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I'm switching over from Sprint to AT&T in order to get the new Winmo7 Phone, but I have no use for a data plan.
The phone has wifi.
My house has wifi.
My train was wifi.
My job has wifi.
My wife has mifi.
Someone said if you buy the Winmo7 phone, keep it for 30 days (paying data), and:
1. Take out the Sim card out and put it in a "dumbphone" (a RAZR), and make a couple of calls,
2. Call AT&T and tell them you want the data plan removed (do not mention that you have a smartphone, if they ask, say that you have a regular phone because you have lost your smartphone), and since they can't force you to keep a data plan on a phone that cannot use it, they'll remove it.
3. WARNING, if your carrier ever catches you electonically using their smartphone without the required data plan, they could proceed to automatically re-add the data plan on, with or without your notice. The worst case scenario would be they ensue an Early Termination Fee on you, and make you pay the difference of what you've paid for the phone and the retail price of it!
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Does this make sense?
Will Winmo phones have to be jailbroken so as not to report back to AT&T?
Will I be able to configure the phone to go to wifi, and not try getting AT&T data?
After I removed the data plan on Sprint, the phone still kept trying to get weather data, and I had to specifically ask for a "DATA BLOCK" to stop the phone from trying to get data!
Thanks
If you go into settings-mobile network
you can turn the data connection off. Your Phone will now only be able to do calls and texts.
I guess that would work, but I live in the UK and we aren't forced to buy a data plan, so I can't be certain.
The US carriers seem like a right pain in the backside with different frequencies and GSM vs CDMA etc. I don't know how you guys ever manage to get a fair deal when you are so locked down to one particular carrier.
You don't need a data plan if most places that you visit have a WiFi connection.
MSWarrior said:
I'm switching over from Sprint to AT&T in order to get the new Winmo7 Phone, but I have no use for a data plan.
The phone has wifi.
My house has wifi.
My train was wifi.
My job has wifi.
My wife has mifi.
Someone said if you buy the Winmo7 phone, keep it for 30 days (paying data), and:
1. Take out the Sim card out and put it in a "dumbphone" (a RAZR), and make a couple of calls,
2. Call AT&T and tell them you want the data plan removed (do not mention that you have a smartphone, if they ask, say that you have a regular phone because you have lost your smartphone), and since they can't force you to keep a data plan on a phone that cannot use it, they'll remove it.
3. WARNING, if your carrier ever catches you electonically using their smartphone without the required data plan, they could proceed to automatically re-add the data plan on, with or without your notice. The worst case scenario would be they ensue an Early Termination Fee on you, and make you pay the difference of what you've paid for the phone and the retail price of it!
----------------------
Does this make sense?
Will Winmo phones have to be jailbroken so as not to report back to AT&T?
Will I be able to configure the phone to go to wifi, and not try getting AT&T data?
After I removed the data plan on Sprint, the phone still kept trying to get weather data, and I had to specifically ask for a "DATA BLOCK" to stop the phone from trying to get data!
Thanks
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Click to collapse
I was just on AT&T. This is all I will say, because I've been through this.
My Mom had a RAZR. She put her SIM Card in a BlackJack, and AT&T's system automatically added the data plan to her bill.
Your phone doesn't need to use data, they will know by the IMEI and other phone information that you have a smartphone. Everytime you phone connects to their network, it sends out the IMEI and the system will check that IMEI against you account. If you have a smartphone IMEI on a dumbphone plan, they will automatically add the smartphone packages to your account. You'll even get a text saying that you put you SIM in a smartphone yada, yada. The only way to have a smartphone without a data plan is to buy it outright off contract and activate it only with a voice plan on it.
There is no way to get around that. Swapping SIMs to make calls won't avoid that. Only modifying you phone IMEI and making it look like a dumbphone will do that. The process is automatic and happens instantly. Put you sim in, turn you phone on, turn it off... Too late. You have a smartphone plan on your account now.
My mom never used any data on her phone (no ActiveSync account setup, never used the browser... we checked for data usage - there was none), but AT&T simply told her if she puts her contract SIM in a smartphone, they have to add the data plan. She would have had to ETF her contract if she didn't want to pay for a data plan, so she went back to her dumbphone.
And to expand on some things, just in case you don't understand where I'm coming from:
Will Winmo phones have to be jailbroken so as not to report back to AT&T?
Will I be able to configure the phone to go to wifi, and not try getting AT&T data?
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Click to collapse
1. That's impossible. AT&T (any cell carrier's) network checks the IMEI/ESN of every phone that connects to their network the minute it connects. They will know exactly what type of phone you have. It has absolutely nothing to do with what operating system is on the phone. It can be a WP7, WinMo, Droid, iOS, iBangedUrMom device... They will still know exactly what type of phone you're using the minute it connects to their network via the phone's IMEI (and probably even the Serial Number, but they shouldn't even need that).
2. See #1. The phone doesn't have to access data for them to know that you're usin a smartphone on a dumbphone plan. All it has to do is connect to their network, and they'll know by the IMEI that you're trying to gib them. They will then alter your plans as required to suite their smartphone requirements (Add Data Plan, etc.).
BTW, when AT&T automatically adds data plans, they add the highest data plan. So, even though you don't use data at all, they will add a $25 2GB data plan, not a $15 200MB data plan.
And there's nothing you can do about it. It's in the contract and the requirements are pretty much universal across carriers here.
No carrier allows you to have a smartphone on a dumbphone plan (a plan without a data package) if you're under contract. The only way to do it is to buy the phone outright and have a plan without a contract. In that case, you'll just have to pay overages everytime you use data - which can easily (and quickly) exceed the costs of a data package.
And TBH, it's not even worth it to use a smartphone without a data package, even if you have WiFi in most cases. I use my HD2 as an iPod of sorts right now and there's no way it would be usable without a data package even though I have WiFi in most places I go. Missing an email I could have checked at a red light telling me soandso isn't feeling well and isn't going to be there, so I can spare myself the 45 minute drive is just not acceptable for me.
That bull**** about them just removing the data plan is false. That's what warranty is for and if you're a dumbphone user you should be getting a brand new dumbphone everytime you contract is up for renewal basically for free. Either you get a new one (they can give you a loaner phone until then, and it won't hurt since you use dumbphones, right?) or pay the price. They won't let you breach you contract. That would be negligent of them, and unfair to all of their other users.
If they do take it off (probably assuming you will take the SIM out) the system will automatically add it the minute you turn the phone back on - and the next CSR may not be as willing to break the rules (and none of them can just "change" the system).
thanks n8ter
lots of good advice
one thing though, I have a sprint Wm 6.5 Touch Pro 2 on sprint, with no data, and it works great! My contract ran out a year ago, though.
