IMEI and a couple more questions - Touch Pro, Fuze Android Development

I was just wondering if running Android on our devices change the IMEI (I'm guessing not but I just wanted to make sure). I ask this because I have no data plan on my AT&T HTC Fuze, and I don't want to be slapped with a data plan because it looks like I changed devices. I compared the IMEI in Android and Windows Mobile, and saw no difference in number, but when I plugged in my device to my computer it registered as an HTC Dream (I assume this because we are using drivers from the Dream?).
This is my first time running Android on my device, runs pretty smooth, but I'm a bit hesistant to run it again until I can verify this information. The build I tried is [prj][XDANDROID][2.2][AOSP][18.7.10]RC1 RELEASED . Runs very nicely, just as fast as Windows Mobile does natively for me.
Thanks!
Just thought of a couple more questions. I was wondering, is there anyway to switch between Windows Mobile and Android smoothly? I'm fine with launching Haret from File Explorer, but how do I get back to Windows Mobile without using my stylus to soft reset. Shutting down isn't a option, I tihnk the build I'm using has a problem with that so far (just crashes when shutting down.).

I honestly don't think you have to worry about it, I don't think Android would be able to (have access to) change that value...
From wikipedia:
Unlike the Electronic Serial Number or MEID of CDMA and other wireless networks, the IMEI is only used for identifying the device, and has no permanent or semi-permanent relation to the subscriber. Instead, the subscriber is identified by transmission of an IMSI number, which is stored on a SIM card that can (in theory) be transferred to any handset. However, many network and security features are enabled by knowing the current device being used by a subscriber.
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I bolded the section I felt was important

Alright, that's what I was thinking, but I thought because there were so many rules against the discussion of how to spoof your IMEI that it might be possible that this might spoof the IMEI some how. But seeing how the IMEI is the same in Android as it is in Windows Mobile, and I haven't been hit with a "You have a smartphone here's your data plan" text message, I guess I'm safe. Thanks!

SDreamer said:
Alright, that's what I was thinking, but I thought because there were so many rules against the discussion of how to spoof your IMEI that it might be possible that this might spoof the IMEI some how. But seeing how the IMEI is the same in Android as it is in Windows Mobile, and I haven't been hit with a "You have a smartphone here's your data plan" text message, I guess I'm safe. Thanks!
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I have been told by an AT&T support engineer that they are gradually going through their database and matching up IMEI's, IMSI's, and plans to ensure that everyone has a SIM and plan that matches up with their device. I don't know if they are doing this methodically, or on a case-by-case bases as people call for support or purchase new plans/devices. But there is a chance they will discover that you have a PDA without a PDA data plan at some point.
I kept my original Cingular SIM and kept putting it into new phones for years rather than using the new SIMs that AT&T sent me with new phones. I never had an issue until the purchasing department (who manages the cell phone plans, etc for my work) disabled text messaging for everyone in the company (mine was one that was not supposed to be disabled). When I called purchasing to get it fixed, texting starting working again, but in the process all my data died. Then I called about that and ended up talking directly to an AT&T support engineer. He "couldn't enable data" for me because I had an "incompatible SIM." Never mind the fact that it had been working fine before. I guess they realized that the IMSI on my SIM was from an old device that was never compatible with data when it was purchased, (but it was not blocked from data either). I ended up having to put a newer SIM in my phone to get my data working again. I think in the end, the old SIM was using the older Cingular APN information (which still worked) rather than the newer AT&T/Cingular APN information. I think they blocked my data by disallowing my device (SIM) to connect to the older APN.

