[Help] AT&T Automatically adding Data Plan to iPhone 3Gs

[Pwnnned]

I've purchased an iPhone 3GS for a girlfriend recently and now AT&T seems to automatically detect people using iPhones and put a data plan on their account. This is kind of bad, If I would go to AT&T to turn it off, how can I jailbreak the device and make it undetectable so she can use it without a data plan, just a simple phone plan without internet so we can pay a normal phone price with no internet?

Basically, I want the iPhone undetectable to AT&T so they don't automatically add a data plan to the account.

 

[Intell]

You cannot use an iPhone on AT&T's network without having a data plan.

 

[Pwnnned]

There has to be a way around it though..

 

[ConverseNikki]

I've purchased an iPhone 3GS for a girlfriend recently and now AT&T seems to automatically detect people using iPhones and put a data plan on their account. This is kind of bad, If I would go to AT&T to turn it off, how can I jailbreak the device and make it undetectable so she can use it without a data plan, just a simple phone plan without internet so we can pay a normal phone price with no internet?

Basically, I want the iPhone undetectable to AT&T so they don't automatically add a data plan to the account.

Is there a way I can get an Iphone 4 on ebay or amazon and be able to put the SIM card from my Iphone 3G in it and it'll still work without having to pay the $200 for a new contract?

 

[Intell]

Is there a way I can get an Iphone 4 on ebay or amazon and be able to put the SIM card from my Iphone 3G in it and it'll still work without having to pay the $200 for a new contract?

Yes.

And AT&T will always add a data plan if it's an iPhone. There is no way around it.

 

[wordoflife]

You cannot use an iPhone on AT&T's network without having a data plan.

Technically you could.
We have a line with an iPhone without a data plan.

Good luck getting AT&T to put "Data Opt Out" on your line though.

To get it to work though, you can't select anything under iPhone data, and you must have Data opt out filled in.

 

[iTak3n]

Technically you could.
We have a line with an iPhone without a data plan.

I also have a iPhone on my line with the data plan "opted out".

 

[Carlanga]

you can't stop them from detecting that is an iPhone (they will stick the data plan no matter what you do if it's a contract number)...
If you don't want a data plan then the only way is a Prepaid Plan of AT&T or jb and unlock it so you can use it on T-mobile...

 

[wordoflife]

you can't stop them from detecting that is an iPhone (they will stick the data plan no matter what you do if it's a contract number)...
If you don't want a data plan then the only way is a Prepaid Plan of AT&T or jb and unlock it so you can use it on T-mobile...

Bolded: Correct
Underlined: Incorrect

 

[coochiekuta]

yep you can go "data less". just tell them in no uncertain terms that you do not want data. wifi is all you need anyway.

 

[SDAVE]

Even if you disable data they will add it no matter what. The system does this automatically.

You can, however, disable it every few months they activate it. You have to put the SIM card in a non smart phone, though, every time you call to deactivate the internet.

 

[Carlanga]

Bolded: Correct
Underlined: Incorrect

the underlined is correct, you can remove it again but in the next IMEI sweep the system will add you a data plan again

 

[Rajani Isa]

There has to be a way around it though..

The only possible way around it is to get a non-US iPhone. It's IMEI should then not be in AT&T's database as an iPhone. Note, this might interfere with Visual Voicemail (which is so useful, I think ) The IMEI is what trigger's AT&T's data plan add-on.

Is there a way I can get an Iphone 4 on ebay or amazon and be able to put the SIM card from my Iphone 3G in it and it'll still work without having to pay the $200 for a new contract?

Unless you plan to bail from AT&T, or perhaps want one factory unlocked for overseas travel - you will pay more for the phone on Ebay than through AT&T.
And it's not paying $200 for a new contract, it's paying $200 hundred for a new iPhone (16gb at that price) with the legally binding promise to stick with AT&T for two years unless you pay the ETF.

 

[wordoflife]

the underlined is correct, you can remove it again but in the next IMEI sweep the system will add you a data plan again

Not under certain circumstances like the screen cap I posted. We've had that setup for as long as I remember.

