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Paying $10 extra for 3G when I can't even get 3G
- Thread starter amirite
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Have you tried calling AT&T? As far as I know you have to pay $30 for the special iPhone data plan.
My question is why would ATT want to that. The iPhone even on edge only sucks more data than blackberries or other smartphones do on 3g.
You're not paying extra, you're paying the standard DATA plan rate.
AT&T doesn't differentiate between EDGE and 3G data service.
The original iPhone had a subsidized data plan, that is why it was only $20.
The first phone was not subsidized, that's why it was more expensive than the 3G. AT&T did differentiate between EDGE and 3G, that's why 2G iPhones still had a cheaper data plan than the 3G did.
Don't know about with the 3GS now.
The problem the OP will have is proving to AT&T that there is no way they will ever be in a 3G area. If you were to use a 2G iPhone you might be able to get the cheaper plan.
If you buy an EDGE-only smart phone from AT&T (are there any left?) you will pay $30/mo for the data plan, just like a 3G phone.
The 2G iPhone's data plan was likely cheaper since you paid full price for the phone; it was probably their way of offering a subsidy. $10/mo over a 2 year contract is a $240 subsidy. I'm too lazy to look up what the current subsidy is on the 3GS, but it's probably close to that number. Now you just get it up front on the price of the phone and pay for the full data plan.
I just confirmed with my local ATT Store that if I activate a 2G iPhone I can still get the $20 data plan, the one that came with some SMS.
You're partially correct. Yes, AT&T did not subsidize the phone. But they did subsidize the data plan as a way to save us money for signing up for 2 years. When they started to subsidize the actual handset, the data subsidy disappeared.
Online, pfffft. I asked a two real live human beings instead, and they said that activating a 2G iPhone costs $20 for unlimited EDGE data and two hundred or so texts, no contract required.
There is no way to say for sure because not only did they subsidize the phones, but they also started using faster data. Had it only been one then you could trace where the increased cost went.
I don't think the 2G data is/was subsidized as you can still get it on a used 2G iPhone. If it were subsidize to encourage hardware sales then I couldn't get it on a used phone.
In-store, you can get the 1st Gen iPhone service without a contract. However, if you sign up via iTunes, then yes, you will sign a 2-year contract.
Also, the $20 plan for the 1st Gen iPhone is still valid and widely available. AT&T won't do away with that until a good amount of 1st Gen iPhones are decommissioned (which should take 6-10 more years)
Also, the $20 plan for the 1st Gen iPhone is still valid and widely available. AT&T won't do away with that until a good amount of 1st Gen iPhones are decommissioned (which should take 6-10 more years)
change your imei, add $10 family data / $15 web data, change apn, loose vvm but get youmail and your set.
i do this on 2 iphones on my family plan + a blackberry bold it works flawless, only downside to blackberry is cant use any of the blackberry apps like facebook but the mobile site works just as well..
iphone wise all apps work 100%
i do this on 2 iphones on my family plan + a blackberry bold it works flawless, only downside to blackberry is cant use any of the blackberry apps like facebook but the mobile site works just as well..
iphone wise all apps work 100%
Changing the IMEI or faking it is breaking the law. However, fooling AT&T by using another phone is fine, but that will work for so long...
As other have stated, you are not paying extra for 3G. Also, there were no data subsidies on the original iPhone's data plan.
The original iPhone was not considered a "smart phone" by AT&T. The so-called "iphone data plan" for the original iPhone was nothing more than the $15 MediaMAX plan plus the $5 200 SMS plan that they offered on all of their other non-smart phones. It was branded the "iPhone data plan" because of the unique way in which the iPhone is handled.
With the iPhone 3G AT&T reclassified the phone as a smart phone and began charging the same data rates as every other smart phone that they offer (including Blackberries, Motorola smart phones, Samsungs, etc.). No one can really say why they did this, but it isn't simply because the phone gained a 3G radio. There were other smart phones at the time (and there may still be now) that were charged the $30 smart phone data rate but did not have 3G capabilities, so that point is moot.
I did a really large write-up and analysis on this when the 3G first came out and people were up in arms about it. It's long, but should clear up any misunderstandings that still exist. Link
The original iPhone was not considered a "smart phone" by AT&T. The so-called "iphone data plan" for the original iPhone was nothing more than the $15 MediaMAX plan plus the $5 200 SMS plan that they offered on all of their other non-smart phones. It was branded the "iPhone data plan" because of the unique way in which the iPhone is handled.
With the iPhone 3G AT&T reclassified the phone as a smart phone and began charging the same data rates as every other smart phone that they offer (including Blackberries, Motorola smart phones, Samsungs, etc.). No one can really say why they did this, but it isn't simply because the phone gained a 3G radio. There were other smart phones at the time (and there may still be now) that were charged the $30 smart phone data rate but did not have 3G capabilities, so that point is moot.
I did a really large write-up and analysis on this when the 3G first came out and people were up in arms about it. It's long, but should clear up any misunderstandings that still exist. Link
um... no its deff not breaking the law, get a $20 nokia gophone from walmart, pop your sim in it and use it for 2 calls + txts call 611 change your phone over to that and put your sim card back in your iphone..
To be clear, that is not changing your IMEI. The IMEI is a device specific number and it is, in fact, illegal to change it. What you did was get a different IMEI listed on your AT&T account by putting your SIM in a different phone, big difference.
Oh, and by the way, that will only work for so long...