So you think if I buy a Winmo7 phone for $499 and try to join AT&T without a contract, they might allow it?
I asked Sprint and they said some smartphones like the Wm 6.5 Touch Pro 2 they allow to connect without data plan, but others like the droid they do not allow.
in any case thanks, I learned alot.
MSWarrior said:
lots of good advice
one thing though, I have a sprint Wm 6.5 Touch Pro 2 on sprint, with no data, and it works great! My contract ran out a year ago, though.
So you think if I buy a Winmo7 phone for $499 and try to join AT&T without a contract, they might allow it?
I asked Sprint and they said some smartphones like the Wm 6.5 Touch Pro 2 they allow to connect without data plan, but others like the droid they do not allow.
in any case thanks, I learned alot.
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Click to collapse
Yes, but you will be responsible for any overages.
I'm not sure how willing they are to put Data Stops on accounts/phones. I've never asked about that. My mom just ETF'd her account and went with Boost Mobile and got a Blackberry Curve instead.
Her AT&T bill went from $80/mo to $120/mo after she put her SIM in that BlackJack, and since her plan was altered her contract was extended.
Just don't try it. You're going to end up on the losing end of that battle.
That is why lots of people do like to buy phones outright. It does offer you a lot of flexibility and doesn't tie you to one carrier (though your phone's hardware may do that job for them ).
MSWarrior said:
So you think if I buy a Winmo7 phone for $499 and try to join AT&T without a contract, they might allow it?
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Click to collapse
If you buy a WP7 phone from Amazon for $99 and choose $15 data plan, you'll be paying $99 + $15 x 24 (2 years) + taxes which would be close to or less than the off contract price ($499) of the phone alone. This is a better way IMO if you can have a contract because you can also enjoy data service (200MB a month) for 2 years.
Yikes, how the hell are those costs justified?! I only pay £10 per month,in UK including unlimited data & texts, and 150mins talktime. That's like $7 usd!
plastix said:
Yikes, how the hell are those costs justified?! I only pay £10 per month,in UK including unlimited data & texts, and 150mins talktime. That's like $7 usd!
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Um...what planet are you from? UK pounds are 1.61X US Dollars...which would mean that you are paying at least $16 dollars per month...which is still AMAZINGLY affordable for what you re getting...Although I doubt it is really unlimited data...STILL!
Here in Canada, you either buy a phone off contract and pay full price, or get locked in a THREE YEAR contract, with a minimum $50 plan, which has about 200 minutes, unlimited text, and 500MB of data...although, tethering is free...
plastix said:
Yikes, how the hell are those costs justified?! I only pay £10 per month,in UK including unlimited data & texts, and 150mins talktime. That's like $7 usd!
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150 Minutes of talk-time are pathetic.
Lots of people here (in the US) are getting rid of landlines and using mobile phones almost exclusively, so the cost of the contract isn't all that high when you consider the cost savings on the other side of the coin (a landline with a Nationwide Long Distance etc. is around $30-40 a month from a good service and not one of those crappy small companies).
450 minutes is a decent minimum for the markets here considering how much people have gravitated towards using social medium, email, SMS, and IM.
Data Prices aren't as great here as some other places, but tiered data plans do allow those who use very little data the flexibility to pay less for their small data usage, instead of being forced to get the max package just because they brought a certain type of phone.
plastix said:
Yikes, how the hell are those costs justified?! I only pay £10 per month,in UK including unlimited data & texts, and 150mins talktime. That's like $7 usd!
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Click to collapse
Here couple of WP7 phones were launched at $99 from reputed sellers (Amazon / Newegg) with a contract. With holiday season upon us I'd say more such deals will follow, may be even free. How much do you have to pay to get a WP7 phone with £10 plan (contract or not)?
150 mins talk time is not enough for me. We have a family plan and my wife uses 2/3rd of the minutes alone. £10 != $7, as long as you are talking about UK & US currencies.
plastix said:
Yikes, how the hell are those costs justified?! I only pay £10 per month,in UK including unlimited data & texts, and 150mins talktime. That's like $7 usd!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's it, I'm moving.
*conversion was not correct, but that's still insanely cheap!
the lady who bought her HD7 in line before I got mine on lauch-day, got hers without a data plan, they made her pay the un-subsidized price though
Is access to marketplace and zune pass on the device dependant on the IMEI of the phone?
I had an unlocked TP2 with a $15 unlimited data plan from ATT, when I bought the focus, ATT input this new IMEI into their system and my data plan is now $15 for 200mb. If access to these features is not IMEI dependant I would like to get my unlimited plan back...
Thanks in advance for the help.
chizzwhizz said:
Is access to marketplace and zune pass on the device dependant on the IMEI of the phone?
I had an unlocked TP2 with a $15 unlimited data plan from ATT, when I bought the focus, ATT input this new IMEI into their system and my data plan is now $15 for 200mb. If access to these features is not IMEI dependant I would like to get my unlimited plan back...
Thanks in advance for the help.
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Click to collapse
it only looks at your email (your phone is connected to your email,xboxlive )
it doesn't look at your imei
AT&T shafted you. This has nothing to do with Microsoft or even Windows Phone 7. Unless you gave them permission to change your plan, you should call back and get your old plan back.
chizzwhizz said:
Is access to marketplace and zune pass on the device dependant on the IMEI of the phone?
I had an unlocked TP2 with a $15 unlimited data plan from ATT, when I bought the focus, ATT input this new IMEI into their system and my data plan is now $15 for 200mb. If access to these features is not IMEI dependant I would like to get my unlimited plan back...
Thanks in advance for the help.
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Click to collapse
$15 Unlimited Data Plans are for Feature Phones, not Smartphones.
You phone sends off your IMEI to AT&T whenever it connects to the network. Since you put a SIM Card from a Feature Phone into a Smartphone, they automatically upgraded you to a 200MB Smartphone data plan.
Call AT&T. If you're on a contract you HAVE to have a Smartphone data plan if you put that SIM in a Smartphone. There's no way to get around it. If you get them to change it back (i.e. tell them you're going to just use you feature phone), the minute your phone connects to the network again, it will check the IMEI and if the SIM is in the smartphone it will simply upgrade you to a smartphone data plan again.
I made a huge post about this in another thread talking about getting a WP7 device without a data plan in that forum. My mom did that and wondered why her bill went from $80 to $120 in less than a month a while back
RustyGrom said:
AT&T shafted you. This has nothing to do with Microsoft or even Windows Phone 7. Unless you gave them permission to change your plan, you should call back and get your old plan back.
