Question about AT&T

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Rahburt-33

Gawd
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Mar 17, 2008
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So I have an iPhone 2G that I bought for $20. I only use it currently for music and calender. (Nothing hardcore enough for me to get a a newer iPhone)
I popped my friends SIM Card into it and it worked fine.
My question is, is that when I get AT&T in a few months, will the people at AT&T know that I am using the iPhone? I'm only going to have regular talking service, as I rarely use internet (if I do it's wifi) and I don't text message. If AT&T knows that I have the iPhone, will they try to automatically upgrade the plan to a more expensive one? All I will be using the phone for is calls, music, and calender, no text messaging or data. I've never had a cell phone before (excluding this iPhone with no service), so I'm new to how they work. Also the iPhone is jailbroken and unlocked.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can assist me.
 
Yes, that's what generally happens with the iPhone. It's detected when it connects to their network because of its IMEI (think serial number). If your device is unlocked, why not opt for prepaid or a subcarrier if you have no plans for using data? You can get unlimited voice service for $40 a month (and of course less if you don't need unlimited).
 
I was planning on doing that, but it's part of a family plan. So they automatically upgrade the service as soon as I put the SIM card into the iPhone?
 
I've had an iPhone 2G for 9+ months now without a data plan on AT&T, also jailbroken and unlocked. I have Data Roaming and Airplane Mode set to off although I'm not sure if that affects anything. I do all my data related stuff through whatever wifi is available or at home. I've never taken it into the store or informed AT&T in any other way. I'm pretty sure if I did they would immediately hit me with a data plan.
 
I'll probably disable those then. I'd like to use this thing as a phone, one less thing I have to carry around in my pocket
 
SOME people were able to convince AT&T to drop the data plan from their iphones (original 2G model only), but I wouldn't count on it.
 
Wow, AT&T forces the original iPhone into a data plan even though it's forced to use the EDGE network..?! That's ridiculous. You could prolly leave the thing downloading stuff 24/7 and use < 100 MBs.
 
T4rd said:
Wow, AT&T forces the original iPhone into a data plan even though it's forced to use the EDGE network..?! That's ridiculous. You could prolly leave the thing downloading stuff 24/7 and use < 100 MBs.
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It was mandatory on the original iphone since its release why would that change?
 
T4rd said:
Wow, AT&T forces the original iPhone into a data plan even though it's forced to use the EDGE network..?! That's ridiculous. You could prolly leave the thing downloading stuff 24/7 and use < 100 MBs.
Click to expand...
You could easily rack up 100mb within the course of an hour even on EDGE. You need to check your math. I used to download hundreds of megabytes overnight on dialup in the 90s and it's considerably slower.
 
My dad uses my old iPhone 2G unlocked on ATT and has been for over a year. He just has calling minutes and no texting or data. ATT has never "automatically" upgraded him or anything. He has never been charged for data use or anything. We just have the cellular data function on the phone turned off. Calling and WiFi still work great.

When I log into the ATT account on the website, the image of the phone showes an iPhone 2G so they definitely know it's an iPhone but they still don't charge him for the data or anything.
 
T4rd said:
Wow, AT&T forces the original iPhone into a data plan even though it's forced to use the EDGE network..?! That's ridiculous. You could prolly leave the thing downloading stuff 24/7 and use < 100 MBs.
Click to expand...

They don't force data, at least not for my dad.

Also, EDGE isn't that slow... Back when I had my iPhone 2G using EDGE I was getting about 150Kbit/s which is 18.75KByte/s, 8 hours at that speed is over half a gigabyte.
 
bastage said:
It was mandatory on the original iphone since its release why would that change?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't know, I've never been on that POS carrier..

Blue Fox said:
You could easily rack up 100mb within the course of an hour even on EDGE. You need to check your math. I used to download hundreds of megabytes overnight on dialup in the 90s and it's considerably slower.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was exaggerating a bit ;).

SirMaster said:
They don't force data, at least not for my dad.

Also, EDGE isn't that slow... Back when I had my iPhone 2G using EDGE I was getting about 150Kbit/s which is 18.75KByte/s, 8 hours at that speed is over half a gigabyte.
Click to expand...

See above. I know you could use a considerable amount if you wanted to, but it's not very pleasant so usually someone wouldn't be inclined to use much data on such a slow connection. Verizon has a $10 "unlimited" (though I think it's capped pretty low actually) data plan for feature phones that use the 1X/EVDO (similar to Edge) connections. That's what I had to use with my old LG Voyager, so I just assumed that AT&T would have a similar plan for phones that only used the EDGE network.
 
