I sent an email inquiry to AT&T on their wireless website to determine if suspending, or not buying, the $30 3G service for my iPad would terminate my ability, as a grandfathered customer, to buy unlimited 3G service in a subsequent period. Here is the reply I received (only my name was edited):
Dear Mr. Cartaphilus,
Thank you for taking the time to e-mail AT&T regarding if you elect to suspend your cellular data service on the iPad for a month or more, but do not cancel the account, can you re-activate service under my current plan, or have you lost your "grandfather" status. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused. My name is Kevin Covington, and I am happy to help you with your inquiry.
After reviewing and researching your email, I found we offer several different types of suspensions for cell phone service. The type of suspension you indicate you are referring to in your email is considered a voluntary suspension. This includes service being suspended for Lost or Stolen Equipment; Reduced Rate Suspend (RRST); and per Customer Request.
When suspending per Lost or Stolen Equipment, or per Customer Request, although your cell phone service will be inactive, your monthly service charges will continue to be billed to your account. Consequently, you would simply keep the same rate plan you currently subscribe to with no changes.
When suspending per the Reduced Rate Suspend (RRST) program, you are allowed to voluntarily suspend your wireless service on a temporary basis (up to six months) for $10 per RRST line per month on your cell phone service. At this time (06/02/2010 ? subject to change), I found that once you restore your service, you would be eligible for the same rate plan, as well as new promotions, upon return to an active status.
Regarding the iPad; I do not find any information regarding a suspend program since there is no contract. AT&T 3G Data Plans for iPad are a pay-in-advance service providing iPad customers access to AT&T?s 3G data network and AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots. Customers do not activate iPad on a contracted (postpaid) data plan.
AT&T 3G Data Plan for iPad customers will have the following account type: Individual - Session Based Pricing.
iPad:
? No credit check required.
? Term contract pricing is not available.
? Customers must agree to AT&T Terms and Conditions regarding network usage.
? AT&T 3G Data Plans for iPad are strictly for iPad and cannot be used with other devices.
? iPad service is completely separate from any other service a customer might have with AT&T. It cannot be combined with other accounts or service discounts.
? Multiple iPad accounts cannot be combined.
? Customers cannot use international credit cards.
? Access is granted to free AT&T Wi-Fi Hotspots as long as the customer has an active AT&T 3G Data Plan for iPad, AT&T High Speed Internet, or U-verse High Speed Internet.
Mr. Cartaphilus, I hope that the information provided has been helpful and has resolved all of your questions. Should you have additional concerns or questions about this issue please reply to this email. If you need to contact us again regarding a new issue please send us another email via the contact link through your online account. Again, my name is Kevin Covington, and I thank you for being a valued AT&T customer for the past several years. We will do our best to ensure that your wireless experience is a success.
I encourage you to visit our web site (www.att.com/wireless) often to view current and previous monthly statements, make payments and to shop for new product and service offerings.
Sincerely,
Kevin Covington
AT&T
Online Customer Care Professional
Guess that clears that up.
Dear Mr. Cartaphilus,
Thank you for taking the time to e-mail AT&T regarding if you elect to suspend your cellular data service on the iPad for a month or more, but do not cancel the account, can you re-activate service under my current plan, or have you lost your "grandfather" status. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused. My name is Kevin Covington, and I am happy to help you with your inquiry.
After reviewing and researching your email, I found we offer several different types of suspensions for cell phone service. The type of suspension you indicate you are referring to in your email is considered a voluntary suspension. This includes service being suspended for Lost or Stolen Equipment; Reduced Rate Suspend (RRST); and per Customer Request.
When suspending per Lost or Stolen Equipment, or per Customer Request, although your cell phone service will be inactive, your monthly service charges will continue to be billed to your account. Consequently, you would simply keep the same rate plan you currently subscribe to with no changes.
When suspending per the Reduced Rate Suspend (RRST) program, you are allowed to voluntarily suspend your wireless service on a temporary basis (up to six months) for $10 per RRST line per month on your cell phone service. At this time (06/02/2010 ? subject to change), I found that once you restore your service, you would be eligible for the same rate plan, as well as new promotions, upon return to an active status.
Regarding the iPad; I do not find any information regarding a suspend program since there is no contract. AT&T 3G Data Plans for iPad are a pay-in-advance service providing iPad customers access to AT&T?s 3G data network and AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots. Customers do not activate iPad on a contracted (postpaid) data plan.
AT&T 3G Data Plan for iPad customers will have the following account type: Individual - Session Based Pricing.
iPad:
? No credit check required.
? Term contract pricing is not available.
? Customers must agree to AT&T Terms and Conditions regarding network usage.
? AT&T 3G Data Plans for iPad are strictly for iPad and cannot be used with other devices.
? iPad service is completely separate from any other service a customer might have with AT&T. It cannot be combined with other accounts or service discounts.
? Multiple iPad accounts cannot be combined.
? Customers cannot use international credit cards.
? Access is granted to free AT&T Wi-Fi Hotspots as long as the customer has an active AT&T 3G Data Plan for iPad, AT&T High Speed Internet, or U-verse High Speed Internet.
Mr. Cartaphilus, I hope that the information provided has been helpful and has resolved all of your questions. Should you have additional concerns or questions about this issue please reply to this email. If you need to contact us again regarding a new issue please send us another email via the contact link through your online account. Again, my name is Kevin Covington, and I thank you for being a valued AT&T customer for the past several years. We will do our best to ensure that your wireless experience is a success.
I encourage you to visit our web site (www.att.com/wireless) often to view current and previous monthly statements, make payments and to shop for new product and service offerings.
Sincerely,
Kevin Covington
AT&T
Online Customer Care Professional
Guess that clears that up.
