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I am considering getting a Samsung Vibrant these days. There is one thing that bother me a lot.
I am a student from China. And I am getting a prepaid SIM from T-mobile without any kind of plan right now for the price reason.
I was wondering if I got a unlocked Samsung Vibrant from eBay and use it on the T-mobile network, do I have to pay for the data plan?
The thing is I owned a AT&T Fuze before and everything works fine on the T-mobile network except for the 3G. That's okay for me cuz I don't use 3G anyway. But there is one time that my friend who is on AT&T network borrow my Fuze for couple days, and AT&T just added the data plan for it automatically. My friend try to call the staff in AT&T and they said that since HTC Fuze is a smart phone from AT&T, it require a data plan so he cannot cancel it. And they can tell when he insert the SIM card and AT&T will get the IMEI from him automatically.
I just wondering will the same thing happen in T-mobile? 30$/month is way to much for me.
BTW, there is another question for you guys. There is a lot of unlocked Galaxy S on eBay, which is nice. I was wondering how they get it unlocked? Can I get them unlocked right in the "carrier shop"? Or there is other ways that I can get the unlocked code?
Thx you guys anyway for answering these questions. BIG HAPPY FACE
You might have to spoof the IMEI, you're in the same boat as my friend. He wants to use his old Sidekick plan with the phone but since's it's not a Sidekick he can't use the data at all because they know he's using a smart phone. Discussing IMEI's is not usually allowed on xda because it's illegal in some countries. I think that's your only solution though.
Wait a few months until the phone is more popular and you'll be able to easily find ways to spoof the IMEI. So far I have found none.
you have to have the android web spoofed or not. Without it TMO will lock you out of the market and mms
Sent from the best phone from TMO... Vibrant
as long as you use t mobile prepaid, you won't be charged for a data plan.
Why do you want to buy those expensive vibrants from ebay? I'd rather buy it from tmobile with 2 year contract, then cancel the plan and pay the ETF.
You can try to ask a t mobile online csr for the unlock code. Just tell him you will travel outside of us.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
neasoon said:
as long as you use t mobile prepaid, you won't be charged for a data plan.
Why do you want to buy those expensive vibrants from ebay? I'd rather buy it from tmobile with 2 year contract, then cancel the plan and pay the ETF.
You can try to ask a t mobile online csr for the unlock code. Just tell him you will travel outside of us.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
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He said he is a student from china so I assume he does not have a SS# and without one he cannot sign up for a contract.
The best thing you can do OP is buy a Galaxy S i9000 off ebay. Tmobile only has the IMEI for the vibrants. That way you can pop your sim into the international version and they wont know.
Or get a sim card from mysimplemobile.com $60 a month for unlimited everything and it uses tmobile service. That is what I switched to and it works with my vibrant without an unlock.
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PathogenX said:
He said he is a student from china so I assume he does not have a SS# and without one he cannot sign up for a contract.
The best thing you can do OP is buy a Galaxy S i9000 off ebay. Tmobile only has the IMEI for the vibrants. That way you can pop your sim into the international version and they wont know.
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Yup. You are right. I don't have the SSN right now so it's difficult for me to sign a contract.
The international version which is the i9000 is not bad. But I notice the price for the international version are significantly more expensive than the vibrant, for like 100-200$.
Anyway, thx for the suggestions.
j0eyred said:
Or get a sim card from mysimplemobile.com $60 a month for unlimited everything and it uses tmobile service. That is what I switched to and it works with my vibrant without an unlock.
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Thank you for the suggestions. But 60$ still seems to be a lot for me.
So I might try to figure out another way to make it happen. lol
Im using the vibrant on tmo after upgrade. you can go online and remove the service. I paid for one month and canceled. you just change the type of phone to one not requiring android data plan ie a non android phone and it will let you remove it. I'm using it purely on wifi. just remember you will need it unlocked or w/ 3g to activate it initially or after wipe.
vnamee said:
Im using the vibrant on tmo after upgrade. you can go online and remove the service. I paid for one month and canceled. you just change the type of phone to one not requiring android data plan ie a non android phone and it will let you remove it. I'm using it purely on wifi. just remember you will need it unlocked or w/ 3g to activate it initially or after wipe.
