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Topic Review (Newest First)

  • 12-10-2014, 07:39 AM
    ttomas
    AT&T requires data plans for ANY smartphone. Just check out their phone selection. It states data plan required with those phones.
  • 11-09-2014, 07:04 AM
    tom h
    Several guys in our office use Blackberry and Iphone devices without a data plan. If you buy the phone from AT&T directly you are required to use a data plan. If you purchase the phone online either used, refurbished, or any other way without a contract attached to it already and you are not required to pay for a plan.
  • 09-19-2014, 11:28 PM
    voidfoo
    Samsung Omnia 7 working undetected for att. However it's old (first) generation of windows phone and probably nowhere to find now.
  • 05-09-2012, 07:22 PM
    efparri
    It is the phone's IMEI which determines what data plan is added. The SIM card is irrelevant. Using a different active SIM card would give you a different number. If the SIM card is inactive, neither voice nor data would work.
  • 05-07-2012, 12:12 PM
    ATTisGoliath
    So, I have now successfully used my Nexus One without a data plan for three months. Initially when I got the phone and reset the data, etc, I had the 3GB plan thrown at me. I called and threatened to quit ATT and was given permission to use a pay-as-you-go: $0 if 0kB used (I still get wifi and calls, texts). A few days ago, I did a data reset and reinstalled rom ahead of a large international trip where I'll be relying on the phone for emergency satellite communication (delorme). When my phone first booted on the fresh rom, data was enabled, so it used 40kb on the 3G network, and ATT threw the 3GB plan at me again. This time, although they'd given me explicit permission before which is recorded in my account history (I had them look it up!), they would not remove the plan. In direct retribution I'm posting here with instructions on how I got back to saving $30/month the second time:

    If you have an old, non-smartphone simcard, ATT cannot tell you have a smartphone if you do not use 3G/4G. (At least this is true with my Google(HTC) Nexus One). They know it's a smartphone once you use the 3G/4G. Note that the smartphone is still fully functional, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, all apps, etc, with the old simcard.

    So, EITHER: when you turn on your smartphone for the first time, do it with no simcard in and disable the data in settings, and then proceed using your old simcard so they don't know you have a new smartphone, OR: (if your phone does not allow you to get that far with no simcard), once you've initally booted your smartphone with the card in, and turned off data and had the most expensive data plan automatically added, put the simcard back in your dumbphone and call ATT to tell them you're back to a dumbphone and need the data plan removed, and then put the card back in the smartphone and proceed on your merry way, whistlin like Chuck Norris.

    This may also work with new smartphone simcards, I'm not sure and sure as hell am not going to find out.

    Rig: Google Nexus One, running Cyanogenmod 7 rom (Android Gingerbread 2.3.7), old sim.
  • 02-04-2012, 01:09 PM
    mumbles
    Quote Originally Posted by iceman0 View Post
    Hey JM. I was useing a HTC G1 from T-Mobile with sim unlock for about a year with basic data plan and never got the txt. I tried a iphone and got the txt. Just bought the Dell streak and recieved the txt from att. So the G1 is the way to go.
    I have a backup one if anyone is interested. The Dell is a sweet phone but im not paying all that money for the smart phone package. I thought streak being unlocked would be hidden but guess not.
    Ice

    @iceman0, I was just thinking about grabing the HTC G1 too. What process/steps did you use to unlock and block data over on the AT&T side? I'd like to get rid of my iPhone 4 and go back to a non-data plan setup, but I'd still like a 'smart-ish' phone like the G1. If you have any advice on setting one up, I'd love to hear it - thanks!

    -D
  • 01-11-2012, 01:17 AM
    siusarboy
    I am an international student who is tight in cell phone budget. I don't like to sign 2 year contract either. I don't have long enough credit history and thus I don't pass the AT&T and T-Mobile credit check. To get their services, I will need to pay for $500 deposit per phone number. On the other hand, I search for pre-paid plans but it turns that it is more expensive than the contract plan given that I use text message quite often and talk mostly on the weekends.

    I found this website nocontractphoneplan.com where I sign up for their service. They are flash wireless network, which doesn't require any contract nor credit check. Their price is quite affordable. I am pretty happy on the signal strength at my location. I think you may consider this option when you shop for your cell phone service.

    Good luck and take care.
  • 10-11-2011, 06:57 AM
    efparri
    Unlocked is meaningless. The carrier cannot tell whether a phone is unlocked or not. You need to get an unbranded phone which the carrier does not consider to be a smartphone or ignores it since few are used on its network.
  • 10-10-2011, 08:41 PM
    spio123
    I agree Daniel. I just want a smartphone without data. Maybe I'll just get a used unlocked smartphone
  • 09-21-2011, 06:47 PM
    efparri
    It is irrelevant whether you need a cellular data plan to use your smartphone. The carrier will add a data plan if they detect that you are using a smartphone. Our arguments pro or con are of little consequence.
  • 09-14-2011, 02:52 PM
    mowerpower
    Nicely said Daniel, completely agree with you.
  • 06-21-2011, 09:07 AM
    Sanctus
    Quote Originally Posted by SpaceNut View Post
    When is the last time you were in an AT&T store??? I was in there today paying my bill, and (for the first time), I wandered around and looked at every phone they offer. Virtually EVERY phone they have now REQUIRES a $20 data plan (iPhone $30). Go look at the price tags on the phones. Almost every single one says "This phone requires a $20 data plan".