T4rd said:
Verizon has a $10 "unlimited" (though I think it's capped pretty low actually) data plan for feature phones that use the 1X/EVDO (similar to Edge) connections. That's what I had to use with my old LG Voyager, so I just assumed that AT&T would have a similar plan for phones that only used the EDGE network.
Click to expand...
They do. Posters are confusing the mandatory 3G service with the 2G iPhone plans. I don't remember the pricing, it's between $10-$20 dollars per month and includes unlimited EDGE and unlimited texts. He may not even be charged, but if he is it's not going to be a drastic amount.

There used to be a glitch that allowed 2G users to upgrade their accounts to the 3G unlimited data for $30 dollars when they switch to the newer iPhones.

There isn't any reason to have an iPhone without some sort of data plan. I used to think like many people seem to think: just use wifi. But the reality is that the one time you're driving and get lost, need an address, need to check your email, or whatever...at some point that one use is going to be worth the ~$150 per year.

I currently use a captivate on tmobile under their $10/month unsupported EDGE phones. I could use my 3Gs iPhone, too. I used to be on AT&T but no longer. I fought against the $30 dollar plan and then finally caved and never will I go another minute using a smartphone without a data plan. It's senseless. You might as well use a flip phone and continue using the iPhone as an iTouch and not have to charge your phone every 10 hours.
 
They could add it automatically, but you would not have to maintain the plan. Data plans are only mandatory for subscribers getting subsidized phones. Since yours isn't subsidized you have the power to say no. You could always call customer service, I have generally always found at&t's customer service reps to be helpful.
 
TWolf79 said:
They could add it automatically, but you would not have to maintain the plan. Data plans are only mandatory for subscribers getting subsidized phones. Since yours isn't subsidized you have the power to say no. You could always call customer service, I have generally always found at&t's customer service reps to be helpful.
Click to expand...

That is completely 100% wrong.. Data plan is required on all smartphones regardless of where you get it unless it was already active on the same number previous to the june of 2009 when the data plan became mandatory.
 
I ran with a 2G and no data for a while, just make sure you go to iphonenodata . com and apply that....it makes it so the iPhone cannot connect to the EDGE network whatsoever.
 
mope54 said:
They do. Posters are confusing the mandatory 3G service with the 2G iPhone plans. I don't remember the pricing, it's between $10-$20 dollars per month and includes unlimited EDGE and unlimited texts. He may not even be charged, but if he is it's not going to be a drastic amount.

There used to be a glitch that allowed 2G users to upgrade their accounts to the 3G unlimited data for $30 dollars when they switch to the newer iPhones.

There isn't any reason to have an iPhone without some sort of data plan. I used to think like many people seem to think: just use wifi. But the reality is that the one time you're driving and get lost, need an address, need to check your email, or whatever...at some point that one use is going to be worth the ~$150 per year.

I currently use a captivate on tmobile under their $10/month unsupported EDGE phones. I could use my 3Gs iPhone, too. I used to be on AT&T but no longer. I fought against the $30 dollar plan and then finally caved and never will I go another minute using a smartphone without a data plan. It's senseless. You might as well use a flip phone and continue using the iPhone as an iTouch and not have to charge your phone every 10 hours.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought and it's good you cleared that up. I agree with needing a data plan too. There's no way I could have a smart phone and be restricted to WiFi only.

bastage said:
If thats the way you feel then you shouldn't even be considering it..
Click to expand...

I'm not OP, so I'm not considering it.

bastage said:
That is completely 100% wrong.. Data plan is required on all smartphones regardless of where you get it unless it was already active on the same number previous to the june of 2009 when the data plan became mandatory.
Click to expand...

I know you work for AT&T, so you would know better, but I've always read that if you got a GSM phone outside of AT&T (so it doesn't have the AT&T branding/logo on the phone), then you could use the phone on their network without any data plan so long as you kept carrier data disabled on the phone so AT&T doesn't know it's a smart phone. But once you enabled carrier data on the phone, then AT&T would see that and automatically add the appropriate data plan to your bill.

But like I said, I have no experience being an AT&T customer and am only going off of what I've read on here or other forums. So I can't vouch for this, but I'm sure you can/can't.
 
No they are not allowed to automatically upgrade you without your expressed permission. If they do, they are violating several commerce laws.
 
TehRoot said:
No they are not allowed to automatically upgrade you without your expressed permission. If they do, they are violating several commerce laws.
Click to expand...
Except you allowed for it when you agreed to their ToS when signed up for service with them.
 
