ATT mandates smartphone data plans- Sept 6

that isnt fair...what if you really only want a smartphone for the wifi feature and not to use the 3G net work for data? thats not cool at all

 

Would they automatically add the plan if someone swaps out the SIM card?

 

This is absolutely crazy. AT&T will never be number one in the U.S....(Isn't that what all carriers are trying to do?) ...but not when they keep making stupid mistakes like this! I mean, AT&T's rate plans are already (on average and on value -- from what I've seen) more expensive then other top carriers, so why mandate this change? When you take out all of charges from those running up a high data usage (w/o a plan), it will probably balance-out with all those smartphones this will be required to have a data plan. I certainly won't be switching to AT&T now (I was planning to do so in October when my contract with T-Mobile expires). I currently have a Blackberry... but I use the Internet when I am around a wi-fi spot (which is practically all of the time!) --I have no need for data services provided by the network (and email... haha, I send/receive emails via MMS --works just fine, thanks!). Why waste my money on a data plan? I happen to love my Blackberry, and frankly, I intend to keep things the way they are with T-MOBILE (not sure why I ever wanted to switch anyway... those select/remote spots without good coverage the places I go are no match to AT&T's shenanigans!)

*adds AT&T to dirty list*

 

As far as I know Verizon has a similar policy, and just so that there is no excuse, they strip off WiFi from their devices so that there's no chance for a customer saying they want to use it on WiFi. Verizon customers with a smartphone have to get a data plan no matter what. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

As a follow-up to my previous post, I think T-Mobile is actually already doing this with new smartphone customers... (supposedly back in June?) Coincidentally, if I want to change my plan with T-Mobile, I am required to sign-up for a data plan (according to my account online) because I have a Blackberry. Although, I did change my messaging bundle recently over the phone, and did not have to get a data plan...

But no matter what carrier is doing it, I don't think it's fair... I like "smartphones" because they are generally so much nicer than other phones... but if I have to pay an arm an a leg to get the phone in the first place AND THEN continue to pay high prices for a data plan (that I won't use that much) FORGET IT! ...And for most of you out there with smartphones, wouldn't you agree that mobile web surfing pretty much sucks?! ...I mean, many websites are not mobile-friendly still, and speeds aren't exactly up to par yet either (think about all of the millions of customers that don't live or work in an area with 3G!) Plus, emails are going out of style like none-other... with social networking sites and IM/SMS/MMS, email is pretty much a thing of past for sending messages (that can be viewed nicely on a phone)... otherwise, such emails can wait until I get to the office or home.

I like having the OPTION of getting a data plan -- and NOT being forced to get a data plan.... and I dislike most of the phones not considered to be smartphones. *shakes head at mobile carriers* :loony:

 

On Verizon, their mandatory smartphone data plan applies to smartphones that were released on or after 11/18/2008. Also, BlackBerry devices have always required a data plan.

Verizon still sells some older smartphones that don't require a data plan, like the XV6900, Motorola Q9c/Q9m, and SMT5800. With those phones, you can get an unlimited data plan, pay per KB, or get a data block.

After VZW instituted this policy, they have increased the number of WiFi capable devices. The HTC Ozone is the latest one, for example.

 

One thing I like about the GSM carriers, one can always get an unlocked and unbranded phone to circumvent this. The down side is that you gave to pay more money for a device, but the carrier isn't sticking its hands into your wallet unless you allow them to. I was able to get an unlocked Nokia E63 for less than $200 and place my AT&T prepaid SIM into it

 

VERY IMPORTANT !!!!!!!!! MUST READ

DO NOT add an IMEI of your smartphone even if you had it for past 2000 years. They will simply claim that you ADDED A SMARTPHONE after 6th Sept, 2009 and hence you will need a data plan.
(I had Nokia N95 for past 8months and today they ask me for the IMEI, hence a data plan for rest of the contract)

LOOPHOLE (workaround) :If you are caught in their crap, just add an IMEI of non-smart phone, remove the data plan and start using the smartphone again.

Quote from att.com/smartphoneplans: "If you purchased a smartphone prior to September 6, 2009 and are using data on a pay per use basis, you will not be required to add a data plan at this time."

They don't care about purchase date since you ADDED the IMEI after 6th Sept.

 

Here's my workaround... I have 3 lines, only 1 with data. The line I have my PDA phone is on the old "Smartphone Connect Unlimited " plan for $19.99/mo. I will take my upgrade on another line, and switch the IMEI back the next day, keeping my primary line with the cheap data plan.