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Ahh, Hmmm I paid the full 500 and today is the last day I can return mine. How much was the termination fee out of curiosity?
Another question, I have been using mine prepaid for almost a month now and TMO hasn't given me any trouble with it. (Aside from the reps in the store when I went to buy it).
Do you think I should bother to spoof my IMEI? Is that something that can get a fellow into trouble in this paranoid new world?
From what I've read everywhere else, it seems that TMO needs your business and won't give you any trouble using a prepaid sim in the phone. Whose to say that won't change in the future though.
lianglqufo said:
Thank you for the suggestions. But 60$ still seems to be a lot for me.
So I might try to figure out another way to make it happen. lol
Click to expand...
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You can usually get a contract from T-mob with your passport and your F1 student visa (assuming you're on a F1). You'll have to wait for about an hour in order for them to get approval from headquarters, but it works fine. Got my Vibrant that way, and while the charges are high at least you get unlimited data (as in really unlimited), so watching videos, listening to pandora and all that is a non-brainer..
djupp said:
You can usually get a contract from T-mob with your passport and your F1 student visa (assuming you're on a F1). You'll have to wait for about an hour in order for them to get approval from headquarters, but it works fine. Got my Vibrant that way, and while the charges are high at least you get unlimited data (as in really unlimited), so watching videos, listening to pandora and all that is a non-brainer..
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Oh. I do have the F1 VISA with me. But I think I need to pay the deposit for don't have the SS#. At least my friend told me so.
SquareBare said:
Ahh, Hmmm I paid the full 500 and today is the last day I can return mine. How much was the termination fee out of curiosity?
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That's the thing I don't understand. I paid $199 for my Vibrant on a 2-year contract. I have a $200 ETF, which means that I can cancel, and get the phone for $400. For a non-contract, I would have paid the full $500.
So what one can do is use the Even More for one month (which is +$10 from the Even More Plus). Then cancel, pay the ETF, and move to the same Even More Plus plan. Which would mean you would get no contract for $400.
Am I missing something?
cparekh said:
So what one can do is use the Even More for one month (which is +$10 from the Even More Plus). Then cancel, pay the ETF, and move to the same Even More Plus plan. Which would mean you would get no contract for $400.
Am I missing something?
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is this really possible? amazon currently has the vibrant for $0.01 with a new contract. so in theory, one could sign a new contract, cancel and pay the ETF of $200, and get the phone for $200.01?? then sign up for an even more plus plan with no contract? (i also thought EM was $20/month more than EM+)
any input would be appreciated. this sounds too good to be true
You can buy a Vibrant and use it on prepaid you are just going to pay $500 for the phone. T-Mobile doesn't care they wont and can't charge you extra.
I would recommend checking out flexpay, you can get a monthly plan and get data if you want it. If not go with prepaid $15 a month gives you unlimited SMS and $0.10 a minute and just use wifi when you need data.
One last thing is do not recommend imei spoofing as its illegal here.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
lolcopter said:
is this really possible? amazon currently has the vibrant for $0.01 with a new contract. so in theory, one could sign a new contract, cancel and pay the ETF of $200, and get the phone for $200.01?? then sign up for an even more plus plan with no contract? (i also thought EM was $20/month more than EM+)
any input would be appreciated. this sounds too good to be true
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you cancel with amazon within 6 months you pay an added 250$ ETF to them. So it would be 450$ all day.
I got mine from costco for $99 and canceled for 200$ after ETF. So $300 total. You also get a free cheap case car charger and bluetooth from them. Oh and no activation fee.
Texted While Driving
sl0play said:
If you cancel with amazon within 6 months you pay an added 250$ ETF to them. So it would be 450$ all day.
I got mine from costco for $99 and canceled for 200$ after ETF. So $300 total. You also get a free cheap case car charger and bluetooth from them. Oh and no activation fee.
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nice. i'll look into something like this. i wonder if best buy / radioshack / car toys also have ETF fees of their own... (no costco membership for me)
I am kinda confused by this.
So I am in a stick situation here.
