Data Plan questions... - Tilt, TyTN II, MDA Vario III General

So, AT&T kills you on a monthly data plan, unlimited for $40 a month are there any alternatives for getting a monthly data plan or do I specifically need to go through AT$T for that service?
Also, I use the "No Data" feature which is awesome by the way to essentially turn off the data to and from my phone, I use WIFI. Someone sent me a text message the other day that I did not receive I assume because I have the data turned off on my phone, as planned.
Is there a way to get around this, t receive messages when connected via WIFI or is that specific to the data plan associated with AT$T?
TW,

u do not need to turn off your connection when using wifi. when you have wifi turned on and properly connected, all data usage will be through wifi so no charges. your phone calls and txt will still come through normally. you can call/email att to confirm, i did. plus you can also check your usage online and it will show no charges for anytime you are using the internet through wifi.

all data usage will be through wifi so no charges
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Click to collapse
I can get sms through my web connection? I thought SMS came directly from my provider?
Is there a way to use another provider for data service?
TW,

I use Unlimited MediaNet for only $19.95.
That would be the best choice if you want to have data wherever you go for less then the DataConnect plan.
Well if you're without an access point that is.
I've been using it for a while now, and I use quite a bit of bandwidth a month, (IMplus / Tethering pretty much all the time) and it works great.

Slayer6234 said:
I use Unlimited MediaNet for only $19.95.
That would be the best choice if you want to have data wherever you go for less then the DataConnect plan.
Well if you're without an access point that is.
I've been using it for a while now, and I use quite a bit of bandwidth a month, (IMplus / Tethering pretty much all the time) and it works great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've heard this before, I pay $39.99 for MediaNet unlimilted...so how do you get it so cheaply? The tethering can be done with ease but getting caught could encurr the wrath of ATT $$$$$ !

I'm sorry about that.
I'm using MediaMax unlimited.
Its unlimited Data /w only 200 texts a month.
I shoulda mentioned that. =/

Slayer6234,
I know I have the option of downgrading to MediaMax Unlimited online (account access) but I've contacted AT&T and they told me this is not supported so I'm a little leary to change it and have it cost me in the end. How long have you been using this? If it works fine I'll just downgrade and see what happens.
Thanks.

I've been using it for about 2 years now since I got a flip phone with a browser.
I've talked to AT&T about it and they do "frown" upon not using a dataconnect plan with a PDA but I've been using it with the HTC for 3 months and nothing has happened, plus I would just say that I have a flip phone that I can only use medianet on, and that I switch my sim to that from time to time.

The tilt will automatically connect/work with MediaNet.
The PDAconnect / Dataconnect plans will still get you on edge/3g, its just a fancy, more costly way of getting you there.
MediaNet will do the same... and you dont need a tethering plan with the tilt because, well, you have a tilt.

Slayer6234,
Thanks for the info. I'll give it a whirl.

I think I might no longer be confused ... MediaMax is still a service offered through AT&T (https://www.wireless.att.com/media/cingular_video_purchase) at a reduced rate...
So, you can't get an external data plan from another vendor for your phone although @ $20 bones I think that falls in line with everyone else's plans.
TW,

