As much as I would like to get the Atrix, I would not want to be paying a whole lot more monthly. I'm eligible for an upgrade, and I currently have a blackberry pearl. This is the breakdown of my current monthly phone expenses.
rate plan (old old plan) - $29.99 for 300 mins, 500 mins nights and weekends with rollover
unlimited text msg. - $20.00
data - pay per use.
In total, I pay $49.99 + tax = $55.00 give or take.. without using data
So for those who got the atrix, when you sign-in at&t and check your options in at&t website, what are the available features or options? Does it matter what phone/device you have selected to be able to see all the features/plans/data that is available for that particular phone?
I would like to get the $30.00 unlimited messaging and unlimited data, but I'd like to keep my old rate plan ($29.99 for 300 mins, 500 mins n&w).
I have checked with bestbuy, and they have the $30 unlimited integrated messaging and data option available, but I might need to buy the phone from them for $199. Amazon is selling the phone for $149.99, but there is no option for the $30 unlimited integrated messaging and data. Costco is selling for $119.99 with the option of the $30.00 unlimited messaging and data, but would also need to have the required Data plan (200mb for $15, or 2gb for $25, etc).
I have seen the $30 unlimited messaging and data online on at&t premier website before, but unfortunately, I could not find it any longer. I called at&t and asked about that feature, but they said that option is only for non-smartphones.
I'd prefer to buy through amazon or costco, but I am not sure if I will be able to change/get my feature on my online account. When I check my account, I do not see any option of the $30 unlimited messaging and data. Do I have to change my selected phone/device on my account to see that features/plans/rates?
Could anyone help me check the availability for those options? If anyone has any suggestions/ideas how it could be done, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
There is no such thing as a $30 unlimited Text and Data for the Atrix.
Fixter is correct
They only have 20.00 "text Data" and any mobile to mobile unlimited.
here's a screen shot of the cart I have from costco. You can find/see the unlimited messaging and data for $30 boxed in red. I did not buy it yet because I wanted to make sure that I could keep my old minutes plan. I do not want to include the 200MB DataPlus plan, so if the online account would allow/have the feature of disabling (opt-out) the 200MB plan, I would go for it.
gaaaouuu said:
here's a screen shot of the cart I have from costco. You can find/see the unlimited messaging and data for $30 boxed in red. I did not buy it yet because I wanted to make sure that I could keep my old minutes plan. I do not want to include the 200MB DataPlus plan, so if the online account would allow/have the feature of disabling (opt-out) the 200MB plan, I would go for it.
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If thats really what I think it is and if i didnt have my unlimited i would stand outside costco first thing in the morning.
I came across the "$30 unlimited messaging and data" from this forum:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=960510
That is for buying it online from at&t premier. as i said, the plan was taken down or is no longer available on at&t's website, and is a lot more expensive because the $100 discount for the phone is gone, so you'll pay the whole $299 for the phone + all required features.
Also, I do not know how to prove it here, but best buy also has the $30 unlimited plan available that they could set up for you once you bought the phone (they used my account to access the feature (it was available on their system), and tested it with the Inspire since the two atrix they had here in Norman, OK and was sold out). According to the guy I talked to, at&t made that feature available.
so, for those that has the atrix and could look into their account online, is there any features supporting this?
I would like to be able to get the phone at Costco for $119.99, get all the features similar to my posted "checkout screen shot", then go online to my account and disable the 200MB Plan while retaining the $30 unlimited messaging and data plan.
One-time bill: phone $119.99
Monthly bill: old plan $29.99
Unlimited messaging and data 30.00
Total: $119.99 + 59.99 = $179.98
monthly would just be 59.99 + tax
Is it doable?
Is that "Messaging and Data Unlimited" a dumbphone plan feature? I see a monthly $15 DataPlus 200MB on that screenshot too.
I am seeing alot of people getting "upgraded" ( charge alot ) by at&t later on
Said plan isn't available for the atrix.there may be some loop in the system that would let you check out, but I doubt it'd last very long... I would almost bed that it would error out before cometing the transaction...