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Click to collapse
Incorrect. It's common knowledge that Feature Phone Data Plans are incompatible with smartphones and that a smartphone data plan is required if you use a smartphone on contract. It's in the contract. It's in you contract too. Might want to read it.
They reserve the right to change you service if you use an incompatible device with you contract (i.e. alter you contract to compliance), and they reserve the right to add services onto you contract if you use them (i.e. if you tether without a tethering plan, they will add the tethering plan to you contract).
AT&T didn't shaft him, he just got himself kapwnd trying to shaft AT&T.
Nice try, but no cigar.
T-Mobile would do the same thing, and CDMA carriers would require you to upgrade you plan if you try to swap out a feature phone for a smart phone. Call Sprint, smarty, and see what they tell you about this (I've had all 4 carriers ).
Do you seriously think carriers are so dumb as to leave such an odd profit-killing loophole in their systems?
N8ter said:
$15 Unlimited Data Plans are for Feature Phones, not Smartphones.
You phone sends off your IMEI to AT&T whenever it connects to the network. Since you put a SIM Card from a Feature Phone into a Smartphone, they automatically upgraded you to a 200MB Smartphone data plan.
Call AT&T. If you're on a contract you HAVE to have a Smartphone data plan if you put that SIM in a Smartphone. There's no way to get around it. If you get them to change it back (i.e. tell them you're going to just use you feature phone), the minute your phone connects to the network again, it will check the IMEI and if the SIM is in the smartphone it will simply upgrade you to a smartphone data plan again.
I made a huge post about this in another thread talking about getting a WP7 device without a data plan in that forum. My mom did that and wondered why her bill went from $80 to $120 in less than a month a while back
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it still amazes me how cheap people are with this. You will spend 600 bucks on a device but expect not to pay for the plan.
Y'all have been getting around the data for quite a while now and it finally looks like the cellular companies are catching up to you.
nrfitchett4 said:
it still amazes me how cheap people are with this. You will spend 600 bucks on a device but expect not to pay for the plan.
Y'all have been getting around the data for quite a while now and it finally looks like the cellular companies are catching up to you.
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The carriers have been doing that for years. I think it's too late to even consider ignorance a valid excuse, especially when you have other people sprouting around invalid information and posters are allergic to forum search (the thread I posted in probably would have popped up in the results).
The truth and the matter is, someone with an Unlimited Feature Phone plan probably never uses more than 200MB data a month anyways, and a smartphone can do 10x that easily. Can probably do over 200MB just with passive Syncing if you have busy email/facebook/twitter accounts. In that case, marketing the data plans for feature phones as "Unlimited" is nice from a strategic standpoint once the person is locked into a contract they either have to pay AT&T/Verizon's enourmous ETF Fee (which they increased from $200 to $325 or 350, one of the two) to move to another carrier, or simply upgrade to the smartphone data plans (and for anyone who even moderately uses their device - 200MB is NOT going to cut it on a fairly recent smartphone).
200MB smartphone data plans are for people who have smartphones but use them like feature phones - you know, the people who think the phone is pretty but don't even have an email/facebook/twitter/etc. acocunt linked up with it (except maybe a google or live account, but they never use it and just make and recieve calls on the phone, and maybe some texts).
Well i'm not on contract with att anymore, my two years ended about 4 months ago...didnt upgrade or anything. I bought my phone out of contract. But i got my unlimited plan for feature phones back so i'm happy. It's not about being cheap...i make more than enough money in a year. It just doesnt make sense to charge $15 for 200mb knowing full well that anyone with a smartphone will use over 200mb in a month and then charge $10 for every mb over...
chizzwhizz said:
Well i'm not on contract with att anymore, my two years ended about 4 months ago...didnt upgrade or anything. I bought my phone out of contract. But i got my unlimited plan for feature phones back so i'm happy. It's not about being cheap...i make more than enough money in a year. It just doesnt make sense to charge $15 for 200mb knowing full well that anyone with a smartphone will use over 200mb in a month and then charge $10 for every mb over...
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isn't that why they offer a 2gb plan???
what are y'all gonna due when sim cards become unremovable???
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/17/gsm-association-proposes-embedded-sim-cards-with-remote-activati/
I am worried about the same thing.
I presently use HP Ipaq 614C and have 30USD a month unlimited data plan.. I want to buy unlocked HTC Surround since its almost the same price if I buy locked one from AtnT (I dont qualify for contract upgrade as I just renewed a two year contract with them 2 months back).
I am worried once I get unlocked HTC Surround from expansys-usa.. and put my SIM card in their.. wether they will change my 30USD per month unlimited data plan to 30USD per month 2GB LIMITED data plan..
I have read one more poster writing about it, about how once he put his sim, his data plan was changed from unlimited to 2GB limited data plan..
Purple11 said:
I am worried about the same thing.
I presently use HP Ipaq 614C and have 30USD a month unlimited data plan.. I want to buy unlocked HTC Surround since its almost the same price if I buy locked one from AtnT (I dont qualify for contract upgrade as I just renewed a two year contract with them 2 months back).
I am worried once I get unlocked HTC Surround from expansys-usa.. and put my SIM card in their.. wether they will change my 30USD per month unlimited data plan to 30USD per month 2GB LIMITED data plan..
I have read one more poster writing about it, about how once he put his sim, his data plan was changed from unlimited to 2GB limited data plan..
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Click to collapse
if you already have a smartphone unlimited data plan, they shouldn't change it and if they do, I would call and make them change it back. The other poster had a featurephone data plan that was not compatible with the new phone.
Purple11 said:
I am worried about the same thing.
I presently use HP Ipaq 614C and have 30USD a month unlimited data plan.. I want to buy unlocked HTC Surround since its almost the same price if I buy locked one from AtnT (I dont qualify for contract upgrade as I just renewed a two year contract with them 2 months back).
I am worried once I get unlocked HTC Surround from expansys-usa.. and put my SIM card in their.. wether they will change my 30USD per month unlimited data plan to 30USD per month 2GB LIMITED data plan..
I have read one more poster writing about it, about how once he put his sim, his data plan was changed from unlimited to 2GB limited data plan..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Different situation, buddy.
AT&T used to have $30 unlimited Data Plans before they changed it. If you upgrade your phone, you get to keep your $30 unlimited Data Plan.
They call this being "Grandfathered in." Sprint did the same with SERO plans, and other carriers do the same with older plans that they have phased out.