Related

MEdiaNet Unlimited

I see all these posts about MEdiaMax and the HTC phones, but what about MediaNet Unlimited? Are you legally allowed to use it with a PDA?
In the Terms/Conditions it says that the Media bundles are not to be used with a PDA, but MEdiaNet Unlimited is only MEdiaNet, no messaging, so it's not a bundle, right? As long as I don't tether the device, I'm legal, correct? (I don't have a laptop and my home is not in a 3G area, so what's the point?)
inneyeseakay said:
I see all these posts about MEdiaMax and the HTC phones, but what about MediaNet Unlimited? Are you legally allowed to use it with a PDA?
In the Terms/Conditions it says that the Media bundles are not to be used with a PDA, but MEdiaNet Unlimited is only MEdiaNet, no messaging, so it's not a bundle, right? As long as I don't tether the device, I'm legal, correct? (I don't have a laptop and my home is not in a 3G area, so what's the point?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You dont want MediaNet Unlimited. What a bunch of marketing doublespeak!! I quote from the AT and T website:
"For full details on Messaging or MEdia Net, see the AT&T MEdia brochure, att.com/mediaterms. Pay-Per-Use Charges: Text/Instant Messaging 15¢/message; Picture/Video Messages 25¢/message; MEdia Net Browsing 1¢/KB. MEdia Net and MEdia Bundles are not available on PDAs/Pocket PCs, RIM® devices or LaptopConnect cards. If your usage of the Services (including unlimited data plans) on other carriers' wireless networks ("offnet usage") during any two consecutive months exceeds your offnet usage allowance, AT&T may at its option terminate your wireless service or access to data Services, deny your continued use of other carriers' coverage, or change your plan to one imposing usage charges for offnet usage. Your offnet usage allowance is equal to the lesser of 6 megabytes or 20% of the kilobytes included with your plan and for messaging plans the lesser of 3000 messages or 50% of the messages included with your plan. AT&T will provide notice that it intends to take any of the above actions and you may terminate your agreement."
To me that says you have unlimited use as long as you pay for usage at thier highest rate. Also, it specifies it does it is not for pocket PC's.
This plan is NOT intended for Pocket PC's (like yours) and since you only pay for the data you use (no free data at all) you pay top dollar for all the data you DO use. That means things like the weather plugins etc on yer phone that want to grab data off of the network on a regular basis you will pay for every kilobyte at the most expensive rate.
Technically its not legal, and even if it was, it is probably not in your best interest.
Its the same thing. Unlimited MediaNet was changed to Media Max 200. it was unlimited media net and 200 texts. They decided not to combine them anymore, so its media net again.
pdas can be used on media net, technically. its the same ip address and settings, but siince PDAs use more data, at&t charges a premium on PDA Max. I dont know what at&t will do if they audit your line.
I use media max 200 btw
so which is the maximum-unlimited and economical plan worth your recommendation other than the 200?
I don't have a reason to get the SMS bundles because I already have the Family Messaging Unlimited. I called and told the CRS I wanted Unlimited Internet usage added to my line, didn't specify which package, and that's what he told me I needed and he added it. If they overcharge me, you can better believe that they will have a phone call.
Just change it yourself on the extranet. Easy as pie.
Why would I change it? If they put me on the $15 plan, I'm going to use it, if they charge me then it's their CSR's fault, not mine.
Why pay more if that's what they gave me?
Carl G35c said:
Its the same thing. Unlimited MediaNet was changed to Media Max 200. it was unlimited media net and 200 texts. They decided not to combine them anymore, so its media net again.
pdas can be used on media net, technically. its the same ip address and settings, but siince PDAs use more data, at&t charges a premium on PDA Max. I dont know what at&t will do if they audit your line.
I use media max 200 btw
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Click to collapse
mostly correct, however...
They didn't really "change" them, the Unlimited MediaNet w/o text was designed for peolpe whom have an old texting plan, family texting, or otherwise a seperate texting plan and did not want to change it (or couldnt, for family unlimited)...
So they created MediaNet unlimited for the same price, without texting, to allow people to keep these plans..
I have 1000 texts for $10 (retired feature), so I went with MediaNet Unlimited seperatly
i'm on MM200 w/ tilt.... Icalled in and they did it for me so how was I supposd to know?
Do you have any idea how spoiled you all are in the US with those plans and offers. I envy you
Living in Taiwan , the kingdom of technology, I paid +700 USD for my Tytn II as we do not have combined offers at that level.
And as for Media... there is Emome from Chunghwa. 10 USD games from 5 years ago platforms.
And a monhtly minimal fee is here around 20-25 US without any Freebies.
