Using GoPhone SIM on 4G phones

[pata2001]

I have a GoPhone SIM. It works fine on my iPhone 3GS. I recently purchased the Samsung Infuse 4G. When I use the GoPhone SIM on it, voice works, but it cannot connect to the data network. Is there a 4G SIM for GoPhone?

[hme83 ACE - Professor]

Have you tried a post paid SIM in the Samsung Infuse and received data service?  So you know the phone's settings are correct for using at&t's data service and it truly is the prepaid SIM that seems to be the problem?

And another possibility - do you have a data feature package on your prepaid account?  If not, I wonder if the Samsung Infuse could be subject to the new at&t prepaid requirement for smartphones (no PPU data service), while the 3GS is old enough that it potentially could avoid the requirement. (?)  Just a thought as the prepaid smartphone plans are so new that I haven't really seen any indication of how they function yet.

[pata2001]

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hme83 wrote:

Have you tried a post paid SIM in the Samsung Infuse and received data service?  So you know the phone's settings are correct for using at&t's data service and it truly is the prepaid SIM that seems to be the problem?

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Yes. The post paid SIM works fine on the Infuse for data.

And before anybody ask, I have purchased a data package on the prepaid SIM. It works on the 3GS, but not the Infuse.

[hme83 ACE - Professor]

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pata2001 wrote:

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hme83 wrote:

Have you tried a post paid SIM in the Samsung Infuse and received data service?  So you know the phone's settings are correct for using at&t's data service and it truly is the prepaid SIM that seems to be the problem?

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Yes. The post paid SIM works fine on the Infuse for data.

And before anybody ask, I have purchased a data package on the prepaid SIM. It works on the 3GS, but not the Infuse.

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lol.  OK - we were thinking alike and you beat me to the edit.   In that case, I don't know of any other possibilities, but hopefully some of the other newer smartphone users with prepaid service will have some additional thoughts.

[pata2001 · Accepted solution]

I went to a local AT&T store, and they said it won't work, period. They said 4G phones are locked out from being used with GoPhone data plans. *sigh I fail to see the logic behind this since I'll be paying for the data anyway. Oh, it's AT&T, logic doesn't count.

[hme83 ACE - Professor]

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pata2001 wrote:

I went to a local AT&T store, and they said it won't work, period. They said 4G phones are locked out from being used with GoPhone data plans. *sigh I fail to see the logic behind this since I'll be paying for the data anyway. Oh, it's AT&T, logic doesn't count.

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If it is indeed true and not just typical misinformation provided by sales personnel in the at&t stores, then I fail to see the logic behind it as well.  at&t seems to be recognizing (e.g. the introduction of the smartphone voice plans) that many users are now gravitating toward prepaid service, and for casual international travelers it also makes the most sense.  They are missing a large market segment if they don't make the use of their prepaid service feasible with today's smartphones. 

[pata2001]

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hme83 wrote:

If it is indeed true and not just typical misinformation provided by sales personnel in the at&t stores, then I fail to see the logic behind it as well.  at&t seems to be recognizing (e.g. the introduction of the smartphone voice plans) that many users are now gravitating toward prepaid service, and for casual international travelers it also makes the most sense.  They are missing a large market segment if they don't make the use of their prepaid service feasible with today's smartphones. 

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Well, the GoPhone data plan does work on unlocked phones, eg. my Nexus One. Since the Infuse is AT&T locked, they have more control on what's allowed and what's not. International travelers are more likely to have unlocked phones, thus AT&T still gets the money. AT&T's goal is to inconvenience US consumers so they are locking themselves into the post-paid plans.

[hme83 ACE - Professor]

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pata2001 wrote:

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hme83 wrote:

If it is indeed true and not just typical misinformation provided by sales personnel in the at&t stores, then I fail to see the logic behind it as well.  at&t seems to be recognizing (e.g. the introduction of the smartphone voice plans) that many users are now gravitating toward prepaid service, and for casual international travelers it also makes the most sense.  They are missing a large market segment if they don't make the use of their prepaid service feasible with today's smartphones. 

