  PolarBear03The bear formerly known as aaron8301Premium
join:2005-01-03 | Not the first Verizon does this. A friend had to buy a used dumbphone to swap for her BB cause she didn't want the data plan anymore, and Verizon wouldn't let her remove it so long as she was using the BB.
It'd be easier to circumvent on AT&T, though. Simply put your sim in a dumbphone, call them and tell them what phone you're using and cancel your data plan, then put your sim back in your smartphone.
At least, I think.
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I'm one of those people you can't take out of context. You have to see the whole me before I begin to make any sense.
To err is human. To really mess up, just type "sudo rm -rf /" | |
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 |  nikdoPremium
join:2002-02-26
Dacula, GA
kudos:1 | Re: Not the first My work provides my cell phone, and I use Verizon's Samsung Omnia, which is only available with the data plan. It is actually very convenient to be able to access the web(or Outlook) anytime, anywhere.
The phone was chosen since it runs Windows Mobile, and now think even if the bill was my responsibility that I would be lost without it and would make the same personal choice.
However, it does seem like an unneccesary option to have Wi-Fi when it is so rarely used when 3G access is 24/7. | |
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2 edits | said by PolarBear03:It'd be easier to circumvent on AT&T, though. Simply put your SIM in a dumbphone, call them and tell them what phone you're using and cancel your data plan, then put your SIM back in your smartphone. At least, I think. I know for a fact that this no longer works with iPhone. The second you put the SIM back into iPhone, they will detect it and within a few minutes you will receive a text message stating something along the lines of "Congratulations on your new iPhone; by the way, for your 'convenience' we have added respective data plan to your account".
I believe that they are using IMEI to detect make/model of your phone, so it would probably be just as easy for them to identify other smartphones as well.
So I guess the only way to avoid charges for a data plan is to keep using a dumbphone.
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Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies...
A MESSAGE to the RIAA and the MPAA: You shouldn't wound what you can't kill...
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| |  meister_sdPremium
join:2006-01-29
La Mesa, CA
kudos:7 | Re: Not the first said by Pirate515:I know for a fact that this no longer works with iPhone. The second you put the SIM back into iPhone, they will detect it and within a few minutes you will receive a text message stating something along the lines of "Congratulations on your new iPhone; by the way, for your 'convenience' we have added respective data plan to your account". Been using an iPhone for months now and it hasn't happened to me. I watch the bill pretty close. | |
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| | |  djrobx
join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
kudos:1 | Re: Not the first Which iPhone? As far as I know they only do this with the 3G. Some 2G owners were able to get out of paying for the data plan by complaining about the network quality.
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AT&T U-Hearse
Your funeral. Delivered.
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| | | | meister_sdPremium
join:2006-01-29
La Mesa, CA
kudos:7 | Re: Not the first Mine is the 2G. I had a legit phone for a long time, and got a 2G and did a jailbreak, then popped in the SIM. It shows as a iPhone on my account screen, but no other action has been taken by ATT. | |
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|  BlitzenZeusBurnt Out CynicPremium
join:2000-01-13
kudos:2 | Some Hellizon phone had wifi taken out if their firmware, and possibly out of the hardware also to force people to use their data network when these devices originally were wifi capable. | |
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| | PolarBear03The bear formerly known as aaron8301Premium
join:2005-01-03 | Re: Not the first What a way to relieve strain on the network. FORCE people to use it, rather than offload it to a different source.
Definitely one thing T-mobile figured out (UMA = data AND phone over wifi). | |
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| | | BlitzenZeusBurnt Out CynicPremium
join:2000-01-13
kudos:2 | Re: Not the first All they saw was $$$$$, and I hate carriers that sell crippled hardware, ironically the ones who cripple their firmware also are the most expensive. I refuse to use them when I have other reliable providers available. | |
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 sheik28Premium
join:2000-10-15
New York, NY | BYO You are in the clear if you bring your own device or have one already. | |
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|  Romney2012Defeat Obama 2012-Chg we can believe inPremium
join:2002-03-03
USA
kudos:4 | Re: BYO said by sheik28:You are in the clear if you bring your own device or have one already. Correct.You only need the data plan if you get a SUBSIDIZED smartphone thru AT&T. Buy your own at full price you can do what you want.