ceevee369, why should you complain, too? Visit Myanmar to see how much it costs!!!
I have had MediaNet Unlimited @ $20/month for close to 2 years now (on a Treo 650, 680, 750 and now Tilt). It truely is unlimited, never had any issues.
ive had $20/unlimited since the 8125 and never had any issues either.. with the lovely 3g i do 300-400mb a day with mobitv+xm radio+google maps its great to have full 3g @ work and mostly everywhere.. granted i only pull 1 bar @ home of 3g/H outside of the house is 3-4 bars no issue.. never had a problem paying.. never been late so maybe that helps? who knows.
I use AT&T MediaNET unlimited with Tilt.
I downloaded the internet sharing tool (AT&T deleted it from the Tilt). Disabled proxy in the network connection - and voila, I have a wireless modem for my laptop with unlimited traffic. Speeds with enabled HSDPA go up to 80 KB/s where I'm using it. It's probably different in other areas.
I play BF 2142 through it (it's not bad, around 120 ping), download files, do all my regular stuff. I talked to the supervisor in AT&T and I'm pretty much sure that they will never impose "too much traffic" or find out that it tethers to the laptop.
I pay $20/mo for it for one phone.
Just my $.02
DarkDvr said:
I use AT&T MediaNET unlimited with Tilt.
I downloaded the internet sharing tool (AT&T deleted it from the Tilt). Disabled proxy in the network connection - and voila, I have a wireless modem for my laptop with unlimited traffic. Speeds with enabled HSDPA go up to 80 KB/s where I'm using it. It's probably different in other areas.
I play BF 2142 through it (it's not bad, around 120 ping), download files, do all my regular stuff. I talked to the supervisor in AT&T and I'm pretty much sure that they will never impose "too much traffic" or find out that it tethers to the laptop.
I pay $20/mo for it for one phone.
Just my $.02
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Click to collapse
Same here.
Went from a sony ericsson in 2002-3 which the plan was originally signed up for to a ipaq 6515 then to kaiser.
Still paying $19.99/mo for unlimited HSDPA speeds here in DC.
i get unlimted medianet/ internet and 1500 text (unlimited m to m) for $20
well, hopefully ill be fine. I have been with cingular/att for almost 5 years with a perfect record and now running four lines on my family plan with unlmtd texts and now medianet unlimited on one line. plus I just extended my contract to pick up a tilt for 150 dolars... whaaaat?
inneyeseakay said:
well, hopefully ill be fine. I have been with cingular/att for almost 5 years with a perfect record and now running four lines on my family plan with unlmtd texts and now medianet unlimited on one line. plus I just extended my contract to pick up a tilt for 150 dolars... whaaaat?
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Click to collapse
Tell them the Tilt is for one of the other lines, not the one with medianet unlimited. As we've seen above it probably doesn't matter but I figure it's one less way to draw attention to your account. I got my Tilt as an upgrade on my daughter's line. I "upgraded" to a RAZR that my wife uses on her work-provided line and that's the phone with the medianet plan (I've got the MediaMax 200) assigned to it.
rico002 said:
i get unlimted medianet/ internet and 1500 text (unlimited m to m) for $20
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Click to collapse
I have the exact same plan, i just went online and changed my plan, been this way for almost 2 years now. Never had an issue, I also run agile mobile and sync with 2 email accounts that are pretty active. On the website it doesn't say what plans you can or can't use, so thats my arguement if it ever comes up.
inneyeseakay: what has led you to believe that there is some kind of law that prevents you from using a data plan with your PDA phone? Certainly you are "legally" allowed to do so.
DarkDvr: when I had the stock AT&T Tilt ROM, I did find out that Internet Sharing was in the Windows folder, AT&T had just deleted the shortcut in your start menu. It should be called IntShrUI.exe. I believe someone on the forum here brought that to my attention. I just wanted to let you know in case you do a hard reset that you do not have to go through the trouble of downloading the Internet Sharing application again.
iPhone users only pay $20 a month for their unlimited data. The iPhone's browser displays far more data than Windows Mobile's default browser. Not only that, but Youtube is built in to the iPhone's interface, and videos certainly require a lot of data transfer. I have had Medianet unlimited for almost 2 years with PDA phones. If it is somehow against their terms, it is up to them to take action. I certainly do not feel as if I am "ripping off" AT&T somehow by continuing to use the plan I have had for quite a while. Last month I only used 5 MB of data, so I am not abusing it either.
AT&T has had a history of bias against PDA phones and smartphones. They let me pay $5 a month for 6 months for insurance for my phone which they did not even cover. I did not even know how to get to the page which showed the excluded phones, someone posted it on a forum. Regardless they didn't even refund my money.

