I currently have voice and unlimited texting. I was looking at one of the smartphones with wifi. The only reason was to be able to check email when I have a wifi connection. You can do this on the new i Touch. If I purchase a smartphone other than AT&T, insert my SIM card and call and have AT&T block data, will I be able to connect to my home internet via wifi?
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Mandatory Data Plans on AT&T smartphones
- Thread starter sammyt
- Start date
crazygirl_519
New member
Jf you have the carrier block data access, you will not be able to send and receive multimedia messages. The carrier has no control over Wi-Fi use. You cannot send and receive multimedia mesaages via Wi-Fi. You will have to use email to send attachment over a Wi-Fi connection. Unfortunately you can no longer get a data block or pay per use with an AT&T-branded PDA or BlackBerry.
Anyone have comments on the fact that ATT is claiming that they are the "last company to require data plans on smart phones" ?
Also I have to admit that even though I consider myself above average in cell experience the whole data requirements are very confusing. With unlimited data plans available from $10 (with a discount request from the normal $15) to $30 (more difficult to get discounted) and the higher cost plan being required of anything considered a smart phone (now seriously who wants to own a "stupid phone" lol), and now a new unspecified phone group requiring a $20 data plan.
I am thinking the plan or idea from the company is a combination of what was posted earlier, but I am totally leaning towards the one where ATT (and the others as well) wants to increase income.
Reason I think that way is because these data plans are not dependent on speed, amount of data used, or anything I can find that is truly data related, but seems more inline with the usability and value of the phone in question.
An example is how non blackberry Iphone phones are now subject to being smart phones and forced to the $30 data plan (eg. e71x, Surge, HTC2 etc), others that are marketed and used more as multimedia phones than smart phones forced into a $20 data plan (Impression, zenon, or pretty much anything touch or qwerty etc), and anything without an acceptable way to enter text (std key pad style) and can not offer any kind of enjoyable multimedia experience are allowed either not to have a data plan, or can opt for a $10 plan.
After an extensive multiple call in discussion with ATT (including CSR's supervisor, a mgr) I have found that just like when texting became popular they are finding their way through this with data as well. Being such I am expecting that just like txt they have found a very profitable way to increase gross billings, and things will change over time as they find what works, what doesn't and what they need to do to keep customers while increasing profits.
As far as grandfathering goes I offer a word of caution as this will only last so long, and if it will be like it was for those of us who had free texting for years due to either special agreements or the very fact that our plans or contracts pre dated the technology and therefore was not billable under the agreement it will only be a matter of time until you are offered a big credit to accept that your grandfathered contract/plan is now eliminated, and you can pick a new plan.
I actually sent back a smarter phone recently (within the remorse period) due to their inability to do anything about the $30 data plan. Since the way I use the phone does not see any real benefit from live or pushed email, and the phone itself was not particularly a great multimedia experience it just was not worth the additional costs, and back it went.
Good thing I have other phones I can use, but these are basic phones (currently using a razr wow) and though it works great as a phone it can not cover the other non data sensitive or actions I need (cal, org, MMS, vid, sd card, and others) and am now shopping for a replacement that will fill my needs without emptying my pockets, and am not finding much.
I am expecting to be calling ATT again to discuss this soon, and will post up their comments etc, but does anyone here know their official stand on which of the three data plans they will allow on an unlocked smart phone (e63, e71, e72 are some choices now) that you already have and they did not subsidize the cost of?
If I can keep the $10 plan I have now on the Razr for one of the phones listed (or another similar one) it would seem like a fair arrangement, but if they are looking for the higher amounts it may be time to check out T-Mobile in more detail.
Thanks!!
Also I have to admit that even though I consider myself above average in cell experience the whole data requirements are very confusing. With unlimited data plans available from $10 (with a discount request from the normal $15) to $30 (more difficult to get discounted) and the higher cost plan being required of anything considered a smart phone (now seriously who wants to own a "stupid phone" lol), and now a new unspecified phone group requiring a $20 data plan.
I am thinking the plan or idea from the company is a combination of what was posted earlier, but I am totally leaning towards the one where ATT (and the others as well) wants to increase income.
Reason I think that way is because these data plans are not dependent on speed, amount of data used, or anything I can find that is truly data related, but seems more inline with the usability and value of the phone in question.
An example is how non blackberry Iphone phones are now subject to being smart phones and forced to the $30 data plan (eg. e71x, Surge, HTC2 etc), others that are marketed and used more as multimedia phones than smart phones forced into a $20 data plan (Impression, zenon, or pretty much anything touch or qwerty etc), and anything without an acceptable way to enter text (std key pad style) and can not offer any kind of enjoyable multimedia experience are allowed either not to have a data plan, or can opt for a $10 plan.
After an extensive multiple call in discussion with ATT (including CSR's supervisor, a mgr) I have found that just like when texting became popular they are finding their way through this with data as well. Being such I am expecting that just like txt they have found a very profitable way to increase gross billings, and things will change over time as they find what works, what doesn't and what they need to do to keep customers while increasing profits.
As far as grandfathering goes I offer a word of caution as this will only last so long, and if it will be like it was for those of us who had free texting for years due to either special agreements or the very fact that our plans or contracts pre dated the technology and therefore was not billable under the agreement it will only be a matter of time until you are offered a big credit to accept that your grandfathered contract/plan is now eliminated, and you can pick a new plan.