nkrick said:
I have been told by an AT&T support engineer that they are gradually going through their database and matching up IMEI's, IMSI's, and plans to ensure that everyone has a SIM and plan that matches up with their device. I don't know if they are doing this methodically, or on a case-by-case bases as people call for support or purchase new plans/devices. But there is a chance they will discover that you have a PDA without a PDA data plan at some point.
I kept my original Cingular SIM and kept putting it into new phones for years rather than using the new SIMs that AT&T sent me with new phones. I never had an issue until the purchasing department (who manages the cell phone plans, etc for my work) disabled text messaging for everyone in the company (mine was one that was not supposed to be disabled). When I called purchasing to get it fixed, texting starting working again, but in the process all my data died. Then I called about that and ended up talking directly to an AT&T support engineer. He "couldn't enable data" for me because I had an "incompatible SIM." Never mind the fact that it had been working fine before. I guess they realized that the IMSI on my SIM was from an old device that was never compatible with data when it was purchased, (but it was not blocked from data either). I ended up having to put a newer SIM in my phone to get my data working again. I think in the end, the old SIM was using the older Cingular APN information (which still worked) rather than the newer AT&T/Cingular APN information. I think they blocked my data by disallowing my device (SIM) to connect to the older APN.
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Thanks for the outlook, but I believe I'm fine. I talked to several different AT&T reps, and because I got my smartphone before Nov 6th I believe (when they first started making them mandatory) I was grandfathered in, and do not have to get a data plan, unless I upgrade to a new device, or change my device pretty much. So I'm stuck with this phone until I'm ready for a data plan. I've talked to the reps before and after the plans started coming into affect. If you've never had a data plan before, you don't have to get one on your current device, just upgrading will force you too. If you warranty, that's a gray area, I've heard you can call and let them know it's a warranty, and it should be fine they'll take it off, but I've heard stories where the reps just say they can't do anything.

Related

question for at&t users

when i got my contract from at&t i got the lg neon with the 10 or 15 dollar data plan for regular phones, not the smartphone data plan. and when i switched back to my dash i noticed all my features that required data (web browser, weather tab, email) all work fine and i dont get charged extra for it.
so i was wondering if it would work with the data sharing too without me getting charged extra?
probably a dumb question but im new to at&t
whats great about at&t is that they have no current way to detect what type of device your using unless it is branded by them, this is cause att can only decode their own imei numbers, it's just like asking them to unlock a tmobile phone.. they can't do it cause the imei numbers are more or less directly related unlocking the device and this makes it confidential or proprietary infomation of the company that licenced the device for sale. they could however just deny the use of data unless you pay for a generic data plan witch is normally about $30 or so witch is what tmobile does if they can't verify what device you have but att has yet to impliment this.
hope this was of some help
ex-tmobile employee
that was very helpful thanks

[Q] Android on TP2 mess up data plan for Tmobile

I wonder if anyone has encountered the situation that using Android on Tmobile TP2 messed up the 5.99 Tzone data plan. I tried Android in the past but it seems to mess up the data plan. I will get error message that you phone cannot use this data plan and ask me to upgrade. I have to turn off the phone for a while and restart in WM to be able to use the data plan again.
Thanks
TMO might be upset that you're using an Android phone on a non-Android data plan...
Not sure, my carrier (Sprint) couldn't care less - at least I haven't had any issues or complaints from their side, and everything "just works" for me. Might want to contact your provider - I wouldn't tell them what you're doing per se, just that you're getting the error and where is it coming from. If they start asking questions about Android... not sure where that'll take you. Since you're not flashing a ROM, technically I don't think it's against their use policy, but again that's really up to your provider - and possibly the rep you get
chu128 said:
I wonder if anyone has encountered the situation that using Android on Tmobile TP2 messed up the 5.99 Tzone data plan. I tried Android in the past but it seems to mess up the data plan. I will get error message that you phone cannot use this data plan and ask me to upgrade. I have to turn off the phone for a while and restart in WM to be able to use the data plan again.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to change the APN. You're probably set to epc.tmobile.com as your server. You need to change it to internet2.voicestream.com. That's basically how t-mobile determines which plan you have. internet2 is what non "smart phone" devices use. I've been doinking with it constantly. Also, if you upgrade to the recent froyo x, you'll see the "simple" APN. This is set up completely perfect for tmobile users. Set it as your default.
I haven't seen anyone mentioned this in the TP2 Android forum and I thought it is just me. I never think of modifying the apn. Thanks you all for answering by question.
Yep they're catching on apparently, been playing for the last 7 months or so without a problem and now I get redirect to internet and suggested TMo plans for Android use. What the heck, like a persons sucking Tmo dry playing occasionally right (thought I was cheap), like wise bounce back to windows I'm ok light off the droid - done, none of the "switch to's" trip them up, helluva watch dog they got, lol. Fun while it lasted Wifi good, but really need my EMails

