AT&T plan change

[arkmannj]

Hey,

I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a way to switch from my standard iPhone plan to a pay-as-I-go or PrePaid plan ?
I know I'd lose my data plan/visual voicemail, but is it possible, if so, how ?
Economic times is necessitating cutting back on expenses, I know I'd lose a lot of features, but if I could keep my phone, my phone number, then I'd be happy.

Any thoughts ?

Thanks !
~Ark

 

[The Californian]

Ask TheSpaz, I know he's on a Pay as you go plan.

 

[jmann]

You can, but if you are in a contract it is considered a disconnect because you are ending your technical 2 year contract. So there would be an ETF charged.

 

[TheSpaz]

I did it. It's kinda a pain in the butt.

You gotta call AT&T and cancel out of your contract. Then tell them you bought a new phone and want to use it as pay as you go. They'll happily convert your number over to the pay-as-you-go phone. Then you need to add money to your go-phone account.

Then you can insert your SIM into your iPhone and it will work, however, if you accidentally use any data at all, you'll get charged! This means even when the iPhone is idle, it will use small amounts of data without you at all. You'll just be sitting there and you'll get a message that you just spent money.

To avoid this, call AT&T again and tell them to put a complete data block on your line. If the first person says it's not possible, wait a few minutes and call back… some of the reps are able to do this and some simply tell you it won't work. It does work, I've done it.

Now you'll lose the E symbol or 3G symbol in the status bar, and you won't be able to send or receive MMS messages. If you're cool with all that, you'll be fine.

I'm thinking about going post paid again. I'm really starting to miss having data with me everywhere. I'll be out somewhere and I just feel disconnected… I don't know how to explain it. I want to talk to someone on AIM or email my girlfriend a nice photo, but I can't until I find my way back to some wifi… and it seems like when you need data, that's the time when there's no wifi around. It sucks.

Oh well. That's what I get.

 

[oldimac]

Would this work for someone who does not have ATT service at all? I have a v1 iPhone but have it jailbroke for T-Mobile. I need to get a new phone but cannot afford eBay's 7-$800 price. Could I get one on a pay as you go and then use it for awhile and then change over to T-Mobile?

Thanks from a relative noob.

 

[outphase]

Would this work for someone who does not have ATT service at all? I have a v1 iPhone but have it jailbroke for T-Mobile. I need to get a new phone but cannot afford eBay's 7-$800 price. Could I get one on a pay as you go and then use it for awhile and then change over to T-Mobile?

Thanks from a relative noob.

You only get the discounted price if you sign up with a service agreement.