I think they found another way to get our money - Galaxy S III General (US Carriers)

I was doing some reading on another website and came across this article
http://pocketnow.com/2012/06/01/at-s...-them-already/
what it basically says is that AT&T will be making a move to Data only service because they have seen a decrease in cellular service (Voice and TXT) so here is the way i see it..we started with unlimited data then 3 out of the big four decided that they were not making any MORE money on the customer so lets take unlimited away and still charge them the same and tell them its a better plan for them. Well that didn't work because these darn customers found a way to save by using the web and those darn apps so now instead of calling people and going over their minutes and making us MORE money, they are using free apps like TANGO, SKYPE and many others as well as free text apps. no MORE money.
So i went from 1400min down to 700min and paying them less on my monthly bill..no MORE money..so now there is a very good chance that we may pay even more for data only plans.
if this happens do you think that all carriers will fallow? could this be why LTE is so important?
What do you think??

ATT rep told me that's where the future is headed. I believe it, no doubt.

rueben68 said:
I was doing some reading on another website and came across this article
http://pocketnow.com/2012/06/01/at-s...-them-already/
what it basically says is that AT&T will be making a move to Data only service because they have seen a decrease in cellular service (Voice and TXT) so here is the way i see it..we started with unlimited data then 3 out of the big four decided that they were not making any MORE money on the customer so lets take unlimited away and still charge them the same and tell them its a better plan for them. Well that didn't work because these darn customers found a way to save by using the web and those darn apps so now instead of calling people and going over their minutes and making us MORE money, they are using free apps like TANGO, SKYPE and many others as well as free text apps. no MORE money.
So i went from 1400min down to 700min and paying them less on my monthly bill..no MORE money..so now there is a very good chance that we may pay even more for data only plans.
if this happens do you think that all carriers will fallow? could this be why LTE is so important?
What do you think??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tiered data, and tiered minutes is how they make their money. They give you plans that are just shy of average optimum sweet spot usage and hope that you go over your plan to ream you a new one if you are not aware.
A Sprint representative supervisor told me this when I complained about overages and there not being a way to set alerts for overages automatically so consumers will be aware of their usage.
Why do you think they don't want you to root or use certain apps.....they take away from the cash cow of overages like Verizon and tiered text, or tethering ....money, money, money more money for stock holders. They are no longer in the service business, but are in the business of improving their stock for bonus, and stock holder share return, thereby again increasing bonus at customers demise.
The CS Supervisor told me that overages is how they make their profits, and that they want you to go out of your plan because that's how they make more profit. With VOIP coming in 2013-2014 for everyone in a tired data package plan will be screwed. There won't really be digital land line services like today every thing will be voice over IP and that is going to use data.
So this can only mean that they are setting you up to fail two years from now and then saying that you are going to need to increase your data usage package to a higher data plan cost......mark my words you are sheep being led to slaughter. They are making a big deal today about data usage making it seem like it will slow services and you need to keep under a minimum usage, when in fact they are making you think this so that they can raise rates in the future when data will be the only way to make calls, send messages, and surf the net.

There are three rules that every business lives by. get the cash, Get the Cash, GET THE CASH!!
The only thing you can ever do to make them stop trying to screw you is to find a way to not spend money with them. Otherwise wake up every day and remind yourself.
Cash Rules Everything Around Me
and use a little lube when they screw you.

Related

How I Cut My Cellphone Bill In Half !!!

