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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.
Hey guys,
I just upgraded my wife's phone to a SGS2 but she doesn't like it cuz it's too big...so i'm testing it out on my SIM but I don't have any 3G data. Is it because I'm on the unlimited dumbphone data plan?
How old is your SIM card? Is it a 3G compatible SIM card..?
Yea, they'll also change your plan to a 2gig smart phone data plan when your line flags with a sgs2 IMEI.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
I was using the dumbphone dataplan for a while, even on my Captivate and two other smartphones. When I bought the GS2 off-contract in hopes of continuing with the plan, I wasn't able to get data. Eventually had to talk to Best Buy people (where I got the phone) and they talked about how SIMs were tied to IMEIs so I had to update the one on my account. In short, my reign of data terror ended and I got stuck with the 2gb plan
sims & imei are not tied together.
but IMEI's are tied to compatible and required features.
ngocdao said:
sims & imei are not tied together.
but IMEI's are tied to compatible and required features.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I guess the sim isn't tied with it necessarily, but I guess my account had to be updated with the new device.
it's worth it to pay the extra $$ anyways man. provisions all the correct stuff for your specific phone.
Depends on what you need. This phone is great but are you willing to pay the data plan prices? I wish I had locked in the grandfathered unlimited data for $30 when I had the chance to...
my reign of data terror comes to an end too! ... oh well, guess i'll have to upgrade my data plan... thanks for the help guys
runtohell121 said:
Depends on what you need. This phone is great but are you willing to pay the data plan prices? I wish I had locked in the grandfathered unlimited data for $30 when I had the chance to...
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Click to collapse
just saw your post, my wife's line has the $30 unlimited data plan and when i put her sim card in, i still don't get the data icon at all.
Or use straight talk unlimited everything for $45/month. All you have to do is add mvno apn...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
snobrdinrtiste said:
just saw your post, my wife's line has the $30 unlimited data plan and when i put her sim card in, i still don't get the data icon at all.
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Click to collapse
If it's an iPhone unlimited data, you have to call AT&T and ask them to transfer it to the "Smartphone unlimited data"
The GS2 (and other HSPA+ phones) use a different APN for data than older devices. Your account has to be provisioned for it.
When I purchased my GS2 the people at the AT&T store swapped the 3G sim from my HTC Rhodium to a "4G" sim that would work on the HSPA+ network. This may be part of the issue. I don't know if there is a way to get a "4G" sim without a smartphone that needs it.
nnvpears said:
When I purchased my GS2 the people at the AT&T store swapped the 3G sim from my HTC Rhodium to a "4G" sim that would work on the HSPA+ network. This may be part of the issue. I don't know if there is a way to get a "4G" sim without a smartphone that needs it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am wondering if I need to upgrade my captivate sin card. I noticed best buy kept that old Sim but upgraded my account to hspa data. Still unlimited however I get the same data speeds as the captivate.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
I had the same problem after switching sim cards. the old one in my captivate didn't work. phone/text did, but no data. i went to at&t store and they gave me a new sim card free. the new sim cards work in the captivate, but not vice versa.
thehavock18 said:
I am wondering if I need to upgrade my captivate sin card. I noticed best buy kept that old Sim but upgraded my account to hspa data. Still unlimited however I get the same data speeds as the captivate.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As stated above, it is your account not SIM card. My captivate SIM card does not work until I called AT&T to migrate my account into 4G data.
All 4G phones use a different APN/network. Your account must be provisioned for it in order to use that 4G data. Or you can manually create a 3G APN for your phone and use your phone for 3G only.
The APN(s) pre-programmed in the AT&T SGS2 route to their 4G servers. A non-4G data plan can't access them. If you add the Cingular APN settings you'll be able to get data access. I've been getting fake-4G speeds using the data for non-Smartphones plan since May. But, like someone else pointed out, AT&T recognizes the AT&T SGS2 as a 4G phone so you're very likely to get flagged.
Name: AT&T
APN: wap.cingular
Proxy: leave blank
Port: leave blank
Username:[email protected]
Password:CINGULAR1 (yes this is in CAPS)
Server: leave blank
MMSC: http://mmsc.cingular.com
MMS Proxy: wireless.cingular.com
MMS Port: 80
MCC:310
MNC:410
APN Type: Internet + MMS
The posts about your account having to be "provisioned" are entirely inaccurate. The only provisioning that has to be done is if you are moving form an iphone data plan. Otherwise, regardless of whether you are coming from a smartphone plan or a "dumbphone" plan, all you have to do is manually add the apn that was mentioned in the above post. There is absolutely no difference at the account level between any AT&T phones excluding the iphone. When someone says your account must be "provisioned" for a 4G phone, what they really mean is that AT&T can push the settings to your phone so that you do not have to manually enter them.
Take note: If you have been using a dumbphone plan, your data plan WILL be switched over to the 2GB smartphone plan as soon as you put your sim card in a 4g phone and enable data. I had used my $9.99 unlimited data plan on a Treo 650, Samsung Blackjack, HTC Fuze, HTC Tilt 2, and my Samsung Captivate with absolutely no issues, including tethering semi-frequently. However, within minutes of activating the data on my 4G infuse, my data plan was modified.
