vB Easy Archive - e71-2 on AT&T

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e71-2 on AT&T
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Posted by: cerulean

I am new to using unlocked phones and have searched the archives, but I want to make sure I do this right. I am want to purchase an e71-2 unlocked (probably from Amazon). I currently have an old Sony Ericsson w80i. I have a family plan with unlimited texts and no data. Do I just add the $15 medianet data plan to my w80i and swap the sims when my e71-2 arrives? I think it is an older type of sim card. Or is there a better way to do this?

Posted by: cerulean

Also, I am due for an upgrade, but figured it better to try an unlocked e71-2 instead of waiting for at&t to release the e71x. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by: terhett

Yep, just put the $15 Data Unlimited plan on and you're good to go. If you have some sort of unlimited messaging plan the data will be even cheaper.

Posted by: hwertz

That's what I would do.. it shouldn't matter if the SIM is older, people have put absolutely ANCIENT sims into 3G phones and gotten 3G and all just fine.

Posted by: cerulean

Is the old sim card ok it is more than 2 years old? I briefly had a blackjack and they made me get a new one for that.

Posted by: zephxiii

Add medianet (now data unlimited) to your account when you order your e71, so that it is good an ready by the time you get it. You can do it in OLAM too, so you don't have to deal with potential idiotic CS Reps.

Posted by: tncc01

My SIM card is about 4 yrs old, at least. I've used it in several unlocked phones, all Nokias (6120C, N82, and E71-2). No problems with getting 3G (on the phones that were 3G capable in the US) or data.

Posted by: AlphaShark

As far as I know, as long as the phone is unlocked, it doesn't matter what AT&T SIM card you are using. It can even be one of the old "Blue" line cards.

Posted by: Aurakles

Yes, it will work. As to 3G, it's the phone (and obviously the network), not the SIM, that determine whether it will achieve 3G speeds.

Posted by: wierdo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurakles

Yes, it will work. As to 3G, it's the phone (and obviously the network), not the SIM, that determine whether it will achieve 3G speeds.

On at&t, that is in fact the case, but some networks only allow the "new" 3G authentication on the 3G network. That requires a 3G SIM.

at&t allows the old authentication method on both networks, thus making it possible to use an old SIM in a 3G phone without issues.

Posted by: tom28

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaShark

As far as I know, as long as the phone is unlocked, it doesn't matter what AT&T SIM card you are using. It can even be one of the old "Blue" line cards.

Yup, been using the same "blue" sim card since 04 on my E71-2. Having 3G speeds with no problems at all.

But the unlimited text and media net might be tempting me to change over to orange.

Edit:
Thought about it for a couple of minutes. They'll have to pry this blue plan out of my cold dead hands

Posted by: flexpackman

cerulan,

Just did the exact same upgrade to an E71-2 this week (from newegg).

Everything works great!

You stated you currently have FamilyTalk with Unlimited Text, but no data. Remember you can get Data Unlimited for $10 a line instead of $15, but you have to call Support or do it in a store and AFAIK it does have to be a "current" Familytalk plan. Still cannot do this with OLAM.

Posted by: aphexacid

Definitely buy the E71-2. If you buy at&t's E71, they'll make you get the $35 data plan.

I love this phone something awful!

Posted by: efparri

Quote:

Originally Posted by aphexacid

Definitely buy the E71-2. If you buy at&t's E71, they'll make you get the $35 data plan.

I love this phone something awful!

The PDA Personal data plan costs $30.00 with a voice plan on the same line. It costs $35.00 if bought as a standalone data plan.

Posted by: cerulean

Thank you for all of your replies. It looks like it should be really easy. Now I am just waiting for a deal, hopefully at amazon.

Posted by: RYOBI

Bought my E71-2 a month ago, popped the sim from my V9x into it, added the $10 a month data plan and away we go........

Posted by: Mustang Mark

I have a Motorola Z9 with $15 media max data. Took sim out and put in unlocked E71 and everything works great. Phone automatically sets up access points. Couldn't be any easier.

Posted by: Messinger

I don't get it. I purchased an unbranded E-71, then took it to AT&T and they got me into a PDA Data Plan ($30 a month).

I see now that was dumb of me.

However, when I go to OLAM, I find there's no option that will allow me to delete the PDA Data Plan and replace it with an Unlimited Media Net Plan ($15 a month).

I can't find a reference to "Unlimited Media Net Plan" available to me, at all, on my online account management page, with AT&T.

I'm not in a contract with them; I brought my own phone to this party. I've not got a family voice plan or a text messaging plan; it's just me.

