Hi everyone. I just wanted to mention that I am new to unlocked phones and was wondering if I can get some assistance on this issue. I tried reading the topic regarding the data plan below mine, but I didn't quite understand and not sure if it could answer my questions.
I recently received an Unlocked HTC Aria from Amazon for $339, but the box in which the phone was stored looks like an ordinary AT&T box, so I am doubting whether or not my phone is actually unlocked.
The Aria came with all the AT&T applications like AT&T Hotspot, AT&T Navigation, etc., so this puts me into further doubt.
I currently have an AT&T $10/month unlimited data plan for my Samsung Impression (non-smartphone, and did a SIM swap into the Aria. Everything was going smoothly until I decided to check out Google Navigation. I then received two text messages: The first one indicating that AT&T knows I'm using a smartphone and then one saying that AT&T automatically changed my data plan (I'm assuming to the $15/mo 200MB data plan). I went to my AT&T account and changed the HTC Aria back to the Samsung Impression, hoping maybe they will change it back automatically.
So, I have a few questions:
(1) Was the HTC Aria I received from Amazon actually unlocked?
(2) How can I avoid being detected my AT&T if I swap my SIM card again back into the Aria? Am I able to just use Wi-Fi and limit the amount of data I use?
(3) Should AT&T recognize my IMEI even if my phone is unlocked or will they know regardless because HTC Aria is supported by them?
(4) Even though I switched the phones back in the AT&T online account, will I still have to call them up?
I apologize for all these questions, but if anyone can please assist me, it'll be greatly appreciated.
I think you need to go back in and take a closer look at your account online and see what they actually did to your features, you may have just been screwed. When they transfered you over to the $15 200MB play i think you lost your $10 unlimited plan and may never get it back.
They still know you have your Aria on the account, you have to put your chip back in the old phone, wait about a few hours then check it online to see if it picked it up correctly, then call them and have them remove the data plan and put back your old plan "which they may not be able to do". After that switch back your sim to your Aria. If you get another text alert call them up and tell them you do not have a smartphone on the account and give them your Samsung Impression IMEI number.
Your Aria may not be unlocked just full price off contact, to see if its unlocked put a Tmobile or another non ATT sim in it and see if it picks up a signal.
I had a similar experience with the scanning process removing a feature and putting on the data plan here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=7146488#post7146488
That's exactly what I did. As soon as I got the 2 text messages, I removed the SIM from the Aria and put it back the Samsung Impression. I actually changed the phone manually on my AT&T online account as AT&T did know that I was using the Aria. However, I do not have the option to change my data plan back to $10/mo unlimited as only the $15/mo 200MB data plan option is available. So, I will be calling AT&T in the morning to have it switched back.
I read your other post, but I do not think I have the Medianet bundle. I'm running on a Family plan with Unlimited Family Messaging and Unlimited Family Data ($10/mo for each non-smartphone). I checked the other phones on the plan and nothing has changed in terms of messaging/data plan. Only my phone was affected by the smartphone data plan.
Is there a way to get around this or is it just luck? I don't mind paying $15/mo for 200MB, but if I can avoid it, then why not?! Is it possible to completely disable 3G when Wi-Fi is in use? I heard some Aria owners who said that their 3G was actually still in use even though Wi-Fi was connected. From what I saw on my Aria, there was a check mark under 3G instead of the 2 illuminated arrows when Wi-Fi was connected. How about yours?
My Aria constantly have the chcek under the 3G icon when wifi is on, the only time the 2 arrows show up is when i send or receive a MMS. To disable 3G data there is a mobile data option when you hold down the power button after the unlock screen. There is also an option inside menu - settings - wireless & network - uncheck mobile internet to disable 3G data and use wifi only.
The check just means you are connected to the network it has nothing to do with wifi and data transmission on 3g has up/down arrows.
There's no sure fire way to avoid the at&t data nazis especially since they've already caught you once.there's another topic about aria with no data with more info.
Sent from my HTC Liberty using XDA App
So I contacted HTC and gave them my S/N. They told me the HTC Aria "unlocked" I purchased at retail price was still locked. Now, I'm trying to figure out whether or not there are even unlocked HTC Aria's out there!
call the place you bought it from they will usually send a replacement next day free of charge samething happened to me with my phone not the aria though
Unlimited MOBILE WEB is an entirely different thing from a DATA plan. A mobile web restricts 3g usage to specific applications on the Impression while a data plan allows any app downloaded to use AT&T's network.