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
gaaaouuu said:
One-time bill: phone $119.99
Monthly bill: old plan $29.99
Unlimited messaging and data 30.00
Total: $119.99 + 59.99 = $179.98
monthly would just be 59.99 + tax
Is it doable?
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Click to collapse
You'll lose your old plan so that becomes $39.99 if you signed for the $119 phone unless you go to the customer desk and convinced them to keep your old plan.
I am not sure if there is human support at Costco to allow you to keep the old plan.
got my first bill for my Atrix:
Plan: 700min, Unlimited Text, phone Insurance, 4gb Data w/tethering with 10% Discount threw work, (plus $18 upgrade fee with is bull$h!t) comes to a total of $157.65
ATT store has the Phone only for $199.99 with 2yr upgrade, should have went to walmart and got i for $138.99
LastQuark said:
You'll lose your old plan so that becomes $39.99 if you signed for the $119 phone unless you go to the customer desk and convinced them to keep your old plan.
I am not sure if there is human support at Costco to allow you to keep the old plan.
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About 6-7 yrs ago, when I first got my phone, I had the $29.99 plan, don't remember how many minutes it was, probably 200-300 mins. anyway, i went over my limit a few years ago, and my bill skyrocketed from $45+ total to $180-200 for a couple of months due to school projects. I called at&t representative to ask them what they could do with it, and pretty much, they could back date it if i changed my rate plan to a plan that would cover that much minutes i used. so they did, my bill got cut in half or so (that $200 got cut in half, but the $180 did not because already paid it). a few months later, I did not need much of my minutes anymore so I called them to go back my old plan. they said it was gone, the plan no longer existed. With much debating saying i do not need that much minutes, and i'm trying to save some money, they got me back on a plan that cost $29.99 (same price as my old one, just not sure if it was the same plan, but i was happy since i got it back to that price). So it might or might not work going back to the plan that previously existed by calling an at&t representative. the representative need to have the authority to bypass the system though i think.
MattZ71:
Do you think you could log into your account on at&t and check if there are options of disabling/changing some of the features to check what the "lowest" monthly bill you could get for the atrix? I'm wanting to know the features/options/plans available for the atrix.
Also, did you have to update your "phone device" on your account to match your phone (atrix)? I have a BB pearl and i changed my "phone device" on my account page to BB pearl from a motorola. I wondered if changing that would change the features/options/plans available. Thanks!
Welcome to the world of data plans. Do you have a 30 day return window
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA Premium App
gaaaouuu, I have the same plan as you. Also $29.99 which I had for more than a decade now, a BB Pearl, and I am due for upgrade this week. My goal is to keep my existing plan and get the $30 unlimited data but I do not see the unlimited data offered anywhere anymore. Did you say Best Buy still offers it? They do not have it in their website.
Worst case, I will just get the Atrix from Costco for $119, keep my existing plan, and get the 2GB data plan.
LastQuark said:
gaaaouuu, I have the same plan as you. Also $29.99 which I had for more than a decade now, a BB Pearl, and I am due for upgrade this week. My goal is to keep my existing plan and get the $30 unlimited data but I do not see the unlimited data offered anywhere anymore. Did you say Best Buy still offers it? They do not have it in their website.
Worst case, I will just get the Atrix from Costco for $119, keep my existing plan, and get the 2GB data plan.
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To have unlimited now you need to be grandfathered in. IE you had to have it when they offered is and if you change it you lose it. So in your case since you've never had it you can never get it. So you can go with the 2 gig plan or the 4 gig tether plan. Sorry :-(
Sent from my Nook Color on Honeycomb 1.1 OC
LastQuark said:
gaaaouuu, I have the same plan as you. Also $29.99 which I had for more than a decade now, a BB Pearl, and I am due for upgrade this week. My goal is to keep my existing plan and get the $30 unlimited data but I do not see the unlimited data offered anywhere anymore. Did you say Best Buy still offers it? They do not have it in their website.
Worst case, I will just get the Atrix from Costco for $119, keep my existing plan, and get the 2GB data plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How are you going to go about keeping the current plan you have if you're going to buy the phone from costco?
