Hi. I just got my vibrant yesterday and I got a couple question for it before I will root and unlock it. After I unlock it and put in my att sim card will I get charge or be force onto a data plan or can I used it normally without a data plan? B. Should I block incoming data and then use it. Finally C. What is this $10 dollar data plan that I read about on other thread. thank you for your answer.
I'd really like to know the answer to this as well. I've been alternating between an N1 and Vibrant on AT&T using my grandfathered 5GB dataplan. Can they recognize the IMEI?
I use the Samsung Vibrant on AT&T with a grandfathered iPhone unlimited data plan. AT&T hasn't noticed.
However, AT&T will automatically add a data plan to an iPhone if you try to use it on their network without a data plan.
so i guess ill update and try to answer your question incon. I just jump and root,unlock,and put axura 2.2.6 (very nice btw) and im using the phone well so far w/o any sms about data plan. I turn off data roaming and just used wifi since im on school t1 internet anyway. As far as them recognizing the IMEI, I'm still unclear but i've been checking my att account often and it still said that im running on w580i SE. Hope it helps any1 that looking to used this great phone on att unlocked. BTW I freaking love my vibrant. It ridiculously awesome!!!!.
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Hi everyone. I just wanted to mention that I am new to unlocked phones and was wondering if I can get some assistance on this issue. I tried reading the topic regarding the data plan below mine, but I didn't quite understand and not sure if it could answer my questions.
I recently received an Unlocked HTC Aria from Amazon for $339, but the box in which the phone was stored looks like an ordinary AT&T box, so I am doubting whether or not my phone is actually unlocked.
The Aria came with all the AT&T applications like AT&T Hotspot, AT&T Navigation, etc., so this puts me into further doubt.
I currently have an AT&T $10/month unlimited data plan for my Samsung Impression (non-smartphone, and did a SIM swap into the Aria. Everything was going smoothly until I decided to check out Google Navigation. I then received two text messages: The first one indicating that AT&T knows I'm using a smartphone and then one saying that AT&T automatically changed my data plan (I'm assuming to the $15/mo 200MB data plan). I went to my AT&T account and changed the HTC Aria back to the Samsung Impression, hoping maybe they will change it back automatically.
So, I have a few questions:
(1) Was the HTC Aria I received from Amazon actually unlocked?
(2) How can I avoid being detected my AT&T if I swap my SIM card again back into the Aria? Am I able to just use Wi-Fi and limit the amount of data I use?
(3) Should AT&T recognize my IMEI even if my phone is unlocked or will they know regardless because HTC Aria is supported by them?
(4) Even though I switched the phones back in the AT&T online account, will I still have to call them up?
I apologize for all these questions, but if anyone can please assist me, it'll be greatly appreciated.
I think you need to go back in and take a closer look at your account online and see what they actually did to your features, you may have just been screwed. When they transfered you over to the $15 200MB play i think you lost your $10 unlimited plan and may never get it back.
They still know you have your Aria on the account, you have to put your chip back in the old phone, wait about a few hours then check it online to see if it picked it up correctly, then call them and have them remove the data plan and put back your old plan "which they may not be able to do". After that switch back your sim to your Aria. If you get another text alert call them up and tell them you do not have a smartphone on the account and give them your Samsung Impression IMEI number.
Your Aria may not be unlocked just full price off contact, to see if its unlocked put a Tmobile or another non ATT sim in it and see if it picks up a signal.
I had a similar experience with the scanning process removing a feature and putting on the data plan here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=7146488#post7146488
That's exactly what I did. As soon as I got the 2 text messages, I removed the SIM from the Aria and put it back the Samsung Impression. I actually changed the phone manually on my AT&T online account as AT&T did know that I was using the Aria. However, I do not have the option to change my data plan back to $10/mo unlimited as only the $15/mo 200MB data plan option is available. So, I will be calling AT&T in the morning to have it switched back.
I read your other post, but I do not think I have the Medianet bundle. I'm running on a Family plan with Unlimited Family Messaging and Unlimited Family Data ($10/mo for each non-smartphone). I checked the other phones on the plan and nothing has changed in terms of messaging/data plan. Only my phone was affected by the smartphone data plan.