Hey guys, like you, even though we have to manually do alot to get our HD2's in perfect condition. I wanted to hip you all to something that I'm currently taking advantage of, which is saving me major money each month.
Went to Wal-Mart on the lauch date of the infamous HD2, and paid full price for one, thinking that it would end up saving me money in the long run, because I had my own equiptment, therefore, I wasn't under a 2 year aggreement for T-Mobile.
Went to the T-Mobile store to get setup with service. Deciding on getting the T-Mobile unlimited everything plan (voice,sms,data) it ended up costing me around $92 a month (including taxes, fee's, and the $5 discount). So, I began thinking, "this is not the significant discount I was looking for". I asked the salesman what was the benefit of me purchasing this phone outright, he told me that if I got the same package and features, with the phone discount, under contract, it would cost me around $120-$130 a month. I began to seek other options to lower my bill. However, I was hesitant to lower anything, because I did one time, and got fuked over with crazy overage charges! I even thought about switching it over to AT&T, but then realized I'd be loosing out on the high speed data, because of the incompatibilities of the 3G radios between the 2 networks (and who wants edge speed on a smartphone these days!).
Then I did some research and found out about Simple Mobile, this is a Virtual carrier of T-Mobile (like how Virgin is to Verizon, and Boost is to Sprint). Anyway, after a couple of emails, and phone calls, I decided to make the switch. I found a nearby retailer (or u can check them out online) And I never looked back!
I now play EXACTLY $60 a month, for unlimited everything (voice,sms,data). And I was able to port and keep my same number. While this is truly great in of itself. Another great feature is because it's still a subsiary of T-Mobile, I didn't have to software unlock the HD2 at all. It was literally a matter of taking the old Sim card out and putting the new one in. The only thing that I did have to reconfig was the internet settings and the MMS settings to be able to have those 2 things function correctly. (which is very easy, I provided a link to the instructions below)
Instructions on changing internet settings and MMS settings.
http://www.mobile-files.us/showthread.php?2245-HD2-wap-mms-settings-for-SimpMo
The internet is exactly the same, I'm still getting the H icon at the top, with about 4 MB sec speeds. Call quality and range is the same, and so is the txting features. Because it's using the same T-Mobile towers as before. (which T-Mobile is very good, in Costa Mesa, CA )
Don't know about you all, but especially in these times, when money is tight, I have to really buckle down to budget and plan for big ticket items. So when I spend $400+ on a device. I truly want to be able to see more of the savings, in the long run. And thats how I cut my bill in half! They even offer plans at $30 and $40 if you don't want or need unlimited data for your phone, therefore saving your even more money.
This may not help some of you guys out there, but if your like me, and not in a contract, or you may be in a contract, and thinking this may be a better route for you in the long run (make sure you do your math beforehand, and make sure your savings outweigh your ETF from T-Mobile) I just wanted to let you know, that you do have an option out there.
Simple Mobile
http://www.mysimplemobile.com/
Hope it helps!
Eddie
so are you truly getting 3g speed? this sounds promising.
smokeingit said:
so are you truly getting 3g speed? this sounds promising.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes sir, I sure am, it displays the H icon, so I know its the HSDPA speed, which is alittle faster then 3G...however, i'm not sure if its the new HSDPA+ that you might have been hearing lately. I say that because, I dont believe WM have a status icon to show you that (because the technology is so new), so my theory is that, IF the HD2 supports it, AND its is getting the HSDPA+ signal, it'll still show the H icon at the top right of the device. But to answer your question, its DEFINITELY gets the high speed, because its still using the same towers!
I have friend that works in one of those smokes, cell, and gun stores and he has been trying to get me into this program.
It's good to go and legit.
Unfortunately I am only 6 months into my new 2 year contract...had to for my $190 Leo.
dangit.
I believe this has been discussed many times already.....
Simple mobile does not provide unlimited data. I believe it's still capped at 1GB/month. Which is a big no no for people who like to tether and abuse the network.....
calc said:
I believe this has been discussed many times already.....
Simple mobile does not provide unlimited data. I believe it's still capped at 1GB/month. Which is a big no no for people who like to tether and abuse the network.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your saying their "Unlimited Everything Talk, Text & Web" plan, which is labeled as "New", is not actually unlimited?
Paten said:
So your saying their "Unlimited Everything Talk, Text & Web" plan, which is labeled as "New", is not actually unlimited?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://consumerist.com/2010/07/simple-mobile-unlimited-data-plan-is-of-course-secretly-limited.html
http://www.prepaidreviews.com/blog/mvno/simple-mobile-limits-unlimited-data-plan-36148/
Both reported and the end of July of this year.... so unless something has changed in 3 months time, NO it is not unlimited.
I was suckered into a new mobile phone plan with a new company called Simple Mobile. They are a T-mobile MVNO (essentially a reseller) claiming to offer UNLIMITED talk, text, and data for $60/mo.
The reality is... Their $60 plan is NOT unlimited. When you hit 1000MB in one month your data service is simply terminated without warning.
They will offer to sell you an additional 100MB for $10. This policy is not stated anywhere on their website. If you call or write and complain, they will simply tell you to go elsewhere and will not provide any refund.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mean really............. just think about it for a minute, do you really think T-Mobile is going to allow another company to use their network and infrastructure all the while having them undercut their own prices too.....not to mention the toll and expense of all pushing out all that bandwidth at "unlimited" rates.
calc said:
I believe this has been discussed many times already.....
Simple mobile does not provide unlimited data. I believe it's still capped at 1GB/month. Which is a big no no for people who like to tether and abuse the network.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All I can do , is speak from my experience. Since having this service, I KNOW that I used more than 1GB (stream music all day, watch YouTube, use it for general internet browsing, and logging into my Orb media server at home, and streaming TV from my PC). So I would definitely consider myself a above average data user, and have not once, been capped or throttled (trust, I would be *****ing and complaining, with everyone else). I've even checked my usage online to see it and its a little under 2Gigs of data transfer, and everything is ok. I not sure if maybe I have a magic bean, VIP, IMEI on my device (joke-e-joke ) , which is given unlimited data usage, without penalty, or maybe they've modified their contract and upped the data usage cap or something. Again, I can only speak from my personal experiences, within the last 3 months, reguarding my device and service. I don't use my phone for tethering, but I do consider myself a heavy data usage user and not had any problems regarding their quality of service thus far.
Get rid of the unlimited voice and txt, then with this guide I wrote:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19619155#post19619155
You can cut your phone bill even more sharply. I'm paying about ~$20/month right now depending on my voice usage when out and about.