 

nice man... lucky you

I was using a Nokia N95 for past 8months but never bothered to inform AT&T pple that I got a new phone. Now I purchased a Nokia E71x on 2nd Sept, started using it on 4th Sept. (as per their criteria, i purchased it before 6th sept, hence no data plan). But I call them on 7th regarding networking issue and they ask me for my IMEI which reads E71x in their system, and hence a mandatory data plan loony:**WTF**). I cannot add my old Nokia N95 since its a smart phone too (which i purchsed unlocked from Amazon 2yrs back).

I'll just borrow a non-smart phone from my friend for one day and will remove the data plan and back to smartphone the very next day :browani:

 

When you put your SIM card in a GSM/UMTS phone and turn it on, it registers the IMEI of the phone as well on the network. So ATT can see what make/model phone you currently have your SIM card inserted in. I don't know if they will use this or not in forcing the data plan, since theoretically, you can put your SIM card in a different phone each day. Do they force the data plan only if you buy a subsidised phone from them? In that case, their sales of subsidised smartphone will take a nose-dive as everyone will head to ebay instead.

IMHO forcing data plans is a bad move. Maybe if it was only $5-10/month, but $30/month is kinda steep... At least they should give you the option to deactivate data altogether if you want to "opt out" of a data plan.

 

Well, I told them that when I login to wireless.att.com and view my account, I can see my phone (even on 4th sept, I saw that) but they say it doesn't make a difference since IMEI is registered only after you 'tell them' to add the new phone on the account. Thats why Jay's method works perfectly.

Nokia N95 doesn't come with any carrier. I told them I bought it from Amazon but NO, its a smart phone and when i add it to my account, data plan comes with it.

The key thing is, just don't call them and give them the IMEI and you'll be fine (even with an iPhone).

Yup, $30extra per month per smartphone is too much (I crib when I have to pay $110+ a month for 3 phone lines)

 

So if you buy a subsidised smartphone from ATT they will force that data plan, but if you buy your own smartphone elsewhere you're not obliged, unless you tell them? That's a strange system....

 

Well, they have a crappy system.

I realized after breaking my head (for over 1hr) with a senior executive that even if I get a subsidised smart phone (E71x n my case), I can ask them to add IMEI of a regular phone (e.g. Motorola SLVR L7) and go back to my E71x or any other smartphone after 1 or 2days

I told her I would do exactly like this to which she replied, "you can do that, but if you need support in future, we may ask for your IMEI again to better assist you".
SO THATS FINE.
I'll give you my IMEI again and repeat the Smartphone -> Non-Smartphone -> Smartphone cycle.

Stoopid AT&T !!

PS: My friend is using iPhone for the past 10-11 months and pays $32 since he's in a family plan Why wud one use poor AT&T 3G network when you have WiFi at home and office !!

 

Here's a copy of the bottom line on my current bill (issued 3 days ago). On my line I have an HTC Tilt with unlimited data. I also pay for my mom's & dad's cell phone bills. They're added onto my plan for $9.99 + tax. My total bill is under $100 for 3 lines, and an awful lot of usage. I think I got a pretty good deal.

 

170+MB and its still under $100.. WAY TOO COOL !!

We 3 friends are on a family plan and it has never come under $110

 

Yeah, my data usage is usually higher, but I don't think I teathered last month. If I had teathered interent access to my laptop it would have been much more. We only get 500 anytime minutes, but most of our usage is M2M and N&W. We did use 66 Rollover minutes this month though... We usually come close, but we usually don't use the rollover. We have had some family members that had fallen ill, and my parents were out of town for 3 months helping them out, so the usage was a bit more than normal.

-Jay

 

If you can manage the minutes, its really good.
Last month, our usage was over 1600mins and I was soooooo angry at my friends for using 650mins each

I recently graduated and I guess it would take me some time to become a hardcore user like you.. teathering and all

 

I don't know if its "hardcore" usage. The bulk of my data is used up with email (it downloads all of my email accounts every 5 minutes), and my GPS software. My GPS software checks for traffic updates every few minutes.

 

With so much data transfer, don't you see low battery signals too frequently ?

 

Almost never. I plug the phone in every night. Also, when running GPS I have the phone in my charging cradle in my truck.

 

AWSOME

I installed TomTom in my Tilt too and it works really great.
Why didn't i think of installing a docking station/cradle in my car before

Thanks for uploading the pics !

 

Its a Proclip dock. I think the website is ProClip Mounting System_-_Device Holders and Dashboard Vehicle Mounts if I remember correctly. At the time I bought it (Right when the Tilt was first released) it was the only charging cradle on the market for the Tilt. I'm hoping when I get my Touch Pro 2, that the dimensions are close enough that I won't have to buy a new cradle. What you're looking at cost me about $100.

-Jay