For thos in Canada using a Kaiser on Rogers...

What type of plan do you have? And which options do I look for in order to maximize the capabilities of the Kaiser on Rogers' network?
I have the 3 yr vid calling plan (free for 3 years on contract) not sure if they have that now. Its weird to be saying this but overall, u should check out the rogers section at howardforums. Aside from that I am using a basic data plan that still works (10 megs for $5) but it can be tricky to get, especially now that rogers has Windows mobile data plans.
Good luck!
Thanks for the reply. A couple more questions. What is the difference between a data plan and the Unlimited On-Device Mobile Browsing Plan for $7 that is offered? This is my first time owning a phone that will be able to access the internet so I'm not sure what I need.
This is basically what I want to use in addition to the plan I have now (which is 250 anytime minutes, and the $11 Communicate value pack). I want to be able to use the GPS, 3G network, be able to read and send emails, browse the internet occasionally (youtube, etc.) and use Windows Live Messenger.
everything will basically need data except what u use for gps will determine if you need data or not
mikeveli20 said:
Thanks for the reply. A couple more questions. What is the difference between a data plan and the Unlimited On-Device Mobile Browsing Plan for $7 that is offered? This is my first time owning a phone that will be able to access the internet so I'm not sure what I need.
This is basically what I want to use in addition to the plan I have now (which is 250 anytime minutes, and the $11 Communicate value pack). I want to be able to use the GPS, 3G network, be able to read and send emails, browse the internet occasionally (youtube, etc.) and use Windows Live Messenger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't go with the unlimited mobile browsing plan as it's not applicable with non rogers devices =/ (the csr's might not tell you that either) you'll still incur data charges. (check howard forums to confirm)
Your best bet is to wait for the tiered data plan that's coming out in a few weeks.
meeek said:
Don't go with the unlimited mobile browsing plan as it's not applicable with non rogers devices =/ (the csr's might not tell you that either) you'll still incur data charges. (check howard forums to confirm)
Your best bet is to wait for the tiered data plan that's coming out in a few weeks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll be carefull with that as well. I have the same plan but on Fido and for the past 2 months, i havent been charged any extra (although i accumulated about 32 mb avg for both months).
Im still watching my data consumption... so hopefully nothing will change in the future.

MMS and SMS message issue

I've had a problem with my tilt since I've bought it. I am unable to send pictures and I never receive pictures until weeks or even months after they have been sent. Does anyone know what the problem i am having is?
Thanks in advance for any help!
Try running the att settings .cab file..
Hi,
I had the same problem. I noticed that it happened to me whenever I was connected to 3G for over 1 hour. Once I disconnect from 3G and the phone reconnects I am OK.
Let me know if this works for you.
my phone doesn't have a data connection at all, i had att put a block on it because i dont have a data plan at the moment and still no luck sending pictures...
Well wouldn't that be your problem? Pictures are data.
Green45 said:
my phone doesn't have a data connection at all, i had att put a block on it because i dont have a data plan at the moment and still no luck sending pictures...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this issue on my last phone (cingular 3125); I went to the AT&T store and they had to active MediaNet pay per use. The pictures are sent over the MediaNet, and as long as you have unlimited messages, you will not be charged for pictures. But without that plan, you can't get pictures.
Also be warned, AT&T now automatically adds the $30 PDS data plan if they find you have a smartphone. So if you go in and try and add it, they may endup slaping you with a data plan and you cannot say no. Here is what AT&T says in thier terms of use:
"Data Plans: An eligible data plan is required for certain devices, including iPhones and other designated Smartphones and PDAs. Eligible data plans cover data usage in the U.S. and do not cover international data usage and charges. If it is determined that you are using an iPhone or other designated Smartphone or PDA without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the appropriate monthly fee. "
From here:
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/legal/plan-terms.jsp#data
ChumleyEX said:
Well wouldn't that be your problem? Pictures are data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well even when i have my data plan activated they won't send. I just deactivate it when I travel to other countries to save a few bucks because I can't use it anyway.
Did you run the att data setting.cab ?
ChumleyEX said:
Did you run the att data setting.cab ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
stupid question but where do i find this cab
you find it by using search
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=337481

