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I'm a new AT&T subscriber. When I signed up, I accidentally signed up for the $39.99 Media Max Unlimited. I'm not sure why I signed up for it, maybe it was required? Well, after making a call yesterday, the CS rep put me on the $29.99 Blackberry Unlimited plan. I don't do any sort of text messaging...maybe 5 a month if that, thus the reason for the change. Is the Blackberry plan ok? Am I going to get hit with a bunch of data charges at the end of this month? Is there a better plan?
Sorry for all the questions, but I'm new to all these AT&T plans (ex-Sprint customer here).
Thanks!
If you have a PDA you are supposed to be on the PDA plan, $39.99. Now that doesn't mean that you will get caught being on the wrong plan, I am amazed that with the Tilt you were able to get the phone rep to lower your plan. Do you have a Tilt or the Kaiser?
I may be wrong but I remember reading some fine print on this:
Mail in rebates, $100, you will not get these anymore if you do not stay with the $39.99 or higher data plan
Discount of $150 instant will be reduced with out the correct data plan. It will show up on your next bill.
If you are trying to save some cash and cut corners(bascially not follow correct policy) and risk losing money stick with what you have. If you want to be correct you need to have the $39.99 plan.
This is what I read, please correct me if I am wrong so I can change my plan.
jallenclark said:
If you have a PDA you are supposed to be on the PDA plan, $39.99. Now that doesn't mean that you will get caught being on the wrong plan, I am amazed that with the Tilt you were able to get the phone rep to lower your plan. Do you have a Tilt or the Kaiser?
I may be wrong but I remember reading some fine print on this:
Mail in rebates, $100, you will not get these anymore if you do not stay with the $39.99 or higher data plan
Discount of $150 instant will be reduced with out the correct data plan. It will show up on your next bill.
If you are trying to save some cash and cut corners(bascially not follow correct policy) and risk losing money stick with what you have. If you want to be correct you need to have the $39.99 plan.
This is what I read, please correct me if I am wrong so I can change my plan.
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Hmm. Thanks for the clarification. I'll have to wait and see. I have the Tilt, and I have a business discount with them (I had no rebates - $200 Company Discount, and a $400 Web Discount). I went back through the purchase screens (as if I were a new customer buying through my corporate discount page), and neither the plan she switched me from nor the one she switched me to exist. What's weird is, I don't even see the MediaNet Unlimited plan that was on my phone. All that's listed are business data plans (with multiple options under each section not listed below) :
DataConnect Add-On
PDA Enterprise with Cellular Video Add-On
PDA Enterprise Tethering Add-On
PDA Enterprise for BlackBerry Connect Add On
I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens with my first bill.
if you have the $39.99 plan you qualify for the rebates even if you purchased your phone through the business section. So you can print them out and mail them in. There should be 2 $50 rebates.
I am not 100% on how the business plans work for you. I know for my I get a % off my bill but when they quote me rates they always use the full price and I don't see any discounts until I get my bill.
jallenclark said:
if you have the $39.99 plan you qualify for the rebates even if you purchased your phone through the business section. So you can print them out and mail them in. There should be 2 $50 rebates.
I am not 100% on how the business plans work for you. I know for my I get a % off my bill but when they quote me rates they always use the full price and I don't see any discounts until I get my bill.
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At $10 savings per month, I'll gamble and see if I can swing the 29.99 plan. An additional $100 off the price of the phone would sure be nice though!
i am sure you will be fine if you got them to switch it for you. Especially since you got the phone through business.
Just don't contact ATT for service or support, thats how mine got switched to the 40 dollar plan.
jallenclark said:
...
I may be wrong but I remember reading some fine print on this:
Mail in rebates, $100, you will not get these anymore if you do not stay with the $39.99 or higher data plan
...
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Click to collapse
Actually it says:
"Requires activation on a PDA Personal Plan or a $39.99 or higher unlimited data rate plan plus an AT&T Voice Plan of $39.99 or higher"
So it can be a PDA Personal for $29.99 but it has a 20Mb per month limit.
look the easy fix is this...stay on the PDA connect plan until you get the notice from att that the rebate has been processed and is on its way back to you, then dump it. Problem solved
joedoe said:
Actually it says:
"Requires activation on a PDA Personal Plan or a $39.99 or higher unlimited data rate plan plus an AT&T Voice Plan of $39.99 or higher"
So it can be a PDA Personal for $29.99 but it has a 20Mb per month limit.