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My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page | |
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| | Zoder
join:2002-04-16
Miami, FL | Re: BYO That's not what their saying on Howard Forums. The word there is that after October if you put your SIM in an unsubsidized phone they will add a data plan automatically to your account | |
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| | | | | Re: BYO It appears it only impacts people who sign new contracts after September 6th. Anyone who already has a smartphone will not be impacted. There's no way they could get by with forcing everyone who has what they label as a smartphone into a data plan. The FCC and class actions lawyers would be all over it!!! | |
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| | | | Too bad you pay the same "subsidized" monthly price. | |
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| | i have one and dont use data plan. i needed a keyboard for my fat ass fingers. verizon is who i use..
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calling a illegal alien undocumented is like calling a drug dealer a undocumented pharmacist | |
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thumbs down from:
Romney2012 
| Just use an ipod Touch That's ridiculous!
I may want a smartphone for calling and listening to music, as well as surf the net via WiFi here and there.
Just another reason for the techheads/early adopters to hate AT&T! I just use my iPod Touch currently as my communication device as I live in a city and neighborhood with tons of free wifi.
suck it AT and T! | |
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|  ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4
 ·VOIPo
| Re: Just use an ipod Touch said by IpodTouch1 :
That's ridiculous!
I may want a smartphone for calling and listening to music, as well as surf the net via WiFi here and there.
Just another reason for the techheads/early adopters to hate AT&T! I just use my iPod Touch currently as my communication device as I live in a city and neighborhood with tons of free wifi.
suck it AT and T!
So how do you make a call on the Touch when not in a wifi zone? Sorry but the Touch is not a replacement for a phone.
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"So, Lone Starr, now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb."
Have you been touched by his noodly appendage? »www.venganza.org | |
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| |  cdruGo ColtsPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:5
 ·Frontier FiOS
| Re: Just use an ipod Touch said by ptrowski:So how do you make a call on the Touch when not in a wifi zone? How does a VoIP phone make calls without internet access? They don't. That doesn't mean that VoIP can't be used as a communications method, just that there are additional requirements to it's use, mainly internet access. As the original poster mentioned, he lives in the city with many free wifi access options so it's apparently not an issue for him.
Sorry but the Touch is not a replacement for a phone. If it works for him, what do you care? | |
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| | | ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 Reviews:
·VOIPo
| Re: Just use an ipod Touch said by cdru:said by ptrowski:So how do you make a call on the Touch when not in a wifi zone? How does a VoIP phone make calls without internet access? They don't. That doesn't mean that VoIP can't be used as a communications method, just that there are additional requirements to it's use, mainly internet access. As the original poster mentioned, he lives in the city with many free wifi access options so it's apparently not an issue for him. Sorry but the Touch is not a replacement for a phone. If it works for him, what do you care? Great if it works for him, but travel outside of that area without tons of free wifi you are screwed.
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"So, Lone Starr, now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb."
Have you been touched by his noodly appendage? »www.venganza.org | |
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| | | | | | Re: Just use an ipod Touch said by ptrowski:said by cdru:said by ptrowski:So how do you make a call on the Touch when not in a wifi zone? How does a VoIP phone make calls without internet access? They don't. That doesn't mean that VoIP can't be used as a communications method, just that there are additional requirements to it's use, mainly internet access. As the original poster mentioned, he lives in the city with many free wifi access options so it's apparently not an issue for him. Sorry but the Touch is not a replacement for a phone. If it works for him, what do you care? Great if it works for him, but travel outside of that area without tons of free wifi you are screwed. Inconvenienced | |
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zed260Premium
join:2007-09-30
Cleveland, TN
kudos:1 | http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm anybody care to file a complaint with the fcc about this
i would but dont have any smart phone | |
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 trparkyApple... YUMPremium,MVM
join:2000-05-24
Cleveland, OH
kudos:1 | The iPhone requires a data plan... So really they are just making all the other smart phones just like the iPhone.
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Tom | |
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|  morboComplete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000 | Re: The iPhone requires a data plan... like we need another reason to avoid AT&T. | |
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| | | | Re: The iPhone requires a data plan... And Verizon. If you READ the article it said it's already a policy at Verizon. | |
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| | | | | Re: The iPhone requires a data plan... said by itguy05:And Verizon. If you READ the article it said it's already a policy at Verizon. Well I avoid AT&T (on my personal phone, on my work phone I have no choice basically) because their coverage sucks where I live. Verizon's is excellent, plus the voice quality is better. | |
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1 edit | 466453 I have a friend with a Blackberry and Tmobile and she just canceled her data plan because she was just made aware of Google's Mobile text message info thing, 466453.
Not everyone needs mobile web, but might enjoy the feel of a "smart" phone. | |
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| | | Re: 466453 Ever hear of the iPhone ?!