My parents have a family plan and I bought a Vibrant adding onto their Even More plan, which requires the $5 add a line and also $30 data plan. But I kinda think I don't really need data plan/3G cuz I am mostly home and don't quite use 3G unless I am not home, which isn't too often. $30 is a little money wasting, so I was thinking of just getting my phone without contract by paying $500 and just adding to my parents' Even More plan without data plan to save money.
But since I got my phone from Costco for $200 (when did this $99 deal start? I got mine a week ago...), does that mean I can just cancel and save money instead?
Important question though: Is it really true that there is no Android Market access without Tmo smartphone data plan? Why is this so? If so, is there any way of my getting away with it in my case?
Thanks,
FYI, if you have an F1 visa or any student visa you can do a contact with T-Mobile with no deposit and no ss#. This is something relatively new to t-mo. Just go to any corporate store location and they should be able to set it up for you. It takes about 45 minutes to process. That is the only down side.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
seojuhwan said:
Important question though: Is it really true that there is no Android Market access without Tmo smartphone data plan? Why is this so? If so, is there any way of my getting away with it in my case?
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I don't have a data plan, and I can access the Android Market just fine via WiFi. With Wifi at home and at work and most every place in between, the data plan is really pointless for me
Hello,
I'm considering getting the N4 on T-mobile by buying it at regular price (no contract with them). I don't have any account with them, I only want the phone.
My question is.. they obligate you to get a prepaid plan? and the phone is factory unlock? (the same as the play store one)
Thanks
There's been multiple threads about this. The phone is same as the Play Store.
You mean to tell me the PlayStore is not shipping to Puerto Rico?
All (GSM) Nexus devices are sold unlocked by default. If you buy it full price you aren't obligated to any contract, its the point of paying full price. However, the last time I tried paying full price at a T-Mobile store they force me to buy a $50 "one-time one-month" service package, which I promptly rejected.
That's what I did. Same as play store. Had to get some kind of plan and their standard prepaid plans were 50/60/70. I wanted to use the $30 Tmo plan and couldn't do that in store so I did pay per day. They required at least a $10 minimum on the daily plans which came out to 3 days of service after which I swapped Sim cards went online and signed up for $30 Tmo
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
kurigowa said:
That's what I did. Same as play store. Had to get some kind of plan and their standard prepaid plans were 50/60/70. I wanted to use the $30 Tmo plan and couldn't do that in store so I did pay per day. They required at least a $10 minimum on the daily plans which came out to 3 days of service after which I swapped Sim cards went online and signed up for $30 Tmo
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
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What did you do about your number? Don't you need to be a new customer for the $30 deal?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
I bought mine from T-Mobile for the extra hundred so I can get it sooner.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
I tried to take advantage of it and for the offer to be valid you need a 2 year contract which can only be done when purchasing device from AT&T which they will never sell this device.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
jasunto said:
I tried to take advantage of it and for the offer to be valid you need a 2 year contract which can only be done when purchasing device from AT&T which they will never sell this device.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
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I walked into an AT&T store and they offered this plan. They said it had nothing to do with the device, it would work on any 2 year contract.
They offered me their Mobile Share plan, with steep discounts, e.g. corporate, new account, etc. There is about 10% extra taxes and fees on any Mobile Share plan, but prepaid is flat rate (prepaid $30 plan is exactly $30). I still turned it down because AT&T does not offer tethering with their tablet data only plans, in my opinion they dropped the ball with Google by disabling tethering. We should not have to hack our Framework-foo.apk to re-enable tethering on an AT&T data plan. I told them I was using T-Mobile and tethering instead.
The advantage of Mobile Share is higher priority on towers in congested areas. The disadvantage is higher cost over prepaid for similar data amount. Plus I have not read about anybody that activated a DataConnect prepaid or Mobile Share using the correct IMEI with resulting LTE service. I choose not to believe it (LTE) service until I see it. Yet you can go in the store and they will hack your IMEI (with false value or false account info) to enable LTE service. In my opinion this unprofessional behavior is not *optimal* (LOL).