Aria IMEI

I know it is a sensitive topic, but I'm so frustrated with ATT, and was wondering if I could get any directions from you guys.
I bought for my wife new Aria (full price) so she can collaborate with me without using her brain. Few days after the change I realized att changed her unlimited data plan to tiered one. That move really pissed me off, and I had to switch her back to old nokia to preserve unlimited plan. I used to have an iphone with this plan (unlimited data for $15/month), and it looks like they are enforcing new, more expensive plans not only on new customers, but also on existing ones.
Enough said... I would like to get some hints on changing imei, so I get to keep my old plan...
Thanks
Not 100% sure but just swap the sim and it should work. ATT are assholes for doing away with unlimited data made the mistake of losing my unlimited data plan when the iPhone 4 was released thanks iphone!
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
I upgraded to the aria And had the unlimited data plan transfered..if u just call customer service and tell them that u have been a loyal customer for a long time now and u should be able to keep the plan u have had..u should mention being grandfathered in, be polite and tell them if they can't help u then u might be looking at other carriers. U would be amazed at the things I have gotten for free or discounted by just calling and talking to customer service..if they say they can't do it ask to be transfered to to the person who can, u might be on the phone for a minute but u can get it done I promise u
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
Post this same info on ATT's Facebook.
Same thing happened to me, I went from an iPhone to the Aria, and had the unlimited data removed, put a post on ATT's facebook, and within the day, I was talking to a guy who gave it back, credited my account, and gave me an additonal discount, to make my bill cheaper.
Interesting... if that's what they did to you then I may actually get somewhere. I just pulled the plug on one line to get G2 from tmo, and may threaten to close another line if they refuse to keep my plan...
If it comes to sim swap then it won't work with att branded phones. The only thing that may work (it worked with my old line) is to use unlock phone and ask them to update imei. They will mark your line as unlocked phone and never update your plan again. It worked for iphone...
Thx for your input.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
How much data do you actually use on your plan? I use my phone's data very regularly throughout the month and the most I've ever managed to use in a month was a gigabyte, making the $25 plan a cheaper solution than the $30 PDA Smartphone plan that preceded it.
I work in a retail position in which I handle AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile customers on a daily basis, and I have yet to meet anyone who uses more than 2GB a month, and some of these people use the phone as if they do not have a home internet service!
Thankfully AT&T has a very easy way of checking to see the monthly data usage you use, and even gives you a nice graph of the last six months of data usage, so you can decide for yourself what data plan is right for you.
"Unlimited" 3G data (w/ 5gb limit) for $30 on a smartphone is going the way of direct connect. Verizon will not be far behind with unveiling their new data plans and T-Mobile is talking about doing the same thing. I think once it is all said and done, we won't even see unlimited plans on 4G networks, especially once Sprint gets enough people back onto their service.
Just do the switch yourself. If you bought the phone full price you could have gotten it anywhere besides AT&T, swapped the SIM and been on the same plan. that's what i did coming from my Fuze. I just moved the SIM card to the new phone, and it worked flawlessly. kept my unlimited plan and everything.
as for data usage. When i had my Fuze i used maybe .5gig a month, but as soon as i got the Aria my usage spiked. I use consistently well over 2 gigs a month, breaking 4 gigs in August. I don't use it for tethering, i don't download huge video files, in fact i'm pretty tame with my phone usage. I'll be keeping my unlimited plan when i get a free upgrade in January.
shark0807 said:
How much data do you actually use on your plan? I use my phone's data very regularly throughout the month and the most I've ever managed to use in a month was a gigabyte, making the $25 plan a cheaper solution than the $30 PDA Smartphone plan that preceded it.
I work in a retail position in which I handle AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile customers on a daily basis, and I have yet to meet anyone who uses more than 2GB a month, and some of these people use the phone as if they do not have a home internet service!
Thankfully AT&T has a very easy way of checking to see the monthly data usage you use, and even gives you a nice graph of the last six months of data usage, so you can decide for yourself what data plan is right for you.
"Unlimited" 3G data (w/ 5gb limit) for $30 on a smartphone is going the way of direct connect. Verizon will not be far behind with unveiling their new data plans and T-Mobile is talking about doing the same thing. I think once it is all said and done, we won't even see unlimited plans on 4G networks, especially once Sprint gets enough people back onto their service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You sound like att spokesperson addressing all dumbasses that purchased smartphone thinking it will make them look smarter. Your data usage statistics are off, and just because you ask your customers about their data usage, it doesn't mean it makes you right. I have observed the data usage by mobile devices in the enterprise I manage in the past 3 years. It seems people spend more time using internet driven apps when their experience improves. That pretty much means the faster mobile network becomes the more bandwidth is consumed. Another huge impact on data usage comes from pushed advertisement. People love free apps, but in order to support brightminded developers those apps have to display small banners. lets do quick math here... each banner is about 5KB. Popular apps rotate them in intervals of 10s, or display new ad whenever you go to new page. If your phone supports multitasking, for example new iphone, then if you don't close the app (for example weather app) it may actually keep rotating those ads in the background eating up your bandwidth. That's 5KB every 10s throughout billing cycle gives us total of about 1.3GB each month. That's based on single app that probably won't be running 24/7, but you may have few of such apps running at the same time, so this will definitely bring you close to that number.
