How to get iPhone 3G WITHOUT 3G Data Plan?

[nirav464]

Hello. I want to get an iPhone 3G without the $30 data plan. Yes, I have thought this through and I have NO need for 3G (Wifi Available everywhere I need it)

So this what I'm thinking of:

1)Buy iPhone 3G from apple store <--- *Now I don't know if they let the apple store lets you activate at home.
If this is allowed...

2)Buy and activate a simple phone from AT&T (join my family plan)

3)Unlock & activate the new iPhone 3G and replace the SIM card from the other activated phone

4) Jailbreak and install BossPrefs to shut off EDGE and 3G to avoid data charges

*Please tell me if this plan will work OR any other way I can go about getting an iPHone 3G without getting the $30

Thanks
___________

 

[fishkorp]

If they allow home activation (not sure) you would have to activate that particular phone in a certain amount of time, otherwise you get charged the full price of the phone. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but that's how they're able to offer it at the subsidized price. They're not going to let you buy a phone for $199 then just take your word for it that it will get activated. There has to be something in place to make sure it's activated, otherwise they get the rest of their money.

Also, if you stick with AT&T, they do network sweeps. If they detect that you're using an iPhone and don't have the proper data play (or a data plan at all) they'll know. People have gotten emails, text messages, and phone calls from AT&T about it. Just do a search here, there are multiple threads about people getting "caught" by AT&T for not having a data plan. So you'd have to spoof the IMEI or something on the phone as well so they don't think it's an iPhone (and even them I'm not sure if it 100% works).

 

[goosnarrggh]

Hello. I want to get an iPhone 3G without the $30 data plan. Yes, I have thought this through and I have NO need for 3G (Wifi Available everywhere I need it)

So this what I'm thinking of:

1)Buy iPhone 3G from apple store <--- *Now I don't know if they let the apple store lets you activate at home.
If this is allowed...

Throughout most of the iPhone 3G's lifecycle, you generally were not permitted to finalize the iPhone's purchase at any retail store (AT&T, Apple, or otherwise) until you'd signed the 2-year contract and activated the phone. There were apparently situations where this policy was not followed when the retail outlet's in-store activation system was down, but that was apparently the exception rather than the norm.

Recently, no-commitment terms have been released. However, those phones are sold at a significantly higher price, and if I recall correctly, those terms are only permitted if you're already an existing AT&T customer and you're simply purchasing an additional handset outright.

2)Buy and activate a simple phone from AT&T (join my family plan)

3)Unlock & activate the new iPhone 3G and replace the SIM card from the other activated phone

In fact, if you're going to be using any AT&T-branded 3G-ready SIM card in it, there won't be any need to unlock it. You might need to jailbreak it, though, if the phone hasn't been activated yet.

4) Jailbreak and install BossPrefs to shut off EDGE and 3G to avoid data charges

Also shut off GPRS.

*Please tell me if this plan will work OR any other way I can go about getting an iPHone 3G without getting the $30

AT&T's policy (it's in their postpaid service terms and conditions) is that an eligible data plan is mandatory with all iPhones. If they ever detect the fact that you are using an iPhone on an account that doesn't already have the mandatory data plan, they reserve the contractual right to unilaterally add the data plan to your account, regardless of your objections.

(Some users have reported having gone for several months or more without any data service in the past, so it's possible that you may operate under the radar for a while. But the fact still remains that AT&T would be within its rights to force the data plan on you at any time.)

Interestingly enough, their GoPhone terms and conditions do not contain any such requirements...

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

If you have a first gen iPhone (or a friend with one you can borrow) you can plug the SIM into that and add the the $20 unlimited data + 200 SMS and then put it back into the 3G.

 

[nirav464]

thanks for all the replies guys.

I searched around and found out, yes you have at-home activation if you buy from AT&T website, but you have to activate the phone within a certain amount of days. They track this by the IMEI number.

So the question becomes How can we change the IMEI number of the phone so AT&T can't track it?
EDIT: Just found out changing IMEI is illegal>therefore not acceptable on this thread Just a yes or no would be sufficient

OR any other way to get around this.

