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[Q] Caught Red Handed - Data Plan

Was there a way around this: Didn't have a smartphone before so I had a fifteen dollar "unlimited" plan. Then bought the captivate sans contract off ebay. Received a text this morning that I was switched to an appropriate limited smartphone data plan.
What really irks me is I haven't been using AT&T's data! I've been strictly wi-fi at the house since putting the SIM in.
Was that the sound of inevitability since they know the IMEIs of all Captivates? Or would rooting / custom mod helped? I hate being forced into the age of data caps.

AT&T's policy is if it's a smartphone you have to have a data plan.. period..
And yes, they know if you are using one by the IMEI.
Sucks yes.. and not much you can do. I had a Tilt for a long time without a plan and lived quite nicely by just using wifi.. ahh.. those were the days..!!

You may be eligible to be grandfathered in and keep your plan. Call 611 and ask for the cancellation department (I think they refer to themselves as "Customer Relations/Care/whatever") and let them know you aren't happy and why. Can't hurt to try, right?

I doubt seriously that you'll be able to keep your MediaNet plan. Most of us think that data is data is data, but not where AT&T is concerned. They tend to place this magical premium on smartphone data in the name of maximizing revenue.
If you don't use more than 200 mb a month then the $15 plan should be fine. If you think you'll use more, which is very likely with these phones, you'll want to get the 2gb plan.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

I won a Samsung Epix a year ago and signed up for the MediaNet plan on my old feature phone. I swapped in the SIM, and I have been on $15 unlimited data ever since. This is a WinMo smartphone, and they have never caught on.

You have a pretty good argument if you bought the phone from e-bay. AT&T didn't subsidize your phone and you didn't agree to any plan changes. You just have to call them on their BS be firm but polite and see where you get. You should also check your account and see if they actually changed it. I received one of those text messages too but still have my mediamax plan.
Charging different $$ amounts for the same thing simply because you MIGHT use more is absurd. Hopefully one day they'll be called out on price fixing along with the other cellular carriers. Data IS data, just because you consume it using a smartphone instead of a dumbphone or a laptop doesn't make it any different or more costly for them. Data plan prices are a subject that will instantly send me into a frenzy.

Yeah, I might just let them win this one. Was using a Nokia E71 on the MediaMax and they were never the wiser. I guess this will end my long run with AT&T.
I absolutely love this Captivate and will hate to part with it...but because of their "smartphone" logic I'll be switching carriers within 6 months (as soon as T-mo has a good android HSPA+ or Metro has a good LTE). In the meantime I'll be wary of the 200 MB limit and use lots of wifi.
Thanks for the input! I love discussing corporate cents (non-sense)

ScottyNuttz said:
I won a Samsung Epix a year ago and signed up for the MediaNet plan on my old feature phone. I swapped in the SIM, and I have been on $15 unlimited data ever since. This is a WinMo smartphone, and they have never caught on.
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You were grandfathered in. Before september 09 you could easily switch plans. They restricted this and customers who had already done it now have a smart phone exclusion soc code on their account.
Essentially if you had already cheated the system your grandfathered. If you hadn't then youre screwed.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

ag4vr said:
Most of us think that data is data is data, but not where AT&T is concerned. They tend to place this magical premium on smartphone data in the name of maximizing revenue.
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Isn't it obvious? Bits and bytes and packets that go to a smartphone device are inherently more expensive to produce and transmit than bits and bytes and packets that go to a "feature" phone!

nbohmer said:
Essentially if you had already cheated the system your grandfathered. If you hadn't then youre screwed.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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Damn... maybe I should buy w/o a new contract then...

ScottyNuttz said:
Damn... maybe I should buy w/o a new contract then...
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Click to collapse
Won't matter. If you use the captivate on ATT at all they will add the $15 plan to your account.

dontshakepandas said:
Won't matter. If you use the captivate on ATT at all they will add the $15 plan to your account.
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Click to collapse
This is true. But once you're on a smartphone plan, it doesn't really matter which one. FWIW, I am running my Captivate on my Blackberry Enterprise Plan. They insisted it wouldn't work but it does. I often switch between a Bold 9700, 3GS and the Captivate for testing purposes on the same SIM. All work on the same account.

You can call em and they may credit you back the money and take the plan off your account, but next month it will just go right back on...its a completely automatic system and they don't currently have a way to override that from happening.

they are doing this with all smartphones now. Once I got my captivate, I gave my old Fuze to my little brother. Within a day, AT&T had signed him up for a data plan. I had bought my phone subsidized from AT&T and had it with them up until the release date of the captivate without a problem, but as soon as my brother put his SIM card in the phone, AT&T decided it was a smartphone... They also charged the $18 upgrade fee too, which I thought was f***ing obnoxious...

ag4vr said:
I doubt seriously that you'll be able to keep your MediaNet plan. Most of us think that data is data is data, but not where AT&T is concerned. They tend to place this magical premium on smartphone data in the name of maximizing revenue.
If you don't use more than 200 mb a month then the $15 plan should be fine. If you think you'll use more, which is very likely with these phones, you'll want to get the 2gb plan.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
Don't forget the 30 dollar surcharge for the "privilege" to tether your computer to your phone and use "your" data.