You don't have to do anything. You just put your SIM card in the new phone and you'll still have $30 unlimited data plan, until you cancel your contract/service, then for a new line you won't have that option.
We aren't even talking about what you're talking about.
We're talking about someone trying to use a cheap feature phone plan with a smartphone, not someone who thinks he's going to lose his grandfathered unlimited data plan if he switches phones.
To the OP, it doesn't matter if your contract is out. The AT&T system sees that you have x Minutes, x SMS/MMS, and Unlimited Feature Phone data plan. When you turn your phone on with your SIM card in it, it checks the phone's IMEI to make sure it's a feature phone or dumb phone (basically the same, feature phones just have bigger screans and oftentimes QWERTY keyboards or touchscreens). If you don't, they change it to the Smartphone plan.
Since a Smartphone cannot be used with that plan, they are potentially saving you money by automatically switching you over to a smartphone data plan, because otherwise all the data you use on the smartphone would count as overages. Fortunately for you, they have tiered data plans, and it's $15 instead of 30.
If they had just let you get all the overages, you'd be paying a lot more than $15 for it and since it's explicitely written in your contract/terms that you cannot use that phone with that data plan, you'd have no choice but to pay up. That is Cell Phone Service 101. Most people who pay attention know there is a distinct difference between feature phone and smartphone plans. They aren't even called the same thing on the AT&T website, or on your bill.
nrfitchett4 said:
isn't that why they offer a 2gb plan???
what are y'all gonna due when sim cards become unremovable???
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/17/gsm-association-proposes-embedded-sim-cards-with-remote-activati/
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Click to collapse
Rejoice that when someone steals a GSM smartphone it will no longer be equivalent to them hitting eBay lottery? They should have started doing this a long time ago, IMO.
i understand what you guys are saying but why was it that when i went from my razr to an unlocked touch pro 2 (feature phone to smartphone), my data plan didnt change? even when att introduced the tiered plans, my data plan didnt change.
chizzwhizz said:
i understand what you guys are saying but why was it that when i went from my razr to an unlocked touch pro 2 (feature phone to smartphone), my data plan didnt change? even when att introduced the tiered plans, my data plan didnt change.
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you were lucky???
I really don't know. Carriers are getting better at being able to tell what phone you are using these days. Used to be that they couldn't tell at all. Now, a lot of phones can transmit the imei number back to the carrier that they can now check against a database to see what type of phone it is.
More like "every phone."
nrfitchett4 said:
you were lucky???
I really don't know. Carriers are getting better at being able to tell what phone you are using these days. Used to be that they couldn't tell at all. Now, a lot of phones can transmit the imei number back to the carrier that they can now check against a database to see what type of phone it is.
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Click to collapse
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
ceesheim said:
it only looks at your email (your phone is connected to your email,xboxlive )
it doesn't look at your imei
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Click to collapse
It checks a serial code stored in the device's rom for market, zune, xbl,.etc.
Live account is used to access services, ofc. Microsoft can ban phonea by serial though, which is exactly what will happen to every phone using a ported rom (i.e. Hd2s running wp7).
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
N8ter said:
It checks a serial code stored in the device's rom for market, zune, xbl,.etc.
Live account is used to access services, ofc. Microsoft can ban phonea by serial though, which is exactly what will happen to every phone using a ported rom (i.e. Hd2s running wp7).
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
we don't know that for sure , I have 2 hd7 (direct from O2 online) and one of them couldn't be activated (email) so I called O2 for the code ( 5 times 5 numbers) but they couldn't help me .
they told me that the phone wasn't activated for some reason at Microsoft.
I called Microsoft and tolled the story and they say " gif us a email and wait 2 min , we are generating an code for you " LOL phone was unlocked and I could use the email.
I called again to activate that same phone with an different email and I got a different code and that one worked to
I think that if you have a hd2 with a ported rom you just have to call Microsoft and ask them to unlock your email for it and after that you can do the same as a real wp7 phone.
ceesheim said:
we don't know that for sure , I have 2 hd7 (direct from O2 online) and one of them couldn't be activated (email) so I called O2 for the code ( 5 times 5 numbers) but they couldn't help me .
they told me that the phone wasn't activated for some reason at Microsoft.
I called Microsoft and tolled the story and they say " gif us a email and wait 2 min , we are generating an code for you " LOL phone was unlocked and I could use the email.
I called again to activate that same phone with an different email and I got a different code and that one worked to
I think that if you have a hd2 with a ported rom you just have to call Microsoft and ask them to unlock your email for it and after that you can do the same as a real wp7 phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes we do.
That HD7 incident you're talking about has nothing to do with what I'm talking about.
Microsoft doesn't do that by eMail address.
It uses a serial in the device's ROM. It does the same for XBox 360s and they can ban a device by serial number. They can probably do it for Zune HDs as well. It has nothing to do with you email address, otherwise you can unban yourself simply by creating a new Live ID, master resetting the phone, and putting that Windows Live ID when setting the phone up. Obviously that's an elementary loophole. It would be embarassing if they left the system that easy to circumvent...
Think through these things a bit before you make such sweeping conclusions.
Microsoft already has the infrastructure up for this. These are known facts.
An HD2 with a ported WP7 ROM won't be useful at all, except as a feature phone with a cute UI, because the system would probably ban it the minute it checked in with Microsoft's servers and sent that phony certificate (or no certificate at all in the worse case).
WP7 phones send this serial (certificate, etc.) to Microsoft's servers whenever they connect to check for updates, etc. It's like a Windows Genuine Advantage for phones, except much stronger. Apple can also block iPhones/iTouches from iTunes via the Serial number if unsupported changes are made to the firmware or the firmware is ported to an unsupported device, so it's not like this has never been done or implemented before...
The Serial/Certificate and the IMEI is pretty much all Microsoft needs to ban a phone from all their cloud services automatically. The IMEI itself is enough to tell them that you're running WP7 on a non-WP7 device (i.e. HD2), which can result in an auto-ban on the first connection attempt.
N8ter said:
Different situation, buddy.
AT&T used to have $30 unlimited Data Plans before they changed it. If you upgrade your phone, you get to keep your $30 unlimited Data Plan.
They call this being "Grandfathered in." Sprint did the same with SERO plans, and other carriers do the same with older plans that they have phased out.
You don't have to do anything. You just put your SIM card in the new phone and you'll still have $30 unlimited data plan, until you cancel your contract/service, then for a new line you won't have that option.
We aren't even talking about what you're talking about.
We're talking about someone trying to use a cheap feature phone plan with a smartphone, not someone who thinks he's going to lose his grandfathered unlimited data plan if he switches phones.
