AT&T internet service question

[Tim Burton]

My brother needs a new phone, but still has a year on his cell phone contract.

Right now, he is paying off credit cards (he is trying to be debt free in the next 6 to 8 months) so he doesn't want to pay for the 3G data plan. He has a friend who is willing to sell his 3G Iphone to him for a fair price.

He doesn't mind paying for the $10 data plan (2G) since it would be nice for him to get email with his job.

He went into AT&T and they told him he can't get a 2G data plan with any Iphone and he can't use an iPhone (even if he didn't buy it from them) without signing a contract and getting a 3G plan for 2 years. They'd also remove the unlimited texts in that plan.

That makes no sense. Does anyone know anything about their data plans?

I know that years ago, I knew a manager at a Cingular store as it transitioned to AT&T. She told me that her sales persons never signed anyone up unless it made them money. For example, the phone I bought had a $50 rebate if you signed a 2 year contract with a more expensive plan. I refused to get the added plan, since the web on it sucked. The sales person refused to sell the phone to me. I had to actually have her instruct the guy to sell me the phone. She said, "He'll refuse to sell the phone unless you get a contract because he knows he won't get a $50 commission."

I'm thinking the sales person is full of crap wanting to make a buck and get the 3G data plan and 2 year extended contract for the commission.

Does anyone have any experience on this and can give me some info?

[Darkstar]

All i can tell you is i have the 3g with them and it sucks, cant even pull up a web page half the time. I heard they pulled all the 2G phones from the shelves last month but would think they would still support them.
Might want to hit the ATT site and check out the support or forums.

edit; http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2009/05/29 ... customers/

[Tim Burton]

All i can tell you is i have the 3g with them and it sucks, cant even pull up a web page half the time. I heard they pulled all the 2G phones from the shelves last month but would think they would still support them.
Might want to hit the ATT site and check out the support or forums.

edit; http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2009/05/29 ... customers/

Great. You know, I'm starting to get fed up with AT&T. I'm about to leave and take my parents with me.

I can't believe they are being such greedy pricks when it comes to their data plans. Can't wait till Verizon can get their hands on selling the iPhone, AT&T will be in trouble then...

[bigblockmatt]

do you think that another cell company does it much different? meaning, does verizon or sprint's contract and phone purchase system much different then att/cingular? I've had cingular for a while now and ive been thinking about getting a new phone/smart phone. I dont want to get an iphone mostly because of how it is so "trendy" and iconic of a phone.

[hnzw_rui]

My brother needs a new phone, but still has a year on his cell phone contract.

Right now, he is paying off credit cards (he is trying to be debt free in the next 6 to 8 months) so he doesn't want to pay for the 3G data plan. He has a friend who is willing to sell his 3G Iphone to him for a fair price.

He doesn't mind paying for the $10 data plan (2G) since it would be nice for him to get email with his job.

He went into AT&T and they told him he can't get a 2G data plan with any Iphone and he can't use an iPhone (even if he didn't buy it from them) without signing a contract and getting a 3G plan for 2 years. They'd also remove the unlimited texts in that plan.

That makes no sense. Does anyone know anything about their data plans?

Some corrections, the iPhone 2G data plan is $20 not $10. That $20 gives you unlimited internet access using EDGE and 200 text messages but is only limited to first generation iPhones. Those with first generation iPhones can still get the $20/month iPhone plan. They also have the option to go prepaid with a GoPhone plan.

Those with newer iPhones (3G or 3GS) need to get the 3G data plan which costs $30 per month and does not include text messages. That pricing is pretty much in-line with other carriers. I just checked Verizon Wireless and their Email and Web for Smartphone is $29.99. T-Mobile might be cheaper but if you thought AT&T was bad, wait 'til you try T-Mobile. The 3G data plan is required if he wants to use the iPhone with AT&T. AT&T is paying Apple big bucks, both as part of the phone subsidy (full retail price of iPhone 3GS 32GB is $699 as opposed to $299 2-year contract price) and exclusivity. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple gets a cut on top of that for each new sign-up. You can be sure AT&T will make up for that cost with the monthly voice and data plans.

All i can tell you is i have the 3g with them and it sucks, cant even pull up a web page half the time. I heard they pulled all the 2G phones from the shelves last month but would think they would still support them.

I live and work in the Los Angeles area and have no problems with 3G coverage. In fact, I did a speed test and was quite surprised to see the iPhone using AT&T 3G was faster than the iPhone connected to Verizon Evdo via the Novatel MiFi. I was getting 700~800kbps from AT&T and just 500~600kbps on Verizon. The first generation iPhone or iPhone 2G, as they're often referred to, was pulled from the shelves a year ago, around May or June, before the first iPhone 3G was released.

