Will iPhone 4, 4S work on prepaid?

**CBlak** · 05-22-2012, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by eliechart

Ok so I got my iPhone 4 working on gophone plan. I bought the $50 dollar plan which includes Unlimited Talk, Text, and web. The data on the iPhone doesn't work. I've done the unlockit.ko trick, changed the apn a million times and still can't get data working on it. Any suggestions? Did anybody get the data working on the iPhones 4 using gophone $50 plan?

As someone else said you still need to buy a data feature package on top of the talk plan. Then with an iPhone you need to create APN settings and upload them to your phone so the phone can use the data. The easiest way to do that is to go to http://www.unlockit.co.nz/ on your phone and follow the instructions. Pretty easy.

**batcave** · 05-23-2012, 01:53 AM

I might be able to shed some light on this...

I travel to the US frequently. I've been using factory unlocked iPhones since 2008 in Canada (Rogers) and in the US (GoPhone). I use to buy blocks of data and use the APN changer and it was all good.

On my latest trip at the start of May, when I tried to purchase more data - my data connection on my iPhone stopped working. When I called CS, they explained the deal with iPhone on GoPhone to me. I told them I would use another phone and they turned my data back on. It actually didn't work until I put my sim in a friend's phone (a Nokia E5 or something equally as crappy) and turned it on. After that, the data started working again in my iPhone after I put my sim back in. At some point, my data package expired and the data stopped working again.

The agent explained that all 4G devices are not allowed to use data on prepaid GoPhone accounts. Even if you buy the $50 plan and add a data package - it will still not work if ATT knows you have a 4G phone.

I think I have two options, carry a second phone (non 4G) and keep swapping the sim card between the phones when I need to buy data or switch to T-Mobile.

**Mark2000** · 05-23-2012, 10:49 AM

Batcave:

Interesting. By 4G do you mean AT&T's version of 4G, aka "HSPA+"?

If so, wouldn't switching off 3G to EDGE on the iPhone, re-registering the SIM, and accessing the network, do the same job as switching SIMs to an EDGE phone, and re-permit data access?

Either way, this is sad...because it means non-HSPA+ iPhones would work and the new iPhone 4s wouldn't ... because you can't turn off HSPA+, you can only turn off 3G entirely.

**batcave** · 05-23-2012, 12:13 PM

I just phoned GoPhone CS and asked because I need a phone that can do data without any hassle. The agent told me specifically:

No iPhones (regardless of model)
No Blackberrys (regardless of model)
No 4G capable smartphones

If you go on att.com > Shop > Wireless > Prepaid GoPhone > Buy GoPhone now, there is a list of devices they sell specifically for GoPhone. There is a range of non-4G phones that you can buy and use on GoPhone. There is a selection on the left that you can see what 3G and 4G means to ATT.

**Mark2000** · 05-23-2012, 12:20 PM

I think I am starting to get the picture here.
It looks like traditional 3G service is no problem.

But with the iPhone 4S's HSPA+ service, AT&T blocks GoPhone data.

Which explains why EDGE seems to be working when the SIM is placed into another phone.

Sigh, this is truly bad news indeed.

I don't mind signing up for post-paid service, but what's involved if I just want it for a month?

**batcave** · 05-23-2012, 12:36 PM

The ATT policy towards iPhones and related smartphones have been getting more and more strict. I believe it started in 2009. The change last month was the latest blow.

I'm going to carry my pre-iPhone phone (a Palm Treo!) with me next time to change plans (I'm currently on the $2 plan) and buy a data package and then put the sim back in my iPhone to see if that works.

I'm not too keen on spending more money with ATT so I might just switch to T-mobile when I use all of my existing credit.

I'll post back here after my next trip at the beginning of June.

**Jairzinho** · 05-23-2012, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by batcave

On my latest trip at the start of May, when I tried to purchase more data - my data connection on my iPhone stopped working. When I called CS, they explained the deal with iPhone on GoPhone to me. I told them I would use another phone and they turned my data back on. It actually didn't work until I put my sim in a friend's phone (a Nokia E5 or something equally as crappy) and turned it on. After that, the data started working again in my iPhone after I put my sim back in. At some point, my data package expired and the data stopped working again.

I don't get it. Were you able to buy a data package for the other phone earlier this month but not for iPhone?