Your phone doesn't sound like it was unlocked but even if it was, AT&T can immediately tell which phone is connected to the network via your SIM. There's no real practical way to get out of paying 15 dollars a month. You could try turning off 3g on the Aria, which you can do allowing you to still send/receive calls and texts, but limits you to wifi for any apps that require the internet. Even if you turn it off though i have a feeling AT&T will still charge you 15 for the data plan just because it is a smart phone.
To be quite honest what is 5 more dollars anyway? That's my opinion...
Well, the Aria is branded under AT&T, so there is no such unlocked Aria right now. The HTC representative told me the only way to obtain an unlocked Aria is to actually have someone physically unlock it via unlock code.
As far as I can tell, the phone purchased through Amazon is not unlocked. It actually never was listed as Unlocked, so it was a mistake on my part.
I don't know if I will be able to return the phone though. I guess I can always tell them that there is something wrong with it and then they might allow a refund.
Oh, I don't mind paying the extra $5/mo. It's just that 200MB of data is not enough for me and of course unlimited beats it. However, if I do decide to keep the Aria, then I won't have a choice but to pay the $15.
Even if you get an unlocked Aria you will be saddled with the data plan for smartphones since it is an At&t branded phone the imei is in their database and eventually it will either scan it or if you use data services not covered by your existing plan it will switch you.
I was able to bypass the smartphone data plan and pay the $30 for unlimited data and messaging for non-smartphones but it was because I was using an unlocked T-Mobile G1 over EDGE.
Anyone have experience with the HTC Desire and AT&T non-smartphone data plan?
To add up to the conversation, one thing you need to understand, the ATT $10 non-smartphoine dataplan is not grandfather and so you can still added up to a non-smartphone at anytime,the unlimited for $30 for smartphone is no longer availabel and so you will need to chose from the $15 for 200mbs or the on2 for $20 for 2gbs... in regards to the a smartphone been unlocked or not, it makes no difference to ATT or any other service provider, a smartphone is a smarphone and yes they detect this via the IMEI which is syncronyze in the databse thru the SIM card as soon as you device registers on their network...you can change the device you have registered at any time it makes no difference...why because you will still be using a smartphone...it is inevitable my friend! the only way I see it happening is changing the IMEI of your device or not using a smartphone at all...sad but true!
why would you buy an unlocked at&t phone to use on at&ts network?
if you put your sim card in any at&t phone, they will detect your IMEI number, find out if its a smart phone or not, and charge you accordingly. they will be more than happy to charge you MORE for using a smartphone, but they certainly will not charge you LESS because you switched back. if you don't plan on using the aria, just put your sim in your old phone, call at&t and get the data plan switched back to the not-smart-phone plan.
if you want a smartphone on at&t, but do not want to pay for the at&t data plan, your only real option is to get a t-mobile branded phone, such as the g1 or mytouch, and unlock it.
Related
I am a AT&T prepaid user. Can I use the Atrix 4G in it without data plan? I only use Wi-Fi which is much faster.
The AT&T shop assistant man told me that I will not be able to use it if I do not open any date plan. If I am a prepaid user I can not use the phone; If I am a postpaid user I will be notified to add a data plan after I insert the SIM card into the Atrix 4G which is a smartphone.
Currently I also use a smartphone in AT&T network and does not commit any data plan. The phone works great. The shop assistant said the reason is that Atrix 4G is a AT&T phone and will be recognized by AT&T and force to open a data plan.
I do not know whether I should believe him for may be he is just trying to sell me more expensive plans. Is it technically possible to ban prepaid users? Is there any way to avoid this restriction? Since the Atrix 4G smartphone is bought in full price and unlocked, I do not owe AT&T anything. It works in T-Mobile, but does not works in AT&T prepaid, which seems very rediculous.
Yes, You can.
So the salesmen is only trying to threaten me with no real dangerous?
If you use a pre-paid SIM on an smartphone on AT&T, they will slap a data plan onto your account and you will be expected to pay it. I've seen it happen multiple times before.