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did you read the whole post? He isn't on the 29.99 PDA personal. He is on the 29.99 unlimited blackberry plan.
jallenclark said:
did you read the whole post? He isn't on the 29.99 PDA personal. He is on the 29.99 unlimited blackberry plan.
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So what? He can switch to the PDA Personal and still pay only $29.99!
Hey Guys, what is the Big Deal, see at&t don't waste their time or money on tracking who is using what, at the time of rebate, I am not sure they even look it up in the computer, they will check what you sent them, the form etc and just quick look, upload it to their database and they will send you a check. as for Internet, don't even touch it, it is saving you 10 dollar a month, don't know if its any money, but if you are a finance person you would know its alot.
loaferkan said:
Hey Guys, what is the Big Deal, see at&t don't waste their time or money on tracking who is using what, at the time of rebate, I am not sure they even look it up in the computer, they will check what you sent them, the form etc and just quick look, upload it to their database and they will send you a check. as for Internet, don't even touch it, it is saving you 10 dollar a month, don't know if its any money, but if you are a finance person you would know its alot.
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The rebate processing agencies and AT&T make money off people that don't qualify for the rebates. That's why they really do the due diligence on paperwork. I once had a rebate rejected because I switched plans, and the rebate was of course processed much later after I sent it in. Everyone should pay attention to the fine print when it comes to rebates.
I was scrounging by on the media net 5/mb w/ limited texting for 20/mo while using an Audiovox SMT5600. I upped to the $40/mo PDA plan the day before my Kaiser arrived. Sure, I'd like to pay less, but it is what it is and I want the service. I've got a laptop for tethering when needed too. I’m not locked in to my voice or data plan however and that's how I want to keep it.
Im still on media max`
Im still on my media max plan for 19.99 that I had with my last "smartphone" works just fine. have had that plan for about 2 months now. I also did not risk sending in for the rebates since that would cost me more in the future if i had to switch plans.
does anyone know of any way to obtain a new smartphone for ATT and be able to USE it on their network without being automatically smashed with that $30 data plan? I don't ever use data on my tilt right now not even much any more for multimedia messages.....so its bs for me to have to buy one
frankp124 said:
does anyone know of any way to obtain a new smartphone for ATT and be able to USE it on their network without being automatically smashed with that $30 data plan? I don't ever use data on my tilt right now not even much any more for multimedia messages.....so its bs for me to have to buy one
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When you figure it out let me know. That is the ONLY reason I still have a Kaiser. I refuse to be forced into extra needless monthly expenses. Especially when I still have the old MediaMax and pay ony $15 for unlimited data on wap connection. Why in the right mind would I want to double my Data Pan expense when it will work the exact same on their NEW device that is already considered old thechnology.
eBay for my next device.
!!!!! *[email protected]! *[email protected]! yourself AT&T !!!!!
LOL!!!
I dont pay for an unlimited data plan- I just bought my tilt from ebay
I believe if you buy an unlocked phone and are not subsidized by a carrier, you do not have to have a data plan.
Bought my Tilt off of Ebay as well. It's actually a UK T-Mobile Vario, that I use in T-Mobile America. I avoided the required monthly fee for smart phones that way.
Smart phones don't need data plans, if you know what you're doing. For example, I have free wireless hotspots and iGO for offline GPS. I can't really justify having a data plan. If it was $10 a month then it wouldn't be so bad, but it's not.
IMO, the US and European governments should step in and stop cell phone carriers to require data plans. It's just wrong.
Was there a way around this: Didn't have a smartphone before so I had a fifteen dollar "unlimited" plan. Then bought the captivate sans contract off ebay. Received a text this morning that I was switched to an appropriate limited smartphone data plan.
What really irks me is I haven't been using AT&T's data! I've been strictly wi-fi at the house since putting the SIM in.
Was that the sound of inevitability since they know the IMEIs of all Captivates? Or would rooting / custom mod helped? I hate being forced into the age of data caps.
AT&T's policy is if it's a smartphone you have to have a data plan.. period..
And yes, they know if you are using one by the IMEI.
Sucks yes.. and not much you can do. I had a Tilt for a long time without a plan and lived quite nicely by just using wifi.. ahh.. those were the days..!!
You may be eligible to be grandfathered in and keep your plan. Call 611 and ask for the cancellation department (I think they refer to themselves as "Customer Relations/Care/whatever") and let them know you aren't happy and why. Can't hurt to try, right?