The course of action i could think of is buying the phone from costco, get the 2gb data plan + $30 unlimited msg and data (which is still available at their website), and 450 mins (39.99). then just call back at&t to get the 29.99 plan back, cancel the "2gb plan" online on the "my account features" while retaining the $30 unlimited.
from the last time i know (about a week ago, 2/28), bestbuy have the $30 unlimited msg and data on their system when i tried to check out a phone (inspire/atrix), but as i mentioned before, they sell the phone at 199.99. The cellphone representatives are the ones that helped me check if the $30 unlimited plan was available. We kind of tried checking out a phone to see what plans/features are available and in their system at the store, it did show the $30 unlimited msg and data, so you probably need to go to the store and have them check it out. i never tried checking it out from bestbuy website.
Let me know how you fare. Are you buying your atrix online or B&M at costco? i just checked costco's checkout, and they still have that $30 unlimited msg and text.
gaaaouuu said:
How are you going to go about keeping the current plan you have if you're going to buy the phone from costco?
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With Costco, you can "upgrade" your existing phone and the website allows you to keep your existing plan. Go here:
http://membershipwireless.com/index.cfm/go/shop/do/browsePhones/
...then go to the phone manufacturer on the left pane. Make sure you click "Upgrade" right above the phone pricing. After adding the item in your cart, it asks you to keep or modify your existing plan. The only problem with this is it will not give you the $30/mo unlimited data option. So you are stucked with the 2gb data plan.
gaaaouuu said:
The course of action i could think of is buying the phone from costco, get the 2gb data plan + $30 unlimited msg and data (which is still available at their website), and 450 mins (39.99). then just call back at&t to get the 29.99 plan back, cancel the "2gb plan" online on the "my account features" while retaining the $30 unlimited.
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This is making more sense now. I can see the $30 unlimited only if you activate a new line or change your plan to $39.99. The danger here is if ATT will give you your $29.99 plan back.
gaaaouuu said:
from the last time i know (about a week ago, 2/28), bestbuy have the $30 unlimited msg and data on their system when i tried to check out a phone (inspire/atrix), but as i mentioned before, they sell the phone at 199.99. The cellphone representatives are the ones that helped me check if the $30 unlimited plan was available. We kind of tried checking out a phone to see what plans/features are available and in their system at the store, it did show the $30 unlimited msg and data, so you probably need to go to the store and have them check it out. i never tried checking it out from bestbuy website.
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I checked again it is not in their website.
gaaaouuu said:
Let me know how you fare. Are you buying your atrix online or B&M at costco? i just checked costco's checkout, and they still have that $30 unlimited msg and text.
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Costco is where I might end up and skip the unlimited data plan. I can't risk my $29.99 voice plan. It looks like AT&T offers the unlimited data every now and then to stop the momentum of their competitors.
To the OP: I think you are misunderstanding the "Messaging and Data Unlimited". It's a non-smartphone feature. It used to be the MEdia Net plan, for non smartphones, which they discontinued when they killed off that brand name.
I can almost guarantee you that this feature will not work, and if it does go through, AT&T will not let it work. They know exactly what phone you use through the IMEI and they will just throw you on the proper data plan. If it were that easy to get an unlimited data plan these days, not to mention at such a cheap price, there would be a HUGE stir around the web-o-sphere and everyone would be doing it.
http://androidforums.com/samsung-captivate/151003-messaging-data-unlimited-plan-additional-fee.html
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=958525
Also if you want to have any hope of getting some kind of deal through, or preserving part of your plan, I would just go straight to a corporate store. Costco and all other 3rd party retailers don't have the same managerial powers that Corp. employees do. In the end you're only saving $50 on the possibility of ruining your grandfathered plan.
LastQuark said:
With Costco, you can "upgrade" your existing phone and the website allows you to keep your existing plan. Go here:
http://membershipwireless.com/index.cfm/go/shop/do/browsePhones/
...then go to the phone manufacturer on the left pane. Make sure you click "Upgrade" right above the phone pricing. After adding the item in your cart, it asks you to keep or modify your existing plan. The only problem with this is it will not give you the $30/mo unlimited data option. So you are stucked with the 2gb data plan.
