iPhone data and tethering can cost you only $15 per month
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Paying less is always good, right? We're not going to complain about saving some extra cash during these tough economic times. Instead, we're going to reap all the rewards and benefits of what our iPhone 3GS can potentially do for us. So here's what you're going to need to get this to go through without a niche. First and foremost, you'll obviously need to get an iPhone – either buying it with a contract or dishing out some heavy dough for a full priced one. Second, you're going to have to snag yourself some sort of AT&T handset that isn't deemed as a smart phone – let's say something like an LG Xenon or Motorola RAZR. Third, a phone call to AT&T's customer care will be needed to get some information put into their system. Finally, downloading an APN changer on the iPhone, like the one found here will be essential to the completion of the procedure.
Searching through various web sites, there are people asking in many forums if the iPhone will work with AT&T's unlimited data plan for non-smart phones (formerly Media Net). Surprisingly, many users out there would simply remove their SIM, which has the $15 per month unlimited data plan associated with it, and insert it into a friends iPhone without any problems. They're able to place phone calls and even surf the web without any problems. If you're thinking that the monthly bill will reflect some new charges, you'll be shocked to find out that there was no difference. They were still charged for the $15 data plan and nothing else. So here's where we start on our quest to save money and enable tethering in four simple steps.
We started out by upgrading an eligible line to an iPhone with a two year contract; so we dished out the usual $199.99 for an iPhone 3GS in black. The sales representative we dealt with showed us our contract that displayed clearly the $30 per month data plan we would be charged in addition to our regular plan. By the time we left the store, our iPhone 3GS was activated and ready for use. So here comes the fun part; calling up AT&T customer care.
In order to get this successfully completed, we had a spare LG Vu on hand to get the “switch” done. Now here's the thing with AT&T, it keeps track of what features are associated with each device thanks to the IMEI of the handset. Thanks to SIM cards, users can freely place their SIM into other devices without the need to call up their carrier to get it active. Our only fear with a Verizon iPhone incarnation is that users will always need to provide the carrier the ESN (Electronic Serial Number) to have it activated on their network. Whereas AT&T customers, or any GSM based carrier, are able to freely transfer service to other devices by just placing their SIM card into the new handset. After briefly chatting with the customer service representative, we told them how we wanted to use another phone we got from a friend and be able to access the internet on it. Eventually they asked for the IMEI of the LG Vu, so we provided it to them and then informed them to place the $15 per month unlimited data plan. And we asked to verify that the $30 iPhone data plan was removed and no longer being charged for it. After that was complete, we went to our online account and filled with excitement to see that the LG Vu was now showing as our device. We're more than halfway through completing this process, we only had one more thing to complete before we could start rejoicing in our victory.
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Powering on the iPhone, we were able to make voice calls without a hitch. Launching Safari, we were greeted to this message displaying “Could not activate cellular data network: You are not subscribed to a cellular data service.” Most people would probably scratch their heads and throw in the book – it seems as though AT&T would have the last laugh. So this is where this nifty APN Changer comes into play. For all those not familiar with it, the APN is a setting that instructs your handset how to access data services. So we connected to the closest Wi-Fi network in our vicinity and typed in “unlockit.co.nz” into the browser. It directs you to a web site that looks like a settings menu that can be found on the iPhone. There is an option to select a “custom APN” which then asks you if tethering is an option you want enabled. At this point, why not? We made it this far and we're intent on getting the full rewards out of our hardships. Finally there is an option to select a carrier – we were told to select US – Cingular. From there all the settings are in place and we were given the option to install the new APN Carrier Settings to our device. We did a quick restart of the iPhone and then waited to see if all our work paid off. We clicked on Safari and waited in anticipation to see if it all worked. Success! We triumphed and opened multiple web pages with the aid of 3G connectivity. We played around the internet tethering options under the “Network” settings and enabled it. Soon we were sharing the 3G speed via Bluetooth to our netbook. The greatest thing about it is that it was simple and did not require having the iPhone being jailbroken.
So let's recap our adventure in obtaining a cheaper data plan and getting tethering capabilities. The only feature we were missing was Visual Voicemail. The reason behind it is that the $30 per month iPhone data plan needs to be associated with the account in order to get it. So now we're forced to retrieve messages using the old fashion way. It's not a bummer in our books – especially when we'll be saving half as much money during the life of the contract. After we connected the iPhone to iTunes on our computer, we noticed after logging into our AT&T account online that it showed the iPhone as our device. We assume that iTunes registers the IMEI with the SIM card number to AT&T; so in their system it'll say you have an iPhone (which we do now). Interestingly enough, the $15 unlimited data plan was still valid despite it showing us having the iPhone 3GS. The reader who provided us the information goes on to say that they were still charged the same $15 data plan while using the iPhone for six months. They were even able to place their SIM into a Samsung BlackJack II and a BlackBerry Curve – all the while still paying the same $15 plan; not the usual $30 data plan. We've verified this ourselves and continue to pay only $15 plus our normal voice plan. We're now enjoying the huge savings and tethering it to our computer – all the while paying less and without any major reduction in functionality. Undoubtedly, we'd assume that the big suits over at AT&T would not be pleased about this. But we believe that sharing this information will empower consumers out there. So happy web surfing on the iPhone!
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37 Comments
1. gba2000 posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:43 0 0
The problem with that is once the sim registers the iphone as an iphone, the data plan will be changed automatically.
6. PhoneArena Team posted on 14 Jul 2009, 10:45 0 0
That's not the case. The only time that AT&T can change the plan back to the $30 one is if you call them up or go into a store and provide them the IMEI of the device. Although it shows online that you are using an iPhone, it will continue to charge only the $15 unlimited data plan. We've confirmed this.