I doubt seriously that you'll be able to keep your MediaNet plan. Most of us think that data is data is data, but not where AT&T is concerned. They tend to place this magical premium on smartphone data in the name of maximizing revenue.
If you don't use more than 200 mb a month then the $15 plan should be fine. If you think you'll use more, which is very likely with these phones, you'll want to get the 2gb plan.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
I won a Samsung Epix a year ago and signed up for the MediaNet plan on my old feature phone. I swapped in the SIM, and I have been on $15 unlimited data ever since. This is a WinMo smartphone, and they have never caught on.
You have a pretty good argument if you bought the phone from e-bay. AT&T didn't subsidize your phone and you didn't agree to any plan changes. You just have to call them on their BS be firm but polite and see where you get. You should also check your account and see if they actually changed it. I received one of those text messages too but still have my mediamax plan.
Charging different $$ amounts for the same thing simply because you MIGHT use more is absurd. Hopefully one day they'll be called out on price fixing along with the other cellular carriers. Data IS data, just because you consume it using a smartphone instead of a dumbphone or a laptop doesn't make it any different or more costly for them. Data plan prices are a subject that will instantly send me into a frenzy.
Yeah, I might just let them win this one. Was using a Nokia E71 on the MediaMax and they were never the wiser. I guess this will end my long run with AT&T.
I absolutely love this Captivate and will hate to part with it...but because of their "smartphone" logic I'll be switching carriers within 6 months (as soon as T-mo has a good android HSPA+ or Metro has a good LTE). In the meantime I'll be wary of the 200 MB limit and use lots of wifi.
Thanks for the input! I love discussing corporate cents (non-sense)
ScottyNuttz said:
I won a Samsung Epix a year ago and signed up for the MediaNet plan on my old feature phone. I swapped in the SIM, and I have been on $15 unlimited data ever since. This is a WinMo smartphone, and they have never caught on.
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You were grandfathered in. Before september 09 you could easily switch plans. They restricted this and customers who had already done it now have a smart phone exclusion soc code on their account.
Essentially if you had already cheated the system your grandfathered. If you hadn't then youre screwed.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
ag4vr said:
Most of us think that data is data is data, but not where AT&T is concerned. They tend to place this magical premium on smartphone data in the name of maximizing revenue.
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Isn't it obvious? Bits and bytes and packets that go to a smartphone device are inherently more expensive to produce and transmit than bits and bytes and packets that go to a "feature" phone!
nbohmer said:
Essentially if you had already cheated the system your grandfathered. If you hadn't then youre screwed.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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Damn... maybe I should buy w/o a new contract then...
ScottyNuttz said:
Damn... maybe I should buy w/o a new contract then...
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Won't matter. If you use the captivate on ATT at all they will add the $15 plan to your account.
dontshakepandas said:
Won't matter. If you use the captivate on ATT at all they will add the $15 plan to your account.
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This is true. But once you're on a smartphone plan, it doesn't really matter which one. FWIW, I am running my Captivate on my Blackberry Enterprise Plan. They insisted it wouldn't work but it does. I often switch between a Bold 9700, 3GS and the Captivate for testing purposes on the same SIM. All work on the same account.
You can call em and they may credit you back the money and take the plan off your account, but next month it will just go right back on...its a completely automatic system and they don't currently have a way to override that from happening.
they are doing this with all smartphones now. Once I got my captivate, I gave my old Fuze to my little brother. Within a day, AT&T had signed him up for a data plan. I had bought my phone subsidized from AT&T and had it with them up until the release date of the captivate without a problem, but as soon as my brother put his SIM card in the phone, AT&T decided it was a smartphone... They also charged the $18 upgrade fee too, which I thought was f***ing obnoxious...
ag4vr said:
I doubt seriously that you'll be able to keep your MediaNet plan. Most of us think that data is data is data, but not where AT&T is concerned. They tend to place this magical premium on smartphone data in the name of maximizing revenue.
If you don't use more than 200 mb a month then the $15 plan should be fine. If you think you'll use more, which is very likely with these phones, you'll want to get the 2gb plan.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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Don't forget the 30 dollar surcharge for the "privilege" to tether your computer to your phone and use "your" data.
I've been kicked back and forth through various AT&T departments for the past month over this...
According to AT&T's official line, if you were using a smartphone on a non-smartphone data plan before November of last year, you have a 'smartphone exclusion' added to your account. This will keep you from automatically getting 'upgraded' to a smartphone data plan as long as you don't change to a different smartphone.
