[Q] 1st time buying int'l unlocked phone - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi guys, thanks for your time.
I'm debating heavily whether or not to buy an unlocked phone. I am thinking of ways to lower my phone bill if I do. I'm still in a contract with AT&T and I already read someone mention getting the $10/mo unl data plan for non-smart phones since AT&T can't 'see' that I have a smartphone.
My question is, does anyone know if i need a phone plan with my contract or will a data plan suffice? I am thinking of making all calls/texts through google and/or skype so I wouldn't need a phone plan right?
How practical is this? Anyone doing this at the moment? Only downside i see is areas with bad data coverage you may not be able to make a call :/.

mods if this isn't the right forum feel free to move it to a more logical place.
Thx

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[Q] At&t Data plan issues.

Hi guys. I have a problem. I do not want a data plan and do not use any data, but At&t keeps on signing me up for a data plan. Is there any way to stop this? I have data disabled on my phone, so it only runs on wifi, but they still sign me up for a data plan and I have to call them every time and yell at them to cancel it. and they sign me up for the really expensive one too, like the 45 $ one. Is there any way to stop them? What can I tell them so they can stop? Please help. I will press the Thank button for anyone who helps.
AT&T requires every smart phone to have a data plan. I use their cheapest one, which is $15 a month for 200MBytes. They definitely shouldn't be signing you up for anything more than that. If they did, I'd call them and complain.
I wonder if they got rid of your data plan, but you were charged $45 because you had no data plan. Each MByte of data transferred to your phone would be extremely expensive. My little sister recently got a phone (not a smartphone) and she wasn't aware that she couldn't use data. There ended up being a $290 bill that month.
I'm sure someone else can comment who is more familiar with how AT&T works.
niraj411 said:
Hi guys. I have a problem. I do not want a data plan and do not use any data, but At&t keeps on signing me up for a data plan. Is there any way to stop this? I have data disabled on my phone, so it only runs on wifi, but they still sign me up for a data plan and I have to call them every time and yell at them to cancel it. and they sign me up for the really expensive one too, like the 45 $ one. Is there any way to stop them? What can I tell them so they can stop? Please help. I will press the Thank button for anyone who helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have an AT&T SIM card inside a smartphone, you are required to have a data plan whether you use data or not, regardless of whether you are on contract. That means a minimum $15/mo for the 200 MB plan. The only reason they are letting you cancel the data plan when you call in is because they are assuming you will switch the SIM to a regular phone.
Just to be clear, I believe you meant $15/month for 200Mbytes, not 2GBytes.
ECEXCURSION said:
Just to be clear, I believe you meant $15/month for 200Mbytes, not 2GBytes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, my bad. :O
Thanks Guys. So should I take out the Simcard so they don't sign me up for another one again? I was using a iPhone 4 without a data plan but they didn't say anything about that.
niraj411 said:
Thanks Guys. So should I take out the Simcard so they don't sign me up for another one again? I was using a iPhone 4 without a data plan but they didn't say anything about that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you take out your sim your phone will no longer be a phone. You need it for calls and sms.
Sent from my cm7 Aria.
The reason I want to take out the simcard is because my parents will be so pissed off if they have to pay extra, even if it is only 15$.
niraj411 said:
Thanks Guys. So should I take out the Simcard so they don't sign me up for another one again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can put the SIM card into a regular (i.e., non-smart) phone and you won't be forced into a data plan.
niraj411 said:
I was using a iPhone 4 without a data plan but they didn't say anything about that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same policy applies to iPhones, so it probably was just a matter of time before you would be "caught" and forced into a data plan.
niraj411 said:
The reason I want to take out the simcard is because my parents will be so pissed off if they have to pay extra, even if it is only 15$.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pulling the sim won't do you any good unless, like drumist suggested, you're you're going to put it into a non-smart phone. Otherwise you won't have a phone. What you could actually do is just buy a prepaid phone and putting in your sim. Then you could use the aria for wifi, taking pictures, playing games, and listening to music. All things you can do without a sim card.
Sent from my cm7 Aria.
Ok, I am just going to do the prepaid method. Thanks for the response guys.
I am on AT&T with the Aria and I do not have a data plan at all. I'm probably the exception though, as I haven't had any data for about 4 years with previous smart phones either (2 different Blackberry phones).
niraj411 said:
Hi guys. I have a problem. I do not want a data plan and do not use any data, but At&t keeps on signing me up for a data plan. Is there any way to stop this? I have data disabled on my phone, so it only runs on wifi, but they still sign me up for a data plan and I have to call them every time and yell at them to cancel it. and they sign me up for the really expensive one too, like the 45 $ one. Is there any way to stop them? What can I tell them so they can stop? Please help. I will press the Thank button for anyone who helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is another way around it is buy a Tmobile unlock phone then ATT wont know what kind the phone it is. Even ATT keep the ESN in their data...... so when you make a phone call, the phone send signal to closet tower and every time it does, ATT know because every phone have a unique ID, if the it is match with their database they knew what phone you have. However if you have Tmobile phone they can't verified it.
t00c00l4m3 said:
There is another way around it is buy a Tmobile unlock phone then ATT wont know what kind the phone it is. Even ATT keep the ESN in their data...... so when you make a phone call, the phone send signal to closet tower and every time it does, ATT know because every phone have a unique ID, if the it is match with their database they knew what phone you have. However if you have Tmobile phone they can't verified it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's actually a really good idea since he/she doesn't even want 3g.
Sent from my cm7 Aria.
Yes, that is a good idea. I am going to try and buy a Cliq II unlocked.
Samsung Vibrant is 3G compatible withsd ATT incase you change your mind about internet in the feature, downside is no LED flash.

