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I just got an HTC Pure from AT&T but did not get a new SIM card or plan. I am planning to unlock the device to bypass the $30 per month charge for a data plan.
I currently am using an unlocked T-Mobile Dash (HTC S620) on AT&T's network.
I was wondering if there was any way to buy the $10 per month per phone data plan for myself, my brother, and my mom, then switch my SIM card to the unlocked Pure and have AT&T not recognize the new device.
OR
Could I simply switch the SIM card without unlocking and still get the $10 per month per phone data plan?
my friend if i can do so i would have done that long ago and gotten me a pure, but att and htc made plans that all 850 phones belongs to att. when u insert the sim into the phone no matter what the IMEI from the pure gets identified and the plan get switched over automatically.
only way to bypass that is by changing the IMEI of the phone, which is illegal and i dont know if it can be done
are you 100% sure? because I've gotten mixed answers between you, Yahoo Answers, and AT&T themselves
ATT said no??, yahoo said??? i say no
i know some ppl have gotten away with it by upgrading to a pure and stayed with the $10 data plan.
so if u would like to risk it go ahead
Actually the guy at AT&T said it may work. Yahoo said it did. I'm confused. What's the risk if I do get the data plan? Can I switch back to my old phone and get it taken off?
the risk i am talking about the automatic data plan activation, i have asked almost every ATT in miami if there is a way to get around it i have gotten the same answer NO
hmm, ok.
thanks for your help, I'm gonna go into an ATT store tomorrow to see if they can do anything. but I know what answer to expect now
They do not change your plan automatically.
I have had a HTC TILT, HTC FUZE, and am now with my HTC PURE.
I have the ATT data plan for 9.99 unlimited.
All I did was switch my sim to any ATT non PDA phone. Call att, have them add this feature. Then just slap on my sim on my HTC device.
That simple, have been doing it for years and even to my most recent bill I still have the 9.99 Media net plan.
cobo10201 said:
I just got an HTC Pure from AT&T but did not get a new SIM card or plan. I am planning to unlock the device to bypass the $30 per month charge for a data plan.
I currently am using an unlocked T-Mobile Dash (HTC S620) on AT&T's network.
I was wondering if there was any way to buy the $10 per month per phone data plan for myself, my brother, and my mom, then switch my SIM card to the unlocked Pure and have AT&T not recognize the new device.
OR
Could I simply switch the SIM card without unlocking and still get the $10 per month per phone data plan?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Multiple posts won't win you any friends!
TheChemist187 said:
They do not change your plan automatically.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. They do. I have experienced this with the iphone. I put my sim into an iphone and my plan changed to iphone data plan. I had to call ATT, tell them that I was just checking it out, and got it changed back.
TheChemist187 said:
I have had a HTC TILT, HTC FUZE, and am now with my HTC PURE.
I have the ATT data plan for 9.99 unlimited.
All I did was switch my sim to any ATT non PDA phone. Call att, have them add this feature. Then just slap on my sim on my HTC device.
That simple, have been doing it for years and even to my most recent bill I still have the 9.99 Media net plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a LG-VU with the $9.99 data plan.
I upgraded to the HTC Pure. When the box arrived, the first thing I did was to open the phone and remove the new sim that they had inserted into the phone. I put my old sim from the LG-VU and fired up the phone.
It is 3 months now and my data plan is still $9.99.
I been having the $9.99 plan since july and I have the HTC pure. My plan is 4 years old though and I started with a razr.
If you have an ooooold plan that you got through an offer or whatever.....then you are ok....new plans from about three years and before....you want to theter (without the 60 dollar plan) get ready for a 2k plus bill. Been there years ago. Not worth it
after 6 months with the phone, you can cancel data and even have them put a data block
or so i've been told, but unlocking wont allow you to remove it, you're breaking the contract that got you the phone for cheap (or free in my case)
can some1 explain to me wtf this is all about?
If i have a, let's say a Tmobile contract (or any other, AT&T, Vodafone, etc) and i am using "x" phone with this contract....and i buy a new phone, which is different, then why am i not allowed to just change phones? coz that seems to be your guys problem, correct?
are u stuck on one phone for your whole contract? and if u change to, say a better phone, they up your contract price?!?!?!?!? that's HARD to swallow over here in europe... but is that the case?
I have spent countless hours of research here and at howard forums. They will auto switch your plan if you have a Nexus one or a ATT branded smartphone. You would have to get a T-Mobile branded smartphone butt you will loose 3G or get a unbranded smartphone imported which will cost you a lot of mulah. I was looking at getting at HD2 form Australia so I can get the 850 band (3G) but that was selling for 600-800 bucks.
Good luck with your quest young one.
try this... keep an old basic phone lying around and IF they ever DO switch it, call AT&T (USING THE OLDER PHONE!!!) and tell them you borrowed a friends phone for a few weeks while yours was broken and to verify that you are no longer using a "smartphone" and to drop it back down to $10/mo. They should only do random sweeps and this might happen once every few months... Works for me!!
i tried doing the switch back to a non smart phone technique, yet everyday i would get a text saying att has upped my plan to a smart phone one, so now im out 20 bucks , same with iphone, although you could unlock it to get a 10 dollar plan
I guess I'm lucky then. When I called to get internet for my At&t 8525 (about 3 years ago) I asked for an unlimited plan. The representative added a $15 plan. Since then, I've upgraded to a Tilt and now I'm on a HTC Pure with the same plan.