T4rd said:
I'm not OP, so I'm not considering it.
Click to expand...
Oops when I responded I thought I was responding to the OP

T4rd said:
I know you work for AT&T, so you would know better, but I've always read that if you got a GSM phone outside of AT&T (so it doesn't have the AT&T branding/logo on the phone), then you could use the phone on their network without any data plan so long as you kept carrier data disabled on the phone so AT&T doesn't know it's a smart phone. But once you enabled carrier data on the phone, then AT&T would see that and automatically add the appropriate data plan to your bill.

But like I said, I have no experience being an AT&T customer and am only going off of what I've read on here or other forums. So I can't vouch for this, but I'm sure you can/can't.
Click to expand...
The thing about an unbranded GSM phone is correct. If you actually manage to keep it disabled all the time. 1 Slip up though & that data plan goes on then they know its a smart phone & every call you make will confirm your still using it. The question though wasn't about an unbranded GSM device it was about an iPhone.

Honestly though I have said this many times before & I will say it again.. If your not going to have data on your smart phone then there isnt a reason to have the smart phone. The "im only going to use it on wifi" is crap. The point of a smart phone is so you have the convience anywhere, not just when your at home or work. If thats all you wanted you can grab a cheap pad for a hell of alot less that would be a lot better then a smartphone. Plus if your not going crazy with it data isnt that expensive. I am on Walmart Family Mobile so I keep track of my data on a regular basis. Well I am on here constantly from my phone as well as emails & the occasional youtube video & maps anytime I feel the need. My monthly data usage is less then 100mb so with AT&T thats the 15 dollar plan. And I have it everywhere I need it. Not just when wifi is available.

TehRoot said:
No they are not allowed to automatically upgrade you without your expressed permission. If they do, they are violating several commerce laws.
Click to expand...
this made me lol... Read your terms & conditions much?
 
bastage said:
The question though wasn't about an unbranded GSM device it was about an iPhone.
Click to expand...

This is confusing for me though because every no iPhone has any carrier branding on it. So does AT&T just know if an iPhone is from the US or not? What if you have an iPhone from another country and activate it on AT&T?

bastage said:
Honestly though I have said this many times before & I will say it again.. If your not going to have data on your smart phone then there isnt a reason to have the smart phone. The "im only going to use it on wifi" is crap. The point of a smart phone is so you have the convience anywhere, not just when your at home or work. If thats all you wanted you can grab a cheap pad for a hell of alot less that would be a lot better then a smartphone. Plus if your not going crazy with it data isnt that expensive. I am on Walmart Family Mobile so I keep track of my data on a regular basis. Well I am on here constantly from my phone as well as emails & the occasional youtube video & maps anytime I feel the need. My monthly data usage is less then 100mb so with AT&T thats the 15 dollar plan. And I have it everywhere I need it. Not just when wifi is available.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree to this too just as I did with Mope54 above. If you have a smart phone with no access to data outside of WiFi, it pretty much defeats the purpose of having a smartphone. That phone part means being able to use all features of the device wherever you want.
 
T4rd said:
This is confusing for me though because every no iPhone has any carrier branding on it. So does AT&T just know if an iPhone is from the US or not? What if you have an iPhone from another country and activate it on AT&T?
Click to expand...

if it came from the US it is AT&T branded.. maybe not on the device, but AT&T has the IMEI since they were the only ones to sell them.
 
T4rd, regarding the smartphone plan vs subsidy thing: As Bastage said, if you get an international phone, and a model that AT&T doesn't have the IMEI for, you can easily go without data, or better yet, put it on the $15 dumbphone data plan. I did that with my line while I was working for AT&T, I just used a Telstra (Aussie, with AT&T 3G bands) HTC Desire. When I spoke to customer service, they said they couldn't recognize my phone and I told them it was a chinese knockoff that a friend picked up for me. You can do the same thing with any international phone EXCEPT for the Nexus One, iPhone, and eventually the Nexus S.

you won't have to worry about random sweeps, or AT&T "catching" you, just don't tell them you're using a smart phone. Your main worry is if they start carrying that model, THEN you're screwed. Just ask anyone who was using a Nexus One.
 
entropism said:
T4rd, regarding the smartphone plan vs subsidy thing: As Bastage said, if you get an international phone, and a model that AT&T doesn't have the IMEI for, you can easily go without data, or better yet, put it on the $15 dumbphone data plan. I did that with my line while I was working for AT&T, I just used a Telstra (Aussie, with AT&T 3G bands) HTC Desire. When I spoke to customer service, they said they couldn't recognize my phone and I told them it was a chinese knockoff that a friend picked up for me. You can do the same thing with any international phone EXCEPT for the Nexus One, iPhone, and eventually the Nexus S.

you won't have to worry about random sweeps, or AT&T "catching" you, just don't tell them you're using a smart phone. Your main worry is if they start carrying that model, THEN you're screwed. Just ask anyone who was using a Nexus One.
Click to expand...
They got wise to the unlimited data for non smartphone. I have seen it get changed to the smartphone plan automatically now.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
It doesn't matter in regards to the OP because he's using a 2G iPhone; the 2G plan is the same price as an unlimited "dumb phone" plan.