AT&T has lots of issues with the new Nexus 7 4G/LTE but I think the $100 discount is not an issue - if you are willing to walk into an AT&T store. Good luck.
I did. Already have mobile share plan. Wasn't starting one.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
jasunto said:
I did. Already have mobile share plan. Wasn't starting one.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
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On Google Play it states: "Special Offer from AT&T: Through December 31, 2013 receive a $100 AT&T bill credit by signing a 2 year service agreement on qualified postpaid standalone or Mobile Share plans. Activate on device, visit an AT&T store or call 1-800-908-9859 to take advantage of this offer.*
I'm not sure what is "postpaid standalone" plan, unless they mean Individual Plan, e.g. this link. But, comparing Individual to Shared you get 1GB less on same data limit as Mobile Share.
Bad deal for you already on Mobile Share. So $100 credit on Individual Plan loses you 1GB ($10) per month for 24 months. The $100 credit costs $10 * 24 = $240 dollars. This type of *credit offer* is only possible with AT&T. Plus no tethering enforced by Google, unlike the competition.
But, I think the AT&T store manager has some flexibility. One offered me ~20% discount on service, which is still a bad deal unless its a ~20% discount on your entire bill. Really sounds like a bad deal, especially without tethering, so I walked out of AT&T.
Thanks for the info. I understand.
Update:
Thanks da_ferreira for the info below. Great explanation.
I realize if you are simply adding the tablet to an existing MobileShare plan with data there is a $10/month AT&T fee. So, for a 2 year contract ($240 commitment) you will get a $100 credit. Better than nothing, since AT&T charges an extra fee to use additional devices on the same data plan. Most people will agree using a tablet with its own SIM is better than tethering a wi-fi tablet, or similar configuration. My friends had problems with AT&T cable billing, so I hope the AT&T wireless people follow through with your $200 credit.
The $100 credit is a good deal "if you have the extra data" available on an existing MobileShare plan. If you need to purchase additional data it really takes some thought. The options are expanding an existing data plan or buying it directly. If you are buying it directly on an Individual Plan you might be losing 1GB ($10) per month for a 2 year contract, as compared to MobileShare rates.
I did not have existing MobileShare so the Individual Plan was a bad deal for me.
Hmmm...
FWIW, I went to an AT&T store to get my SIM and add the Nexus to an existing MobileShare plan. At the same time, we replaced my wife's Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 with another Nexus and got the SIM for that (same MobileShare plan). The Samsung tablet was not on any contract.
The store waived activation on my device, signed my device up on the MobileShare plan for $10 per month (4 phones and 1 tablet share 20 gig per month on the plan - well, now 2 tablets) and gave us the SIM for my wife's Nexus. When we walked out, agreeing to 2 year contracts on both tablets and taking home $200 in credits. Yeah, it takes 60 days for the credit to appear, but in December I should have a tiny bill.
For me, this was a good deal. Maybe not for all, but since I hate tethering, it solves all my problems.
The last phone I purchased directly from VZW was a full-price Note 2. To upgrade the phone, I went to VZW website, selected my full-price Note 4 and attempted to check out. However, to complete the checkout, VZW required me to make changes to my plan where continuing the Unlimited Data feature was not an option. Manager at the local VZW outlet confirmed the same; they can't sell me a full-price phone without changing the plan.
Had to purchase my VZW, carrier unlocked phones from Amazon.
well that's bs. good thing is it seems more companies are making universal phones that can be activated anywhere... like the nexus 6, and the new moto x and new nexuses comin out... meaning, I'll never again buy a phone from Verizon itself with their ugly branding. yay!
Sent from my Galaxy Note 4
Wow that is messed up. Verizon is trying anything at this point.
Sent from my SM-N910V using XDA Free mobile app
I wonder if the new phone came with a new Sim? When I upgraded last, the procedure to keep unlimited is to toss new Sim (burn with fire then microwave) and install old Sim for first activation.