Is there a way to get around this or is it just luck? I don't mind paying $15/mo for 200MB, but if I can avoid it, then why not?! Is it possible to completely disable 3G when Wi-Fi is in use? I heard some Aria owners who said that their 3G was actually still in use even though Wi-Fi was connected. From what I saw on my Aria, there was a check mark under 3G instead of the 2 illuminated arrows when Wi-Fi was connected. How about yours?
My Aria constantly have the chcek under the 3G icon when wifi is on, the only time the 2 arrows show up is when i send or receive a MMS. To disable 3G data there is a mobile data option when you hold down the power button after the unlock screen. There is also an option inside menu - settings - wireless & network - uncheck mobile internet to disable 3G data and use wifi only.
The check just means you are connected to the network it has nothing to do with wifi and data transmission on 3g has up/down arrows.
There's no sure fire way to avoid the at&t data nazis especially since they've already caught you once.there's another topic about aria with no data with more info.
Sent from my HTC Liberty using XDA App
So I contacted HTC and gave them my S/N. They told me the HTC Aria "unlocked" I purchased at retail price was still locked. Now, I'm trying to figure out whether or not there are even unlocked HTC Aria's out there!
call the place you bought it from they will usually send a replacement next day free of charge samething happened to me with my phone not the aria though
Unlimited MOBILE WEB is an entirely different thing from a DATA plan. A mobile web restricts 3g usage to specific applications on the Impression while a data plan allows any app downloaded to use AT&T's network.
Your phone doesn't sound like it was unlocked but even if it was, AT&T can immediately tell which phone is connected to the network via your SIM. There's no real practical way to get out of paying 15 dollars a month. You could try turning off 3g on the Aria, which you can do allowing you to still send/receive calls and texts, but limits you to wifi for any apps that require the internet. Even if you turn it off though i have a feeling AT&T will still charge you 15 for the data plan just because it is a smart phone.
To be quite honest what is 5 more dollars anyway? That's my opinion...
Well, the Aria is branded under AT&T, so there is no such unlocked Aria right now. The HTC representative told me the only way to obtain an unlocked Aria is to actually have someone physically unlock it via unlock code.
As far as I can tell, the phone purchased through Amazon is not unlocked. It actually never was listed as Unlocked, so it was a mistake on my part.
I don't know if I will be able to return the phone though. I guess I can always tell them that there is something wrong with it and then they might allow a refund.
Oh, I don't mind paying the extra $5/mo. It's just that 200MB of data is not enough for me and of course unlimited beats it. However, if I do decide to keep the Aria, then I won't have a choice but to pay the $15.
Even if you get an unlocked Aria you will be saddled with the data plan for smartphones since it is an At&t branded phone the imei is in their database and eventually it will either scan it or if you use data services not covered by your existing plan it will switch you.
I was able to bypass the smartphone data plan and pay the $30 for unlimited data and messaging for non-smartphones but it was because I was using an unlocked T-Mobile G1 over EDGE.
Anyone have experience with the HTC Desire and AT&T non-smartphone data plan?
To add up to the conversation, one thing you need to understand, the ATT $10 non-smartphoine dataplan is not grandfather and so you can still added up to a non-smartphone at anytime,the unlimited for $30 for smartphone is no longer availabel and so you will need to chose from the $15 for 200mbs or the on2 for $20 for 2gbs... in regards to the a smartphone been unlocked or not, it makes no difference to ATT or any other service provider, a smartphone is a smarphone and yes they detect this via the IMEI which is syncronyze in the databse thru the SIM card as soon as you device registers on their network...you can change the device you have registered at any time it makes no difference...why because you will still be using a smartphone...it is inevitable my friend! the only way I see it happening is changing the IMEI of your device or not using a smartphone at all...sad but true!
why would you buy an unlocked at&t phone to use on at&ts network?
if you put your sim card in any at&t phone, they will detect your IMEI number, find out if its a smart phone or not, and charge you accordingly. they will be more than happy to charge you MORE for using a smartphone, but they certainly will not charge you LESS because you switched back. if you don't plan on using the aria, just put your sim in your old phone, call at&t and get the data plan switched back to the not-smart-phone plan.
if you want a smartphone on at&t, but do not want to pay for the at&t data plan, your only real option is to get a t-mobile branded phone, such as the g1 or mytouch, and unlock it.
Hi:
I have a grandfathered data plan (updated from MediaMax when I got my original 3G phone).