Originally Posted by batcave

I'm going to carry my pre-iPhone phone (a Palm Treo!) with me next time to change plans (I'm currently on the $2 plan) and buy a data package and then put the sim back in my iPhone to see if that works.

Data packages are available only for monthly plans, regardless of the device you are using. And no matter what phone you use, you shouldn't be able to add a data package for the $2/day plan.

**batcave** · 05-23-2012, 12:57 PM

^ I should have clarified that...

Data was allowed on the $2 plan prior to the most recent GoPhone smartphone changes. I go to the US about once per month and less frequently in the winter. When I need data I used to buy a large block ($25 for 500mb) and then have the automatic feature package renewal with a smaller amount of data to keep the data rolling over.

The changes to the GoPhone data went into effect on April 22nd and my auto renewal got canceled in May. When I tried to buy more data (on May 7th) as a result of an automated text message telling me that my data would expire on May 10th. When I replied to buy more data, that's when my data was cutoff (moral, don't reply to ATT text messages). That's when I phoned and asked for my data to be turned back on.

I was hoping that I would be grandfathered in my existing service, but they changed my plan - so no more data until I use a different phone.

**Jairzinho** · 05-23-2012, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by batcave

so no more data until I use a different phone.

Nuh-uh. I think it's more like "so no more data until I switch to a monthly plan" (*).

(*) Unless you use a feature phone or one of those smartphones that are not recognized as such by at&t yet. But regardless, data packages are not available for $2/day or PAYGO plans

**Mark2000** · 05-23-2012, 01:46 PM

Simple question... can anyone out there, currently with an iPhone 4S, say that they are on a pre-paid monthly plan with a data add-on and that it is working, using the APN changer with Unlockit. Yes or no.

Out of everyone in America, there has got to be someone out there who is in this situation and knows.

Thanks.

**batcave** · 05-23-2012, 01:56 PM

Yes it works. But only until ATT finds out you're using an iPhone.

I think you need to carry a second non-iPhone with you when you purchase data - then swap the sim back into your iPhone. Thinking back to 2009, that is what I used to do when they first started disallowing iPhone data on GoPhone. They don't check every packet of data - only when it's time to buy data do they check what phone you are using to buy data.

I'm going to travel with a second phone again next month. I'll let you know how it goes.

**Airforcekid** · 05-23-2012, 02:15 PM

I can't understand why someone would want to use an iPhone with gophone you lose roaming and risk being cut off from data why not use an MVNO that offers better coverage and support for iPhones?

**Mark2000** · 05-23-2012, 02:23 PM

I have a reason...because AT&T's $50 plan has international text included. For H20, I have to pay $0.15 a text.

Mind you for the same price I'd pay AT&T ($75 if I get the 1GB package), I'd get 166 international texts with H20, which, when combined with the amount of people who use iMessage, will do me fine for my one-week trip to America.

So, I have decided not to risk it, and I'm going to go with H20's $50 plan and just pay-per-text internationally in $10 feature card increments.

**ceredon** · 05-23-2012, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Mark2000

I have a reason...because AT&T's $50 plan has international text included. For H20, I have to pay $0.15 a text.

Mind you for the same price I'd pay AT&T ($75 if I get the 1GB package), I'd get 166 international texts with H20, which, when combined with the amount of people who use iMessage, will do me fine for my one-week trip to America.

So, I have decided not to risk it, and I'm going to go with H20's $50 plan and just pay-per-text internationally in $10 feature card increments.

If you are texting back to Canada, could you use Google Voice?

**batcave** · 05-23-2012, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Airforcekid

I can't understand why someone would want to use an iPhone with gophone you lose roaming and risk being cut off from data why not use an MVNO that offers better coverage and support for iPhones?

It's worked fine for me for the past four or five years. I only spend one or two weeks per month in the US and I only ever spent about $100-$150 per year with ATT so it's pretty economical for me. I spend about $70 per month in Canada for my plan and I don't want to double that cost.

I find it hard to believe that an MVNO would have better coverage since they piggyback on existing networks. However, I would image their support for smartphones would be better than ATT!

What I really need is an unlimited North American plan that would provide voice and data services - for under $100 per month.

Do you have any recommendations for MVNOs?

ps. what do you mean by losing roaming? GoPhone works in Mexico and Canada - not that I need that functionality.