  gigahurtzPremium
join:2001-10-20
Palm Coast, FL | This is a joke. Plain and simple. The fact that carriers are now forcing plans on you (data/sms) is just ridiculous. They'll get away with it though because no one will leave. | |
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 |  tiger72SexaT duorPPremium
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO
kudos:1
 ·T-Mobile US
| Re: This is a joke. said by gigahurtz:Plain and simple. The fact that carriers are now forcing plans on you (data/sms) is just ridiculous. They'll get away with it though because no one will leave. *COUGH* *COUGH*
SPRINT.
T-MOBILE.
--
"What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning."
-United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara | |
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| |  scavioPremium
join:2001-07-14
Melmac | Re: This is a joke. Umm... with Sprint if you were to get one of their high end phones (WebOS, Android, Blackberry) they now force you to get one of their simply everything plans, which includes data and texting. That leaves T-Mobile. | |
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| | |  JulioBachatero y Que?Premium
join:2003-03-19
Brooklyn, NY
kudos:1 | Re: This is a joke. I have an HTC Touch Pro. Sprint didn't force anything on me. I kept my Sprint SERO plan when I upgraded from my Motorola Q to my HTC Touch Pro.
--
Join the BBR MLB 2K7 League
The internet is a series of tubes.. | |
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| | | | scavioPremium
join:2001-07-14
Melmac | Re: This is a joke. So do I (actually two of them and a touch diamond on a fair and flexible family plan). Windows Mobile phones aren't on the list yet. I'm sure they will be eventually. I'm hanging on to my old plan for as long as possible, my costs would go up $40 a month just to have a different phone on the account with the same features. | |
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| | | | | cahiattPremium
join:2001-03-21
Smyrna, GA | Re: This is a joke. So lets say I buy a Firefly off eBay and want to add a line for my kid. This phone has no texting or data abilities at all. Are they going to force me into a data or text plan when the device isn't even capable? | |
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| | | | | |  KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
 ·AT&T DSL Service
| Re: This is a joke. said by cahiatt:So lets say I buy a Firefly off eBay and want to add a line for my kid. This phone has no texting or data abilities at all. Are they going to force me into a data or text plan when the device isn't even capable? That's the next step. Mandatory for all.
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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| | | | | | | Even with the $30 reduction in unlimited voice by Verizon/ATT, their unlimited data, voice and text is still $120 compared to $100 for Sprint. Better still, with Sprint, you can have unlimited data, text and voice to any mobile on any carrier for only $70 along with 450 minutes for your calls to non-mobile phones. I am going to ride out the rest of my Verizon plan on my Storm 2 using google voice and the google voice app. That enables me to have unlimited text for no charge. Unfortunately if I want unlimited voice using google voice on my Verizon PDA, I would have to upgrade to the $900 min plan so that I could add the google number to the friends and family list of numbers. At $59.99 ($90 after the mandatory unlimited data), I would only save $10.00 compared to the new unlimited voice charges. | |
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| |  n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY
 ·Optimum Online
2 edits | Don't be too sure about that. T-Mobile is the "Me Too" company. Give them six months and they will probably do the same. The seem to like to mimic the worst practices of the big two.
This might be enough to get the FCC to take some action. Back when there were inquiries as to why SMS messages were costing $.20/each we were told that you could buy a bucket of messages OR block SMS entirely. Now that they are reneging on the blockage capability, it would appear another inquiry is in order.
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I support the right to keep and arm bears. | |
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| |  BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by tiger72:said by gigahurtz:Plain and simple. The fact that carriers are now forcing plans on you (data/sms) is just ridiculous. They'll get away with it though because no one will leave. *COUGH* *COUGH* SPRINT. T-MOBILE. Yeah too bad neither serves my area. | |
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| |  C0deZer0Oc'D To Rhythm And PolicePremium
join:2001-10-03
Davenport, FL | said by tiger72:said by gigahurtz:Plain and simple. The fact that carriers are now forcing plans on you (data/sms) is just ridiculous. They'll get away with it though because no one will leave. *COUGH* *COUGH* SPRINT. T-MOBILE. *cough, puke* neither of which have acceptable coverage levels here.
At least Sprint is up front about telling us that their coverage near my neighborhood is "not so great". T-Mo claims we should be fine, yet in reality, are not.
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Front Line Force Fortress Forever | |
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| ackman
join:2000-10-04
Acworth, GA | No, they'll get away with it because the US Justice Department is a subsidiary of corporate America, and they refuse to enforce the Sherman Antitrust Act. | |
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| | tiger72SexaT duorPPremium
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO
kudos:1 Reviews:
·T-Mobile US
| Re: This is a joke. said by ackman:No, they'll get away with it because the US Justice Department is a subsidiary of corporate America, and they refuse to enforce the Sherman Antitrust Act. And you refuse to actually READ the act, or research how and why it's interpreted the way it is.
