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It seems that the Glide is only an AT&T-branded phone. Has anyone used one with GoPhone? Thought about picking up an unlocked one on eBay but I don't want to encounter the same "Invalid SIM card" issue I encounter when I put my GoPhone SIM card into my unlocked AT&T-sourced Skyrocket. Thanks for any info!
I can't say for certain, but I don't see why not. I use my phone with the T-Mobile monthly 4g plan and everything works fine. I do however, only have an EDGE/2g speed data wise due to the frequencies, but the phone was designed for AT&T so that wouldn't be a problem for you.
narume said:
I can't say for certain, but I don't see why not. I use my phone with the T-Mobile monthly 4g plan and everything works fine. I do however, only have an EDGE/2g speed data wise due to the frequencies, but the phone was designed for AT&T so that wouldn't be a problem for you.
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Appreciate the reply, narume. I think that the issue arises from this:
trinikartel said:
Let me know if you ever get that working.
What i THINK is that any phone that comes out of AT&T's clutches are in their system (both imei and with carrier iq) so once it you pop a sim into it and the information is matched to a device in their system they know what can and can't be allowed for the device. With international devices they don't have those IMEIs (which is why they always want the imei from you so they can match it in their system)
Your note is international...they can't "match or track it" so to their system it's just another random dumb phone
Your skyrocket is a known LTE/HSPA+ device to the system so it says no cheap data for you
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So...assuming that this reasoning is correct, if AT&T knows that it's their phone they will have blocked its IMEI from being able to access data through GoPhone. And I would need 3G access in order to use it on my MicroCell. Anybody...?
Any at&t phones will work on go phone, and you can use a microcell as well, your phone still uses the 3/4G signal to connect for calls and texts. Also to get data to work for pictures, and mms you just need to call them and they will send you the apns, my nephew in law has an atrix 2 on a microcell with pic messaging working great. They also have a solstice 2 (dump phone) on the microcell, both go phones.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
If you're getting Invalid SIM, you may have a locked SIM card, something AT&T started doing with their prepaid a while back. New prepaid accounts have the SIM locked to the phone it was purchased with for ~3 months, after that I believe you have to either call or visit a store to have the lock removed.
Other than that, there's no reason it shouldn't work, but do remember that AT&T will see it as a smartphone. This means with their new prepaid plans, if you're using the 10 cents a minute plan you'll be unable to use data at all. If you're using one of the flat amounts per month, like the $25 or $50 plans, you'll need to purchase a data package (even though the $50 is SUPPOSED to include unlimited internet, smartphones aren't eligible).
I previously used a Motorola Flipside on AT&T's prepaid, before this change I was using the 10 cents a minute plan, with 1000 texts a month and buying a 500mb data package, then rolling over unused data each month with the 10mb package, and everything worked the same as if I was on postpaid - text, mms, internet, etc.
Thanks all! I'm 1½ months into my prepaid service. I'll check with AT&T after 3 months have passed and see if they can remove the SIM lock.
You might go ahead and call customer service anyway, who knows, you may get lucky. 3 months was what a rep told my friend a year or so ago, but that may have changed or may not have been the rule at all. Alternatively, you can go into a local store and purchase a new sim (or purchase one on ebay) and have them transfer your account over to it, just make sure they give you a regular sim and not a go-phone sim.
I just tested my captivate glide with the sim I was using in my flipside. It seems to read the sim just fine, though obviously I'm not still a prepaid customer so I can't make any real calls with it. I've also used it on a T-Mobile MyTouch 3G that was unlocked, briefly, when I was working on the flipside. Once you have the sim lock removed I expect you'll have no problems using it in any unlocked or AT&T locked phone.
If you use the 50 dollar plan and use the wap.cingular apn it will use data just set that up before you put in your sim, and do call they should unlock it for you, if not tell them you will be going to straight Talk at&t phones work locked on them since it's a part of at&t just ran by walmart.
Sent from my HTC One XL using xda premium
I have two Glides that I activated in June. NEITHER WAS SIM-LOCKED, ever.
Both are the newer 4G SIM, not the older one that says 3G on it. Got em from eBay for about $2.75 each. Both were activated online, about 3 weeks apart.
The first one, I activated with an IMEI of a Glide that broke and was able to use the SIM on a different Glide and other phones, even the Pantech Burst and got 4G. I activated it as 10c plan, then moved it to the $50 unlimited.
