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Wireless Forums from AT&T :
Phone & Device Support :
Apple :
upgrading, then switching back
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upgrading, then switching back
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pspinc2003
New User
Posts: 1
Registered: 09-16-2008
Message 1 of 11
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I currently have an original 4gb iphone that is eligible for upgrade. I know I will have to pay $30/month plus $5/month for texts with new 3g plan as opposed to $20/month with old plan. If I decide I don't think the extra $15/month is worth it for the 3g, can I switch back to the original iphone and just go back on the $20/month data plan? If so, can I do this anytime, or does it have to be within 30 days? I would not be returning the 3g, as I would probably re-sell it myself. As far as $36 activation fees go, I know I would need to pay it to switch to iphone 3g, but would I pay it again to go back to original iphone if I go that route? thanks
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09-16-2008 07:16:40 AM
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Re: upgrading, then switching back
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SMHarman
Wireless Student
Posts: 501
Registered: 01-28-2008
My Device: SE k800i CXC1250210/R8BA024
Message 2 of 11
Viewed 3,438 times
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pspinc2003 wrote: I currently have an original 4gb iphone that is eligible for upgrade. I know I will have to pay $30/month plus $5/month for texts with new 3g plan as opposed to $20/month with old plan. If I decide I don't think the extra $15/month is worth it for the 3g, can I switch back to the original iphone and just go back on the $20/month data plan? If so, can I do this anytime, or does it have to be within 30 days? I would not be returning the 3g, as I would probably re-sell it myself. As far as $36 activation fees go, I know I would need to pay it to switch to iphone 3g, but would I pay it again to go back to original iphone if I go that route? thanks
You can do that any time. I did this, well switching back to my existing handset, within 24 hours of upgrading to the 3G iPhone. You will call them with the imei number of the old iphone *#06# to get the IMEI number of the handsets. Switching back will involve pulling the chip from the new iPhone and putting it in the old iPhone, no fees.
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09-16-2008 07:24:14 AM
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Re: upgrading, then switching back
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SMHarman
Wireless Student
Posts: 501
Registered: 01-28-2008
My Device: SE k800i CXC1250210/R8BA024
Message 4 of 11
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Digital Mayhem wrote: well you can pull the SIM Card and put in old phone but you would still be paying the extra $15 month. otherwise your options are. 1) return the phone within 30 days and go back to the 1st gen iPhone 2) pay early termination fee and start a new line with the old iPhone (you would lose your number) as when purchasing the iPhone 3G at the subsidized price you are agreeing to stay with AT&T for 2 years and keeping the REQUIRED data plan... So you would be breaking the contract so you would have to pay to break the contract.
No, you call ATT or use OLAM (not sure if you can change this on OLAM) to change the data plan to the 2G iPhone plan with 200 texts. Your contractual commitment to ATT is to pay the minimum voice plan for 24 months, or $175 ETF. The data plan requirement is a requirement if you have an active iPhone on the line, not a requirement regardless of what handset you have on the line. I've done this the CSR at ATT had no problems doing this and confirmed this was acceptable and not in breach of my contract. She wanted the IMEI number of the replacement handset to remove the IMEI of the 3G iPhone off my line so it did not keep asking for the iPhone data plan. That was all.
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09-16-2008 10:05:15 AM
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Re: upgrading, then switching back
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SMHarman
Wireless Student
Posts: 501
Registered: 01-28-2008
My Device: SE k800i CXC1250210/R8BA024
Message 6 of 11
Viewed 3,356 times
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Digital Mayhem wrote: ya and the rep was not doing his/her job cause now your not having the more expensive data plan and now not paying for the phone.. You were allowed to do it as you even stated you did it 24 hours after you got the iPhone 3G so you were still within the 30 day window.... Now you are required to return your phone and so if you didn't I wouldn't be surprised if you have a mysterious $300-$400 charge on your account in a few months...