Springboard for $299, no contract, till 6/21.

If anyone is looking to buy a Springboard, tmo has it for $299 and no contract.
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Phones...d&cell-phone=T-Mobile-SpringBoard-Prepaid-MBB
Thanks to Kueller at SD.
I am really interested in this.
One question though - I already have a smartphone plan with t-mo. I would like to simply use my smartphone SIM in this device, and be able to make voice calls. Is that possible? If not, I think I will pass.
JeremyNT said:
I am really interested in this.
One question though - I already have a smartphone plan with t-mo. I would like to simply use my smartphone SIM in this device, and be able to make voice calls. Is that possible? If not, I think I will pass.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This has been answered numerous time already. Honeycomb has no phone capabilities but if you install ICS then you will have the ability to make a call but it seems that you won't have data. This is a limitation from TMobile and hopefully they will change this in the near future although I wouldn't hold my breath waiting.
Nice deal! I would cross the border and jump on this if it weren't for the fact that I already bought one used along with a leather case for $140 total. Add in the $30 repair for my stupid insertion of a microSD into the SIM slot, and $15 I will probably have to spend on an unlock, and I'm still coming out ahead at $185.
JeremyNT said:
I am really interested in this.
One question though - I already have a smartphone plan with t-mo. I would like to simply use my smartphone SIM in this device, and be able to make voice calls. Is that possible? If not, I think I will pass.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't speak for postpaid, but I have a prepaid SIM that I put on the $3/day voice/text/data plan. The SIM works in smartphones such as Galaxy Nexus and Nexus One, but when I put it into the Springboard it says invalid SIM. I think T-Mobile screens for the IMEI of its tablets and bans them from using the network on a phone plan.

Any way to use my phone upgrade without changing my plan?

Hello everyone,
I know this may be a little off topic. My contract with Verizon is up and I'm allowed to get a discounted phone. However, I don't want to change my plan (I have an unlimited data plan). Is there any way to get an upgrade on a phone and NOT have to pay the full price of about ~$550 for a new phone?
And what would you guys recommend for a new phone? I am using a Thunderbolt now, and like high-end phones. Should I wait?
Also, and again off topic, but does anyone have/use a Windows phone? They seem pretty cool when I was playing with them...
daniel178 said:
Hello everyone,
I know this may be a little off topic. My contract with Verizon is up and I'm allowed to get a discounted phone. However, I don't want to change my plan (I have an unlimited data plan). Is there any way to get an upgrade on a phone and NOT have to pay the full price of about ~$550 for a new phone?
And what would you guys recommend for a new phone? I am using a Thunderbolt now, and like high-end phones. Should I wait?
Also, and again off topic, but does anyone have/use a Windows phone? They seem pretty cool when I was playing with them...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you already have an unlimited plan, you should be able to keep it.I upgraded from a 3G phone to a 4G phone without changing my plan.
Did you pay full price or the discounted price (new contract)?

