Can I use an iPhone with a prepaid plan?

[krazykuul]

I am really interested in buying an iPhone from ebay or other online seller, and using a prepaid plan.  The fact is that I am in high school, I do not have a job yet, and my parents are not even about to start paying for a full blown iPhone plan with data and everything else.  Right now, all I have to use is a cheap tracfone, and I really want to upgrade to att.

I want to use the iPhone with a pay as you go (PAYG) plan, but from many sites I have read, att does not like people who do that.  I was planning on getting a used iPhone 2g, and then buying a Go Phone from the store somewhere.  Then I could set up my account and swap the sim cards.

I am not interested in an EDGE data plan, because I do not need internet outside of my home.  I have wi-fi and that is all I need.  If I set up my Go Phone, and swap it into a used iPhone, then will I be able to use the PAYG plan with the iPhone.

I really do not want to stick with tracfone, and I think att should be glad that I want to switch over to their company.  I would get a full iPhone 3G plan if I had the money, but the truth is that I probably will never want to pay that much for just a cell phone.

[Scholar Yoshi]

No att does not allow the iphone to be use as a prepaid phone. they did at the very begining of the iphone but they do not any more.

I do understand your problems with the tracphone though when I had mine it would only complete a call maybe 1 in 20 times and then drop the call at least 75% of the time, have you considered another prepaid service such as Jump, Boost, or Cricket?

Message Edited by cautiouscustomer on 12-01-2009 05:03:50 PM

[krazykuul]

but if I swapped the sim card from a PAYG phone into an iPhone, would it just not work?

I heard about 3.0 firmware cutting the use of the iPhone as a prepaid phone, but if that is the case, i know how to easily downgrade firmware.

[Scholar Yoshi]

I don't believe it would and even if it did it would still use the data services and really rack up your bill.

[krazykuul]

well, i saw this discussed before, and I know of a website which can disable the iPhone's data service to use with a pay as you go plan, but my main question is if you can still make calls with it.  It has been done before, but I am just hoping that it still works

i'll probably call ATT about it

Message Edited by krazykuul on 12-01-2009 05:11:31 PM

[Planet-Ed ACE - Geek · Accepted solution]

ATT will not help you.  There policy is you cannot use the iPhone 3G or 3GS with and any Go Phone plan.  Only the original iPhone can use Pick Your Plan (you cannot use the Pay As You Go). 

Even if you have your data disabled ATT can still read your IMEI and detect your using an iPhone.

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/popups/gophone-customer-important-information.jsp

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Important Information for GoPhone Customers

Certain GoPhone customers using either an original iPhone or iPhone 3G who update to iPhone OS 3.0 Software may experience an impact to their data service.

AT&T GoPhone rate plans are not approved for use with iPhone 3GS.

iPhone 3G Users Currently on a GoPhone Account:

• GoPhone rate plans (Pick Your Plan and Pay As You Go) have never been approved for use with iPhone 3G. These rate plans are not designed to work with iPhone 3G. Customers using these plans with iPhone 3G may experience an interruption to their data services if they download iPhone OS 3.0 Software update.
• iPhone 3G customers on Pay As You Go rate plans should call 800-901-9878 and at the main menu choose the option for ‘More Info’, then say ‘Customer Service’. You should speak with a customer service representative to learn more about options for service.
• iPhone 3G customers on Pick Your Plan rate plans should call 866-499-7888 and choose the option for ‘Customer Care’ at the main menu. You should speak with a customer service representative to learn more about options for service.

Original iPhone Users Currently on a GoPhone Account:

• If you are a Pick Your Plan customer with the required unlimited Data Plan for original iPhone, you should not experience any interruption in your data service due to downloading the iPhone OS 3.0 Software Update.
• If you are a Pick Your Plan customer who does not currently have the required unlimited Data Plan for original iPhone, you will experience an interruption in your data service. To avoid this interruption, you should call 866-499-7888, and choose the option for ‘Customer Care’ at the main menu. You should speak with a customer service representative to have the required Data Plan for iPhone added to your service.
• Pay As You Go rate plans have never been approved for AT&T iPhone customers. These customers could experience an interruption in their data services if they download iPhone OS 3.0 Software. Customers currently using any iPhone with a Pay As You Go rate plan should call 800-901-9878, and at the main menu choose the option for ‘More Info’, then say ‘Customer Service’. You should speak with a customer service representative about approved rate plan options with the required unlimited Data Plan for iPhone service.

Customers who are unsure of what kind of plan they are currently on should visit www.att.com/gophone and login under Account Management. Upon logging in, account details will be available.

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[krazykuul]

...and because of this, i may end up unlocking an iPhone and using Tmobile.

sorry att for your lack of options to people who are not as rich as other people, and thankyou to everyone at this forum who helped me out.

[BrianfromNO]

Be careful...T-Mobile is also seriously cracking down on people using iPhones on their network.  They've restricted several of the inexpensive data plans from being used with an iPhone.

Honestly, if you can't afford it, the iPod Touch provides almost all the functionality of the iPhone, and doesn't require a monthly service contract.  I don't go out and buy a Maserati knowing I can't afford to pay the maintenance or insurance on it.

[keithyhuntington]

Better yet, why would you want an iPhone if your just gonna turn off that data? Other than bragging rights at school, there's no point. Just get an old nokia 1g phone if all yiu want is a voice phone.

[Glomag]

Thank you for your comments and opinions related to this topic. This topic has been thoroughly discussed and is now being closed.  Should the OP need additional assistance, please feel free to open up a new thread.