You can keep peddling misinformation on here if you want, but that is what it is. The iPhone is just a phone, just like any other phone on the ATT network. I don't know what ATT pay Apple to buy the phone but lets just say they pay $400 to buy the 8GB and then they charge you an upfront charge of $200 and recover the other $200 at $10 a month through your voice plan. If you terminate early they charge $175, ooh, about the same amount as they needed to recover through the voice plan. Equally were you to buy a SE w580i from them It would cost you $250 but with subsidy etc it costs $99 so they subsidise the handset by $150. I could equally buy the same handset from Amazon for $269 and not need a 2 year contract from ATT so highlighting that the pre contract price is about the same. The iPhone is a data hog, visual voice mail requires data, html email requires more data than blackberry email, safari likes data. We've all read the bad PR about people roaming with their iPhones and getting $1000+ bills. ATT (possibly in conjunction with Apple) took a business decision to force iPhone owners onto a dataplan to protect them from supersized data bills. This data is required while you are using an iPhone on the line, break it, have it stolen or even change your mind and switch to a different handset, the iPhone data plan is not required anymore. It is a condition of using an iPhone with the SIM card, not a condition of signing up for voice service with ATT. This was all about reducing the up front cost for the iPhone to get more subscribers on it. Globally it competes with high end Nokia phones like the N95 which is not available on any network in the US, the LG secret and Viewty, the SEC902, the Samsung tocco, all of which retail unloked for around $500. So, Operater sells handset at loss which will be recouped over the life of the voice contract or through the ETF or operator sells handset at full price and does not need to tie the customer in. Simple Cell Phone contract 101. I accept that I am tied to ATT for a voice contract for the next 23 months, however I am not tied to an iPhone dataplan (which would infact mean I cannot use data on my current handset) for those months. ATT agree with me.
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09-16-2008 11:26:52 AM
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Re: upgrading, then switching back
[ Edited ]
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SMHarman
Wireless Student
Posts: 501
Registered: 01-28-2008
My Device: SE k800i CXC1250210/R8BA024
Message 8 of 11
Viewed 3,333 times
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Digital Mayhem wrote: miss information ha try calling AT&T and try removing the Data plan and see what happens.... It is well known fact in the AT&T Forums and Apple Forums that the Data Plan is required and also known fact that if you cancel within the first 30 days you have to return the phone or they wont cancel your service. If after 30 days you would have to pay the ETF...
If you read my other posts in this thread... I DID. I called them. They needed the IMEI of the non iPhone handset to input into their computer so the computer would allow the iPhone data plan to be removed - in fact as I was calling on that phone the CSR called me back on a friends line so I could get the IMEI off my handset and complete the change of dataplan! You can't press #*06# and get the IMEI number while on a call - At that point I added MediaNet unlimited as I wanted unlimited data on my new handset. It would be impossible for ATT to actually still charge me for iPhone data and MediaNet Data as you can only have one on the account and the iPhone data plan (for me at least) would not allow me to send/recieve MMS/Email/Internet. It is a well known fact that if the iPhone is in use it requires a data plan - FACT. If there is no iPhone in use on the line, no data plan is required - FACT. If you terminate within 30 days you have to return the phone - FACT. If you don't terminate within 30 days then you have a 2 year commitment or $175 ETF but the phone is yours to keep - FACT As you correctly stated...
Digital Mayhem wrote:
as when purchasing the iPhone 3G at the subsidized price you are agreeing to stay with AT&T for 2 years and keeping the REQUIRED data plan... So you would be breaking the contract so you would have to pay to break the contract.
Over the next 2 years many people will drop their iPhones, drop them in the toilet, have them stolen, have them break from wear and tear, when that happens many people will be unisured and not have the $400+ to replace the handset and will pull an old handset out of the drawer, dust it off and reconnect it. When they do that ATT will allow them to and will remove the data plan if asked. The plan is only REQUIRED when an iPhone is connected on that line. What the OP wants to do is perfectly legitimate and allowed within ATT's T&Cs, despite whether you think it is morally correct or not.
Message Edited by SMHarman on 09-16-2008 12:57:52 PM
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09-16-2008 12:53:54 PM
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Re: upgrading, then switching back
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qckslvrsiete
Forum Regular
Posts: 143
Registered: 03-01-2007
Message 9 of 11
Viewed 3,213 times
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SMH is correct -- data is considered an additional feature and can be changed/removed based on the device in use without paying an ETF. For example, I've bought a blackjack and added a data plan to get a $100 discount. After 30 days I removed the data plan with no problems from AT&T or otherwise, and proceeded for about a year without a data plan. Switched to a blackberry before the original contract was up, and added the blackberry data plan, no problems. Same situation here, just drop the 3g and switch back to the 2g to pay the 2g data prices and have a 3g as a backup.
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09-17-2008 01:30:25 PM
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