[Q] Unlimited Data question

Hey all,
I've searched a lot on the net about keeping my unlimited data plan, and I've found tons of answers on how to use best buy, or upgrades on different lines, but nothing that seemed to touch on my situation - if any of you have any solutions, I'd be really grateful.
I've had an HTC Thunderbolt since it first came out, and I have the unlimited data plan. I don't have any other lines, and I currently have an upgrade available. I'm out of contract by about 16 months, and pay month to month now.
I have a friend who works for a cell phone remanufacturer and they got me a verizon samsung galaxy s4 for a good price so that I don't have to use the upgrade and lose my plan..
I stopped by verizon and asked for a blank sim card for it, and got that with no problems.
My question is, how do I go about activating the S4 and keeping my grandfathered plan - just call verizon, or take it to the store, or ...?
Thank you for any help you have, and sorry if this has been touched on somewhere else - I wasn't having any luck finding it.
laughingwolf said:
Hey all,
I've searched a lot on the net about keeping my unlimited data plan, and I've found tons of answers on how to use best buy, or upgrades on different lines, but nothing that seemed to touch on my situation - if any of you have any solutions, I'd be really grateful.
I've had an HTC Thunderbolt since it first came out, and I have the unlimited data plan. I don't have any other lines, and I currently have an upgrade available. I'm out of contract by about 16 months, and pay month to month now.
I have a friend who works for a cell phone remanufacturer and they got me a verizon samsung galaxy s4 for a good price so that I don't have to use the upgrade and lose my plan..
I stopped by verizon and asked for a blank sim card for it, and got that with no problems.
My question is, how do I go about activating the S4 and keeping my grandfathered plan - just call verizon, or take it to the store, or ...?
Thank you for any help you have, and sorry if this has been touched on somewhere else - I wasn't having any luck finding it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a long thread in the General forum about this. Perhaps you should read that.
The best thread is here and also this.
I'm not telling you what to do but I called Verizon and spoke with them before upgrading my phone. The woman told me that as long as I didn't take the upgrade and simply activated my new phone using the website, I would keep my unlimited data plan. This is what I did and all worked swimmingly. Bought the phone on Ebay making sure the EIN was still good and activated on the website. All remained the same and I had a new phone.
Smabbage said:
I'm not telling you what to do but I called Verizon and spoke with them before upgrading my phone. The woman told me that as long as I didn't take the upgrade and simply activated my new phone using the website, I would keep my unlimited data plan. This is what I did and all worked swimmingly. Bought the phone on Ebay making sure the EIN was still good and activated on the website. All remained the same and I had a new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on now my 4th phone since they discontinued upgrades on grandfathered plans. If it needed a different sized SIM, I got one from the store, otherwise I just swap from phone to phone. No problems at all. Even spoke to the VZW rep about it who told me he did the same thing and his phone was rooted as well. But as long as you don't change'extend your plan, you're good. THAT is what takes away grandfathered data
Activating a device should not change your plan. The only circumstances under which it might would be if you had a 3g plan (iPhone 4 for example) and bought a 4g device. Your plan would need to be updated to support 4g services. That being said, I don't think they would change any of the primary features. You simply cannot use a subsidized upgrade on your unlimited data line; they have it set up to where purchasing a new device requires that you add "compatible" features - and unlimited data isn't, according to their sales rules. So, as long as you buy your own device, you should be fine.
I had a thought on the 3g>4g thing - wife currently has a 3g phone; if I were to buy a 4g device out of contract, would it be possible to keep her on 3g services? She has a 2gb data limit and the low bandwidth seems to be a good way of limiting her data use (although she routinely approaches 1gb of usage every month...damn Facebook/Pinterest/Instagram.

LTE Prices for T-Mo and AT&T? also, your AT&T experience?

I have a SGP621, been reading the posts on here but none seem to answer some of the questions I have. I do appologize if seems like some of this info I could just get myself by visiting the stores, unfortunately I have very bad experiences with AT&T sales reps, I always seem to have halfwits who know less about the phones and plans their selling then I do. plus I work almost every day, I dont have the time wait half an hour between each question so the the reps can all play "pass the question" in the hopes that the person to their left knows the answer. its irritating, frustrating, and your own personal experiences would give me a much better picture.
Also, it seems I'm one of the few who fall in the opposite category of what seems to be everyone else who bought the SGP621, I actually don't want to use it as a phone at all, I'm just tired of tethering. Ideally, I'd be happiest with a data only plan, even better if doing so could save me some cash.
AT&T questions:
Can I just get a data plan/add it as a tablet?
As a phone...would/could it be the same number as my normal phone? 2 separate numbers?
Jgonzo432 said:
Yeah, it's the same on the Z3TC. I didn't accept the download because I don't want my settings changed so I can't confirm if it has RedPocket , H2O and ATT etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
whats this about? is this necessary? what does it change?
How much is it to add to an existing family plan?
how much of a data usage increase do you see with this on your plan?
T-Mobile questions:
Roughly how much for the data only plan?
is it worth it considering I already have a plan with AT&T?
That's exactly what I have with tmobile... Data only... Twenty bucks a month for 1gb, and that does include the free music streaming service
Well incase anyone was wondering, I did actually have some time today. since I already have a mobile share plan with AT&T adding my tablet was pretty cheap.
Its $10 for a tablet (data only), $15 for a phone (phone+data)
When they stuck a sim card in my tablet, AT&T gets confused, classifying it as 2 different things on 2 different levels and thus they could not simply add it. Instead they had to use the serial from one of the instore display devices, so they gave me the option to classify it as a tablet or phone. Even though I was planning to go tablet, 5 dollar diff? i went phone. seems to be working fine so far.
Consider the $15/mo tablet data plan thru Harbor Mobile ($15 for 5GBs). They are simply reselling a T-Mo business line I believe and could prob go under and leave you hanging at any moment...but if you don't have a phone number to lose, who cares.

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