Galaxy Tab Voice Activation - Carrier Guide

Some awesome folks have posted tutorials for replacing the ROM on the tab to enable voice calling. Carrier info on actually using this "new" feature is a little sketchy, though. Will it work on CDMA? Can you still get the discounted price? All sorts of non-technical questions related to carrier are posted but generally buried so deep in threads that the info is hard to find and often there's conflicting info on carriers in different threads. So I am starting this thread in an attempt to collect data on carrier-specific info related to voice calling on the Tab enabled by custom ROMs found here on XDA. Here are two threads to choose from for updating the ROM:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=929479
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=847273
So please don't talk about ROMs here - this is about carriers, calling plans, etc. At first this post will have lots of questions, but as they are answered in the thread I will update the original post with the info. Don't follow the data here until the thread has had some responses! So here goes...
Disclaimer: I haven't done this yet and haven't verified any of this info.
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Currently the "upgrade" does not work with CDMA because it requires tricking the carrier into not knowing you have a voice-enabled Tab by using a SIM card from another phone. No carrier will sell you a voice plan for the Tab. So the process goes like this:
1. Purchase a Tab, but do NOT activate it! The activation would be data-only and that's no good. The SIM card it comes with will be useless.
2. Activate an old phone or used phone you bought on ebay on a GSM carrier. Currently AT&T seems to produce the best results, but please post carrier details in the thread and I'll compile them here. Activate the phone with the voice and data plans of your choice.
3. Follow instructions from one of the links above to upgrade your ROM.
4. Install different modem software (also instructions in above links).
5. Take the SIM card out of the activated phone and put it in the Tab.
6. That's it! Now you can make calls on your Tab! (is that really it or is there more to it?)
PROS:
Voice on the Tab!
By activating an old/used phone you aren't stuck in a contract.
Cons:
You don't get the discount that comes with activation since activating the data plan without voice does you no good.
At some point the carrier could get wise and cut us off, but this hasn't happened yet.
QUESTIONS:
1. What have I missed (likely a lot)?
2. What is WRONG and needs to be corrected?
3. What carrier-specific details are different (like AT&T vs T-Mobile)?
4. Will CDMA always be out in the cold due to no SIM card or is that being worked on?
5. Which GSM carrier has the best plan for the voice Tab (that it thinks is a smartphone)?
CDMA phones do not use SIM cards, so it's not possible to do the same kind of swapping you can do with them. CDMA phones are provisioned by the ESN/MEID linked to an entry in the carrier's database. So unless you hack their corporate data or have a employee contact who will change something in the database, the entry is already linked to the device type. For example, if you have a feature phone and buy an Android phone on eBay, when you go to activate it, it knows it's an Android phone and will prompt you to call a service representative to change your plan, because that phone requires a data plan. It's also why you can't just take a VZW phone over to Sprint. I've actually heard of people getting clear ESN phones added to the other carrier, but it was always by having a friend who could do it from the inside. I'm not saying there aren't alternatives programs or ways to make voice calls on the CDMA Tabs, but it'll never be possible to do anything remotely like the SIM switching solution.
This is only for the GSM Tabs (at&t Tmobile) usa and yes u need a modem switch to hav 3G and voice but they will not work together u hav to switch from 3g to voice please becareful and read everything, the only person who will be responsable for ur tablet being bricked is you
So far I havent seen anyone that has voice and data with a normal phone sim card on T-Mobile Tab due to the fact that they have the IMEI block set up but if your going to do it you have to but one from AT&T will work with a T-Mobile sim and vice versa due to the system not really caring what the device is for the most part (at least on T-Mobile). Removing the IMEI block is illegal so your best bet is if you go with the opposite carrier from what your already using to avoid contract extentions or if you have a friend with other carrier get them to buy it at a discount while you do the same at your carrier. Then switch the two and use the modem switcher andyou should be able to do all you want.
countkakula said:
So far I havent seen anyone that has voice and data with a normal phone sim card on T-Mobile Tab due to the fact that they have the IMEI block set up but if your going to do it you have to but one from AT&T will work with a T-Mobile sim and vice versa due to the system not really caring what the device is for the most part (at least on T-Mobile). Removing the IMEI block is illegal so your best bet is if you go with the opposite carrier from what your already using to avoid contract extentions or if you have a friend with other carrier get them to buy it at a discount while you do the same at your carrier. Then switch the two and use the modem switcher andyou should be able to do all you want.
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idk , i have tmobile and i had to use my tab as a phone , waiting for a replacement vibrant, all i did was stick my vibrant sim, modem switcher. and poof i have tabphone
Are you saying you changed out the modem software without having to flash the ROM and it worked?
b0ricuaguerrero said:
idk , i have tmobile and i had to use my tab as a phone , waiting for a replacement vibrant, all i did was stick my vibrant sim, modem switcher. and poof i have tabphone
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So you have internet and phone without using wifi cause i get wifi easy but get redirected when i use 2G or modem switch to 3G