Even with an unlocked iPhone they are still able to add the $30 plan, that is exactly what they did to me. It has to do with the ATT sim card not the phone itself.
chikoo said:
Yes. They do. I have experienced this with the iphone. I put my sim into an iphone and my plan changed to iphone data plan. I had to call ATT, tell them that I was just checking it out, and got it changed back.
I had a LG-VU with the $9.99 data plan.
I upgraded to the HTC Pure. When the box arrived, the first thing I did was to open the phone and remove the new sim that they had inserted into the phone. I put my old sim from the LG-VU and fired up the phone.
It is 3 months now and my data plan is still $9.99.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Update:
ATT has now automatically switched me to the $30 data plan, for my convenience (ha!).
I took out the SIM and put it in another "feature" phone and I was given the option to use the $9.99 plan.
I selected that and switched the SIM back to the ATT Pure.
Guess what?
For my "convenience", ATT switched me back to the $30 data plan.
I want to upgrade me phone to a Captivate [I'm eligible]. Question is, when I go for an upgrade, there is no mention of contract terms by the Captivate. It doesn't even allow me to select a data plan or any features. I am a premier member by the way. Is the price of $199 the price of the phone itself of they are just hiding the contract terms (as in which data plan they will give me and for how long)?
As you see in the screenshot, the iPhone states the contract terms and pricing, while the Captivate just shows the price of $199.
Its going to require a contact. Did you click through it a page or two? It will tell you.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Are you on a secondary or tertiary line? I was, too and AT&T's site wouldn't allow me to choose a data plan even for phones that required it. You either have to have the primary account holder make you an "authorized buyer" by calling 611 on their phone OR go through a third party vendor like Amazon Wireless or Wirefly who was just try to confirm you are a part of the plan by asking you questions about the owner of the account.
I am both an authorized buyer and proceeded until the checkout page. I guess it is automatically a 2year contract but doesn't upgrade to a data plan until you actually set the phone up?
So technically, if I were to want a Captivate and the next Android phone, I could upgrade my line and another line, yet never use the Android on the second upgraded line in order to not require a data plan? Hmm.
qwertyaas said:
I am both an authorized buyer and proceeded until the checkout page. I guess it is automatically a 2year contract but doesn't upgrade to a data plan until you actually set the phone up?
So technically, if I were to want a Captivate and the next Android phone, I could upgrade my line and another line, yet never use the Android on the second upgraded line in order to not require a data plan? Hmm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No matter what you do they will require a Data plan. Most of the smartphones they seel REQUIRE a data plan, its one of the stipluations they have. As soon as they see the phone on the network they will add one for you if you dont have one.
As far aas plans go, when you are a premire account holder it just carries over your current plan to the new phone. If you wanted to change your plan (Data\Voice) then you would need to call them up to do that.
For the rest of it yes you could upgrade one line and wait for the next Android to upgrade the second line. I beleive second lines though are not as discounted in family plans so you wont get the same pricing.
Data is discounted on all lines on my plan. Text and Voice are only on the main line.
Now that I know my Droid 3 will work, I tested it with a ATT gophone SIM after doing the radio flash and such but now I'm trying to get real service with a dataplan and it is hell.
They say I need a certain sim card (W7 sim card) and they seem to think it is a micro sim which the droid 3 doesn't have that. the phone support told me they could not mail me this type of card and the store people can't seem to bring up my information from the phone order and keep saying I need something else.
Keep getting the 'its not going to work' thing but obviously it will.
Did any one else in the states run into this trying to get your D3 on ATT with service other than gophone service? Trying get a 550 sharte plan and 3gb data plans for 2 phones, both are Droid 3s
bigbacon said:
Now that I know my Droid 3 will work, I tested it with a ATT gophone SIM after doing the radio flash and such but now I'm trying to get real service with a dataplan and it is hell.
They say I need a certain sim card (W7 sim card) and they seem to think it is a micro sim which the droid 3 doesn't have that. the phone support told me they could not mail me this type of card and the store people can't seem to bring up my information from the phone order and keep saying I need something else.
Keep getting the 'its not going to work' thing but obviously it will.
Did any one else in the states run into this trying to get your D3 on ATT with service other than gophone service? Trying get a 550 sharte plan and 3gb data plans for 2 phones, both are Droid 3s
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can buy sim adapters fairly cheap, if they sent you a micro sim, grab an adapter on ebay for a few bucks (usually comes in 3 packs for micro mini, and standard). Don't ask any customer service/corporate if it'll work, as by 'stock' the D3 does NOT support ATT (the mnc block Verizon has in the radio prevents this).
I have Straight Talk's BYOP service using AT&T's network on my Droid 3 and it works just fine (albeit hating ST ). If you want a go-phone plan, your cheapest option would be grabbing an ATT SIM from ebay (I bought one for a penny, trolol free shipping), and activated it on gophone awhile back when I was just first testing the radio swap, worked great, but I never tried doing much beyond a 10 dollar card for talk/text while away.