I've been kicked back and forth through various AT&T departments for the past month over this...
According to AT&T's official line, if you were using a smartphone on a non-smartphone data plan before November of last year, you have a 'smartphone exclusion' added to your account. This will keep you from automatically getting 'upgraded' to a smartphone data plan as long as you don't change to a different smartphone.
Actually, it's a bit more complex than that. The above is true... as long as you're talking about AT&T smartphones. They have a database with the IMEI number for all of the smartphones they offer... but it does not include smartphones that they don't offer. As a result, if you plugged your SIM into a Nexus One, AT&T would be perfectly happy letting you continue on a 'featurephone data plan'. Same goes if you picked up a sim-unlocked HTC Desire from Telus.
Anyway, if you get stuck that way, just move your sim back to your featurephone and give customer support a call. They can get you back on the cheap data plan.
Actually, there's been reports of people trying to add a smartphone data plan to an account using a Nexus One and having AT&T refuse because 'it's not a smartphone' - or rather it's not in their list of smartphones. AT&T insisted on putting them on a featurephone data plane instead.
Now what's really nasty (and what happened with me) is that if you had ben running on an ancient data plan (like a $20 per month plan that provided unlimited data, unlimited text, and 200 mms), and you stuck your sim in a Captivate, you're screwed. Actually it was the AT&T rep who stuck my sim in and tried to process the upgrade. And before the upgrade had even completed, my old data plan was gone and a 2gb smartphone plan was stuck in it's place. What's worse, when told to cancel the upgrade if I can't keep my old data plan, it was too late. Once that data plan is gone, it's gone for good. I tried to get it back for the next month, going through about 9 support cases and hitting multiple levels of support in 3 different divisions. About the best they could do was to give me a heavy discount on the Captivate and put me on the old smartphone unlimited plan.
With the amount of jerking around I was given before anybody could give me a straight answer, I'm seriously considering returning my Captivate anyway and giving Verizon a shot. Except that they're going to cost the same amount I'm paying now, and they don't (yet) have any good android phones that work international.

mesasone said:
Don't forget the 30 dollar surcharge for the "privilege" to tether your computer to your phone and use "your" data.
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Click to collapse
Or the $20 "privelege" of connecting to an "enterprise" email system

ag4vr said:
I doubt seriously that you'll be able to keep your MediaNet plan. Most of us think that data is data is data, but not where AT&T is concerned. They tend to place this magical premium on smartphone data in the name of maximizing revenue.
If you don't use more than 200 mb a month then the $15 plan should be fine. If you think you'll use more, which is very likely with these phones, you'll want to get the 2gb plan.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
I'm on this plan and it's not too bad. Only things I don't really do with my phone while I'm on data: browse the web, use google navigation, or use pandora radio. those things seem to eat up bandwith more than anything else.
Also, use a program like NetMeter, it'll let you know how much data you're using via data plan and wifi, very handy. It let's me monitor my use so I can be sure I won't go over.
And last thing to consider: The way AT&T's billing plan is that you're paying 15$ a month for the first 200mb of data that you use. If you go over that 200mb, they're going to charge you another 15$ for the next 200mb of data, and so on..
It really sucks they've done it like that, but they definitely had a lot of leaks in their network as far as data goes, which is why they've cracked down on it so much. I used to have the same 15$ unlimited data plan for the longest time ever and enjoyed it with my various HTC phones (Wizard, 8515, tilt), but ultimately, I hurt myself in the end since I didn't bother to get on an unlimited smart phone data plan back then, which would have cost me more at the time, but would more than make up for it as far as being grandfathered in goes.

The best way around it is getting a Tmobile phone because you dont need 3g and ATT usually doesnt mess aorund with there imei numbers. But Att has made data plan very cheap $15 and if u usually use wifi then u will never go over. I have never gone over 200 in the past year and its basically i download apps on wifi using other features in moderations u should be good.

First off, this is my first post on these forums.. second. I had the unlimited data plan on a dumbphone, switched to the smartphone. Was told I couldn't keep my plan. Called customer support. Explained I had been with ATT since 1998 and I don't understand why I couldn't keep my plan. They said I couldn't, agent was rather rude IMHO, I said, well I can change carriers, can I speak to a manager. She put me on hold. Came back rather quickly and said in a nice voice. Sir, I spoke to my manager and they agree to give you your plan back, since you have been with us for so long. But you know, it will cost you 5 dollars more a month. I laughed and said, that's not the point."

Captivate without Data Plan

Hey guys,
I'm thinking about getting the Captivate and I was wondering if I can get it without the $15/$30 per month data plan because 90% of the time I'm surrounded with wifi. I did some research and it says that AT&T will be able to track what phone your using with the IMEI number. I was wondering if I can bypass that if I get the Samsung Vibrant and then unlock it so I can use it with AT&T.
I also heard that data block might work is that true? Thanks for all the advice.

Seems kinda silly to get a smartphone and then cripple most of its functionality by not getting at least a minimal data plan. Even if you have ready access to wifi, there are situations where a little data access comes in handy.

I've got around att's data plan by taking a free dumbphone which i got with the "Add-a-line" option, and I swapped it out with an unlocked, not att branded device. Its been over 1.5 years, and I haven't had any data charge.
Just be careful the phone doesn't get any push email or anything like that. I once got charged for getting an email, because when you dont have a data plan, its pay per mb used
Its weird though, my friend did the same exact thing as me, but he bought a different phone, and he gets charged a data plan
EDIT: Actually, I think I got "grandfathered" in. You're most likely going to end up being forced into a data plan. Look at this article

It may sound silly but I am literally surrounded with free wifi wherever I go. Is there no way around this? What happens if I get a different smartphone instead?

