AT&T Data Services Defined

[nKrypteD1]

Hello Everybody (In the crazy doctor from the simpsons voice)

I've been doing a bit of research here in the last few days in regards to the different Data connection packages that Cingular offers, quite simply because I am tired of $40 a month down the tubes. So I've made some discoveries and some conclusions and figured I would share em. Here Goes:

There are 5 Different Levels of Data Packages (all these are unlimited btw):

1. Media Net Max (with 200/1000/3000 messages): $19.99/$29.99/$39.99
2. SmartPhone Connect: $19.99
3. BlackBerry Personal/Corporate/Connect/Tethered: $34.99/$49.99/$49.99/$79.99
4. PDA Connect (Data Connect): $44.99
5. Laptop Connect: $79.99 or $59.99 w/$39.99+ voice plan, $99.99 w/WiFi

Ok first of all, let me remove Laptop Connect from the contenders in regards to what I'm trying to explain, irregardless what access point you use, if you have PCMCIA Card you will need Laptop Connect, and yes it's expensive.

Ok, during my research I've found there are several different APN's (Access Point Names) each with different Capabilities. They are:

• WAP.CINGULAR
• ISP.CINGULAR / ISPDA.CINGULAR
• blackberry.cingular

Ok let's start off with WAP.CINGULAR, this is your MediaNET wireless access point (and I don't care what the store rep tells you, you can have MediaNet on a 8125, treo, or smartphone, you just cant use it to connect to the other Access Points.) When you connect to WAP.CINGULAR you have a Internal IP address assigned to your phone, and you connect via Network Address Translation (NAT.) The downside to this, is several PDA software packages prefer to have a live IP and you're granted fewer slots on the Cingular food chain (this is speculation that I've read on several resources, ie you're not guaranteed as much live time as say a Data Connect Customer.) If you're using a Laptop via tether the dialup number for WAP.CINGULAR is *99# please note that chances are cingular will not know you're using a laptop but doing so is at your own risks, you can incurr quite high bills if they charge you for tethering per KB.

Second we have ISP.CINGULAR and ISPDA.CINGULAR, these are your Data Connect APN's, they are assigned a Live IP that is not connected via NAT, supposedly have a higher priority for data access, and it comes in two different flavors. Accelerated or Not Accelerated, ISP.CINGULAR is NOT accelerated, this is the the equivalent of *99**1# while ISPDA.CINGULAR is Accelerated *99**2#. Now let me go on a limb here and offer my explanations, the Acceleration is the equivalent of Dialup ISP's offering their tools for Speeding up the net, most specifically we're talking graphics compression and size, the images are decreased in quality in order to make sure that not as much data is sent. The way I see it in the real world ISP stands for Internet Service Provider, I believe that's the case here as well, the APN is mainly meant for access the net with fullsized devices, while ISPDA could easily stand for Is PDA or ISP PDA in which case the decrease in image size is not only rarely detectable but actually a bonus.

Last we have the Blackberry Access Point, it's fairly self explanatory, first of all it has a live IP address, and is not accelerated, but furthermore it offers the Push Email services for Blackberry Users.


Ok Confused or wondering what this means for you?

It's simple, if you're using a PDA and need a live IP make sure in your GPRS settings that you're using the ISPDA or ISP APN, please note these have different usernames than media net, ISPDA/ISP @CINGULARGPRS.COM pass is still CINGULAR1 if I recall correctly. If you DON'T need a live IP and have a PDA, you can use MediaNet (and save 20 bux a month) by having them move you to the MediaNet Unlimited Plan and only using WAP.CINGULAR (which btw is default on the HTC devices.)

Here's some more information pulled off Cingular Wireless FAQ from Wikibooks:

CSD
Makes a dedicated data connection like a conventional wired modem. Speed (on Cingular) limited to 9600 bps. Charged like voice minutes (and is not Mobile to Mobile). Must be enabled by Cingular to work (which may require a $4/month data feature), and is only available to "orange" accounts (Cingular, not AT&T Wireless Services) and on the "orange" network.

* A GSM phone has no real dialup modem, just a sort of virtual modem which makes a connection to a carrier's IWU (Inter Working Unit), located in some service center. The IWU has the actual modem that can make analog data calls over the PSTN (public switched telephone network). If the carrier doesn't provide an IWU, or if your account isn't provisioned for CSD (Circuit Switched Data), then a GSM phone cannot make data and/or fax calls. If your account is provisioned for CSD, then all you need is to install the phone as a modem with Windows Dial-Up Networking.