If you're trying to get on a contract, etc etc, I'd suggest you just don't tell them you have a verizon droid 3, tell them you just have an unlocked GSM phone, and if they bug you about it, tell them it's an XT860 4g or an XT883.
EDIT: You can also try just buying a SIM on ebay (make sure to get the newer orange ones) and just activating that on your AT&T account.
I had a free or discounted feature phone / dumb phone with them, with the 2 year contract, and I've used that SIM in subsequent phones with no problem... the SIM had 3G branding. Currently that same SIM and same account are working fine in my XT860 from Bell Canada (unlocked).
If you don't mind a contract, go with the simplest 3G feature phone you can get from them, and add Media.net Unlimited if they still offer it. Sell the feature phone or keep it as a backup.
I ran into the problem also with them saying I can't transfer my line because I now live in a different state. So I was give nthe option to go and sign up in that state OR send the sims to someone in that state....
what a pain. I never thought it was would be so difficult. If I'm going to get into a contract, I'll just get a new phone, I just fear that even though it seems to work with the ATT gophone SIM that once I pop a normal SIM in there, it won't work and I'll be switching to a contract and paying the 'upgrade' charge (which is really jut anoher way to make you pay the activation again)
That was my main fear.
I'm hoping they will let me just test a sim from another device at the store. I was going to show up with our phones radio flashed and ready to go for GSM and then see what they will do for me. I hope they;ll let me test it some how and/or let me sign up month to month and if it doesn't work, let me switch to contract and wave the upgrade BS.
thats the only thing I'm unsure of if I reflash to the GSM radio, take out my verizon SIM and show up with no sim. new build prop and it set to GSM before I show up if it will work or not.
bigbacon said:
I ran into the problem also with them saying I can't transfer my line because I now live in a different state. So I was give nthe option to go and sign up in that state OR send the sims to someone in that state....
what a pain. I never thought it was would be so difficult. If I'm going to get into a contract, I'll just get a new phone, I just fear that even though it seems to work with the ATT gophone SIM that once I pop a normal SIM in there, it won't work and I'll be switching to a contract and paying the 'upgrade' charge (which is really jut anoher way to make you pay the activation again)
That was my main fear.
I'm hoping they will let me just test a sim from another device at the store. I was going to show up with our phones radio flashed and ready to go for GSM and then see what they will do for me. I hope they;ll let me test it some how and/or let me sign up month to month and if it doesn't work, let me switch to contract and wave the upgrade BS.
thats the only thing I'm unsure of if I reflash to the GSM radio, take out my verizon SIM and show up with no sim. new build prop and it set to GSM before I show up if it will work or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome to the world of AT&T! Where they win worst in customer satisfaction 3 years running by consumer reports.
"Each year, Consumer Reports ranks all manner of U.S. wireless carriers based on customer satisfaction in a number of different categories. AT&T ranked dead last in the customer satisfaction survey for the third year in a row. It was hit with the worst rankings for any major carrier in value, voice quality, and customer support."
I'd suggest you go with a prepaid like Page Plus. I've used them, good flexible plans, friendly customer support, free ESN changes via online chat, no bull. Any Verizon phone outside of 'new' inpulse and blackberries can be activated (I've got Page Plus on my CDMA side and a *shudder* Straight Talk AT&T SIM on GSM in my Droid 3)
If you call customer service, you can usually get it activated for free, or find a 3rd party page plus dealer (I have a couple that do free instant activations). They're an MVNO of Verizon, so same network, but very much lower price. Verizon prepaid smartphone plan; 70USD for unlim talk/text and 1GB data. PagePlus? 55USD For unlim talk/text and 2GBs data, or 69.95 for 5GB of data, and buying online, no taxes either.
Anyway, luck to you. If you decide to go in-store, make sure your phone is completely GSM ready, leave the Verizon/Vodafone sim at home. Tell them it's GSM unlocked and it works on AT&T's network (mention you tested it, or let you test a SIM. I've *yet* to find a store that lets me test a sim though.)
The Droid 3 supports up to HSPA 14.4 on AT&T's network, I can get ~5.5Mbps, but I have noticed it's not as stable as Verizon, and calls drop, due to CDMA having better hand-off than GSM (CDMA actually connects to multiple towers at once for seamless handoff, GSM has to toss between the towers). Been awhile since I've really read into it, and I'm likely getting a bit technical...
for me, I can't even use verizon at home or anywhere with in a 30 mile+ radius. The ONLY carrier that has coverage out here is ATT and oddly, they have 4g coverage. My neighbors use them and the signal strength and data speeds are superb. There isn't another carrier.
I know straight talk and such might use ATT towers but I worry about the so called unlimited data and everything that really isn't unlimited.
