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AT&T has different data plan for 4s then for 4
- Thread starter strika2
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point is, there is no speed difference between i4 & i4s unlimited plans, as about 95% of people ITT are suggesting. unlimited plans are the same for both phones.
I called and made the change. Typical cs issues but the lines are sorted. I can absolutely state my speed increased between the first test and second (after changing). It was about 5.5 average before.
Why would they arbitrarily create a new data package? Maybe to raise prices later, possible. But all I can say is whatever happened its faster. And it would be a big coincidence to have that change occur on the same day within 30 mins or so.
Why would they arbitrarily create a new data package? Maybe to raise prices later, possible. But all I can say is whatever happened its faster. And it would be a big coincidence to have that change occur on the same day within 30 mins or so.
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dave006
macrumors 601
That's the key question here but we are seeing mixed results.
Some posters claim they used their new magic iPhone 4S Micro-SIM and the new iPhone 4S Unlimited Data plan to double their previous speeds. I can't confirm unless I go do some war driving to seek out a HSPA+ area.
The think that I am stuck on is why only change the Unlimited plan for the iPhone 4S? The tiered plans remained the same! There is still a piece of the puzzle that is missing.
Dave
I'm on a family plan, if I call will I need to give out the primary line's info? Like the last 4 digits of SSN and what not, or just the IMEI and ICCID? I also used another line's upgrade and just swapped the SIMs too, can I still use the same IMEI's on two lines?
I changed over to the data plan for the 4S and I'm definitely seeing higher speeds. I was averaging about 3-5down before which suddenly went up to an average of 6-8 once the plan was changed. So there might indeed be some difference between the two plans?
I swapped my SIM with the one that came with the 4S (upgrade swap) and ran several speed tests. The results were similar, if not worse, with/without the "4S" plan.
So i ended up buying a phone off ebay and switched out my iphone 4 micro sim to the 4 s. I called to get switched to the 4S unlimited plan and just had to give them my imei number. The guy said I didn't have to get a new sim card. I did notice after doing the data plan switch I am getting better ping time and a 1-2mb increase. It DOES vary though significantly on where and what time I do the speed test. This does not surprise me as that was the case with my iphone 4, but I never hit these max speeds with my 4.
I did ask the guy if making the change would allow me to connect to att "4g" network and he answered yes.
I hope that helps anyone. It doesn't hurt to call/online chat to get the change.
One question I do have is the pessimistic side of me wonders if this is a way to get me off unlimited eventually when LTE plans come out. I don't see any evidence, but I am always wondering with the folks at ATT.
I did ask the guy if making the change would allow me to connect to att "4g" network and he answered yes.
I hope that helps anyone. It doesn't hurt to call/online chat to get the change.
One question I do have is the pessimistic side of me wonders if this is a way to get me off unlimited eventually when LTE plans come out. I don't see any evidence, but I am always wondering with the folks at ATT.
Here's my situation. I used my girlfriend's completely separate AT&T account to get my iPhone 4S. Her line was eligible, so she upgraded, I paid, and the AT&T guy immediately swapped the lines for us to get the phones both working on the correct numbers. All is good, except that my data speeds suck. I get about 1.3Mbps down, and 1.5Mbps up. I've tested several times over the last 2 days and never get any better than that.
But I log into my att.com account and it shows that I've got a 4S data plan. So I'm not sure what's going on exactly, but I feel like I'm not getting the proper speeds.
But I log into my att.com account and it shows that I've got a 4S data plan. So I'm not sure what's going on exactly, but I feel like I'm not getting the proper speeds.
robanga
macrumors 68000
Enterprise Data
I have had an Enterprise plan since the original iPhone. I have been grandfathered into a really sweet plan that includes:
$65 a month for "unlimited" data worldwide - Yep no international roaming charges as long as AT&T has a roaming agreement in that country. For someone that travels as much as i do its really good.
The one catch is there is no tethering allowed domestic or international on that plan. One can see why.
I have had an Enterprise plan since the original iPhone. I have been grandfathered into a really sweet plan that includes:
$65 a month for "unlimited" data worldwide - Yep no international roaming charges as long as AT&T has a roaming agreement in that country. For someone that travels as much as i do its really good.
The one catch is there is no tethering allowed domestic or international on that plan. One can see why.
I got an unlocked 32 GB per this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1253171/
I did not call AT&T to tell them about the new phone. Last night I ran Speed Test, got 87 ping, 6.32 Mbps down, 1.81 Mbps up. If I recall correctly, the best I ever saw on my iPhone 4 was ~3.5 Mbps down.
Just ran Speed Test at 12 PM, 87 ping, 3.91/1.6. More people using the network during the day I guess?
I did not call AT&T to tell them about the new phone. Last night I ran Speed Test, got 87 ping, 6.32 Mbps down, 1.81 Mbps up. If I recall correctly, the best I ever saw on my iPhone 4 was ~3.5 Mbps down.
Just ran Speed Test at 12 PM, 87 ping, 3.91/1.6. More people using the network during the day I guess?
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james-jones
macrumors member
I have a strong feeling that this is a trap - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dddAi8FF3F4
If the new 'normal' is for AT&T to create a new rate code for grandfathered plans each time a new phone comes out, how long before they use that policy as an excuse for not carrying over old users' pricing anymore? I suspect this will coincide with the introduction of LTE...