* A regular analog dialup modem cannot be made to work over a GSM voice channel because of the digital audio data compression used in the GSM channel.

GPRS/EGPRS(EDGE)
Makes a packet data connection, sharing channel(s) with packets to/from other users, connecting and disconnecting on demand. Much faster and more efficient than CSD. Charged by the amount of data transferred, as (expensive) Pay-As-You-Go if you don't have a data package (MEdia or Data Connect).

HSDPA
See What is BroadbandConnect?

See also What data speeds are possible with Cingular (GSM)?

[edit] What is the difference between MEdia and Data Connect?

MEdia
Intended for use only on a cell phone. "Tethering" works, but is discouraged, and Cingular reserves the right to deny service based on usage. (See MEdia Legal Notices) Uses a WAP profile, but access to the entire Internet is available. VPN may not work. No Data Acceleration.

Data Connect
Intended for use with PDA or computer, depending on specific package. Uses an Internet profile. VPN is supported. Data Acceleration is optional.

[josephd]

That is very good info thank-you, although a lot of that still confuses me somewhat. I did notice in my message settings on my SE there is a push setting what is that?

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by josephd

That is very good info thank-you, although a lot of that still confuses me somewhat. I did notice in my message settings on my SE there is a push setting what is that?

I'm not sure if it's in regards to PUSH email or not, PUSH Email is when the Email server actively *Pushes* the email to the client (creative huh) basically with exchange you can set it to aggresively make sure the email is received by the client the second it comes in, instead of the client checking at x interval to see if there's new mail in the mailbox. Cingular has a client called Xpressmail that hooks into outlook, you leave outlook running and set it to check at x interval, Xpressmail recognizes the new mail and pushes it to the device. It was a big Upgrade in the AKU2 ROM of the 8125 and also in the updates for the Treo's based on WM5, I'm not sure if it's done without GOOD's (read Motorola buys GOOD email service I'm sure it's on the forum if not it's on engadget) GOOD Link. I know on RIM Blackberry's that's the big thing that they were sued about.

[josephd]

Originally Posted by nKrypteD1

I'm not sure if it's in regards to PUSH email or not, PUSH Email is when the Email server actively *Pushes* the email to the client (creative huh) basically with exchange you can set it to aggresively make sure the email is received by the client the second it comes in, instead of the client checking at x interval to see if there's new mail in the mailbox. Cingular has a client called Xpressmail that hooks into outlook, you leave outlook running and set it to check at x interval, Xpressmail recognizes the new mail and pushes it to the device. It was a big Upgrade in the AKU2 ROM of the 8125 and also in the updates for the Treo's based on WM5, I'm not sure if it's done without GOOD's (read Motorola buys GOOD email service I'm sure it's on the forum if not it's on engadget) GOOD Link. I know on RIM Blackberry's that's the big thing that they were sued about.

Thank-you

[Jay2TheRescue]

I've been using the unlimited media net ($20/mo) tethered to my computer for about 6 months now and they have not billed me for any extra usage.

-Jay

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

I've been using the unlimited media net ($20/mo) tethered to my computer for about 6 months now and they have not billed me for any extra usage.

-Jay

I have used tethering as well and have not been billed, but as a Disclaimer, it is quite possible that they will bill you and those charges can be quite high.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by nKrypteD1

I have used tethering as well and have not been billed, but as a Disclaimer, it is quite possible that they will bill you and those charges can be quite high.

Yes, I always hear that, but I have never heard of anyone getting caught unless they are so stupid as to use an insane amount of bandwidth.

-Jay

[bobolito]

I use a Sierra 860 3G Aircard on my laptop. All I had to do was change the Access Point from ISP.CINGULAR to WAP.CINGULAR to get it to connect.

If you have the regular MediaNet $19.99 package, you don't have access to ISP.CINGULAR access point. You need to be on a Laptop Connect or PDA Connect plan to be able to access it.

Since this is my first month using the aircard, the fever of playing with it and doing speed tests on 3G, etc. have made me run about 100MB on the aircard and the Treo combined. I move my SIM card between them. According to OLAM it is all being charged at the regular MediaNet rate. I don't expect to accumulate that much usage in subsequent months due to my excitement calming down.

Here's what I got in one of my speed tests using HSDPA:

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by bobolito

I use a Sierra 860 3G Aircard on my laptop. All I had to do was change the Access Point from ISP.CINGULAR to WAP.CINGULAR to get it to connect.