Be careful when trying to break policy.
Well my girlfriend has an iPhone prepaid on ATT (my old one)with no data plan, so it is possible I would think for the Atrix to be used prepaid. But I really do not know.
Unfortunately, AT&T scans the IMEI numbers of all the phones on their networks occasionally and if they find any smartphones without data plans they add one without any warning. If you want to use a smartphone without Data, look at T-Mobile. They're the only one you can really do it on.
Sucks, and I think there should be some sort of law about that since there's no physical requirement of smartphones to have data, but thats how it is.
I've got an atrix, it uses 3g/4g so a data plan should work unlike the iphone. The Inspire is another phone where data plans are not available for pre paid. Salesmen love to threaten,intimidate and mislead.If you only want wifi you can turn off data in the data manager under settings.
So, they may only scan my IMEI and add data plan to it without my permission, and I can always make voice calls?
Since I am in "$2 Unlimited Daily Talk and Text" prepaid plan which is not qualified for any data plan, how can they add date plan to it?
Hello everybody, recently AT&T released a new pay as you go plan which is 50$ a month for unlimited everything. Unfortunately the unlimited data does not work on smartphones which is disappointing.
I recently switched to this plan because 50$ a month for unlimited everything is a great deal, what I was wondering was if someone could find a way to allow data to work on this plan\phone.
When you try to use firefox or similar browser it just says the page cannot be displayed, on the facebook android app it gives you a message that tells you data was refused.
I would gladly donate 20$ to anyone who could figure this out, and give me the fix. it seems like something a developer would know how to fix so if anyone has any ideas shoot them at me. If one of them works they will get a nice 20$ donation Thanks.
It sounds like AT&T itself is blocking the data connection.
Sent from my x10 Platinum
Exactly, but it doesn't block the connection if my pay as you go sim card is in a non-smart phone. There must be something that tells at&t you have a smartphone, and maybe there's a way to stop that.
What a rip off, i pay 15 bucks a month for unlimited.data
Sent from my X10a using XDA App
Cell service providers such as AT&T have the ability to know what phone you are using through your sim card.
so it'll be hard to find a way around it, but it's not impossible.
Sent from my x10 Platinum
It's because it's an x10a from at&t if so it's the IMEI that gave it away they have a log of all there numbers if you call an be real nice they will give you the unlock code for free (I did it and it was free any one can on at&t) Then flash a Stock rom and then wait a month or so an cancel that sim and go to another store or have your friend start up another sim. A wahoo
So Patricks_book you're saying all I have to do is unlock my phone and data will work on my smartphone even though the 50$ unlimited everything plan doesn't allow smartphones to have unlimited data?
I don't think unlocking the phone changes your phone's IMEI number, if that's what you are wondering.
I used to have a Nokia E72 that covered AT&T's 3G frequency bands but never sold by AT&T. I don't use that any more but when I did, it worked with their $15 unlimited data plan (for a post-paid plan) that can only be used for dumb phones. It seemed then that AT&T didn't recognize the E72's IMEI # as a smartphone.
I don't know if this works on GoPhone plans now.....
SacredUser said:
So Patricks_book you're saying all I have to do is unlock my phone and data will work on my smartphone even though the 50$ unlimited everything plan doesn't allow smartphones to have unlimited data?
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NO But it's worth a try. Unlock it an update to like Wolfs 2.3.3 x10i and if nothing else you'll have a unlocked bad ares phone
hasei said:
I don't think unlocking the phone changes your phone's IMEI number, if that's what you are wondering.
I used to have a Nokia E72 that covered AT&T's 3G frequency bands but never sold by AT&T. I don't use that any more but when I did, it worked with their $15 unlimited data plan (for a post-paid plan) that can only be used for dumb phones. It seemed then that AT&T didn't recognize the E72's IMEI # as a smartphone.
I don't know if this works on GoPhone plans now.....
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when you sign up though you sign up using a sim, not an imei. so your account is only linked to your sim card.
I have switched phones three times and all I did was pop my sim into a different phone.
I think though that it recognizes you are using 3g or hspa data and that is why it blocks it. Aren't those plans for gsm only?
Its about what APN you connect via. Have a look @ this. Settings > Wireless and networks > Mobile Networks > AT&T and you'll need to configure the apn ... I have no idea which one ... But well , thats all I can help .
