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JohnCaro

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 28, 2009
14
0
PA
I want to uprgrade my AT&T phone. I can upgrade to an 8gb Iphone 3G for $50 but i have to pay that $30 mandatory data plan. Is there any way i can get around this by jailbreaking the phone? Can i use AT&T's service without paying their data plan?

Any advice or suggestions is appreciated.
 
the short answer is no. As soon as you upgrade they add on the $30 a month.

You can however buy a 2g online and jailbreak, unlock, and have a data block put on your account. But then things like google maps or visual voicemail wont work without wifi.
 
if you really want to avoid the data

you are better off to keep your cell stay out of contract and buy a touch use the cell to make your calls etc, play games on the touch what ever. no gps but as the other poster said you won't have that any way.

also you might check this thread just a few post down for more info.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/655812/
 
the short answer is no. As soon as you upgrade they add on the $30 a month.

You can however buy a 2g online and jailbreak, unlock, and have a data block put on your account. But then things like google maps or visual voicemail wont work without wifi.

thanks, but whats the difference with the 2g?
 
thanks, but whats the difference with the 2g?

A couple of things
1.no 3g data (doesn't matter)
2.slightly slower processor, which won't affect anything except intense games
3. Aluminum back which makes it feel more sturdy but the 3g feels better in the hand to me.

If I'm missing any, I know I am, please chime in.
 
A couple of things
1.no 3g data (doesn't matter)
2.slightly slower processor, which won't affect anything except intense games
3. Aluminum back which makes it feel more sturdy but the 3g feels better in the hand to me.

If I'm missing any, I know I am, please chime in.



so ive been on other forums and theyve basically confused me even more telling me to switch to t-mobile, buying an unlocked phone (which is wayy out of my price range) and other high tech things.

if i bought the phone from at&t and kept their service would jailbreaking it do me any good with skipping the data plan?
 
so ive been on other forums and theyve basically confused me even more telling me to switch to t-mobile, buying an unlocked phone (which is wayy out of my price range) and other high tech things.

if i bought the phone from at&t and kept their service would jailbreaking it do me any good with skipping the data plan?

No. There is no way to get the 3G or 3GS from ATT without the data plan. it is included in the cost of your plan and can't be taken off for the duration of your use of the phone. If you switch to a non-smartphone, it will be taken off. But you can't get out of not having the data on a 3G or 3GS iPhone now. Jailbreaking doesn't matter unless you're planning on taking the phone to T-Mobile (which you'd lose 3G speeds anyway).

BL.
 
what if i bought a jailbroken phone from ebay and disabled all data?
 
Still couldn't go on AT&T they have network checks randomly and would just slap the $30 on. You could still buy a jailbroken 2g.[/QUOTE


Sorry if i keep repeating myself im just overwhelmed with information and confused as well. i just read about a lot of people calling their att reps and asking them for a WIX block which blocks all data, which avoids the 30 buck data plan since your are blocked.

do you know anything about WIX blocking?
 
Still couldn't go on AT&T they have network checks randomly and would just slap the $30 on. You could still buy a jailbroken 2g.[/QUOTE


Sorry if i keep repeating myself im just overwhelmed with information and confused as well. i just read about a lot of people calling their att reps and asking them for a WIX block which blocks all data, which avoids the 30 buck data plan since your are blocked.

do you know anything about WIX blocking?

yes actually WIX blocking allows all data to be blocked from your device. Though there have been instances were iPhones for some reason still transmit data. But most people on thus site that have done a WIX block are just fine.
 
yes actually WIX blocking allows all data to be blocked from your device. Though there have been instances were iPhones for some reason still transmit data. But most people on thus site that have done a WIX block are just fine.

i think ill go with the WIX blocking ive had success with good customer service bending the rules. thanks alot for your help, greatly appreciated
 
Still couldn't go on AT&T they have network checks randomly and would just slap the $30 on. You could still buy a jailbroken 2g.

You don't know what you're talking about. I've run all three phones without a data plan on one of my lines without issue. Never got a call, message, or email about it either.

Of course it is initially added when upgrading. It's very simple to remove, switch sims + cancel. And then put the proper APN profile and an optional WIX block.
 
I hate to tell you but... You guys are wrong...

I just upgraded my one daughters unlocked 3G that I did not have a data plan on. I upgraded to a 3GS. This was done at a local Best Buy store. The salesman asked me when I upgraded if I wanted to change anything on the plan... I said No... keep everything the same. He didn't add the data plan for the new 3GS. So.... I had a 3GS with no data plan... My daughter wanted to check her mail and use maps but... it wouldn't work.. I actually had to call ATT and have them turn on the data...
Find someone you know at Best Buy or slip him $20 and ask them to turn it off..
 
Buy one off the internet not jail broken or unlocked. It will be cheaper and from there you can use several easy programs to do it yourself for cheaper.

You may be able to buy the iPhone off of at&t's website using your upgrade and not have to sign up for the data package right then.
 