If you use wifi there is no data plan utilized. AT&T has no idea what you do when you use wifi. Turn on wifi and enjoy email, the market, surfing...whatever you want.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

I'm using edge on mine. I have tmobile and just unlocked the captivate so that i could bypass the data plan. You could probably do it the other way around
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

just get the phone, you will have to add the data plan to be able to buy it, but a few days later, tell them you lost it and you want to cancel the data, but tell them not only to cancel it, but to block it, because if they do not block it and you go online, they will charge you per MB of usage, but if they block it, there is no way to get any traffic if it isn't thru wifi

is that possible? wont they still be able to detect thatI'm using the Captivate?

A data plan is now required for any smartphone sold by AT$T or one of its authorized agents. So long as the SIM card is in it (it will show what phone it is in on the system and online in your account) they will not cancel the data plan for you. What some people do is put the SIM in a dumb phone, call and cancel their data plan, and then reinstall the SIM to their smartphone. Better be sure you don't use any data, though.
I found a couple of things that absolutely require a data plan and can not be done over wifi. For one, I have Market setup to bill to my AT$T account. When I buy an app this way I have to be on data connection, not wifi, or the charge does not go through. I'm guessing my account info needed to approve the purchase is not accessible via wifi. I also had a program tell me to turn off wifi so it could connect. Can't remember what it was, but it could not work over wifi, only the data connection. aGPS needs a data connection, as well, so you'd be rendering all your GPS apps useless without a data plan.

Process of putting a sim into a dumb phone used to work but it no longer does. Only customers that are grandfathered in can use a smartphone without a data plan provided they did not sign a new 2 year contract agreeing to the new terms and conditions. With a recent upgrade to their system they can detect what type of device the sim is in resulting in a text :data will be automatically added your account.

so nothing can be done?

kenwarez said:
so nothing can be done?
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Click to collapse
Only way is purchasing an unlocked smartphone from a different country. At&t system goes by imei and if it can't recognize the serial it will not classify it as a smartphone. I'm sure there is another way with all the custom options out there but not sure about that one.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

I'm not from USA and I don't know much about your carriers, but coudn't you alegate that the data service drains your battery till the.point you find your phone unusable and ask for at&t to block it threatening of changing your provider? The last part works for almost anything in my country. Also with a good excuse you can build up a consumers defense case asking to be removed from the plan. Like phone racism, all phones should be able to access all plans, and if for example you are on a no data area they are charging you more for the same service.
Just a few ideas... not sure if any of them could work

rastanthology said:
I'm not from USA and I don't know much about your carriers, but coudn't you alegate that the data service drains your battery till the.point you find your phone unusable and ask for at&t to block it threatening of changing your provider? The last part works for almost anything in my country. Also with a good excuse you can build up a consumers defense case asking to be removed from the plan. Like phone racism, all phones should be able to access all plans, and if for example you are on a no data area they are charging you more for the same service.
Just a few ideas... not sure if any of them could work
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Click to collapse
i thought the iphone was the only ATT phone they could force you to have a data plan on even when purchased off contract? I know they may try to turn on your data plan if you are using an off contract but in my past experience when you raise a fuss they take it back off and say it was a mistake (this was on my last phone...a TILT 2). I had purchased it off contract and after a about 1.5 years use without data plan one day i got a text saying it was required and had been added. Logged onto my account and couldn't disable. Called them and told them i did not want the plan added, that i had purchased the phone off contract, and had been completely happy using it for the past 1.5 years without a data plan. They said it was a mistake and removed it. Continued to use it for another 6 to 7 months without data plan then finally decided to add an unlimited plan before they disappeared.
Unless something has changed (which it may have) the iphone was the only phone that they forced the data plan on even when you purchased it without any discount or part of a 2 year agreement to have a plan.

alaimar said:
Process of putting a sim into a dumb phone used to work but it no longer does. Only customers that are grandfathered in can use a smartphone without a data plan provided they did not sign a new 2 year contract agreeing to the new terms and conditions. With a recent upgrade to their system they can detect what type of device the sim is in resulting in a text :data will be automatically added your account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ah..sounds like it has changed this use to only apply to iphone...didn't matter how or when you purchased them once the system saw it you were getting a data plan like it or not.

Look at any smartphone on the AT$T site. All have an asterisk stating that a data plan is required. You used to be able to request a data block, but their thinking now is that if you buy a smartphone on contract, you are doing so knowing that some level of data plan is required. AT$T has no obligation to customers that buy phones from other sources like eBay and Craig's List. I had a grandfathered $15 unlimited data plan since February 2009 that I used with my LG Incite. Last July I bought an HTC Tilt 2 off eBay. Almost as soon as I put my SIM into it AT$T tried to upgrade my data plan (since it was not a smartphone plan) I told them I did not want them to change anything as I would not be using the Tilt 2 for long and would probably be using my upgrade (new contract) in December. They weren't happy about it, but they left me alone until I did just that and got the Captivate a couple weeks ago. They are trying to close the loopholes and move people to one of the current data plans they offer. What does piss me off is that they still have the true unlimited data plans (no caps) available just for iPhone customers.

alaimar said:
Only way is purchasing an unlocked smartphone from a different country. At&t system goes by imei and if it can't recognize the serial it will not classify it as a smartphone. I'm sure there is another way with all the custom options out there but not sure about that one.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
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Sorry but no. If AT&T decides to carry that phone later, it will be sweep into the AT&T data plans. It happened to my Rogers X10a. Once AT&T decided carrying it, I got a text message that they were switching me to the proper data plan. So hope that whatever unlocked phone you want to buy will never be sold by AT&T.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Like I said before, are you sure you can't just unlock the Vibrant from T mobile and use that without the data plan? Sure, it isn't the captivate, but it is basically the same thing and could work. I purchased my captivate from some guy off contract and all I had to do was unlock it and it works perfectly without a data plan on T-mobile.

does the sim card affect anything because I have a Cingular SIM card.

