Effective November 14, 2009, automatic systematic enforcement will begin for the previously communicated Smartphone Data Requirement. Which is for customers who activated or upgraded to a Smartphone (BlackBerry/PDA), or customers who did a SIM Swap from a non-Smartphone device to a Smartphone on/or after 11/1/09 and don’t have an appropriate Smartphone data plan or the SMRTEXCL grandfather SOC on the CTN. The network will detect the usage, detect the Smartphone device in use, and then review Telegence. If the system detects no grandfather SOC and no Smartphone data plan, the system will notify the customer via text message and email and then add the 5GB $30 Smartphone personal bolt on feature effective immediately.
Any time your phone is on the network it broadcasts its IMEI. The IMEI among the digits identifies which device/phone you are using on the network. You may not get caught immediately but you will be caught eventually.
I know that — it's not the matter of identifying the IMEI, it's the matter of having an up-to-date database. In other words, if your IMEI translates into "Nokia Foobar" or "Sony-Ericsson Snafu" (yes, I know there's no such model from either manufacturer) then how do you tell whether Nokia Foobar/Sony-Ericsson Snafu is a smartphone or not? The only way is to have a database of which device fall into which category since it isn't coded in the IMEI itself. And I guess I'll never be caught as long as I stay with my current plan
...I'm a little lost (and amused ) by the Abbott and Costello routine,, but generally speaking, the first 8 digits of the IMEI identifies the make/model: RadioRaiders IMEI and Type Allocation Codes (TAC) ...and most operators have pretty good databases of IMEI/model translations. To change your IMEI to transmit something unrecognizable isn't that easy (not as easy as masking your MAC address on a computer). You have to flash your device, and actually, it's usually illeagal, as thats how criminal gangs move stolen phones so they can't be tracked. So I'm pretty sure AT&T wil detect if you have a smartphone or not...altho it can be arguable as to what the definition of "smart-phone" is ...anyway, AT&T should first send you a warning, and not sock you with a $30 bill as soon as you put your SIM in what they deem a "smartphone" Not yet, they'll be available Q2 2010
Sorry RR, but your wesite does not recognize my BB's IMEI. Interstingly AT&T recognized my unbranded Treo Pro but returns ny branded BB as "Unknown Device*, so I have no idea how AT&T can keep up with all SmartPhones out on their network.
RR, I was talking about classification, not identification. And AT&T has set itself apart from "most operators" in more ways than one. For example, most operators are capable of handling SMS delivery notifications. Most operators are capable of handling UTF-8 encoded SMS. In fact, AT&T is the only GSM operator I've encountered who fails miserably on both counts. And so far nothing I've seen in their handling of unbranded devices (most show up as unknown) gives me any confidence that AT&T has a good database or even a satisfactory one You must've been spoiled rotten by all those European operators you hang around so much
Yea, my database of IMEI's is not that current :O ...but then for me it's just a hobby I'm suprised AT&T doesn't return the identity of your BB ...for them, it's more than a hobby, it's $30 they just lost ...well, multiply that by all that model BB (9700?) and it adds up :twocents: Yea, as confirmed by Charlyee above, now I see what you mean. Really suprising they say they will charge you for your smartphone but then their dumb database can't recognize it ...yea, I think it's time for me to come back to the US and get the networks there up to speed with the Euro ones
So at&t's identification/classification issues aside - lol - am I understanding this correctly?? You can SIM swap from a prior smartphone/PDA which doesn't have the smartphone/PDA data plan to a new smartphone/PDA (obtained from a third party resource - not an activation or upgrade) and the smartphone/PDA data plan is not required? But if you do the same thing going from a feature phone to a smartphone, then the smartphone/PDA data plan is required?
There is no five gigabyte PDA Personal, iPhone Personal or BlackBerry Personal data plan. The data plan for each of those devices is unlimited. The five gigabyte cap applies to tethering add-ons to those devices or DataConnect data plans for computers.
for clarification...if you have the grandfathered exclusion you can stay pay per use... but if you do an upgrade and get a BB ...PDA or Iphone the exclusion is forfited... if you acquire the phone on your own (non att ,no contract purchase ) you keep the exclusion
as far as I can tell from this end an unlocked non ATT device will still work quite well ... the I try to enter in a non ATT device it will come up as unknown device ... that alone will give you the option of pay per use or the much more economical media net data so this could be a boon for ebay purchases...
Thank you for the clarification - that is not inconsistent with what I believe at&t's terms of service actually state.
BTW, I was looking at my account online on the ATT website. It now lists our Bold 9700 correctly. The image shows the older Bold, but it clearly states ' Bold 9700'. It didn't have that correct a week and a half ago.
Yes, it does show my 9700 on the accounts page correctly, but try this page. This is where my unbranded Treo Pro was recognized but my 9700 shows up as unknown device. My understanding is that this is the data base that AT&T works with.
that app is quite out dated and really isnt used that much (if at all) it will work for older devices but newer ones werent added... I'm surprised its still avalable...
I tried that page, and it recognized my device. The photo looked like a phone from the 1990's, but it called it correctly as: RIM 9700 Apps5.0.0.296_Platform5.1.0.83 So it got it right. Thanks elmo01 for the heads up. VF
Thanks elmo01, that "outdated" app recognized my unbranded, never sold by AT&T Treo Pro, and my OLAM didn't. BlackBerry9700/5.0.0.296 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102
There is an online website which will identify most phones from the IMEI. Bear in mind that Chinese manufactured phones had no IMEI until recently. International Numbering Plans This will not tell what AT&T Mobility has detected about your phone.
And it will most definitely not send the settings to your device which was the original purpose of the other one.
Charlyee, does your BB show up now on that outdated appl? Our BB 9700 shows up on it, and also on the 'my account' section as it always had. -VF
Hi viewfly, yes now it does, the same way yours does, right information, wrong picture. Does the website efparri posted recognize your BB's IMEI? It doesn't mine. BlackBerry9700/5.0.0.296 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102
Don't know. I don't intend on entering my IMEI number into a non-att site. In any case it seems that ATT now knows the phones that it sells, at least.
