Full GPRS access on prepaid ?

Looking at google, it appears that the community said that with prepaid
plans, you have very limited data access.

Talking to Cingular telephone reps, they do not seem to be aware of any
limitation and tell me that prepaid grants full GPRS access. One even
said I could then use the prepaid value to "buy" data packages. Another
said it was absolutely impossible.

Cingular's prepaid web site has wording which leads me to believe that
it is limited to Cingular's WAP portal to download Cingular's ringtones etc.

This would be for a friend coming in from australia with his unlocked
phone/pda and I am in Canada, so it is quite hard to verify what reality is.

So the question:

Does prepaid give full GPRS access ?
-connect to any WAP site in the world (bypassing their portal/homepage) ?
-connect to SMTP/POP servers anywhere ?
-connect to http servers anywhere ?


Is this something which comes standard when you activate the
SIM/service, or must you beg the agent with the correct terminology for
it to be enabled ? (and if so, what is the correcvt keyword to tell them
so that full gprs is activated ?)


Also, does cingular provide an outbound SMTP server so that smartphones
can send emails thorugh it ?

---

› See More: Full GPRS access on prepaid ?

AFAIK, there are no limitations on GPRS except perhaps from your
wallet- any data sent/received is charged at $0.01/kb (that's $10/MB!)

As far as SMTP, you should be able to configure your smartphone to use
your "home" provider's e-mail settings.

[email protected] wrote:
>
> AFAIK, there are no limitations on GPRS except perhaps from your
> wallet- any data sent/received is charged at $0.01/kb (that's $10/MB!)

So this means you can use the isp.cingular APN which gives full access ?
Is there a way to confirm this ?

It is possible to "buy" data packages on a prepaid card ?

Also, does proepaid service grant Wi-Fi access at locatiosn where
Cingular offers Wi-Fi access ?



For a visitor from outside the USA, Cingular does not accept postpaid
plans. So the only option is prepaid, or using the usually more
expensive roaming rates of your home network.


> As far as SMTP, you should be able to configure your smartphone to use
> your "home" provider's e-mail settings.


home providers's SMTP servers normally do not allow outsiders to use
that SMTP server to send mail to the world. (relaying). My mobile
network herte (Fido) has an SMTP server accessible from handsets, so it
is very convenient to be able to send email from the handset through the
mobile network's smtp server. I had assumed that every mobile network
would have the same.

Sorry, I don't have all of your answers. I bought a Cingular prepaid
phone two months ago but since the signal where I live was so lousy I
let it expire, unlocked the handset and converted it to T-Mobile.

I did use the data service for a few kb, and was able to wander
off-deck here in Denver- I got to the dslreports mobile speed test
site. Frankly, at $10/mb I doubt Cingular is going to try to limit
your GPRS access in any way! ;-)

As for the smtp problem, I use AOL for IMAP e-mail, and smtp.aol.com
works from my T-Mo account, as did my old free POP softhome mail
account (back when they offered free POP mail.) I didn't try e-mail on
the Cingular phone- I don't think the phone (a Nokia 3120) supported
IMAP.

As to wi-fi, I'm not aware Cingular offers wi-fi anywhere, and
certainly not on prepaid.

Cingular did not offer any GPRS "bucket" packages when I asked at
sign-up- just the straight $0.01/kb charge. They offer buckets to
postpaid customers only.

[email protected] wrote:
> I did use the data service for a few kb, and was able to wander
> off-deck here in Denver- I got to the dslreports mobile speed test
> site. Frankly, at $10/mb I doubt Cingular is going to try to limit
> your GPRS access in any way! ;-)

Thanks for the confirmation. I know it would be expensive, but if it
works, then that is what is important. (Mind you, it might be lots
cheaper to just get a modem and buy prepaid dial-up access to the
internet :-)

> As to wi-fi, I'm not aware Cingular offers wi-fi anywhere, and
> certainly not on prepaid.

