra for data?
If yes, how much extra?
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Yes, they have to pay extra. Not all smartphones will be in their database, so if you have a European phone with the appropriate HSPA bands it could potentially trick the system into believing you have a featurephone.
As for how much extra, it's something ridiculous like 30 bucks or so.
synaesthetic said:
Yes, they have to pay extra. Not all smartphones will be in their database, so if you have a European phone with the appropriate HSPA bands it could potentially trick the system into believing you have a featurephone.
As for how much extra, it's something ridiculous like 30 bucks or so.
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Mines a Verizon LG Fathom...
Is T-Mobile just as ridiculous too? I saw they have a prepaid 50 a month unlimited plan... What jerked me back away from that was 100Mb unthrottled then every bit over that is "managed" unless ya pay for the highspeed unlimited 4g data.
How do you expect a non-gsm phone to work on a gsm network?
Stonent said:
How do you expect a non-gsm phone to work on a gsm network?
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Just because it came from a cdma carrier doesn't mean it's a non-gsm phone... It's a world phone, meaning both cdma and gsm.
Called up t-mobile and it sounds like they'd be my (our) best bet, they don't charge ya anything additional if it's a smartphone for data... So it really is flat-out 50 bucks unlimited everything, no limitations, no specification handsets required or anything.
Sorry to dig up an old thread, but has anyone tried this recently?
Will probably give this a go in a couple of months using the HTC Sensation z710a.
Pretty harsh not getting any "smartphone data" included on a $50 plan. Would be heading straight to T-mobile if my z710a was AWS compatible.
Currently I have the U.S.A T-mobile service so when I get the Galaxy Note, I will only have Edge speed.
I am willing to switch over the AT&T for 3G service or higher internet speed but only for month to month basis since this Galaxy Note will be an unlocked phone so I will not be require to sign up in a contract.
For those in the U.S.A that has AT&T and also has just received the Galaxy Note, do you like the internet speed of AT&T ?
I have heard bad things about AT&T such as dropped call and poor signal, etc...
so I am just a little bit worry about signing up with AT&T.
My initial intention was to get the Nexus and go with Verizon but the Nexus is not as good as the Galaxy Note.
Also, which AT&T plan should I get?. I don't talk much on the phone but I do a lot of surfing on the internet. I need internet speed that is fast and reliable.
Just get the lowest minute plan and get 2GB internet. I'd get on contract, buy the Nexus or the iPhone and sell them on ebay for $700 and use that towards your note, that's what I did. I can't comment on internet speeds because I'm always on wifi.
Buy an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note. Put it on Straight Talk Mobile prepaid for $45/month which uses AT&T's network. You would have to buy a refurbed Nokia E71 phone for $99 to do it and put the sim card in the Note with some settings changes. You get unlimited talk/text/data with no contract using AT&T's 3G network.
No Sim
adelmundo said:
Buy an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note. Put it on Straight Talk Mobile prepaid for $45/month which uses AT&T's network. You would have to buy a refurbed Nokia E71 phone for $99 to do it and put the sim card in the Note with some settings changes. You get unlimited talk/text/data with no contract using AT&T's 3G network.
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I went in to a Walmart to check this straight talk out and they said they don't carry sim cards. it's like sprint.
getmouse said:
I went in to a Walmart to check this straight talk out and they said they don't carry sim cards. it's like sprint.
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My understanding is that they employ different network types in different regions.
Get the MediaNet plan which is either $10 or $15 (depending if you have messaging or not) a month for unlimited data.
Earthbrain said:
Currently I have the U.S.A T-mobile service so when I get the Galaxy Note, I will only have Edge speed.
I am willing to switch over the AT&T for 3G service or higher internet speed but only for month to month basis since this Galaxy Note will be an unlocked phone so I will not be require to sign up in a contract.
For those in the U.S.A that has AT&T and also has just received the Galaxy Note, do you like the internet speed of AT&T ?
I have heard bad things about AT&T such as dropped call and poor signal, etc...
so I am just a little bit worry about signing up with AT&T.
My initial intention was to get the Nexus and go with Verizon but the Nexus is not as good as the Galaxy Note.
Also, which AT&T plan should I get?. I don't talk much on the phone but I do a lot of surfing on the internet. I need internet speed that is fast and reliable.
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even I was thinking of doing the same thing, after a lot of discussion here on forum I have learnt that you go for att pay as you go prepaid plan which is $50/month, you get unlimited call/sms/data even sms to some 100 countries! the only thing you have to follow is activate the card using a dumbphone like razr or similar and then put your card in unlocked phone with correct APN and profit!
Only care you have to take is never put that sim in att smartphone or network will detect and you will be charged for smartphone plan..
if anyone else knows a better way, please post here..
So is there any other suggestions on the best AT&T plan?
I am currently using the Note for the last 4 days.
I am still using T-mobile plan since my contract won't be up until next month in December.
However, I am only getting EDGE speed for my $10/month for 200 MB and it is so slow.