If you have the regular MediaNet $19.99 package, you don't have access to ISP.CINGULAR access point. You need to be on a Laptop Connect or PDA Connect plan to be able to access it.

Since this is my first month using the aircard, the fever of playing with it and doing speed tests on 3G, etc. have made me run about 100MB on the aircard and the Treo combined. I move my SIM card between them. According to OLAM it is all being charged at the regular MediaNet rate. I don't expect to accumulate that much usage in subsequent months due to my excitement calming down.

Here's what I got in one of my speed tests using HSDPA:

Is there any advantage to using isp.cingular instead of wap.cingular? I am still able to surf all sites and use 3G data.

-Jay

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

Is there any advantage to using isp.cingular instead of wap.cingular? I am still able to surf all sites and use 3G data.

-Jay

It gives you a live IP, basically the only difference as far as you and I would care about is with using the ISP.Cingular apn is being able to use Virtual Private Networking.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by nKrypteD1

It gives you a live IP, basically the only difference as far as you and I would care about is with using the ISP.Cingular apn is being able to use Virtual Private Networking.

Well then I really don't care as I don't have a VPN.

-Jay

[bobolito]

That's correct. With WAP.CINGULAR you get an IP address in the range of 10.x.x.x which is a private IP behind a NAT router basically. If you were to connect to ISP.CINGULAR, then you would get a public IP, which means you actually get your own IP direct to the internet, rather than going through a NAT router.

[walkguru]

since i just got my first laptop, im beginning to understand some of this, i started out using isp, but now use wap, the speed seams the same.

[Gray Ghost]

Hi,

New member here. Great forum and informative thread. Thanks, nKrypteD1!

I'm a newbie at tethering. My setup is a SE w810i, Cingular service, and a Mac Powerbook with Bluetooth.

Using the instructions above, I've successfully connected to the ISPDA.CINGULAR APN via Bluetooth tether, but I'm not getting any data transfer. The phone to computer connection says 2400 bps. Huh?

Any suggestions will be most appreciated.

Matt

[Gray Ghost]

No responses? Maybe I wasn't clear about my troubles, sorry. I'll try again.

My bluetooth tethered SE w810i will connect my Powerbook to both the ISPDA and ISP points, but no traffic seems to flow.

It connects at a ridiculously low 2400 bps (yes, that's 2.4 Kps). When I attempt to load a web-page, Safari does nothing but spin its wheel for a few minutes, then gives me a "Not Connected.." error. But Internet Connect shows that I am in fact still connected.

I'm using a T39 19.2 V110 modem script and I've disabled TCP Header Compression as suggested here

Any ideas, anyone? I've searched until my eyes ache, but haven't found a solution that works.

TIA

Matt

[nKrypteD1]

Unfortunately I don't know much about tethering with Macs, I'm very sorry. I'm going to scour what I can find and respond afterwards.

[Gray Ghost]

Thanks nKrypteD1,

I've concluded that it may be the service at my house. I live in a rural area of Colorado. My service is an affiliate of Cingular/T-mobile called Viaero. When I'm at my home, my phone is using the Viaero towers. In the urban areas nearby (Denver, Colorado Springs etc...) it switches to either Cingular or T-Mobile.

My theory, evidenced by the blank look on my salesperson face when I started quizzing her about my problems, is they know almost zilch about wireless internet. There's probably not much of a demand out here. Consequently, I'll bet their towers aren't setup for data transfer, or at least they haven't fine tuned this functionality, yet. Hopefully it'll work when I travel to town in the near future.

That said, any info that you may uncover will be most appreciated.

Matt

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by Gray Ghost

Thanks nKrypteD1,

I've concluded that it may be the service at my house. I live in a rural area of Colorado. My service is an affiliate of Cingular/T-mobile called Viaero. When I'm at my home, my phone is using the Viaero towers. In the urban areas nearby (Denver, Colorado Springs etc...) it switches to either Cingular or T-Mobile.

My theory, evidenced by the blank look on my salesperson face when I started quizzing her about my problems, is they know almost zilch about wireless internet. There's probably not much of a demand out here. Consequently, I'll bet their towers aren't setup for data transfer, or at least they haven't fine tuned this functionality, yet. Hopefully it'll work when I travel to town in the near future.

That said, any info that you may uncover will be most appreciated.

