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Question about changing from postpaid to prepaid
Heard news about AT&T starting to offer a $25 a month prepaid plan that allows for unlimited messaging and 250 minutes starting on the 18th. Figured this would be a great idea for me, but does anyone know, would I be able to transfer my number from my current AT&T iPhone to this GoPhone service?
One of the main reasons is because I'd like to keep my iPhone, but I am wondering if AT&T allows a customer to keep an iPhone but have it not have a rate plan or text messaging included. Basically, I want to use my iPhone just for data and have my GoPhone be used for talk & text. Any help would be appreciated!
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OnlytheShadowKnows
Scholar
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182 Messages
13 years ago
OK final round, right?
Yes, if you don't port, and simply use the new Google Voice number (requested for your area code) then you do not need messaging packages at all. But without porting you will have to readvertise your Google Number as your new text number (and optionally, possibly later, your Google Voice number as you new voice number). You will effectively have a change of phone identity.
But if you port, then your account gets shutdown. And your contract for the iPhone ends even though you are month-to-month without ETF.
So, yes. You can just clip-off messaging, and remain put otherwise. That will work especially if you need 2G-month cellular data limits. Prepaid doesn't provide that level of cellular data cover, and probably will never do.
Over and out. I think we have closure.
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Wild Banchi
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10.2K Messages
13 years ago
Your rate plan would be the $25 250 minutes/messaging plan, but I'm fairly sure that messaging is not required. Even if it is, you would still have unlimited, which wouldn't hurt. 😉
To get prepaid data to work on your iPhone, you will have to change the APN settings. That is one downside to the process.
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OnlytheShadowKnows
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182 Messages
13 years ago
Hey, Joe.
First, as Wild Banchi mentioned above you can transfer your number from postpaid to prepaid. No problem.
Second, there are AT&T original microSIMs, ready-to-activate, for sale in eBay. Example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/AT-T-Go-Phone-Micro-Sim-Card-iPhone-4-/290562299407?pt=SIM_Cards&hash=item43a6dcd60f Read the page of the eBayer.
But, third, I do not understand. Are you asking to have a single SIM (under prepaid) to share among two phones? The iPhone and the new GoPhone? That is, when you want to text/call you use your GoPhone, but when you want to use data you use your iPhone, flipping the SIMs between the two?
Sounds wacko, so I probably (and seriously) misundestood.
I use an iPhone as a GoPhone with talk (10cent-minute plan) and $15 100MByte-month data feature package. My messaging (incoming and outgoing) is completely free from per-message charges as I use Google Voice. http://www.google.com/voice (Under Google Voice, messaging runs on the data plan, not on the cellular voice plan.)
Anyway, maybe you can explain what you want to do other than just use your existing iPhone as a GoPhone, which makes complete sense and can be done without violating any Terms and Conditions, but it is discouraged by AT&T.
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JoeDan
Tutor
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7 Messages
13 years ago
Actually I wasn't looking to use my iPhone under the prepaid... I figured I'd get one of the AT&T GoPhones, like maybye the LG Thrive, since it's on sale for an incredible price for a contract-free Android smartphone, even if it's not one of the best models out there.
What I am trying to do is, best way to describe it, use the LG Thrive, let's say, and only use it for the $25 messaging/250 minutes GoPhone plan. Then, I'd want to use my iPhone 4 only for data. Basically, I need to find out one primary thing....
Would AT&T allow me to have an iPhone 4 (or future iPhone) with ONLY the 2GB data plan on it? with no rate plan or texts included? That's the most important thing. 🙂
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Wild Banchi
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10.2K Messages
13 years ago
I think the highest data plan for prepaid is only 500MB - not 2GB. And I'm pretty sure that you will need a rate plan, but that doesn't mean you have to use it on your iPhone. Text messaging is your choice, too.
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OnlytheShadowKnows
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182 Messages
13 years ago
Joe, I think I now understand.
First, you want to have a prepaid GoPhone (say, Thrive, or whatever Android) as a dedicated talk/messaging phone. And, second, maintain your iPhone separately but only for 3G data access under a contract (postpaid) plan. So, in this arrangement, you want to transfer your iPhone number to the new GoPhone, as the iPhone is data-only and does not need your current number as it is not being "called".
Well, if this summary is accurate, I will answer 1 thru 3 above:
In summary, your plan will not work as you anticipate:
You will conclude that it is just simpler to leave things as they are, or alternatively, sell your iPhone 4 on eBay (before the "new" iPhone 4S, which is being predicted, comes along), use the money to pay partially for an iPad2 under the AT&T broadband plan, and use the Android under prepaid for mobile WiFi, talk and messaging.
Instead, I use my iPhone under a GoPhone plan, but I keep a keen eye on data use, minimizing its cellular data use with the "settings" soft-switch that turns cellular data off, anytime I am under WiFi cover. I can live under the 100MB-month plan this way, which by the way I also use for messaging under Google Voice for the iPhone. But this may not work for you.
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JoeDan
Tutor
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7 Messages
13 years ago
I see, thanks so much for your help. If there was a cheaper rate plan, that might work for me, but maybe leaving things the way they are might be best, since I know I will want the next model of the iPhone. Maybe I'd be better off with getting an iPod Touch so I'd at least have wi-fi access in enough locations to have access to have iPhone apps with no monthly bill.
But, how do you manage to use your iPhone with the GoPhone plan? and which plan do you use? I'd really be curious to know how this would work if I wanted to do that with my iPhone 4 (and iPhone 4S in the future)
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OnlytheShadowKnows
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182 Messages
13 years ago
Hello Joe. Glad that I was able to help.
First, let me say that you should not need to buy an iPod Touch last generation to get the benefit of iOS with its simplicity, stability, and great look-and-feel. No random drops, fouls, and errors with my iPhone as its APPs are solid and do not crash my phone. I am sure that Android fans will disagree, but so be it.
Bottom line: An iPod is just an iPhone as a GoPhone with its cellular data soft-switch "off". Plus you need to feed the "iPhone as a GoPhone" with an average of less than $15.00-month net (no taxes, no fees) to preserve your GoPhone Plan with a healthy 10-cent minute plan and the 100MB-month data feature package.
I use the iPhone 3G, but I know this will work with any iPhone (3G,3GS,4). The only difference is the form factor on the SIM of the iPhone 4. But there are ready-to-activate AT&T-original microSIM cards on eBay for less than $6 with free shipping. You do not need a GoPhone branded card, as an AT&T 3G microSIM will also do. But look for close to 100% feedback of the eBayer to get assured service.
Obviously, I know nothing about the 4S and/or 5 as they may have radically different provisioning requirements (e.g. software-only SIM).
Now to answer your numbered questions above:
Hope this helps, Joe.
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JoeDan
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7 Messages
13 years ago
I could still use wi-fi on the Thrive even if I only get the minimum data package required, couldn't I?
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OnlytheShadowKnows
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182 Messages
13 years ago
I still do not understand.
How does that $25 plan save money? It is a wash if you use Google Voice, which provides a much larger scope of service (free texting, call forwarding and voicemail transcription on email and/or text).
Without Google Voice, yes you are correct. But watch this comparison side-by-side:
At a bare minimum it appears to me to be a wash with the scales in favor of (2) over (1). And, I still do not see why you need the iPod as a separate "data-only" device when you already have an iPhone 4 which readily could be under a GoPhone plan.
But obviously you should do what you feel best. Good luck.
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