Adi | |
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| | trparkyApple... YUMPremium,MVM
join:2000-05-24
Cleveland, OH
kudos:1 | Re: 466453 Yeah, the iPhone displays images in email messages and Safari is the best mobile web browser there is. Safari allows me to browse the web about as close as you can to the way it was meant to be browse on a mobile device.
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Tom | |
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| | |  tiger72SexaT duorPPremium
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO
kudos:1 | umm. which smartphones dont display images in email? Does the blackberry not do this? Android does this. | |
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| | | | | Iphone safari does not support flash and many sites use it. | |
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| | | | trparkyApple... YUMPremium,MVM
join:2000-05-24
Cleveland, OH
kudos:1 | Re: 466453 Apple says that Flash support is coming soon but no announcement of when it will be available. Maybe they are waiting for a version of Flash that actually works on the Mac properly.
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Tom | |
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| Romney2012Defeat Obama 2012-Chg we can believe inPremium
join:2002-03-03
USA
kudos:4 | said by DJ_Kismuth:Honestly, since I have yet to see a "smart" phone that shows embedded images in emails, I get embedded pics in my email on the Palm Pre with the included Gmail email app. See pic below
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My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page | |
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| | | | Re: 466453 Speaking of 90's... Holy Blur Batman  | |
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| | | Romney2012Defeat Obama 2012-Chg we can believe inPremium
join:2002-03-03
USA
kudos:4 | Re: 466453 Old digital camera without a closeup macro mode. | |
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| | | Windows mobile on my palm treo pro shows embedded images in it's built-in email client. | |
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|  nixenRockin' the BoxenPremium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA | said by DJ_Kismuth:Honestly, since I have yet to see a "smart" phone that shows embedded images in emails, I think mobile web is kind of archaic and a step back into the 1990s. So... Haven't seen a "smart phone" in the last few years, then? My BlackBerry displays them (when you click the "download images" button). Your complaint is sorta like complaining that your desktop email client doesn't render inline email images because of security settings.
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The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell | |
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| | Required Data plans TMobile requires smartphone data plans too. I put one on mine anyway but only later noticed the REQ prefix lol. Verizon had a data plan requirement too so I think Sprint is the only carrier that doesn't at the moment (unless they do and I'm mistken).
I'm just surprised they don't just base smartphone plans on data to begin with, since they seem to be a standard $25 or $30 a month or whatever, then allow customers to add voice minute options as desired, say at $10/mo per 100 minutes or so. | |
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| Zoder
join:2002-04-16
Miami, FL | Re: Required Data plans No doubt that Sprint will be following shortly. Just like when one carrier raises the text messaging ppu price, the rest follow.
This is a pretty dumb move on AT&Ts part when the FCC is currently invastigating the wireless industry | |
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| |  Darkflight4G Stitch626
join:2001-03-03
Rowland Heights, CA | Re: Required Data plans Sprint has a no-data code (blocks the internet) option. | |
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| | | said by podstolom :
TMobile requires smartphone data plans too. No they don't. Buying a subsidized smartphone requires a data plan subscription, but I just paid full price for a Dash 3G and there was no such requirement (I already have a non-smartphone data plan which works great with the handset). If I am content with WiFi access only (which I'm not), I don't even need the data plan. | |
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 wesmPremium
join:1999-07-29
Redmond, WA | * please include a post subject At the risk of being an apologist, I think this is a reasonable action for AT&T to take. How many stories have we seen where customers have racked up huge data bills and then demand that AT&T credit back the overage? That said, I think $30/month for mobile data is too expensive, especially when family plans get it on "feature phones" (as Boy Genius Report calls them) for $10/month/line on a family account. If AT&T is going to go this route, a price break on the data feature ought to be in order as well as continuing to allow customers to block data completely if they choose to not take a data plan.
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Opinions expressed here are mine and not my employer's. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. | |
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| Zoder
join:2002-04-16
Miami, FL | Re: * please include a post subject AT&T could easily offer the option of a data block if that was their real concern. | |
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| | | | Re: * please include a post subject They already do. My wife had them put a data block on her BlackJack II. It won't allow it to make any Internet connections. This a money grab, pure and simple. | |
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|  KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
 ·AT&T DSL Service
| This doesn't prevent that at all. In fact I think it may lull many users into making the mistake of thinking they have a data plan and are good to go.