When I purchased the GS2, the person removed it, and replaced it with a new data plan, and no text/mms plan (without my knowledge or consent). Well, I just now realized that I wasn't receiving or sending texts.
I called AT&T, who explained he had removed my grandfathered unlimited data+1500 sms/mms, after an hour and a half on the phone they were able to get my plan back on.
Well, after I hung up, I realized that my internet isn't working, so I called back.
After troubleshooting for an hour, the tech support guy said the reason my internet won't work is that I need a new high speed data plan, and that my grandfathered plan (which worked fine on my Captivate) won't work.
He wanted me to pay the same amount, but for half the minutes etc.
Is this true? I feel like he was lying to me.
I haven't heard of anyone else having problems with grandfathered plans.
Is it worth me arguing more with AT&T, or will they all tell me that a new plan is required?
Thanks!
UPDATE:
After I kept searching, I decided to try some new settings just in case.
I found settings here: http://www.unlock-htc.com/procedures/activate.php
Everything's working perfectly now. Just as I suspected the AT&T rep was a rotten liar. I had a gut feeling he was making up stories just because he didn't know how to get my internet working.
Anyway, hopefully this will help someone in a similar predicament.
I basically had the same problem, when I got my SGSII I immediately flashed the phone, did not even put the SIM in first. After I got it set up the way I wanted it I put the SIM in from my Captivate, I had no data. I wiped the device figuring I screwed something up and when it booted back up back to stock data still did not work. What I then did was check the APN and noticed it was different, so I created a new one based on the one from my Captivate and got my data working. I went to the AT&T store a few days later and asked about it, first they told me I needed a 4G SIM card. They changed my SIM and I tested it with the original APN from the phone, still had nothing. He then realized that I needed to have a 4G data plan, the 3G data plan I had was not compatible with the 4G phone, he changed my unlimited 3G plan to an unlimited 4G plan and everything worked, actually started getting better speeds as well. Only reason I even cared was I did not want to play with the APN every time I flashed a new ROM.
I want to use the GS2 without paying the monthly data plan, sort of as a wifi only device. Anybody know if I get an S2 off Craigslist and unlock it, will at&t recognize the phone and slap on the monthly data plan?
In other words do they have the IMEI sweeps like they did for unlocked IPhones?
Thnx!
if you get one and erased all the APN info from it, it will never connect to the Mobile Data from ATT... you will never get charged.
You don't even need to unlock it, if you are staying with AT&T.
I'm talking bout their mandatory smartphone plan.
Or if I don't buy it from them they won't add it ?
I've heard that if it picks up an IMEI from any smartphone registered on the network, it will add the smartphone data package. But I can't confirm this.
As long as you're using a phone released by AT&T, it will know it is a Smartphone by looking up the IMEI because AT&T knows every phone it releases. It doesn't matter where you bought it.
The only chance for you to avoid the data plan is buy a Smartphone that was not released by AT&T. Then again, chances are those phone mostly don't support all the AT&T's 3G/4G bands.
You can use a smartphone from At&t just call customer service and have them WIX block the line in use, I did it with my HTC Fuze before and on the bill it showed "Data Opt-Out"
Will that still let me send and recieve MMS?
Is it the same as a Data Block?
thnx
the new phones use a special sim/gsm, and in order to get network access you have to register the APN (forgive me if I have the names wrong). I've already got the unlimited data plan, and was also thinking of buying a phone so that I can easily be grandfathered. No dice, you have to call them to provision the phone/sim, and then I'm sure they will say you have to go with the limited data plan (charges above a certain usage). Looks like I'm going to have to call and ***** at them until I get them to grandfather me. I'm going to be super pissed if they don't do it. Isn't Verizon and sprint offering unlimited?
I may not need it now, but once I get this GS2 I believe I will be using alot more data.
WeldingRod said:
the new phones use a special sim/gsm, and in order to get network access you have to register the APN (forgive me if I have the names wrong). I've already got the unlimited data plan, and was also thinking of buying a phone so that I can easily be grandfathered. No dice, you have to call them to provision the phone/sim, and then I'm sure they will say you have to go with the limited data plan (charges above a certain usage). Looks like I'm going to have to call and ***** at them until I get them to grandfather me. I'm going to be super pissed if they don't do it. Isn't Verizon and sprint offering unlimited?
I may not need it now, but once I get this GS2 I believe I will be using alot more data.