I live on a UC campus and am *always* under a wi-fi umbrella...unless I'm driving (which is when one actually *needs* data on one's phone, if one does at all). That said, I actually don't have my iPhone on a plan at all...I use groundwire, google voice, and a SIP account for all my calls, texting, and data via wifi. But I think that's a fairly extreme outlier of how to use an iPhone.

I unlocked my Captivate before I left AT&T for T-Mobile and I use a $10 unsupported, unlimited data plan for it. If I didn't have my friends on my family plan I wouldn't even be using a carrier *at all*.


If you are convinced that you can survive under wi-fi 100% then there isn't any reason to use a carrier. If you think you might need that once in a blue moon insurance while driving, then buy a pay-per-use SIM. There isn't any reason to even bother getting service with AT&T--but if you do, might as well get a data plan.
 
bastage said:
They got wise to the unlimited data for non smartphone. I have seen it get changed to the smartphone plan automatically now.
Posted via Mobile Device
Click to expand...

Unless this changed within the past 3 months, then the customer got really unlucky or REALLY stupid and said "I'm on a smartphone you don't have". Or, of course, he was using a phone they have an equivalent model to.
 
entropism said:
Unless this changed within the past 3 months, then the customer got really unlucky or REALLY stupid and said "I'm on a smartphone you don't have". Or, of course, he was using a phone they have an equivalent model to.
Click to expand...

Nahh.. Dumb phones cant access all the same things or in the same way.. I mean seriously do you doubt that they can see your browser tag?
 
bastage said:
Nahh.. Dumb phones cant access all the same things or in the same way.. I mean seriously do you doubt that they can see your browser tag?
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...aaand the user agent in your browser can be easily changed, not to mention there is a lot more to a smartphone than http traffic. Feature phones can pretty much access all the same things as smartphones these days as well. There are tons of people with unbranded smartphones (myself included) on AT&Ts dumbphone data plan and they've been doing it for years. Hell, I even used an AT&T branded smartphone on the dumbphone plan for a while too.
 
Blue Fox said:
...aaand the user agent in your browser can be easily changed, not to mention there is a lot more to a smartphone than http traffic. Feature phones can pretty much access all the same things as smartphones these days as well. There are tons of people with unbranded smartphones (myself included) on AT&Ts dumbphone data plan and they've been doing it for years. Hell, I even used an AT&T branded smartphone on the dumbphone plan for a while too.
Click to expand...

& I am not saying that its impossible to get away with. But its not full proof.
 
There's nothing "to get away with" doing. I walked into t mobile store and the agent saw my att branded captivate and told me could put me on their unsupported phone plan. Why do you think people part so much for iphones? They don't pay double and pay full data access to browse on edge just because it's fun...they do it because it costs less
 
bastage said:
Nahh.. Dumb phones cant access all the same things or in the same way.. I mean seriously do you doubt that they can see your browser tag?
Click to expand...

Well... Nothing personal, but I think the company is talking for you at this point. I had my HTC Desire on the $10 data plan, and I had full access to everything, at the normal 4mb/s down and 2mb/s up that I can see with a phone on the "smartphone" plan. I had access to everything I had access to with a smartphone. I could tether all I wanted to, though A: I don't tether much and B: I don't want to push my luck doing a dozen GB of data per month.

The simple truth is that they have NO IDEA what kind of phone you're on, because if you don't have a phone that's in their database, their system shows the IMEI as all zeros. They're not analyzing browser tags, or anything else of the sort.
 
You guys are over thinking this.

My dad uses my iPhone 2G without data and they know it's a smartphone and don't charge him.

When I first unlocked it and put in his sim card it was sipping some data somehow still (about 100kb). ATT charged him for the bit of data at the per KB rate (because he didn't have a data plan.)

We just called up ATT and said he doesn't want data and that we switched data off for the phone and didn't know why it still had data usage.

They also offered to wipe the per KB data fee he had accumulated and also offered to put a data block on for his line so it wouldn't happen again.

If you just call ATT and explain whats up they are always happy to help. I don't know why people complain about ATT and say they have "bad" customer service. Honestly I don't know how they customer service can get any better.

I've never even paid an upgrade fee. I just call up and say I've been a loyal customer for X years, can you waive the upgrade fee? And they always have with no problems. I love ATT.
 
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