vB Easy Archive - Smartphone Connect vs. Data Connect???

Pages: 1

Smartphone Connect vs. Data Connect???
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: drummingcraig

I own a Treo 650 and for the last year I have been paying the $39.99/month for the "unlimited" data plan. Today while looking around on Cingular's website I noticed they offer a "Smartphone Data" plan and the unlimited version is only $19.99/month. They didn't offer much information about this. Does anyone know what the difference between these plans are and if the Smartphone plan works with the Treo?

Thanks,

Craig

Posted by: stan23

If you search the forum, you will see that this issue has been discussed many times.

Posted by: drummingcraig

Quote:

Originally Posted by stan23

If you search the forum, you will see that this issue has been discussed many times.

Thanks for the help...

Posted by: importluva

well, technically Smartphone connect is for devices such as the 2125 and 3125 - smartphones without a QWERTY keyboard. Devices like the Treo, 8525, Blackjack etc are "required" to be on the PDAconnect plan. However, many users use the 19.99 MEdiaMax or SmartphoneConnect plans with success. However, the validity (both legal and ethical) can be questionable.

As far as Cingular Corp. is concerned, you're on the correct plan. As far as "cheap" (or frugal) users are concerned, the $19.99 plan is fine.

My opinion is that if you're a heavy data user - ie you're constantly using MBs of data (such that you use over 200-300mb/month on data) then the correct plan for you is PDAconnect for $40. However, if you're just a casual user, then I doubt anyone at Cingular or otherwise would really *care* that you're on the cheaper plan.

Posted by: RF9

Smarphone Connect is basically exactly Media Max without the bundled messaging.

Smartphone Connect/Media Max = wap.cingular access point only.
PDA Connect & Laptop Connect = wap.cingular as well as isp.cingular.
wap.cingular = NAT
isp.cingular = real IP

If you're on PDA connect, chances are you've been using wap.cingular the whole time as wap.cingular is the primary access point that all phones and PDAs use for internet connection. So switching to Smartphone Connect or Media Max would be seemless to you.

isp.cingular is optional in case your VPN doesn't work through NAT (that's really the only reason for it's existence.) isp.cingular is primarily used for laptop data cards or tethering (use phone as a modem) although wap.cingular can be used for both of those purposes as well.

If you can get it, you're better off. You'll save $20 per month. They won't sell you smartphone connect for your PDA if you tell them you're using a Treo. So just call and ask for it and don't ever mention your phone.
The Cingular 2125 and 3125 are the only ones that technically are supposed to use smartphone connect, although the Blackjack should also be eligible (as it is also a smartphone,) Cingular seems confused on which data plan belongs with it. LOL.

Posted by: drummingcraig

RF9 and Importluva thank you very much for the information. That was exactly what I was wondering.

I don't do much heavy browsing from my Treo. I primarily use it to pull emails down and will go online occasionally (usually when I'm bored sitting in an airport, etc).

Now I just need to see if I can make that switch without setting off any alarm bells.

Craig

Posted by: importluva

then I see no reaso that your should pay for the $40 plan. The 20 plan should be fine.

If Cingular ever wants users to switch to PDAconnect, then it'll have to audit lots of accounts which would cost more than the additional revenue it would bring in. However, if it does notice that a lot of mediamax users are downloading a lot of media (more than a reasonable could/would using Cingular Video and MEdiaNet) then I could see cing appending a limit (say 250mb) on MEdiaMax plans or else you have to pay the 40 to move up to the pdaconnect plans. With vzw kicking users off that dl in excess of 3-5gb, I can see carriers moving toward this model.

Posted by: drummingcraig

Well, I dumped my $9.99 text message plan and the $39.99 PDA plan and switched over to the Media Max 1000 package. We'll see how that works for me.

Thank you all again for the help.

Happy Holidays!

Craig

Posted by: Blackjack Rob

I bought the blackjack last month and they didn't even mention the PDAConnect plan, but they switched me to it (I was on MediaNetUnlimited/19.99 w/ the Audiovox 5600). I just found it on my bill. I called cingular (before seeing this thread) and told them about it and before I told him I had the blackjack he said that the system wouldn't let him change it [back to 19.99] because I have the blackjack.

I love the phone, but I had no idea I'd be paying $240 more a year to use it -- all I use it for is work e-mail.