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AT&T charges just to select and browse the "App Center"?

A

applefan289

macrumors 68000
Original poster
I'm on a family plan, and one family member (who doesn't have an iPhone - just a regular flip phone) was charged $2.00 for 1MB of data usage (it says pay-as-you-go on the bill). The only thing they could think of that they did was:

1.) some advertisement appeared on their phone
2.) they selected the "app center" for a few seconds.

Does AT&T really charge to view the app center? Do you think the charge was for the pop-up ad?
 
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iJohnHenry said:
Well, it's "traffic", so I would assume so.

Can you block pop-ups on the flip-phone? 😕
Click to expand...

Not sure. It's the AT&T Z331. I remember on T-Mobile being able to freely roam their "T-Zones" center without any charge...

Edit: I just read a review of the Z331 on the AT&T site, and one guy says the center button connects you to the internet...sort of sneaky, but I guess that's what happened.
 
They charge you if you use the internet, and viewing the app center uses the internet.

If you like you can call them and have them disable internet on the phone.
 
wordoflife said:
If you like you can call them and have them disable internet on the phone.
Click to expand...

Great suggestion - thanks! All the user wants to do is make calls and receive texts. If Internet is disabled on their line, they won't "accidentally" get charged for pay-as-you-go.
 
applefan289 said:
Great suggestion - thanks! All the user wants to do is make calls and receive texts. If Internet is disabled on their line, they won't "accidentally" get charged for pay-as-you-go.
Click to expand...

FYI if the internet is blocked they won't be able to receive MMS messages IE pictures because that requires internet. Internet used downloading/sending is covered by an applicable text package though. So it's either all internet and your MMS or blocked and no MMS but still text messages covered by your package if applicable.
 
pvmacguy said:
FYI if the internet is blocked they won't be able to receive MMS messages IE pictures because that requires internet. Internet used downloading/sending is covered by an applicable text package though. So it's either all internet and your MMS or blocked and no MMS but still text messages covered by your package if applicable.
Click to expand...

We are currently on an unlimited texting plan for the family which is $30/month. I remember when we were with T-Mobile, receiving a picture text message was not an extra charge, and neither was browsing T-Zones. I assume if I leave internet enabled, I will be charged extra if I receive a picture message (MMS)...we definitely don't want to be charged extra.

Edit: the plan I'm on does seem to cover pictures, etc. The first paragraph of this link mentions it. So, if I'm on this plan, I assume I can block internet access to the lines but still be granted MMS/texts and calls.

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/messaging-plans.jsp?source=ECNM0000000M2A00U&fbid=PVbPre6YYhB
 
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applefan289 said:
Edit: the plan I'm on does seem to cover pictures, etc. The first paragraph of this link mentions it. So, if I'm on this plan, I assume I can block internet access to the lines but still be granted MMS/texts and calls.
Click to expand...

You are assuming incorrect. Once they place the internet block on the phone it will no longer be able to send or receive MMS. It doesn't matter what the unlimited messaging says, I have the same $30 add on and when we blocked data from a phone that phone could no longer utilize MMS. Standard TXT and calls are fine, just no MMS with data blocked.

If you don't block internet that user can send/receive MMS, but they can also accidentally run up data charges

If you block internet the user will not be able to send/receive MMS, but they will not accidentally run up data charges since data is blocked.
 
e²Studios said:
You are assuming incorrect. Once they place the internet block on the phone it will no longer be able to send or receive MMS. It doesn't matter what the unlimited messaging says, I have the same $30 add on and when we blocked data from a phone that phone could no longer utilize MMS. Standard TXT and calls are fine, just no MMS with data blocked.

If you don't block internet that user can send/receive MMS, but they can also accidentally run up data charges

If you block internet the user will not be able to send/receive MMS, but they will not accidentally run up data charges since data is blocked.
Click to expand...

Okay - got it now. Thanks.
 
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