I was under the impression that for postpaid, you had access to certain
Wi-Fi networks (with some packages), notably at UPS stores.

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Thu, 27 Apr 2006 03:50:40 -0400, JF
Mezei <[email protected]> wrote:

>Also, does cingular provide an outbound SMTP server so that smartphones
>can send emails thorugh it ?

Yes, two in fact -- see the FAQ below.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 16:51:31 -0400, JF
Mezei <[email protected]> wrote:

>[email protected] wrote:

>> As to wi-fi, I'm not aware Cingular offers wi-fi anywhere, and
>> certainly not on prepaid.
>
>I was under the impression that for postpaid, you had access to certain
>Wi-Fi networks (with some packages), notably at UPS stores.

Not as far as I know.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 01:09:27 -0400, JF
Mezei <[email protected]> wrote:

>[email protected] wrote:
>>
>> AFAIK, there are no limitations on GPRS except perhaps from your
>> wallet- any data sent/received is charged at $0.01/kb (that's $10/MB!)
>
>So this means you can use the isp.cingular APN which gives full access ?

I think you only get access to MEdia Net (WAP), but don't know for sure.
That still gives you pretty much everything except for (say) VPN.

>Is there a way to confirm this ?

Get a prepaid card and try it.

>It is possible to "buy" data packages on a prepaid card ?

Not as far as I know.

>Also, does proepaid service grant Wi-Fi access at locatiosn where
>Cingular offers Wi-Fi access ?

Not as far as I know.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

John Navas wrote:
> I think you only get access to MEdia Net (WAP), but don't know for sure.
> That still gives you pretty much everything except for (say) VPN.

Nop. i read the links you posted.

In particular:
http://www.cingular.com/media/media_legal

States:
##
E-mail
attachments can not be sent, downloaded, read, or forwarded on the
mobile device. Only a paper clip icon appears
indicating an attachment. You must view attachments from your PC.
##
In other words, they control what is downloaded to your phone, hence
this is not an internet connection.
##
MEdia Net MEdia Net is not equivalent to landline Internet. Only select
sites accessible through a mobile connection are
available. You are restricted from using a home page other than the
Cingular home page.
##

> >Is there a way to confirm this ?
> Get a prepaid card and try it.

I am not in the USA. I cannot.


Also in the wikipedia FAQ you pointed to:

MEdia
Intended for use only on a cell phone. "Tethering" is
prohibited. Uses a WAP profile, but access to the entire Internet is
available. No Data Acceleration.

Data Connect
Intended for use with PDA or computer, depending on plan.
Uses an Internet profile. Data Acceleration is optional.


Since my aussi friend has a PDA, teh above says a lot.

I am just disapointed that this seems like a roller coaster, one person
saying "yes", the other "no" the other "Maybe" and not being able to get
a truly authoritative answer.

But now, I was pointed to the "legal" pages on the cingular web site and
this confirms it well.

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Tue, 02 May 2006 19:42:10 -0400, JF
Mezei <[email protected]> wrote:

>John Navas wrote:
>> I think you only get access to MEdia Net (WAP), but don't know for sure.
>> That still gives you pretty much everything except for (say) VPN.
>
>Nop.

Yep.

>i read the links you posted.
>
>In particular:
>http://www.cingular.com/media/media_legal
>
>States:
>##
>E-mail
>attachments can not be sent, downloaded, read, or forwarded on the
>mobile device. Only a paper clip icon appears
>indicating an attachment. You must view attachments from your PC.
>##
>In other words, they control what is downloaded to your phone, hence
>this is not an internet connection.
>##
>MEdia Net MEdia Net is not equivalent to landline Internet. Only select
>sites accessible through a mobile connection are
>available. You are restricted from using a home page other than the
>Cingular home page.
>##

You're misinterpreting what that says:

* In fact MEdia Net works fine for email, attachments and all -- I use it that
way regularly. Those Cingular comments just pertain to Cingular's WAP-based
email service, which you don't have to use.

