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Smartphone data fee.

F

fleggett

Gawd
Joined
Nov 30, 2004
Messages
546
I'll be the first to admit I'm not attuned to the fee schedules of all these new phones, but I was curious about something. A co-worker offered to sell me his iPhone 4 for $100. I was seriously considering it, but when I called AT&T to see what the SIM conversion would cost, I was told in order to use the iPhone AT ALL would incur a $20/month fee above and beyond my current bill. In fact, the lady to whom I spoke said this is true for ALL new smartphones.

Are you guys paying this fee or was I given bad info? I'm the sort of person that, when I get a "new" phone (sometimes they're actually old and used), I just transfer my SIM card and away I go. Is a Blackberry 9000 (my current phone) subject to this fee? Thanks in advance.
 
I assume you are talking about the data plan and yes...we all get ripped off with it for the most part unless I guess you buy a phone out of contract and keep your current data plan...not sure if that works.
 
I'm surprised you have a blackberry w/ no data plan...

Do you use the BB to do data things at all? ie internet, emails, facebook, etc...
 
Yes, this fee is associated with the data plan. I don't use data-type stuff on the BB except when it's connected to my home network (the BB was a hand-me-down).

I was shocked when the AT&T rep told me this because I specifically said I did NOT want to add a data plan to the iPhone I was considering buying, nor would I want anything similar going forward with other phones. She said it was mandatory, even if I didn't want to do any data-type stuff.

I'm on month-to-month.
 
So basically the phone company's are saying, "Bend the fuck over customers!", but wait, what are the customers saying? "Well...OK"

Fuck them all and their data plans!

Can ya tell I'm still pissed about the mandatory smartphone data plan bullshit? I just want a frickin phone with wifi, "but noooo!!!, if it has wifi, we're gonna make you pay for a data plan even if you have ZERO interest in using one!" - Just plain evil...

Check this shit out -
http://wireless.amazon.com/HTC-Freestyle-Phone-AT-T/dp/B004MMEHXI?ie=UTF8

http://www.htc.com/us/products/freestyle-att

Just bought one for my wife, came out this month, $20 upgrade through AmazonWireless, damn near a smartphone right, minus the frickin wifi! So that makes it not a smartphone and not required to have a data plan. Some damn dirty shit going on there.



Alright, I guess I'm done now...
 
fleggett said:
Yes, this fee is associated with the data plan. I don't use data-type stuff on the BB except when it's connected to my home network (the BB was a hand-me-down).

I was shocked when the AT&T rep told me this because I specifically said I did NOT want to add a data plan to the iPhone I was considering buying, nor would I want anything similar going forward with other phones. She said it was mandatory, even if I didn't want to do any data-type stuff.

I'm on month-to-month.
Click to expand...

It is for pretty much all smartphones now. AT&T actually has a $15/month option but limits use to 200MB a month. I use that plan as I really only need data for email/browsing/map data when I'm not on Wifi.
 
fleggett said:
I'll be the first to admit I'm not attuned to the fee schedules of all these new phones, but I was curious about something. A co-worker offered to sell me his iPhone 4 for $100. I was seriously considering it, but when I called AT&T to see what the SIM conversion would cost, I was told in order to use the iPhone AT ALL would incur a $20/month fee above and beyond my current bill. In fact, the lady to whom I spoke said this is true for ALL new smartphones.

Are you guys paying this fee or was I given bad info? I'm the sort of person that, when I get a "new" phone (sometimes they're actually old and used), I just transfer my SIM card and away I go. Is a Blackberry 9000 (my current phone) subject to this fee? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
No, just drop your SIM card in.

I have a smart phone without data-plan. Use wifi connection whenever available, pay for no data.

You just can't buy the phone with new/renewal contract. Third party like youre doing should be fine.
 
Menelmarar said:
No, just drop your SIM card in.

I have a smart phone without data-plan. Use wifi connection whenever available, pay for no data.

You just can't buy the phone with new/renewal contract. Third party like youre doing should be fine.
Click to expand...

this, i ran an original iPhone on ATT(i was the 2nd owner), no data plan, followed by now running an HTC HD2 on ATT with no data plan occured (we are Month to Month).
 
So, just as long as you're not signing a new contract or renewing an existing one, the data plan fee doesn't apply if you can do without data service? Once AT&T realizes you're using a smartphone, they can't slap on that monthly charge, can they? I just want to be crystal clear about this before I commit to purchasing my co-worker's iPhone 4, or any other device that's classified as a "smartphone". This is especially worrisome for the iPhone, since I'll have to purchase a new SIM card. Thanks all for the feedback.
 