As a sidenote, I've been able to hit 7+mbps in an unlocked iPhone 4S with my unlimited iPad SIM as well as my 'Data Unlimited for iPhone' iPhone 4 SIM, so I seriously doubt that the new rate plan is required to utilize enhanced speeds.
Remember the iPhone 4S isn't actually HSPA+, it's HSDPA Category 10 from 3GPP Release 5. HSPA+ is defined in 3GPP Release 7, which no iPhone currently supports.
If the new 'normal' is for AT&T to create a new rate code for grandfathered plans each time a new phone comes out, how long before they use that policy as an excuse for not carrying over old users' pricing anymore? I suspect this will coincide with the introduction of LTE...
As a sidenote, I've been able to hit 7+mbps in an unlocked iPhone 4S with my unlimited iPad SIM as well as my 'Data Unlimited for iPhone' iPhone 4 SIM, so I seriously doubt that the new rate plan is required to utilize enhanced speeds.
Remember the iPhone 4S isn't actually HSPA+, it's HSDPA Category 10 from 3GPP Release 5. HSPA+ is defined in 3GPP Release 7, which no iPhone currently supports.
I walked into AT&T store yesterday trying to update my info since I also swapped sim from 4 to 4s. AT&T guy said no need to update data plan since they' re the same.
RobT
macrumors 6502a
I did the "put the iPhone 4 SIM card in my new 4s" thing as well on 10/14.
Called AT&T today (10/24) and explained that I what I did and that I wanted to make sure SIM and IMEI numbers for the phones were matched to the correct phone number while maintaining my unlimited data plan, etc.
Person was pleasant, said she knew exactly what I was talking about and what needed to be done, and it took about 5 minutes total. I got a text update from AT&T when she did the change and everything still works fine after the changes (nothing got broken in the process).
Now, I'm not sure if anything has improved speed-wise as a result of all this but my (subjective) impression so far is that it certainly didn't get any slower.
At least everything is registered on AT&T's end as it should be, correct data plan with correct number with correct phone.
Called AT&T today (10/24) and explained that I what I did and that I wanted to make sure SIM and IMEI numbers for the phones were matched to the correct phone number while maintaining my unlimited data plan, etc.
Person was pleasant, said she knew exactly what I was talking about and what needed to be done, and it took about 5 minutes total. I got a text update from AT&T when she did the change and everything still works fine after the changes (nothing got broken in the process).
Now, I'm not sure if anything has improved speed-wise as a result of all this but my (subjective) impression so far is that it certainly didn't get any slower.
At least everything is registered on AT&T's end as it should be, correct data plan with correct number with correct phone.
So...
Is the general consensus that everybody is getting noticeably higher data speeds with their iPhone 4S's?
Is the general consensus that everybody is getting noticeably higher data speeds with their iPhone 4S's?
I had unlimited 3G with my iphone3GS. I upgraded to the iphone4S.
ATT Website showed I have "Data Unlimited for iPhone 4S" as oppose to "DataPro 2G"
Getting 8.7Mbps down and 1.7Mbps up. This is for sure faster than regular 3G speed which has a theoretical speed of 7Mbps. So I am concluding unlimited 4S users are getting HSPA+ speeds which can go up to 14Mbps
a bit sad because my DSL landline can only upload at 0.8Mbps lol
I just got off a live chat session with a representative regarding the differences between the two data plans. According to the rep, the 4S operates under a 4G network platform and the 4 operates under the 3G one. The 'average' speed between the two will be similar, being that AT&T is still working on their 4G services and wherever 4G isn't available, it works on the 3G network.
To experience the full potential of the iPhone 4S, you'd need to upgrade the plan to the appropriate Data Plan for iPhone 4S (and for those with the unlimited plans, they carry over as well) AND you need to swap out the SIM card for the 4G compatible SIM card. I used the 3G iPhone 4 SIM card to activate my phone, but the rep told me that even if I switch the data plan, if I don't have the 4G compatible SIM card, I'll only be getting 3G. The swap was very simple. I just had to give her my IMEI and SIM number and she was able to run the swap remotely.
My download speed (mid-day) increased from 1-1.5Mbps to 2.5-3Mbps right after I made the switch. No harm is done to our grandfathered unlimited plans too, so it's safe to make the switch and no reason not to 🙂
To experience the full potential of the iPhone 4S, you'd need to upgrade the plan to the appropriate Data Plan for iPhone 4S (and for those with the unlimited plans, they carry over as well) AND you need to swap out the SIM card for the 4G compatible SIM card. I used the 3G iPhone 4 SIM card to activate my phone, but the rep told me that even if I switch the data plan, if I don't have the 4G compatible SIM card, I'll only be getting 3G. The swap was very simple. I just had to give her my IMEI and SIM number and she was able to run the swap remotely.
My download speed (mid-day) increased from 1-1.5Mbps to 2.5-3Mbps right after I made the switch. No harm is done to our grandfathered unlimited plans too, so it's safe to make the switch and no reason not to 🙂
coolweirdo
macrumors regular
Have you checked if your SIM card itself is capable of handling 4G? I was told by the CS rep that 'both' the data plan and the SIM card needs to be replaced for the 4G-capable ones.