I can't believe they are being such greedy pricks when it comes to their data plans. Can't wait till Verizon can get their hands on selling the iPhone, AT&T will be in trouble then...

As for Verizon (or Sprint for that matter) selling the iPhone, that would require Apple to create new hardware. The iPhone uses GSM and in the US, I believe only AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. Between the two, AT&T is the lesser evil. Besides, as I've already mentioned, pricing for the data plan is the same. The only difference is if you get an iPhone, you're forced to get the data plan with AT&T while I have yet to hear of Verizon forcing people to get data plans with their smartphones. Verizon network coverage is also better than AT&T.

Hmm, just a thought, are you required to get a data plan with the Palm Pre or the T-Mobile G1?

[Darkstar]

All i can tell you is i have the 3g with them and it sucks, cant even pull up a web page half the time. I heard they pulled all the 2G phones from the shelves last month but would think they would still support them.

I live and work in the Los Angeles area and have no problems with 3G coverage. In fact, I did a speed test and was quite surprised to see the iPhone using AT&T 3G was faster than the iPhone connected to Verizon Evdo via the Novatel MiFi. I was getting 700~800kbps from AT&T and just 500~600kbps on Verizon. The first generation iPhone or iPhone 2G, as they're often referred to, was pulled from the shelves a year ago, around May or June, before the first iPhone 3G was released.


thanks for the correction, i meant a year ago last month....around this time in June. Maybe being in LA you have better coverage, but looking at reviews online recently it seems alot of people are not happy with AT&T's coverage/service.

[Sporg]

As for Verizon (or Sprint for that matter) selling the iPhone, that would require Apple to create new hardware.

It's not something unheard of. As the manufacturer you're actually limiting your customer base by solely going through one company. I wouldn't be surprised to see it pop up on a CDMA network sooner or later. And I would be surprised if AT&T were courted first by Apple. My guess is that they talked to all 3 carriers (don't bring T-Mobile into this because they didn't even have a 3G network when it came out) and went with whoever gave them the best deal.

I can't speak for Verizon or AT&T but I'm fairly certain that with Sprint if you get the Pre, then you have to chose a plan that includes data. With that said, the plans available are priced very competitively. The plan to get is the $99 unlimited everything plan. And with a smartphone why wouldn't you go out and get a data plan? I mean really, what's the point of having the hardware if you aren't going to use it? [And my argument to that would be someone who goes out and buys a high end graphics card for their home setup and is playing on a 15" monitor. Really? You are gonna drop a few hundy on a card and are not willing to upgrade your monitor? I don't know, maybe a crappy example.] Personally I have no issues with any of the companies making you get a data plan with a smartphone.

I know that years ago, I knew a manager at a Cingular store as it transitioned to AT&T. She told me that her sales persons never signed anyone up unless it made them money.

That's not surprising if it did happen that way. I'm sure each carrier has it's own quirky goofy ways to force the sales.

[bigblockmatt]

Sporg , i agree. why would you get a smart phone without data?? i've been thinking about a smart phone but i dont talk on the phone very much. i use maybe 100-200 minutes or "anytime" minutes. for an "everything plan' wouldnt really make sense. i do text about 1000 texts a month (1000 total in and out)

[hnzw_rui]

And with a smartphone why wouldn't you go out and get a data plan? I mean really, what's the point of having the hardware if you aren't going to use it? Personally I have no issues with any of the companies making you get a data plan with a smartphone.

I was thinking the exact same thing and yet one of the complaints I often hear is the $30/mo data plan AT&T "imposes" on you if you get an iPhone 3G. Funny considering the cost is pretty much the same on all carriers. Heck, I had a data plan with my old Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones, and let me tell you, the browsing experience even when using Opera is a joke. I was already on AT&T and my monthly rates stayed the same when I got the iPhone 2G (I lost my Sony Ericsson). I thought of getting an unlocked N9x phone, but iirc, it cost $300 more than the iPhone 16GB at the time.

i've been thinking about a smart phone but i dont talk on the phone very much. i use maybe 100-200 minutes or "anytime" minutes. for an "everything plan' wouldnt really make sense. i do text about 1000 texts a month (1000 total in and out)

Same here. I actually use less than 100 anytime minutes a month and maybe 150~200 mobile to mobile. I'm not a big texter, either. For me, Sprint's Simply Everything plan is unnecessarily expensive. Heck, if they offered data only plans at reasonable cost, I'd happily go with that and just get a prepaid phone.

[Sporg]

The plan I mentioned has the unlimited voice. I know there are others with a set amount of voice minutes and other data options.