Sent from my X10i using xda premium
scoobysnacks said:
when you sign up though you sign up using a sim, not an imei. so your account is only linked to your sim card.
I have switched phones three times and all I did was pop my sim into a different phone.
I think though that it recognizes you are using 3g or hspa data and that is why it blocks it. Aren't those plans for gsm only?
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Yeah you're right your account is linked only to your SIM card otherwise you won't be able to swap phones. But at least on AT&T they seem to be able to recognize if a smartphone (sold by AT&T) is being used.
A few years ago when AT&T only had a $30 unlimited data plan for smartphones or $15 ulmimited for dumbphones, they started forcing subscribers who use the $15 plan for smartphones switch to correct data plans. Many AT&Ters discussed this issue then and the only conclusion drawn based on their experience was that it was through their IMEI #.
hasei said:
Yeah you're right your account is linked only to your SIM card otherwise you won't be able to swap phones. But at least on AT&T they seem to be able to recognize if a smartphone (sold by AT&T) is being used.
A few years ago when AT&T only had a $30 unlimited data plan for smartphones or $15 ulmimited for dumbphones, they started forcing subscribers who use the $15 plan for smartphones switch to correct data plans. Many AT&Ters discussed this issue then and the only conclusion drawn based on their experience was that it was through their IMEI #.
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hmmm but if you never gave them your imei they would have no way of knowing...
I would say it has to do with either your apn, the bands you're using (and the fact that you're using 3g/hspa), or just they can recognize the pure volume of data you are using.
They have ALL the IMEIs for the phone from the manufactures and from the ones that are or where on their network and when you use your phone it comes up in their system like if you call in to support and they ask for it there just checking to see if it's the right one. So you can try an app like Privacy Blocker to change your IMEI I do not know if it will work but it is an option in the app ( not on the phone just on out going signals for apps ?) An if it does work PLEASE post it in the forum.
Good luck to us all if it does .
Patricks_book said:
They have ALL the IMEIs for the phone from the manufactures and from the ones that are or where on their network and when you use your phone it comes up in their system like if you call in to support and they ask for it there just checking to see if it's the right one. So you can try an app like Privacy Blocker to change your IMEI I do not know if it will work but it is an option in the app ( not on the phone just on out going signals for apps ?) An if it does work PLEASE post it in the forum.
Good luck to us all if it does .
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That's not correct at all....
the imei does not pop up, I worked for a phone company before.
Unless you sign up with a phone and have given it to them, they do not have your imei...
If the phone was first purchased from AT&T then they have the IMEI. Or just like when an app has access to your account it can read your IMEI your sim card can read your IMEIs it's connected too your phone number contract/pay as you go. Anyone of them even Wally world (Walmart) who ever you get a sim card from can read your sim card/IMEI.
SacredUser said:
So Patricks_book you're saying all I have to do is unlock my phone and data will work on my smartphone even though the 50$ unlimited everything plan doesn't allow smartphones to have unlimited data?
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Click to collapse
Its a bullsh!t plan. I got this plan, got data to work just fine, but had alot of trouble with it. ie- Market apps, took FOREVER to download.. That was the first downfall. Yesterday morning, I noticed my phone was in Edge mode. I proceeded to reset it, change the Network options in the debug menu, and play with the APN. This morning.. Still Edge. My conclusion? They obviously shut off my 3G. Now, The problem I have with this, is that I havnt used over 100 mb of data yet, and it hasnt even been a week since I got this service. Stay away from this plan.. GARBAGE. Now, as much as I loathe paying an EXTRA 20 bucks a month, Im taking the dive and goin with TMobile. I need my 3g....
I just kind of skimmed over this post (new here) and this alone made me sign up cause I just order X10 recently.
I have this question though; if is not IMEI# that at&t block you with, then is it possible a reflashing could fix it? I have heard of people use different firmware versions; like my old phone, Ericsson K850i there was just plain K850 version (no 'i') that could get 3G I think.
But assume I install new Sony 2.3.3 Android on my X10, would be the key to get around at&t unnoticed ja?
I too have unlimite 50usd plan and tried to use on HTC Aria that was brand with at&t junk. That did not work But I have not try to root it (updated to 2.2 already ) so I not know if reflash would have fix it or not.