As soon as you have a smartphone active on your line *of which AT&T has the IMEI in their database*, you'll automatically have a data plan tacked onto your account. If you want to get around this, use an unlocked Canadian, European, or T-Mobile phone. If you do go this route, and eventually DO want to have a data plan later on, make sure you get compatible 3G (850/1900) bands. Telus, Bell and Rogers from Canada, or Telstra from Australia are where you want to get them from.
 
The whole point of an iPhone is so that you have the net wherever you go, It's a bit redundant to have a wifi only iPhone. Just buy an iTouch in that case.
 
DisrupTer911 said:
I'm surprised you have a blackberry w/ no data plan...

Do you use the BB to do data things at all? ie internet, emails, facebook, etc...
Click to expand...

verizon at at&t charge you smart phone fees, you can buy a cheap non-smart phone that still uses 3g and have limited web capabilities with an unlimited data plan and not get charged the smart phone fee but if you buy a smart phone at the discounted price you pay when you sign a new contract you will get slapped with the smart phone fee
 
mobusta1 said:
The whole point of an iPhone is so that you have the net wherever you go, It's a bit redundant to have a wifi only iPhone. Just buy an iTouch in that case.
Click to expand...
You obviously don't know what the word redundant means.

Carrying a single iPhone > carrying two devices iTouch+dumb-phone.
 
Yeah its damn near impossible to not get charged a data fee now for a smartphone. The IMEI will be detected in the ATT network and youll get a $15 200MB plan tacked on if you do not choose one. And even as far as unlocked smartphones on ATT (such as a mentioned HD2) Ive heard from customers thats they are detected as an unlisted smartphone (in the HD2s case, an HTC smartphone) and charged accordingly.
From my knowledge and experience the only possible phone you could get away with might be a Blackberry. They tend to slip past the data plan prompt sometimes.
 
Just an FYI.....dont know what size SIM card your 9000 uses but the IPhone 4 does use the micro SIM one so if you do get it you may have to do some cutting.
 
Evosunny said:
Yeah its damn near impossible to not get charged a data fee now for a smartphone. The IMEI will be detected in the ATT network and youll get a $15 200MB plan tacked on if you do not choose one. And even as far as unlocked smartphones on ATT (such as a mentioned HD2) Ive heard from customers thats they are detected as an unlisted smartphone (in the HD2s case, an HTC smartphone) and charged accordingly.
From my knowledge and experience the only possible phone you could get away with might be a Blackberry. They tend to slip past the data plan prompt sometimes.
Click to expand...
I've used 5 different unlocked/unbranded phones in the past year (3 of which were HTC) and not a single one is recognized by AT&T. It pretty much has to be AT&T branded for them to pick it up (iPhone and Nexus One aside).
 
am i the only one intrigued by the iphone 4 for $100? lol

You got a good friend there...
 
XpediencY said:
am i the only one intrigued by the iphone 4 for $100? lol

You got a good friend there...
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's a helluva price, which is why I was pretty distressed when I learned about this data plan fee.

It sounds like it's somewhat of a crapshoot depending on whether or not the service provider can glean the IMEI from your phone. I'm tempted to just buy my coworker's iPhone, see if AT&T sticks me with the additional $15 and, if they do, resell it on eBay while returning to the BB.
 
bwp73 said:
Just an FYI.....dont know what size SIM card your 9000 uses but the IPhone 4 does use the micro SIM one so if you do get it you may have to do some cutting.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I know. I was quoted $20 to obtain a micro-SIM card and to have all all my contact information transferred. I was also assured I could keep my old SIM card in case the iPhone craps out or if it gets smashed.

(The 9000 uses a standard SIM.)
 
Sabrewulf... said:
Just bought one for my wife, came out this month, $20 upgrade through AmazonWireless, damn near a smartphone right, minus the frickin wifi! So that makes it not a smartphone and not required to have a data plan. Some damn dirty shit going on there.
Click to expand...

Hmm... With that phone, maybe a MicroSD Wifi card would work.
 
buy it anyways since it is worth it just to use it as an Ipod Touch.
 
fleggett said:
Yeah, it's a helluva price, which is why I was pretty distressed when I learned about this data plan fee.

It sounds like it's somewhat of a crapshoot depending on whether or not the service provider can glean the IMEI from your phone. I'm tempted to just buy my coworker's iPhone, see if AT&T sticks me with the additional $15 and, if they do, resell it on eBay while returning to the BB.
Click to expand...

Your IMEI is tagged every time you make a phone call. So they will eventually find it & when they do you most likely wont be allowed to switch back to the BB & keep the exclusion. When you had the exclusion added it was communicated that any change in device could force the mandatory data plan regardless of where you got it from.

fleggett said:
Yeah, I know. I was quoted $20 to obtain a micro-SIM card and to have all all my contact information transferred. I was also assured I could keep my old SIM card in case the iPhone craps out or if it gets smashed.

(The 9000 uses a standard SIM.)
Click to expand...