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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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 manfmmdPremium
join:2003-01-14
Earth, TX | I was wanting to upgrade anyway..I just moved up to a Nokia E71x for $49.99 on my Premier Account.. | |
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neftv
join:2000-10-01
Broomall, PA | Maybe time to change. Dump my Blackberry phone paying 80 for phone and data and get a netbook and data only that way. Use Gizmo/GV combination. | |
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| | Sprint too I just wanted to chime in to say, that sprint has the same req as all of the other carriers. I have a htc diamond, and when I bought it I was told I had to have a data plan. I bought the phone outright too, not in a contract agreement.
Thanks | |
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| | Wow Considering users are forced to pay the "subsidized" monthly plans whether or not they bring their own phone, this requirement is epically stupid. It was stupid when Verizon did it, and it is just as stupid now that AT&T is doing it.
This is just utterly retarded and consumer *unfriendly*, completely going against the spirit of their spectrum license.
Boy, I'm really putting some high hopes on the FCC to slap this cartel in its multi-headed...faces. | |
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service
| If you use WiFi you are cheating your Wireless provider Corporate mode.
If you use WiFi you are cheating your Wireless provider because they depend on this money, you owe it to them. If you use "loopholes" like WiFi to get around paying them the money they earned and deserved, that's really just the same as theft-of-service, and you should not be allowed by LAW to get away with this theft and illegal activity.
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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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See 8 replies to this post |
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| | Predictable? A predictable bill? I suppose that is why I was just presented with a 30% increase in my regular phone service charge, without notice. And pro-rated, of course. | |
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| |  Duping the honest people
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| | | Re: Duping the honest people said by ATTAbused :
Oh yea the argument I got when I requested this was that you cannot block data and still send/receive text messages.
On At&T, you can block data and still send and receive text messages. You cannot, however, send or receive MMS messages if you have the data block. | |
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| axgupta1
join:2005-02-13
Mechanicsburg, PA | I agree with you 100%. This is the same reason why my son got an HTC Touch diamond. He wants his music, contacts, reminders etc. all in one place syncing these over wifi. No need for a data plan. This is just an extortion scheme. When our family plan contract runs out next year, I will dump AT&T. If Verizon is also resorting to same tactics, they also will not get my business. If it is Sprint or T-Mobile, so be it... | |
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 MaccawolfPremium
join:2001-02-20
Hillsdale, NJ
kudos:6
1 edit | This is not NEW We have been "discussing" this topic for about a week already. Personally, I think it's Terrible.
I know many people, myself included with my SPARE phone, who have smart phones without any data at all. I don't want or need it. It really irks me that AT&T will FORCE it upon me.
As for blocking Data, I think most people don't know you can. I didn't even know it until about a year into my contract.....
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Mom and Crockett...... I miss you both! | |
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| | laff I'm delighted to see AT&T took all the uproar about most people hating them and decided to launch and initiative that will please their customer base. Oh wait.
I have a BB pearl on Sprint but have no data plan. Why? It would suck to browse the net on that thing. I like the form factor and all but are you kidding me? Realistically, there are probably 3 phones on the market in the U.S. that are worth browsing the web on regularly. I admit I have pretty high standards in that area. The Iphone was the first phone I ever saw and thought, "wow, browsing the web on that looks...almost normal." That's not me being a fanboy, that's me remembering what the phone selection looked like in the summer of 2007. Seriously? What the hell could you browse the web on and have a near-computing experience?
It's interesting that now all "smartphones" will require AT&T's outragous data prices(most other carriers doing it as well with their high end devices). As more and more phones have "smartphone" characteristics...who's going to decide what's smart and what's not? You can bet that the carriers will want to categorize phones as ones that have mandatory $$$$ data plans. | |
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 AVDRespice, Adspice, ProspicePremium
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ | tmobile My dad got a BB from T-mobile without a data plan, I thought it was ridiculous for the tmobile rep to see it to him, but at least it was no cost.
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standard disclaimers apply. | |
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| | | Data block already...am I fine? I have an unlocked BB 8820 bought off Ebay. I have data from AT&T blocked, and I use WIFI with no issues. Will I be forced on a BB data plan? | |
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| | | |  Re: Data block already...am I fine?
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nitzanPremium,VIP
join:2008-02-27
kudos:2 | So glad I cancelled! Got rid of AT$T a couple of months ago, and couldn't be happier.
I have an HTC Wizard I used with AT&T, and now HTC Diamond with my new provider. So in essence I would've been forced to use their overpriced POS data plan that runs slower than your phone can handle. Glad I got rid of them already - saves me the trouble of doing it now!!
The "new" AT$T is greedy, stupid, and treats BOTH their customers AND employees like shit. Unless management changes - fast - this is another GM just waiting to happen. | |
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