I want to use the GS2 without paying the monthly data plan, sort of as a wifi only device. Anybody know if I get an S2 off Craigslist and unlock it, will at&t recognize the phone and slap on the monthly data plan?
In other words do they have the IMEI sweeps like they did for unlocked IPhones?
Thnx!
if you get one and erased all the APN info from it, it will never connect to the Mobile Data from ATT... you will never get charged.
You don't even need to unlock it, if you are staying with AT&T.
I'm talking bout their mandatory smartphone plan.
Or if I don't buy it from them they won't add it ?
I've heard that if it picks up an IMEI from any smartphone registered on the network, it will add the smartphone data package. But I can't confirm this.
As long as you're using a phone released by AT&T, it will know it is a Smartphone by looking up the IMEI because AT&T knows every phone it releases. It doesn't matter where you bought it.
The only chance for you to avoid the data plan is buy a Smartphone that was not released by AT&T. Then again, chances are those phone mostly don't support all the AT&T's 3G/4G bands.
You can use a smartphone from At&t just call customer service and have them WIX block the line in use, I did it with my HTC Fuze before and on the bill it showed "Data Opt-Out"
Will that still let me send and recieve MMS?
Is it the same as a Data Block?
thnx
the new phones use a special sim/gsm, and in order to get network access you have to register the APN (forgive me if I have the names wrong). I've already got the unlimited data plan, and was also thinking of buying a phone so that I can easily be grandfathered. No dice, you have to call them to provision the phone/sim, and then I'm sure they will say you have to go with the limited data plan (charges above a certain usage). Looks like I'm going to have to call and ***** at them until I get them to grandfather me. I'm going to be super pissed if they don't do it. Isn't Verizon and sprint offering unlimited?
I may not need it now, but once I get this GS2 I believe I will be using alot more data.
WeldingRod said:
the new phones use a special sim/gsm, and in order to get network access you have to register the APN (forgive me if I have the names wrong). I've already got the unlimited data plan, and was also thinking of buying a phone so that I can easily be grandfathered. No dice, you have to call them to provision the phone/sim, and then I'm sure they will say you have to go with the limited data plan (charges above a certain usage). Looks like I'm going to have to call and ***** at them until I get them to grandfather me. I'm going to be super pissed if they don't do it. Isn't Verizon and sprint offering unlimited?
I may not need it now, but once I get this GS2 I believe I will be using alot more data.
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Verizon no longer offers unlimited. Sprint does. T-Mobile sort of does(No overages. Just slow speeds.)
If you can provision the phone to use the wap.cingular APN, then you might (MIGHT) be able to slide under the radar. This is what we have done with my son's iphone 3gs and iphone 4 for a couple of years now. The system still reports that it is an iphone from the IMEI number but the feature is the $10.00 unlimited non-smartphone plan. As far as I know, there are no automated sweeps that look for smartphones with the wrong data plan. It looks at what APN the phone requests and then matches that to how your account is provisioned. If it tries to connect to a smartphone APN, and no provision is on the account for it, one is automatically added.
I've even had CS reps notice the iphone on his account with the $10.00 plan and breeze through it like it didn't even matter to them.
If you can change the SGS2 APN to use the wap APN, then the key is to have your SIM inserted into a non-smartphone and add the unlimited data package before placing the SIM into your SGS2 that has had its APN changed.
One thing I don't know is if you will get HSPA speeds on wap.cingular. I know 3G works well.
bob7770699 said:
Will that still let me send and recieve MMS?
Is it the same as a Data Block?
thnx
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Click to collapse
Yes, its Data block from At&t's side and so they won't add a data plan. I don't know if MMS will work cause at that time I only remember using text which was working fine.
I got my captivate with an upgrade from att of course. lol anyways the imei number got messed up cause I flashed a bad rom or something. I had some issue's with my phone, and I called att.They told me that I haven't been using my captivate. They said I was using an unknown phone. My point is backup your efs folder. Delete the one on the phone reboot your phone, and att will never know you have been using a smartphone on your account. When ever you want you can put the backed up efs folder on the phone, and the imei number will register again.