This is also Bullshit. Once an SIM is deactivated it is toast. You can always google sim to microsim & see what you get (electronics are the same, just a difference in the plastic around it. Of course doing so voids the warranty you wouldn't have anyway.
 
bastage said:
Your IMEI is tagged every time you make a phone call. So they will eventually find it & when they do you most likely wont be allowed to switch back to the BB & keep the exclusion. When you had the exclusion added it was communicated that any change in device could force the mandatory data plan regardless of where you got it from.
Click to expand...
<sigh> It just gets better and better.

So, you're practically 100% sure that, after a few uses, AT&T will discover I'm using an iPhone and slap on that data fee? And that if I ever want to return to the BB, I'll still be charged a data plan fee? And I can't ever get rid of it unless I return to using a non-smartphone?

I think you guys have officially scared me off, then. Yeah, I may be being cheap about it at only $15/month, but that's still $180/year for something I'm not even using (I don't text and I don't browse the web on my phone).

This is also Bullshit. Once an SIM is deactivated it is toast. You can always google sim to microsim & see what you get (electronics are the same, just a difference in the plastic around it. Of course doing so voids the warranty you wouldn't have anyway.
Click to expand...
So, if I ever did discard the iPhone, I'd have to pay another $20 to convert back to a regular SIM? I can deal with this, since it's a one-time fee, but my inner Scrooge would be a bit riled.
 
fleggett said:
<sigh> It just gets better and better.

So, you're practically 100% sure that, after a few uses, AT&T will discover I'm using an iPhone and slap on that data fee? And that if I ever want to return to the BB, I'll still be charged a data plan fee? And I can't ever get rid of it unless I return to using a non-smartphone?

I think you guys have officially scared me off, then. Yeah, I may be being cheap about it at only $15/month, but that's still $180/year for something I'm not even using (I don't text and I don't browse the web on my phone).

So, if I ever did discard the iPhone, I'd have to pay another $20 to convert back to a regular SIM? I can deal with this, since it's a one-time fee, but my inner Scrooge would be a bit riled.
Click to expand...

Typically the data flag isnt going to happen until data is accessed on the device. With an iphone its eventually going to happen. Even if it was only accessing data in order to download a MMS that someone sent you. And as far as going back to the BB with the exclusion its not supposed to happen, And its becoming very very difficult to bend that rule.

And correct about the sim. It aint a huge deal since its a 1 time charge, but still a charge none the less.

Personally though I wouldn't bother with a good smart phone at all without a data plan. Too much is lost when you dont have that option for it to be worth the trouble.
 
I don't have a data plan, I just use WIFI. It's everywhere...
 
bastage said:
Typically the data flag isnt going to happen until data is accessed on the device. With an iphone its eventually going to happen. Even if it was only accessing data in order to download a MMS that someone sent you. And as far as going back to the BB with the exclusion its not supposed to happen, And its becoming very very difficult to bend that rule.

And correct about the sim. It aint a huge deal since its a 1 time charge, but still a charge none the less.

Personally though I wouldn't bother with a good smart phone at all without a data plan. Too much is lost when you dont have that option for it to be worth the trouble.
Click to expand...

unless you use a fake APN :D in which case the 2G/3G whatnot cant access anything at all (what i had to do on my iPhone EDGE so it wouldnt use anything but wifi, thing just thought there was no data connection in my area)
 
W.Feather said:
unless you use a fake APN :D in which case the 2G/3G whatnot cant access anything at all (what i had to do on my iPhone EDGE so it wouldnt use anything but wifi, thing just thought there was no data connection in my area)
Click to expand...

Sure, & no MMS when not on Wifi..
 
bastage said:
Sure, & no MMS when not on Wifi..
Click to expand...

agreed, just saying, hell ATT wouldnt even let me do MMS after apply all the "fixes" to the 2G, so it never was an issue to me (still dont do MMS now)
 
complain to FCC, I did and they let me have my smartphone without data.
 
W.Feather said:
agreed, just saying, hell ATT wouldnt even let me do MMS after apply all the "fixes" to the 2G, so it never was an issue to me (still dont do MMS now)
Click to expand...

heh.. MMS works fine with the iPhone 2g.. but it has to be provisioned a little differently on AT&T's side.
 
I haven't found ATT to automatically charge you for a data plan.

When I upgraded my iPhone, I gave my old one to my dad and I unlocked it and put in his SIM from his Sony Ericson flip phone.

He does not have data or anything and calling works perfect from the iPhone.

When I log into the ATT mobile website to the account it shows a picture of an iPhone for his line now (the image changed when we swapped the SIM) but they have never charged his line for data or anything.

He has been doing this for over a year now.
 
I have an ancient 2002 Samsung smartphone. Can't really use the data plan. Verizon nicely insisted on a $44 a month fee for somethign I do not use. Nice.
 
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