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Click to collapse
I called at&t to make sure that I can go back to the $29.99 plan, but they said that smartphones require the $39.99 plan. So the best way really is to just upgrade the phone and get the 2gb data plan so we can keep our $29.99 plan just as you mentioned.
dLo GSR said:
To the OP: I think you are misunderstanding the "Messaging and Data Unlimited". It's a non-smartphone feature. It used to be the MEdia Net plan, for non smartphones, which they discontinued when they killed off that brand name.
I can almost guarantee you that this feature will not work, and if it does go through, AT&T will not let it work. They know exactly what phone you use through the IMEI and they will just throw you on the proper data plan. If it were that easy to get an unlimited data plan these days, not to mention at such a cheap price, there would be a HUGE stir around the web-o-sphere and everyone would be doing it.
http://androidforums.com/samsung-cap...ional-fee.html
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=958525
Also if you want to have any hope of getting some kind of deal through, or preserving part of your plan, I would just go straight to a corporate store. Costco and all other 3rd party retailers don't have the same managerial powers that Corp. employees do. In the end you're only saving $50 on the possibility of ruining your grandfathered plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Going to a corporate store would not help save our existing $29.99. As I mentioned above, the at&t representative told me that smartphones require the 39.99, and the only way to bypass that is by buying the phone itself without changing any plans. What LastQuark mentioned about only upgrading the phone is pretty much the safest bet that would allow us to keep our existing $29.99 plan, and as a plus only pay $119.99 for the phone, instead of going directly to at&t which we would pay $199.99 and would have to give up our grandfathered plan.
I have read other forums about the unlimited text and data, and I agree that there is a chance that it might not work, and that if it does, it might not be long till the plan gets switched automatically to a proper plan. Per the at&t representative, there are different bands or something for the data plan that they use for smartphones vs non-smartphones. He said, you might be able to use the non-smartphone data plan on a smartphone, but it is probably not as optimized/work as good as the smartphone data plan on smartphones.
Other forums have also suggested to not buy the phone from at&t because at&t would have the IMEI on hand. Now that might or might not be the case for 3rd party retailers. I do not remember what forum it was i read that from, but it might be possible to get away with it by buying the phone on 3rd party retailers.
I appreciate the information, this thread is so we, or I, could find the best deal out of the phone. buying the phone for $119.99 is great, but it would be even sweeter if there is a way to keep our monthly expenses minimal.
So far, the surest way is to buy the phone from costco and just upgrading the phone itself and getting either the $15 200mb data or $25 2gb data. even with that, it's already a $54.99 ($29.99 + $25.00) excluding msging. With unlimited messaging, it's up to $74.99 ($29.99 + 25.00 + 20.00).
Very good information there in buying from AT&T, exposing IMEI, and various bands for unlimited data plans.
Unlimited data plan on all providers is imminent. This is similar to when dial-up internet is just starting. Pay by the hour. Few months down the road, it will be free! Paying for capped data plan today is not a bad idea.
By the way, from what I am reading, messaging as in text messaging and SMS, is not necessary since you can use your data plan through Google voice as a substitute or as long as you install an Android application available in the market.
I am going to Costco today to pick one up.
I've just ordered the SGS2 and looking into ATT gophone plan but not sure which one to choose...I keep hearing this $15 ATT Dumb Phone plan but what exactly do you guys mean by that???
Anything by ATT will suck. Try T mobile
the $15 plan is with a 2 year commitment and is called "medianet" I believe. the pay as you go or prepaid service that you originally mentioned does not require commitment and does not come with that $15 option. Check their site for details.
goodwinod said:
Anything by ATT will suck. Try T mobile
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what?? TMOB network will not support this phone fully.
kreoXDA said:
what?? TMOB network will not support this phone fully.