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Well, the GoPhone data plan does work on unlocked phones, eg. my Nexus One. Since the Infuse is AT&T locked, they have more control on what's allowed and what's not. International travelers are more likely to have unlocked phones, thus AT&T still gets the money. AT&T's goal is to inconvenience US consumers so they are locking themselves into the post-paid plans.

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While what you state is completely true, I guess my point was really that it doesn't make much sense to me on at&t's part to have recently introduced smartphone plans for prepaid service and yet make it difficult for users to use the smartphone of their choice with the service.

[pata2001]

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hme83 wrote:

While what you state is completely true, I guess my point was really that it doesn't make much sense to me on at&t's part to have recently introduced smartphone plans for prepaid service and yet make it difficult for users to use the smartphone of their choice with the service.

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I agree that it doesn't make much sense, but hey, it's AT&T. ;-) They want to lock you in to the post-paid service.

[hme83 ACE - Professor]

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pata2001 wrote:

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hme83 wrote:

While what you state is completely true, I guess my point was really that it doesn't make much sense to me on at&t's part to have recently introduced smartphone plans for prepaid service and yet make it difficult for users to use the smartphone of their choice with the service.

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I agree that it doesn't make much sense, but hey, it's AT&T. ;-) They want to lock you in to the post-paid service.

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They do know how to take advantage of human nature.

[andrewcarnegieIV · Accepted solution]

Hello,

I got prepaid data to work on my 4G phone! It's an HTC INSPIRE, so the settings might be different on other Android phones...

Here's how I did it, for anyone who needs to know:

1. From main screen: Menu --> settings --> wireless and networks --> mobile networks --> access point names

2. press "Menu" again

3. Press "New APN"

4. change the settings to these:

Name: AT&T
APN: wap.cingular
Proxy: wireless.cingular.com
Port: 80
Username:WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password:CINGULAR1
Server: leave blank
MMSC: http://mmsc.cingular.com
MMS Proxy: 66.209.11.32
mms protocol: wap 2.0
MMS Port: 80
MCC:310
MNC:410
APN Type: leave blank

5. Go back to the APNs menu and select the new APN (AT&T) as your APN.

6. Power off the phone completely.

7. When you restart, you should be able to access prepaid data.

8. You might want to disable the wireless when you're not using it so that it doesn't drain your prepaid data.

I hope that this continues to work... I'll post any updates

[Delbertjay]

Its cause they want you to sign a contract and have your soul

[Wild Banchi ACE - Professor]

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Delbertjay wrote:

Its cause they want you to sign a contract and have your soul

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Not necessarily... More like they want you to have a data plan.

[reytj]

I have an Inspire but wasn't able to geAuthentication typet it work with your instructions.  Is yours still working?  BTW I notice that you did not make any mention of one of the entries which is Authentication type.  Did you leave it <not set>?.  Thanks for taking the time to post.

Reynaldo

[OnlytheShadowKn…]

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reytj wrote:

I have an Inspire but wasn't able to geAuthentication typet it work with your instructions.  Is yours still working?  BTW I notice that you did not make any mention of one of the entries which is Authentication type.  Did you leave it <not set>?.  Thanks for taking the time to post.

Reynaldo

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No, Reynaldo.  Try Authentication Type::= SECURE

This is typically the auth type.  See if it works for you.

[OnlytheShadowKn…]

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andrewcarnegieIV wrote:

...

Name: AT&T
APN: wap.cingular
Proxy: wireless.cingular.com
Port: 80
Username:WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password:CINGULAR1
Server: leave blank
MMSC: http://mmsc.cingular.com
MMS Proxy: 66.209.11.32
mms protocol: wap 2.0
MMS Port: 80
MCC:310
MNC:410
APN Type: leave blank

...

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Excellent post AndrewCarnegieIV.  A Keeper.  Thanks!