Now, lets talk about 4G, and your assumption of all carriers going with tiered plans. I've been enjoying my G2 over HSPA+ so much. You tube videos are actually in visible quality now. Those very same videos over att 3g were just a joke, and waste of time. What do you think how much bandwidth those HQ videos consume? How about video calls? How about flash driven apps? Limiting users to tiered plans would mean blocking all those services, and worse it would bring technology development for mobile devices to a halt (at least in US).
Mobile carriers are facing very hard times. There is more bandwidth demand than they estimated. ATT for example chose greed, and decided to oversubscribe their infrastructure hoping iphone will save them. Verizon however, invested in their network to ensure they can handle the growth. They all should be thankful to Apple for stealing the name "smartphone", and introducing it to masses in the form of a dumbphone. That move changed the industry, and right now we're all paying for it through higher cost, development by spending more time rooting devices than coding new apps, and reliability. I love my mac, but I hate Jobs for the iphone so much...
cegna09 said:
Just do the switch yourself. If you bought the phone full price you could have gotten it anywhere besides AT&T, swapped the SIM and been on the same plan. that's what i did coming from my Fuze. I just moved the SIM card to the new phone, and it worked flawlessly. kept my unlimited plan and everything.
as for data usage. When i had my Fuze i used maybe .5gig a month, but as soon as i got the Aria my usage spiked. I use consistently well over 2 gigs a month, breaking 4 gigs in August. I don't use it for tethering, i don't download huge video files, in fact i'm pretty tame with my phone usage. I'll be keeping my unlimited plan when i get a free upgrade in January.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aria is the only woman friendly (small) android phone that supports att 3G. I paid for it $300 (new). Legacy, which seems to be pretty much same phone is $200 more, and doesn't support att 3g frequencies. It looks like att is getting better in cat/mouse game. I may just have to threaten to leave, to get something done...
BTW
any android phone is concidered by att as smartphone, and they require smartphone plan with it. My wife previously had unlocked nokia, so they did not know what kind of phone it was, and allowed regular $15/month unlimited data plan. Once you put your sim into device that they have in their database they enforce on you smartphone plan that's currently available. If her previous plan was unlimited data for smartphone ($25/month), then I agree, she would be able to keep it.
chopperpl said:
BTW
any android phone is concidered by att as smartphone, and they require smartphone plan with it. My wife previously had unlocked nokia, so they did not know what kind of phone it was, and allowed regular $15/month unlimited data plan. Once you put your sim into device that they have in their database they enforce on you smartphone plan that's currently available. If her previous plan was unlimited data for smartphone ($25/month), then I agree, she would be able to keep it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
didn't realize you came from a non-smartphone. I came from a Fuze (touch pro), so i was already on the $30 unlimited smartphone plan. I made the phone switch right after they announced the end of unlimited plans, and just swapped the phone on my own. Their system caught it, changed my profile on AT&T's site, but did nothing to the plan. I still have the unlimited plan, and will be keeping it as i foresee my usage staying hight.
Do what i did.
Change the sim into a dumb phone and turn it on, wait about an hour, then log into your account online. The options for the medianet packages will reappear. Remove the smartphone data plans then enable the medianet plan for unlimited data. After switch the sim back to the smart phone, if you get a text or email saying they detected your smartphone just call them up and tell them you do not have a smartphone and give them the IMEI number of the dumb phone and have them remove the data and restore the medianet.
I know its a bit much to lie to them but it is robery that pay as you go data is $2 per 1MB, $15 for 200MB and $25 for 2GB when the service sucks inside any building in lower Manhattan.
joshua54 said:
I upgraded to the aria And had the unlimited data plan transfered..if u just call customer service and tell them that u have been a loyal customer for a long time now and u should be able to keep the plan u have had..u should mention being grandfathered in, be polite and tell them if they can't help u then u might be looking at other carriers. U would be amazed at the things I have gotten for free or discounted by just calling and talking to customer service..if they say they can't do it ask to be transfered to to the person who can, u might be on the phone for a minute but u can get it done I promise u
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is what i did.
I called cancellation dept, and they still refused to roll my old plan back
Going back to my initial request... Any hints on changing imei?
Thanks
Is it doable at all?
I don't want to waste anymore time on it. Can some of the bright ones just tell me, if imei on this phone is "burned-in" or is it changeable via software?