Actually, it's a bit more complex than that. The above is true... as long as you're talking about AT&T smartphones. They have a database with the IMEI number for all of the smartphones they offer... but it does not include smartphones that they don't offer. As a result, if you plugged your SIM into a Nexus One, AT&T would be perfectly happy letting you continue on a 'featurephone data plan'. Same goes if you picked up a sim-unlocked HTC Desire from Telus.
Anyway, if you get stuck that way, just move your sim back to your featurephone and give customer support a call. They can get you back on the cheap data plan.
Actually, there's been reports of people trying to add a smartphone data plan to an account using a Nexus One and having AT&T refuse because 'it's not a smartphone' - or rather it's not in their list of smartphones. AT&T insisted on putting them on a featurephone data plane instead.
Now what's really nasty (and what happened with me) is that if you had ben running on an ancient data plan (like a $20 per month plan that provided unlimited data, unlimited text, and 200 mms), and you stuck your sim in a Captivate, you're screwed. Actually it was the AT&T rep who stuck my sim in and tried to process the upgrade. And before the upgrade had even completed, my old data plan was gone and a 2gb smartphone plan was stuck in it's place. What's worse, when told to cancel the upgrade if I can't keep my old data plan, it was too late. Once that data plan is gone, it's gone for good. I tried to get it back for the next month, going through about 9 support cases and hitting multiple levels of support in 3 different divisions. About the best they could do was to give me a heavy discount on the Captivate and put me on the old smartphone unlimited plan.
With the amount of jerking around I was given before anybody could give me a straight answer, I'm seriously considering returning my Captivate anyway and giving Verizon a shot. Except that they're going to cost the same amount I'm paying now, and they don't (yet) have any good android phones that work international.
mesasone said:
Don't forget the 30 dollar surcharge for the "privilege" to tether your computer to your phone and use "your" data.
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Or the $20 "privelege" of connecting to an "enterprise" email system
ag4vr said:
I doubt seriously that you'll be able to keep your MediaNet plan. Most of us think that data is data is data, but not where AT&T is concerned. They tend to place this magical premium on smartphone data in the name of maximizing revenue.
If you don't use more than 200 mb a month then the $15 plan should be fine. If you think you'll use more, which is very likely with these phones, you'll want to get the 2gb plan.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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I'm on this plan and it's not too bad. Only things I don't really do with my phone while I'm on data: browse the web, use google navigation, or use pandora radio. those things seem to eat up bandwith more than anything else.
Also, use a program like NetMeter, it'll let you know how much data you're using via data plan and wifi, very handy. It let's me monitor my use so I can be sure I won't go over.
And last thing to consider: The way AT&T's billing plan is that you're paying 15$ a month for the first 200mb of data that you use. If you go over that 200mb, they're going to charge you another 15$ for the next 200mb of data, and so on..
It really sucks they've done it like that, but they definitely had a lot of leaks in their network as far as data goes, which is why they've cracked down on it so much. I used to have the same 15$ unlimited data plan for the longest time ever and enjoyed it with my various HTC phones (Wizard, 8515, tilt), but ultimately, I hurt myself in the end since I didn't bother to get on an unlimited smart phone data plan back then, which would have cost me more at the time, but would more than make up for it as far as being grandfathered in goes.
The best way around it is getting a Tmobile phone because you dont need 3g and ATT usually doesnt mess aorund with there imei numbers. But Att has made data plan very cheap $15 and if u usually use wifi then u will never go over. I have never gone over 200 in the past year and its basically i download apps on wifi using other features in moderations u should be good.
First off, this is my first post on these forums.. second. I had the unlimited data plan on a dumbphone, switched to the smartphone. Was told I couldn't keep my plan. Called customer support. Explained I had been with ATT since 1998 and I don't understand why I couldn't keep my plan. They said I couldn't, agent was rather rude IMHO, I said, well I can change carriers, can I speak to a manager. She put me on hold. Came back rather quickly and said in a nice voice. Sir, I spoke to my manager and they agree to give you your plan back, since you have been with us for so long. But you know, it will cost you 5 dollars more a month. I laughed and said, that's not the point."
Im currently thinking about switching to at&t from tmobile.
One reason is my work gets a 22% discount the at&t vrs 12% at Tmo.
Also with taxes and unlimited everything im paying about a hundred which is kind of rediculous. (Without my discount)
Has anyone switched before and have a little more insight about data and plans between the two networks. I already know tmobile has hspa+. But will i end up paying more at at&t?