--
"What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning."
-United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara | |
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| | | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | Re: This is a joke. And when you read it, you'll realize its useless. | |
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| | | | MRCUR
join:2007-03-09
Columbia, PA | Re: This is a joke. Yes, it's useless TODAY, it wasn't in the past. | |
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|  GorkOu812ic
join:2001-10-06
Bountiful, UT | said by gigahurtz:They'll get away with it though because no one will leave. Gork -- leaving Verizon | |
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 unknvoipRIP goosePremium
join:2006-07-25
Rochester, NY
kudos:1 | Wow Can you say "Pre-paid"? | |
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| | | Re: Wow This is what I do, but I can not get data on my iphone with pre-paid. It's either do what they want or go without I guess. | |
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|  TSWYOPremium
join:2003-05-03
Cheyenne, WY | That is why I went with straight talk. I like my techie crap, but I want my phone to be a phone. Can't beat $48 for unlimitted everything... Just don't ask for support. | |
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| | Unlocked, unsubsidized Why? You still need the data and/or text plan even with an unlocked, unsubsidized phone. | |
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| | | Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized Not if it's a phone that AT&T has never carried. Their database doesn't contain the IMEI, so they don't know what kind of phone it is. You can even get a smartphone and add the $15 dumbphone data plan. | |
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| |  io chicoPremium
join:2003-12-30
Magalia, CA
·DigitalPath
| Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized Really? I have a grandfathered-in Touch Pro with AT&T, so I'm not forced into a data plan. When the phone dies, I was going to switch to T-Mobile, even though they currently have a weak signal at my house. I can see the AT&T tower from my property and would love to keep AT&T.
So, I could get any unlocked GSM phone that AT&T doesn't carry and I'm safe?
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Happy DigitalPath customer | Vista&Win7 laptop | XP | Ubuntu Dapper | msi wind U123 Win7&XP | Firefox only | ZyXEL router p-330w | |
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| | | MRCUR
join:2007-03-09
Columbia, PA | Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized Yep, I'm pretty sure. Their system can't match it to anything if they don't (currently or in the past) carry the device.
I just switched to a Storm2 and under My Account it shows a blank phone pic now since it can't be matched, it shows as a BlackBerry to reps without a model. | |
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| | | | | The only stipulation is that, for 3G to work, you'll need one with 3G on the 850 and 1900 bands, which rules out most anything sold outside of North America. However, you can look at some of the models carried on Rogers and Telus in Canada, and Nokia also sells a decent number of high-end devices that are unlocked and unbranded. | |
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| | | said by Bobcat:Why? You still need the data and/or text plan even with an unlocked, unsubsidized phone. I didn't read that in the BBR story or the linked boygeniusreport story. Any source for your conclusion? | |
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| | | | Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized Verizon doesn't care where you got your phone or if it's subsidized or not. If you activate a smartphone or certain 'multimedia' phones, you're required to have a data plan at extra cost. | |
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| | | | | Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized said by Bobcat:Verizon doesn't care where you got your phone or if it's subsidized or not. If you activate a smartphone or certain 'multimedia' phones, you're required to have a data plan at extra cost. Any official Verizon link saying that? | |
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| | | | | | Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized Look for it yourself. | |
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| | | | | MRCUR
join:2007-03-09
Columbia, PA | Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized Aren't you the one trying to prove a point here?
I've yet to see any proof... | |
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| | | | | | | | Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized Proof of what? | |
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| | | | | | | MRCUR
join:2007-03-09
Columbia, PA | Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized Uh, your statement that the plans are still added for unlocked phones. | |
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| | | | | | | |
1 edit | Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized Yes, that is correct. Look around the 'Net. It's been discussed many places. I don't care if you believe me or not. Start on HowardForums if you want. | |
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| | | | | | | | | wierdo
join:2001-02-16
Tulsa, OK Reviews:
·Cox HSI
·T-Mobile US
| Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized said by Bobcat:Yes, that is correct. Look around the 'Net. It's been discussed many places. I don't care if you believe me or not. Start on HowardForums if you want. A perusal of HowardForums would reveal that unlocked phone users don't get forced into data plans. Unless it's an iPhone, which would have come from at&t in the first place.