Thanks
So... I've done more research, and seems people are saying it is illegal to change imei... Illegal???? I think, if changing/spoofing for criminal activities then it is illegal. Carriers clearly abuse that id to rip more money from people. Where is the government to protect us? I wouldn’t mind, if there was an alternative, but there is none. How come I pay full price for the smartphone, and can’t deny data plan? I want to roam through local hot spots offered for free by my cable provider to sync phone instead of X fuc…ing G!!!! I think it is time for people to start filing complaints with FCC...
chopperpl said:
I don't want to waste anymore time on it. Can some of the bright ones just tell me, if imei on this phone is "burned-in" or is it changeable via software?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off AT&T can see immediately when you switch, and to what phone you are using, as well as the kind of traffic, to categorize your phone... so spoofing an IMEI won't get you anywhere - the bandwidth usage from a regular phone vs a smartphone is miles apart.
Second and more importantly Unlimited data for smartphones ($30) vs unlimited data for a regular phone ($15) are two completely different plans. Your old nokia was clearly not a smartphone if you were paying $15 for unlimited data.
I had a blackberry 9700 and went to an Aria, smartphone to smartphone. They let me keep my same smartphone unlimited data plan.
Bottom line you can't switch from a regular phone unlimited data to a smartphone unlimited data plan and keep the same plan.
You're SOL.
Your best bet is to talk to a manager in a retail store - as they are the only people who can work miracles. AT&T grants them special privileges, like allowing you to "early upgrade" (essentially re-start your contract) for a fee + regular advertised phone prices (way cheaper then a new phone at full retail price), and then allowing you to spend that "fee" as a credit on retail store accessories.
dexmix said:
First off AT&T can see immediately when you switch, and to what phone you are using, as well as the kind of traffic, to categorize your phone... so spoofing an IMEI won't get you anywhere - the bandwidth usage from a regular phone vs a smartphone is miles apart.
Second and more importantly Unlimited data for smartphones ($30) vs unlimited data for a regular phone ($15) are two completely different plans. Your old nokia was clearly not a smartphone if you were paying $15 for unlimited data.
I had a blackberry 9700 and went to an Aria, smartphone to smartphone. They let me keep my same smartphone unlimited data plan.
Bottom line you can't switch from a regular phone unlimited data to a smartphone unlimited data plan and keep the same plan.
You're SOL.
Your best bet is to talk to a manager in a retail store - as they are the only people who can work miracles. AT&T grants them special privileges, like allowing you to "early upgrade" (essentially re-start your contract) for a fee + regular advertised phone prices (way cheaper then a new phone at full retail price), and then allowing you to spend that "fee" as a credit on retail store accessories.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm afraid you're wrong, and this is why. I've had iphone 3gs on unlimited data plan ($15/month) for over a year. Before that I had Nokia N95 (which is still much smarter than iphone 4) on the same plan also for about a year.
You're saying they monitor bandwidth usage... How come they never picked up on my international SIP calls, and radio streaming? and yes, spoofing will get me somewhere. ATT holds only imeis from att branded/approved phones. If my imei is not found they assume it is simple multimedia phone. How do I know that? I talked to cancellation dept manager two days ago, and was ensured I will get my plan back once my imei doesn't match any of those from att smartphone lineup.
dexmix said:
Bottom line you can't switch from a regular phone unlimited data to a smartphone unlimited data plan and keep the same plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what you are telling me is that basically, you want people on here to help you do something which is admittedly illegal in many counties, so your new smart phone appears as a multimedia phone and you can pay less and keep your unlimited data plan.
*scratches head*
edit: you would have been better off just getting an Aria for free with a 2yr contract and then paying for a 2G plan.
dexmix said:
So what you are telling me is that basically, you want people on here to help you do something which is admittedly illegal in many counties, so your new smart phone appears as a multimedia phone and you can pay less and keep your unlimited data plan.
*scratches head*
edit: you would have been better off just getting an Aria for free with a 2yr contract and then paying for a 2G plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, not exactly. I've had that plan since gen 1 iphone, which was running on Edge, and three months later I switched to n95 3g. Basically I'm trying to retain my old data plan, and that's because I have not received any special treatment, or services in order to pay more... If they rolled out LTE, and use that for justification then I would agree.
dexmix said:
edit: you would have been better off just getting an Aria for free with a 2yr contract and then paying for a 2G plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Better off????? 2 year contract means locked in with old technology. Those contracts don't do any good to people. By signing, you let att screw you any way they want. You can't walk away, or negotiate. If I wasn't tied up with the contract when att announced new plans, then I would switch to verizon long time ago... If you are real smartphone user then you better off buying unlocked phone, and use it the way it was designed to use without extra fees (tethering $60 ), but if you are one of those guys thinking "smartphone will make me look smarter", then your best bet is to buy discounted phone with the contract.