I am now on the $45 4GB plan with tethering. It was a good run, but my days of cheap data are over.
cpenticuff said:
The posts about your account having to be "provisioned" are entirely inaccurate. The only provisioning that has to be done is if you are moving form an iphone data plan. Otherwise, regardless of whether you are coming from a smartphone plan or a "dumbphone" plan, all you have to do is manually add the apn that was mentioned in the above post. There is absolutely no difference at the account level between any AT&T phones excluding the iphone. When someone says your account must be "provisioned" for a 4G phone, what they really mean is that AT&T can push the settings to your phone so that you do not have to manually enter them.
Take note: If you have been using a dumbphone plan, your data plan WILL be switched over to the 2GB smartphone plan as soon as you put your sim card in a 4g phone and enable data. I had used my $9.99 unlimited data plan on a Treo 650, Samsung Blackjack, HTC Fuze, HTC Tilt 2, and my Samsung Captivate with absolutely no issues, including tethering semi-frequently. However, within minutes of activating the data on my 4G infuse, my data plan was modified.
I am now on the $45 4GB plan with tethering. It was a good run, but my days of cheap data are over.
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Click to collapse
You're contradicting yourself.
The phone out of box is already configured to use 4G network. However, if you put in a SIM card from your old 3G phones, it won't work. You have two choices: (1) call AT&T so that they provision your account to be able to connect to the 4G network using the out of box configuration or (2) manually enter above APN and stuck with 3G data.
The reason AT&T implemented this way is exactly to catch those of you with old non-smartphone data plans or old cheaper smartphone plans (anything < $30/mo). I have unlimited 3G data plan and bought GS2 out of contract and I have to call them to modify my account in order to get any data connectivity. I get to keep the unlimit data plan but it is now 4G provisioned without getting a new SIM card.
The quick start guide says I need to activate the phone with them. Can I just put my old cappy's sim card in it like I've done with every other phone? The SG2 came with a new sim card installed. I haven't turned it on yet?
Thanks
You can just switch sim card and go, no need to "activate".
I got mine near store closing time so the guy at the at&t store just gave me the phone un opened.
Actually make sure you get your data plan to a HSPA data, I have heard of people loosing their unlimited due to feature incompatiblity
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I have a PDA Personal unlimited plan. on my GS2, but data is not working. I am on the phone with ATT now. They are trying to resolve my no data issue.
ATT people I've talked with (3 so far) are not familiar with PDA plan.
They are stating PDA plan not compatible with GS2.
You need the 'SMT Personal $30.00' plan which is for Smartphone Unlimited.
I got my phone off Amazon and it came with a SIM. I tried just putting my SIM from my Captivate into it but I wasn't able to get data, and eventually got an 'Invalid SIM' notification. I popped in the new SIM and the 'Invalid SIM' was gone but still no data. I had to call in and activate it, and then change my data to the 4G plan from the normal one (wouldn't let me before I activated it). I synced all my contacts with google before switching SIMs too.
joelmassee said:
I have a PDA Personal unlimited plan. on my GS2, but data is not working. I am on the phone with ATT now. They are trying to resolve my no data issue.
ATT people I've talked with (3 so far) are not familiar with PDA plan.
They are stating PDA plan not compatible with GS2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you ordered your phone? Sounds like the place sold you the phone didn't do a proper job. Your old data plan needs to be provisioned into 4G plan (you can still keep the unlimited) before you can get any data connection. Or you can manually create a new APN using the settings from the preconfigure (but not selectable) AT&T WAP APN and select that new APN. Either way it works. But ask AT&T to provision your data plan is easier and save a lot of headache down the road for you next phone.
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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Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
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?
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As the subject stated: I am planning to unlock my AT&T Galaxy Note to use it in Japan, but not sure if the Note will work there. I just want to be able to make calls and do light browsing at 3G speed (not 4G LTE)
Japan have 3G GSM network, so it should be, But want to confirm before I spent the $$$ unlocking my AT&T Note.
it has the proper frequencies for cellular use on 3g idont know about hspa+ so prbly dataspeeds around 2-5 mbps
drksilenc said:
it has the proper frequencies for cellular use on 3g idont know about hspa+ so prbly dataspeeds around 2-5 mbps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the information!
What kind of prepaid SIM are you going to use in Japan? I couldn't find any SIM that has prepaid voice and data together. So I'm planning to use b-mobile 1GB data plan with fusion IP phone SMART. That way, I can send/receive phone call and use data.
Did you have any luck? I can't get the bmobile sim to work with this phone. Urgent help needed. I suspect it takes some special config or different radio but I don't know. The bmobile instructions alone don't work.
Look up APN for bmobile. Just my 2 cents.
decimater said:
Look up APN for bmobile. Just my 2 cents.
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Click to collapse
I had all the correct settings. I suspect the card did not work with Android 4.12. I have seen references online to rolling back to 4.11 for possibly unrelated or possibly related issues. They would not refund, so I had to do a charge-back on the card. Never trust a company who fails to stand behind a product when it completely fails to work. I ended up paying the higher price for AT&T which worked well except don't trust their wifi app - it tries to connect to partners who aren't partners, which disrupts the otherwise working mobile data connection.
Well, that really sucks, man. I guess your best shot would be to try and find another carrier that is GSM if the roll back to 4.1.1 doesnt work. Best of luck.