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

[dkhomdds]

Ok I read through all 112 pages of this thread and cant get a clear answer....

1) I know if I have an unbranded/unlocked GSM phone eg. nokia 5800, E63, etc... I can use the older 30 unlimited plan that I have and it will not change...

2) I know that if I buy a Streak or Captative on contract or outright I will be forced to switch to the 250mb or 2gb data plan and then have to add text/mms package...

3) What if I put my SIM into an older HTC Tilt and/or Blackjack I (i607) both are AT&T branded. I have used these phones in the past with the old plan without any problems about 9 months ago. But I dont know if the "New" rules that AT&T has will automatically see the IMEI's of these phones and then bump me up to one of the 250mb/2gb data plans and I would also loose the Unlimited text/mms.... I used these phone rarely, but I dont want to loose out on my current 30 dollar data/text just to have the option of using these two phones rarely...........


TIA!!!!!

[Goelz83]

1) I know if I have an unbranded/unlocked GSM phone eg. nokia 5800, E63, etc... I can use the older 30 unlimited plan that I have and it will not change...

This is true. If you use an unlocked Nokia device you will probably even be able to use the $10/$15 unlimited plan.

2) I know that if I buy a Streak or Captative on contract or outright I will be forced to switch to the 250mb or 2gb data plan and then have to add text/mms package...

This is not true. If you have an unlimited smartphone plan ($30) and you upgrade to a smartphone, you are allowed to keep your unlimited smartphone plan.

3) What if I put my SIM into an older HTC Tilt and/or Blackjack I (i607) both are AT&T branded. I have used these phones in the past with the old plan without any problems about 9 months ago. But I dont know if the "New" rules that AT&T has will automatically see the IMEI's of these phones and then bump me up to one of the 250mb/2gb data plans and I would also loose the Unlimited text/mms.... I used these phone rarely, but I dont want to loose out on my current 30 dollar data/text just to have the option of using these two phones rarely...........

Nothing will happen if you put your SIM card into an AT&T branded smartphone since you already have an unlimited smartphone plan.

[dkhomdds]

thanks for the info... But I am not sure if I have the unlimited smartphone plan... I pay 29.99 a month for unlimited data, unlimited text, and unlimited mms... This was what was available about a year ago.... I belive the unlimited smartphone plan you were talking about was for data only???

[Goelz83]

thanks for the info... But I am not sure if I have the unlimited smartphone plan... I pay 29.99 a month for unlimited data, unlimited text, and unlimited mms... This was what was available about a year ago.... I belive the unlimited smartphone plan you were talking about was for data only???

That's correct. You are on an unlimited "dumbphone" data plan that is basically still available today ($20 unlimited text & $10 unlimited data).

It sounds like you will only be able to get the capped plans ($25 for 2GB or $15 for 200 MB)...

[dkhomdds]

That's correct. You are on an unlimited "dumbphone" data plan that is basically still available today ($20 unlimited text & $10 unlimited data).

It sounds like you will only be able to get the capped plans ($25 for 2GB or $15 for 200 MB)...

So how would that effect my 3rd situation from two post above?? What would happen if I put my sim into an AT&T branded HTC Tilt or a Blackjack i607 now... Would they push me onto a current smartphone data plan???

[Goelz83]

So how would that effect my 3rd situation from two post above?? What would happen if I put my sim into an AT&T branded HTC Tilt or a Blackjack i607 now... Would they push me onto a current smartphone data plan???

Most likely, yes. You might get away with your current plan for a little while, but chances are that if you use an AT&T branded smartphone w/ a non-smartphone data package, they will switch you over.

Keep in mind that you could always go back to the unlimited dumbphone plan if you give them an unlocked Nokia's IMEI or a dumbphone IMEI...

[dkhomdds]

Most likely, yes. You might get away with your current plan for a little while, but chances are that if you use an AT&T branded smartphone w/ a non-smartphone data package, they will switch you over.

Keep in mind that you could always go back to the unlimited dumbphone plan if you give them an unlocked Nokia's IMEI or a dumbphone IMEI...

Thanks for your info, I'll guess I'll stick to unbranded/unlocked phones for now...... Oh well was really going to get the streak when it comes out....

[DrEsox]

I want to give my mom my old unlocked E71 and she does not have any data or texting plan but she does occassionally text. Will at&t automatically add her to a $30 smartphone connect plan even though the E71 she will be using is unlocked and unbranded?

She is interested in getting the very cheapest data/messaging plan (which I am not even sure of at the moment) but would not want an at&t smartphone plan.