Lower tmobile bill? Help pl0x

Not sure where this question would go, or if its legit.
But is there a way to get a lower bill? I think Im paying too much and not sure if theres a way to ask for a different plan, complain, etc.
Currently have 2 phones, my wifes and mine.
I have the Ft even more unlimited which is 99.99
family unlimited messages 20.00
Her web 30.00 and my web is 30.00
She has a sidekick and never uses the web. We even tried calling to have it cancelled and we got some run around that sidekicks use Danger server so you need internet adn you cant cancel it or it wont even work. Dunno how true that is.
But 100 seems a bit high for just calls.
Looks like we used about 2100 mins total last month. I dunno, I need to start saving and this is killing me. I hear people saying they have $60 bills, etc but never tell me what they have or I suspect theyre lying. the wife keeps picking contracts..
Thelgow said:
Not sure where this question would go, or if its legit.
But is there a way to get a lower bill? I think Im paying too much and not sure if theres a way to ask for a different plan, complain, etc.
Currently have 2 phones, my wifes and mine.
I have the Ft even more unlimited which is 99.99
family unlimited messages 20.00
Her web 30.00 and my web is 30.00
She has a sidekick and never uses the web. We even tried calling to have it cancelled and we got some run around that sidekicks use Danger server so you need internet adn you cant cancel it or it wont even work. Dunno how true that is.
But 100 seems a bit high for just calls.
Looks like we used about 2100 mins total last month. I dunno, I need to start saving and this is killing me. I hear people saying they have $60 bills, etc but never tell me what they have or I suspect theyre lying. the wife keeps picking contracts..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Sidekick DOES use Danger's servers for anything web-related (including MMS). This is how Blackberries work also (except they use RIM's servers). You can pseudo-unlock a Sidekick to work on AT&T, without a computer and I know because I've done it. Phone and SMS still work fine because they're not dependent on the internet. But you still have to dispute your case with T-Mobile.
u can get the even more plus plan. my ex-wife and i both had blackberries and we were paying 139 for unlim talk text and web. the even more plus has the drawback that there is no contract so u can't get a new phone for the low price. u have to pay full price but they stretch it over 2 yrs so u r paying minor payments.
Nod, Id rather not deal with the contracts thing because something always happens. Ive thought of trying other carriers, but ive been with them since voicestream and would rather stick to em and save some funds.
Thelgow said:
Nod, Id rather not deal with the contracts thing because something always happens. Ive thought of trying other carriers, but ive been with them since voicestream and would rather stick to em and save some funds.
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Click to collapse
I have also been with them since the voicestream days and was in the same predicament you are in. I had multiple chats with customer service personnel, which led to me getting transferred up the chain to the retention department.
I let them know that I was not happy about the current price of my plan since other carriers started rolling out more cost-friendly deals. Bottom line is I cited comparative plans from other carriers that would give me more for equal or less, and despite being a loyal customer, I was starting to waffle with the idea of paying the early termination fee and switching.
They were able to provide a few preferred services such as unlimited text for 9.99, as well as some other perks. I talked with many people and had different results, so when I was able to speak with someone who promised me a lower price on the service, I documented it with their name, contact information, etc. just to be sure they weren't duping me.
Let them know that you understand they are running a business and need to be firm, fair, and consistent. Sympathize with the fact that if they gave you a deal, they would have to give everyone a deal--but slip in the fact that you've been a loyal customer for X amount of years with an outstanding track record and would like it to stay that way.
Hope that helps.
Trade that Sidekick for a T-Mobile Comet. No regrets if you do that. Plus 10 dollar data plan!
Like other carriers, T-mobile charges exorbitant rates for any device they classify as a 'smart phone'. The simplest way around it is to get an an unlocked phone which is a smart phone, but not in their database, or not offered by them... as they can determine the type of phone based on the ESN. In this way you can sign up for whatever services you want ala-cart. If you are paying more than $15 for internet, call them up and tell them you want the 'total internet package' this is a term used for their legacy internet service which costs $15/month for unlimited, it also uses 4g. It is not offered to customers under a long term contractual agreement or customers using devices classified as 'smart phones' normally. If you have a android device I recommend using this guide I created:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19619155#post19619155
This will allow you to drastically cut money spent on voice minutes and completely cut SMS costs provided you have a data plan, and wifi spots you visit regularly...
i would just go with simple mobile and get your phone unlocked
I switched to their new plan a couple months ago. We pay $99 for two lines. It includes unlimited talk, text, and data. The data slows at 2gb (I have never come close to that anyway). The only hitch is there is no subsidy on phones. If you already have phones that you like, you should be ok.
I agree the Value plan ( 100 for two lines unlimited everything ) is the best plan right now. You dont get "upgrades" instead you pay a small down payment then 3-15 a month depending on retail of the phone. So basically it is a finance plan at 0% interest.
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AT&T sales person lied.. is there any workaround?

