i'm in contract with a smart phone help

boo4u · ‎03-27-2012

I just recently renewed my contract with AT&T for iPhone 4S. I have to pay for data plan, cheap messaging plan and voice. Now, I been talking to the AT&T representative account and they told me when I buy the iPhone 4S and the contract that I sign is only for voice for two years. What if the sim card was activated under the iPhone 4S for about 2-3 days and then I convert it back to a normal sim card and then using it on a regular smart phone. I am sure that I can call the AT&T Rep and have them change my plan and remove data plan because they will see that I am using a non smart phone. Will this work or not? AT&T will still force me to pay for data plan but then remember what I wrote earlier that the contract is only for voice for a 2 year agreement?

JFizDaWiz · ‎10-27-2010

get rid of the smartphone and you can get rid of the data plan.

“I am an AT&T employee and the postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent AT&T’s positions, strategies or opinions.”

boo4u · ‎03-27-2012

get rid of the smartphone and you can get rid of the data plan.

“I am an AT&T employee and the postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent AT&T’s positions, strategies or opinions.”

can you be more specific by what you mean " get rid of the smart phone and you can get rid of the data plan? " which as in keep the iPhone unactivated? returning the phone? but why when i can just keep it unactivated and cancel data plan? is the $200.00 discounted iPhone 4S 16gb only if you use it and have data plan? i can't just buy the discounted iPhone 4S and then keep it unactivated and not return it and get my data plan canceled? I mean the contract clearly says that voice for 2yrs only and if no it won't work, that meas AT&T forces data plan which means breaking the contract? I thought data plan is only added if you are using the smart phone which you aren't but keeping the discounted phone.

kdfederer · ‎07-20-2008

You can buy the phone and not activate it, but you are still tied to the 2 year contract. If you do activate the phone, the data plan will be required, but when you switch to a non-smart phone, you can cancel the data plan at any time during your contract and not be penalized.
The only thing required during your contract is the monthly minute plan. Unless you use a smart phone, then the data plan is required until the smart phone is removed from your plan, then the data plan can be canceled.

boo4u · ‎03-27-2012

You can buy the phone and not activate it, but you are still tied to the 2 year contract. If you do activate the phone, the data plan will be required, but when you switch to a non-smart phone, you can cancel the data plan at any time during your contract and not be penalized.
The only thing required during your contract is the monthly minute plan. Unless you use a smart phone, then the data plan is required until the smart phone is removed from your plan, then the data plan can be canceled.

New Reply VV

Let me get this clear. I need the best answer for this. I can buy the phone ( through upgrading I assume ) and not activate it. Yeah, i'll be tied to the 2 year contract because its no problem for me, only going to pay voice/texting. However, the iPhone 4S that i'll have will be unactivated. Maybe, i'll give it to a friend or family as a gift. I would be still "USING" my regular NON-Smart Phone.

Now the question is will AT&T force me to pay for data plan ?

kdfederer · ‎07-20-2008

you will not be forced into a data plan if you are not using a smart phone, only if you activate a smart phone on your account.
One big problem about not activating the 4S and giving it to someone else. The 4S MUST be activated on the account used for the upgrade and then it can be switched to someone else. So you must first activate it on your account, then change SIM to change to another person, then you must get a new SIM for your original phone because during the upgrade process, your current SIM is deactivated and once deactivated, it cannot be reactivated.
Once the 4S is activated on your account, the data plan is automatically added. The once you switch to the old phone, you have to call AT&T to cancel the data plan and give them the IMEI of the phone you are using.

boo4u · ‎03-27-2012

you will not be forced into a data plan if you are not using a smart phone, only if you activate a smart phone on your account.
One big problem about not activating the 4S and giving it to someone else. The 4S MUST be activated on the account used for the upgrade and then it can be switched to someone else. So you must first activate it on your account, then change SIM to change to another person, then you must get a new SIM for your original phone because during the upgrade process, your current SIM is deactivated and once deactivated, it cannot be reactivated.
Once the 4S is activated on your account, the data plan is automatically added. The once you switch to the old phone, you have to call AT&T to cancel the data plan and give them the IMEI of the phone you are using.

New Reply

I am taking part of your sentence to get a better understanding what you mean. "First you must activate it on your account then change SIM to change to another person" What exactly do you mean? The person who recieves my 4S will be just using it under his own AT&T contract or might even not activate the phone at all?

Now let me get this straight. My current sim card will be de-activated. I will have to activate the iPhone 4S. From there on, Do I have to get a new sim card to switch to the old phone, and by there I have to call the 800 number to cancel the data plan and give them the imei of the phone that i am using?

What about the iPhone 4S? What happens if the iPhone 4S is never activated?

And would I be trigging a ETF for attempting this ?

JFizDaWiz · ‎10-27-2010

You will have to activate the iPhone before giving it away though. But once you get rid of it and put a non smartphone on your plan and then get rid of data

“I am an AT&T employee and the postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent AT&T’s positions, strategies or opinions.”

kdfederer · ‎07-20-2008

boo4u wrote:

New Reply

I am taking part of your sentence to get a better understanding what you mean. "First you must activate it on your account then change SIM to change to another person" What exactly do you mean? The person who recieves my 4S will be just using it under his own AT&T contract or might even not activate the phone at all?

Now let me get this straight. My current sim card will be de-activated. I will have to activate the iPhone 4S. From there on, Do I have to get a new sim card to switch to the old phone, and by there I have to call the 800 number to cancel the data plan and give them the imei of the phone that i am using?

What about the iPhone 4S? What happens if the iPhone 4S is never activated?

And would I be trigging a ETF for attempting this ?

If the 4S IS activated, It MUST BE ACTIVATED on the account used for the upgrade, otherwise it CANNOT be activated, it is a security measure.

If the 4S is not activated, it is just a brick and worthless.

By activating on your account, it renders the SIM in your current phone worthless, so you will need a new SIM for your old phone IF you are going to use it.

The ONLY thing that triggers and ETF is if you cancel your line completely. Changing phones does not trigger an ETF.