Are you saying backup and delete the whole folder? Or the sub folder with the imei in it?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
Hey guys, I was thinking about getting an Aria for my girlfriend. I have a few questions before I purchase one though:
1. I heard you could unlock it by talking to AT&T, but just in case, can anyone point me to a cheap/reputable place to get it unlocked online? Thanks
2. Is it easy to permanently disable Cellular Network data? She would be using it with no data plan, so we wouldnt want any data to get through.
roltzje said:
Hey guys, I was thinking about getting an Aria for my girlfriend. I have a few questions before I purchase one though:
1. I heard you could unlock it by talking to AT&T, but just in case, can anyone point me to a cheap/reputable place to get it unlocked online? Thanks
2. Is it easy to permanently disable Cellular Network data? She would be using it with no data plan, so we wouldnt want any data to get through.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you get the phone unlocked, it should work fine on any GSM network.
As far as data is concerned, I know that AT&T will detect your phone and may apply a smart-phone data plan (even if you don't want or use one).
One way around this is to put the SIM card into a dumb phone and disable the data plan on-line or call ATT to disable it.
Then pop the SIM card back into the Aria and you're in business.
It has worked for me like this for over 5 years of owning smart phones without data plans (which I don't use or need).
DanGeorges said:
One way around this is to put the SIM card into a dumb phone and disable the data plan on-line or call ATT to disable it.
Then pop the SIM card back into the Aria and you're in business.
It has worked for me like this for over 5 years of owning smart phones without data plans (which I don't use or need).
Click to expand...
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This will ONLY work if you have a very old plan with AT&T and you are grandfathered in.
If you switched plans or started your service after AT&T started requiring smartphones to have data plans, you will be automatically switched to a data plan if you put your SIM card into an Aria. There's no way around it.
drumist said:
This will ONLY work if you have a very old plan with AT&T and you are grandfathered in.
If you switched plans or started your service after AT&T started requiring smartphones to have data plans, you will be automatically switched to a data plan if you put your SIM card into an Aria. There's no way around it.
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That's unfortunate. I will definitely keep my "old" plan just to make sure I'm still able to keep the data plan off.
I had, for a month, an unlimited ($15) plan, but since I really didn't see a need, dropped it and opted out. Looking back, I probably should have kept it in case there could be a day when I need a new plan.
When that day comes, I will be switching to a pay-as-you-go plan.
That would allow me to keep my Aria, WiFi, etc. - without subscribing to an unnecessary data plan. The only downside is losing my mobile number...
So I've read enough about the GS4 being Sim unlocked from Verizon. We are traveling to St Maarten in the Caribbean in April, and I'm just trying to confirm that its really as simple as purchasing a local sim and popping it in. My GS4 is unlocked and rooted since the MDK bootloader, but my wife's is a work provided phone, and I'm not allowed to touch it (although she always asks me how I tether....sorry dear...I'm not allowed to touch yours). Our resort has wifi but only in the lobby, and I'm not interested in data (I'll be on vaca) but I want to just be able to text my wife if need be while exploring the island.
Anyone know what I can expect to pay for a local sim? Don't even need a lot of minutes....just be able to text back and forth if we need to.
My FIL is on my Verizon plan. He's leaving in a few days for Aruba and Curacao.
He contacted Verizon and was told he could pay $5 for cheaper phone and texting rates while on his trip. I think it is $1.49 or $1.99 per minute for calls and .50 to send text and .05 to receive them.
Data is crazy expensive ($25/100mb with Int'l plan or $22ish per mb without) so I would turn off data sucking apps or seriously limiting it (turn off background sync, etc) even if you opt for the Verizon data plan. Also, if you don't turn off the data before you leave you will most likely get hit with data charges as soon as you land.
I would recommend getting local data sim and using Hangouts or some other non-texting data based chat service instead of texting each other.
gadzooks64 said:
My FIL is on my Verizon plan. He's leaving in a few days for Aruba and Curacao.
He contacted Verizon and was told he could pay $5 for cheaper phone and texting rates while on his trip. I think it is $1.49 or $1.99 per minute for calls and .50 to send text and .05 to receive them.
Data is crazy expensive ($25/100mb with Int'l plan or $22ish per mb without) so I would turn off data sucking apps or seriously limiting it (turn off background sync, etc) even if you opt for the Verizon data plan. Also, if you don't turn off the data before you leave you will most likely get hit with data charges as soon as you land.