So I went in to swap my iPhone 3gs for an Atrix and laptop dock. As a long time customer I've ad my $30 unlimited data plan for years. The sales guy says no problem, it will transfer over to the Atrix. So I buy it and the dock and off I go. Phone works fine, data works fine on the phone... until I plug it in. Then nada. I get a nasty gram saying I don't have an appropriate data plan and please call AT&T. So now they want to ding me $45/mnth for the limited data cap instead of my $30/mnth unlimited. Is there any workaround for this? Can you enable mobile hotspotting on the Atrix and have the wireless pick it up?
Second issue... the guy told me you can install apps into your webtop. I can't find any way to do that, so I'm guessing he meant into the mobile OS? I hate having to run Skype, etc; in that lower rez window rather than as part of the Webtop.
Thanks,
Paul
The guy didnt really "lie" to you...he just didnt really tell you the whole story:
Yes you can kee pyour $30/unlimited data plan, but you need the $45 tethering plan to use the laptop dock outside of WIFI.
there are ways to use your unlimited data + tethering by switching your APNs around. Check out the sticky in the development section it has lots of goodies for you.
and no, you cant install apps to webtop
As far as installing "apps" they are referring to using web apps like google docs. Which is a joke.
If you root your Atrix you can install some ARM debs, but you'll need to be careful. I have xFreeRDP running on my webtop, but it isn't without quirks.
Thanks, appreciate the pointers. I am still annoyed But if the right apk can do it then I will shut up
I had a similar issue. I have an unlimited data plan with AT&T also. They also told me I could keep it. But I didn't buy the dock. However, after a few days with my new Atrix I received a text msg from AT&T stating that I was being charged for data, by the MB. WTF?
It turned out that AT&T messed my account all up and deleted my unlimited data plan. It took a couple of long phone calls, and finally a trip to the local AT&T store to get my unlimited data plan put back and the accumulated data charges removed.
I finally managed to keep my unlimited plan. The reps will tell you that its not possible, but you have to make a big enough stink about it and they will escalate it to some one who can do it.
lemortede said:
I finally managed to keep my unlimited plan. The reps will tell you that its not possible, but you have to make a big enough stink about it and they will escalate it to some one who can do it.
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No they won't. It's standard practice to keep the unlimited data plan, and we get more money from it, so it's in our advantage to keep you on the unlimited. Please don't spread lies.
link12245 said:
No they won't. It's standard practice to keep the unlimited data plan, and we get more money from it, so it's in our advantage to keep you on the unlimited. Please don't spread lies.
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Click to collapse
So why change it in the first place, I don't understand?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
link12245 said:
No they won't. It's standard practice to keep the unlimited data plan, and we get more money from it, so it's in our advantage to keep you on the unlimited. Please don't spread lies.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lies!
If it's standard practice, why did they automatically drop me to the 2GB plan?
Why did I then have a 1 hour phone call after I discovered this, because they didn't tell me, to be grandfathered in with my unlimited plan again. I had to wait for the rep to get her manager to give me unlimited back, and then they called me back to let me know. "Standard practice" appears to be "whatever we feel like doing at that moment" to AT&T!
(Oh, and I came over from the dark side also...............iPhone 3GS)
Apparently some of the sales people are idiots... and don't actually look into things. On it's launch day, there were a LOT of topics in here about people not being able to keep their unlimited plan or some crap..... I never had an issue with it. When i went down to AT&T to have them switch around the stuff for the phone (since i used one of my parent's upgrades to buy my Atrix), the unlimited plan was accidentally removed from my account, but the lady there called some number... not sure exactly what number or where it was, but had my unlimited plan back within minutes and was using my new phone.
But yea.... can't install apps to the laptop dock. It has no memory. It's a $500 screen, keyboard, battery, and touchpad in a slimline shell.
Not true at all. When I bought my Atrix, they couldn't keep my data plan and made no effort to try. I had to call 611 and raise hell to get it back. QUOTE=link12245;12705329]No they won't. It's standard practice to keep the unlimited data plan, and we get more money from it, so it's in our advantage to keep you on the unlimited. Please don't spread lies.[/QUOTE]
Sent from my MB860
I didn't have a problem when I got my Atrix two days ago, granted I was patient and asked every question possible and watched while my salesperson enter the data on the system.
Maybe the people who got the runaround got a sketch salesmen that wasn't trained enough
link12245 said:
No they won't. It's standard practice to keep the unlimited data plan, and we get more money from it, so it's in our advantage to keep you on the unlimited. Please don't spread lies.
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Click to collapse
Umm...yes they absolutely will. I got **** for 3 months about them accidentally removing my data plan and being supposedly unable to put it back on. My dad works for the company and I was on Military Suspension (meaning I had my account suspended on purpose because I was on deployment). I got back and they had removed my unlimited data. They told me repeatedly it wasn't possible to put it back on, despite the reason I lost it being their mistake, my dad working for the company, and me being a veteran (not saying it should be a factor, necessarily, but considering they took it off by making a mistake...).
Eventually got to a tech that said he would help. Took about 20 seconds.
AT&T Mobility is a complete joke. Customer Service reps will do anything and everything to keep you from the unlimited plan. You can't possibly say that's not true because I've experienced it more times than you could count and I'm guessing many people on this forum have.
Oh, and in that time I'd spoken to normal CSRs, managers, and even a division head (so they said). They all said it's not possible to retain the unlimited data plan once you had lost it. I got an apology from all of them since *they* were the ones that removed it on accident, but no help in returning it.
Then I demanded to speak to a tech, and the guy did it in 20 seconds without even asking what happened. AT&T Mobility is a joke.

