Data Plans and Tethering Questions... ***Ask HERE***

[abiogeneses]

I have a very old Unlimited 3G Data Plan computer. It is dated 2005-6.

My usage of the data plan is very erratic. I could go for 6 months without using it at all (working oversea) and then when I am in U.S. I could use up to 10 GB for a couple of months.

I have heard stories of some version of the “Unlimited” data plan get soft or hard cap. Customers get warning email from at&t and some had over $1000 overage charges because he/she used more than 5GB per month. I never encountered that problem so I am assuming that I have a “true” unlimited data plan.

I am considering upgrading to 4G LTE. I am told by the at&t customer rep. that I get to keep my unlimited plan, but they will need to change it to 4G LTE unlimited.

Does anyone know if the 4G LTE unlimited is truly unlimited or is one of those soft/hard cap fake Unlimited plan?

CF

[efparri]

All of AT&T's unlimited data plans offer unlimited data. Depending upon which smartphone plan you have, your data speed might be reduced at certain usage levels.

[abiogeneses]

My unlimited data plan is not for phone. It is for laptop and it's the $59.95 data only plan. at&t supplies a usb/aircard to be used to laptop.

CF

[jakoh]

if i buy an unlocked LTE phone such as a lumia 900, and i have mediamax 200. will i have problems using the old data plan on 3g? i don't care to use the LTE feature if the network wont allow it. i am happy with hspa.
I still have the old 3g only sim.

[ivaz]

I have a relative with a family plan. One line is out off contract and is on pay per use data. I would like to give them a smartphone, turn off the data, and put the off contract SIM in it. I've heard conflicting stories that if you currently have grandfathered PPU data you can keep it, but I've also heard that they will bump it off your account if you put the SIM in a smartphone. I'm not sure if this applies if you have a contract or not. Anyone have some concrete info please reply.

[efparri]

If AT&T recognizes the added phone as a smartphone, the appropriate smartphone data plan will be added regardless of contract status.

Sent from my GtabComb using HowardForums

[Goelz83]

Yeah, once AT&T realizes that you have a smartphone on your line, they will automatically add the $30 data plan (3GB). The thing is, nobody knows for sure when they will detect a smartphone on your line. Some people go a few minutes, some people go for months without AT&T detecting the smartphone they have on their line. There are also smartphones that can be used without ever being detected.

There are a couple threads about this topic on here and on XDA-developers. They even have a list they are keeping updated with the current smartphones for which AT&T doesn't (currently) require a data plan

[bushgeroge551]

There are two options for the kind of tethering plan you can use. The first, DataPro 4GB for Enterprise, is used by businesses with Enterprise plans with AT&T. This doesn't apply to most users, so unless you get your iPhone through work, you can probably ignore it.

[griffithandy100]

Tethering refers to connecting one device to another. In the context of mobile phones or Internet tablets, tethering allows sharing the Internet connection of the phone or tablet with other devices such as laptops. Connection of the phone or tablet with other devices can be done over wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), over Bluetooth or by physical connection using a cable for example, through USB.

If tethering is done over wireless LAN, the feature may be branded as a mobile hotspot. The Internet-connected mobile device can thus act as a portable wireless access point and router for devices connected to it

Many mobile phones are equipped with software to offer tethered Internet access. The operating systems Windows Phone (not supported on some phones), Android, (starting from version 2.2 Froyo), and iOS (only after jailbreak or running iOS 4.3 or higher on iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, or iPad 3 without jailbreak) support this.[1] Many Nokia phones can be tethered by the Nokia PC Suite software.

[GoldenShox]

Question, If I got moved to a dumbphone and got on the non-smartphone data plan and then tethered my dumbphone using the old dial in method, what could att do?

[djfourmoney]

You'll get tagged if you go over a certain amount of MB/GB. I didn't tether much just away from home. That was at A+ class and later at Occupy LA. After that point, I had gone over the 1GB limit they had started imposing last year.

I switched to a smart phone no tethering plan and 1GB of data. Only gone over once....

[k_semler]

I call BS. I pushed over 16.5 GB of data last month over a cellular connection, and I had no issues with warning emails, data throttling, Data limitations, etc. The I used it for 1/2 a month, and the only thing limiting me was desktop connection time. Yes, you read that right, I was using my cellular data connection for my only data connection for a half of a month. Yes, I was still easily able to get online.

[diklotrav]

What Straight Talk phones use the AT&T internet service ??? I was told by Walmart Tech that the Android phones use Sprint, The smart phones use Verizon service , and the dumb phones use the AT&T internet service.
Can anyone verify this info as accurate or inacurate ??? I was wanting a droid but no service from sprint is in my home area.

[diklotrav]

Hello I am trying to verify for future ST service , Does ST use only Sprint Data service for the Android phones?? I don't have Sprint coverage in my Home area, but would like an Android phone
Thank you for the responses I have been recieving

[diklotrav]

Hello ST uses all three which have androids available ATT, Verizon, and Sprint right now ther is only one for AT&T ( The Merit ZTE Z990 ) GSM Service there is a small code on box with an A on the end of code ( on display at walmart store )
Also ATT and Verizon Both have a $50 Prepaid Unlimited talk, text, and data plan. I am starting to look my self