The second one was activated with 0000... generic IMEI with the 10c plan, and just like the first one, I was able to use the SIM on any GSM phone I have in the house (and that's quite a few).
APN: wap.cingular - only the name is needed, no userid, etc.
Hello All: I am sorry for making new thread but I was unable to find what I am looking for.
Is there any way that I can hack my Lomia 900 so that ATT does not know what I am using smart phone. I love Windows Phone OS but I hate paying ATT $30 for a data plan that I don't use.
Nothing you said made any sense, you sound 12. The $30 data was part of your contract with at&t, have fun with it for the two years. Even if you could 'mask' your phones identity, at&t would still charge you.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Only way that would happen is if you had a sim card that somehow was hacked to send a IMEI number that doesn't match your smartphone
Sent from a satellite
chrisz5z said:
Only way that would happen is if you had a sim card that somehow was hacked to send a IMEI number that doesn't match your smartphone
Sent from a satellite
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There are ways to change your phone's IMEI, not sure if its possible on WP7 though. It is also highly, HIGHLY, illegal.
If you didn't want to pay the $30 a month, buy the phone off-contract from like Amazon, Best Buy, or even AT&T and then get a pre-paid plan.
gangsta.mostwanted said:
Hello All: I am sorry for making new thread but I was unable to find what I am looking for.
Is there any way that I can hack my Lomia 900 so that ATT does not know what I am using smart phone. I love Windows Phone OS but I hate paying ATT $30 for a data plan that I don't use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are not using data over the cellular network, can't you just cancel the 'data' portion of your plan with AT&T? Or does the 'plan' come with the type of phone you bought?
Even if you could 'mask' the phone so that AT&T thought you were using a feature phone instead of a smart phone, you would still be charged the $30/mo, cuz that's what's attached to your account. It isn't the phone that ttells the network what to charge, it's what the account says the services attached to it are.
One legit way to play the game would be to turn in your AT&T Lumia and tell them you want to downgrade to a feature phone. Once that is complete and you have your replacement phone (make sure it has a micro-SIM card), buy an AT&T Lumia off eBay, then install the SIM into the bought phone. It should work just fine, except that because the SIM has been registered to a no-data account, you won't be able to get any data services.
drtolson said:
One legit way to play the game would be to turn in your AT&T Lumia and tell them you want to downgrade to a feature phone. Once that is complete and you have your replacement phone (make sure it has a micro-SIM card), buy an AT&T Lumia off eBay, then install the SIM into the bought phone. It should work just fine, except that because the SIM has been registered to a no-data account, you won't be able to get any data services.
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Click to collapse
Actually that won't work, the phone registers on the network everytime it is used. So within a couple of days AT&T will know it is one of their smartphones and tag on a Smartphone data plan.
About the only way around paying for Smartphone data but still use one is to get an unbranded phone that is not recognized by the system. It will show up in the system as "Unknown Device"
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express
drtolson said:
If you are not using data over the cellular network, can't you just cancel the 'data' portion of your plan with AT&T? Or does the 'plan' come with the type of phone you bought?
Even if you could 'mask' the phone so that AT&T thought you were using a feature phone instead of a smart phone, you would still be charged the $30/mo, cuz that's what's attached to your account. It isn't the phone that ttells the network what to charge, it's what the account says the services attached to it are.
One legit way to play the game would be to turn in your AT&T Lumia and tell them you want to downgrade to a feature phone. Once that is complete and you have your replacement phone (make sure it has a micro-SIM card), buy an AT&T Lumia off eBay, then install the SIM into the bought phone. It should work just fine, except that because the SIM has been registered to a no-data account, you won't be able to get any data services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually that won't work at all since AT&T actively polices their network and will detect smartphone IMEI regardless of what IMEI was associated with that SIM previously. The only "legal" way to have a branded smartphone without data plan on AT&T is to have a pre-paid account. AT&T does not require smartphone data plans for PAYGo customers.
gangsta.mostwanted said:
Hello All: I am sorry for making new thread but I was unable to find what I am looking for.
Is there any way that I can hack my Lomia 900 so that ATT does not know what I am using smart phone. I love Windows Phone OS but I hate paying ATT $30 for a data plan that I don't use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
at&t are not idiots. They know what they sold you. Changing the IMEI might work but it's not guaranteed. And I believe changing the IMEI is against the law. I doubt the forum owners will let anyone openly discuss that.