 

[natwister2003]

Not under certain circumstances like the screen cap I posted. We've had that setup for as long as I remember.

I just got an iPhone 3G on Monday and in my account online, my data plan is listed exactly how you have it listed in that screenshot. Will AT&T end up adding a data plan to my iPhone by the next billing period?

 

[wordoflife]

I just got an iPhone 3G on Monday and in my account online, my data plan is listed exactly how you have it listed in that screenshot. Will AT&T end up adding a data plan to my iPhone by the next billing period?

Nope. So long as you don't touch anything on those settings, you will be fine. Don't add a data plan though, because if you do, you won't be able to take it off.

 

[natwister2003]

Nope. So long as you don't touch anything on those settings, you will be fine. Don't add a data plan though, because if you do, you won't be able to take it off.

Okay, thanks! I was worried that AT&T was going to add a data plan to the iPhone even if my data was blocked.

 

[Applejuiced]

They will add a data plan to all iphone 3G, 3GS and iphone 4's automaticly.
They might not catch it right away but the system does scans and they automaticly add the data to your plan.
You dont want data get a prepaid AT&T gophone sim or unlock and use it on Tmobile.
And once they catch it once then as soon as you switch your sim back into the iphone you will get the text that an appropriate data plan has been added.

 

[wordoflife]

They will add a data plan to all iphone 3G, 3GS and iphone 4's automaticly.
They might not catch it right away but the system does scans and they automaticly add the data to your plan.
You dont want data get a prepaid AT&T gophone sim or unlock and use it on Tmobile.
And once they catch it once then as soon as you switch your sim back into the iphone you will get the text that an appropriate data plan has been added.

I don't think they will add it if you have your settings the way I have them on that screen cap I posted earlier. We've gone through numerous cycles like that ...
Even with a Blackberry (that requires data) they didn't do anything.

 

[Warbrain]

I don't think they will add it if you have your settings the way I have them on that screen cap I posted earlier. We've gone through numerous cycles like that ...
Even with a Blackberry (that requires data) they didn't do anything.

Grandfathered in?

 

[wpotere]

Grandfathered in?

Meaning that you had unlimited data before the new plans were released.

 

[LongbowFoSho]

What is all this nonsense about not being able to avoid data? We've both had our iPhones for nearly three months now without data with zero issues.

FWIW, a data plan might be required when you sign up for a new contract, but you're not required to keep it. Just cancel it and move on.

Source: my wife was an AT&T customer service rep.

 

[Applejuiced]

What is all this nonsense about not being able to avoid data? We've both had our iPhones for nearly three months now without data with zero issues.

FWIW, a data plan might be required when you sign up for a new contract, but you're not required to keep it. Just cancel it and move on.

Source: my wife was an AT&T customer service rep.

You might got lucky so far but they eventually will add a data plan to your account when they detect it.

 

[vachargerfan]

Up until a certain time (end of 2009 or so) you could opt out of data. As long as you keep data off of you phone prior to that date, you are grandfathered in. I did that for the longest time with various smart phones. But either doing an upgrade or new service, you will then be required for a data plan. Only way around it is if you were prior to the date for the required data plan for smart phones

 

[erc]

I had a long conversation with someone from Apple and from ATT tech this morning. History, my son has nokia, he's been using iphone 2g, had his data blocked a while back. Early in March he used my husband's old 3gs. ATT added data. Per rep, data is required on all iphones/smartphones. When I asked who's requiring, she says Apple, so I called Apple and the senior rep ended up calling ATT, and the tech admitted its ATT requirement, and apparently being done automatically by their computer systems. I asked if he can stop the systems from automatically adding the data plan, and he said no. I'm sure they can do it if they wanted too, but ATT just plain greedy and wanted all that money.

We should all band together and do a class action lawsuit to stop the greedy cell carriers from forcing us to get a data plan when we don't want it. It's bad enough that they are throttling the connections when you get to be on the top 5% users, even though they your data plan is unlimited. Did you all see how much it cost to get a 3gb on iphone 4s?