Data Plan options - Switching device, already a customer

[keyclick]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction...

I am an existing customer with a Quick Messaging Phone (Samsung Solstice) with the following plans:

voice: an old $19 50 minute plan

data:  $15 Unlimited w/ $5 200 Texts Plan (grandfathered)

My contract is up, so I am free and clear of my device subsidy.

I have a iPhone 4 I bought used, which I use only on WiFi for a mediaplayer/apps, etc. (Just a dummy expired SIM card, so no voice calls available.)

I would like to get a new (mini) SIM card for the IPHone4 with my existing phone number to replace the Samsung QMphone.

I realize that the $15 unlimited data plan will not carry over to the iPhone. Is there any difference in pricing for the data plans to reflect the fact that At&T is not subsidizing the cost of my iPhone? (I know I can get a iPhone4 from att for "free" but obviously the cost is recovered from the 2 year contract, etc.)  Is there still a 2 year contract required if you bring your own device? (this is predicated on the fact that this iPhone is At&T compatible, or unlocked, obviously)

Will this mess up my existing voice plan? Is any kind of text service required? I absolutely do not need texting, but it was required along with the $15 data plan for the QMPhone.

Lastly, I see no way to do this from the management features on the website, it only offers me messaging phone data plans and options. I also get a discount from an employer partnership program... in fact when I search for upgrades, it puts me into the "premier" storefront, so it only shows me buisiness-based plans. Any ideas?

I know the best answer is "go to an ATT store and ask this, but I am hoping someones official can give me an idea what to expect... answers @ retail locations are often "different" than I see things explained here on the forums! :-)

Thanks,

[sandblaster]

---

keyclick wrote:

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction...

I am an existing customer with a Quick Messaging Phone (Samsung Solstice) with the following plans:

voice: an old $19 50 minute plan

data:  $15 Unlimited w/ $5 200 Texts Plan (grandfathered)

My contract is up, so I am free and clear of my device subsidy.

I have a iPhone 4 I bought used, which I use only on WiFi for a mediaplayer/apps, etc. (Just a dummy expired SIM card, so no voice calls available.)

I would like to get a new (mini) SIM card for the IPHone4 with my existing phone number to replace the Samsung QMphone.

I realize that the $15 unlimited data plan will not carry over to the iPhone. Is there any difference in pricing for the data plans to reflect the fact that At&T is not subsidizing the cost of my iPhone? (I know I can get a iPhone4 from att for "free" but obviously the cost is recovered from the 2 year contract, etc.)  Is there still a 2 year contract required if you bring your own device? (this is predicated on the fact that this iPhone is At&T compatible, or unlocked, obviously)

Will this mess up my existing voice plan? Is any kind of text service required? I absolutely do not need texting, but it was required along with the $15 data plan for the QMPhone.

Lastly, I see no way to do this from the management features on the website, it only offers me messaging phone data plans and options. I also get a discount from an employer partnership program... in fact when I search for upgrades, it puts me into the "premier" storefront, so it only shows me buisiness-based plans. Any ideas?

I know the best answer is "go to an ATT store and ask this, but I am hoping someones official can give me an idea what to expect... answers @ retail locations are often "different" than I see things explained here on the forums! :-)

Thanks,

---

Prices on data plans are the same whether you have a discounted device or bring your own. If you bring your own device, no contract is required. As for a text plan, they are not required. I believe the reason why you only see messaging phone data plans is because that is the type of phone you have. You won't see any smartphone data plans when logged in under your account until you switch to a smartphone. Rather than logging into your account, you could try browsing the plans while not logged in and you should be able to see the smartphone data plan options. I do not know if you'll be able to keep your existing voice plan.

[keyclick]

Thanks for the input, Sandblaster!

That's about what I thought. But you did remind me of another aspect of the question... can you switch between the different tiers (300MB/3GB/5GB, etc.) at any time? For example, start out with one, and then after seeing your usage patterns, switch to a more appropriate tier? And does contract vs. no-contract affect that ability?

I'll have to ask about the voice plan... I barely use the 50 minutes, so I hate to have to pay for 500 or more minutes each month!

Thanks

[wilcre ACE - Expert]

yes you can change between the data plans with no problem. best bet would be to go with a 1GB plan first then work down or up from there, keep an eye on the usage through the month, then a day or so before the end of your billing cycle call customer care and change to the plan that best suits the actual usage you have done, key note here is when calling make sure that they back date the data plan change to the first day of the bill cycle so you avoid any proration of the data plan.

[sandblaster]

---

keyclick wrote:

Thanks for the input, Sandblaster!

That's about what I thought. But you did remind me of another aspect of the question... can you switch between the different tiers (300MB/3GB/5GB, etc.) at any time? For example, start out with one, and then after seeing your usage patterns, switch to a more appropriate tier? And does contract vs. no-contract affect that ability?

I'll have to ask about the voice plan... I barely use the 50 minutes, so I hate to have to pay for 500 or more minutes each month!

Thanks

---

You can switch between data plans at any time regardless of contract status. You can make the switch online, through the MyATT app on the iPhone or by calling. When you switch you have the option of switching immediately, switching at the start of your next billing cycle or you can back date it to the beginning of the current billing cycle. So if you have the 300mb plan and use it all up, you can change to the 3gb plan and back date it to avoid an overage charge.