I guess if one of those carrier actually use ATT towers then I guess I'm ok but how would I know without trying them out some how?
looks like straight talk no longer does ATT
net10 seems like you can still get ATT sims
I'm in WV and, again, ATT is the only provider that has voice and data coverage out here.
bigbacon said:
looks like straight talk no longer does ATT
net10 seems like you can still get ATT sims
I'm in WV and, again, ATT is the only provider that has voice and data coverage out here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Net10 at least came out and said there was a 1.5gb cap now on att. Albeit net10 and straighttalk are the exact same company. Outside of that, most any mvno of att is expensive, att itself is expensive, but you gotta use what you have to. Any that run on att will work on the d3 once modified to do so. Net10 and Red Pocket are the only two that come to mind at the moment, but do a bit of research and find a good one that fits your needs.
I have to search for a list since I'm reading now that some services like Net10 and such may use the ATT gohpone service area or they may use the normal service areas.
Can anyone confirm if Calls, SMS, MMS, and full Data and 3G coverage all work correctly on AT&T on the Droid 3 once unlocked?
think I'm going to try net10. $85 bucks a month to use the postpaid ATT network for 2 lines is alot better than 120 going with ATT and we don't use a lot of data. Looking back at our Verizon account over 6 months, we've never used even 1gb worth of data in a month. I can't find a chart or anything that shows which ones use the postpaid ATT network as I am up for other carriers other than net10 if they do.
seems like moving my number might be an issue though since I am no longer in PA.
braambo said:
Can anyone confirm if Calls, SMS, MMS, and full Data and 3G coverage all work correctly on AT&T on the Droid 3 once unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a Bell Canada XT860, unlocked, and I use all of those except MMS, which I'm pretty sure would work too... I have the APN settings for it.
I am using a Droid 3 on At&t with the Medianet plan that only costs $10(if you're on an unlimited text plan).I'm getting speeds of
up to 5.5mb down and 1.5mb up. The speeds are better at night though.
If you want to use a prepaid GSM,the cheapest I've seen is Red Pockect that uses AT&T's network.They have unlimited talk,text &MMS.
PassingThruLife said:
I am using a Droid 3 on At&t with the Medianet plan that only costs $10(if you're on an unlimited text plan).I'm getting speeds of
up to 5.5mb down and 1.5mb up. The speeds are better at night though.
If you want to use a prepaid GSM,the cheapest I've seen is Red Pockect that uses AT&T's network.They have unlimited talk,text &MMS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have the XT860 or XT862?
I would be all over the XT862 if Jellybean was available in a ROM (100% working)
redsrule2500 said:
Do you have the XT860 or XT862?
I would be all over the XT862 if Jellybean was available in a ROM (100% working)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have an xt862 that i flashed with the chinese radio. I love it honestly,especially since I can have a decent android phone with keyboard + a cheap data plan.
id love to see ICS on the droid 3 but i know it wont happen,the phone is going on 2 years into its lifespan and that kind of age means DEATH in the phone industry .
PassingThruLife said:
i have an xt862 that i flashed with the chinese radio. I love it honestly,especially since I can have a decent android phone with keyboard + a cheap data plan.
id love to see ICS on the droid 3 but i know it wont happen,the phone is going on 2 years into its lifespan and that kind of age means DEATH in the phone industry .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh yeah, that's my goal here in looking for a replacement for my Milestone 1. I just know that I won't be able to take full advantage of the device without the newer Android OS versions available, and that's too bad because everything else is perfect with this phone. So I'm basically sticking w/ the Milestone 1 on CM7 until something better becomes available. (Weird part is even my Milestone 1 can run JB 4.1 100%...!)
I honestly have no phone to get that meets my upgrade specifications for AT&T (JB, keyboard, global phone), aside from attempting the PhotonQ SIM Card Mod, which is a huge risk since I don't know if it will work on AT&T. Blah.
redsrule2500 said:
Oh yeah, that's my goal here in looking for a replacement for my Milestone 1. I just know that I won't be able to take full advantage of the device without the newer Android OS versions available, and that's too bad because everything else is perfect with this phone. So I'm basically sticking w/ the Milestone 1 on CM7 until something better becomes available. (Weird part is even my Milestone 1 can run JB 4.1 100%...!)
I honestly have no phone to get that meets my upgrade specifications for AT&T (JB, keyboard, global phone), aside from attempting the PhotonQ SIM Card Mod, which is a huge risk since I don't know if it will work on AT&T. Blah.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL I have spent some time thinking about the Photon Q,you can buy one with a bad ESN for around $120... but I am not that handy and taking apart the phone kind of scares me.
I'd be happy with a Photon Q for a while tho.
PassingThruLife said:
LOL I have spent some time thinking about the Photon Q,you can buy one with a bad ESN for around $120... but I am not that handy and taking apart the phone kind of scares me.
I'd be happy with a Photon Q for a while tho.
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Click to collapse
Wow, that's so tempting. Didn't realize they would be that cheap.
It could be a fun project, as long as I don't screw it up completely....but I also would feel bad about owning a device which was most likely stolen.
redsrule2500 said:
Wow, that's so tempting. Didn't realize they would be that cheap.
It could be a fun project, as long as I don't screw it up completely....but I also would feel bad about owning a device which was most likely stolen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well "bad ESN" doesnt always mean stolen,could also mean the person owes money and the phone is blacklisted till they pay it.