G1 with Blackberry data plan? (currently working)

Hopefully someone may know the answer to my question. My wife has a POS Blackberry Flip 8220. It's on its last legs so I got her a G1 on eBay. Everything I read said I would have to switch to an Android data plan but when I put her SIM in the G1 everything was working with a 3G signal.
Is that something that will only work until they catch on? Or should it continue to work?
MrBigFeathers said:
Hopefully someone may know the answer to my question. My wife has a POS Blackberry Flip 8220. It's on its last legs so I got her a G1 on eBay. Everything I read said I would have to switch to an Android data plan but when I put her SIM in the G1 everything was working with a 3G signal.
Is that something that will only work until they catch on? Or should it continue to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do tell... WHAT is an "android" data plan?
Android phones do NOT require any special data provisions. ANY GENERIC DATA PLAN is fine.
Well T-Mobile used to have a Blackberry unlimited data plan. with unlimited messages for $34.99 and an Android unlimited data plan with unlimited messages for $34.99. Those have been replaced with the Even More plans. But my wife still has the grandfathered Blackberry plan. Everyone I've asked said the data wouldn't work because of the APNs and even if it did T-Mobile would be able to tell I was using a G1 on a Blackberry data plan and they would shut it down.
I was just wondering if anyone had used a blackberry data plan successfully in the past or are still using one. If I have to change anything the plan will go up $10 ($30 for data and $15 for unlimited text)
I took my wife from a BB to a Nexus One. No calls to T Mobile and our bill started showing two Android Data Plans. Same thing.... no need to call unless her data suddenly acts funky.
That's good news. Of course when she tries to upgrade to the mytouch slide soon then we may have to deal with that.
Thanks
MrBigFeathers said:
Well T-Mobile used to have a Blackberry unlimited data plan. with unlimited messages for $34.99 and an Android unlimited data plan with unlimited messages for $34.99. Those have been replaced with the Even More plans. But my wife still has the grandfathered Blackberry plan. Everyone I've asked said the data wouldn't work because of the APNs and even if it did T-Mobile would be able to tell I was using a G1 on a Blackberry data plan and they would shut it down.
I was just wondering if anyone had used a blackberry data plan successfully in the past or are still using one. If I have to change anything the plan will go up $10 ($30 for data and $15 for unlimited text)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Three things to say about this;
1) RIM phones require *extra* provisions, but still require the STANDARD provisions, therefore a RIM-compatible data plan will work with any phone, but a regular data plan won't work with a RIM phone. This is a matter of RIM phones being horribly crippled and VERY VERY poorly designed.
2) Anything between you and YOUR CARRIER has nothing to do with this forum. I suggest you consult your carrier for instructions on this.
3) You never even mentioned what carrier you were using, therefore NOBODY could possibly make any reasonable guess about what their responses will be.
few things to note...
1, if your using Tmobile, i know enough to answer your questions,
- blackberries have their own server farms for data (email especially, but all data for a blackberry goes through a "blackberry" channel.
- androids, also have their own seperate channels or farms that handle all of their data,
however, if you have any data plan, and simply pop your sim into any smartphone, it should work for a while, until your connection gets a time failure, or gets red flagged for requesting (or getting) too much bandwidth.
this is known as blackballing, and you can even trick the system sometimes, by putting your sim back in your old phone, calling tmo, and telling them to open mtas, (or something like that) and addressing that connection (tier 3 can do it in about 5 minutes if they know wtf is up).
but for this channelized crap to work, they are separating the non-tmobile brand phones, into a more simplified system for them...
this way, i guess, when blackberries have a massive outage (like when the Storm was released, and every storm on the planet had to get updated, and that killed all the servers, all the blackberries had no-connection at all, for about 3 days...)
my point, is if one system fails, at least other clients (with other phones) are not effected.
sofar, my g1 has been very reliable and fast with out any data plan at all.
screw their overpriced data, and run wifi.
older, sneaky people were using tzones to get full data plan for 10bucks, and just calling in every 2 weeks to get their MTAS updated, or unlocked...
thats been resolved by now, but hopefully you get the picture. and i havent confused anyone,
MrBigFeathers said:
Hopefully someone may know the answer to my question. My wife has a POS Blackberry Flip 8220. It's on its last legs so I got her a G1 on eBay. Everything I read said I would have to switch to an Android data plan but when I put her SIM in the G1 everything was working with a 3G signal.
Is that something that will only work until they catch on? Or should it continue to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it should fail at some point, and you don't want RIM or blackberry to handle android stuff anyways.
get the android plan, but before you do, go to www.google.com and search for " speedtest " and compare your actual speeds before and after the switch.
would be interesting if there was a huge diference.