To the OP, it doesn't matter if your contract is out. The AT&T system sees that you have x Minutes, x SMS/MMS, and Unlimited Feature Phone data plan. When you turn your phone on with your SIM card in it, it checks the phone's IMEI to make sure it's a feature phone or dumb phone (basically the same, feature phones just have bigger screans and oftentimes QWERTY keyboards or touchscreens). If you don't, they change it to the Smartphone plan.
Since a Smartphone cannot be used with that plan, they are potentially saving you money by automatically switching you over to a smartphone data plan, because otherwise all the data you use on the smartphone would count as overages. Fortunately for you, they have tiered data plans, and it's $15 instead of 30.
If they had just let you get all the overages, you'd be paying a lot more than $15 for it and since it's explicitely written in your contract/terms that you cannot use that phone with that data plan, you'd have no choice but to pay up. That is Cell Phone Service 101. Most people who pay attention know there is a distinct difference between feature phone and smartphone plans. They aren't even called the same thing on the AT&T website, or on your bill.
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Thanks for the reply..
I have paid Atnt for last 4 months 30USD a month just to keep this unlimited data plan.. my battery at Ipaq died and I have been using this cheap flip phone and absolutly no data.. but I know this December I will be getting WP7 back.. so I am just paying 30USD a month every month, just to keep the plan.. and zero use of data.. one cannot even stop it 'temporarily'.. once you get it off.. you can only get 2GB limited data plan max... which I usually finish in first 10-12 days when I used my HP Ipaq614c... I play a lot of streaming music.. and heck of a data intensive financial softwares on my phone..
Ok I have had an unlocked HTC desire phone from telus for a while now. I have been using it on att network with the media net unlimited plan for $10. On Saturday I got the sms and email that said: An eligible data plan is required for laptop, Tablet or MiFi devices.... so I called att thinking I would just have to just change to a smart Phone data plan and tell then its not a tablet. So here is what happened when I called the guy said that the IMEI was just showing as a bunch of 1's and then once I told him the right IMEI he said that is a completly different make and model in ATT system and the only way I could use this phone was with a $60 PDA plan. Has anyone ran into this yet on att. as for now I had to put my sim in a dumb phone because the ATT reap said that if I put the SIM back into the phone the 60 plan will be added automatically.
Here is the kicker I have consistently used less then 200mb a month. So that whole thing about the tethering sms only going to excessive users is wrong
Any buddy using another android phone on att supported by CM?
How did they know you were tethering? You must have connected to their non wap.Cingular server. Check your apn settings, specifically tethering.
Don't change your plan. Point tethering to the wap.Cingular server.
I am using a oxygen rom with telstra desire. Att 15$ unlimited data. No text. Google voice instead.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
mayad79 said:
How did they know you were tethering? You must have connected to their non wap.Cingular server. Check your apn settings, specifically tethering.
Don't change your plan. Point tethering to the wap.Cingular server.
I am using a oxygen rom with telstra desire. Att 15$ unlimited data. No text. Google voice instead.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
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So I have probable only tethered ones or twice to see how it works and that had to be back in December. I am running CM 7.0 RC2 and have I guess only used the Defult APN's because I have never had to enter the att ones with this phone and its rom.
So I have yet to see what will happen if I put my SIM back into my desire to see what happens. I was going to see if anyone else had this issue with the telus desire on att.
Fingers crossed that it is just be and I can figure something out
Did you tether lately before you got the message?
I tethered my Desire(Telus model) last Friday (Mar 18) because I was out of town and no WIFI in range. Then I got the same SMS message and the email saying that an eligible data plan is required for laptop, tablet and mifi.
I had a dumbphone and they have the IMEI for that phone. Then I sim swapped.
Do you think they sent the SMS message regardless if you tethered or not, but simply because of sim swapping from dumdphone to Desire and our IMEI to them is the bunch of 0s and 1s? Aside from the fact that they want us to pay the limited data plans?
They never mentioned "tethering" in the SMS and E-mail. Are they now hunting down dumbphone users that are connecting to their 3G services?
I have not tetherd for months most likely dec or nov. So I think it just has to do with our phones.
When I called ATT and gave him IMEI he said that in their system that IMEI was not even a phone and some sort of "pocket Computer" made by a completely different manufacture. I told the guy his stuff was wrong but as always he replied "there is nothing I can do". Then proceeded to tell me that this phone needed a $60 a month 5gb plan.
so have you called about the Email/SMS yet. What is your plan of action for this. Is there anyone with the $15 200mb plan on a non att android phone that has/has not had a problem?
surfingniceguy said:
I have not tetherd for months most likely dec or nov. So I think it just has to do with our phones.
When I called ATT and gave him IMEI he said that in their system that IMEI was not even a phone and some sort of "pocket Computer" made by a completely different manufacture. I told the guy his stuff was wrong but as always he replied "there is nothing I can do". Then proceeded to tell me that this phone needed a $60 a month 5gb plan.
so have you called about the Email/SMS yet. What is your plan of action for this. Is there anyone with the $15 200mb plan on a non att android phone that has/has not had a problem?
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This is certainly not what I want to hear. I too received this message and I use about 2GB per month. I absolutely refuse to switch to a $60/mo plan. The person had told me that I was using a telemetry device with my sim card which I immediately laughed. They did have the correct IMEI # however.
I have not called yet. I don't know what to say or tell them. Hmm...
If they insist, then I will probably insist on the $15 Data plan 200mb and just monitor my data use. And tell them that our phone is kind of like the HTC Aria that they have but faster and without their bloatware. I only average 200-250mb a month anyway (I think).
Just an update:
I called 611 and inquired about the SMS/email that I got. The guy asked me what kind of phone I am using. I told him its the HTC Desire. He did not know about the particular model. I told him, I don't buy ATT phones. Then he asked me if it was a smartphone, I told him yes (i guess its time to come clean and admit the truth)
He said that since it is a smartphone, I should get a smartphone data plan. Either the $15 or the $25 plan.
I asked him if the change in the data plan is regardless of how much data I am using. He said that it has nothing to do with how much data you are using. You just have to get the correct plan for your smartphone.
Good thing it is not the $60 plan.
I can easily "downgrade" my data plan to the $15 or $25 on my online account. Just monitor it closely using an app (Call Meter NG).
I have not made a decision as to what I am going to do. They have not disconnected my data plan yet. I switched to "Edge" for the meantime and just use my data plan when necessary.
Let me know what you guys end up doing...