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Nevermind, didn't read your post fully It only supports edge
You bought a unlocked phone right?
kreoXDA said:
the $15 plan is with a 2 year commitment and is called "medianet" I believe. the pay as you go or prepaid service that you originally mentioned does not require commitment and does not come with that $15 option. Check their site for details.
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are u sure that it requires a 2 yr. commitment?
op-the dumb plan only includes messaging/data and does not include voice plans. research which one is better, prepaid or regular service + dumb plan.
wootek76 said:
I've just ordered the SGS2 and looking into ATT gophone plan but not sure which one to choose...I keep hearing this $15 ATT Dumb Phone plan but what exactly do you guys mean by that???
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Click to collapse
If you go prepaid, they have a $50 unlimited voice, text, and data for featurephones. This is called the "$50 Monthly Unlimited Plan" GoPhone plan. Since they don't know your phone is a smartphone if will work with data. Technically smartphones are supposed to buy data separately for $25 more for 500MB (or you can buy less). But you don't have to.
If you are going to regular contract way then you pick the minutes you want, a crappy flip phone, and add the unlimited data package to it.
Or you might be able to get a SIM card for free from online or a store. But don't show them your phone. Then go home and activate the service and add the unlimited featurephone data. Tell them its a featurephone. If you just get the SIM card and no phone, then you might be able to signup without a contract at all. The data option is called "Data Unlimited for Non-Smartphones" for $15. If you want unlimited texting and data then get "Messaging & Data Unlimited for Non-Smartphones" for $30.
You could get unlimted everything (data included) for $50 with their prepaid plan.
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-plans/pyg-cell-phone-plans.jsp
Will that $50 unlimited everything work for smartphones like s2?
My plan is to buy a unlocked galaxy s2 from amazon, buy a $50 prepaid plan with some crap phone from ATT, and use that simcard in my unlocked galaxy s2. Will this work? Will I get 3g or 4g speeds for data if i do like this? For example, if I buy a crap phone like Sgh - a107 with $50 package, and use that simcard in galaxy s2, will i be able to use 3g? will 3g be disabled for that sim card, since sgh a107, does not support 3g?
Also, dont we get free phones in prepaid?
Killer Bee said:
You could get unlimted everything (data included) for $50 with their prepaid plan.
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Click to collapse
gowtham.n.mail said:
Will that $50 unlimited everything work for smartphones like s2?
My plan is to buy a unlocked galaxy s2 from amazon, buy a $50 prepaid plan with some crap phone from ATT, and use that simcard in my unlocked galaxy s2. Will this work? Will I get 3g or 4g speeds for data if i do like this? For example, if I buy a crap phone like Sgh - a107 with $50 package, and use that simcard in galaxy s2, will i be able to use 3g? will 3g be disabled for that sim card, since sgh a107, does not support 3g?
Also, dont we get free phones in prepaid?
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Click to collapse
Thank you this is exactly what i wanted to know...i can get the Gophone 50 unlimited simcard without the phone no problem...
Here are the GoPhone plans:
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-plans/pyg-cell-phone-plans.jsp
You get HSPDA+ speeds where available.
I don't believe there is unlimited data for the SGS2. You have to purchase a data plan which is $5 for 10 MB or $15 for 100 MB. See link.
I use the $0.10 minute plan and I do 100 MB for $15 each month. You should purchase $100 at a time because the expiration is a year instead of 90 days or less. Data plans can be set to automatically renew each month.
Basically, I pay $20 per month. I use GrooveIP for over Google Voice when I'm on WiFi. I'm not a big talker. I prefer email and texts (unlimited free texts over Google Voice by the way).
We can deceive ATT right? Many people do that. I will buy some dumb phone with a prepaid plan, and use that sim card in my unlocked galaxy s2 .
the whole point of the dumb phone plan is that you get unlimited data for 15 dollars by using the dumbphone media net plan. i guess going pre paid is a decent idea too. but really the benefit is getting unlimited data for 15 bucks.
