Starting on September 6, 2009, AT&T will require that customers who chose to purchase a smartphone also purchase a data plan in addition to their voice and text messaging plans.
In a recent statement issued by AT&T, a company spokesperson reported:
“Smartphone users tend to consume a higher amount of data services, like advanced e-mail, mobile Web, applications and more,” an AT&T press release stated. “Being able to take full advantage of these features without having to worry about a fluctuating or unusually high bill generally leads to greater customer satisfaction, so effective Sept. 6, smartphone customers will need to subscribe to a data plan, as the vast majority of customers already do.”
If you currently have an AT&T branded smartphone you will be able to continue using your phone as you always have. However, if “[you] update your device or want to make changes to your account, [you] will have to bring their accounts current, which in some cases may include subscribing to a data plan.”
The requirement for a data plan isn’t something new for AT&T. There are some devices that the wireless company already requires a data plan for, which includes the wildly popular Apple iPhone.
If you have been thinking about upgrading your AT&T smartphone and hoped to keep the data plan off your monthly bill, you should get yourself down to an AT&T store before September 6 when then new Terms of Service rules go into effect.
4 Comments
..:: AvIzOnE™ ::..
VERY IMPORTANT !!!!!!!!! MUST READ
DO NOT add an IMEI of your smartphone even if you had it for past 2000 years. They will simply claim that you ADDED A SMARTPHONE after 6th Sept, 2009 and hence you will need a data plan.
(I had Nokia N95 for past 8months and today they ask me for the IMEI, hence a data plan for rest of the contract)
LOOPHOLE (workaround) :If you are caught in their crap, just add an IMEI of non-smart phone, remove the data plan and start using the smartphone again.
Quote from att.com/smartphoneplans: “If you purchased a smartphone prior to September 6, 2009 and are using data on a pay per use basis, you will not be required to add a data plan at this time.”
They don't care about purchase date since you ADDED the IMEI after 6th Sept.
Anonymous
I have a nokia e71. It has all the internet items one could want, it especially has a separate wireless chip. I don't have to access ATT to get to the net at all. And it saves a bundle.
I don't need thier data plan either because I dont connect thru them at all. So we told them that this account was not allowed to access the internet thru the ATT system.
I reccomend that step. otherwise everytime you try to access the net TT tries to hijack the connection to make it go thru their system.. And if you aren't doing it thru thier system.WHy should you put up w/ that.
Their hijacking of my wireless connections jerked the first two weeks of use of this phone almost $500. That's just insane.
..:: AvIzOnE™ ::..
I really wanna abuse AT&T people right now. I was using a phone for past 8months (Nokia N95, unlocked purcahsed from Amazon) and because I had network issues, I call them on 7th Sept and they take my IMEI. Since my phone was “ADDED” after 6th sept, they were forcing me to take data plan. I simply asked them to add a non-smart phone, hence no data plan. In a day or two, switch the sim card back to smartphone and don't give them the new IMEI i.e. add the phone in their system. They are bloody money leechers.
Also, once you ask them to add the non-smart phone in your account, ask them to DISABLE the MediaNet completely.
Then in your E71, there is a priority option, set your wireless to higher priority (and if possible, delete all Media Net and ATT crap). You should be good to go 🙂
Anonymous
Is it my undesrtanding that it does not matter whether you bought a smartphone from AT&T or not. Also that it does not matter whether it is subsidized by AT&T or not. So long as you have what AT&T thinks it is a smartphone, then AT&T will add the data plan to your bill because it is now scanning IMEI for the group of phones it considers smartphones. The only exemption are those who have a smartphone without a data plan before the Sept. 6 date. Right?