I bought a locked at&t captivate on ebay for my girlfriend and she's been using it for almost 3 months now with no data plan and at&t has not added one to her line yet. the asterisk on the at&t website saying a data plan is required is only to get that discounted price on the phone itself. ($200 instead of $500 or whatever)

[Q] Bypass Data Plan

I've been using my Captivate for several months now. But i'm going to upgrade to a newer phone soon, probably during the summer. I'm going to pass my Captivate on to my little brother, who has no need for the data plan. It's been rooted and unlocked. I want to call AT&T and tell them that I have misplaced the phone and am now using my Sony Ericsson w810i, so I have no use for the Data Plan. Hopefully when my brother uses his sim, AT&T wont slap on another data plan charge to my already huge bill! I was wondering if someone can validate if this seems possible, or guide me to where I can find further info on this. I was also wondering is theres a way to change the IMEI# to my SE w810i IMEI#. Not really cheating them, since there will be no data usage and I actually do own the SE w810i =P
P.S.- An employee @ Best Buy told me that if I rooted and unlocked my Captivate, that I would be able to remove my data plan.
Thanks in advance!

from what i have heard, as long as the imei that is registered is not one from a smart phone then you should not have to worry about a data plan being added on. so if the sony is registered with att and then swap the sim into the captivate then you should be good. now that said, some one i know had a different phone registered under their account, then switched to a iphone and had the data plan put on their account. i guess as soon as att detects it they add it on even if a different imei is on the account. i know 3 other people that have the captivates and all have different imei under their accounts and none of them have a data plan. one of them even has an imei from one of those pay as you go phones from att which was like $10 or $20 and everything has been good.

xxsanioutlawxx said:
I've been using my Captivate for several months now. But i'm going to upgrade to a newer phone soon, probably during the summer. I'm going to pass my Captivate on to my little brother, who has no need for the data plan. It's been rooted and unlocked. I want to call AT&T and tell them that I have misplaced the phone and am now using my Sony Ericsson w810i, so I have no use for the Data Plan. Hopefully when my brother uses his sim, AT&T wont slap on another data plan charge to my already huge bill! I was wondering if someone can validate if this seems possible, or guide me to where I can find further info on this. I was also wondering is theres a way to change the IMEI# to my SE w810i IMEI#. Not really cheating them, since there will be no data usage and I actually do own the SE w810i =P
P.S.- An employee @ Best Buy told me that if I rooted and unlocked my Captivate, that I would be able to remove my data plan.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changing the IMEI is not legal so will not be supported on XDA.
As far as the rest. ATT does an IMEI sweep every now and then to update the system to make sure they have the right IMEI on the account. After a while (if you give the phone to your bro) he will get a text stating that his data plan doesnt match the device and they will change it over for you. Only way they can tell is if the IMEI is not in the system like a device from another carrier. I ran my old HD 2 without a data plan for almost a year and it came up as an old nokia device.

You will find no joy...
I gave my son my old Blackberry. Within two weeks, we both recieved a text saying his sim card was in a smart phone, and his account was being upgraded.
ATT does not care what you do, so long as you pay your dues.

Prior to this phone, I used a BB Pearl for over 2 years with no data.
Although I hear they automatically add data plans to smart phones now.

I appreciate all the replies! Thanks everyone... Just gotta cross my fingers and see how long it takes them to figure it out
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App

xxsanioutlawxx said:
I appreciate all the replies! Thanks everyone... Just gotta cross my fingers and see how long it takes them to figure it out
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
Should figure out immediately. Try to get the account data blocked.

I'll definitely do that...
Thanks again.
XDA ftw!
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App

I bought my cappy back in November online from AT&T. I haven't had a data plan on this phone or my old LG Incite in over a year and a half.
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something to consider is did you buy the cappy out right? or buy on a contract plan? if you bought on a contract you agreed to have a Data plan for a set # of years, they might let you sign a new contract or try to hold you to your older more profitable data plan.. even if you no longer have a data phone. depends on how evil they feel today.

one used to be able to just cancel the data plan after a month on new contract with ATT without getting charged extra or termination fee etc. Just be sure to not use any data, otherwise you'll be paying a hefty charge on any data usage.

I would think that as long as you continue with the data plan on the sony, AT&T shouldn't care what happens to the other phone unless you're trying to access data with it...to avoid that, as soon as you put the new sim in it, change the apn settings. Make sure the actual APN settings are deleted as well as ports...but you can leave the mms settings intact.
Sent from my arse

whyareyou said:
one used to be able to just cancel the data plan after a month on new contract with ATT without getting charged extra or termination fee etc. Just be sure to not use any data, otherwise you'll be paying a hefty charge on any data usage.
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Click to collapse
LOL
I dont ever remember a time where a company would say:
"hey, you signed a contract promising to pay us 80$ or more a month for the next 3 years, but NAH you change it to $40 and keep the expencive cell phone we practically gave you"....

Bye bye grandfathered unlimited data

I just got done reading an article from USA Today that was talking about how users who have grandfathered data will be forced to select one of Verizon's shared family plans or tiered plans if or when they go to upgrade their device.
I really despise Verizon for this and will be heading to sprint if I have to give up unlimited data. If they think they will make more money from this move, I suggest everyone leave Verizon and show them the error in their ways.
And just wait, they are trying to eliminate unlimited data for home internet also and the head of the FCC supports limited data. Online gaming and video will suffer and our country will wonder why businesses will struggle. Who's going to let their kids play online games when they have to watch their data usage. Bad news for companies like Sony who have the PS3 and online gaming and bad news for online video streaming companies like Netflix.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA

In the end though, I really can't see Verizon being too negatively affected by all of this. The heavy duty users will either pony up the extra cash (because of Sprint's shoddy coverage) or leave and bog down another carriers network.
I have unlimited data right now, and I rarely go over 2GB and I've never been over 4. I stream music pretty often, use fox-fi for thether, and spend a good bit of time on my phone.
Does it suck? Yea. Will it get me to switch? Probably not. I guess it depends on what the pricing structure looks like. I'm intrigued by the idea of the shared data plans too.

