is there anything wrong with this loophole for iphone data plans?

[Des429]

I am thinking of getting an iphone. Right now I am on a family plan with three other lines not including mine. I have a Cingular 8525 with a medianet data plan. My mom's phone which is a regular nokia something or other is currently up for an upgrade.

My plan is to go into the AT&T store some time this week, use my mom's phone upgrade and get the iphone. This means that the $30 monthly data plan for the iphone will be automatically added to her SIM card and her #. After I buy the phone, I bring the iphone back home, switch the SIM card with the one that is in my 8525 and put her SIM card back into her nokia phone. I have read countless times that you can use the medianet plan and a regular voice plan (the family plan one) with an iphone so I am almost certain that this will work in regards to getting the data to connect properly. The only thing that I hear doesn't work is visual voicemail which is not a problem for me. Anyways, a few days later I go back to the AT&T store with my mom's nokia phone, SIM card loaded into the nokia phone, and tell them that we no longer wish to use the iphone that we bought. Tell them to get rid of the data plan and reset the voice plan back to whatever it was before (if that gets changed, which I don't think it does on a family plan).

I will still have the iphone, plus my SIM card whcih will still be loaded with my medianet plan a my voice plan so I should be able to use it with the iphone. My mom's SIM card will no longer have the iphone's data plan on it. Is there something I'm missing or forgetting? My main concern is that they will charge me to cancel my iphone data plan, but I'm not sure they will because they do not charge for cancelling text messaging, other data plans, or add-on features like that.

Thanks

[Des429]

anyone? I'm going to double check with a rep at AT&T tomorrow to see if there is an early termination fee for reverting to an old phone from the iphone, especially with the data plan.

[Brian M. Veteran]

I imagine that if you cancel/change the contract, you'll have to return the phone, or pay the difference for it.

[giga Veteran]

Call the rep first and make sure to get a ticket/number for your question for proof.

[Des429]

I imagine that if you cancel/change the contract, you'll have to return the phone, or pay the difference for it.

Why? I bought it and paid the $200 for it, which means I own it.

[Brian M. Veteran]

Why? I bought it and paid the $200 for it, which means I own it.

The $200 is a subsidized price, which they allow you to have as part of your contract. The iPhone itself costs a heck of a lot more than $200.

[Des429]

another thing i was curious about is it possible to do the SIM swapping technique that you can do with family plans like this? Usually when someone in my family wants a new phone, we look to see who in the plan is up for a two year contract discount and then get them the phone through that number and just bring it home and swap the SIM. is this possible with an iphone?

[episode]

Why? I bought it and paid the $200 for it, which means I own it.

No, it doesn't. $199/$299 is the full, new contract subsidized price. If you are not eligible to upgrade, you pay $399/$499 to extend your contract. If you don't want to do that, you pay $599/$699 to own it outright.

You can do what you want to do, but what is going to happen is that after a couple months, they will add the data plan back on and charge you for the months it wasn't on there. Nothing you can do about it either, since its a contract that was signed. You can go through the whole rigmarole of 'I didn't sign anything!', but with it all being electronically stored now, you won't get very far.

Since, as far as I know, they still aren't allowing you to buy iPhones without contracts in the US, your best bet is probably ebay.

The $400 difference you pay in getting an unsubsidized phone is 13 months of having the data. Now, that $400 you're basically throwing away, because you can get the phone at the $199/$299 price point. With spending it on the plan, at least you get to use the data.

Also, you're mistaken on how SIM cards work. They don't 'store' your plans. That is done on the provider's end. The SIM basically has the info on how to connect to the cell network, and some other minor information you can store on it. The SIM gets registered to a line of service, but it doesn't store the information on that line, just how to connect that line and the service.

another thing i was curious about is it possible to do the SIM swapping technique that you can do with family plans like this? Usually when someone in my family wants a new phone, we look to see who in the plan is up for a two year contract discount and then get them the phone through that number and just bring it home and swap the SIM. is this possible with an iphone?

Yes its possible. Some things will get screwed up (visual voicemail) but most should be ok.

[matt4pack]

I use the medianet plan on my iPhone 3G but I did this by buying a new iPhone off eBay and adding the data plan on my old phone. Then I just took the sim card out of my old phone and put it in the iPhone since I already had AT&T and it's an AT&T sim. Everything works fine and if I ever call AT&T then I just make sure that I put the sim back in my old phone and that the old phone shows up online under my account.

I don't feel bad about this because their is no way I'm paying $30 a month for data when the first gen iPhone users pay only $15. Half the places I am don't even have 3G so they are crazy if they expect me to pay more for a service I can't even always use. They either get my $15 a month or nothing at all because I'm not paying $30 a month.

I also paid about $500 for my iPhone off eBay so if you think you can get it and have it for $200 then your wrong. That's the subsidized price with a 2 year plan including data. So no your plan will not work.

[SMELTN]

you know my mother and myself signed up for AT&T about 3 month's ago. We got the family plan with 2 LG shines.. But I really want an iPhone myself. I am wondering if I can upgrade to an iphone and still use our current plan? The 1400 mins shared deal for $89?

[Des429]

I use the medianet plan on my iPhone 3G but I did this by buying a new iPhone off eBay and adding the data plan on my old phone. Then I just took the sim card out of my old phone and put it in the iPhone since I already had AT&T and it's an AT&T sim. Everything works fine and if I ever call AT&T then I just make sure that I put the sim back in my old phone and that the old phone shows up online under my account.

I don't feel bad about this because their is no way I'm paying $30 a month for data when the first gen iPhone users pay only $15. Half the places I am don't even have 3G so they are crazy if they expect me to pay more for a service I can't even always use. They either get my $15 a month or nothing at all because I'm not paying $30 a month.