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Verizon no longer offers unlimited. Sprint does. T-Mobile sort of does(No overages. Just slow speeds.)
If you can provision the phone to use the wap.cingular APN, then you might (MIGHT) be able to slide under the radar. This is what we have done with my son's iphone 3gs and iphone 4 for a couple of years now. The system still reports that it is an iphone from the IMEI number but the feature is the $10.00 unlimited non-smartphone plan. As far as I know, there are no automated sweeps that look for smartphones with the wrong data plan. It looks at what APN the phone requests and then matches that to how your account is provisioned. If it tries to connect to a smartphone APN, and no provision is on the account for it, one is automatically added.
I've even had CS reps notice the iphone on his account with the $10.00 plan and breeze through it like it didn't even matter to them.
If you can change the SGS2 APN to use the wap APN, then the key is to have your SIM inserted into a non-smartphone and add the unlimited data package before placing the SIM into your SGS2 that has had its APN changed.
One thing I don't know is if you will get HSPA speeds on wap.cingular. I know 3G works well.
bob7770699 said:
Will that still let me send and recieve MMS?
Is it the same as a Data Block?
thnx
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Click to collapse
Yes, its Data block from At&t's side and so they won't add a data plan. I don't know if MMS will work cause at that time I only remember using text which was working fine.
I got my captivate with an upgrade from att of course. lol anyways the imei number got messed up cause I flashed a bad rom or something. I had some issue's with my phone, and I called att.They told me that I haven't been using my captivate. They said I was using an unknown phone. My point is backup your efs folder. Delete the one on the phone reboot your phone, and att will never know you have been using a smartphone on your account. When ever you want you can put the backed up efs folder on the phone, and the imei number will register again.
Are you saying backup and delete the whole folder? Or the sub folder with the imei in it?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
Hey guys, I was thinking about getting an Aria for my girlfriend. I have a few questions before I purchase one though:
1. I heard you could unlock it by talking to AT&T, but just in case, can anyone point me to a cheap/reputable place to get it unlocked online? Thanks
2. Is it easy to permanently disable Cellular Network data? She would be using it with no data plan, so we wouldnt want any data to get through.
roltzje said:
Hey guys, I was thinking about getting an Aria for my girlfriend. I have a few questions before I purchase one though:
1. I heard you could unlock it by talking to AT&T, but just in case, can anyone point me to a cheap/reputable place to get it unlocked online? Thanks
2. Is it easy to permanently disable Cellular Network data? She would be using it with no data plan, so we wouldnt want any data to get through.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you get the phone unlocked, it should work fine on any GSM network.
As far as data is concerned, I know that AT&T will detect your phone and may apply a smart-phone data plan (even if you don't want or use one).
One way around this is to put the SIM card into a dumb phone and disable the data plan on-line or call ATT to disable it.
Then pop the SIM card back into the Aria and you're in business.
It has worked for me like this for over 5 years of owning smart phones without data plans (which I don't use or need).
DanGeorges said:
One way around this is to put the SIM card into a dumb phone and disable the data plan on-line or call ATT to disable it.
Then pop the SIM card back into the Aria and you're in business.
It has worked for me like this for over 5 years of owning smart phones without data plans (which I don't use or need).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will ONLY work if you have a very old plan with AT&T and you are grandfathered in.
If you switched plans or started your service after AT&T started requiring smartphones to have data plans, you will be automatically switched to a data plan if you put your SIM card into an Aria. There's no way around it.
drumist said:
This will ONLY work if you have a very old plan with AT&T and you are grandfathered in.
If you switched plans or started your service after AT&T started requiring smartphones to have data plans, you will be automatically switched to a data plan if you put your SIM card into an Aria. There's no way around it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's unfortunate. I will definitely keep my "old" plan just to make sure I'm still able to keep the data plan off.
I had, for a month, an unlimited ($15) plan, but since I really didn't see a need, dropped it and opted out. Looking back, I probably should have kept it in case there could be a day when I need a new plan.
When that day comes, I will be switching to a pay-as-you-go plan.
That would allow me to keep my Aria, WiFi, etc. - without subscribing to an unnecessary data plan. The only downside is losing my mobile number...
I just got a Galaxy SIII and my mom wants to use my Vibrant as a dumbphone. When I put the SIM card in it keeps saying "searching..." for a signal. She doesn't have a data plan. Is there any way to allow my mom to use the phone just to make calls and texts?