I searched around the board and I think I found the what is close to the answer but I just wanted to be sure.

Thanks.

Esox

[thiel]

I have the at&t "Data Connect 5GB" plan that I've used with a Mercury USB dongle for the last several years. $60/month with no overage charges.

I'm a developer and I'm starting an android project. What's the most direct way for me to swap an android phone in and use it the same way I've been using the USB dongle? I basically *don't* want to use it as a phone -- just as a development / test platform, and then tether it to my laptop for internet access...

I understand there are issues if I use a branded at&t phone (they'll give me an additional data plan?) so --- find an android phone that is *not* at&t, root it, get tethering and whatnot, and then I should be able to swap the existing SIM in and go?

thanks in advance, this is a great forum and I appreciate all the knowledge that is shared.

elijah

[broadwayblue]

Has anyone had any luck moving from an old unlimited dumb phone plan to the old unlimited smart phone plan? I've been on the $19.95 plan for a long time. I've also been out of contract for years (on all 4 lines in my family plan.) I'd like to pick up a Captivate or similar, but won't continue with AT&T if they won't give me an unlimited plan. I'd switch to Sprint and get an EVO before I go on a capped plan. Any suggestion on how I should attempt to change plans?

[ROKstrr]

I want to give my mom my old unlocked E71 and she does not have any data or texting plan but she does occassionally text. Will at&t automatically add her to a $30 smartphone connect plan even though the E71 she will be using is unlocked and unbranded?

She is interested in getting the very cheapest data/messaging plan (which I am not even sure of at the moment) but would not want an at&t smartphone plan.

I searched around the board and I think I found the what is close to the answer but I just wanted to be sure.

Thanks.

Esox

I am still using an unlocked E71-2 (not E71x) on AT&T Family unlimited data ($10. per) for feature phones (for the last 13 months). It should be fine, assuming OLAM shows another feature (dumb) phone.
Tell ur mom to have at it & good luck.

[thiel]

I have the at&t "Data Connect 5GB" plan that I've used with a Mercury USB dongle for the last several years. $60/month with no overage charges.

I'm a developer and I'm starting an android project. What's the most direct way for me to swap an android phone in and use it the same way I've been using the USB dongle? I basically *don't* want to use it as a phone -- just as a development / test platform, and then tether it to my laptop for internet access...

I understand there are issues if I use a branded at&t phone (they'll give me an additional data plan?) so --- find an android phone that is *not* at&t, root it, get tethering and whatnot, and then I should be able to swap the existing SIM in and go?

thanks in advance, this is a great forum and I appreciate all the knowledge that is shared.

elijah

ok, so the more I read around, the more it sounds like if I'm NOT using an at&t branded phone, it's unlikely the change from the USB dongle to the android phone will be "seen" by at&t.... does that sound right?

I'm looking at getting one of the unlocked HTC Magics off ebay...

[GSMinCT]

This is not true. If you have an unlimited smartphone plan ($30) and you upgrade to a smartphone, you are allowed to keep your unlimited smartphone plan.

Nothing will happen if you put your SIM card into an AT&T branded smartphone since you already have an unlimited smartphone plan.

He's talking about the combined data/text $30 MediaNet plan.

He could always switch back to the $30 unlimited data/text when going back to an unbranded device, it's still around, it's the $30 unlimited smartphone data that died. And well it should, since the $25 plan is $5 cheaper as long as you don't abuse it.

[AMRivlin]

I have 3 iPhone 3GS (Diff accounts)
iPhone1 - Billing in Santa Ana
iPhone2 - Billing in Saint Louis
iPhone3 - Family Plan with iPhone2

I put media net unlimited on an account I use iPhone 1 with. Have never been emailed/sms/called and told to change to iPhone plan.

I tried the same thing with iPhone 2, with in 2 days I was emailed that they were going to "help" me and give me a proper plan. It took 2-3 days of arguing to get their lame iPhone Data plan removed.

iPhone3 has the $30 Unlimited plan (grandfathered)

[SurfnSun]

Has anyone had any luck moving from an old unlimited dumb phone plan to the old unlimited smart phone plan? I've been on the $19.95 plan for a long time. I've also been out of contract for years (on all 4 lines in my family plan.) I'd like to pick up a Captivate or similar, but won't continue with AT&T if they won't give me an unlimited plan. I'd switch to Sprint and get an EVO before I go on a capped plan. Any suggestion on how I should attempt to change plans?

Id like to know the answer to this also.