[AT&T] is it legal to use the iPhone without a data plan?

[212rikanmofo]

My mom wants to get an iPhone to replace her old sony ericsson. She has no use for the "internet" and really likes the iPhone. AT&T told me that she must have a data plan in order to use the iPhone which I think is stupid. Not everyone wants or needs the internet on their phones. So I'm thinking about finding a used iPhone for sale off craiglist. Would it be possible to buy one and take out her simcard which has just a voice plan and use that on the iPhone or will AT&T find out and automatically tackle on the iPhone data plan?

Anyone who knows anything about this please let me know. Thanks!

 

[forcetactic]

It's possible with the iPhone 2g (the first gen one)

 

[saving107]

or will AT&T find out and automatically tackle on the iPhone data plan?

After sending you a few friendly text messages/emails, if you don't comply and add a data plan to your account, they will do it automatically.

If you want an iPhone without a data plan, I recommend getting an iPod touch.

 

[dave006]

..... So I'm thinking about finding a used iPhone for sale off craiglist. Would it be possible to buy one and take out her simcard which has just a voice plan and use that on the iPhone or will AT&T find out and automatically tackle on the iPhone data plan?

Anyone who knows anything about this please let me know. Thanks!

Your plan will not work and it is not an issue of legal or not. Yes, AT&T will find out. Everytime your GSM device connects to the AT&T network, it reports the IMEI of the device. The IMEI identifies if it is an iPhone or other device.

It does not matter where you get the iPhone, if you want to use anything laster then the original iPhone (non-3G), AT&T requires a data plan. As indicated above, you may receive a few admin SMS Txt messages first but they will add an iPhone data plan.

Your only option would be to move your mom to prepaid. Right now that's the only way to use an iPhone 3G/3GS/4 with AT&T.

Dave

 

[jav6454]

This has nothing to do with legal or not. It's more of Terms of Service. The terms say that if AT&T finds you are using an iPhone on their network, you will get attached to that line the appropriate data plan (in this case the $15/month plan).

Plain and simple.

 

[terraphantm]

Only way you might be able to avoid it is if you were able to change your MAC address... as far as i'm aware there's no app (jailbroken or otherwise) that lets you do that easily.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Only way you might be able to avoid it is if you were able to change your MAC address... as far as i'm aware there's no app (jailbroken or otherwise) that lets you do that easily.

You'd have to change the IMEI, which is possible, BUT that's highly illegal.

 

[wordoflife]

You'd have to change the IMEI, which is possible, BUT that's highly illegal.

And that's not really possible on the iPhone 3G or higher.
So no OP, most likely AT&T will add a data plan. Your mom might find the internet useful though, so it could be worth it.

 

[victorvu]

Can anyone please enlighten me how exactly AT&T can detect an iPhone without data plan when it connects to their network? your phone sends its IMEI? then what? what else does it know about the phone in order to identify whether it has data plan? what if you turn off your 3g and data cellular on your phone?

 

[AlphaDogg]

Can anyone please enlighten me how exactly AT&T can detect an iPhone without data plan when it connects to their network? your phone sends its IMEI? then what? what else does it know about the phone in order to identify whether it has data plan?

Whenever your iPhone connects to ATT's network, ATT does an IMEI check to verify that you have a data plan. The way it does that is it first checks to see if you have an iPhone (by decoding the IMEI). Then it looks on your account to see if you have a data plan or not.

 

[dave006]

Can anyone please enlighten me how exactly AT&T can detect an iPhone without data plan when it connects....

Step 1: Everytime your iPhone or any GSM device connects to the AT&T network, it reports the IMEI of the device. The IMEI identifies if it is an iPhone or other device. Turning off 3G and data just prevents you from being billed on a per usage basis.

Step 2: It does not matter where you get the iPhone, if you want to use anything later then the original iPhone (non-3G). the network is swept and if an iPhone is detected on your line, you may get an admin SMS Txt or email depending on your AT&T contact preferences. Then you get the automatic addition of a valid iPhone Data plan if you are using an iPhone 3G or above.

Again, currently the only way around this if you want to use AT&T would be on a prepaid plan.

Dave

 

[Saileshbreaker]

I have an Iphone 4 in my country on which Data is billed on a pay as you use basis

 

[ToroidalZeus]

The law isn't the something as the terms of service.

AT&T won't let anyone have an iPhone without a data plan.

 

[vitzr]

All phones transmit there unique identifier number. The AT&T computers can tell if it's a smartphone. It doesn't matter what brand. All smartphones must have a data plan linked to them. It's all automated. The computer checks your account & if no data plan appears, you are assigned and charged for one. There's no cheating the system.

 

[dave006]

The law isn't the something as the terms of service.

AT&T won't let anyone have an iPhone without a data plan.

Not exactly. As I indicated above, many customers are using iPhones with AT&T Prepaid service without a data plan and AT&T is not adding a data plan for Prepaid service.

Dave

 

[Applejuiced]

Not exactly. As I indicated above, many customers are using iPhones with AT&T Prepaid service without a data plan and AT&T is not adding a data plan for Prepaid service.

Dave

Yes, on Prepaid its fine.
If you're using it on a post paid monthly plan then they will add it automaticly.
This topic has been beaten to death for years now OP.
Do a few searches.

 

[eastercat]

Not everyone likes pre-paid.

Not exactly. As I indicated above, many customers are using iPhones with AT&T Prepaid service without a data plan and AT&T is not adding a data plan for Prepaid service.

Dave

 

[And1ss]

OP, I talked to AT&T about getting my data plan off because I won't be in the US for a year and the only way to do it is to give them an IMEI number of a dumbphone for them to take it off, which I luckily had a razor.

Like the previous poster, if you take data off and use your iPhone again, they'll auto re-add data.

 

[iMrNiceGuy0023]

I want to give my dad an iPhone 2g to use, he doesn't need data. Whet are the steps so that a data plan isn't added when he uses it?

 

[certsoft]

I have an Iphone 4 in my country on which Data is billed on a pay as you use basis

I wish T-Mobile here in the states did that for their prepaid service. It's nice when I'm visiting New Zealand because the Vodafone prepaid plan allows for "casual" data usage without any hassle or having to pre-arrange any stupid "passes". It's NZ$1 for up to 10MB for any day you use it.

 

[Dandrews524]

your mom needs an ipod touch and a zack morris phone

 

[vitzr]

I want to give my dad an iPhone 2g to use, he doesn't need data. Whet are the steps so that a data plan isn't added when he uses it?

The updated software used by AT&T is now able to detect every brand & model of smartphone including older iPhones. There's no where to hide.

If you dont mind paying a lot for airtime you can use pre-paid. Most people don't do the math.

 

[eastercat]

I've read on MR that you might be able to get away with no data on the original. However, you should search the forums for more information.

I want to give my dad an iPhone 2g to use, he doesn't need data. Whet are the steps so that a data plan isn't added when he uses it?

 

[Finz151]

I would say it's worth a try; I've been using my iPhone 3g and 4 on AT&T, data plan free, for the past two years. No problems here

 

[Comeagain?]

what if you turn off your 3g and data cellular on your phone?

Then you just over-paid for an iPod Touch.