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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 $20 for 2gbs... in regards to the a smartphone been unlocked or not, it makes no difference to ATT or any other service provider, a smartphone is a smarphone and yes they detect this via the IMEI which is syncronyze in the databse thru the SIM card as soon as you device registers on their network...you can change the device you have registered at any time it makes no difference...why because you will still be using a smartphone...it is inevitable my friend! the only way I see it happening is changing the IMEI of your device or not using a smartphone at all...sad but true!
why would you buy an unlocked at&t phone to use on at&ts network?
if you put your sim card in any at&t phone, they will detect your IMEI number, find out if its a smart phone or not, and charge you accordingly. they will be more than happy to charge you MORE for using a smartphone, but they certainly will not charge you LESS because you switched back. if you don't plan on using the aria, just put your sim in your old phone, call at&t and get the data plan switched back to the not-smart-phone plan.
if you want a smartphone on at&t, but do not want to pay for the at&t data plan, your only real option is to get a t-mobile branded phone, such as the g1 or mytouch, and unlock it.
Hello everybody, recently AT&T released a new pay as you go plan which is 50$ 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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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 have an unlimited prepay t mobile data plan i use to mess with various gsm htc phones. i picked meself up a t mobile 3g flyer,fired it up,and while it looks like 3g and 4g are working,little arrows and all,data is not really working.
ive tried adding a different APN,and flashed leedroids HC with phone enabled rom in efforts to get it working.
im assuming that t mobile somehow knows i have a phone data plan,and as such is not letting the data work correctly.
i can make phone calls and send sms just fine. but no data.
question is simply,anyone know of a way to make this work??
thanks for any info
Did you get it from T-Mobile or is it an unlocked international unit? If you got it from T-Mobile, you may have to get the MSL to unlock the system first.
I do the exact same thing with an international unit and a T-mobile prepaid SIM card and my data work great. I'm on the $3/day of usage plan, as I normally have either wifi access or my phone has a 4g connection and I can tether the 2 via wifi.
thanks for the reply. any idea how to get the flyer into diag mode? i found !!3424! on the calculator works for the view,but its not working on the flyer
it is a t mobile branded device,so if i can figure out how to get into diag ill give this a shot
update: i still cant figure out a way to get to the diagnostic menu to find the msl and unlock. i believe the t mo flyer is not subsidy locked,as when i put my vzw lte sim into it,it does not prompt me to enter an unlock code.
i dont know if the difference here is the fact that youve got an unbranded international unit,or the fact that youre on the $3/day prepay. i called t mo and played dumb,and eventually they confirmed that i would need an internet "broadband" plan,wich would make the sim card not work in phones,and be more expensive
hoping maybe the $3 prepay plan maybe is what is letting it work,i ordered another sim that i plan to activate with the same
failing that,i guess i need to either sell this one and find a international unit,or find a way to make the t mobile unit "look" like the international one to t mobile.
scotty1223 said:
hoping maybe the $3 prepay plan maybe is what is letting it work,i ordered another sim that i plan to activate with the same
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got my sim,set up the $3 prepay,still no go. is there a way to make the t mobile branded device look like an international unlocked version?
I have come across a few different threads on this and also scoured the net for some clarification and I seem to get mixed responses. I have a Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 (MK2). I went w a prepaid service to save a few bucks, and initially went w AT&T GO as I knew it was compatible. The problem is, they only give 2gb of data and if you go over they dont throttle, they shut it off unless you pay more money.
I looked into MetroPCS, and they are unlimited w their 60 a month plan- I researched and saw that quite a few people had success with this phone even though its Verizon. However, when I plugged in what I believe were the correct APN settings, I got dial tone, but the data itself went from H to disconnected, and fluctuated in that way. Is this a lost cause?
I dont mind changing ROMS/radios if that will help, right now I'm running Hyperdrive.... I had to switch back for now to the AT*T sim but I'm really hoping I can get this working as I burn more than 2gb of data in my sleep much less a month. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Did I post this in the wrong forum? If so my bad, just assumed this would be where it belonged.