Why don't you get the $20 300mb plan if you don't use data? That is where I would start. In the future find out which smartphones are not detected by at&t and purchase one of them at full price if you want to avoid data charges or want to use the $10 unlimited plan. There are plenty of threads about that.
paid 399 for a new lumia 900 at at&t and threw it on net 10 50 unlimited everything plan. Nokia network setup app from marketplace to set apns and it's great. Getting 3-7 megs. for everyday phone usability and efficiency winmo is far superior than android. I did have to get a nexus 7 to retain android tho..
halfevildruid said:
paid 399 for a new lumia 900 at at&t and threw it on net 10 50 unlimited everything plan. Nokia network setup app from marketplace to set apns and it's great. Getting 3-7 megs. for everyday phone usability and efficiency winmo is far superior than android. I did have to get a nexus 7 to retain android tho..
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How did you get the Network Setup app to work? Mine just says "please wait while we find your network settings" but never finds anything.
halfevildruid said:
paid 399 for a new lumia 900 at at&t and threw it on net 10 50 unlimited everything plan. Nokia network setup app from marketplace to set apns and it's great. Getting 3-7 megs. for everyday phone usability and efficiency winmo is far superior than android. I did have to get a nexus 7 to retain android tho..
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Click to collapse
So the L900 does work on other networks (that AT&T allows). Thanks for that.
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express Pro
jimski said:
So the L900 does work on other networks (that AT&T allows). Thanks for that.
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express Pro
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That is because NET10 is a MVNO and uses AT&T network. So techinically your phone is still on AT&T network (but LTE probably won't work) but billed to a different provider. There are also couple other MVNOs use the same AT&T network. Lumia 900 from AT&T can work on all of them with the need to unlock.
You have to pay $30.00 a month like the rest of us, because the At&t system will detect, via your imei, that your using a smartphone device.
I believe it is possible to buy a Galaxy Nexus GSM version from Google and add it to an already active $15 feature phone data plan, and continue to pay for the feature phone service, even after placing the sim into your unlocked Galaxy Nexus. That is because at the time I purchased my nexus, it's imei was not registered as a smartphone device within AT&T's database, although it may have been updated since the last time I checked.
But in the end do you think anyone likes to pay for the data package?.... Of course not, so why would an exception be made for your situation? The argument will always win with a simple "don't use a smartphone then" and there's really nothing you can say to that.
FWIW, that's just my 2 cents. I hope I didn't offend anyone with my opinions.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Well said, that type of "trick" is what forces the carrier to lock boot loaders throttle data and stuff like that because some abused the system.
Sent from my HTC One XL using xda premium
You CAN use a Smartphone on AT&T without paying the $30 fee; I've been doing it for years. It just cant be a model that AT&T sells and registers in their system. If there's a particular model you like on T-Mo or any other GSM carrier(Make sure it has AT&T Freq.) that AT&T does not use, their system may recognize the brand and model #, but it won't populate the automatic Data Plan like all AT&T Smart phones do.
Case in point, I now use a Nokia N8(Great phone for me). AT&T does not know what an N8 is(The best camera on any phone to date) and therefore can't charge me a data plan automatically. Since most of the Factory Direct Unbranded Nokia smarthones have their own GPS antenna, I can have all the maps, turn by turn directions, and POI's I need for free because it hits the GPS satellite directly, if it cant use the Cell sites. The trick is to make sure your DATA IS TURNED OFF on your phone. On my N8 you can set it to stay off in the settings menu. One slip up, and they'll charge you out the ying yang. However, I have always been able to call in and have it reversed. You can have them block ALL data, but then MMS won't work.
Now if your a Data kind of user, put up the $30 and use it. I myself, being an "Old School" Cellular guy in the Industry 19yrs, cant fathom paying for it when I don't need it. The WiFi on my N8 is really strong and there are plenty of places with free WiFi. In between them, I could care less; my GPS still works and I can wait. If you need to get your email right away, or know what Paris Hilton said today, pay the $30.
I work for AT&T, just so you guys know.
It doesnt matter where the phone came from. Let me give you an example of how it goes down. If you upgrade and get a Nokia Lumia 900, we'll go into the Equipment section of your account and change the SIM card number from your old to your new (basic phones and smartphones have two different types of SIM cards). When we do that, right next to the box to enter a new SIM card number is the box to enter a new IMEI number, to tell what kind of phone is on your account. When we do that and the phone is a smartphone, the next screen to pop up in our system is the Features screen and we can't bypass that screen without adding some sort of data package. The only way you can get around that is by simply NOT changing the IMEI in the account. If you bought that Lumia 900 at the discounted price, there's nothing you can do, really. You have to get a data plan.