Thanks, I really want to get this phone but don't want the stupid data plan

 

[fishkorp]

thanks for all the replies guys.

I searched around and found out, yes you have at-home activation if you buy from AT&T website, but you have to activate the phone within a certain amount of days. They track this by the IMEI number.

So the question becomes How can we change the IMEI number of the phone so AT&T can't track it?

OR any other way to get around this.

Thanks, I really want to get this phone but don't want the stupid data plan

As soon as you buy the phone they have the IMEI number, there's no way around that. If it doesn't get activated, you get screwed. You can change it if you jailbreak, but AT&T already has it. Same thing if you buy from the Apple store. When your pay for it they scan the box and it registers the IMEI. Your best bet is probably eBay or Craig's List.

 

[nirav464]

so basically i have to buy a non-contract iphone? (The really expensive ones?)

 

[Demosthenes427]

Yes.

 

[nirav464]

As soon as you buy the phone they have the IMEI number, there's no way around that. If it doesn't get activated, you get screwed. You can change it if you jailbreak, but AT&T already has it. Same thing if you buy from the Apple store. When your pay for it they scan the box and it registers the IMEI. Your best bet is probably eBay or Craig's List.

just one question about this: Even if they register that IMEI, it's not like they have my name and address, so if i permanently could change my IMEI to that of a phone that i already own, then the real IMEI would be useless. Correct?

 

[goosnarrggh]

just one question about this: Even if they register that IMEI, it's not like they have my name and address, so if i permanently could change my IMEI to that of a phone that i already own, then the real IMEI would be useless. Correct?

But since you are talking about hypothetically ordering it online, they would have your name, shipping address, and purchase credit card information on file. It doesn't matter if you change the IMEI or not -- if you don't activate within their allotted time frame, they'd just bill your credit card.

In fact, if they're smart, they'd preauthorize your credit card for the full price up front, but then only cash in on the subsidized price when they ship it - holding on to the unsubsidized portion of the pre-authorization until after they know for sure that the phone was either successfully activated or not.

 

[nirav464]

this sucks

oh well, it was worth a shot.

thanks guys

 

[aok1975]

You could just buy the phone with a 2yr contract and after the first month call and cancel the data plan. Before calling switch your sim into a cheap phone. Ask them to clock all data access on your account, then switch back to the iphone. I have been using my 3g without a data plan for a while now. I did this because I was using less than 300mb a month, it was a waste of my $30. I have so far saved $210.

 

[Applejuiced]

How about this.
You buy and activate the 3G iphone with data etc...
Then about a month later take your sim card out and put it into a different cellphone.
Then call up AT&T and tell them you lost your iphone and you wont need the 3G data since your current cellphone is not capable of it.
They remove the data plan, you jailbreak,pop in your sim, shut off edge and 3G and use it on wifi.

 

[nirav464]

How about this.
You buy and activate the 3G iphone with data etc...
Then about a month later take your sim card out and put it into a different cellphone.
Then call up AT&T and tell them you lost your iphone and you wont need the 3G data since your current cellphone is not capable of it.
They remove the data plan, you jailbreak,pop in your sim, shut off edge and 3G and use it on wifi.

Have you done this? Also wont i need to activare the cheap phone?

 

[mrtune]

Wouldn't it be easier to just buy a used, unlocked, one one ebay and pop your sim into it?

Sounds like a better approach than going through all these hoops.

 

[Applejuiced]

You wont have to activate the cheap phone, just pop in your sim from your iphone to an older cellphone.
I dont see how they wouldnt let you take off the data plan.
Just tell them your broke your iphone and its no longer usable so you took your sim out and put it in your old phone.
I havent tryed it but it should work.

Have you done this? Also wont i need to activare the cheap phone?

 

[Applejuiced]

A used 3G could be up to $500+ on ebay.
If he can get a brand new one subsidyzed for $199 and then cancell the data it would be cheaper and not that hard to make a phone call and remove the data.

Wouldn't it be easier to just buy a used, unlocked, one one ebay and pop your sim into it?

Sounds like a better approach than going through all these hoops.