I already have someone lined up to trade my tmo nexus for a att nexus. Im just skeptical. And yes im going to pay etf fee even though i dont want too.
Help me out here people.
Att generally is more money for the same service and their coverage is not much better at least where I live
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
First of all, don't sign a contract because you're providing your own phone so you don't need to go on contract. Secondly, have you checked to make sure that T-Mobile has 3G in your area? What's your zip code?
How much etf do you have to pay? I dont think its a smart move to switch from tmo to att because of the extra 10% savings. Im pretty sure atts prices are inflated above the 10% difference. If you really wanted to save money then you can just switch your tmobile plan from your unlimited everything. If you switch your texting to google voice you can save $20 a month just from that. You can lower your minutes and start using sipdroid for your calls and have virtually unlimited free calls as long as you have decent data connection or wifi, and you can use your tmobile minutes as a backup.
So if you really wanted to get creative and still have a virtually unlimited plan you can sign up for the 500 minute plan on tmobile for $29.99, and get on the $10 web2go plan (this is the reason alone why i wont upgrade my phone for a long long time). $40 a month, and no contract.
smachine said:
How much etf do you have to pay? I dont think its a smart move to switch from tmo to att because of the extra 10% savings. Im pretty sure atts prices are inflated above the 10% difference. If you really wanted to save money then you can just switch your tmobile plan from your unlimited everything. If you switch your texting to google voice you can save $20 a month just from that. You can lower your minutes and start using sipdroid for your calls and have virtually unlimited free calls as long as you have decent data connection or wifi, and you can use your tmobile minutes as a backup.
So if you really wanted to get creative and still have a virtually unlimited plan you can sign up for the 500 minute plan on tmobile for $29.99, and get on the $10 web2go plan (this is the reason alone why i wont upgrade my phone for a long long time). $40 a month, and no contract.
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2 questions... how do I get on web2go plan. And how do I use gvoice for texting?
pretty sure web2go is one of the old grandfathered plans the only way you have it is if you stuck with your plan and never changed it.
T-mobile just like other carriers play dirty tricks with plans to get their money back from subsidized phones.
i for example recently went the route of buying a used N1 for more than a G2 would have cost me subsidized up front because i'm on a grandfathered G1 data plan so currently i pay 55 dollars a month for 300 min 400 texts and unlimited data. i dont talk or text enough on my phone to justify more so its the cheapest thing for me to do is stick with it. if its not enough for me at some point i can upgrade to the even more whatever base plan without contract because i'm out of contract on my G1 now and it will run me 60 a month for 500 anytime unlimited text and data. had i bought a subed G2 i would have had to pay 80 a month for the same exact plan that is 60 off contract.
from what i have seen ATT is about 20 dollars more a month for the base plan that you would want on a N1 or other similar phone and as i said before in my experience at least in the SF bay area coverage is equal between t-mobile and ATT for the most part, maybe a slight edge to ATT in some places but for the most part the same.
Sprint is the only carrier that i have seen that comes close to the cost of T-mo and even with a subed phone like a EVO 4G your only looking at 70ish a month for a comparable plan but its nice staying off contract because it gives me more options in the not so distance future
jm1999 said:
2 questions... how do I get on web2go plan. And how do I use gvoice for texting?
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I signed up just last week with tmobile and picked the $10 unlimited internet for phone option which is the same as web2go. Log into your tmobile account and go to add services, and there should be $10 unlimited mobile web for phones. Just make sure you do it before tmobile changes to the tiered plans, and set your device as being a dumbphone. Set your apn settings to internet2.voicestream.com and it will be good to go.
For google voice texting you just use the built in google voice application, or the normal contact list on your phone. It will send texts out from your google voice number. I sent one massive text out to all my contacts telling them my google voice number was my new main number. Might seem like a pain telling people a new number but after you do this it will help you out in the long run. You can setup sipdroid for free calls and all incoming and outgoing calls from your google voice number can be made without the use of any minutes if you have data/wifi. I made a step by step guide for that at this link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8813244&postcount=18
I went the other way and am never going back to att!
My plan right now costs half of what att used to charge me
go tmo!
Ps: usually the discount only applies to the main line.
on both networks
Does any carrier offer actually unlimited data I'm so sick of these carriers that say unlimited (just limited to full speed at XXGBs) that is a limit. I'm looking for a no contract option. I just can't seem to find any actually unlimited plans.
Thanks for any help.