The only way to get around the system is to get a smartphone (ANY smartphone) and ask your AT&T rep to just give you a new SIM card for it, but NOT to change the IMEI in your account from a basic phone. This way, the network will still find your phone, but the system wont recognize that you have a smartphone. Now you have a smartphone on your account without a data plan.
Another thing to consider is that AT&T offers a $50/month GoPhone plan with unlimited EVERYTHING and you can text other countries. Do the same process as above with that GoPhone plan and you'll save a **** ton of money in the long run. Hope this helps.
pluginxbabyy said:
Another thing to consider is that AT&T offers a $50/month GoPhone plan with unlimited EVERYTHING and you can text other countries. Do the same process as above with that GoPhone plan and you'll save a **** ton of money in the long run. Hope this helps.
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If you work for AT&T you should know that the GoPhone servive doesn't offer a data plan for smartphones such as the Lumia 900...
However, from what it sounds like this guy is trying to do what I have done. I have a GoPhone account and I am using a Lumia 900 on it and I didn't have to pay for any sort of data plan. I tried to, but I got a call later that day explaining that they couldn't process it so they just credited the money I paid for data to my account.
If you're stuck in contract, can't you just get a POS phone and switch SIM cards? You say that AT&T uses special SIM cards for smart phones, but they look the same to me, other than the fact that the plastic portion of the sim card has been basically cut in half to create something called "Micro Sims" --- Well, as it turns out, with a pair of scissors and a steady hand, anyone can turn their basic sim card into a micro sim card that will work inside the Lumia 900. The plastic portion of the sim is perfectly safe to cut all you want, just use the sim that came with the lumia 900 as a template... It's really easy, I did it with my T-Mobile SIM card after I unlocked my Lumia 900.
Even buying a basic phone with no data services, when you pop that sim card into a smartphone it automatically adds the cheapest data plan to that number.
I got around this a few years ago.
Using a basic phone call and say you want to have data services blocked. Back then it was free but now I think they want to add parental controls and charge you an extra 5 bucks a month. But call and have data services blocked on that number then when all goes through put your sim into the smartphone.
It worked for me. Normally when you do that you get a text from AT&T telling you that they upgraded your data plan blah blah. If you don't get the text I'd assume all is well.
jimski said:
So the L900 does work on other networks (that AT&T allows). Thanks for that.
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express Pro
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what is your apn settings I got an ATT lumia 900 and cant figure out the right apn settings
I've called and they tell me that I have to have it or the phone won't work or I have to cancel the entire service ...I've tried the website and it doesn't have that option.
Any help?
Sent from my Galaxy S3 using XDA HD
VeryCoolAlan said:
I've called and they tell me that I have to have it or the phone won't work or I have to cancel the entire service ...I've tried the website and it doesn't have that option.
Any help?
Sent from my Galaxy S3 using XDA HD
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Click to collapse
If you REALLY want to get rid of the data plan, (and your not in contract), then get an OLD flip phone and drop your sim in it. Wait a couple hours after making a few calls & texts with it so that it updates in their system.
Then call AT&T support and tell them that you have this old flip phone and you no longer need a data plan. They should at that time cancel the data plan from your account. Once done, take your sim and put it back into the S III.
NOTE : If you are on contract they won't acknowledge the phone change out and will continue with the data plan, as that was part of the contract that you signed up for when you subsidized the phone. ALSO TO NOTE, if your not on contract and they "see" that you are using the S III, they can at will reinstate the data plan, as it is a "requirement" for devices of this type.
I think a data plan is required on any smartphone. One option is to cancel with AT&T and then sign up on an AT&T prepay plan. The prepay plan doesn't seem to require a data plan, or else they don't seem to be as vigilant at enforcing it. One of my daughters has been using an iPhone and the other has been using a Moto Atrix on an AT&T prepay plan for over a year now without a data plan and no issues.
You can call and demand they take out off. They can't tell you no as long as you have minutes on your plan they can't charge you anything. Just keep demanding they take it off
Samsung Galaxy S3
I know a data plan is required. If you read your contract, it is most likely stated there also. And online. Any official new phone retailer. In the store. Just about everywhere you may have looked at this phone, with the exception of a current s3 users left or right hand, states you have to have a qualifying data plan with all post paid accounts. Pre paid is different.