My Droid 3 had a bad ESN but it was because I lost my job and couldn't afford to pay Verizon's ridiculous prices. My income was literally cut in half.
Okay, I know that as of the 24th of August, Verizon closed a loophole which allowed people to transfer a device upgrade from a non-smartphone line to one with an existing smartphone data plan. Some people did this to keep an unlimited data plan, but since I lost my unlimited data over a year ago, I have been using it to upgrade my device every year.
Some people have cited success by purchasing a divide on Best Buy's website, having the device shipped, and then activating it with a swapped-out SIM card from another device, thus never activating a smart phone data plan on the dumb-phone's line. What I'm wondering is if this is possible through the MotoMaker website.
I've got an upgrade available on a dumb-phone's line on my account. If I make use of that upgrade through MotoMaker, can I activate the device using my current Moto X's SIM card once the new device arrives, and keep the $10/month dumb phone plan without upping it to a $30/month smartphone plan?
Any advice/success stories would be most appreciated! Thanks in advance.
I tried to do this with my new moto x through the moto website and the droid RAZR m's Sim card was bigger than the moto x rendering the swap incompatible. I'd say look into which phones uses the Sim card in terms of size and compatibility. Good luck!
I speak from experience that the size isn't an issue. It may sound crazy but you can literally cut your larger SIM to fit these either with a cutter like the noosy or you can even print out a template. I will caution that the smaller Sims are thinner so you also have to sand down your cut SIM to reduce risk of damaging the phone's SIM cradle.
With that said, you can also take a phone into a corporate Verizon store at any time and get a new SIM for free. Just tell them you bought this phone outright. I used each of these methods to keep unlimited data on my two lines while getting a subsidized moto x and htc one m8.
This is slightly different, however, in that both of mine already had data plans so I was able to select "keep my current plan" through the bb. In the end I don't know how crucial that was in keeping my old lines on the same plan simply by not activating the provided SIM. You might have more trouble because the website may see that you don't even have a data plan and require that you select one in a way that sticks with Verizon.
Sorry for the long post, I'm thorough.
GreenMunky said:
Okay, I know that as of the 24th of August, Verizon closed a loophole which allowed people to transfer a device upgrade from a non-smartphone line to one with an existing smartphone data plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not the loophole that was closed. Actually, it wasn't a loophole at all.
What happened on the 25th are these 2 things:
1) If you use a basic phone's upgrade to buy a smartphone and you are on a legacy plan, you will be required to pay for a minimum $30/mo tiered data plan on the basic line for 2 years regardless of what phone is actually on the line (i.e., putting a basic phone on the line will no longer drop the data plan off of the line); and
2) You no longer can transfer your UDP line's upgrades to another line, either basic phone or TDP lines, without losing your UDP.
Wrt #2 - the reason you are no longer able to do this is b/c when you transfer a UDP line's upgrade to another non-UDP line, it is the donor line (i.e., the UDP line) whose contract is extended and will be required to move to a minimum $30/mo tiered data plan for 2 years. Note that UDPs are $29.99/mo.
GreenMunky said:
Some people have cited success by purchasing a divide on Best Buy's website, having the device shipped, and then activating it with a swapped-out SIM card from another device, thus never activating a smart phone data plan on the dumb-phone's line. What I'm wondering is if this is possible through the MotoMaker website.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is b/c moto maker uses the best buy check out system, although you haven't described it accurately.
All you have to do is upgrade on your UDP line and when the new phone arrives, do not turn it on. Remove the sim card the phone ships with and replace it with the 4G LTE sim card that is currently active on your UDP line. Then turn the new phone on.
GreenMunky said:
I've got an upgrade available on a dumb-phone's line on my account. If I make use of that upgrade through MotoMaker, can I activate the device using my current Moto X's SIM card once the new device arrives, and keep the $10/month dumb phone plan without upping it to a $30/month smartphone plan?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This may very well work, but again, I don't think you have described it correctly. To do it what you would do is order a Moto X on moto maker using your basic phone's upgrade on your basic phone line and when the new phone arrives, do not turn it on. Remove the sim card the phone ships with and replace it with a 4G LTE sim card that is currently active on one of your lines on your account. Then turn the phone on.
If you try it, please report back if it works, thanks.
hackeruti said:
I tried to do this with my new moto x through the moto website and the droid RAZR m's Sim card was bigger than the moto x rendering the swap incompatible. I'd say look into which phones uses the Sim card in terms of size and compatibility. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buy a sim cutter off of ebay for dirt cheap. Or read up on how to cut down a sim card by hand.
cntryby429 said:
I will caution that the smaller Sims are thinner so you also have to sand down your cut SIM to reduce risk of damaging the phone's SIM cradle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This.
cntryby429 said:
With that said, you can also take a phone into a corporate Verizon store at any time and get a new SIM for free. Just tell them you bought this phone outright. I used each of these methods to keep unlimited data on my two lines while getting a subsidized moto x and htc one m8.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as you are not left with a pending activation on your line, yes. They will also mail them to you if you call or you can order them here as long as the phone is active on your account.
cntryby429 said:
This is slightly different, however, in that both of mine already had data plans so I was able to select "keep my current plan" through the bb. In the end I don't know how crucial that was in keeping my old lines on the same plan simply by not activating the provided SIM. You might have more trouble because the website may see that you don't even have a data plan and require that you select one in a way that sticks with Verizon.
