AT&T/HTC

[#1]

There has been a lot of talk online here about whether or not you should have the PDA plan when the MediaNet plan is cheaper.

This is based directly on interaction with a Cingular shop owner that has been adjusting one invoice after another for the past weekend (which I can guarantee you first-hand as I helped him at this shop this past weekend):

If you go over the access MB's  on one of the data plans (for 5 MB or 10 MB etc) on your 8125, you will be charged for each byte of data over that.

The 8125 accesses the actual internet and you must pay for that service (i.e. the PDA plan). The 2125 and other phones access Cingular's MediaNet which is cheaper. You do not have the option of accessing MediaNet on the 8125. You can pay for it, but your phone will never connect to MediaNet, it is connecting to the "real" internet.

If you do NOT have the full PDA plan and you go over the 5 or 10 MB of service you paid for, get ready for a 300 dollar phone bill. If you have only MediaNet and not one of the data plans, you are really in trouble. Similarly, the unlimited 19.99 data plan is for PHONE internet media vis-a-vis Cingular, not for Internet access.

Be careful, and make sure that you are paying for the service that will be the cheapest for you -- most Cingular representatives on the phone, for example, DO NOT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE between the plans that you need - they don't use these phones.

I know there is another long link on this, but it has gotten so convoluted that people have stopped reading through the hundred replies.

SO - in other words:

PDA PLAN - safest if you access the internet and e-mail a lot. i.e. (browse about an hour a day and send and receive a lot of e-mail)

Data plans (5 MB, 10 MB etc) Be careful that you don't go over your alloted amount. When browsing turn off the photos, etc.

MediaNet - does not apply to the 8125

19.99 Unlimited Data Plan - does not apply to the 8125, only phone internet access

Here's the rub - if you sign up for the wrong plan (i.e. it's cheaper) the 8125 will STILL allow you to access the internet - unfortunately, you are going to be charged the access rate per byte and end up with a huge bill.

BE CAREFUL. Double check all of your plans with CINGULAR, do not take the word of people posting online that might lead you toward an ultimately more costly option.

[#2]

Morning Ron -

Well, if this is the case.. I will probably not be very happy with my bill next month. I am curious however, in the settings for both my POP3Email and in the Connections Menu under settings from he Start Menu there is a drop down box that asks you to specify the type of connection for Mail and for Browsing. In both, the drop down boxes contain several options : My Work Network / My ISP / Work / The Internet and MEDia Net. In both instances I have MEDia Net selected not The Internet.

Now, if what you are saying is accurate and I was

A) Never informed by the Rep who sold me the unit and was allowed to purchase the phone and apply for the rebate using MEDIa Net for my Internet Access and

B) Cingular's own documentation for the phone and the options with the device itself clearly indicate that MEDia Net is a viable option for browsing and email access

would it suffice to say that it's a bit misleading? In fact I would almost go as far as to say that because Cingular themselves has not made an "official" stand on this issue and continues to allow it's users to amass these exorbitant bills for data access that they were led to believe was included in the monthly fee could be misconstrued as fraud.

I appreciate you looking out for us - because if this is correct and since this is the first month for many of us users... there could be a real big surprise around the corner. I guess I will wait and see come the 17th when my billing cycle rolls over.  I will post an update.

- Rob

[#3]

Some of what Ron saved is correct, i.e. if you exceed your 5MB or 10MB package you purchased, you will be billed for overages which is quite obvious but most ppl don't realize that if you browse internet at all, you will use up those MBs in one or two days.

The other part is partially true and confusing. First of all, Media Net does work and if you use it on your 8125, it will be counted as Media Net usage (except if you tether to your laptop to do stuffs other than browsing and checking emails). However, officially, Cingular wants all PDA users to use PDA connect plan which costs twice as much for the same connection. However, due to Cingular's own problem, i.e. you can manually add MEdia Net either on line or call CSR to your 8125,  you can still unofficially use Media Net plan. However, from start 3/1/06, Cingular will start to crack down (auditing is the official words) such usage and remove the Media Net plan from your account if they think you're in the wrong plan. You will then be charged Pay Per Usage. So monitor your account regularly. As long as Media Net still shows up in your account, you're safe.

