Data plan for unlocked smartphones?

[lqql]

Do we still have to buy at&t's data plan for unlocked smartphones such as verison's smartphones?  The phone has been unlocked so we can use our at&t sim cards to use.  I dont want the data plan but must we really have it for ALL smartphones that still has the GSM?

[Evandela ACE - Warrior]

Hi there!

Execellent question! I will be happy to answer this for you!

If you have an unlocked smartphone, a data plan will be required indeed. This requirement is to get the best experience out your smartphone, and was added a while ago.

However, as far as I'm aware, Verizon does use different technology (CDMA) while AT&T uses a GSM network, not sure if there would a conflict in running the phone on AT&T's network.

Hope that helps!

~ Evandela ~

[stclair49]

First off, Verizon phones, unlocked or not, will not work on AT&T's network. Different technology.

If you have an unlocked GSM smartphone, then YES, you will have to pay for a data plan on AT&T's postpaid network. It is required, no way around it.

 However, an unlocked GSM smartphone can be used on AT&T's prepaid network without a data plan.

[Evandela ACE - Warrior]

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stclair49 wrote:

First off, Verizon phones, unlocked or not, will not work on AT&T's network. Different technology.

If you have an unlocked GSM smartphone, then YES, you will have to pay for a data plan on AT&T's postpaid network. It is required, no way around it.

 However, an unlocked GSM smartphone can be used on AT&T's prepaid network without a data plan.

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Ahh, thanks for that! I was aware of Verizon and AT&T using different technologies, but I was not sure if their phones would work on AT&T's network since as far as I'm aware, their 4G LTE devices do use a SIM card.

Good learning experience from this I'd say!

~ Evandela ~

[ilikewireless ACE - Czar]

In general, it's true that Verizon phones cannot be used on AT&T network. Without specifics of the OP's phone, that would be the generally correct answer. There may be exceptions.

I recall that someone had posted about HTC Imagio, a Verizon phone with CDMA and GSM technology.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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ilikewireless wrote:

In general, it's true that Verizon phones cannot be used on AT&T network. Without specifics of the OP's phone, that would be the generally correct answer. There may be exceptions.

I recall that someone had posted about HTC Imagio, a Verizon phone with CDMA and GSM technology.

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Verizon has a couple of global phones that take a sim card, this requires a secondary activation in addition to the normal activation. Not sure if those phones can be used specificly on a gsm netowrk or not

[lqql]

Well, the unlocked Verizon smartphone i was looking at was the LG Fathom.  Its either that or the LG Sidekick LX 2009

[ilikewireless ACE - Czar]

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wingrider01 wrote:

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ilikewireless wrote:

In general, it's true that Verizon phones cannot be used on AT&T network. Without specifics of the OP's phone, that would be the generally correct answer. There may be exceptions.

I recall that someone had posted about HTC Imagio, a Verizon phone with CDMA and GSM technology.

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Verizon has a couple of global phones that take a sim card, this requires a secondary activation in addition to the normal activation. Not sure if those phones can be used specificly on a gsm netowrk or not

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Yes, ThatKiddo got it working. See his post of 7-19-2011.

http://forums.att.com/t5/Prepaid/Smartphone-HTC-Imagio-Unlocked-With-Prepaid/td-p/2803901/page/3

Yes. You are probably right about the primary and secondary activation. It booted up with Verizon splash screen.

[JFizDaWiz]

just a heads up on the sidekick, internet will not work. the old sidekicks (pre-android) internet ran through Danger's servers which is now dead even if you use the phone on T-Mobile I believe.