1. Port=8080 should work as well for both APN (HTTP service) and MMS (WAP 2.0 service)
2. On the MMS settings, as reference,
• MCC = Mobile Country Code = 310 (USA)
• MNC = Mobile Network Code = 410 (AT&T)

[6bravo]

Absolute lifesaver you are, Mr. Carnegie.  Your settings saved my Galaxy Note from being a half-useful brick.

Cheers!

[cinguloso]

The question is: Are you guys really getting 4G speeds on your 4G phones? Because what little sense makes AT&T in not wanting you to use a 4G phone on prepaid, is that prepaid data is throttled so you can't reach anything beyond 500 kbps on a 3G phone. If you can't go past 500 kbps on a 4G phone, then a 4G phone on prepaid makes absolutely no sense... unless you were on contract with that phone before and decided to move to prepaid, then by all means you should be allowed to reuse your phone.

[Wild Banchi ACE - Professor]

Honestly, I could care less about "4G" HSPA+ or even the real deal 4G. 3G serves its purpose and works absolutely fine for me!

[shielas]

you're such a lifesaver!!!! None from AT&T helps me, they all turned me down and got no answer as to why I can't get access to prepaid data plan! Kudos to you!!!

[hnzw_rui]

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cinguloso wrote:

is that prepaid data is throttled so you can't reach anything beyond 500 kbps on a 3G phone. If you can't go past 500 kbps on a 4G phone, then a 4G phone on prepaid makes absolutely no sense...

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I regularly get speeds of 2 Mbps (250 KB/s) on my LG Thrive (prepaid) - exactly the same speed I'm getting on my iPhone 4 (postpaid) and, disappointingly, on my brother's "4G" iPhone 4S (postpaid). I reckon the true 4G LTE phones might use a different APN, though. I'm pretty sure all AT&T locked iPhones use a different APN compared to other phones (likely has to do with visual voicemail).

There are other reasons for buying 4G phones despite not using it at 4G speeds. The phone model might have a faster processor or a better camera or a bigger screen. Besides, can you imagine how much quicker you'll be able to use up the paltry amount of data available on prepaid packages?

[drpasteur206]

the settings provided above don't work right now. i just tried it on my Samsung S2 Skyrocket. it goes the page where it says that I need to purchase a data package.

[hnzw_rui]

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drpasteur206 wrote:

the settings provided above don't work right now. i just tried it on my Samsung S2 Skyrocket. it goes the page where it says that I need to purchase a data package.

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A data package is required for smartphones regardless of what plan you're on if you want to use cellular data.

[kate1192]

i seriously feel like you just solved all my life problems! my only question is: will my phone use my data when i'm connected to wifi even though i have internet access? i only buy the 5$ data package cuz i only use it for MMS messages, seeing how i don't have enough service to use data at work & i've got wifi everywhere else that i go.

[millerbrad]

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pata2001 wrote:

I went to a local AT&T store, and they said it won't work, period. They said 4G phones are locked out from being used with GoPhone data plans. *sigh I fail to see the logic behind this since I'll be paying for the data anyway. Oh, it's AT&T, logic doesn't count.

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Funny.  I've used GoPhone data on an AT&T-branded NOT-unlocked Infuse 4G since November of 2011.  No problems whatsoever.  I always see the H+ icon for my data transfers (though data rate seems to be throttled down quite a bit).

[rsanon2]

hi, does this still work i recently got the inspire and im trying to get datta working but its not, i have the 50 $ plan. Please help me.

[ilikewireless ACE - Czar]

If you have the $50 monthly unlimited plan without an add-on data package, you will not have smartphone data.

Reference: GoPhone Plan Terms http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-plans/pyg-cell-phone-plans.jsp

[noub]

Let me put in another way.

Let's say I have a ATT LTE phone and I have one of pre-paid plan. If I add additional data plan $25 for 1G, can I use LTE network?

[androidfan78]

Dude you so rock!! Thank you for helping me out!! Using my new HTC one x on prepaid and loving it!!!

[jvolzer]

So if I have the $50 unlimited plan to get any data I would have to buy a seperate data plan? the $25 data plan is the largest I can get?