I'm an AT&T employee. As stated, you can request the plan be removed only if you're switching to a non-smartphone. You can't just go back to using the smartphone, though. If the billing system sees a smartphone in use (your device broadcasts its IMEI on every call) without an appropriate data plan, one will get automatically added to the account, and contract status doesn't matter. An SMS will be sent notifying of the change.
aricept said:
I'm an AT&T employee. As stated, you can request the plan be removed only if you're switching to a non-smartphone. You can't just go back to using the smartphone, though. If the billing system sees a smartphone in use (your device broadcasts its IMEI on every call) without an appropriate data plan, one will get automatically added to the account, and contract status doesn't matter. An SMS will be sent notifying of the change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the only workaround that I've found that works is to stick your sim in another phone (basic) use that and go to a store and have them update that. turn on your smartphone without sim in it and then go to mobile section and turn off data or remove APN altogether. Once that is done, put sim card back in and just never turn that back on. Did a test with a personal phone and it never registered with the system, ran it for like 4 months that way (on a personal plan) before I decided being restricted to Wi-Fi was easier said than done. Don't know if they've patched that or not, this was about a year ago, but hopefully it helps
DISTRAUGHTKLOWNZ said:
also an employee, the only workaround that I've found that works is to stick your sim in another phone (basic) use that and go to a store and have them update that. turn on your smartphone without sim in it and then go to mobile section and turn off data or remove APN altogether. Once that is done, put sim card back in and just never turn that back on. Did a test with a personal phone and it never registered with the system, ran it for like 4 months that way (on a personal plan) before I decided being restricted to Wi-Fi was easier said than done. Don't know if they've patched that or not, this was about a year ago, but hopefully it helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello fellow employee!
That's an interesting trick, but I don't think it would work anymore. I've seen the system add packages to suspended lines, which clearly aren't accessing data, just based on the last phone in use.
Thanks! Had to switch sim to a small flip phone...now I use my gs3 as a "tablet"
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using XDA Premium HD app
aricept said:
I'm an AT&T employee. As stated, you can request the plan be removed only if you're switching to a non-smartphone. You can't just go back to using the smartphone, though. If the billing system sees a smartphone in use (your device broadcasts its IMEI on every call) without an appropriate data plan, one will get automatically added to the account, and contract status doesn't matter. An SMS will be sent notifying of the change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I remember I did it on my old g1 on tmobile...but that was years ago
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using XDA Premium HD app
I've recently decided that I'm going to be dropping my data plan, as it is rather expensive. I've done some research, and as far as I can tell, my current device will be rendered useless if I drop my plan. I need my phone do be able to receive texts and calls at anytime, not just over WiFi, and I don't want to get a hotspot. With all this in mind I ask two questions:
1.)
Is there away to continue using my phone the way it is, with full functionality excluding mobile data? I've heard some people say that unlocking it and switching the SIM cards with a non-smartphone works, but then others say that AT&T can check for what kind of phone you are using, and that if detects a smartphone it will automatically charge you for data. Is any of this true? If I can switch out the SIM cards, and AT&T can scan my phone, is there a way that I can get around that? Are there any other methods to do this at all?
2.)
If I have to get rid of my phone, are there any android enable cellular devices that I can get that don't require data e.g. a prepaid android phone where I simply choose not to buy any data.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Phaildroid said:
I've recently decided that I'm going to be dropping my data plan, as it is rather expensive. I've done some research, and as far as I can tell, my current device will be rendered useless if I drop my plan. I need my phone do be able to receive texts and calls at anytime, not just over WiFi, and I don't want to get a hotspot. With all this in mind I ask two questions:
1.)
Is there away to continue using my phone the way it is, with full functionality excluding mobile data? I've heard some people say that unlocking it and switching the SIM cards with a non-smartphone works, but then others say that AT&T can check for what kind of phone you are using, and that if detects a smartphone it will automatically charge you for data. Is any of this true? If I can switch out the SIM cards, and AT&T can scan my phone, is there a way that I can get around that? Are there any other methods to do this at all?
2.)
If I have to get rid of my phone, are there any android enable cellular devices that I can get that don't require data e.g. a prepaid android phone where I simply choose not to buy any data.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not possible, if you change your IMEI to to a non-smartphone then remove the data plan then put that SIM back into a smartphone it will automatically charge the 3 gig data plan. The only way I know if you can get a data plan exclusion but that's rare if not impossible.