I really need to take advantage of Note since it is an expensive phone and I want to get at least 3G speed at AT&T. I have never signed up with AT&T so I am not familiar with its plans or any good tricks to get the best data plan.
waghoba said:
even I was thinking of doing the same thing, after a lot of discussion here on forum I have learnt that you go for att pay as you go prepaid plan which is $50/month, you get unlimited call/sms/data even sms to some 100 countries! the only thing you have to follow is activate the card using a dumbphone like razr or similar and then put your card in unlocked phone with correct APN and profit!
Only care you have to take is never put that sim in att smartphone or network will detect and you will be charged for smartphone plan..
if anyone else knows a better way, please post here..
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Click to collapse
I just went to an AT&T store about 2 hours ago (in San Diego) and spoke with a sale rep and he told me that using a smart phone with the prepaid plan for non-smart phone will not work.
I don't know if he is just want to prevent me from getting a good deal or he just doesn't know any loophole.
Earthbrain said:
I just went to an AT&T store about 2 hours ago (in San Diego) and spoke with a sale rep and he told me that using a smart phone with the prepaid plan for non-smart phone will not work.
I don't know if he is just want to prevent me from getting a good deal or he just doesn't know any loophole.
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that is correct, its a loophole, you should never tell them that you are using a smartphone!
that is why I said 'activate using a dumbphone and then put the card and APN in your note, att can only detect their own subsidized smart phones and not the unlocked ones, so you are safe...
EDIT: and I dont think att representative will tell you this method even if he is using it! as he wants his job, right?
I've heard using prepaid services (gophone, straight talk) with a smart phone only give you around 500Kbps speeds. So even if its unlimited (I've heard straight talk caps you at 70MB per day) its hardly worth it considering how slow the internet is. And yes. Those speeds were with HSPA+ compatible phones on AT&T.
Can anyone confirm/deny/elaborate? At 500kbps I should just stay on Tmo since Edge speeds are not much slower.
There is a whole thread here of people's speeds on Straight Talk. Seems like it is not capped at 500kbps.
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1737642-Post-Your-Straight-Talk-Speedtests
Earthbrain said:
I just went to an AT&T store about 2 hours ago (in San Diego) and spoke with a sale rep and he told me that using a smart phone with the prepaid plan for non-smart phone will not work.
I don't know if he is just want to prevent me from getting a good deal or he just doesn't know any loophole.
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Click to collapse
I experienced this last month while on hols in New York. Im a Brit and took along my Galaxy Tab 7". Dropped by an AT&T shop and said I wanted to buy a pre-paid SIM to use in it. He refused to sell me one. No technical reasons why it wouldn't work. Just seemed like a policy decision. I was shocked!
Tried a T-Mobile shop nearby and picked up a PAYG SIM for around $30, which did the job, but it was slooow. Think I was on Edge network at best. Good enough for Places and navigation, but a bit crap for browsing. Lesson learned - don't tell them the device is a smartphone/tablet .
You were on EDGE on T-Mobile because ATT and T-Mobile use different freqs for 3g in US. The GTab probably doesn't support T-Mobile s 3g freqs.
Next time go to a Walmart and get a Straight Talk prepaid package. You have to buy a 99 dollar dumbphone to activate the SIM then you should get 3g data once you move that SIM to the GTab and set the APN.
The howardforum link in earlier post is good info.
I am running my Note on AT&T with a $10/mo unlimited data for non-smartphones plan (family plan) and I get 4.5mbps down and 1.06mbps up in H+ areas. Freakin sweet.
Earthbrain said:
I just went to an AT&T store about 2 hours ago (in San Diego) and spoke with a sale rep and he told me that using a smart phone with the prepaid plan for non-smart phone will not work.
I don't know if he is just want to prevent me from getting a good deal or he just doesn't know any loophole.
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Click to collapse
Ya that was a wrong move to go in and talk to an ATT rep about it. There are many that have this plan who use the international SGS2. Check in their XDA forum. It works.
waghoba said:
Only care you have to take is never put that sim in att smartphone or network will detect and you will be charged for smartphone plan..
if anyone else knows a better way, please post here..
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Click to collapse
I think i f'd this up just now. Got my note today and ordered the sim from at&t after porting number over from verizon. I originally signed up online for the $40 450 mins + $30 dumbphone unlimited sms/data. But when calling to activate the phone i used the galaxy note's imei to activate the sim and they were able to detect that it was a smartphone (i thought they weren't able to do that with an international unlocked phone??); so the rep signed me up for $20 sms and $25 2gb plan. so now is there any way to go back to the dumbphone unlimited plan or will my Note's imei always be detected as a smartphone now??
leaverus said:
I think i f'd this up just now. Got my note today and ordered the sim from at&t after porting number over from verizon. I originally signed up online for the $40 450 mins + $30 dumbphone unlimited sms/data. But when calling to activate the phone i used the galaxy note's imei to activate the sim and they were able to detect that it was a smartphone (i thought they weren't able to do that with an international unlocked phone??); so the rep signed me up for $20 sms and $25 2gb plan. so now is there any way to go back to the dumbphone unlimited plan or will my Note's imei always be detected as a smartphone now??
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you're screwed, you needed to give the imei of a dumbphone or just put the sim into a dumbphone first. maybe have a friend do it for you as you are likely flagged forever.