* In addition, all of the Internet is accessible over MEdia Net, with the
caveat of VPN not working -- I use it that way regularly. Those Cingular
comments just pertain to standard WAP access through the Cingular WAP portal,
which you don't have to use. Opera Mini (free) is a full Web browser that
works fine over MEdia Net.

>Also in the wikipedia FAQ you pointed to:

Mostly written by me.

>MEdia
> Intended for use only on a cell phone. "Tethering" is
>prohibited. Uses a WAP profile, but access to the entire Internet is
>available. No Data Acceleration.

Note: "... access to the entire Internet is available..."

>Data Connect
> Intended for use with PDA or computer, depending on plan.
>Uses an Internet profile. Data Acceleration is optional.
>
>Since my aussi friend has a PDA, teh above says a lot.

MEdia Net actually works fine with a PDA, even though it's against the rules.

>I am just disapointed that this seems like a roller coaster, one person
>saying "yes", the other "no" the other "Maybe" and not being able to get
>a truly authoritative answer.
>
>But now, I was pointed to the "legal" pages on the cingular web site and
>this confirms it well.

The answer is easy and consistent if you're willing to pay full price (PDA
Connect), $40/month in the case of a PDA. To save money (with MEdia Net), you
have to be willing to bend the rules, forge your trail, and roll your own (not
hard, since we've already marked the path).

p.s. Be a bit less quick to take issue with people who know what they're
talking about when you have no experience of your own.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

John Navas wrote:
> * In fact MEdia Net works fine for email, attachments and all -- I use it that
> way regularly. Those Cingular comments just pertain to Cingular's WAP-based
> email service, which you don't have to use.
>
> * In addition, all of the Internet is accessible over MEdia Net, with the
> caveat of VPN not working -- I use it that way regularly.

So basically, Media Net is a NAT based interface to the internet where
all customers appear to have the same IP when viewed from the internet ?
Is that why VPN doesn't work ?

Can a WAP browser access sites that are not provided by Cingular ? (for
instance, if I have a WAP content on my home server) ?

I take it that the default setting/configs sent to the phone when
service is initially provisions will provide APNs that are limited and
it is up to the user to then change the APNs to the less restrictive
ones ?

> MEdia Net actually works fine with a PDA, even though it's against the rules.

If Media Net provides IP connectivity to hosts outside of Cingular's
castle, why does it matter ?

If the PDA is a smart-phone with voice service, does that change the
"against the rules" ? (aka: Cingular wants prepaid to be used mostly for
voice with data just as an add-on ?)

> The answer is easy and consistent if you're willing to pay full price (PDA
> Connect), $40/month in the case of a PDA.

North american networks do not allow foreigners to subscribe to postpaid
plans, and Data Connect is only available on postpaid plans (monthly plans).


> p.s. Be a bit less quick to take issue with people who know what they're
> talking about when you have no experience of your own.

Sorry, but I have seen much conflicting information about this,
including speaking to Cingular reps. My friend has to have connectivity
while in north america (wife will have just given birth) and I am
helping him make sure he'll have a solution that works.

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Tue, 02 May 2006 23:00:53 -0400, JF
Mezei <[email protected]> wrote:

>John Navas wrote:
>> * In fact MEdia Net works fine for email, attachments and all -- I use it that
>> way regularly. Those Cingular comments just pertain to Cingular's WAP-based
>> email service, which you don't have to use.
>>
>> * In addition, all of the Internet is accessible over MEdia Net, with the
>> caveat of VPN not working -- I use it that way regularly.
>
>So basically, Media Net is a NAT based interface to the internet where
>all customers appear to have the same IP when viewed from the internet ?
>Is that why VPN doesn't work ?

Yes.

>Can a WAP browser access sites that are not provided by Cingular ? (for
>instance, if I have a WAP content on my home server) ?

Yes.