Sorry for the long post, I'm thorough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The method works with any 3rd party retailer and you can read my explanation of why it works here.
Wansanta said:
This may very well work, but again, I don't think you have described it correctly. To do it what you would do is order a Moto X on moto maker using your basic phone's upgrade on your basic phone line and when the new phone arrives, do not turn it on. Remove the sim card the phone ships with and replace it with a 4G LTE sim card that is currently active on one of your lines on your account. Then turn the phone on.
If you try it, please report back if it works, thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, the line with the upgrade available is a $9.99/mo, non-LTE line. If I follow these steps, how likely is it that I'll be stuck with a $30/mo data plan on that non-LTE line?
cntryby429 said:
This is slightly different, however, in that both of mine already had data plans so I was able to select "keep my current plan" through the bb. In the end I don't know how crucial that was in keeping my old lines on the same plan simply by not activating the provided SIM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, just so I understand, you're saying that the 'workaround' is that you can use the upgrade on a line that currently has unlimited data and then as long as you don't activate w/ the new SIM that vzw won't actually remove the unlimited from the line?
I wonder how long this will be available?
KidJoe said:
I wonder how long this will be available?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully until the new Moto X is available on MotoMaker
piccit said:
So, just so I understand, you're saying that the 'workaround' is that you can use the upgrade on a line that currently has unlimited data and then as long as you don't activate w/ the new SIM that vzw won't actually remove the unlimited from the line?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly what I'm saying. I used it for a One m8 from htc.com (powered by BB) and for a Moto X from BB.com. both times there were early statements that unlimited data plans are no longer offered and blah blah blah. When you go through the menus you can still select "keep my existing plan". Once I got my new phones, I promptly threw away the sim that came pre-installed and used my own.
Still have 2 UDPs with contact end dates in 2016. Amusingly, I never even paid the $30 fee (transfer, upgrade, maintenance, whatever they call it) and my m8 was upgraded back when it came out.
GreenMunky said:
Okay, the line with the upgrade available is a $9.99/mo, non-LTE line. If I follow these steps, how likely is it that I'll be stuck with a $30/mo data plan on that non-LTE line?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one has tried it but based on everything we know, it should work. If it doesn't work then it is because we don't understand how the switch orders work on basic lines.
If you return the phone within 14 days, you are let out of both your 2yr contract and your 2yr data plan requirement so I don't see the harm in trying. Please report back if you do.
piccit said:
So, just so I understand, you're saying that the 'workaround' is that you can use the upgrade on a line that currently has unlimited data and then as long as you don't activate w/ the new SIM that vzw won't actually remove the unlimited from the line?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is correct as long as you are ordering from a 3rd party retailer and ship to your home. Please see these threads at AC and SD
http://forums.androidcentral.com/verizon/351917-verizon-how-keep-unlimited-data-get-phone-subsidized-price.html
http://slickdeals.net/f/6964624-upgrade-and-keep-your-unlimited-data-with-verizon?v=1&page=205
Also, I believe the Best Buy Method has been posted on this forum before.
KidJoe said:
I wonder how long this will be available?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon is actively working to close this loophole but it will require them to completely revamp how they handle orders from all 3rd party retailers - i.e., the switch order will have to be implemented by some mechanism other than the sim card the phone ships with.
cntryby429 said:
That's exactly what I'm saying. I used it for a One m8 from htc.com (powered by BB) and for a Moto X from BB.com. both times there were early statements that unlimited data plans are no longer offered and blah blah blah. When you go through the menus you can still select "keep my existing plan". Once I got my new phones, I promptly threw away the sim that came pre-installed and used my own.
Still have 2 UDPs with contact end dates in 2016. Amusingly, I never even paid the $30 fee (transfer, upgrade, maintenance, whatever they call it) and my m8 was upgraded back when it came out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The best part is getting out of the upgrade fee!
Keep in mind that only BB and others who use BB's check out system like MM do not require you to pick a new plan and the customer agreement says keep existing plan. With any other 3rd party retailers you are required to pick a new plan and the customer agreement reflects that. However, you do not lose your UDP.
Could Verizon audit accounts? Sure. Have they ever? No.
The other thing to be aware of is that only BB (and presumably those retailers who use BB's check out system) and Costco don't have secondary etfs. Amazon and all of the other 3rd party retailers have them so you need to be aware of their terms and make sure you don't violate them and trigger their secondary etf - i.e., canceling the line b/f 181 days, dropping the data plan (which of course you wouldn't do since it is a UDP line), etc.
Wansanta said:
No one has tried it but based on everything we know, it should work. If it doesn't work then it is because we don't understand how the switch orders work on basic lines.
If you return the phone within 14 days, you are let out of both your 2yr contract and your 2yr data plan requirement so I don't see the harm in trying. Please report back if you do.