I'm currently still on contract with 2 GB data and a captivate. If I get the international note can I bump it down to the medianet plan?
I've got a note on ATT in the US. I have a 4g plan (used the note's imei) and the best speeds I've seen with speedtest are in the 5m down 1m up range. Some places it's been 1m/1m or worse, and the phone's bounced between 3g and H+.
I found some link the other day that showed ATT H+ coverage area, and I guess it shouldn't come as a big surprise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW4h1tOAsg4
Wasn't sure if this worked, and if you actually order the phone, wouldn't you have to pay for the plan?
I believe att can detect your phone and will automatically put you on a corresponding iPhone (bull****) plan, not 100% sure though, I do know that international phones can be used on the Medianet dumbphone data plan though.
This is very interesting and I am really thinking about trying it out. The only bummer is you ahve to by a phone just to get the sim card. If anyone tries this out let us know how it goes and if I try it out first I will let you know.
OK I Activate AT&T Phones Daily and of my best friends works at a AT&T Call Center, so here's some FAQ
Is it really unlimited data for $15?
Yes it is Unlimited Data for any Basic AT&T Phone, but if your trying to use it with a smart phone and use like 8GB of Data in a month they will be suspect
Will it work with a Smartphone?
Yes and no, If your using a AT&T Model Phone AT&T Will either block data or in most cases add the data package
If you have a T-Mobile Unlocked Phone or a Unlocked International GSM Phone it will not be in AT&T's System so you won't be flagged
Do you have to do anything to make it work?
Well Yes APN, you have to use the MediaNet APN, The normal 4G and LTE APNS will not work
Also to note Many New Go Phone Sim Cards are now Married to the phones IMEI they ship with and will not work in another phone unless you get a sim unlock code, I have verified this with the $19 Samsung Flip phone ZTE Z431, ZTEAvail, and the AT&T Fusion, I tried the sim card that came with the phones in my Galaxy S II Skyrocket, Samsung Vibrant and Samsung Propel
Thank you for your investigation, saved me the time I would've spent asking questions and searching for answers.
Well what I want to know is, if you buy one of those messaging phones for $0.01 on the 2 year contract like the video says, so that you get the sim, won't you have to pay for the 2 yr contract regardless? Or do they not charge you unless you activate it?
jeffreygtab said:
Well what I want to know is, if you buy one of those messaging phones for $0.01 on the 2 year contract like the video says, so that you get the sim, won't you have to pay for the 2 yr contract regardless? Or do they not charge you unless you activate it?
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Yes you would, You would be required to commit to a 2 year contract and would have to at Minimum have the 450 Min for $39.99 and the $20 Unlimited Texting or $0.20 Per Text Message and the $15 Basic Phone Data Package so that video isn't really correct..
If you want "Unlimited Smartphone on AT&T then the Straight Talk Sim Cards are a much better way to go, For $45 a month you have Unlimited Talk, Text, Web, Data, I setup a Friend with a Galaxy S Captivate on it and he has the Full 3G Speeds and has had months he's hit 6GB and never had a Issue, The only thing you have to watch for is if you want to do the Wireless Hotspot, It is against the TOS to do Hotspot but you can Use Wifi Tether For Root Users and it will show as Mobile Web Usage so they won't bug you.
You can get the Straight Talk Sims in Both Full Size and Micro Sim Versions for Both AT&T and T-Mobile, and if you put the AT&T Sim in a AT&T Phone you don't even have to unlock it to work, I've setup Go Phones, iPhones, HTC Sensation 4G, HTC Mytouch 4G, Samsung Captivate, AT&T Avail http://straighttalksim.com/shop.php
forrest89sei said:
Yes you would, You would be required to commit to a 2 year contract and would have to at Minimum have the 450 Min for $39.99 and the $20 Unlimited Texting or $0.20 Per Text Message and the $15 Basic Phone Data Package so that video isn't really correct..
If you want "Unlimited Smartphone on AT&T then the Straight Talk Sim Cards are a much better way to go, For $45 a month you have Unlimited Talk, Text, Web, Data, I setup a Friend with a Galaxy S Captivate on it and he has the Full 3G Speeds and has had months he's hit 6GB and never had a Issue, The only thing you have to watch for is if you want to do the Wireless Hotspot, It is against the TOS to do Hotspot but you can Use Wifi Tether For Root Users and it will show as Mobile Web Usage so they won't bug you.
You can get the Straight Talk Sims in Both Full Size and Micro Sim Versions for Both AT&T and T-Mobile, and if you put the AT&T Sim in a AT&T Phone you don't even have to unlock it to work, I've setup Go Phones, iPhones, HTC Sensation 4G, HTC Mytouch 4G, Samsung Captivate, AT&T Avail http://straighttalksim.com/shop.php
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So you have to pay $55 a month? That video is completely pointless...
jeffreygtab said:
So you have to pay $55 a month? That video is completely pointless...
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Ok guys so I found an about 8 month old ATT sim that's never been activated, and I just got an ATT manager to give me an unnactivated sim. Is there anyway I can use either of these on the plan?