Cut off will be June 27th 1159pm to keep it for one last contract.
New plans are expensive! http://solutions.vzwshop.com/shareeverything/pdf/verizon_share_everything_plan_details.pdf

I love Verizon...I have 2 lines on my account (both Bionics) one has the 10GB plan and my wife has the 6GB + mobile hotspot and our monthly bill is around $215/month. Plenty of data for that price.
Peace.

Your on xda, and still paying for the hotspot service? We're the reason Verizon started offering the tethering service in the first place once they realized we were already doing it for free.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA

Believe me I love FoxFi. My wife is a by the book type person.
She uses the hotspot feature for work as a necessity. No matter how many times I tell her that I'm 99% sure she wouldn't get caught using FoxFi she comes back and says that what if they do? I need this for work! I then just sigh.

I think if they are going to force limited data plans on us, at least give an exemption for apps such as Netflix. You will eat your plan up real fast just by streaming a couple movies.
Also include services such as slacker radio and Pandora into the exemption.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA

So if we have grandfathered unlimited data (we been on verizon for years) do we keep it as long as we dont upgrade or buy phones off contract (like ebay)?

HorsexD said:
So if we have grandfathered unlimited data (we been on verizon for years) do we keep it as long as we dont upgrade or buy phones off contract (like ebay)?
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This is precisely how to keep unlimited data.
If Verizon sells you a subsidized phone, that's where they get to force you into a new contract.
If you buy a phone at full retail price from Verizon, or buy a used phone from a place like eBay or Swappa your unlimited data is safe.
Even if you're sitting on something like a Samsung Fascinate, you can go on Craigslist and buy a Razr Maxx, head to a Verizon store, and get a free SIM card to continue service on the Razr Maxx. Nothing on your plan changes except a line item or two for $0.00 indicating that you have 4G Unlimited instead of 3G Unlimited.

projektorboy said:
This is precisely how to keep unlimited data.
If Verizon sells you a subsidized phone, that's where they get to force you into a new contract.
If you buy a phone at full retail price from Verizon, or buy a used phone from a place like eBay or Swappa your unlimited data is safe.
Even if you're sitting on something like a Samsung Fascinate, you can go on Craigslist and buy a Razr Maxx, head to a Verizon store, and get a free SIM card to continue service on the Razr Maxx. Nothing on your plan changes except a line item or two for $0.00 indicating that you have 4G Unlimited instead of 3G Unlimited.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is wrong. That is how it used to work before, now if you attempt to activate a new phone you will be forced to choose new plan options before they will activate it, regardless of where you got your phone. Welcome to the new Verizon.

I will probably be forced off of Verizon at some point. I am already paying $245 a month for 2 androids with unlimited talk, text, and data with insurance and a $3/month slacker radio subscription.
While the data limitations would be no concern to my girlfriend, I am at 5.341gb for the month, with another week left in the month. They are already getting enough money from us every month.
With the changes, I will be forced to cancel my slacker subscription because I use it mainly while driving and won't be able to do that anymore. I don't mind paying $3 a month for being able to listen to music I like while driving. This is an example of why limited data plans have an economic impact on other companies.
I don't know, but I think $245 a month is enough. Is business really that bad for them that they have to try to push for $300 a month? This is why corporate America is seen as greedy.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA

Does this include prepaid also?
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA

The shared data plans are a complete rip anyway. From what I read, they charge you for the pool, than the first device, than the second device. That means that I would pay the same I pay now for my plan's two devices and only get 4GB of data for the two of them to share. I know exactly what I am going to do when I get my next upgrade; I won't upgrade.

nobreak1970 said:
Believe me I love FoxFi. My wife is a by the book type person.
She uses the hotspot feature for work as a necessity. No matter how many times I tell her that I'm 99% sure she wouldn't get caught using FoxFi she comes back and says that what if they do? I need this for work! I then just sigh.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand your point. Your wife sounds like someone who should be paying for it since its for work.
Its the average user whom I think its overpriced for. I don't use it myself too often, but I did pay $10 for easy tether so I can hook up through USB and share my data with my computer when I need to. Since I don't typically need other people using my data, I rarely use wifi tether since it kills your battery faster.
I don't just oppose limited data based on my data usage though. I look at the bigger picture. It will slow down technology growth and may put some businesses out of business. Any business that uses bandwidth will be impacted. Customers will be less willing to pay for services that they could be charged twice for using (the service and the data overage charges, Netflix, slacker radio, etc). Even app developers will be impacted because people will be less willing to download as many apps to try out.
Some flashers may impacted as well. Some of us download the roms directly on to our phones. Our data plans would be eaten up a lot just by keeping up to date with the roms.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA

Sadly when I first found out about shared family plans I thought it would save me money but it seems to get an amount of data equivalent to what the three basic data packages on my account have i will have to pay a good bit more.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

nullness said:
This is wrong. That is how it used to work before, now if you attempt to activate a new phone you will be forced to choose new plan options before they will activate it, regardless of where you got your phone. Welcome to the new Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay then. Debunk this article which contains an official statement from Verizon
http://www.droid-life.com/2012/05/1...d-data-says-exactly-what-we-already-told-you/