The guy I talked to said that he could not do that option because att thinks its some mythical superphone. and I am worried that If I do put one of the $15 or $25 plans online I will still get a SMS about it being a mifi, labtop, or tablet because the issue seems to be not what plan it is but the type of phone att thinks it is.
I received the SMS and email as well, and I have not swapped my SIM into another device or tethered another device. I have a Telus Desire with the $10 data unlimited plan. I am using Oxygen Rom 2.0.1 and the wap.cingular APN. I have the smartphone exclusion on my plan, so I don't know if that will prevent an automatic change to a higher rate plan. So I'll just sit tight and see what others have success with.
I am also experiencing the same problems with AT&T. I found an AT&T internal memo posted on another forum where tablet users were experiencing similar issues.
We seem to have two issues, AT&T thinks the HTC Desire is a wireless dataconnect card when you give them the phone's IMEI number. From talking with CS, they do not seem interested at all looking into the issue with their systems and insist that our phones themselves are the problem. From reading the internal memo posted below, it appears as this is only a case for those who are on the media net plan. It seems as if you are on the 200mb or 2gb smart phone data plans plan it is a non issue at least for the moment. The other issue is even if you want to change to a smart phone data plan, the system will not accept it with our IMEI number since it isn't a smart phone in their systems.
Anyways below is AT&T's internal memo.
"
Appropriate data plans are required to use Mobile Broadband devices (laptop, tablets, or AT&T Mobile Hotspot devices) on the AT&T Network.
Effective March 16, 2011, AT&T will systematically enforce this policy by alerting customers with unlimited data plans when they take the SIM from their current smartphone, QMP, or basic phone and place it into a Mobile Broadband device to access data unlimited, that an appropriate data plan is required.
Process
Once SIM swapping is detected, customers will receive notifications via SMS and e-mail that an appropriate data plan is required for their Mobile Broadband device. If the customer continues to use their SIM in the device, their data service will be restricted for the remainder of the billing period unless they contact Customer Care to add the appropriate data plan.
Reasons
Any data unlimited customer who takes the SIM from their smart phone, QMP, or basic phone and puts it into a Mobile Broadband device is not in compliance with the requirements of their wireless customer agreement.
Communication Key Dates
Effective March 16, 2011
Specific Customers Addressed
The notifications will go to smartphone, QMP, and basic phone users with unlimited data plans who put their SIM into a Mobile Broadband device (Examples: Laptop, Tablet or AT&T Mobile Hotspot device).
Notification Methods
By SMS and e-mail
SMS Communications
The first message is sent when AT&T first detects SIM swapping activity.
AT&T Free Msg: An eligible data plan is required when using a Laptop, Tablet or MiFi device. Call 611 as soon as possible for details and to avoid service interruption.
The second message is sent when AT&T detects subsequent SIM swapping activity.
AT&T Free Msg: Your data service has been restricted due to SIM swapping with a data connect device. Call 800-331-0500 to discuss available plan options.
E-Mail Communication
If we have the customer's e-mail address, the following communication will be sent after each out-of-policy usage.
At AT&T, we value your business and want to ensure you have the data plan that's right for you. Did you know an eligible data plan is required when using mobile broadband? If you have recently swapped a SIM card from your wireless handset into your Laptop, Tablet or MiFi, your data service may no longer work properly on either device.
Call us at 1-800-331-0500 (or 611 from your wireless phone) and our team will help you establish service with an appropriate data plan for your device and restore data service if necessary.
AT&T offers a variety of plans to fit your needs in order to provide the best on-the-go experience on the nation's fastest mobile broadband network. Our team is ready to help you activate data service with the right plan. We look forward to your call. You can also visit our web page here to learn more.
Thank you for being an AT&T customer.
FAQs
Does this policy affect all SIM swapping?
No. This policy is being enforced for smartphone, QMP, and basic phone customers with a data unlimited plan on their account who put their SIMs into a Mobile Broadband device (Examples: laptop, tablets, or AT&T Mobile Hotspot devices) in an effort to share data unlimited between two devices.
Why is AT&T notifying my customer about putting their smartphone SIM into their new tablet?
Any customer using a Mobile Broadband device on the AT&T network is required to have an appropriate data plan which supports that device. This policy is now being systematically enforced.
How will my customer receive the SMS notification if the SIM is in one of the Mobile Broadband devices?
Most of these devices allow customers to receive SMS messages. However if the device does not, the SMS communication will continue to be sent for a period of up to three days. Also, if the customer has an e-mail address on file, AT&T will send a notification via e-mail.
My data unlimited customer did not realize it was against AT&T policy to put the SIM from a smartphone into a Mobile Broadband device. My customer does not want to add a data plan for their Mobile Broadband device. What are the options?
With the many services and ease of use of our great new Mobile Broadband devices, our customers will be able to fully utilize these devices. Also they get the best possible experience if they have an appropriate data plan for that device or they can select our DataPro with tethering plan for their current smartphone.
If the customer continues to use their smartphone SIM in their Mobile Broadband device, their data service will be suspended until the end of the billing period, unless the customer calls into Customer Care to add the appropriate data plan.
Note: If the customer does not contact Customer Care to add a plan, their data service will be restored for their smartphone at the beginning of the new billing cycle. If SIM swapping activity is detected during the next billing cycle, the data service on the account will be suspended again.
Is my customer eligible for a data credit while his data service is suspended?
No.
Can my customer continue this process each billing cycle?
No. If the customer continues the out of policy behavior, AT&T reserves the right to remove the unlimited smartphone data plan from the account.
"
So what would be our plan of action? Do we go to a store and explain to them personally rather than thru a phone. So we can show them that our phone is indeed a phone and not a tablet. It's basically an HTC Aria, only 100% better and faster and without their bloatware. So they should be able to figure it out right? Unless their computers/system will not accept our IMEI.
As of my latest phone call, if you have switched from an iphone to another device but still have the iphone data plan you should switch as they are heavily sweeping iphones more than any other device. I never got my iphone data plan switched to a reg pda plan/smartphone plan. The rep I have been speaking to is actually a higher rep on the business dept.
Also att is much more aware of the situation now. The issue is they cannot get the IMEI registered with the att system. Aparently HTC may have duplicated some IMEI's that they had thought would not be registered with a different network.
They have reactivated my restricted internet for the time being as I was originally told this issue to input the IMEI manually would take 24 hrs. This time has increased to 3-5 business days.
Oh man. I just bought a Telus Desire to unlock and use on ATT and it's supposed to come tomorrow. I currently have a dumbphone and blocked data-usage (data opt-out?) to avoid charges if accidentally pressed on my phone. I was looking to just use wifi on my desire. I really hope they aren't going to make me pay $60/month! That's truly ridiculous. Hopefully having the blocked data thing currently will keep ATT from switching my plan.