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It's wierdo, not weirdo. Yes, I know that's not the 'proper' spelling of the similar english language word.  | |
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| | | | | | | | | | | Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized No, it's clear that the data plan is required to activate a smartphone, et al. You sign up, you're required to pay for the data plan, even if the phone is not subsidized. Go ahead, try it on Verizon's site. You'll see. | |
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| | | | | | | | | wierdo
join:2001-02-16
Tulsa, OK Reviews:
·Cox HSI
·T-Mobile US
| Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized said by Bobcat:No, it's clear that the data plan is required to activate a smartphone, et al. You sign up, you're required to pay for the data plan, even if the phone is not subsidized. Go ahead, try it on Verizon's site. You'll see. at&t. I'm talking about at&t. Don't buy a phone from them, you no pay extra for data.
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It's wierdo, not weirdo. Yes, I know that's not the 'proper' spelling of the similar english language word. | |
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| | | | | said by Bobcat:Verizon doesn't care where you got your phone or if it's subsidized or not. If you activate a smartphone or certain 'multimedia' phones, you're required to have a data plan at extra cost. That's because VZW is CDMA. To use a phone on their network, you have to activate it by giving them its ESN. And they'll only activate approved devices, so they already know what features they support.
GSM is different. It's the SIM that's associated with the account, not the phone. As long as the phone supports the correct bands and is either locked to the carrier or unlocked, it will work, no carrier permission or intervention required. | |
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| | | | M509272
join:2002-08-07
Carlstadt, NJ | Re: Unlocked, unsubsidized PagePlus. However, VZW is cracking down on people purchasing their prepaid phones and trying to activate on PP. Use an old VZW phone. Check out the pricing
Unlimited Prepaid Talk n Text Monthly Plan + 20MB $40 incl
1,200 Minutes+1,200 Text/MMS Messages+50 MB Data $30 | |
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 pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD |  BS
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"Net Neutrality" zealots - the people you can thank for your capped Internet service. | |
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See 32 replies to this post |
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| | Texting should be part of AT&T plans like T-Mobile This sucks! That's why I bought my phone on Ebay. | |
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See 9 replies to this post |
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| | i see lawsuits yep lawsuits are about to happen | |
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See 11 replies to this post |
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 gballMaster YodaPremium
join:2000-11-28
South Bend, IN
1 edit | finally I've been waiting to go off about this all morning..I called this bullshit when Verizon started the data forcing plans!!
Whats even worse is even if you buy a phone unlocked that they don't even know about once you put the sim in they will find out what phone it is and txt you that they are adding the bullshit!!
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS?
Why should anyone be forced to pay for something they will never use because they want a certain type of phone. Don't give me that BS about "well you dont need a phone with a keyboard then etc"
It doesn't freakin matter why I want a phone with a keyboard thats my business.
Whats next if I goto Best Buy and get a new HD TV and hook it up to Dish then they are going to force me to buy all HD programming?
This shit needs to stop now!!
I can't wait to see the corporate twits come out to defend this!
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 banditws6Shrinking Time and DistancePremium
join:2001-08-18
Frisco, TX | How crass So much for the "if you don't like SMS rates, block SMS and don't pay for it" argument, eh?
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"I'll follow the law until it's just stupid." -Ted Nugent | |
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| Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: How crass That was the problem people got wise to it and started doing that. Now at& doesn't want money going anywhere.
Im trying to figure out where I can port my number too and still have it cheaper then this crap I keep seeing going on.
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"It's always funny until someone gets hurt......and then it's absolutely friggin' hysterical!" | |
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| pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | said by banditws6:So much for the "if you don't like SMS rates, block SMS and don't pay for it" argument, eh? That's exactly what I have on my personal cell phone now. I am just lucky I am off contract so most likely AT&T cannot touch me, but if they make me pay for texting which I do not want and do not have currently I will seriously consider just getting rid of my personal phone period.
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"Net Neutrality" zealots - the people you can thank for your capped Internet service. | |
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| | Prepaid looking better all the time They'll never take over the world, but prepaid alternatives like Boost and MetroPCS look better and better each day.
--
"Don't steal. The government hates competition."
Beyond AM. Beyond FM. XM | |
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| | | Re: Prepaid looking better all the time Especially since they are getting to a point where the service is actually usable. I believe that ATT and Verizon are simply hoarding as much money as possible because they see a fallout in the near future. | |
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|  EricthornIt only hurts when I laughPremium
join:2001-08-10
Paragould, AR
·Paragould.net
| I've been using Virgin Mobile (now owned by Sprint) pre pay for years.. just got the Helio Ocean 2 on contract with them last year. Never had a problem with them. After taxes etc about 75$/mo for 500min, free everything else (unlimited data, sms, web, nights/weekends, etc, etc.). They do have cheaper plans also based on what you need (ie don't have to have sms and data plans).