I actually sent back a smarter phone recently (within the remorse period) due to their inability to do anything about the $30 data plan. Since the way I use the phone does not see any real benefit from live or pushed email, and the phone itself was not particularly a great multimedia experience it just was not worth the additional costs, and back it went.
Good thing I have other phones I can use, but these are basic phones (currently using a razr wow) and though it works great as a phone it can not cover the other non data sensitive or actions I need (cal, org, MMS, vid, sd card, and others) and am now shopping for a replacement that will fill my needs without emptying my pockets, and am not finding much.
I am expecting to be calling ATT again to discuss this soon, and will post up their comments etc, but does anyone here know their official stand on which of the three data plans they will allow on an unlocked smart phone (e63, e71, e72 are some choices now) that you already have and they did not subsidize the cost of?
If I can keep the $10 plan I have now on the Razr for one of the phones listed (or another similar one) it would seem like a fair arrangement, but if they are looking for the higher amounts it may be time to check out T-Mobile in more detail.
Thanks!!
$30 seems reasonable, considering the amount of data that a single iPhone can push through, given games, video, and all of the other things that are data-intensive. If you want a rediculously complicated bills, then that's what you'd certainly get with an a-la-carte data plan and a smart-phone. Ineveitably, you'll use the data network and be billed for each kilobyte.
Shimmy in 2012
New member
I am pretty sure the $10 I am paying now is much more reasonable than that $30 hit every month.
New changes at AT&T
Oddly not long after posting here in reference to the data plans etc I received a text message from AT&T notifying that they were no longer allowing the negotiated $10 data plans.
Coincidence I hope, but still a lot of BS that they once again just go back on their word or "deal" on the data just the same as they have in the past with text plans.
It appears that the only way they would honor their own agreement is if the $10 data plan is joined with a unlimited text plan ($30 v/s $10 being paid currently on family plan w/2 lines) which is total BS as well.
I am really advising more than complaining due to the large credit that came as part of this, but the continued war that AT&T has declared on it's customers who use data has hit new highs, and my hopes that the amounts charged for this service would start heading downward in the near future due to competition etc are not so high anymore.
Oddly not long after posting here in reference to the data plans etc I received a text message from AT&T notifying that they were no longer allowing the negotiated $10 data plans.
Coincidence I hope, but still a lot of BS that they once again just go back on their word or "deal" on the data just the same as they have in the past with text plans.
It appears that the only way they would honor their own agreement is if the $10 data plan is joined with a unlimited text plan ($30 v/s $10 being paid currently on family plan w/2 lines) which is total BS as well.
I am really advising more than complaining due to the large credit that came as part of this, but the continued war that AT&T has declared on it's customers who use data has hit new highs, and my hopes that the amounts charged for this service would start heading downward in the near future due to competition etc are not so high anymore.
υεlυεt • ωσмαη
New member
I was told yesterday by ATT that the reason for the mandatory data plan/charges were because smartphone manufacturers design phones to require internet connection to function properly.
Currently I'm grandfathered in after canceling my data plan shortly after buying a Blackberry Curve a little over a year ago. If I upgrade or need to replace the phone for any reason I'll be charged the mandatory data charge.
How is my phone working now without data plan, ATT?
More lies, apparently.
All I want is to talk on a phone that has a decent screen and easily accessible keys. (that leaves out Blackberrys. Their support sucks anyway and one of the two Curves I bought died after only a year anyway. No more RIM products! )
I'm canceling my service with ATT when contract expires in July. Considering Sprint's new unlimited $69 plan although I believe it only includes 450 minutes to land lines?
---------- Post added at 08:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:57 PM ----------
Is there another way to get a decent size screen and buttons when someone only needs/wants to talk and not use internet/text services?
Seems the smartest thing about smartphones are the revenues being generated for manufacturers and carriers!
Currently I'm grandfathered in after canceling my data plan shortly after buying a Blackberry Curve a little over a year ago. If I upgrade or need to replace the phone for any reason I'll be charged the mandatory data charge.
How is my phone working now without data plan, ATT?
More lies, apparently.
All I want is to talk on a phone that has a decent screen and easily accessible keys. (that leaves out Blackberrys. Their support sucks anyway and one of the two Curves I bought died after only a year anyway. No more RIM products! )
I'm canceling my service with ATT when contract expires in July. Considering Sprint's new unlimited $69 plan although I believe it only includes 450 minutes to land lines?
---------- Post added at 08:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:57 PM ----------
Is there another way to get a decent size screen and buttons when someone only needs/wants to talk and not use internet/text services?
Seems the smartest thing about smartphones are the revenues being generated for manufacturers and carriers!
You can get service via FuzionMobile.com and get a smartphone and NOT have to pay for data. This service provide enables you to have autopay and not be cornered into a data plan....And they function on the nation's largest 3G network...
FuzionMobile.com is a good alternative for you.
FuzionMobile.com is a good alternative for you.
Pegasus Rule
New member
I think it is a rip off by forcing everyone to get the data plan when you are getting a smart phone.
For me, I just purchase an unlocked phone and call in and tell them to do a data block. So that will will never be charged for data.
I just use wifi for intenet, SIP phone and email.
There are so many features on the smart phone that makes it worth a while without having the stupid data plan.
For me, I just purchase an unlocked phone and call in and tell them to do a data block. So that will will never be charged for data.
I just use wifi for intenet, SIP phone and email.
There are so many features on the smart phone that makes it worth a while without having the stupid data plan.
jdgothtech
New member
This is basically what i have done too. Is there a way to get around the fact that the data block makes it where i cant send picture messages?
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