Matt

Unfortunately no, the problem here is that the BSD core of Mac osX isn't connecting right, at least not the way I see it. http://www.taniwha.org.uk/ they may be able to help, unless someone here has mac tethering experience. By the way, I think the articles on the site above are written for USB you may want to search further, I recommend google search strings of OSX Tethering Cingular, best of luck to you, sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.

(edit) this may also be of some assistance to you http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/20...437&frame=true

[Gray Ghost]

(edit) this may also be of some assistance to you http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/20...437&frame=true

Whoa, that's one long and technical thread!! It'll take me a while to sleuth thru all of that info.

Thanks, and have a great holiday season, nKrypteD1

Matt

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by Gray Ghost

Whoa, that's one long and technical thread!! It'll take me a while to sleuth thru all of that info.

Thanks, and have a great holiday season, nKrypteD1

Matt

Exactly, which is why you'll have to go through it yourself. But at least it goes to show that it's not as simple as with a pc and that there's probably something your missing. Best of luck to you and Happy Holidays.

[aamsergie]

Noob question here - Is there any way you can explain to me how to pay only $20 month for Media Net using a cingular phone. I want to either purchase a treo 750 or a TYTN. I also want to tether to a laptop.... I know it's alot to ask for but $45+ a month is CRAZY. Thanks. I really appreciate your expertise.

You can reach me on this forum at aamsergie or email at aamsergie@hotmail.com.

[theBOAT]

I'd like to echo the post above - $45 a month is crazy for what you get (or, more specifically, what my wife needs).

We're going to purchase a new Treo 680 tomorrow, and will have to add a data plan, since the main point of the purchase is to be able to check her HOTMAIL email at work (hospital setting with long hours and no personal computers).

So, I am throwing myself on the mercy of the forum: What data plan should I sign her up for?

Here's some background info to help the recommendations. She needs to get a PalmOS device, because she has previously purchased programs that she uses at work. Second, I have a Blackberry from work, and she became hooked while we were on vacation to Push email (I put her Hotmail account on it while we were away). I guess this is a side question, but her Hotmail will sync, right?

Help and thanks!

theBOAT

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by theBOAT

I'd like to echo the post above - $45 a month is crazy for what you get (or, more specifically, what my wife needs).

We're going to purchase a new Treo 680 tomorrow, and will have to add a data plan, since the main point of the purchase is to be able to check her HOTMAIL email at work (hospital setting with long hours and no personal computers).

So, I am throwing myself on the mercy of the forum: What data plan should I sign her up for?

Here's some background info to help the recommendations. She needs to get a PalmOS device, because she has previously purchased programs that she uses at work. Second, I have a Blackberry from work, and she became hooked while we were on vacation to Push email (I put her Hotmail account on it while we were away). I guess this is a side question, but her Hotmail will sync, right?

Help and thanks!

theBOAT

First of all, you could get away with MediaNet, although chances are if you don't sign up for the PDA connect there will be no rebate for the Treo. Secondly push email is part of what you're paying the higher price for, AT&T offers two solutions, on top of the OTA Sync with Exchange, Good Email and Cingular Xpress. Good is now owned by motorola, just a little side note.

As for push email, I don't think her hotmail account will work as "Push" and I don't know if a palm os will even check it beyond the browser. I'd say that your best bet here is to find a friendly store rep who isn't pushy and speak directly with them. Don't be scared to let a rep know you're a informed consumer, you'll be surprised most of them will be more than happy to answer the last few questions honestly instead of trying to sell.

[theBOAT]

Originally Posted by nKrypteD1

First of all, you could get away with MediaNet, although chances are if you don't sign up for the PDA connect there will be no rebate for the Treo. Secondly push email is part of what you're paying the higher price for, AT&T offers two solutions, on top of the OTA Sync with Exchange, Good Email and Cingular Xpress. Good is now owned by motorola, just a little side note.

As for push email, I don't think her hotmail account will work as "Push" and I don't know if a palm os will even check it beyond the browser. I'd say that your best bet here is to find a friendly store rep who isn't pushy and speak directly with them. Don't be scared to let a rep know you're a informed consumer, you'll be surprised most of them will be more than happy to answer the last few questions honestly instead of trying to sell.