I just upgraded my one daughters unlocked 3G that I did not have a data plan on. I upgraded to a 3GS. This was done at a local Best Buy store. The salesman asked me when I upgraded if I wanted to change anything on the plan... I said No... keep everything the same. He didn't add the data plan for the new 3GS. So.... I had a 3GS with no data plan... My daughter wanted to check her mail and use maps but... it wouldn't work.. I actually had to call ATT and have them turn on the data...
Find someone you know at Best Buy or slip him $20 and ask them to turn it off..

Sledneck is right. I've been using my 3GS for several months without a data plan. All you have to do is put your sim in the iPhone to activate it, switch it back to the old phone, call AT&T and request a data block on the line and stick it back in the iPhone.

Your data will be out but you can still use it on wifi. And whoever said the GPS doesn't work is wrong. I use Navigon on mine all the time. Unless your GPS app doesn't have integrated maps you'll be fine.

I really don't understand why everybody here insists it's impossible to run a newer iPhone without data. I did it with my 3G as well.
 
If you can't afford the extra $30, then don't get a god damn iPhone. Get an iPod touch or something and a crappy cell phone.
 
Still confused

Sledneck is right. I've been using my 3GS for several months without a data plan. All you have to do is put your sim in the iPhone to activate it, switch it back to the old phone, call AT&T and request a data block on the line and stick it back in the iPhone.

Your data will be out but you can still use it on wifi. And whoever said the GPS doesn't work is wrong. I use Navigon on mine all the time. Unless your GPS app doesn't have integrated maps you'll be fine.

I really don't understand why everybody here insists it's impossible to run a newer iPhone without data. I did it with my 3G as well.

I have an AT&T account with the 3G and data. I want to buy a phone for my daughter for Christmas and she also wants an Itouch. Makes no sense to me to buy two devices and I was thinking of just getting an Iphone 2G and adding it to my account since those are affordable. However, I don't want her to have a data plan as I don't want to pay for it and she does not need it. Can you give specifics on how I could add an Iphone 2G to my account without the data plan?

1. I think I will need to get a cheap throw away phone and add it to my account to get an active simm card.
2. I would request a data block on that phone line when I add it.
3. Take that simm card and put it in the Iphone 2G and activate it through Itunes and I am good to go?

I am sure I am missing some steps or have this messed up. I don't want to spend the money to try this if it won't work. Also, would switching equipment affect the chaperon features of AT&T that limit who can call the device? I would think that is network dependent not device dependent. Thanks for the help.
 
I have an AT&T account with the 3G and data. I want to buy a phone for my daughter for Christmas and she also wants an Itouch. Makes no sense to me to buy two devices and I was thinking of just getting an Iphone 2G and adding it to my account since those are affordable. However, I don't want her to have a data plan as I don't want to pay for it and she does not need it. Can you give specifics on how I could add an Iphone 2G to my account without the data plan?

1. I think I will need to get a cheap throw away phone and add it to my account to get an active simm card.
2. I would request a data block on that phone line when I add it.
3. Take that simm card and put it in the Iphone 2G and activate it through Itunes and I am good to go?


I am sure I am missing some steps or have this messed up. I don't want to spend the money to try this if it won't work. Also, would switching equipment affect the chaperon features of AT&T that limit who can call the device? I would think that is network dependent not device dependent. Thanks for the help.

You're good up until step 3. You want to have the iPhone activated before adding a data block to the line because as soon as you activate it in iTunes, a data plan will be automatically added. Of course all of that can be avoided if the iPhone you get is already activated.

As for the chaperon features, you're right. They are linked to the SIM card/account rather than the device.
 
Still couldn't go on AT&T they have network checks randomly and would just slap the $30 on. You could still buy a jailbroken 2g.

I really wish people would stop telling people this. On all the forums that I visit, not one person has ever had the data plan added on by AT&T since the very first iPhone was released.

We have 3 iPhones, only one of them has an official iPhone data plan. The other two are on GoPhone plans, one has an unlimited media net plan and the other no data plan. AT&T hasn't stopped us from using those phones either and it's been almost a year for one of them.

To the OP, you can always get a pay as you go plan with unlimited calls for $60 a month.
 
2G Iphone is the only one you are not required to have a data plan with AT&T. You could just activate it via Itunes then call AT&T and have the data removed. Don't forget to block all data on that line.

If you decide to get a 3G you will have to activate the sim in another phone, jailbreak and unlock the 3G and THEN install the sim.



I have an AT&T account with the 3G and data. I want to buy a phone for my daughter for Christmas and she also wants an Itouch. Makes no sense to me to buy two devices and I was thinking of just getting an Iphone 2G and adding it to my account since those are affordable. However, I don't want her to have a data plan as I don't want to pay for it and she does not need it. Can you give specifics on how I could add an Iphone 2G to my account without the data plan?

1. I think I will need to get a cheap throw away phone and add it to my account to get an active simm card.
2. I would request a data block on that phone line when I add it.
3. Take that simm card and put it in the Iphone 2G and activate it through Itunes and I am good to go?

I am sure I am missing some steps or have this messed up. I don't want to spend the money to try this if it won't work. Also, would switching equipment affect the chaperon features of AT&T that limit who can call the device? I would think that is network dependent not device dependent. Thanks for the help.
 
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