Nokia Lumia 900 Hack from ATT network

Hello All: I am sorry for making new thread but I was unable to find what I am looking for.
Is there any way that I can hack my Lomia 900 so that ATT does not know what I am using smart phone. I love Windows Phone OS but I hate paying ATT $30 for a data plan that I don't use.
Nothing you said made any sense, you sound 12. The $30 data was part of your contract with at&t, have fun with it for the two years. Even if you could 'mask' your phones identity, at&t would still charge you.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Only way that would happen is if you had a sim card that somehow was hacked to send a IMEI number that doesn't match your smartphone
Sent from a satellite
chrisz5z said:
Only way that would happen is if you had a sim card that somehow was hacked to send a IMEI number that doesn't match your smartphone
Sent from a satellite
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There are ways to change your phone's IMEI, not sure if its possible on WP7 though. It is also highly, HIGHLY, illegal.
If you didn't want to pay the $30 a month, buy the phone off-contract from like Amazon, Best Buy, or even AT&T and then get a pre-paid plan.
gangsta.mostwanted said:
Hello All: I am sorry for making new thread but I was unable to find what I am looking for.
Is there any way that I can hack my Lomia 900 so that ATT does not know what I am using smart phone. I love Windows Phone OS but I hate paying ATT $30 for a data plan that I don't use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are not using data over the cellular network, can't you just cancel the 'data' portion of your plan with AT&T? Or does the 'plan' come with the type of phone you bought?
Even if you could 'mask' the phone so that AT&T thought you were using a feature phone instead of a smart phone, you would still be charged the $30/mo, cuz that's what's attached to your account. It isn't the phone that ttells the network what to charge, it's what the account says the services attached to it are.
One legit way to play the game would be to turn in your AT&T Lumia and tell them you want to downgrade to a feature phone. Once that is complete and you have your replacement phone (make sure it has a micro-SIM card), buy an AT&T Lumia off eBay, then install the SIM into the bought phone. It should work just fine, except that because the SIM has been registered to a no-data account, you won't be able to get any data services.
drtolson said:
One legit way to play the game would be to turn in your AT&T Lumia and tell them you want to downgrade to a feature phone. Once that is complete and you have your replacement phone (make sure it has a micro-SIM card), buy an AT&T Lumia off eBay, then install the SIM into the bought phone. It should work just fine, except that because the SIM has been registered to a no-data account, you won't be able to get any data services.
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Actually that won't work, the phone registers on the network everytime it is used. So within a couple of days AT&T will know it is one of their smartphones and tag on a Smartphone data plan.
About the only way around paying for Smartphone data but still use one is to get an unbranded phone that is not recognized by the system. It will show up in the system as "Unknown Device"
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express
drtolson said:
If you are not using data over the cellular network, can't you just cancel the 'data' portion of your plan with AT&T? Or does the 'plan' come with the type of phone you bought?
Even if you could 'mask' the phone so that AT&T thought you were using a feature phone instead of a smart phone, you would still be charged the $30/mo, cuz that's what's attached to your account. It isn't the phone that ttells the network what to charge, it's what the account says the services attached to it are.
One legit way to play the game would be to turn in your AT&T Lumia and tell them you want to downgrade to a feature phone. Once that is complete and you have your replacement phone (make sure it has a micro-SIM card), buy an AT&T Lumia off eBay, then install the SIM into the bought phone. It should work just fine, except that because the SIM has been registered to a no-data account, you won't be able to get any data services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually that won't work at all since AT&T actively polices their network and will detect smartphone IMEI regardless of what IMEI was associated with that SIM previously. The only "legal" way to have a branded smartphone without data plan on AT&T is to have a pre-paid account. AT&T does not require smartphone data plans for PAYGo customers.