Try calling T-Mobile. When I leave my contract, they said that my web may be taken off of my phone and I can keep my vibrant. (Unlike AT&T)
T-Mobile claims that you need a data plan to use the Vibrant unfortunately.
No data plan is needed. I use mine without one and it works just fine. Are you sure you have reception at the location you tried it? I think (I may be wrong) that it says "no sim" if it doesnt like the sim, and "searching" if its really looking for a signal.
You should just be able to swap a sim card in though. I've temporarily swapped family members cards into my vibrant with no problem.
You could use T-Mobile prepaid plan $30/month 1500minutes or text. If its an extra line, maybe its cheaper to just get her a cheaper phone that don't require data and sell the Vibrant.
indiemixer said:
I just got a Galaxy SIII and my mom wants to use my Vibrant as a dumbphone. When I put the SIM card in it keeps saying "searching..." for a signal. She doesn't have a data plan. Is there any way to allow my mom to use the phone just to make calls and texts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The vibrant does NOT require you to have a data plan. I had my phone cut off for awhile and decided to cut it back on but with no data plan. T mobile did make me buy a new sim card though, take the phone to them and tell them to activate it without data. If its anything like my experience you will just have to buy a new sim card even though yours is perfectly fine, not sure why they make you do that. You may also just be able to "unlock" you're phone and the sim card you have now might work, I have never unlocked my vibrant so you would have to google that. Good luck ...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda premium
indiemixer said:
I just got a Galaxy SIII and my mom wants to use my Vibrant as a dumbphone. When I put the SIM card in it keeps saying "searching..." for a signal. She doesn't have a data plan. Is there any way to allow my mom to use the phone just to make calls and texts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This may sound dumb.. but make sure the sim card is inserted in the right direction. I've been in a hurry myself a few times and put it in wrong. The first time I spent a few hours troubleshooting before figuring it out.
I felt pretty dumb afterwards lol
Also my wife uses her vibrant with no data plan just fine.
You do have to watch out though because on our plan T-Mobile refuses to block data so if you accidentally use something that pulls data using the phone data instead of wifi then they charge all sorts of overages.
The way we got around that was using the built in miui firewall to disable phone data for everything and allow Wi-Fi.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda app-developers app
It is definitely possible. I've been doing that for the past 5 years with my smartphones (yeah I know I'm cheap). I am always around a wireless hotspot so I figured...do I really need a data plan? No!!! I am currently using a pay as you go plan with my Gnex on Tmo I only pay for the number of minutes i may need and text are like 15ยข or something. The best part about it is that I have saved hundreds of dollars not paying for a useless data plan (at least in my case). So yeah back to your question yes you can use your vibrant without a data plan. You may just have to visit your local Tmo store so they can get you on a pay as you go plan or a similar prepaid plan that does not require a a data plan. They will give you a new sim card and you may be able to keep you number but you must ask them. The guy or girl at the Tmo store will try to convince you to stay on the data plan and will probably say that it is necessary to have one on every smartphone...but that is bull**** so just ignore them...good luck. One more thing just to save you the hassle you also have the option to buy a sim card activation kit online at T-Mobile.com but I don't know how that works.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Very possible. I was on T-Mobile and just switched sim cards without telling them. I used mine without a data plan for half a year with no problems. Just makes using it on the road or while driving a little harder.
Yes, it's possible. I've used my Vibrant on pay as you go all along. I'm actually on prepaid plus the unlimited text plan (extra $15 a month).
firefly6240 said:
This may sound dumb.. but make sure the sim card is inserted in the right direction. I've been in a hurry myself a few times and put it in wrong. The first time I spent a few hours troubleshooting before figuring it out.
I felt pretty dumb afterwards lol
Also my wife uses her vibrant with no data plan just fine.
You do have to watch out though because on our plan T-Mobile refuses to block data so if you accidentally use something that pulls data using the phone data instead of wifi then they charge all sorts of overages.
The way we got around that was using the built in miui firewall to disable phone data for everything and allow Wi-Fi.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tmobile refuses to block data for you, really? I have two smart phones without data plans, and I simply had to just tell them to remove pay as you go data from those lines, and include something called data blocker feature (forget what exactly it's called). After that, it wasnt possible for me to use data anywhere but at a hotspot.