That is correct as long as you are ordering from a 3rd party retailer and ship to your home. Please see these threads at AC and SD
http://forums.androidcentral.com/ve...nlimited-data-get-phone-subsidized-price.html
http://slickdeals.net/f/6964624-upgrade-and-keep-your-unlimited-data-with-verizon?v=1&page=205
Also, I believe the Best Buy Method has been posted on this forum before.
Verizon is actively working to close this loophole but it will require them to completely revamp how they handle orders from all 3rd party retailers - i.e., the switch order will have to be implemented by some mechanism other than the sim card the phone ships with.
The best part is getting out of the upgrade fee!
Keep in mind that only BB and others who use BB's check out system like MM do not require you to pick a new plan and the customer agreement says keep existing plan. With any other 3rd party retailers you are required to pick a new plan and the customer agreement reflects that. However, you do not lose your UDP.
Could Verizon audit accounts? Sure. Have they ever? No.
The other thing to be aware of is that only BB (and presumably those retailers who use BB's check out system) and Costco don't have secondary etfs. Amazon and all of the other 3rd party retailers have them so you need to be aware of their terms and make sure you don't violate them and trigger their secondary etf - i.e., canceling the line b/f 181 days, dropping the data plan (which of course you wouldn't do since it is a UDP line), etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MotoMaker goes live for VZW on Friday! I'll keep you guys posted on what happens. Has anyone tried this recently? It's been almost a month since Big Red's policy changes.
Ordered this afternoon. Chose the feature phone line with the upgrade available, chose the option to keep my existing plan, and completed checkout. Phone should arrive in a few weeks (hopefully less) so we'll see what happens then.
GreenMunky said:
Ordered this afternoon. Chose the feature phone line with the upgrade available, chose the option to keep my existing plan, and completed checkout. Phone should arrive in a few weeks (hopefully less) so we'll see what happens then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Waiting to hear if it works for you. I really don't wanna loose my unlimited
Got a call from Motorola activations today saying there was a problem with my order and that they have to contact Verizon directly about the upgrade on my account. Hopefully the switch order is still tied to the SIM card and the phone will be activated on my account without changing my Basic phone line's plan. Anyone know what might happen at this point?
Well, I let the Motorola Rep talk with Verizon and they had me choose a data plan to apply to my basic phone line once the phone is activated. I was assured by VZW that no changes would be made to my account until I've activated the phone. If I do the SIM swap before turning on the device, will the switch order still be tied to the SIM I plan on destroying? Does anyone have any idea what may happen at this point?
Well, got the email letting me know that my new Moto X has shipped. Should be here Friday. I'll keep you guys posted as you what happens with my account when I do the SIM swap.
Phone arrived today. Took out the preinstalled SIM card and used the mine for the initial boot and everything's great. Verizon account still shows my feature phone active with the no-4G plan! I'll keep an eye on it for the next week or so just to make sure, but I think everything's all good.
GreenMunky said:
Phone arrived today. Took out the preinstalled SIM card and used the mine for the initial boot and everything's great. Verizon account still shows my feature phone active with the no-4G plan! I'll keep an eye on it for the next week or so just to make sure, but I think everything's all good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's awesome!!! BTW that is called the Jaycemiskel method and it works as long as you never activate the new smartphone on the basic line.
This is awesome to see because my X should be here Tuesday and I am doing the same thing! OP did you already have a nano sim or did you cut yours?
gtoninn said:
This is awesome to see because my X should be here Tuesday and I am doing the same thing! OP did you already have a nano sim or did you cut yours?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the nano SIM from my 2013 Moto X.
For a long time, you could simply buy an ATT prepaid sim card for a couple bucks, stick it in the phone, go through the activation process and cancel out right before payment. It would still activate enough to allow your cricket phone to update.... although the sim would expire in 30 days.
Now we have two options. 1) cricket stores will update your phone for a $25 per update fee. That's a ****ing ripoff.
2) Go to att.com/prepaid and buy a sim. Choose the 25 cents per min plan (no data). It will cost about $33 after taxes. Sucks i know, but it doesn't expire and it doesn't auto-refill. So basically, for $33, you can own your own update card. Anytime you want to update, just pop it in your phone and it will take OTA updates.
I'm sure theres people who sweet talk cricket stores into free updates and whatnot... but they even have caveats (must have bought phone from cricket). The 25 cent per min prepaid card from ATT works with any phone and never expires! Happy updating!
Would this also work with a cricket sim or would it not allow the updates once it was no longer active?
I ask as to purchase the phone I did so with one month if service which I haven't used yet. I carrier unlocked the phone, so now if like to get the latest update and keep doing so moving forward.
Also, I can't figure out how you sign up for that att deal, although it is clear it exists.
Thanks.
resinis said:
For a long time, you could simply buy an ATT prepaid sim card for a couple bucks, stick it in the phone, go through the activation process and cancel out right before payment. It would still activate enough to allow your cricket phone to update.... although the sim would expire in 30 days.
Now we have two options. 1) cricket stores will update your phone for a $25 per update fee. That's a ****ing ripoff.
2) Go to att.com/prepaid and buy a sim. Choose the 25 cents per min plan (no data). It will cost about $33 after taxes. Sucks i know, but it doesn't expire and it doesn't auto-refill. So basically, for $33, you can own your own update card. Anytime you want to update, just pop it in your phone and it will take OTA updates.