gangsta.mostwanted said:
Hello All: I am sorry for making new thread but I was unable to find what I am looking for.
Is there any way that I can hack my Lomia 900 so that ATT does not know what I am using smart phone. I love Windows Phone OS but I hate paying ATT $30 for a data plan that I don't use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
at&t are not idiots. They know what they sold you. Changing the IMEI might work but it's not guaranteed. And I believe changing the IMEI is against the law. I doubt the forum owners will let anyone openly discuss that.
Why don't you get the $20 300mb plan if you don't use data? That is where I would start. In the future find out which smartphones are not detected by at&t and purchase one of them at full price if you want to avoid data charges or want to use the $10 unlimited plan. There are plenty of threads about that.
paid 399 for a new lumia 900 at at&t and threw it on net 10 50 unlimited everything plan. Nokia network setup app from marketplace to set apns and it's great. Getting 3-7 megs. for everyday phone usability and efficiency winmo is far superior than android. I did have to get a nexus 7 to retain android tho..
halfevildruid said:
paid 399 for a new lumia 900 at at&t and threw it on net 10 50 unlimited everything plan. Nokia network setup app from marketplace to set apns and it's great. Getting 3-7 megs. for everyday phone usability and efficiency winmo is far superior than android. I did have to get a nexus 7 to retain android tho..
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How did you get the Network Setup app to work? Mine just says "please wait while we find your network settings" but never finds anything.
halfevildruid said:
paid 399 for a new lumia 900 at at&t and threw it on net 10 50 unlimited everything plan. Nokia network setup app from marketplace to set apns and it's great. Getting 3-7 megs. for everyday phone usability and efficiency winmo is far superior than android. I did have to get a nexus 7 to retain android tho..
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So the L900 does work on other networks (that AT&T allows). Thanks for that.
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express Pro
jimski said:
So the L900 does work on other networks (that AT&T allows). Thanks for that.
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express Pro
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That is because NET10 is a MVNO and uses AT&T network. So techinically your phone is still on AT&T network (but LTE probably won't work) but billed to a different provider. There are also couple other MVNOs use the same AT&T network. Lumia 900 from AT&T can work on all of them with the need to unlock.
You have to pay $30.00 a month like the rest of us, because the At&t system will detect, via your imei, that your using a smartphone device.
I believe it is possible to buy a Galaxy Nexus GSM version from Google and add it to an already active $15 feature phone data plan, and continue to pay for the feature phone service, even after placing the sim into your unlocked Galaxy Nexus. That is because at the time I purchased my nexus, it's imei was not registered as a smartphone device within AT&T's database, although it may have been updated since the last time I checked.
But in the end do you think anyone likes to pay for the data package?.... Of course not, so why would an exception be made for your situation? The argument will always win with a simple "don't use a smartphone then" and there's really nothing you can say to that.
FWIW, that's just my 2 cents. I hope I didn't offend anyone with my opinions.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Well said, that type of "trick" is what forces the carrier to lock boot loaders throttle data and stuff like that because some abused the system.
Sent from my HTC One XL using xda premium
You CAN use a Smartphone on AT&T without paying the $30 fee; I've been doing it for years. It just cant be a model that AT&T sells and registers in their system. If there's a particular model you like on T-Mo or any other GSM carrier(Make sure it has AT&T Freq.) that AT&T does not use, their system may recognize the brand and model #, but it won't populate the automatic Data Plan like all AT&T Smart phones do.
Case in point, I now use a Nokia N8(Great phone for me). AT&T does not know what an N8 is(The best camera on any phone to date) and therefore can't charge me a data plan automatically. Since most of the Factory Direct Unbranded Nokia smarthones have their own GPS antenna, I can have all the maps, turn by turn directions, and POI's I need for free because it hits the GPS satellite directly, if it cant use the Cell sites. The trick is to make sure your DATA IS TURNED OFF on your phone. On my N8 you can set it to stay off in the settings menu. One slip up, and they'll charge you out the ying yang. However, I have always been able to call in and have it reversed. You can have them block ALL data, but then MMS won't work.