    I also just don't get it. I see alot of people out there saying they want a smart phone, but don't want a data plan. What gives? That's like saying, I want a car, but I don't want to have to pay for gas. What's the point of having a smartphone without a data plan? IMHO, it's ridiculous to want a smartphone just to cripple it by not having a data plan. I know you're going to come back with the argument that one can use WIFI, but WIFI isn't everywhere, and when you need internet access, you need the 3G network to fall back on.
    Actually, your analogy is inaccurate. While an internal combustion engine requires fuel to run, a smart phone does not require any type of cellular connectivity to operate. Every function on a smart phone (except voice possibly although even that will work on many phones) will work perfectly on wifi. As another poster noted, wifi is practically everywhere. Furthermore, all of the cellular data options suck compared to a good wifi connection with sufficient bandwidth. In addition to the cellular wireless options being bad from a technical standpoint, they are overpriced to such a degree as to make them only viable if you absolutely cannot live without constant connectivity. Frankly, I do not want to be connected everywhere and I pity those who do. If my friends are outside enjoying themselves and they NEED to be on the internet, I usually suggest counseling. The bottom line is that the current retail wireless data options are technically inept and grossly overpriced. It is a personal choice as to whether or not you choose such a plan, and the phone companies pay attention. If you pay it, they will continue to charge more. I look at this way. I am already paying my phone company over 100 dollars per month and I have been since cellular phones became widely available. I have never paid my bill late and I have always paid in full every month. If I were to get a data plan, I would use it and I would need to have at least a 2 GB limit to avoid the ethically questionable overcharges. That would cost me about 30 dollars per month. Can I afford it? Yes. Will I order it? Never with those terms. No thank you! Get it?

    Daniel
  • 05-31-2011, 05:14 PM
    deadsupra
    I understand why some people want a smartphone with no data plan. But I believe you are taking the definition of a smart phone the wrong way.

    To me a smart phone is a phone that offers more computing ability and connectivity than a regular phone. Speaking hardware: a phone that has a faster processor, built-in graphics, and more RAM. Maybe even slimmer, brighter, lighter, etc.

    So a new phone user might just want less lagg because he or she is a quicker texter or whatever.
  • 05-05-2011, 01:18 AM
    iceman0
    Hey JM. I was useing a HTC G1 from T-Mobile with sim unlock for about a year with basic data plan and never got the txt. I tried a iphone and got the txt. Just bought the Dell streak and recieved the txt from att. So the G1 is the way to go.
    I have a backup one if anyone is interested. The Dell is a sweet phone but im not paying all that money for the smart phone package. I thought streak being unlocked would be hidden but guess not.
    Ice
  • 03-03-2011, 10:28 PM
    JM_PHONE
    So, I have been reading through this thread since I just purchased a used At&t blackberry pearl 8100 on ebay and hoped I could just plug in the sim card and use it on At&T.

    A quick background: Current cell service is At&t for many years now, have not upgraded and I am out of any binding contract, current phone is smartphone palm treo 650 (yes it is an old . big, and heavy brick but works well for what I use it for). I have basic At&t service with the additional 1000kb texting plan, but no "data plan".

    What is puzzling me with this whole discussion is: On the Treo 650 "smart phone" I can if I want to: access the web & send/recieve e-mails although I do get charged when I do which is very rarely, but I can do it without the data plan and no special tricks, just click on the web icon on the phone and type in the web address.

    My main needed reason to have a "smartphone" is to sync my MS outlook calander with my phone so I can get reminders, enter new appointments, then sync them together along with any new or changed contact info of course. I don't use the phone to browse the internet or other things I can do with my computer turned on since I am always close to a computer on-line.

    Back to the blackberry 8100 I just bought. It appears to work fine (phone software etc, which I also just updated), but another long story short, it is for some reason not repeatably connecting and working even as a basic simple phone: (unpredictable, as I drive around I can make calls on certain networks, and at certain locations cannot do anything; send text, calls fail, etc.)

    So I am a bit puzzled. Is it a blackberry thing that At&t can detect and not allow to connect? At&t does detect and show the "treo 650" smartphone (I can see on my on-line account along with the blackberry when I switch to it), yet it works and functions as a pay per use data device. Why can't I do the same with a blackberry, use what I want and pay when I need to for accessing the web in that rare occasion?

    Obviously At&t knows I am using a Palm Treo 650 "smartphone", yet has not ever automaticaly added a data plan, but yet the device works fine even for "data" (e-mail & web when I so choose...at an added cost per use).

    Anyone who may have any insight as to why I can't simply switch to a blackberry or other smartphone and have the same functionality that would be great!

    Also, if anyone knows a line or model of phone (preferrably on at&t) out ther that I could simply sync with my outlook (without being called a "smartphone") that would also be great since that is at a basic level what I need. An At&t rep at the store said today that syncing with outlook could certainly only be done using a "smartphone".

    Thanks in advance,
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