I'm sure theres people who sweet talk cricket stores into free updates and whatnot... but they even have caveats (must have bought phone from cricket). The 25 cent per min prepaid card from ATT works with any phone and never expires! Happy updating!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does this plan still exist and if so, how do we get it? I have 2 unlocked cricket phones I want to receive OTA updates. This sounds like the best method.
yes the plans still exist, but its weird how they are hiding them. you have to select a $30 a month plan or whatever, and after you activate you can change the plan before you make your first payment. when you do that, you are given more options for plans. I dont think the 25c per day plan works to download OTA's anymore (need data plan), you need to do the $2 daily plan that has 100mb of data.. but your initial $25 payment is a credit, so you can get a lot of update days out of it.
resinis said:
yes the plans still exist, but its weird how they are hiding them. you have to select a $30 a month plan or whatever, and after you activate you can change the plan before you make your first payment. when you do that, you are given more options for plans. I dont think the 25c per day plan works to download OTA's anymore (need data plan), you need to do the $2 daily plan that has 100mb of data.. but your initial $25 payment is a credit, so you can get a lot of update days out of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The credit expires pretty quick so if the cricket OTA update worked with the AT&T sim, it would be ok for one or two updates max. I think it would only be 60 or 90 days. A $100 balance is good for 365 days.
Once you have no balance are you saying op was incorrect and that the updates would no longer be available?
resinis said:
For a long time, you could simply buy an ATT prepaid sim card for a couple bucks, stick it in the phone, go through the activation process and cancel out right before payment. It would still activate enough to allow your cricket phone to update.... although the sim would expire in 30 days.
Now we have two options. 1) cricket stores will update your phone for a $25 per update fee. That's a ****ing ripoff.
2) Go to att.com/prepaid and buy a sim. Choose the 25 cents per min plan (no data). It will cost about $33 after taxes. Sucks i know, but it doesn't expire and it doesn't auto-refill. So basically, for $33, you can own your own update card. Anytime you want to update, just pop it in your phone and it will take OTA updates.
I'm sure theres people who sweet talk cricket stores into free updates and whatnot... but they even have caveats (must have bought phone from cricket). The 25 cent per min prepaid card from ATT works with any phone and never expires! Happy updating!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the original method still work? I bought a prepaid sim, activated it and canceled out before making a payment.
Activate your AT&T PREPAIDSM device
Your SIM card is active
Good news! You can skip the activation process. Be sure to
Write down your device number so you don’t forget it.
Add funds to your AT&T PREPAIDSM balance using your myAT&T account:
Select Continue
Create a password.
Go to Refill account and follow the directions.
You can also use your myAT&T account to sign up for a Multi-Line Discount, check your usage, enable AutoPay, and more.
Account information
AT&T PREPAID number
###-###-####
Your plan
$35 Monthly Plan ($30 with AutoPay)
Will it still push an OTA or do I need to activate a plan too?
MrDoc2 said:
The credit expires pretty quick so if the cricket OTA update worked with the AT&T sim, it would be ok for one or two updates max. I think it would only be 60 or 90 days. A $100 balance is good for 365 days.
Once you have no balance are you saying op was incorrect and that the updates would no longer be available?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think youre right. in fact, from what i can tell, they charged me $2 per day regardless if i used the sim or not.
it's all over with. at this point, you can get an 8GB/month ATT prepaid plan for $25 a month. if you are worried about updates, this is a no brainer... or, the only other option is to only buy factory unlocked phones that take updates while they are on any carrier.
ForgottenSoup said:
Does the original method still work? I bought a prepaid sim, activated it and canceled out before making a payment.
Activate your AT&T PREPAIDSM device
Your SIM card is active
Good news! You can skip the activation process. Be sure to
Write down your device number so you don’t forget it.
Add funds to your AT&T PREPAIDSM balance using your myAT&T account:
Select Continue
Create a password.
Go to Refill account and follow the directions.
You can also use your myAT&T account to sign up for a Multi-Line Discount, check your usage, enable AutoPay, and more.
Account information
AT&T PREPAID number
###-###-####
Your plan
$35 Monthly Plan ($30 with AutoPay)
Will it still push an OTA or do I need to activate a plan too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm fairly certain the plan needs to be activated now. They changed how it works. The cheapest you can do it is $25. Expensive as hell to just get a freakin update that everyone else gets for free :/
But, i will say, their $300/yr deal right now is awesome. i switched. I actually like it a LOT better than cricket or any MVNO, because there is no layer between me and the service. You notice it... ping times on internet are dramatically lower... web pages and everything loads instantly. Overall speeds are better, I went from a rocky 8mb/sec on Cricket to a very rock solid 30mb/sec. It's weird because Cricket uses ATT towers (and owned by ATT!). but it's clearly another layer that adds the slowdowns (hence the name MVNO). Also, texts go through instantly. You wouldn't think it would matter... but it's weird how fast texts go through, it's instant... and they work virtually everywhere, whereas I would have a lot of places where Cricket didn't