[#4]

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foxbat121 wrote:

Some of what Ron saved is correct, i.e. if you exceed your 5MB or 10MB package you purchased, you will be billed for overages which is quite obvious but most ppl don't realize that if you browse internet at all, you will use up those MBs in one or two days.

The other part is partially true and confusing. First of all, Media Net does work and if you use it on your 8125, it will be counted as Media Net usage (except if you tether to your laptop to do stuffs other than browsing and checking emails). However, officially, Cingular wants all PDA users to use PDA connect plan which costs twice as much for the same connection. However, due to Cingular's own problem, i.e. you can manually add MEdia Net either on line or call CSR to your 8125,  you can still unofficially use Media Net plan. However, from start 3/1/06, Cingular will start to crack down (auditing is the official words) such usage and remove the Media Net plan from your account if they think you're in the wrong plan. You will then be charged Pay Per Usage. So monitor your account regularly. As long as Media Net still shows up in your account, you're safe.

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thanks Fox - I believe that it is probably accurate and if that is what Cingular wants us to do - then I have no problem doing it ( BTW - I don't know if anyone has checked but as of yesterday PDA connect is now 44.95? that's like 5.00 more than it was last week!)

My only beef is that like you said they (Cingular via it's sales reps) are being to ambiguous about this whole thing - and that ambiguity might cost some poor unsuspecting user several hundred dollars in fees - if they don't want us using it - then they should remove the options from the device, the documentation and better inform their sales reps. What's scary is that some of them have no real idea of the products and services they are selling sometimes.. this board would be a great training tool !

-Rob

[#5]

I was assured by two different CS folks before I purchased the 8125 that I would be just fine with the MediaNet Unlimited. I told them I browsed the web, retrieved e-mail, etc., but did not tether, and both assured me that I was on the right plan. In a later conversation, a CSR told me I should be on PDA connect, and I mentioned the previous conversations. He admitted that the MediaNet Unlimited is the same thing...

How confusing does this need to be? I am certainly NOT going to pay anything more than what I would expect, as more than one person at Cingular has told me I am OK as-is...

[#6]

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klubinsky wrote:
I was assured by two different CS folks before I purchased the 8125 that I would be just fine with the MediaNet Unlimited. I told them I browsed the web, retrieved e-mail, etc., but did not tether, and both assured me that I was on the right plan. In a later conversation, a CSR told me I should be on PDA connect, and I mentioned the previous conversations. He admitted that the MediaNet Unlimited is the same thing...

How confusing does this need to be? I am certainly NOT going to pay anything more than what I would expect, as more than one person at Cingular has told me I am OK as-is...

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I am with you... we'll see what my bill says next month.

[#7]

I spent a great deal of time on the phone with a Cingular tech (not just a run of the mill CS rep) and was explained the basic difference between Media.net and Data Connect. It basically boils down to the fact that Data Connect offers two access points for users to connect to as opposed to the one offered by Media.net. The reason for this he said is that the Media.net AP is behind the corporate firewall and is not the most suiteable solution for corporate users as changes on the corporate side might interefere with service. Who knows. That being said, I found it interesting that my billing cycle ended on the 3rd of this month, yet I am unable to view my bill information until April 3rd. Here is the message I get: 'U1536: Due to the recent change in your rate plan, we are unable to display usage information until after your next billing cycle begins on 04/03/06.' Here is the kicker.... guess who hasn't made any changes in their rate plan. Oh and who wasn't notified of any changes. Yeah, that would be muah. I did however get a letter from Lock Line saying that I now save a buck on my insurance and they cover limited accesories... woo hooo. You guys can't tell but I'm danicing here and having a party with the new dollar.. YAY!!!

J

[#8]

Nice J -

BTW, I get that same exact message on my account when I try to check my Data Usage. For me - I get to wait till the 17th to see what surprises lay in store.

-Rob

[#9]

I just talked with a CSR.  She told me that I have not been charged per KB at this time though she can't guarantee anything until a new bill is generated.  I am nervous here.  I think when my new cycle starts on the 14th that I will just get PDA Connect unlimited.  My fear is that if they decide at some point to hit you with a per kb charge it might not be that easy to get them to credit you.

[#10]

There will probably credit your for once.