What to do.... I don't think Sprint is an option. Go to AT&T? Is it worth paying list price just to keep unlimited data? Since I am not upgrading soon, I will have the benefit of lots of examples.

ronaldheld said:
What to do.... I don't think Sprint is an option. Go to AT&T? Is it worth paying list price just to keep unlimited data? Since I am not upgrading soon, I will have the benefit of lots of examples.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T was the first to eliminate unlimited data. They are worse than Verizon. At one point in time, they had their phones locked to where you could only install apps from the android market. They stopped that when Amazon released their own app store and their users couldn't install the Amazon app store, or any of the apps from it.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA

projektorboy said:
Okay then. Debunk this article which contains an official statement from Verizon
http://www.droid-life.com/2012/05/1...d-data-says-exactly-what-we-already-told-you/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That article is a month old...read more recent statements from them.

If you are in a Sprint 4G area, go for it.
I had to have an Airave device just to make a phone call.
Sprint changed their billing, I opted out with no etf's(a moto photon and a nexus s4g, about one month old), went to Verizon, signed on, came home, had full bars of 3G, and a week later they flipped the switch and I now have 4G.
I sent an open signal text to my old Sprint rep showing her the 4G and strength. WHat else could she do?

Got audited by AT$T data sweep system on nexus 4 for $10 data unlimited

Annoyed. Got the dreaded ATT text that I wasn't using the correct data plan for the nexus 4. Was using it on $10 non smart data plan.
AT&T Free Msg: Did you know a data plan is required for your Smartphone? We have added an appropriate data plan. Learn more at www.att.com/dataplans.
Online management shows phone as being unrecognized but they apparently know the phone is a smartphone.
Even the email I got from ATT says
"For whatever reason, our records indicate your Smartphone does not have an eligible data plan. We have added an appropriate Smartphone data plan for your device"
So unlike the Galaxy nexus, ATT does force the $30 data plan. I guess the LG Optimus G is so similar to the Nexus 4 ATT can see it as a smartphone.
It's weird cause the international Galaxy S3 was never recognized on my account when I had it on the $10 data plan.

aneftp said:
Annoyed. Got the dreaded ATT text that I wasn't using the correct data plan for the nexus 4. Was using it on $10 non smart data plan.
AT&T Free Msg: Did you know a data plan is required for your Smartphone? We have added an appropriate data plan. Learn more at www.att.com/dataplans.
Online management shows phone as being unrecognized but they apparently know the phone is a smartphone.
Even the email I got from ATT says
"For whatever reason, our records indicate your Smartphone does not have an eligible data plan. We have added an appropriate Smartphone data plan for your device"
So unlike the Galaxy nexus, ATT does force the $30 data plan. I guess the LG Optimus G is so similar to the Nexus 4 ATT can see it as a smartphone.
It's weird cause the international Galaxy S3 was never recognized on my account when I had it on the $10 data plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that legal for them to change your Data package and charge you more money without a notice period first?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

altimax98 said:
Is that legal for them to change your Data package and charge you more money without a notice period first?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it's in the contract that they can do whatever they want, up to and including selling you into slavery for bitcoins to pay your overdue bill. This is AT&T. They have no morals.
Ordered my Nexus 4 on the 13th. Still waiting.

aneftp said:
Annoyed. Got the dreaded ATT text that I wasn't using the correct data plan for the nexus 4. Was using it on $10 non smart data plan.
AT&T Free Msg: Did you know a data plan is required for your Smartphone? We have added an appropriate data plan. Learn more at www.att.com/dataplans.
Online management shows phone as being unrecognized but they apparently know the phone is a smartphone.
Even the email I got from ATT says
"For whatever reason, our records indicate your Smartphone does not have an eligible data plan. We have added an appropriate Smartphone data plan for your device"
So unlike the Galaxy nexus, ATT does force the $30 data plan. I guess the LG Optimus G is so similar to the Nexus 4 ATT can see it as a smartphone.
It's weird cause the international Galaxy S3 was never recognized on my account when I had it on the $10 data plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the same text message from them yesterday. I promptly called them back and had them put me back on the $10 data plan. The CSR I spoke to said their system periodically reviews activity on your sim card. If they detect "smartphone type" activity they will switch your plan. I told them nothing about my phone has changed( I've been on MediaNet since getting my N4) and told them its a basic phone(thats what the N4 IMEI comes up as in their system). They had no problem putting me back on MediaNet plan.
I would call them and tell them to put you back on $10 data plan

What is crap about at&t is their is no benefit to owning your own phone. Honestly we shouldn't have to pay as much for data because they aren't subsidizing our phones, but on at&t there isn't much benefit in buying your own phone because you pay the same regardless.
IMO if you subsidized your phone after 2 years and don't bite on early upgrading you should get a discount. And early termination should just be the remaining cost of your subsidized phone. Thats how it should work and fwiw smartphone /dumb phone data plans are stupid too, because it like your ISP deciding to charge you more because you use Firefox instead of ie.
But what can you do really? The only carrier that does it right is T mobile, and they are the bottom of the barrel in coverage. At&t makes way more money on subsidizing phones, only way for things to improve is to kill subsidizing, then carriers will be forced to use the same bands and have to compete on pricing. I think subsidizing is long outdated personally and it time to sell phones like every other consumer electronic.
I mean with the nexus 4 wait for instance I've found I am kind of forced to deal with it because every other comparable phone is like $550, and every sale on has an asterix that states "after 2 year commitment".
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

estallings15 said:
I think it's in the contract that they can do whatever they want, up to and including selling you into slavery for bitcoins to pay your overdue bill. This is AT&T. They have no morals.
Ordered my Nexus 4 on the 13th. Still waiting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They may have NO morals, but another thing they DON'T have is the N4 IMEI #