Now if your a Data kind of user, put up the $30 and use it. I myself, being an "Old School" Cellular guy in the Industry 19yrs, cant fathom paying for it when I don't need it. The WiFi on my N8 is really strong and there are plenty of places with free WiFi. In between them, I could care less; my GPS still works and I can wait. If you need to get your email right away, or know what Paris Hilton said today, pay the $30.
I work for AT&T, just so you guys know.
It doesnt matter where the phone came from. Let me give you an example of how it goes down. If you upgrade and get a Nokia Lumia 900, we'll go into the Equipment section of your account and change the SIM card number from your old to your new (basic phones and smartphones have two different types of SIM cards). When we do that, right next to the box to enter a new SIM card number is the box to enter a new IMEI number, to tell what kind of phone is on your account. When we do that and the phone is a smartphone, the next screen to pop up in our system is the Features screen and we can't bypass that screen without adding some sort of data package. The only way you can get around that is by simply NOT changing the IMEI in the account. If you bought that Lumia 900 at the discounted price, there's nothing you can do, really. You have to get a data plan.
The only way to get around the system is to get a smartphone (ANY smartphone) and ask your AT&T rep to just give you a new SIM card for it, but NOT to change the IMEI in your account from a basic phone. This way, the network will still find your phone, but the system wont recognize that you have a smartphone. Now you have a smartphone on your account without a data plan.
Another thing to consider is that AT&T offers a $50/month GoPhone plan with unlimited EVERYTHING and you can text other countries. Do the same process as above with that GoPhone plan and you'll save a **** ton of money in the long run. Hope this helps.
pluginxbabyy said:
Another thing to consider is that AT&T offers a $50/month GoPhone plan with unlimited EVERYTHING and you can text other countries. Do the same process as above with that GoPhone plan and you'll save a **** ton of money in the long run. Hope this helps.
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If you work for AT&T you should know that the GoPhone servive doesn't offer a data plan for smartphones such as the Lumia 900...
However, from what it sounds like this guy is trying to do what I have done. I have a GoPhone account and I am using a Lumia 900 on it and I didn't have to pay for any sort of data plan. I tried to, but I got a call later that day explaining that they couldn't process it so they just credited the money I paid for data to my account.
If you're stuck in contract, can't you just get a POS phone and switch SIM cards? You say that AT&T uses special SIM cards for smart phones, but they look the same to me, other than the fact that the plastic portion of the sim card has been basically cut in half to create something called "Micro Sims" --- Well, as it turns out, with a pair of scissors and a steady hand, anyone can turn their basic sim card into a micro sim card that will work inside the Lumia 900. The plastic portion of the sim is perfectly safe to cut all you want, just use the sim that came with the lumia 900 as a template... It's really easy, I did it with my T-Mobile SIM card after I unlocked my Lumia 900.
Even buying a basic phone with no data services, when you pop that sim card into a smartphone it automatically adds the cheapest data plan to that number.
I got around this a few years ago.
Using a basic phone call and say you want to have data services blocked. Back then it was free but now I think they want to add parental controls and charge you an extra 5 bucks a month. But call and have data services blocked on that number then when all goes through put your sim into the smartphone.
It worked for me. Normally when you do that you get a text from AT&T telling you that they upgraded your data plan blah blah. If you don't get the text I'd assume all is well.
jimski said:
So the L900 does work on other networks (that AT&T allows). Thanks for that.
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express Pro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what is your apn settings I got an ATT lumia 900 and cant figure out the right apn settings