--
Ever try stuffing a melted marshmallow up a wildcat's ass? It can be done, but you have to like your job. - This Is The Way The World Ends by James Morrow - Join a DC club, it can't hurt you! | |
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1 edit | We're only looking out for you "To ensure the best possible experience for your Quick Messaging phone, AT&T requires one of the following services as part of your purchase or upgrade:"
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|  ropeguruPremium
join:2001-01-25
Mechanicsville, VA | Re: We're only looking out for you said by digitalfreak:"To ensure the best possible experience for your Quick Messaging phone, AT&T requires one of the following services as part of your purchase or upgrade:" And don't forget, "We are doing it for the children."  | |
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| | | | Re: We're only looking out for you said by ropeguru:said by digitalfreak:"To ensure the best possible experience for your Quick Messaging phone, AT&T requires one of the following services as part of your purchase or upgrade:" And don't forget, "We are doing it for the children." I think this is really what they meant:
"To ensure the highest possible revenue from your Quick Messaging phone, AT&T requires one of the following services as part of your purchase or upgrade:" | |
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 thegeekPremium
join:2008-02-21
united state
kudos:1
·Suddenlink
·NPG Cable
| Won't be long... and all carriers will offer free unlimited voice plans with a two year contract. But it will be manditory to pay for a $150 data/sms plan per line with a rediculously low 5GB cap. Plus about $30 more per month in "taxes and fees" in the fine print. | |
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| | port too bad you can't port your number to pre paid | |
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See 6 replies to this post |
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| | forcing sms? lol how are they gonna force sms on me when I have It blocked? I think sms is the most rediculous step backwards I didnt buy a two way pager and if I got somthing to say I'll press that talk butten n call. | |
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| | One of the best solutions to this pricing One of 3 solutions are available.
1. Boost Mobile = Unlimited everything = $50 Plus fees and taxes = Available everywhere = Iden sucks- Sprint coverage
2. Metro PCS = Unlimited everything = $40 Includes all fees & taxes - Not available everywhere = spotty service
3. Straight Talk = Unlimited everything = $45 Plus fees and taxes = Nationwide = Verizon Coverage
Buy one of their cheap phones, get an older feature or smartphone phone cheap on ebay or craigslist, and clone it.
Done | |
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| tiger72SexaT duorPPremium
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO
kudos:1 Reviews:
·T-Mobile US
| Re: One of the best solutions to this pricing said by alxjm69 :
One of 3 solutions are available.
1. Boost Mobile = Unlimited everything = $50 Plus fees and taxes = Available everywhere = Iden sucks- Sprint coverage
2. Metro PCS = Unlimited everything = $40 Includes all fees & taxes - Not available everywhere = spotty service
3. Straight Talk = Unlimited everything = $45 Plus fees and taxes = Nationwide = Verizon Coverage
Buy one of their cheap phones, get an older feature or smartphone phone cheap on ebay or craigslist, and clone it.
Done
or T-Mobile's EvenMore+.
--
"What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning."
-United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara | |
|
 VanPremium
join:2009-07-08
New Orleans, LA | Can someone just like try and explain how customers will get the best possible experience with this?
Like....at all?
I am so tired of hearing CEO's say it when it is exactly the opposite and EVERYONE KNOWS THAT | |
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| | ATT Data Plan The heck with that. I just picked up a slightly used Blackberry on Ebay for $20. It's in perfect condition. I called ATT to activate it and was told ALL smartphones required a $30 per month data plan. I explained that I only wanted the phone for the keyboard to make texting easier. Pressing a key 3 times to get a 'W' on my old phone was getting old but the girl stayed fast. Well I wasn't going to get muscled into something I wouldn't use so I just swapped the SIM card. Got my new Blackberry up and running in a minute! Then I bought ANOTHER Blackberry off of Ebay for my wifes Verizon service and got told the same thing by them. Unfortunately they don't have a SIM card you can swap so back on Ebay I bought ANOTHER Blackberry for ATT. Took my old flip phone to a ATT store and told the girl I wanted to activate it onto my account as a second line. She popped in a SIM card and had the phone working in 5 minutes. Called Verizon and ported my wifes number to the phone and closed the Verizon account. We had to pay a $50 ETF but no worries. We went home, put the new SIM card into the Blackberry and we were up and running. Now my wife can use her Blackberry as a PDA and phone and for texting and I can do the same. Problems solved. | |
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| |
| Reviews:
 ·VOIPo
·Vonage
| Re: ATT Data Plan This is from the AT&T Terms and Conditions(that sucks):
"Data Plans: An eligible data plan is required for certain devices, including iPhones and other designated smartphones. Eligible data plans cover data usage in the U.S. and do not cover international data usage and charges. If it is determined that you are using an iPhone or other designated smartphone without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the appropriate monthly fee."