I would recommend getting local data sim and using Hangouts or some other non-texting data based chat service instead of texting each other.
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Hangouts I can do....but that uses data. And I'm not going to have wifi on the beach.....MAYBE the beach at our resort....but I've read over and over that wifi is only in the lobby....so who knows where the range will end until I get there. I guess your saying leave data off until I get a local sim in it. Once the local sim is in it, I'll stop getting my verizon data? or will I have to stop gmail, and disable all other data apps?
I know what my phone does, and what apps use what data....and how you can set some up for wifi only....but my wife is clueless tech wise. I guess I'm not going to find a local sim with unlimited texting huh (or even a reasonable number of texts).
Once you replace the Verizon sim (keep it and make sure you know which is yours and which is the wife's because it does matter and you'll be putting them back in as soon as you get home) then your connection to Verizon is gone.
As soon as you install the local sim you will have data and/or phone coverage based on what you bought. If you can get two cheap data only sims that would be the way to go. Then use data services for doing instant messaging to contact each other.
All your data using apps will work just as they did at home. They don't care how you connect to the internet. GMail, Hangouts etc will all work as long as you have a data service.
Enjoy.
gadzooks64 said:
Once you replace the Verizon sim (keep it and make sure you know which is yours and which is the wife's because it does matter and you'll be putting them back in as soon as you get home) then your connection to Verizon is gone.
As soon as you install the local sim you will have data and/or phone coverage based on what you bought. If you can get two cheap data only sims that would be the way to go. Then use data services for doing instant messaging to contact each other.
All your data using apps will work just as they did at home. They don't care how you connect to the internet. GMail, Hangouts etc will all work as long as you have a data service.
Enjoy.
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Ok, I gotcha now. I would love to find a data only Sim. It will be pretty easy to tell which sim is which upon return... I'll just make a test call to see whose phone rings when I dial my number :laugh: Thanks for your help. I don't want to pay Verizon $25 for 100MB as I'm sure some app I forget about will run me over.....and my wife's phone is run by her work....so local sim is the only way to go....or bring her rezound along.....but I'm not sure that phone was ever truly SIM unlocked without a specific Rom...and my rezound hacking days are long behind me.
I came across this site and while it doesn't say how much the sim will cost to purchase, it gives me an idea of the data packages I'll need to buy.
http://wiredsailor.com/new/broadband-internet/3g-services/
318sugarhill said:
Ok, I gotcha now. I would love to find a data only Sim. It will be pretty easy to tell which sim is which upon return... I'll just make a test call to see whose phone rings when I dial my number :laugh: Thanks for your help. I don't want to pay Verizon $25 for 100MB as I'm sure some app I forget about will run me over.....and my wife's phone is run by her work....so local sim is the only way to go....or bring her rezound along.....but I'm not sure that phone was ever truly SIM unlocked without a specific Rom...and my rezound hacking days are long behind me.
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I just did this last week in the UK - stock GS4 running MK2, with a SIM from ekit.com.
All I did was to insert the SIM, set the phone to GSM mode, define the APN, and you're done. Finding a cheap carrier for data in the Caribbean is tough, however.
k1mu said:
I just did this last week in the UK - stock GS4 running MK2, with a SIM from ekit.com.
All I did was to insert the SIM, set the phone to GSM mode, define the APN, and you're done. Finding a cheap carrier for data in the Caribbean is tough, however.
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So I've been reading on some travel forums about queen of SXM. She is a part time resident of St. Maarten that does rental phones. I emailed her and for $8 for the week I am renting a SIM card. Any voice/data must be added after that in $5 increments. But data is mostly 2g (and expanding to 3g but likely not widely available). It's only $0.55 per day for the data and it's unlimited (since its so slow, its not like your going to be using a lot anyway). So basically for $13 a phone I can get data and no voice so we can message back and forth. Is Hangouts or what's app going to be reliable on a 2g network? I've read that wechat has designed their app for better use on 2g networks (in places like India and other emerging markets). On my Rezound I was able to force the phone into 1x only mode, but not so much on the S4 to be able to test it.....unless I can find an area with a really crappy signal.