Any tips - or a link or something - as to how I can get the lower-priced plan, after I've already started with the Cadillac plan?

Posted by: mbranscum

Quote:

Originally Posted by Messinger

I don't get it. I purchased an unbranded E-71, then took it to AT&T and they got me into a PDA Data Plan ($30 a month).

I see now that was dumb of me.

,,,

Any tips - or a link or something - as to how I can get the lower-priced plan, after I've already started with the Cadillac plan?

Just call CS and tell them your have the wrong data plan and you need to change to MediaNet $15 plan ($10 if you have unlimited text). Tell them you're just using a old Nokia if asked. I even gave them my IMEI number. It did not show up as a smartphone on their network because it is an unbranded unlocked phone. They show my Nokia on OLAM as an old 6102 flip!

Posted by: RF9

Check this sub forum for a little more on E71-2
http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=377

Posted by: efparri

Quote:

Originally Posted by Messinger

I don't get it. I purchased an unbranded E-71, then took it to AT&T and they got me into a PDA Data Plan ($30 a month).

I see now that was dumb of me.

I suspect that AT&T now sees the Nokia E71-2 to be the same phone that they are about to sell as the Nokia E71-X. The computer should not have let them add a PDA data plan to a phone not recognized as a PDA.

Posted by: Messinger

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbranscum

It probably would take something like that. Here's a portion of the email I received, when I asked AT&T why the MediaNet plan wasn't available to me on OLAM:

"The reason the media net unlimited is not showing available is because our system shows your phone is a PDA device. If this is an error please send us the information as to what type of phone you have. We will need the make and model as well as the serial number (imei). The imei can be found on the sticker behind the battery and on most phones by pressing *#06#. If you send us this information we will be more then happy to update the system and change the data plan on your account."

Posted by: FormerRuling

Quote:

Originally Posted by Messinger

See, what you need to do to get $15 data is put a "Dumbphone" on your account - either by putting your SIM in one and letting it register in OLAM so the $15 option appears, or by calling CS and giving them the dumbphone's IMEI.

Then once you have $15 data on the line...just switch to your Nokia.

Posted by: zephxiii

Quote:

Originally Posted by FormerRuling

Yep, one should always have an AT&T dumbphone for this reason, and when you need to report problems. etc. Whenever i dial 611 to talk to a rep, I'm always on AT&T dumbphone. After work when i go to get my SIM replaced (because its kinda falling apart), I'm walking into the store with my SIM in my v3xx

Posted by: FormerRuling

Quote:

Originally Posted by zephxiii

Exact reason I have a Samsung Sync listed as my second phone

Posted by: Messinger

Quote:

Originally Posted by FormerRuling

What do you mean by "letting it register in OLAM"?

When I put the SIM in to my almost-never-used Nokia 6010, and used it for a couple of calls, OLAM still didn't open up a new option for selection of the lower-priced data plan.

Is there something I need to do to either get the phone to register with OLAM or to get OLAM to identify the phone?

Posted by: efparri

Once there is a PDA registered on your account and you have a PDA data plan, you cannot remove the PDA data plan yourself regardless of what phone is detected on OLAM. You have to switch to the non-PDA phone, call Customer Service and give them the IMEI of the non-PDA phone. Once verified, they will change the data plan at your request. If you switch back to a PDA after that, they may disable data access completely until you call them again.

Posted by: Messinger

Wow. It looks like I'm just going to have to call customer service at AT&T, give them the IMEI for the non-smart phone, then switch the SIM over to the E71 and see what happens. Just within this thread, there seems to be conflicting advice and experiences - no telling what will happen, with me.

Either I'll get the $15 plan, as some have already done, or I'll eventually have my data plan shut off, as others say.

Posted by: FormerRuling

Quote:

Originally Posted by Messinger

Wow. It looks like I'm just going to have to call customer service at AT&T, give them the IMEI for the non-smart phone, then switch the SIM over to the E71 and see what happens. Just within this thread, there seems to be conflicting advice and experiences - no telling what will happen, with me.

Either I'll get the $15 plan, as some have already done, or I'll eventually have my data plan shut off, as others say.

Data shut off?

You'll only ever get your data shut off if you over use it A LOT...Like just streaming video all day and night, etc.

Posted by: gdart

Quote:

Originally Posted by Messinger

Is your e71-2 ATT branded? Or did you buy it unlocked/unbranded?
Those that have that device that did not buy it through ATT seem to be able to use a regular data plan. But if the phone is an ATT one, you may be placed on the $30. plan once the phone (and it's IME ) registers onto the system.