I also paid about $500 for my iPhone off eBay so if you think you can get it and have it for $200 then your wrong. That's the subsidized price with a 2 year plan including data. So no your plan will not work.

The only thing different from my plan and from what you did is that you bought it off ebay and I want to use my mom's discount on her phone to get the $200 price. I'm not worried about medianet and my SIM not working, I'm just wondering if I will be able to go in and tell them I do not want to use the iphone anymore, and cancel the data plan. I'm not trying to break the contract for the voice plan and pay the early termination fee because my mom plans on using the phone for at least another two years anyways, I'm just renewing it. So will I be able to go from the iphone to her old phone again? has anyone out there bought an iphone and then gone back to their old phone?

No, it doesn't. $199/$299 is the full, new contract subsidized price. If you are not eligible to upgrade, you pay $399/$499 to extend your contract. If you don't want to do that, you pay $599/$699 to own it outright.

You can do what you want to do, but what is going to happen is that after a couple months, they will add the data plan back on and charge you for the months it wasn't on there. Nothing you can do about it either, since its a contract that was signed. You can go through the whole rigmarole of 'I didn't sign anything!', but with it all being electronically stored now, you won't get very far.

I've used a medianet plan with my 8525 for the past two years even though it strictly says you are supposed to use a PDA plan which costs $20 more a month. I have had no problems with it. On the website it has my phone listed as an 8525 and I've never gotten an email, phone call, or anything...

To be honest I'm not worried about getting 'caught'. I have yet to read about someone getting caught this way.

[episode]

The only thing different from my plan and from what you did is that you bought it off ebay and I want to use my mom's discount on her phone to get the $200 price. I'm not worried about medianet and my SIM not working, I'm just wondering if I will be able to go in and tell them I do not want to use the iphone anymore, and cancel the data plan. I'm not trying to break the contract for the voice plan and pay the early termination fee because my mom plans on using the phone for at least another two years anyways, I'm just renewing it. So will I be able to go from the iphone to her old phone again? has anyone out there bought an iphone and then gone back to their old phone?

No, the only difference is that when you sign up for the $200 price, you sign a two year contract to get it at that price.

I've used a medianet plan with my 8525 for the past two years even though it strictly says you are supposed to use a PDA plan which costs $20 more a month. I have had no problems with it. On the website it has my phone listed as an 8525 and I've never gotten an email, phone call, or anything...

To be honest I'm not worried about getting 'caught'. I have yet to read about someone getting caught this way.

The iPhone data is part of getting that subsidized price. With EVERY other phone on AT&T, data is not required. Your example is not the same, as you are not required to have a data plan at all. Also, they don't care, because, yes, medianet is cheaper, but its also limited to edge. You don't get 3G speed without the PDA plans.

If it is determined that you are using iPhone without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the appropriate monthly fee.

Check out the macrumors iphone forums if you want in depth info. But yes, people there have reported them putting the plan back on. If you have a 1st gen iPhone, it seems you'll be OK, but with a 3g, you have to have the plan if you get it subsidized.

It basically comes down to this: they are not going to let you get away with taking $400-720 of revenue away from them.

Go ahead and try it if you really want to, but don't be surprized when you get charged.

Edited January 5, 2009 by episode

[nomis_nehc]

Wow, I find this to be hilarious actually. Of course you'll have to return the phone. Duh.

[Des429]

No, the only difference is that when you sign up for the $200 price, you sign a two year contract to get it at that price.

The iPhone data is part of getting that subsidized price. With EVERY other phone on AT&T, data is not required. Your example is not the same, as you are not required to have a data plan at all. Also, they don't care, because, yes, medianet is cheaper, but its also limited to edge. You don't get 3G speed without the PDA plans.

Check out the macrumors iphone forums if you want in depth info. But yes, people there have reported them putting the plan back on. If you have a 1st gen iPhone, it seems you'll be OK, but with a 3g, you have to have the plan if you get it subsidized.

It basically comes down to this: they are not going to let you get away with taking $400-720 of revenue away from them.

Go ahead and try it if you really want to, but don't be surprized when you get charged.

Yeah I get what you're saying. I sent AT&T an email to see if I were to get an iphone and then switch back to an old phone if i could drop the data plan and keep the voice plan so we'll see what they say.

As for medianet and 3G. I have 3G as we speak on my phone with medianet so I'm not sure where you are getting that from. I go back to EDGE when I go to areas without 3G and I can definitely tell the difference.

Wow, I find this to be hilarious actually. Of course you'll have to return the phone. Duh.

You know that for sure or are you just saying that? I've read countless accounts on other sites and forums about people doing similar things. Have yet to hear of someone having to return the phone... unless they choose to return the phone for a refund within the 14 or 30 day period (can't remember what the deadline is)

[Lexcyn]

Be careful about the cancellation charges too. If you signed up for any multi-year contract, they gouge the crap out of you. I know with Rogers it is $400 to cancel your voice plan and another $150 to cancel your data plan. Absolutely ridiculous if you ask me. But be warned and read the contract very carefully.

[duritz]

it will not work. you will have to return the phone. and if u dont they will bill you for the full price of the phone...not a good idea...

[Des429]

i just got done talking with two separate reps that said i will not have to return the phone if i do not wish to. i have saved and printed the chat transcript from wireless.att.com

[nomis_nehc]

Yes, you don't have to return the phone, they will just bill you the full price of the phone. Come on now, you think that money hungry gigantic corps haven't thought of this?

[duritz]

look at my post above^

come to grips with reality man...they will let you keep the phone...in fact i bet they WANT you to keep it so they can send u a nice bill for $500. $200 + $500 = $700, the full price of the iphone in the USA.

[Des429]

Would just like to give an update. So far no problems. Posting this from my new phone with medianet.