>I take it that the default setting/configs sent to the phone when
>service is initially provisions will provide APNs that are limited and
>it is up to the user to then change the APNs to the less restrictive
>ones ?

No -- the default APN isn't restricted.

>> MEdia Net actually works fine with a PDA, even though it's against the rules.
>
>If Media Net provides IP connectivity to hosts outside of Cingular's
>castle, why does it matter ?

Pricing.

>If the PDA is a smart-phone with voice service, does that change the
>"against the rules" ? (aka: Cingular wants prepaid to be used mostly for
>voice with data just as an add-on ?)

PDA Connect is intended for PDAs; MEdia Net isn't.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

John Navas wrote:
>> >Can a WAP browser access sites that are not provided by Cingular ? (for
> >instance, if I have a WAP content on my home server) ?
>
> Yes.

So even the default WAP apn will allow a WAP client to ask for http
requests pointing to wap content not "condoned" by Cingular ?

aka: just type the wap urls in your broswser instead of going through
the cingular wap homepage gets you to any site in the world. Correct ?

> No -- the default APN isn't restricted.

Ok, in the GPR/EGPRS/EDGE section of your fine FAQ, you provide only one
APN for each service type.

But doesn't WAP require 2 APNs: the core GPRS APN followed by the WAP
gateway APN ?


OK, when my friend buys his prepaid card and tries to activate the
service with Cingular, will they balk at the fact that he is using a PDA
? Should he pretend to be running some vanilla handset so that they just
activate the service &?

(he is using a PDA that isn't even sold/supported by Cingular - it is unlocked).

> PDA Connect is intended for PDAs; MEdia Net isn't.

But PDA connect isn't available with prepaid :-(

Thanks for your information.

JF Mezei <[email protected]> wrote:
> So even the default WAP apn will allow a WAP client to ask for http
> requests pointing to wap content not "condoned" by Cingular ?

I don't know about prepaid, but postpaid MEdiaNet WAP login allows a phone
to go to any URL, as entered on the keypad of the phone.

Sometimes I find that certain pages "aren't available", but usually they
are. I maintain a short page on my own server that is just links to other
pages, so I can enter URLs at a computer for later use on my phone.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Wed, 03 May 2006 17:39:49 -0400, JF
Mezei <[email protected]> wrote:

>John Navas wrote:
>>> >Can a WAP browser access sites that are not provided by Cingular ? (for
>> >instance, if I have a WAP content on my home server) ?
>>
>> Yes.
>
>So even the default WAP apn will allow a WAP client to ask for http
>requests pointing to wap content not "condoned" by Cingular ?
>
>aka: just type the wap urls in your broswser instead of going through
>the cingular wap homepage gets you to any site in the world. Correct ?
>
>> No -- the default APN isn't restricted.
>
>Ok, in the GPR/EGPRS/EDGE section of your fine FAQ, you provide only one
>APN for each service type.
>
>But doesn't WAP require 2 APNs: the core GPRS APN followed by the WAP
>gateway APN ?
>
>
>OK, when my friend buys his prepaid card and tries to activate the
>service with Cingular, will they balk at the fact that he is using a PDA
>? Should he pretend to be running some vanilla handset so that they just
>activate the service &?
>
>(he is using a PDA that isn't even sold/supported by Cingular - it is unlocked).
>
>> PDA Connect is intended for PDAs; MEdia Net isn't.
>
>But PDA connect isn't available with prepaid :-(
>
>Thanks for your information.

There is a single APN for the Cingular WAP Gateway (wap.cingular), which
handles only WAP requests. The Gateway IP Address is 66.209.11.61, and the
Cingular Home Page is device.home. The Cingular WAP gateway has access to the
entire Internet, not just a limited selection.

Other non-WAP TCP/IP traffic bypasses the WAP gateway, and can be used (with
suitable clients) for regular HTTP browsing, SMTP/POP3/IMAP email, NNTP news,
FTP, etc.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>