Eh - | DSLReports Forums

Author	All Replies
MovieLover76 join:2009-09-11 kudos:1 Reviews: ·Verizon FiOS ·DIRECTV ·Optimum Online ·Cablevision 1 edit	Eh Given that AT&T doesn't directly control or even in some cases control at all the software on smartphones, I have to say I understand mandatory data plans. better they automatically put you on a plan, than someone swaps sims to a smartphone and they charge you at 1.99/mb for the GB of data you use in a month. I'm sure this case is far more prevalent than those trying to use a smart phone will skipping a data plan. Maybe it's just me, but having a smartphone without a data plan is somewhat useless. I know people are going to argue this point, but these companies don't lift a finger to accommodate every user profile, they are looking at the average user.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-05 14:46:28 ·
Network Guy Premium join:2000-08-25 New York	If this "automatic" enrollment of a data plan just renewed his contract for another 2 years, that ought to be illegal. If not, he's free to leave. That's what I would have done to begin with.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-05 14:56:10 ·

MovieLover76 join:2009-09-11 kudos:1	No it shouldn't be able to renew your contract, if it triggers that it needs to stop. But I'm not sure that's what AT&T actually does. I've changed minutes, messaging and data on AT&T before without renewing a contract.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-05 15:00:45 ·
Network Guy Premium join:2000-08-25 New York Reviews: ·Optimum Online	Guess AT&T is different. Sprint used to renew the agreement for another 2 years whenever I'd switch plans. There's no changing minutes at Sprint, just plans. The data and messaging components were add-ons though, didn't affect agreement.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-05 15:03:06 ·
Murph1 join:2005-09-02 New London, CT	reply to MovieLover76 said by MovieLover76: Maybe it's just me, but having a smartphone without a data plan is somewhat useless. I've often wondered if I could get by without a data plan. My house, my job, the gym, girlfriend's house, numerous bars, restaurants, etc. all have wifi.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-05 15:12:17 ·
Linklist Premium join:2002-03-03 Longport, NJ kudos:5	reply to MovieLover76 said by MovieLover76: Maybe it's just me, but having a smartphone without a data plan is somewhat useless. Not true for a lot of people. They use WiFi almost exclusively for data needs on their smartphones. And if you use IMs from Facebook, Apple, etc instead of txt msgs there is no real need to have a data plan. Most phones let you disable data over the cell network. -- A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasury.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-05 15:12:52 ·
en103 join:2011-05-02	reply to Network Guy Not really... he can still use a 'non smartphone' without a data plan. The contract is/was on the 'voice plan' for 2 years. Dataplans are required for smartphones on 'American Thieves and Thugs'.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-05 15:29:48 ·
Boricua65 Premium join:2002-01-26 Sacto Sh*tty	reply to Murph1 said by Murph1: said by MovieLover76: Maybe it's just me, but having a smartphone without a data plan is somewhat useless. I've often wondered if I could get by without a data plan. My house, my job, the gym, girlfriend's house, numerous bars, restaurants, etc. all have wifi. I can definitely get by without the data plan. I really don't care for it, no matter what the justification. I already have a desktop, a laptop and tablet. The only reason I would want a smart phone is for the better graphics to watch a movie that re-encode to be played on a Samsung GSIII (what I want). -- Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian. Robert Orben
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-05 15:41:00 ·
MovieLover76 join:2009-09-11 kudos:1 Reviews: ·Verizon FiOS ·DIRECTV ·Optimum Online ·Cablevision	reply to Murph1 Well for me the biggest utility of a smartphone, relies on the data plan and GPS, looking up restaurants, things to do etc on the go. Looking up something I need on the web when I'm out. Anyone could get by without a data plan, until 6 years ago almost none of us had one, but it sure makes a busy life easier, and that benefit really needs a data plan. Having to look for wifi, just kills most of those immediate perks.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-05 16:01:28 ·
BiggA join:2005-11-23 EARTH Reviews: ·Comcast	reply to MovieLover76 Exactly. Smartphones without data plans are useless. Also, it didn't extend his contract, it just continues on under whatever contract he was on. If he doesn't want to buy a data plan, then he needs to switch to an appropriate device that doesn't require one.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-05 17:50:12 ·
rradina join:2000-08-08 Chesterfield, MO	A smartphone without a data plan is plenty useful. Millions of people who work in dense urban areas and use public transportation are probably never without WiFi. It's been a while since I've been to San Francisco (~2005) but even back then there was a free wireless network available. Instead of paying the hotel's ridiculous data fees I just used my laptop next to the window.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-05 20:06:11 ·
Simba7 I Void Warranties join:2003-03-24 Billings, MT	reply to BiggA Not true. I have an HTC Incredible that was given to me due to her switching providers (she went to ST). I rooted it, threw on CM10, and it's currently a WiFi Phone. It runs rather nicely. I have an old HTC Hero (CDMA) running CM7 and it's doing the same thing. Both run nice and smooth. Unfortunately, I can't do squat with my D2G. They locked the damn thing down so tight that development for ROMs is nil. Worst purchase ever. -- Bresnan 30M/5M \| CenturyLink 5M/896K MyWS[PnmIIX3@3.2G,8G RAM,500G+1.5T+2T HDDs,Win7] WifeWS[A64@2G,2G RAM,120G HDD,Win7] Router[2xP3@1G,2G RAM,18G HDD,Allied Telesyn AT2560FX,2xDigital DE504,Sun X1034A,2xSun X4444A,SMC 8432BTA,Gentoo]
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-05 22:20:46 ·
Riusaki join:2000-09-14 Space	reply to MovieLover76 AT&T only renews your contract when you buy a subsidized phone. You can change your plan and features at anytime. If you are any kind of grandfathered plan or feature you cannot get back if you switch or remove it. -- Make the homies say HO and the girlies wanna SCREAM!
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-05 23:37:30 ·
BiggA join:2005-11-23 EARTH	reply to rradina Re: Eh That's connectivity here and there, not persistent connectivity like a smartphone is designed to work with.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-06 18:09:22 ·
rradina join:2000-08-08 Chesterfield, MO	An iPod is the same thing without the phone and millions of folks love them despite having only WiFi connectivity. Next?
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-06 20:47:06 ·
Simba7 I Void Warranties join:2003-03-24 Billings, MT	said by rradina: An iPod is the same thing without the phone and millions of folks love them despite having only WiFi connectivity. Same with the Samsung Galaxy Player's. It's a Samsung Galaxy without the CDMA/GSM module, antennas, or SIM card readers.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-07 09:44:05 ·
BiggA join:2005-11-23 EARTH	reply to rradina Then get one of those if you don't want to pay for a data plan.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-07 18:47:47 ·
rradina join:2000-08-08 Chesterfield, MO	But some folks might want voice everywhere, but not data. So they have to buy a feature phone, get voice everywhere and then carry an iPod for everything else they want in their pocket? Is this your position?
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-08 08:16:46 ·
BiggA join:2005-11-23 EARTH	Correct. Really, everyone should have a smartphone though. They are so essential these days. And what makes them useful is their persistent data connection.
	to forum · permalink · 2013-02-08 12:16:51 ·

AT&T's Mandatory Data Plan Police Are Rather Obnoxious > Eh

Eh

Re: Eh