Funny, I just ordered my phone on the 13th and it did nothing to my unlimited data. Bought from the Verizon Web site. It was a certified pre owned.I have been out of contract with unlimited data for years.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
maybe you just had bad luck in store.. we all know how corporate verizon employees aren't the most truthful people.
just asked my old boss who runs his own retailer... they can sell off contract no problem. it's like when you goto verizon and buy off contract, they still want your number and stuff.. but it's like, i'm just buying a phone full price, you don't need to know anything about me... yet again, another reason why I never buy from corporate verizon and only use retailers.
Sent from my Galaxy Note 4
I bought one 3 days ago and kept unlimited data no problem. I would call CS and complain LOUDLY. A few months back I had a sim card go bad and when I took it in to get replacement, the rep changed my plan to 2 GB. Month and a half later I get an email about overuse of data and when I called in and explained what happened they gave unlimited back to me. She said within 30 days it is much easier to correct, but, they had to put in a service request for mine, which, took about 2-3 business days to reinstate. Good luck!
I can't see a corporate store do this, so must be a franchise store to screw up like that.
The people in the stores have been told to do what ever it takes to cheat you out of the unlimited data, that is first hand knowledge from a store manager in the family. As far as the phones go, you should not have been able to buy the phones without changing your plan, all phones from verizon are full price no more upgrades and require changing your plan, wether you pay cash or on the little deal on a monthly basis.
How about buying an unlocked compatible phone from Amazon or elsewhere? Will they try to force you out of the unlimited data plan to activate?
tbparkey said:
How about buying an unlocked compatible phone from Amazon or elsewhere? Will they try to force you out of the unlimited data plan to activate?
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not if you're buying full price. I got the new moto x.. has nothing to do with your plan. it's just like buying any product on amazon. click buy, bam, done. throw your sim in, and it activates. verizon had absolutely nothing to do with the process and I love it.
Sent from my Moto X Pure Edition
I still get subsidized upgrades from Verizon on my family shared data plan. Obviously I want the 6P, but I am worried it will never be sold through Verizon (or heavily delayed at the very least).
Can I use my upgrade to get an iPhone for $200 and sell it for like $700 or whatever? And then pick up the 6P from the Play Store and activate that instead?
Yes you can, as long as you are OK with extending your contract
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Yes you can. If you have a costco member card, purchase it there. Tax is cheaper and the phone is normally 20$ cheaper than the retail store. As for the two year contract, if you have any grandfather plan, Verizon still honors the subsidized upgrades. Just remember the upgrade fee is $40 one time fee.
Also, as long as you have an already activated nano-sim, you should be fine with using the 6P by just switching sim cards. Other than that, you might have a problem activating the 6P because the IMEI is not int he Verizon system.
Deekayy said:
Yes you can. If you have a costco member card, purchase it there. Tax is cheaper and the phone is normally 20$ cheaper than the retail store. As for the two year contract, if you have any grandfather plan, Verizon still honors the subsidized upgrades. Just remember the upgrade fee is $40 one time fee.
Also, as long as you have an already activated nano-sim, you should be fine with using the 6P by just switching sim cards. Other than that, you might have a problem activating the 6P because the IMEI is not int he Verizon system.
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jaben2 said:
Yes you can, as long as you are OK with extending your contract
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Fantastic news, thanks guys. Do I have to activate anything? Or unlock/deactivate the iPhone? Also I only have a microSIM but I heard you can mod it to be a nanoSIM.
You can cut the sim down, they have templates on amazon if you want one. But you can also just go into Verizon and get a new sim. The new iPhone should be fine to sell.
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So.... any recommendations on how I can sell the iPhone? Will I have to sell at a discount?
Sorry for double post.... I've never sold a phone before... will I have to say it's the Verizon version? or CDMA version?
You would have to say Verizon (CDMA) since their phones are unlocked to any carrier. I'm not sure how much the ip6s are but a simple google search in ebay or craigslist will tell you. I would recommending getting a 64gb verison because it looks like the most popular one sold.
Check swappa easiest way to sell a phone
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Swappa is by far the cheapest option for the seller. Just don't be greedy and price it right or you'll be in with the rest of the herd. Ebay will get it sold as well but you'll pay through the rear end with fees. Easily 10% plus the paypal fee. Craigslist is another option but be cautious as that is an easy way to make you a target if you aren't careful.