Ghettro PCS is ok you have to have your phone in GSM mofe though in order to really use their service, from what I've been told. Just make sure the APN is perfect to ghettro as well. read in the Switching to At&t prepaid "tutorial" located http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2672843 as well as this one which goes for TMo.. same kinda issues but a lot of help http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2518347 Is At&t Go any better than straighttalk?
So far it appears that only tmobile networks allow this phone, since at&t does not support VoLTE with this phone (must set to 3g in order to receive texts/calls). I love this phone, but tmobiles cell towers don't offer a good signal in my area (using straight talk w/ tmobile card). So this got me wondering, which wireless carriers can this actually use now days? What do you personally use with this phone, and how is the service? Verizon definetly won't work either, so it looks like I am out of options... Any replies to this would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!
You sure? Here's the AT&T white list, more may have been added since...
I am positive. And yes, I have seen my phone on the list. no phone calls or text messaging when on LTE (and at&t). I looked into changing the IMEI so that I could use a random generated one that matches an s20 or some other phone that is more compatible, then gave up on it. At this point Im looking to sell my s10 lite so I can buy a oneplus 8T/Pro, just so I get better compatibility. Supposedly AT&T is also dropping support for international versions of cell phones, which this is. I went through 3 different at&t sim cards and all have the same result. I just wish there was a way to change my IMEI (or somehow spoof a different phone some other way)
On The Go Repairs said:
I am positive. And yes, I have seen my phone on the list. no phone calls or text messaging when on LTE (and at&t). I looked into changing the IMEI so that I could use a random generated one that matches an s20 or some other phone that is more compatible, then gave up on it. At this point Im looking to sell my s10 lite so I can buy a oneplus 8T/Pro, just so I get better compatibility. Supposedly AT&T is also dropping support for international versions of cell phones, which this is. I went through 3 different at&t sim cards and all have the same result. I just wish there was a way to change my IMEI (or somehow spoof a different phone some other way)
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Is VoLTE enabled etc in hidden phone settings?
Did you have AT&T reset it on their end?
Talk to AT&T advanced tech support.
If white listed it should work!
I have straight talk which gives three options: at&t, TMobile, or Verizon (so I can't call att directly). I went into the hidden menu settings and VoLTE was turned off and greyed out. I even opened a file and added a few lines (might have been build.prop or something like that, don't remember) and all that did was switch it on in the settings (but still greyed out).
When I called straight talk tech support and asked them to provision VoLTE, all they would say is that the sim card is provisioned, and that's all they can do. Phone and text used to work if I set it on 3g (instead of lte), but this was less than optimal. I also read a reddit post today from someone four hours away that said they killed off the 3g now, so I'm not going to try using another at&t card until I get a different phone that is compatible. I know this phone is capable of VoLTE but at&t sucks, and they want to force a bunch of people to upgrade to newer phones for whatever reason.
I've even had this phone work with a Verizon sim card swapped from a different phone, but after a few days it gets shut off. So it's not a question of compatibility more than it is at&t just being jerks.
OnTheGoRepairs said:
I have straight talk which gives three options: at&t, TMobile, or Verizon (so I can't call att directly). I went into the hidden menu settings and VoLTE was turned off and greyed out. I even opened a file and added a few lines (might have been build.prop or something like that, don't remember) and all that did was switch it on in the settings (but still greyed out).
When I called straight talk tech support and asked them to provision VoLTE, all they would say is that the sim card is provisioned, and that's all they can do. Phone and text used to work if I set it on 3g (instead of lte), but this was less than optimal. I also read a reddit post today from someone four hours away that said they killed off the 3g now, so I'm not going to try using another at&t card until I get a different phone that is compatible. I know this phone is capable of VoLTE but at&t sucks, and they want to force a bunch of people to upgrade to newer phones for whatever reason.
I've even had this phone work with a Verizon sim card swapped from a different phone, but after a few days it gets shut off. So it's not a question of compatibility more than it is at&t just being jerks.
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Straight talk maybe the issue. I don't know for sure. Maybe it's the sim card.
Both my N10+'s N975U, N975U1 made the jump seamlessly, no changes were needed on my side.
However the N975U was configured for 4G VoLTE already.
On the new N975U1 all I did was plug the N975U sim card in and it was online.
I feel you... this was an unwanted learning curve for me and had me doing a lot of Google searches.