[Q] MMS no data plan

I have a 7mo old nephew and every now and then his parents send pictures of funny/cute stuff he does but I'm unable to receive them.
I get a download button but on wifi I can't retrieve it. I have data disabled because I don't have the $15/mo for a data plan.
I'd be willing to pay the $0.30/mms to be able to see the occasional pic.
Is there anyway I could disable auto update and background data and be able to turn on data when I get a pic from them and be able to get it without getting slapped with a data plan? <(really stupid policy of AT&T's)
I know I could with my non-smart phone (samsung eternity) but I don't know how to do that with the Samsung Captivate (cyanogenmod). I was told at&t does a sweep for smartphones w/out data and auto add it and the only way to avoid it was to keep data off at all times.
Also what MMS settings do I need? I'll admit to being a complete n00b on all this. thanks.
Thanks for any help!
You could try following the instructions on this post, down toward the bottom, to alter your APN settings for MMS only: http://androidforums.com/samsung-ga...y-s-gt-i9000-mms-internet-settings-t-apn.html
The problem is that MMS is sent over the data connection and not over WiFi, so you will have to turn your mobile data on make it work. The APN settings would appear to limit your traffic to MMS, but whether this would trigger AT&T's data plan policy, I have no clue. Personally, I wouldn't risk it.
As an alternative, they can send the MMS to your email address instead of your phone number and you could get it that way.
Is it possible to tell your family to send the pictures to your gmail account?
family
apbthe3 said:
You could try following the instructions on this post, down toward the bottom, to alter your APN settings for MMS only: http://androidforums.com/samsung-ga...y-s-gt-i9000-mms-internet-settings-t-apn.html
The problem is that MMS is sent over the data connection and not over WiFi, so you will have to turn your mobile data on make it work. The APN settings would appear to limit your traffic to MMS, but whether this would trigger AT&T's data plan policy, I have no clue. Personally, I wouldn't risk it.
As an alternative, they can send the MMS to your email address instead of your phone number and you could get it that way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App
After going by AT&T I found some mixed news:
Good: Our family unlimited messaging plan includes MMS.
Bad: AT&T detected last month that I have a smartphone (with data off) and added generously the $25/mo data plan w/out so much a text message.
I got them to drop it to the $15 plan and have to call customer service monday to see about getting a partial refund since I didn't use it.
On a semi related note: Since it looks like I may be getting a non-smartphone, what is a good touchscreen phone that does NOT require a data plan?
Thanks for all the help everyone
Of course they did. This is the most unfair rule ever; it's like AT&T telling you how you should use your phone. That sucks
I don't know anything about current phones that are out. I would just go to an AT&T store and play with them to find one you like.
Agreed. I understand that in the long run less people probably complain about a data plan than the accidental/negligent data charges that would probably happen but it's still unfair to give NO other option.
I swapped to my backup phone, the samsung eternity. Descent phone but screen is inaccurate, calendar function is tiresome and no threaded texting (good music though). I will look at what phones they have (including GoPhones) and then get one online, who wants to waste an upgrade on a lesser phone?
On a similar note, will Straight Talk or any other prepay phones work with AT&T sim? I know GoPhone will.
I plan to get the data removed and try for at least a partial credit for the last month of data I didn't use.
I may ebay the Captivate since who knows how long it may be till I can afford a data plan.

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