Phaildroid said:
I've recently decided that I'm going to be dropping my data plan, as it is rather expensive. I've done some research, and as far as I can tell, my current device will be rendered useless if I drop my plan. I need my phone do be able to receive texts and calls at anytime, not just over WiFi, and I don't want to get a hotspot. With all this in mind I ask two questions:
1.)
Is there away to continue using my phone the way it is, with full functionality excluding mobile data? I've heard some people say that unlocking it and switching the SIM cards with a non-smartphone works, but then others say that AT&T can check for what kind of phone you are using, and that if detects a smartphone it will automatically charge you for data. Is any of this true? If I can switch out the SIM cards, and AT&T can scan my phone, is there a way that I can get around that? Are there any other methods to do this at all?
2.)
If I have to get rid of my phone, are there any android enable cellular devices that I can get that don't require data e.g. a prepaid android phone where I simply choose not to buy any data.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not switch to Straight Talk? 45 bucks a month for wireless data..
SimmIsengard said:
The only way I know if you can get a data plan exclusion but that's rare if not impossible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes as stated from Simmlsengard the ONLY way is to have ATT make it so that Sim does NOT allow data to work. ATT probably will not let you do this though.
My sons phone My Old Galaxy S2 does NOT have a data plan and he can receive SMS and calls but NO MMS since that uses data to send/receive. The ONLY way I got it to work this way though was originally my older son had a dumb phone and NO data plan, though the phone could use some data built in to some apps on the phone. He accidently used data and the bill was about $60 for the data he used downloading some games. I talked to ATT and had data turned OFF and NOT ALLOWED on that line. So once my older son got a new phone I had passed down my Galaxy S1 and put the same Sim card in it that had NO DATA ALLOWED. So I have kept using that dumb phones Sim card into smart phones for my younger son (He is 10 and I don't want him to have Data yet). So these are just some THOUGHTS on what you might TRY and convince ATT to do on your account. Good luck
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
If you are no longer on a service ontract, they cannot make you have data contract can they?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Yes they can terms of service .
Call them up and ask. If they say no, tell them you'll quit and go to another carrier (provided you're not under contract). Don't know if it will work, but it's worth a shot.
Or just get the $30 plan from tmobile/Walmart, it's probably cheaper than most voice plans anyways.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Had my wife's SGS3AT&T for months with a cut sim from her dumb phone and it worked fine.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
I know this discussion has been kicked around before. I'll just have to read their contract. If you have fulfilled your service agreement I don't see how they can make you buy a data plan contract.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
I had a t-mobile 200 mb free data plan activated on a kindle hdx7 about a year ago. 2 months later I got an IpadAir2 and gave the kindle to my daughter and took out the t-mobile free data sim and she put in an att sim to use the data share family plan for $10. She is using most of the 20 gb bucket we have per month between her phone and tablet.
I activated a free sim from t-mobile for my ipad air2 and put the original free sim from the kindle on ice for a while. Tonite I found it and for the heck of it put it in the fire phone to see if the data plan would work in the phone. And it did! I chose the t-mo lte apn and rebooted the phone. And data started flowing. I was able to sign into Ooma mobile and make a successful call over data. The same with Time Warner's Phone2Go app. Was also able to make a successful call over data with this one. The only thing not working is using text messaging. It just won't work with the phone number assigned to the data sim Google voice worked too. Texting works thru google but mms does not work. The clarity of voice was best with Phone2Go, followed by Google, then Ooma. I heard well on all three, but was fuzzy and staticy to the receiver.
So if any of you have those free data sims from t-mo laying around, they will work on the fire phone for app calling. And anything else you want to use the data on.
[Disregard this post -- in post #3 I answer my own question]
Thanks, sashusmom. I tried this but I can't get it working. I can get to the TMO page where it tells me how much data I have remaining but when I try to browse anywhere else it takes me to the "upsell" URL to activate my device, get more data etc. I tried both unrooted and rooted and neither works. Another thought: I have a pre-paid TMO account that is tied to my unlimited 200MB SIM; is your unlimited TMO on a post-paid account, maybe?