RogerPodacter said:
the whole point of the dumb phone plan is that you get unlimited data for 15 dollars by using the dumbphone media net plan. i guess going pre paid is a decent idea too. but really the benefit is getting unlimited data for 15 bucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it still exist? I just searched for Media Net on AT&T and lowest I found was $30 unlimited for non-smartphones. Maybe it's buried away in a hard to find place.
We can deceive ATT right? Many people do that. I will buy some dumb phone with a prepaid plan, and use that sim card in my unlocked galaxy s2.
In prepaid for $50 we get unlimited everything for non-smartphones. I will deceive ATT ad use it in galaxy s2...
Has anyone actually tested and used the GoPhone plan with an SGS2? I guess in theory it should work but most of us are either on a grandfathered plan or using the Data for non-Smartphone (aka: dumb-phone) plan on a prepaid account.
Edit:
Have you even looked at the GoPhone data plans? They're pretty ridiculous. 500MB is $25.00. Add that to the $50 unlimited voice and messaging and you're already at $75.00. A prepaid plan with less voice but unlimited data is a better value.
http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?p...ticleid=31797&mapcode=consumer|mobile-devices
BarryH_GEG said:
Has anyone actually tested and used the GoPhone plan with an SGS2? I guess in theory it should work but most of us are either on a grandfathered plan or using the Data for non-Smartphone (aka: dumb-phone) plan on a prepaid account.
Edit:
Have you even looked at the GoPhone data plans? They're pretty ridiculous. 500MB is $25.00. Add that to the $50 unlimited voice and messaging and you're already at $75.00. A prepaid plan with less voice but unlimited data is a better value.
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Click to collapse
Yes, me. I dropped my family plan and switched to a GoPhone plan. First, I ported my number to Google Voice and then went in an AT&T store and got a new SIM and $100 worth of voice and data. FYI, you can prepay up to $500 if you only want to be bothered occasionally.
The GoPhone plans are good if you don't talk on your phone much and don't watch Netflix movies over 3G. With Google Voice and Groove IP, you can make free VOIP calls. With Google Voice, you get unlimited free texts. Good enough for me.
^ why should we not talk much? With $50, everything including data is unlimited ...
kbiz90 said:
Yes, me. I dropped my family plan and switched to a GoPhone plan. First, I ported my number to Google Voice and then went in an AT&T store and got a new SIM and $100 worth of voice and data. FYI, you can prepay up to $500 if you only want to be bothered occasionally.
The GoPhone plans are good if you don't talk on your phone much and don't watch Netflix movies over 3G. With Google Voice and Groove IP, you can make free VOIP calls. With Google Voice, you get unlimited free texts. Good enough for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
500MB of data is $25.00. You're paying $100 for 2GB of data that you can get on a prepaid plan without scamming for $25.00. How in anyway is that a "good deal?" I easily can blow through 500MB in a couple days with moderate use.
Just purchased a US T-Mobile Flyer. I can tether it to my AT&T phone but the idea was to get off AT&T congested network in airports and in my travels. What is the best option on prepaid plans to go with on T-Mobile? They have a $30 1GB plan but that seems high for the amount of data. Has anyone had any success using the $30 5GB Walmart plan or any other cell plan that gives more data? Thanks in advance.
there's a $30/mo no contract plan that includes 5GB of High Speed Data + 100 minutes. Anything over 5GB gets throttled but at least you won't pay overage fees
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans
Will Evo-view work on T-mobil?
Didnt think you could use phones/tabs on other carriers.
But hope Im wrong, thats not a bad deal
theSavant said:
there's a $30/mo no contract plan that includes 5GB of High Speed Data + 100 minutes. Anything over 5GB gets throttled but at least you won't pay overage fees
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans
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Click to collapse
Will T-Mobile let me put the Flyer on this plan? I went to one store and they told me I had to use a tablet plan.
Greetings!
I pay $20/month for 1gb of data. If you call Sprint sales to activate, they'll waive the $36 activation fee. I was also able to get them to sell me the stylus pen for $40 w/free shipping. Granted, you're signing up for a 2-year contract but what I did to off-set that was use my upgrade to buy an iPhone which I plan on selling on selling to recoup my cost.
Hope this is helpful