Cor-master said:
What is crap about at&t is their is no benefit to owning your own phone. Honestly we shouldn't have to pay as much for data because they aren't subsidizing our phones, but on at&t there isn't much benefit in buying your own phone because you pay the same regardless.
IMO if you subsidized your phone after 2 years and don't bite on early upgrading you should get a discount. And early termination should just be the remaining cost of your subsidized phone. Thats how it should work and fwiw smartphone /dumb phone data plans are stupid too, because it like your ISP deciding to charge you more because you use Firefox instead of ie.
But what can you do really? The only carrier that does it right is T mobile, and they are the bottom of the barrel in coverage. At&t makes way more money on subsidizing phones, only way for things to improve is to kill subsidizing, then carriers will be forced to use the same bands and have to compete on pricing. I think subsidizing is long outdated personally and it time to sell phones like every other consumer electronic.
I mean with the nexus 4 wait for instance I've found I am kind of forced to deal with it because every other comparable phone is like $550, and every sale on has an asterix that states "after 2 year commitment".
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile's coverage isn't THAT bad, especially if you stick to more populated areas.
You're right on the subsidy, if I was on AT&T I would buy the most popular high end smartphone every time I was eligible for an upgrade and then sell it on ebay.

OP Just call back your company and say what post number 4 says

se1000 said:
T-Mobile's coverage isn't THAT bad, especially if you stick to more populated areas.
You're right on the subsidy, if I was on AT&T I would buy the most popular high end smartphone every time I was eligible for an upgrade and then sell it on ebay.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After I get my n4 I might grab a prepaid Tmobile sim just to try it out for a month or so. I can grab the same deal I have on at&t and get unlimited data too for only a $100 a month, nearly $70 leas than what I pay from at&t now so worth a try
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2

aneftp said:
Annoyed. Got the dreaded ATT text that I wasn't using the correct data plan for the nexus 4. Was using it on $10 non smart data plan.
AT&T Free Msg: Did you know a data plan is required for your Smartphone? We have added an appropriate data plan. Learn more at www.att.com/dataplans.
Online management shows phone as being unrecognized but they apparently know the phone is a smartphone.
Even the email I got from ATT says
"For whatever reason, our records indicate your Smartphone does not have an eligible data plan. We have added an appropriate Smartphone data plan for your device"
So unlike the Galaxy nexus, ATT does force the $30 data plan. I guess the LG Optimus G is so similar to the Nexus 4 ATT can see it as a smartphone.
It's weird cause the international Galaxy S3 was never recognized on my account when I had it on the $10 data plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They can see your user agent when you are browsing using a mobile data connection. That's how they used try to catch people using tethering. It's mostly idiotic because requesting desktop versions of sites causes mobile browsers to fake the UA. They can probably also see traffic from other Google apps such as play store since they use specific ports. My guess is this would have eventually happened on your GNex as well.

[hfm] said:
They can see your user agent when you are browsing using a mobile data connection. That's how they used try to catch people using tethering. It's mostly idiotic because requesting desktop versions of sites causes mobile browsers to fake the UA. They can probably also see traffic from other Google apps such as play store since they use specific ports. My guess is this would have eventually happened on your GNex as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, this is wrong. Tmo DOES look at user agent to block tethering, Att sweeps imeis. Samsung phones are nice because you can " fake" a generic imei by simply erasing (after backup) the efs folder.
FWIW, my solution was a bit different. When I got on their network my goal was basically to grandfather and future proof the hell out of my account. I activated an edge iPhone first (back before they shut down the loop hole), then the same day called in with an atrix imei, then a few months later with a skyrocket imei to go from edge unlimited, to 4g hspa+ unlimited, finally to lte unlimited plan. All genuine smartphone plans and thus subject to grandfathering. In addition anytime I use the wap.cingular apn on my lte plan it doesn't count against my 5gb throttle limit giving me TRUE unlimited (though wap.cingular tops out at a very usable 7.4mbps vs 21 on " phone"). I intentionally skipped the media net plan just for the better "guarantee" of keeping my plan down the road since I KNOW att is a bunch of douchebags.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

I just got placed on the Data Pro plan as well and called up customer service. Our phones get recognized as LG E960, which is in fact the model number for the Nexus 4.
I asked them to switch me back and that I'm using a dumb phone, but they kept me on hold for 10 min and I just hung up. I'm not sure if my plan will revert to MEdia Net.
Is anyone else getting their connection dropped within the first few seconds of data use? It happens to me when I start a speed test or try to listen to NPR. It doesn't always happen, but it does very frequently and I have to wait to reestablish network connectivity. Usually I have to reboot the phone because the app won't reestablish connection even though the phone status states that it has.

