Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

alesley03

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 9, 2012
22
0
My mom wants to get an iPhone but is currently on some sort of prepaid plan with AT&T. She likes no having a contract. Can she upgrade to an iPhone and still stay prepaid?
 

MacBookPro13"

macrumors 6502a
Jan 25, 2011
589
0
Ireland
My mom wants to get an iPhone but is currently on some sort of prepaid plan with AT&T. She likes no having a contract. Can she upgrade to an iPhone and still stay prepaid?

Buy an unlocked iPhone from Apple, put the AT&T pre-paid sim in the iPhone.

More expensive obviously but no contract.
 

pilot1226

macrumors 6502a
Mar 18, 2010
601
15
USA
Technically yes, but it won't be supported. You have to buy the unlocked phone for $699 and then you have a few options; the best that I've read about is the AT&T Go Phone plan. You'd have to get a SIM card. It's a little bit more legwork for it, but it works.

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/08/10/dear-aunt-tuaw-what-is-this-cheap-iphone-data-plan-you-speak-of/

It's all relative as to how many minutes, texts, and data you use. If you're a heavy user, there's no sense in doing this.
 

alesley03

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 9, 2012
22
0
Okay, thanks. I know she won't be willing to pay the purchase price of the iPhone and she's not a heavy user. She's new to the tech world in general and just wants to be able to check her email and Google stuff lol. I think she just wants the iPhone because everyone tells her to get it versus any other phone.

Technically yes, but it won't be supported. You have to buy the unlocked phone for $699 and then you have a few options; the best that I've read about is the AT&T Go Phone plan. You'd have to get a SIM card. It's a little bit more legwork for it, but it works.

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/08/10/dear-aunt-tuaw-what-is-this-cheap-iphone-data-plan-you-speak-of/

It's all relative as to how many minutes, texts, and data you use. If you're a heavy user, there's no sense in doing this.
 

NorthGAIII

macrumors newbie
Feb 28, 2012
4
0
Yes you can...... Just like a regular phone.... I use my wifi at school and home with not problems I have the monthly unlimited talk n text
 

Applejuiced

macrumors Westmere
Apr 16, 2008
40,672
6,533
At the iPhone hacks section.
You dont need to buy an unlocked iphone to use any of the following prepaid services in the US.
AT&T prepaid gophone sims, h20 and RedPocket all work with locked AT&T iphones.
And yes you can use prepaid with no probs and probably cheaper and without a contract if that's what you're looking for.
The best deal I think is redpocket for $59 unlimited talk, text and 2GB of fast AT&T 3G data with all taxes and fee's included.
 

JakeT85

macrumors regular
Jan 19, 2012
185
92
Check out http://www.cowboom.com, it is owned by bestbuy and you can get an iPhone 4 with at&t on there for like $250.00 no contract, and every once in a while they have a 4s available for usually around $400.00
 

AppLCII

macrumors member
Jul 12, 2011
44
0
Great Thread!

I'd like to know if anyone has tried (or is it even possible?) to have a prepaid iphone with non AT&T providers. I currently have cheap prepaid phones with Verizon and T-mobile, but would consider upgrading in the future.

I don't talk on the phone a lot and could get by using mostly wifi connections, with the occasional 3 or 4G connections to check the web.

$60 a month when I use less than $15 a month in airtime is just way, way too much.
 

Irish Rose

macrumors 65816
May 29, 2010
1,068
1
Great Thread!

I'd like to know if anyone has tried (or is it even possible?) to have a prepaid iphone with non AT&T providers. I currently have cheap prepaid phones with Verizon and T-mobile, but would consider upgrading in the future.
My T-Mobile 2GO prepaid sim works fine in my GSM factory unlocked 4S.
 

MacManTexas56

macrumors 68020
Apr 4, 2005
2,496
384
You dont need to buy an unlocked iphone to use any of the following prepaid services in the US.
AT&T prepaid gophone sims, h20 and RedPocket all work with locked AT&T iphones.
And yes you can use prepaid with no probs and probably cheaper and without a contract if that's what you're looking for.
The best deal I think is redpocket for $59 unlimited talk, text and 2GB of fast AT&T 3G data with all taxes and fee's included.

Straight talk is best deal now at $45/month "unlimited". Don't need an unlocked iPhone either just like other 2 you mentioned. They also sell microsims so no need to use a sim cutter either.
 

MacManTexas56

macrumors 68020
Apr 4, 2005
2,496
384
Do you like this over the Straight Talk $45 unlimited everything plan? What adv does it have over this as they boh use ATT's network

ST map seems to be a little better than h2o and red pocket....but it all uses att anyways. ST data has been faster than the other 2. Otherwise haven't noticed much difference. At $45 it's an awesome deal.
 

dukebound85

macrumors Core
Jul 17, 2005
19,131
4,110
5045 feet above sea level
ST map seems to be a little better than h2o and red pocket....but it all uses att anyways. ST data has been faster than the other 2. Otherwise haven't noticed much difference. At $45 it's an awesome deal.