Verizon WILL NOT end unlimited data..sorta

If a mod feels like they need to move this its fine. But I figured I would make a new thread since we have a bunch of threads already about the end of unlimited data.
After I called verizon and spoke to a CSR, and after they got more information about what is going on basically once the "data share" plans are launched regardless of you being on a single line or family share plan with unlimited data if you upgrade your phone after the "data share" plans are launched and you upgrade your phone you will HAVE to choose a capped data plan.
But if you can afford to pay full price for your upgrade (or trade for a new phone in the marketplace on xda) you WILL NOT lose your unlimited data.
Basically its a fight from verizon from them losing money on subsidies they have to pay to smartphone companies. And it will stop the people who use 20gbs+ a month and stress the towers.
Heres a link that explains it;
http://www.mobileburn.com/19622/new...pcoming-policy-change-on-unlimited-data-plans
ronartest2005 said:
Basically its a fight from verizon from them losing money on subsidies they have to pay to smartphone companies.
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This is BS. Data usage has nothing to do with subsidising smart phones. Even when their plan goes into effect you would have to be brain dead to pay an extra $500 every two years on top of your rate plan for the privilege of getting unlimited data.
ronartest2005 said:
And it will stop the people who use 20gbs+ a month and stress the towers.
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Click to collapse
This is BS. People on unlimited plans do NOT on average use more data than people on other plans. That is total nonsense and has been debunked numerous times. Is there the odd person who does use 20 gigs/month? Yeah sure. Is that why the network is stressed? No. There are simply not enough of those people out there to "stress" the network.
sitizenx said:
This is BS. Data usage has nothing to do with subsidising smart phones. Even when their plan goes into effect you would have to be brain dead to pay an extra $500 every two years on top of your rate plan for the privilege of getting unlimited data.
This is BS. People on unlimited plans do NOT on average use more data than people on other plans. That is total nonsense and has been debunked numerous times. Is there the odd person who does use 20 gigs/month? Yeah sure. Is that why the network is stressed? No. There are simply not enough of those people out there to "stress" the network.
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Click to collapse
I completely agree with you on both points, It's just verizons way of being able to keep a thumb on data users, and to get more money from them.
And as far as the towers go, I agree with you 100%. I seem to remember when the whole "4g coverage" thing first hit the news the big thing behind it was that you could have as many people as you wanted on a tower and it wouldn't bog down the tower enough to where it made your mobile data experience un-usable because of low speeds.
But this is just verizons way of making more money. Hell read about what they've been doing...ALL of their CEO's have gotten HUGE raises/bonuses. All while they have been shipping jobs to india, and raising prices on us.
It sucks because verizon has been the best service provider I have ever had. But if things get much worse I could end up just going with a trac phone. And using my ipod touch on wifi.
I am 29 years old and I made it 26 years of my life without mobile data, so it would be an adjustment. But I would be fine after a week.
ronartest2005 said:
I completely agree with you on both points, It's just verizons way of being able to keep a thumb on data users, and to get more money from them.
And as far as the towers go, I agree with you 100%. I seem to remember when the whole "4g coverage" thing first hit the news the big thing behind it was that you could have as many people as you wanted on a tower and it wouldn't bog down the tower enough to where it made your mobile data experience un-usable because of low speeds.
But this is just verizons way of making more money. Hell read about what they've been doing...ALL of their CEO's have gotten HUGE raises/bonuses. All while they have been shipping jobs to india, and raising prices on us.
It sucks because verizon has been the best service provider I have ever had. But if things get much worse I could end up just going with a trac phone. And using my ipod touch on wifi.
I am 29 years old and I made it 26 years of my life without mobile data, so it would be an adjustment. But I would be fine after a week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is Verizon and at&t's stories sound so believable. I was shocked when I saw the report that unlimited users do not use on average more data. They just want to get people on fix rate plans so they can ding them a few times a year for $10 overage fees. Most of the time I don't see myself going over 3gb. But the unlimited plan on at&t costs the same as the 3gb plan for me. So why not go with unlimited?
Actually at&t's greed is what is causing them problems. First of all it forced everyone with smartphones to get a data plan. Now it's complaining because people are using data. at&t also stopped offering unlimited plans to non grandfathered people. at&t only offers two "cheap" plans. One is $20 for 300mb which is a total joke and then there is the $30 for 3gb plan. That's it. And if you go over on the 300mb plan they tack on an extra $20 to your bill! And you only get 300mb more. So they are basically trying to get everyone on the 3gb plan. Well there would be a lot of people that would be satisfied with a 1gb plan but guess what? They don't have it. So people get the 3gb plan. And now that they are paying for it they use it. Then at&t cries about data usage.

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