Internet access with no sim and wifi turned off!

I picked up the Sprint version of the Samsung Galay Tab 3 7.0 (SM-T217S) on Craig's List for $90 (including a Moshi Versacover case). Not a bad deal. I reset everything to the factory defaults and started fresh. I'm running stock 4.4.2. (I'd love to root, but for some reason I can't. See a separate thread about that.)
Anyway, what's strange is that I have Internet access with the device, even though it has no sim card in it and even with wifi turned off. How can that be? Is this thing possessed, or am I missing something here? How can I have an Internet connection with wifi turned off and no sim card (and hence no data plan). I'm not a Sprint customer and have never signed up for anything.
Hey, I'll take it, but I'm curious how this is possible. (Chances are I'm overlooking something very obvious, but I thought I'd throw it out there.)
Thanks!
--Ron
dutch_in_seattle said:
I picked up the Sprint version of the Samsung Galay Tab 3 7.0 (SM-T217S) on Craig's List for $90 (including a Moshi Versacover case). Not a bad deal. I reset everything to the factory defaults and started fresh. I'm running stock 4.4.2. (I'd love to root, but for some reason I can't. See a separate thread about that.)
Anyway, what's strange is that I have Internet access with the device, even though it has no sim card in it and even with wifi turned off. How can that be? Is this thing possessed, or am I missing something here? How can I have an Internet connection with wifi turned off and no sim card (and hence no data plan). I'm not a Sprint customer and have never signed up for anything.
Hey, I'll take it, but I'm curious how this is possible. (Chances are I'm overlooking something very obvious, but I thought I'd throw it out there.)
Thanks!
--Ron
Click to expand...
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Dont forget that the SIM Slot on this version (SM-T217S) is only used by sprint for VALIDATION of the customer using LTE speeds, the tablet still works with CDMA (Needs to be flashed with CDMA Tools, PRLS, HEXMEID, all that stuff)
If you wish to know more about flashing a cdma phone please watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDAs7D9CzWs
Thats why you got internet access, you are using someone elses account which was not properly deactivated before selling the tablet. (Taking the LTE validation sim out of a Sprint tablet does not deactivate it like a gsm tablet like ATT one would)
You can use it till the guy paying the bills notices it, and either reports it stolen or deactivates that data plan.
BTW if it gets blacklisted you wont be able to reflash it to another number (data plan) on any of the CDMA carriers in the us, in that case ill buy it from you, just let me know.
Greetings.
Thanks for the reply. That would explain everything. I've contacted the seller and let him know he should properly deactivate the tablet from his Sprint account.
I don't really care if the tablet is blacklisted, since I have no intention of using it with cellular data. This LTE-enabled Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 was available at the right price, and I'm finding that LTE-enabled tablets are just faster overall and have higher benchmark scores than their wifi-only counterparts. I saw the same thing with the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 LTE (SGH-i497) vs. the wifi-only one ( GT-P5113), which I could test side by side.
--Ron

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