Thats good news then Good thing many of us called. Which Data plan did you switch to? the $15 or $25?
Sorry for the duplicate post:
Thats good news then Good thing many of us called. Which Data plan did yo switch to? the $15 or $25?
jstdontgiva said:
As of my latest phone call, if you have switched from an iphone to another device but still have the iphone data plan you should switch as they are heavily sweeping iphones more than any other device. I never got my iphone data plan switched to a reg pda plan/smartphone plan. The rep I have been speaking to is actually a higher rep on the business dept.
Also att is much more aware of the situation now. The issue is they cannot get the IMEI registered with the att system. Aparently HTC may have duplicated some IMEI's that they had thought would not be registered with a different network.
They have reactivated my restricted internet for the time being as I was originally told this issue to input the IMEI manually would take 24 hrs. This time has increased to 3-5 business days.
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sajpogi said:
Sorry for the duplicate post:
Thats good news then Good thing many of us called. Which Data plan did yo switch to? the $15 or $25?
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I originally had the unlimited $30 iphone data plan but switched to the unlimited $30 smartphone plan
I've been using my Desire for about 6months on the $15 data plan and barely use 400mb a month.
Like others, I've gotten both texts, the one says "an eligible data plan is required for Laptop......"
And the one I just received today about my "data service has been restricted due to SIM swapping"
To the guys using oxygen rom, how do I point tethering at proper APN? I'm on CM7 RC1 and just checked my APN and it all looks like what it should be.
Currently I've been grandfathered into a real old plan. Anyone have any idea if I update my plan to a smartphone $15 200mb this would go away? Or do I need to register my IMEI to stop getting harassed by them?
Also anyone know what's going to happen if I just ignore the texts? even after getting the text my data is working, will it be shut off?
So about 24 hours of receiving the "your data plan has been restricted" text msg. I haven't contacted them and my data still seems to up. According to that internal memo above, it seems that next billing cycle will might be suspended. One thing I might try doing is shoving my sim card back into a dumbphone for a while to see it will get them off my back.
Looking at a similar thread for the Gtab people have said that when you call into AT&T to upgrade your plan, it really depends who service rep is. If they insist on the $60/month plan try getting a different rep. Some have said that initially the rep was telling them $60/month for unlimited data but he talked to someone else who was able to get him on the $15/month for 200mb plan.
I wonder if there is a IMEI spoofing app or tweak to Android.
sajpogi said:
Sorry for the duplicate post:
Thats good news then Good thing many of us called. Which Data plan did yo switch to? the $15 or $25?
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heres my latest update:
After switching my data plans, I virtually found out yesterday morning that my internet was shut off again. After being on the phone with ATT for 2 hours yesterday we came up with a plan to put in an IMEI from the htc aria into their system. I was not confident that this would work and I was correct, I woke up this morning to another text message with the same sim swapping garbage. I will be calling them later today to push for a new phone. Because it simply seems they cannot get this issue solved.
Okay, this might not be the best place for this thread, so mods, please feel free to move as needed.
Anyways, a friend of mine got his phone completely destroyed in a storm the other day, so he's planning on upgrading. He has had a smartphone on ATT without a data plan and received a text saying that ATT recognized his use of a smartphone and added a data plan. He promptly took it out and used a non-smartphone to avoid the charge.
As a Tmo customer, I have always bought my phones off-contract and put in my SIM and used freely without a data plan, so this sounds absurd to me. Can ATT add a data plan to a phone even if it was bought off-contract (which would defeat the purpose of buying a new phone for $500 instead of upgrading for ~$200)? I know carriers can track IMEI numbers because, like I said, I have no data plan, but on my.t-mobile.com, TMo knows I use an HD2.
Thanks ahead of time for the input!
dcheng11 said:
Okay, this might not be the best place for this thread, so mods, please feel free to move as needed.
Anyways, a friend of mine got his phone completely destroyed in a storm the other day, so he's planning on upgrading. He has had a smartphone on ATT without a data plan and received a text saying that ATT recognized his use of a smartphone and added a data plan. He promptly took it out and used a non-smartphone to avoid the charge.
As a Tmo customer, I have always bought my phones off-contract and put in my SIM and used freely without a data plan, so this sounds absurd to me. Can ATT add a data plan to a phone even if it was bought off-contract (which would defeat the purpose of buying a new phone for $500 instead of upgrading for ~$200)? I know carriers can track IMEI numbers because, like I said, I have no data plan, but on my.t-mobile.com, TMo knows I use an HD2.
Thanks ahead of time for the input!
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Yes AT&T can charge him for data, as long as he is on contract or month to month service, if he wants to avoid paying for data he can probably switch to a prepaid account which normally has different device expectations, I know it sounds weird but thats how Verizon does it so just thinking maybe AT&T does as well
jami2976 said:
Yes AT&T can charge him for data, as long as he is on contract or month to month service, if he wants to avoid paying for data he can probably switch to a prepaid account which normally has different device expectations, I know it sounds weird but thats how Verizon does it so just thinking maybe AT&T does as well
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Ah, I find that ridiculous... As a GSM phone user, I've always liked the freedom of just popping in a SIM and being done with it. Verizon as a CDMA network requires you to get the phone serial number activated, so Verizon will know right off the bat what phone is being used. Sorry disappointing, but oh well, thanks for the input!
I just wanted to ask others opinion on how they feel about AT&T taking away the unlimited data plan with the smart phone packages unless you got grandfathered in from having the unlimited data before all this took place.
Well for many many months i have wondered why i didnt get grandfathered in because i had the unlimited before with WM6.5, well they failed to mention it to me and i thought i still had it, but come to find out i got put on the 2gb plan and havent went over the limit for a long time. The past couple months i have went over and got txt saying i reached 75% of my data then 100% and was being charged 10$ for extra gb. I called them to consult them with the problem and they tell me i should have been grandfathered in with my old data plan being unlimited but that they were sorry that i had went past the 3month period to be able to ask for it, and that i had to stay on the rated data plan. So with that said i called them back couple days later and told them i wanted to switch to a old phone i had " LG-VU" and wanted the unlimited data plan, then i gave them my IMEI number and switched devices but never even took out the sim from my samsung focus. They say that it would not work without the smart phone data plan but it still performs as it was before and i have unlimited data plan. I have called the *3282# to see, and it says unlimited data and that the other 2gb plan is deactivated.