Is it merely change sims and good to go?

I think I read about mms and voice mail issues but not sure if that is old issues/news or not
 

MacManTexas56

macrumors 68020
Apr 4, 2005
2,496
384
Is it merely change sims and good to go?

I think I read about mms and voice mail issues but not sure if that is old issues/news or not

Yes, u can even order microsim from them also. No visual voicemail or mms. Both are not an issue for me. Use viber for mms that works well and google voice for voicemail so not a big deal.
 

RotaryP7

macrumors 6502a
Aug 31, 2011
751
30
Miami, FL
H2o Wireless, Red Pocket, Straight Talk, Simple Mobile. There's a lot. The best one IMO is Monthly 4G on T-Mobile, however you will only get 2G speeds. It is unlimited data though.
 

Applejuiced

macrumors Westmere
Apr 16, 2008
40,672
6,533
At the iPhone hacks section.
Lol why u act like u knew that yet posted red pocket as best deal?

Do you like this over the Straight Talk $45 unlimited everything plan? What adv does it have over this as they boh use ATT's network


I knew it but only thing I dont like and I wouldnt suggest it over redpocket is Straighttalk will cancel you line if you use too many minutes, texts or data. What is considered "too much" is up to them to determine and will vary by location. And their data is throttled and slow compared to RP.
With Redpocket is something predetermined and they will tell you straight out how much they consider "too much" 8000 minutes per month and 20,000text/mms messages. You go over they shut you off till the end of the month. But you gotta be really on 24/7 and using your phone like crazy to go over those amounts. And their 2GB data is fast HSPA+ using AT&T's network so users report 5-7mbps downloads on the regural.
Never mind the 100mb per day limit on ST, that's a joke a right there.
Then for the rest of the day your data is useless.
 
Last edited:

MacManTexas56

macrumors 68020
Apr 4, 2005
2,496
384
I knew it but only thing I dont like and I wouldnt suggest it over redpocket is Straighttalk will cancel you line if you use too many minutes, texts or data. What is considered "too much" is up to them to determine and will vary by location. And their data is throttled and slow compared to RP.
With Redpocket is something predetermined and they will tell you straight out how much they consider "too much" 8000 minutes per month and 20,000text/mms messages. You go over they shut you off till the end of the month. But you gotta be really on 24/7 and using your phone like crazy to go over those amounts. And their 2GB data is fast HSPA+ using AT&T's network so users report 5-7mbps downloads on the regural.
Never mind the 100mb per day limit on ST, that's a joke a right there.
Then for the rest of the day your data is useless.
I've heard the same thing with h2o and red pocket. They all run on the exact same plan just a different name. All these plans are all the same... You use too much and they cut you off or slow your data. All of these reviews are all the same as well.....if you're a power user the result is going to be the same. If you are reasonable with how you use the service and you will be fine. I understand it's unlimited etc...but that doesn't mean anything bc that's not really the case and most tech people should know that.
 

Applejuiced

macrumors Westmere
Apr 16, 2008
40,672
6,533
At the iPhone hacks section.
I've heard the same thing with h2o and red pocket. They all run on the exact same plan just a different name. All these plans are all the same... You use too much and they cut you off or slow your data. All of these reviews are all the same as well.....if you're a power user the result is going to be the same. If you are reasonable with how you use the service and you will be fine. I understand it's unlimited etc...but that doesn't mean anything bc that's not really the case and most tech people should know that.

I hear you but I think with RP at least you know where your limits are.
2GB of data and after that its no data till the end of the month or you can buy another 1GB for an additional fee. No throttling or daily limits on data.
8000 minutes and 20,000 messages is their cap so you can at least know what you're getting and how much per month.
I sound like a commercial :D If I didnt have a family plan and a good FAN discount with AT&T I would have switched a long time ago.
 

MacManTexas56

macrumors 68020
Apr 4, 2005
2,496
384
I hear you but I think with RP at least you know where your limits are.
2GB of data and after that its no data till the end of the month or you can buy another 1GB for an additional fee. No throttling or daily limits on data.
8000 minutes and 20,000 messages is their cap so you can at least know what you're getting and how much per month.
I sound like a commercial :D If I didnt have a family plan and a good FAN discount with AT&T I would have switched a long time ago.

i'm sure if u halfway there it would be a problem too. Look at how AT&T is handling the throttling....most peeps that hit 2gb are getting that text message. how much of a FAN discount are you getting that you're still willing to stick with AT&T? lol
 

Applejuiced

macrumors Westmere
Apr 16, 2008
40,672
6,533
At the iPhone hacks section.
i'm sure if u halfway there it would be a problem too. Look at how AT&T is handling the throttling....most peeps that hit 2gb are getting that text message. how much of a FAN discount are you getting that you're still willing to stick with AT&T? lol

I think the FAN I get is 29% on minutes and data plans but nothing off on Text plans.
So in the end with taxes for 3 iphones all with unlimited data, texts and talk its $177 per month.
Not much savings in the end to switch to prepay and the subsidy every 18 months for each line is nice.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.