I did some further research to see how this works and here is what I found:
Yes, you do need a post-paid T-Mobile account in order to have a SIM card that you can move from one device to another. Prepaid accounts with the 200 MB data plan, those SIM cards are married to the tablet they are activated on. Furthermore, if you do go the post-paid route in order to get this working, please note that you'll need a voice line on your post-paid account in order to get the 200 MB truly free; they give you a $10 bill credit every month as long as you have at least one voice line on the account. If you only have a data device, you will be charged $10 per month and you will not be eligible for the bill credit.
dustbinge said:
I did some further research to see how this works and here is what I found:
Yes, you do need a post-paid T-Mobile account in order to have a SIM card that you can move from one device to another. Prepaid accounts with the 200 MB data plan, those SIM cards are married to the tablet they are activated on. Furthermore, if you do go the post-paid route in order to get this working, please note that you'll need a voice line on your post-paid account in order to get the 200 MB truly free; they give you a $10 bill credit every month as long as you have at least one voice line on the account. If you only have a data device, you will be charged $10 per month and you will not be eligible for the bill credit.
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Everything I wrote in the opening post is true for me. Please note that the apn needs to be T-Mobile US LTE/fast.t-mobile.com I just checked and data is still flowing. It is a prepaid data sim also.
Thanks for your research, but apparently it doesn't apply to me. I don't have a post paid account. That sim that was initially activated on my kindle fire hdx7 for the free data for tablets with 200mb and is working on my fire phone- I know it is the same sim cause I marked it with an F designating free. So it is not married to the tablet. It is working on my firephone. It is a data only sim so voice and texting does not work.
Also it probably does not work in a tmobile device. My kindle was not a tmobile device and initially was not even officially supported for the free data for life plan. But it worked. The firephone is also not a tmobile device.
Another thought for you Dustbinge- does your free data sim- 200 mb for life- have any of the 200mb left on it? If not it will send you to the upsell page. On prepaid you can add more data when you use up the 200 free mb.
ok--thanks for the update. I envy that yours is working because I want the flexibility to use Waze in either the Fire Phone or my Samsung Tablet. In any case, yes, I just started a new monthly cycle and I have about 163MB left. I tried one more time and verified that I'm using the correct APN but I still get the same result. My prepaid SIM was indeed activated in a T-Mobile tablet so there's that. And mine was only done about a month ago so maybe something has changed over the last year.
Sorry to hear it I must be flying under their radar with 2 non t-mo devices. Maybe other peeps could try it and post. It would make it clear then that my case is different. It will be really nice since my main sim is att in an iphone.
If you're adventurous, ebay is selling simple mobile preloaded sims for about $5 each. It has 1 or 2 gigs of data and unl. talk and text. I got 6 of them when they were
$1/each and I have 1 left. They were all activated without a hitch following the directions enclosed with the sims. I would buy more but am too cheap to pay the going rate for them. Maybe $5/month would be worth it to you. You can always buy 1 just to see if it will be good for you. Simple runs on t-mobile.
Sashusmom, thanks for the tip on simple mobile--will def look into that. Another thought on the prepaid TMO SIM working on your Fire phone and not mine: could it be related to our ROM setups? I am stock rooted. What ROM if any are you running and are you using any special build prop strings?
dustbinge said:
Sashusmom, thanks for the tip on simple mobile--will def look into that. Another thought on the prepaid TMO SIM working on your Fire phone and not mine: could it be related to our ROM setups? I am stock rooted. What ROM if any are you running and are you using any special build prop strings?
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I'm running CM-11 for safestrap by ggow. Rooted, no build prop changes. I never used safestrap before but it was very easy. I tend to re-read stuff 3-4 times before I attempt new things and read every post before making any rom changes. Maybe overly cautious, but I never bricked.
I installed safestrap and flashed CM11 for safestrap to try to match your environment. I also never used safestrap before and the good news is that it was surprisingly easy. The bad news is that it had no impact on my TMO prepaid card working. Thanks again for your suggestions.
dustbinge said:
I installed safestrap and flashed CM11 for safestrap to try to match your environment. I also never used safestrap before and the good news is that it was surprisingly easy. The bad news is that it had no impact on my TMO prepaid card working. Thanks again for your suggestions.
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Your very welcome and I'm sorry it was a bust for you Let me know how you like CM11.
I am about to do similar task. I have an old Verizon RazrHD with sim slot. Ordered a TMO phone sim (not tablet). It will arrive this Thrusday. I hope it will work. I don't think build prop will help because TMO has a thread about adding new devices to TMO DB, they use IMEI.