Hung0702 said:
I just got placed on the Data Pro plan as well and called up customer service. Our phones get recognized as LG E960, which is in fact the model number for the Nexus 4.
I asked them to switch me back and that I'm using a dumb phone, but they kept me on hold for 10 min and I just hung up. I'm not sure if my plan will revert to MEdia Net.
Is anyone else getting their connection dropped within the first few seconds of data use? It happens to me when I start a speed test or try to listen to NPR. It doesn't always happen, but it does very frequently and I have to wait to reestablish network connectivity. Usually I have to reboot the phone because the app won't reestablish connection even though the phone status states that it has.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Connection problems are the proxy in your apn, just remove it and you'll be good.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

estallings15 said:
I think it's in the contract that they can do whatever they want, up to and including selling you into slavery for bitcoins to pay your overdue bill. This is AT&T. They have no morals.
Ordered my Nexus 4 on the 13th. Still waiting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think AT&T moral is the only one being questioned here, regardless of what AT&T decides to charge, last I check, regardless of AT&T having its IMEI or not, the N4 is technically and practically a smartphone. Not that I have a problem with it, its ATT after all, they are charging my dad for land phone services they didn't install correctly which we canceled. I do have a problem with having a separate tethering plan above the data plan, still do not understand why the FCC and European Commission are fine with this. It's would be similar to Evian selling you water bottles to drink from, but its illegal to use it to water your plants or anything else unless you pay them extra.

estallings15 said:
I think it's in the contract that they can do whatever they want, up to and including selling you into slavery for bitcoins to pay your overdue bill. This is AT&T. They have no morals.
Ordered my Nexus 4 on the 13th. Still waiting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can you lie to AT&T about what kind of phone you have yet accuse them of having no morals ? Getting something without paying for it is called theft. Yes I think they are charging too much but, I have a choice on who I use for service.

eksasol said:
I don't think AT&T moral is the only one being questioned here, regardless of what AT&T decides to charge, last I check, regardless of AT&T having its IMEI or not, the N4 is technically and practically a smartphone. Not that I have a problem with it, its ATT after all, they are charging my dad for land phone services they didn't install correctly which we canceled. I do have a problem with having a separate tethering plan above the data plan, still do not understand why the FCC and European Commission are fine with this. It's would be similar to Evian selling you water bottles to drink from, but its illegal to use it to water your plants or anything else unless you pay them extra.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL So True!

amcplus5 said:
How can you lie to AT&T about what kind of phone you have yet accuse them of having no morals ? Getting something without paying for it is called theft. Yes I think they are charging too much but, I have a choice on who I use for service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, I wasn't referring to that. I was thinking about the way they've treated every single person I know who has service with them over the last few years. I do agree that trying to break the rules is no bueno. Doesn't remove any of their slime, though.
Ordered my Nexus 4 on the 13th. Still waiting.

OP here. Ended up selling Nexus 4 with bumper for $400. Easy sell on Craigslist. Like I said, basically sold it for at cost. Really don't care about making a small profit in the phone.
I called earlier to get the $30 data pro off my account. The CSR said she could add the $10 data plan back on but if ATT see I am using a smartphone it will re add it again.
I am already paying $30 for my unlimited grandfathered LTE iPhone 5 (throttled at 5GB with ATT).
I also have a spare line on my brothers Verizon account that I pay him $45 total. I have a grandfathered unlimited LTE Verizon data plan. I don't even use the phone. I put it in my Verizon LTE iPad and Verizon cannot audit me cause of their FCC agreement. That's why Verizon is forcing people off their unlimited LTE data cause Verizon cannot throttle LTE devices and cannot stop people from moving LTE sims between tablet or cell phone devices.
So I just can't justify paying another $30 data plan on my spare ATT line for the nexus 4. It's a great phone (minus the camera). And I recommend the nexus 4 to all of my friends (who aren't obsessed with their iPhones).
I have been with Cingular /ATT for 9 years so know the ins and outs. Unfortunately we consumers are not getting the greatest value with post paid carriers. The big 3 all know there is close to zero profit in minutes anymore. That's why they essentially give minutes away for free these days.
Data is the only true money maker for carriers these days and they want to maximize profits.
I am not a data hogger by any means. I maybe used 300mb in 2 1/2 weeks with the nexus 4. I don't tether either. If ATT offered a sensible (say 500 mb/$10 data plan) I could reason to keep it. But we all know the game the carriers play. $20/300mb is quite ridiculous.
They know the "average" customer uses around 500-700mb data each month. That's why they set the teaser 300mb/$20. Only light users can be on the 300mb smartphone data plan.
On a bright note. My Verizon LTE data is truly unlimited. I let my 2 year old rack up 5-10GB data on the iPad each month without worries. I've heard some Verizon LTE data user go over 200GB a month cause the Verizon iPad can be used as its own hotspot with LTE.

compuw22c said:
Sorry, this is wrong. Tmo DOES look at user agent to block tethering, Att sweeps imeis. Samsung phones are nice because you can " fake" a generic imei by simply erasing (after backup) the efs folder.
FWIW, my solution was a bit different. When I got on their network my goal was basically to grandfather and future proof the hell out of my account. I activated an edge iPhone first (back before they shut down the loop hole), then the same day called in with an atrix imei, then a few months later with a skyrocket imei to go from edge unlimited, to 4g hspa+ unlimited, finally to lte unlimited plan. All genuine smartphone plans and thus subject to grandfathering. In addition anytime I use the wap.cingular apn on my lte plan it doesn't count against my 5gb throttle limit giving me TRUE unlimited (though wap.cingular tops out at a very usable 7.4mbps vs 21 on " phone"). I intentionally skipped the media net plan just for the better "guarantee" of keeping my plan down the road since I KNOW att is a bunch of douchebags.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny that they have the IMEI as it's not an att phone. Yeah tmo was doing the UA sniffing. I assumed att might as well. It seemed they stopped doing it as they have never stopped me from tethering. I pay for data what does it matter how just throttle me when I get to your limit.

I got the message too today morning. I went back to my original smartphone plan of 2 GB since I was never using more than 1 GB. Also the speeds and ping is better on the 'phone' APN of AT&T as compared to the 'cingular' APN.