Thanks for the tips - we'll be heading to the store in a few hours. Hopefully they'll have a full unit to play around with and test if she likes the Treo or not! If not, then it'll be a Crackberry, and I know how they work with email accounts.

theBOAT

[aamsergie]

Originally Posted by theBOAT

Thanks for the tips - we'll be heading to the store in a few hours. Hopefully they'll have a full unit to play around with and test if she likes the Treo or not! If not, then it'll be a Crackberry, and I know how they work with email accounts.

theBOAT

I got the 750 because I wanted UMTS (which will be upgraded to HSDPA eventually and WM6 by the end of the year) and I needed windows mobile platform. I got the media net for 19.99 which is unlimited data and 200 text messages. You can pull hotmail email from your phone at whatever setting you want. I have mine set to every 15 min. Anything faster will probably affect battery life. Plus I don't want to be connected to a phone looking at it every 5min like a trained monkey. I am very happy with my plan and my phone. If my phone had PTT - it would be the best phone on the market....

[TehJoE234797]

This really is a great thread. All of it's right too.

[Fraust]

This is a very interesting discussion:

Over at the AT&T Support forums you will find an interesting thread that details what I and many others have experienced: I bought a Blackjack in May of this year as my two year upgrade/contract renewal. I specifically picked the Blackjack because the info on AT&T's Website specifically states that the phone is compatible with MEdia(TM)Net. Not the MEdiaNet Website. The MEdiaNet Service. No phone on the AT&T website is advertised as being compatible with any particular website. It is clearly advertised as part of the phone's specs. Just to be on the safe side, I asked CS over the phone if it was ok for me to use my existing MEdiaNet account with the phone and was assured multiple times that it was not a problem. Anyone who has this phone and goes into settings/connections/GPRS clearly sees "MediaNet" settings for this phone. So, I waltzed into the AT&T support forums and a particular thread (which is linked to in the other thread below), where an AT&T employee states that the Blackjack is considered by AT&T Wireless to be a "PDA" and not a smartphone and that using MEdiaNet with the Blackjack or suggesting such use is equal to fraud. They are banning anyone from that forum who suggests anything about NOT using a PDA connect plan or using "the wrong data plan"(MEdiaNet) on the Blackjack. Apparently numerous customers are being sold Blackjack phones and MEdiaNet services by CS reps who the forum mods claim are "wrong and need to be "retrained". The mods on the AT&T support forum attempt to minimize the discussion in that thread by suggesting that CS reps need to be retrained, as well as threatening that AT&T will prosecute any customer who knowingly commits fraud by buying the wrong data plan. That didn't work. The thread is 80+ posts long and should be read by anyone who either has a Blackjack or uses MEdiaNet on a PDA or Smartphone. I don't particularly like the tactics I see being used in the support forums on this issue, and I have a problem with the "bait and switch tactic" being used by CS reps to sell Blackjack phones with MEdiaNet services just to make their monthly sales quotas, which appear to be very strict. I've written and sent an e-mail the the Senior VP of Customer service, who I should receive a reply from (someone in her office) within two business days (If I do not, I will write to her again. The third e-mail will go directly to the CEO and I will fill his inbox until my CS issues are dealt with to my satisfaction (I have some other CS issues related to my account that are unresolved after 3 weeks, two open cases, and 6 customer service reps)

I think it's important to clarify the above issue, from someone here (particularly if you work for AT&T) who isn't trying to scare Blackjack users into buying $40+ Data plans or attempting to misinform the public about which phones can or cannot use MEdiaNet services. Sorry about the length of this message and if it appears to be off topic it's really not, as part of this thread deals with the use of MEdiaNet services. You should all know what's going on at the Customer Service thread regarding this issue if any of you use a Samsung Blackjack.

See thread below and while there,click on the link to the "Official Data Plan thread" a few posts down for more info. Something is fishy over at AT&T regarding the use of MEdiaNet on the Blackjack. Check it out:

What have I done? - Samsung - Wireless Forums from AT&T

[TehJoE234797]

Originally Posted by Fraust

This is a very interesting discussion:

Over at the AT&T Support forums you will find an interesting thread that details what I and many others have experienced: I bought a Blackjack in May of this year as my two year upgrade/contract renewal. I specifically picked the Blackjack because the info on AT&T's Website specifically states that the phone is compatible with MEdia(TM)Net. Not the MEdiaNet Website. The MEdiaNet Service. No phone on the AT&T website is advertised as being compatible with any particular website. It is clearly advertised as part of the phone's specs. Just to be on the safe side, I asked CS over the phone if it was ok for me to use my existing MEdiaNet account with the phone and was assured multiple times that it was not a problem. Anyone who has this phone and goes into settings/connections/GPRS clearly sees "MediaNet" settings for this phone. So, I waltzed into the AT&T support forums and a particular thread (which is linked to in the other thread below), where an AT&T employee states that the Blackjack is considered by AT&T Wireless to be a "PDA" and not a smartphone and that using MEdiaNet with the Blackjack or suggesting such use is equal to fraud. They are banning anyone from that forum who suggests anything about NOT using a PDA connect plan or using "the wrong data plan"(MEdiaNet) on the Blackjack. Apparently numerous customers are being sold Blackjack phones and MEdiaNet services by CS reps who the forum mods claim are "wrong and need to be "retrained". The mods on the AT&T support forum attempt to minimize the discussion in that thread by suggesting that CS reps need to be retrained, as well as threatening that AT&T will prosecute any customer who knowingly commits fraud by buying the wrong data plan. That didn't work. The thread is 80+ posts long and should be read by anyone who either has a Blackjack or uses MEdiaNet on a PDA or Smartphone. I don't particularly like the tactics I see being used in the support forums on this issue, and I have a problem with the "bait and switch tactic" being used by CS reps to sell Blackjack phones with MEdiaNet services just to make their monthly sales quotas, which appear to be very strict. I've written and sent an e-mail the the Senior VP of Customer service, who I should receive a reply from (someone in her office) within two business days (If I do not, I will write to her again. The third e-mail will go directly to the CEO and I will fill his inbox until my CS issues are dealt with to my satisfaction (I have some other CS issues related to my account that are unresolved after 3 weeks, two open cases, and 6 customer service reps)

I think it's important to clarify the above issue, from someone here (particularly if you work for AT&T) who isn't trying to scare Blackjack users into buying $40+ Data plans or attempting to misinform the public about which phones can or cannot use MEdiaNet services. Sorry about the length of this message and if it appears to be off topic it's really not, as part of this thread deals with the use of MEdiaNet services. You should all know what's going on at the Customer Service thread regarding this issue if any of you use a Samsung Blackjack.

See thread below and while there,click on the link to the "Official Data Plan thread" a few posts down for more info. Something is fishy over at AT&T regarding the use of MEdiaNet on the Blackjack. Check it out:

What have I done? - Samsung - Wireless Forums from AT&T

Well.. here goes. I'm a bit drunk. So bare with me and send me any PMs if you have questions...

I was an at&t employee for 11+ months so I have a little knowledge abou the way things work..

Media Max plans will work on a Blackjack, the only draw back is that when these plans are added they do not provision isp.cingular to your account. They only provision wap.cingular to your account. While this may not have much impact on your immediate web browsing, they do impact the amount of data the network will server up to your demands. With wap.cingular they only allow you X amount of bandwidth. With isp.cingular they allow you.... say [value] X 3 of bandwidth... so if you're tethering you'd prefer to have isp.cingular rather than wap.cingular.. or if you're pulling down massive amounts of data from your 3G device you'd prefer to have isp.cingular... but for simple web browsing needs wap.cingular will work just fine..


That's why at&t prefers you have the $39.99 PDA connect plan so that when you're pulling down massive amounts of data you're paying more money to cover the cost of the extra data they're supporting I'm not sure if this helps much as I am drunk as shi* right now, just know that's what I learned from working from them such a long time. And since I don't work for them any longer, ___k those money grubbing bastards..

[Fraust]

Oh I don't use much data.

My MEdiaNet Basic allows 1mb of data, 250 txt messages and 50MM messages. The only time I went over the 1mb was when I got the Blackjack and had set it up with my yahoo mail account for me to manually get my e-mail, or so I thought. I didn't think the Blackjack did "push mail" like the Blackberry, so I went over the first month. Paid it and all was fine. Right now I don't need any sort of unlimited data. All I need is to occasionally check weather, sports scores, and my data usage. I use text messages more than any other feature. It just burns me that the thing is clearly advertised as being compatible with MEdiaNet while the mods at the AT&T forum are banning people for even a hint of using the Blackjack with MEdiaNet instead of some expensive data plan. I don't need to spend $100 or more a month for a cell phone bill. I'm sure others feel that way too.

Thanks for confirming that the Blackjack works with MEdiaNet. Now if AT&T would allow users who don't use much data to use a plan that isn't expensive, that'd be great, but I don't see it happening.

[Charlyee]

Wirelessly posted (Palm750/v0000 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; PPC; 240x320) UP.Link/6.3.1.17.0)

I can also verify that MediaNet works with the Blackjack.