AT&T Grandfathered Messaging (not Data) Plans

[TorqueChap]

No you will not be able to upgrade back to the $15 SMS Txt message plan in the future. It is a now or never option since the option has been removed from the available feature list. The only reason you could get it now is that is what you had before the upgrade to the iPhone 4S and all the recent confusion.

The only way to add a line to your account and hope to get this deal for your GF is to use the original iPhone loophole. You can add her line by using iTunes after you restore your old original iPhone as new, install a new Mini-SIM and follow the iTunes activation steps, adding the original iPhone Data plan with one of the combined SMS Txt message plans.

Does your GF currently have an AT&T account? If she is with another carrier you can even port her number to AT&T using iTunes and your original iPhone.

Once you get your GF working on the original iPhone then she can switch to a later version of the iPhone and the system will make the changes to her data plan.

Dave

Sneaky suggestion, Dave. And I LOVE it! G/F is currently on Verizon but plans to switch shortly. Many many thanks on this one!

 

[TorqueChap]

Just learned that the 200 text plan does NOT include unlimited wireless-to-wireless talk time ugh! went with 450 minutes, unlimited data plan and the 200 texts thinking i'd be covered. while my texting averages 250 or so a month, my talk time will likely blow past the 450 minutes UNLESS i get the unlimited phone-to-phone plan which, naturally, includes the unlimited texting.

would i be a fool to walk away from my grandfathered 200 text/month plan and step up to the unlimited text/unlimited phone-to-phone plan? just checking before pulling the trigger.

all insights appreciated from the board

 

[tivoboy]

Hmm

Just learned that the 200 text plan does NOT include unlimited wireless-to-wireless talk time ugh! went with 450 minutes, unlimited data plan and the 200 texts thinking i'd be covered. while my texting averages 250 or so a month, my talk time will likely blow past the 450 minutes UNLESS i get the unlimited phone-to-phone plan which, naturally, includes the unlimited texting.

would i be a fool to walk away from my grandfathered 200 text/month plan and step up to the unlimited text/unlimited phone-to-phone plan? just checking before pulling the trigger.

all insights appreciated from the board

Hmm, the TEXT plan shouldn't affect wireless M2M, that should be part of your calling plan, like the 450. I have the 450, it has M2M but it is limited to 5000 minutes a month.

 

[TorqueChap]

Hmm, the TEXT plan shouldn't affect wireless M2M, that should be part of your calling plan, like the 450. I have the 450, it has M2M but it is limited to 5000 minutes a month.

Just spoke with AT&T CSR and apparently it does. The unlimited text plan ($20 per month) includes the added benefit of unlimited M2M. I pushed AT&T and no other text plan includes that feature (e.g., 200 texts). Asked if the 450 includes 5000 minutes of M2M per month and was told the answer is "no."

Can you recheck your source? Perhaps my CSR wasn't on the ball, but he did sound quite knowledgeable.

 

[dave006]

Just learned that the 200 text plan does NOT include unlimited wireless-to-wireless talk time ugh! went with 450 minutes, unlimited data plan and the 200 texts thinking i'd be covered. while my texting averages 250 or so a month, my talk time will likely blow past the 450 minutes UNLESS i get the unlimited phone-to-phone plan which, naturally, includes the unlimited texting.

would i be a fool to walk away from my grandfathered 200 text/month plan and step up to the unlimited text/unlimited phone-to-phone plan? just checking before pulling the trigger.

all insights appreciated from the board

Hmm, the TEXT plan shouldn't affect wireless M2M, that should be part of your calling plan, like the 450. I have the 450, it has M2M but it is limited to 5000 minutes a month.

No, TorqueChap is talking about the new Unlimited SMS Txt messaging plans to replace their $5 200 SMS Txt plan. The new plans now include free Mobile to Any Mobile here in the USA, it is not just limited to Unlimited calls to AT&T Mobile numbers that are included in the base National 450 w/Rolloover. 450 minute rate plan. The new combined SMS Txt plans are $20 Individual plan and $30 for a FamilyTalk SMS Txt plan. They included the free Mobile to Any Mobile to offset the removal of the smaller SMS Txt plans.

Note: the $39.99 National 450 w/Rollover, 450 minute rate plan plan only include Unlimited M2M between AT&T mobile numbers, it does not include calls to other mobile carrier mobile numbers.

Dave

 

[tivoboy]

yes

Yes, mobile to ANY mobile is new to the unlimited plans, but M2M was in the base CALLING plan regardless of texting plan. We have several people with no official texting plan on 450m, and they have M2M no problems.

 

[TorqueChap]

No, TorqueChap is talking about the new Unlimited SMS Txt messaging plans to replace their $5 200 SMS Txt plan. The new plans now include free Mobile to Any Mobile here in the USA, it is not just limited to Unlimited calls to AT&T Mobile numbers that are included in the base National 450 w/Rolloover. 450 minute rate plan. The new combined SMS Txt plans are $20 Individual plan and $30 for a FamilyTalk SMS Txt plan. They included the free Mobile to Any Mobile to offset the removal of the smaller SMS Txt plans.

Note: the $39.99 National 450 w/Rollover, 450 minute rate plan plan only include Unlimited M2M between AT&T mobile numbers, it does not include calls to other mobile carrier mobile numbers.

Dave

Exactly, Dave! Aside from the obvious upsell, it's also a clever ploy to pry us grandfathered plan users away from the 200 text plan. When I said I was thinking about the unlimited text/unlimited M2M for $20, the AT&T CSR was very specific in pointing out that if I walk away from the 200 text plan I will not be able to return to it. (Poof! It'll be gone forever.)

Trying to look at all the angles before letting go of a plan no longer optioned as AT&T is looking out for itself and not for me That having been said, keeping the minutes low with a 450 plan and running with the unlimited text/M2M for $20 (just $15/month) seems like a great way to contain costs. Thoughts?

 

[m66]

Exactly, Dave! Aside from the obvious upsell, it's also a clever ploy to pry us grandfathered plan users away from the 200 text plan. When I said I was thinking about the unlimited text/unlimited M2M for $20, the AT&T CSR was very specific in pointing out that if I walk away from the 200 text plan I will not be able to return to it. (Poof! It'll be gone forever.)

Trying to look at all the angles before letting go of a plan no longer optioned as AT&T is looking out for itself and not for me That having been said, keeping the minutes low with a 450 plan and running with the unlimited text/M2M for $20 (just $15/month) seems like a great way to contain costs. Thoughts?

I'm in the same boat, I have the original iphone 2g with the $20 unlimited data and 200 text messages since the phone first came out. Were you able to add the $5 for 200 texts to your iphone 4s plan? Did you end up going through ATT's website, Apple's website or speak to a CSR to keep your texting plan? Apple's website allows me to keep my unlimited data but doesnt seem to allow the $5 text plan as an option.

Also, would it be an issue if I changed my current text messaging plan from 200 to 1500 and then upgrade to the iphone 4s? For my needs, I dont need the unlimited m2m calls that come with the unlimited texting.