11. Quemical posted on 14 Jul 2009, 15:31 0 0
They cant change your data plan without your consent............right. Except for the part about violating the terms of service which in turn allows them to change it back. I agree with comment 9 azphonegeek, what was the point of this??? This site is about the farthest from an informative tech-savvy hackery blog as you can get.
17. jesushcop posted on 14 Jul 2009, 18:02 0 0
That is incorrect. AT&T can and will update the data package without your consent. If you were to call customer care they would add the feature and tell you that due to your terms and conditions you are required to have it. They also do system sweeps which send you a text stating that they are adding the feature. Simple as that. When you activated the line you agreed to the terms and conditions. You sold your soul.
18. Quemical posted on 14 Jul 2009, 18:15 0 0
Exactly, Pa didnt know what they are talking about? Suprise suprise.
20. ruggedruffian posted on 14 Jul 2009, 19:49 0 0
Dude how have you confirmed it? Read a real reputable site likewww.howardforums.com and you will see that the forums (both AT&T and Apple subforums) are filled with people who have TRIED this. This is old news because the 3G iPhone was out in 2008. People have tried this and AT&T WILL check you. If you read the Terms of the iPhone contract, you NEED the iPhone $30 plan. You got lucky and got a CSR dumb enough to follow through and cancel it. They should NOT do it. Ok, let's say you get through this part. AT&T performs sweeps based on IMEI or whatever and will see that you are using an iPhone on their $15 plan and you WILL get a text. Dozens of threads on MacForums, MacRumors, iLounge, HowardForums detail this and you will get screwed. AT&T has the right to cancel or modify your plan. I'm not saying this won't work 100%, but it has a high failure percentage. This isn't free cone day @ Ben & Jerrys. This is cheating the terms of the contract and hoping it will work. I have no shame and if this had a 95% success rate I would do it, but given that you can get caught and it's not worth it, at least get the fact straights. A HUGE thumbsdown to the Phone Arena team for discovering something a year late and jumping on it without a full investigation. Booo. False information ruins other people.
21. vasser7 posted on 14 Jul 2009, 20:24 0 0
So the people who got checked by ATT doing this, did ATT cancel their contract or just changed everything back to normal??
22. jovel16 posted on 14 Jul 2009, 21:59 0 0
I actually had a Samsung Eternity that I used 6 months ago and also paid for the $15 data plan for it...and then borrowed my dad's HTC tilt a few months after. I was never charged for the usual smart phone data plan for $30. But I kept on switching back and forth between the two phones. And to this day.....I've never got that text saying they are changing something.
2. trentsinmypants posted on 14 Jul 2009, 08:27 0 0
What about visual voicemail? Does that still work?
7. PhoneArena Team posted on 14 Jul 2009, 10:49 0 0
Nope, it's no longer available once we switched to the $15 unlimited data plan. It would only be available if the $30 iPhone data plan is associated with the account. So you have to manually retrieve messages the old fashion way.
31. PapaJay224 posted on 15 Jul 2009, 11:04 0 0
in other words its 45 dollars right? data plan for the phone 15 for tether? Sounds right to me....But I agree upstairs we arent buying iPhones here whats the relevancy of the article?
3. DontHateOnS60 posted on 14 Jul 2009, 09:42 0 0
And now that this is out, AT&T will figure out a way to crack down on this.
4. sinfulta posted on 14 Jul 2009, 10:23 0 0
I can care less about about most of which was mentioned. I just want MMS. I will pay the same price and could care less about tethering. I'm sure not much is needed to be done but visiting the website so it can be enabled.
15. theman10 posted on 14 Jul 2009, 16:56 0 0
It's I couldn't care less. If you say I could care less, then you care and it defeats the purpose of what you are saying. Think about and save us all from being retarded
19. sinfulta posted on 14 Jul 2009, 19:20 0 0
If you read that again. I said that because I DO care about a portion of it which is the MMS portion. (Thus, why I said about most of which was mentioned) Maybe you should take your own advice.
26. E.N. posted on 15 Jul 2009, 00:28 0 0
Theman10 is right and you might be a little confused (but that's okay because almost everyone makes this error). You meant to say that you couldn't care less about most of the stuff that was mentioned (excluding MMS), which would mean that on a scale of 0-10 of how much you care about most of the stuff mentioned, the score would be a "0" therefore you couldn't care less than zero (zero is the lowest level of caring). In another words, your level of caring for the stuff other than MMS is so low that it couldn't get any lower. that's what theman10 was trying to say (even though he was being just a little rude). If you say you could care less, then that means that your level of caring could be something like a "5," which means that you could care less. That means that you do care about it somewhat. You could be really excited and still make sense when you say that you could care less. If you won $100 and you say you couldn't care less, that means you don't care one bit. If you say that you could care less, then that means you care about it somewhat and that it is possible of caring less. And that's our lesson for day phonearena members. Come back again next year.
32. PapaJay224 posted on 15 Jul 2009, 11:06 0 0
thanks TEACH! Go grade someone elses paper...I hate you grammer happy junkies coming into forums thinking you sound smart...if your not going to talk about the topic dont post...its not like they can come back and correct what they posted...Was that a fragment? oh i dont know...WHO CARES!!!!!!
34. E.N. posted on 15 Jul 2009, 14:35 0 0
You're welcome. And I didn't correct his grammar. His grammar is fine. And I wasn't trying to sound smart. I guess it just came out that way. I was just trying to help sinfulta understand what theman was saying. Sorry if I made you feel stupid
5. sinfulta posted on 14 Jul 2009, 10:25 0 0
Can someone tell me if this could be done if you don't have a second handset. I just want to activate the MMS.
8. jjgoode posted on 14 Jul 2009, 13:27 0 0
So...is there a difference in performance? other than visual voicemail is one data plan better than another? faster?