My question is if anyone else has experienced this kinda situation before as i have and what they did about it. Will AT&T be able to see that i am still using the focus and not the Vu?
When i had the WM6.5 i never told them what device i was using, i just put sim card in and edited the APN and never had to have smart phone data.
Many opinions Appreciated!!
i had same problem. i was told after having an htc fuze with unlimited data that i could not be grandfathered in with my new smart phone even after explaining that the fuze was also a smart phone. its now been a year though. i may try your method of getting the unlimited data back.
I was determined to figure a way around it, especially after the Hot Spot hack, using that for my xbox 360 live. But it seams to be do the trick so far, its been a couple days now and i havent gotten any alert as i did before, but thats not saying i wont get one saying im being charged. So lets hope this is a work around with a dumb phone!!
All I did was upgrade my phone in a store then call ATT after my first bill stating that I was told I would keep my unlimited plan and if they dont want to give it back I can just return the phone and go with another provider... lets just say I have unlimited data again.
They will try to say you went past the the 14 day return but just tell them that you were sold the phone on false pretenses and that it was a mistake on their end. They will fold once you get past the first teir rep.
I have done this upgrading from a iPhone 2G to 3GS and then from 3GS to WP7. I also managed to get it when I added a second line for my GF with the old 3GS haha... Play stupid and just go with the old, "I was told I would get this.... are you telling me I was lied to by one of your ATT sales people?" they trip over themselves then give you what you want.
HoorayBeer said:
i had same problem. i was told after having an htc fuze with unlimited data that i could not be grandfathered in with my new smart phone even after explaining that the fuze was also a smart phone. its now been a year though. i may try your method of getting the unlimited data back.
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I didn't have any problem at all. But then, when I heard about the change, I went straight to an AT&T store to make sure I had a guarantee that I would be grandfathered in no matter what. When I upgraded from my Fuze to a Focus, I had no trouble, and I'm still unlimited a year later.
you can get it back and here's how
as soon as I get my titan and get back with at&t
i'm talking to this guy or you can use your own iphone 2g if you have one lying around
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220875871251
Seems like a good deal! We'll see if AT&T honors that promise of grandfathering T-Mo people!
noelitaux said:
as soon as I get my titan and get back with at&t
i'm talking to this guy or you can use your own iphone 2g if you have one lying around
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220875871251
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I get the same txt that he is getting
noelitaux said:
i'm talking to this guy or you can use your own iphone 2g if you have one lying around
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220875871251
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As for me, it looks like some kind of criminal transaction. Somehow this guy got access to AT&T billing/accounting system and makes non-authorized changes in database. I prefer to stay with my 2 Gb only data plan but w/o possible problems...
I think that guy is doing the same thing as i did, but he is charging ppl to call and do it for you. All i did was change the IMEI by supplying them with it and acctivating unlimted data for that dumb device, But keep my sim card in my Focus. As you can see in my screen capture on phone that i just took a few min before i posted showing that the 2gb plan was cancelled and unlimited was activated.
Lets just hope this is a work around sollution for this, as it is working as of now!!
I only pay $40 a month unlimited everything through simple mobile... I don't know how much you guys are paying but can't beat that deal... And its $40 flat...not $40 plus this and that fee.
Sent from my HD7 T9292 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
lucasryan said:
I think that guy is doing the same thing as i did, but he is charging ppl to call and do it for you.
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I don't think so - too much pain in the a$$ for $25 Definitely he found the way to change AT&T database...
lucasryan said:
As you can see in my screen capture on phone that i just took a few min before i posted showing that the 2gb plan was cancelled and unlimited was activated.
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How about your bill? How much AT&T charges for unlim? $30/m as it was before?
Hmm you maybe right on that, i wouldnt do all those phones for that much.
My current unlimited data is costing me 15 a month now.
i wonder if this would work on their gophone as well?
register a dumbphone for the $50 unlimited and then put the sim in a smartphone?
does the network read IMEI when the device tries to connect?
for me, when i got my gophone sim card, i didn't have my focus with me, so the att rep entered all 0's or 1's for imei, does it read the phone and change them? or is there a way to see what phone they think i'm using?
sorry if it's a bit off topic, but it's very interesting to me
Still Unlimited
I went from an ATT FUZE with a PDA Unlimited Plan to an ATT Samsung Focus and the rep merely moved my SIM in the FUZE to the Focus last December and I still have the Unlimited Plan.
Hmm, I think I'll switch to the unlimited and not add data and see what happens, worst case I spend an extra $25 next month
Sent from my SGH-i917 using Board Express
I just switched to att $10 unlimited last night using my SIM in my HD2 and telling them my IMIE number (which att's system didnt recognize) I told them I was using a t-mo dumbphone becuase my focus broke (lie) and they switched me over no problem. I'm going to use my HD2 for a little bit then go back to my focus and see what happens
On a side note you can get a gophone from walmart for like $10 its a samsung a107 then toss your sim in that call them up with the IMIE num and they will move you over to a dumbphone plan as well.
adiliyo said:
i wonder if this would work on their gophone as well?
register a dumbphone for the $50 unlimited and then put the sim in a smartphone?
does the network read IMEI when the device tries to connect?
for me, when i got my gophone sim card, i didn't have my focus with me, so the att rep entered all 0's or 1's for imei, does it read the phone and change them? or is there a way to see what phone they think i'm using?
sorry if it's a bit off topic, but it's very interesting to me
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Yes the system reads the IMEI when connecting, but i think it will also work for gophones also. I dont know what the rates are for those plans but i dont think it will catch it unless the done a manual audit on it, witch they have no reason to do so.
voluptuary said:
I just switched to att $10 unlimited last night using my SIM in my HD2 and telling them my IMIE number (which att's system didnt recognize) I told them I was using a t-mo dumbphone becuase my focus broke (lie) and they switched me over no problem. I'm going to use my HD2 for a little bit then go back to my focus and see what happens
On a side note you can get a gophone from walmart for like $10 its a samsung a107 then toss your sim in that call them up with the IMIE num and they will move you over to a dumbphone plan as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All i did was just call in and tell them i was switching phones to my old LG-Vu and went to unlimited plan, i never even took out my sim from my focus, then they did test call to make sure all was working, i answered call from focus as again i never took my sim out lol and they didnt notice it so it ALL GOOD
How about your bill? How much AT&T charges for unlim? $30/m as it was before?[/QUOTE]
Its 15 for the unlimited data, but i have the Media Max Unlimited plan for $35. The $15 plan mentioned is for the Media Net unlimited. That gives you unlimited data access only, but i need sms unlimited also cause there are alot of my friends that can only txt.