 

[fishkorp]

You wont have to activate the cheap phone, just pop in your sim from your iphone to an older cellphone.
I dont see how they wouldnt let you take off the data plan.
Just tell them your broke your iphone and its no longer usable so you took your sim out and put it in your old phone.
I havent tryed it but it should work.

Like I said in a previous post, people are getting caught doing that. When AT&T does network sweeps they look for iPhones. If the iPhone is found on a plan without data they'll contact the customer letting them know that a data plan is required. Currently they're not enforcing it, it's just more of a scare tactic. But in the future they can potentially enforce it. Search the forum, there are numerous people here who have been contacted by AT&T for not having a data plan on their iPhones by doing something similar to what you described.

 

[aok1975]

Like I said in a previous post, people are getting caught doing that. When AT&T does network sweeps they look for iPhones. If the iPhone is found on a plan without data they'll contact the customer letting them know that a data plan is required. Currently they're not enforcing it, it's just more of a scare tactic. But in the future they can potentially enforce it. Search the forum, there are numerous people here who have been contacted by AT&T for not having a data plan on their iPhones by doing something similar to what you described.

well im more than 6 month without a data plan, if i get caught its still worth the savings.

 

[Applejuiced]

I think you're mistaken.
They make sweeps and if people get caught using a data plan not meant for the iphone they contact the customer to put the appropriate data plan in their account or they put it for them.
If you dont have a data plan and not using data they wont say a thing.
My cousin is using an iphone 2G without data for over 8 months now without probs. She just connects thru wifi.

Like I said in a previous post, people are getting caught doing that. When AT&T does network sweeps they look for iPhones. If the iPhone is found on a plan without data they'll contact the customer letting them know that a data plan is required. Currently they're not enforcing it, it's just more of a scare tactic. But in the future they can potentially enforce it. Search the forum, there are numerous people here who have been contacted by AT&T for not having a data plan on their iPhones by doing something similar to what you described.

 

[quarmace]

Do what I did. Keep a sharp eye on craigslist and wait for a good deal. A lot of people won't try to sell their iPhone for more then they bought it from apple for. I got a 2 month old perfect condition 3g for $225, unlocked it and put it on Tmobile without a data plan. Got my wife a brand new one for $150 and did the same thing. Couldn't be happier

 

[aok1975]

Do what I did. Keep a sharp eye on craigslist and wait for a good deal. A lot of people won't try to sell their iPhone for more then they bought it from apple for. I got a 2 month old perfect condition 3g for $225, unlocked it and put it on Tmobile without a data plan. Got my wife a brand new one for $150 and did the same thing. Couldn't be happier

Your case, if true is the exception and not the norm. Damaged iphone 3gs gor for ,more than 150. Your wife bought a band new iphone 3g for $150. wow.

 

[quarmace]

Your case, if true is the exception and not the norm. Damaged iphone 3gs gor for ,more than 150. Your wife bought a band new iphone 3g for $150. wow.

Well, that's why I said a sharp eye. While watching, I'd only see deals like these about once a week. And even then, the iphone would sell that day, if not within the hour. But the people selling them at that price are usually just getting rid of them, not out to make a ridiculous profit like those on eBay.

Just to clarify, when we got my wife's phone there were tiny barely-visible bubbles under the glass. We took it into apple and they replaced it, no questions asked. And hers is a 2g 8 gig, not 3g. Didn't really matter since we're not using the 3g data plan. Still, one heck of a deal.

 

[Sedulous]

I think you're mistaken.
They make sweeps and if people get caught using a data plan not meant for the iphone they contact the customer to put the appropriate data plan in their account or they put it for them.

I bought a legit unlocked iPhone 3G from the Apple Store in Hong Kong and gave it to my father. He went to AT&T with the iPhone and didn't get the iPhone plan. Nothing AT&T can do about it.

 

[aok1975]

I bought a legit unlocked iPhone 3G from the Apple Store in Hong Kong and gave it to my father. He went to AT&T with the iPhone and didn't get the iPhone plan. Nothing AT&T can do about it.

well it depends on what terms were on the contract he signed, if he signed one.