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Before getting an iPhone 2G from ebay I tried the LG Vu, and when I went to return it today I had to speak to a CSR, and she asked if I was using an iPhone. I definitely got the feeling that they somehow knew I was using one, but how would they know? Edge has always been disabled, and I use the same SIM as before. Can they find out, or am I just being paranoid?
Just to clarify, I'm using an iPhone 2G with 2.1 firmware and Edge disabled.
They can by looking at some kind of identification. When I call t-mobile, they knew right away that I'm using an iphone but they are cool with it.
same here when i called both t-mobile customer care and at&t customer care.
i asked t-mobile questions about how the iphone works on its network, and apparently they have documentation about it.
So is AT&T going to force me to get the data plan or something?
Every mobile phone registers itself to the carrier using (amongst other things like IMSI) the IMEI number which indicates what type of phone it is (once again, amongst other things)Quote:
Originally Posted by nautikal
So yes, everytime you have signal from a carrier they know what you're using.
Cumps.
Nope, I've been using my 2G /w AT&T for over a year, bought it from 3rd party. They know I've been using iPhone because when I log into my account, iPhone under "phones" section shows up. I've talked to them a few times and nobody mentioned anything about switching to the "iPhone" ripoff...oops plan.Quote:
Originally Posted by nautikal
So, no worries.
I am yet to see any operator that imposes any restriction based on the phone you are using. Although they know the phone you are using, they cannot act upon it because it may be, among other things, a temporary setup: SIM cards can be exchanged at any time.
Do AT&T care if you use the iPhone without a data plan? No! Try being billed by the kilobyte without a data plan? You will end up paying a lot more.
Whenever I'm in the US I use a GoPhone SIM card and I add a temporary data package (MEdiaNet) either 5MB ($9.99) or one-month-unlimited ($19.90). I do not like to take my chances with a per kb rate (too expensive).
Bottom line: they do not care, because to use the "feature" you must pay.
That's why you either disable the internet completely (call them and ask them to do that) or you get the $15 unlimited plan.Quote:
Originally Posted by aviegas
:)
I have a Tilt 2, which I love and have found it to be an amazing phone. I do not have a data plan, and actually have an internet block so that I can't accidentally incur charges. I recently found out that they are now "forcing" customers who get smart phones to add the $30/month data plan. I was told that because I had a smart phone before this stupid policy was put into effect, I will be "grandfathered in" and not be forced to add a data plan now. If I were to upgrade to another smart phone in the future, they say I will have to then add the $30/month data plan. What crap! So anyway, my husband has the awful LG Vue, and I was going to buy him the Tilt 2 like I have. Since I don't want to pay $30/month for a data plan, I was just going to pay full price for the Tilt 2 as if I was going to replace mine, then just put his sim card in and poof, he would have a smart phone without a data plan. When we went to the AT&T store the other day, the nasty representative told us that if we tried to use the phone with another phone number (such as putting the sim card in my hubby's phone) AT&T would find out and automatically add a data plan to the line that he is using. He claims that they randomly "ping" phone numbers to determine whether people are using smart phones without data plans, and then if found, that account is automatically updated with a $30/month data plan without the customer's knowledge or permission. Talk about sneaky and underhanded. Well, my husband is now scared, and instructed me not to buy the phone. Does anyone know if they will do this? Obviously they can see the phone you are using, so could they automatically add a data plan?
I had almost the same experience with the AT&T bloodsuckers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheshie
Short answer is yes, they can add $30 data plan without your permission and they sure WILL. I've popped my 2G SIM card in my new 3GS many times and within 5 minutes I get warning email AND text. As if they have a watchdog on my account.
If you want to read my story it's here.