Source: »www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-···erms.jsp | |
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| | | Good luck. Hopefully they won't discover this and just slap on the charge anyway... | |
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AVonGaussPremium,MVM
join:2007-11-01
Boynton Beach, FL | And this... And this is why cellular phones will become a more highly regulated industry - stupidity.... | |
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| tiger72SexaT duorPPremium
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO
kudos:1 Reviews:
·T-Mobile US
| Re: And this... said by AVonGauss:And this is why cellular phones will become a more highly regulated industry - stupidity.... Who forces you to use ATT? You can use Sprint, T-mobile, or any number of prepaid carriers.
--
"What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning."
-United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara | |
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| | AVonGaussPremium,MVM
join:2007-11-01
Boynton Beach, FL
1 edit | Re: And this... I don't use AT&T Wireless for many reasons, nor am I in favor of high regulation, but with the latest bonehead moves its almost sure to come. | |
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amungusPremium
join:2004-11-26
America Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service
| what a scam Seems like such a scam. That SMS can even be charged for anymore is a joke. Should be free by now.
At least U.S. Cellular still lets me get incoming SMS/Text/and CALLS for free
Sucks that AT&T is forcing people into this PLUS a data plan. One more reason I doubt I'll ever get a phone from them, wireless or landline | |
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cdbma
join:2003-01-19
Bolton, MA | you won't believe this, but... I am one of the 10 or so people left in the universe that actually use a cell phone to ONLY make voice calls. I don't text, I don't surf, I don't run apps. I talk. There, I said it! I feel much better. | |
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|  icp1Premium
join:2000-10-13
Saint Louis, MO | Re: you won't believe this, but... said by cdbma:I am one of the 10 or so people left in the universe that actually use a cell phone to ONLY make voice calls. I don't text, I don't surf, I don't run apps. I talk. There, I said it! I feel much better. You too? Woot! | |
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| | | | Re: you won't believe this, but... That makes it 4, add me and my wife who use the cell phone only to makes calls. | |
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| | | Me too! Phone is 6 years old. Works just fine for me. And its my only phone. T-mobile all the way! | |
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| | | said by cdbma:I am one of the 10 or so people left in the universe that actually use a cell phone to ONLY make voice calls. I don't text, I don't surf, I don't run apps. I talk. There, I said it! I feel much better. My whole family does that, too. I do like a PDA phone only to replace my Sony Clie. Bought my own BB Flip and no data plan. Trouble is - any problem, and I get the BB division.
About texting - I have it blocked by TM. I WILL NOT PAY for spam!!! So I bug them, even for twenty cents.
CS | |
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| | | I do and I am another one who uses a Cell phone to talk, no text no SMS no web surfing. I've got a phone that CAN do texting and SMS and access the WEB but I have it blocked along with every other phone on my family plan. No texting no data fees no SMS fees. When they try to force me into buying data plans I will say . Please close my account immediately . I don't need a cell phone - end of story! They lose the revenue stream. I lived a long time with cellphones and I can keep on living with out them | |
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 JEJE 's BACK BABYPremium
join:2000-12-15
East Orange, NJ
1 edit | Consumers Aren't Smart! If a consumer doesn't like something, like an above poster said...vote with your wallet and go elsewhere, where it may benefit you.
But as usual, people will whine and complain...whine and complain. Get no results and the cycle continues. This is why a lot of companies can charge you what they want and you can't do a thing about it.
How about this..Americans just stop the whining and don't talk about what they are going to do..switch..just do it! Maybe things will change once you speak their language.
But just because one carrier has this bad reputation, you'll skip over that carrier and stick with the one who is going to force you go have this and that and then pay more too...
THE AMERICAN WAY! Isn't it grand?
JE
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BLAZIN' FAST Ultra Comcast @: 35528 kbps/8696 kbps Can Your ISP Go This FAST? VRoOoOoOoOm!
-- YaHoo IM: Gemini365i | AOLIM: Twizted365i | I MISS BK!
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| | | Re: Consumers Aren't Smart! law suits and fcc | |
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| | | The smaller carriers are fine if you are in or near a town. Forget it if you are out of the area.
I would like to see all the carriers turn off data if you don't want it.
Some of us just want the PDA phone and/or wifi. So you are stuck with the big 4.
I got and still get flak as I carry a laptop, and since I can get free services in most motels plus critique any photos I've taken, why should I pay for phone data? I want the wifi as in some places you can't get a phone signal.
CS | |
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