Can AT&T Tell What (Unlocked) PDA Your Using With A Basic $15 Data Plan?

It has been years since I used an Unlocked device on a GSM carrier like AT&T, but I know back in the day that carriers like Cingular and T-Mobile didn't pay close attention to PDA users who were only using a basic data plan. So has this changed? I remember that the carriers would basically just mark your account with the last phone that you activated with them. So even though I was using my first Unlocked device the Motorola MPX200 on T-Mobile; they still thought I was using the basic Nokia that I had purchased from them. T-Mobile even had an FAQ on how to use Unlocked devices, but the last time I checked, they had removed that section from their site.


So I was just wondering because if Verizon keeps releasing phones under their "Let's Only Release A Few New Advanced Phones A Year" method of bringing new products to the market; then I will be forced to leave Verizon for AT&T. But I would need to first understand more about the "Current" way of using Unlocked devices with AT&T.

1. So when a customers buys a basic phone, but then puts their SIM card into an Unlocked PDA; will AT&T then notice the difference and force the customer into buying a PDA data plan instead?
2. What if the PDA is an AT&T PDA, just Unlocked? How does AT&T's network respond to that type of device?

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GSM phones have an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identifier), which is equivalent to the Electronic Serial Number in CDMA phones to tell what phone you are using. When you activate service, you must give the IMEI of a phone model. If that IMEI corresponds to a PDA which they offer, you will only be able to purchase the PDA data plan. As of now they ignore the IMEI of PDAs not branded by them. They currently do not force you to change to the correct data plan except in the case of the iPhone. There is no guarantee that AT&T Mobility will continue to give non-branded PDAs a free pass.

By the way, unlocked is not the correct term for this situation. Unlocked means that a phone that was once restricted to the use of a single carrier's SIM card has had that restriction removed. An unlocked phone issued by the carrier would work the same as the locked one. In fact, the carrier cannot detect whether a phone is locked or not. Locking only applies to the relationship between the phone and the SIM card. On the other hand, an unbranded phone has none of the firmware, software or certificates on phones branded by the carrier. You may have to enter configurations for multimedia messages and connection to the Internet. You will not be able to install software or ringtones sold by the carrier. You will not be able to check your account with the phone except with text messages. You will not be able to view Cellular Video unless you modify the User Agent to an approved string.

You'll be fine in the case of AT&T. The answer to your question is yes, however.

AT&T could look up your IMEI and discover the manufacturer and model number. As efparri stated they generally ignored non-branded phones. In the case of a blackberry you wouldn't have access to BIS/BES services but in the case of a Symbian or WM device, there's nothing stopping you.

I believe that the different services use different ports but it shouldn't effect your data access, with AT&T (other GSM carriers may be different.)


P.S. I could be wrong about this but I believe AT&T reserves the right to alter your internet feature if they decide to control which devices can access the internet with particular service. Not the end of the world, but still...

Originally Posted by efparri

GSM phones have an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identifier), which is equivalent to the Electronic Serial Number in CDMA phones to tell what phone you are using. When you activate service, you must give the IMEI of a phone model. If that IMEI corresponds to a PDA which they offer, you will only be able to purchase the PDA data plan. As of now they ignore the IMEI of PDAs not branded by them. They currently do not force you to change to the correct data plan except in the case of the iPhone. There is no guarantee that AT&T Mobility will continue to give non-branded PDAs a free pass.

I have heard of people taking their sim card from a regular phone with the regular data plan and putting it in a used iPhone. Would this work? It is contradictory of what you said above, but I have heard of a few people having success...

AT&T can recognize all iPhones regardless of the origin. All iPhone 3G devices' IMEIs begin with the same digit string "01177100" except for the first two digits which change for the Reporting Body. The other six means the Apple iPhone 3G.

Originally Posted by efparri

AT&T can recognize all iPhones regardless of the origin. All iPhone 3G devices' IMEIs begin with the same digit string "01177100" except for the first two digits which change for the Reporting Body. The other six means the Apple iPhone 3G.

And how often does ATT see the IMEI? Is it only for activation? Calls? Texts? Data? Thanks for your help, by the way.

Originally Posted by aarongobo

And how often does ATT see the IMEI? Is it only for activation? Calls? Texts? Data? Thanks for your help, by the way.

It is reported by the phone each time you connect to the network. That is how your phone model shows up in OLAM.

So, theoretically, you could have someone else activate an iPhone and use your SIM card with a regular data plan, right? I mean they could see the IMEI, but data goes through the same channels...

Originally Posted by aarongobo

So, theoretically, you could have someone else activate an iPhone and use your SIM card with a regular data plan, right? I mean they could see the IMEI, but data goes through the same channels...

What are you trying to say? It is use of the iPhone which triggers the data plan requirement, not ownership. If you use an iPhone on the AT&T network with an AT&T SIM card, the data plan is required regardless of how you acquired the iPhone.

Right, but when you purchase a data plan the plan available to purchase is contigent on what phone is "tied" to the account/number/SIM card. So what I am wondering is if this guy is actually telling the truth about being able to tell ATT that you have phone "x" that requires the cheaper data plan and actually use an iPhone to save $$$$

People should not drive a Maserati if they can't afford premium gasoline.

Originally Posted by efparri

People should not drive a Maserati if they can't afford premium gasoline.

I totally agree with your statement! I face the same dilemma however and am trying to decide whether to get a Blackberry Bold or a new iphone with all the bells & whistles. The Blackberry with the older OS will probably suit my needs fine and appears to be a great phone. In todays times an extra $180 a year for the data plan has to be considered. The 3Gs with a ton of inexpensive or free apps and not having to deal with that freaking keyboard has me on the fence!

It's not really about being able to afford gas, but rather why pay for a nissan when you could drive an infiniti for the same price...

Originally Posted by aarongobo

It's not really about being able to afford gas, but rather why pay for a nissan when you could drive an infiniti for the same price...

I think that you have your analogy reversed. The Infiniti is the more expensive automobile.

Right, the infiniti is the more expensive version of the nissan... so why would you pay for a nissan when the same money would buy you an infiniti...