Can I get a plan from AT&T or T-Mo without a contract?

[SunnyD]

I'm picking up an off-contract iPhone which should be here in the next couple days. I was wondering if either AT&T or T-Mo set up new accounts without a contract - since I won't be needing the phone (just a SIM).

I know I can do the whole prepaid thing, but that essentially kills data for good (too expensive for not enough service). AT&T only gives you 100MB for $20/month and T-Mo puts you in their walled garden (for free at least).

Optimally, I'd love to be able to get an unlimited monthly (or even high-cap) data plan and go with prepaid voice, but I haven't found any provider willing to do something sane like that.

 

[SunnyD]

Nevermind, it looks like T-Mo's sidekick prepaid plan will work for what I want. I will rarely use voice, so $0.15/min won't be terrible compared to the other options.

 

[shortylickens]

Well, too late for us to help, but the answer would have been "yes".
Actually, I still intend to buy an unlocked Nokia and use it on either AT&T or T-mobile. Probably the E71 or the N97. N97 seems like a lot more fun, but its twice as expensive and some reviewers have complained its not as awesome as it should be considering the price. E71 looks great and its cheaper, but last generation technology and considering I am purchasing an unlocked phone, it would make sense to go as high-end as possible.

T-mobile is great with their prepaid, contract free plans. I dont care about the lack of 3G on their network as I intend to use Wifi for all data. The only reason I would consider getting a T-mobile branded phone directly though T-mobile is they have UMA calling, which would save my minutes during the day.

 

[SunnyD]

Well I suppose I can also go Flexpay and get the $29.99 plan + $9.99 unlimited web too, $40/mo for unlimited data + 300 minutes, though that isn't really much better than the prepaid Sidekick plan (it doesn't include text messaging for example). Hmm... I wonder what exactly I can do.

I hear UMA isn't all that great - drops calls while switching networks a lot. I'd just as soon run Skype or something over the data side and go from there.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Well I suppose I can also go Flexpay and get the $29.99 plan + $9.99 unlimited web too, $40/mo for unlimited data + 300 minutes, though that isn't really much better than the prepaid Sidekick plan (it doesn't include text messaging for example). Hmm... I wonder what exactly I can do.

I hear UMA isn't all that great - drops calls while switching networks a lot. I'd just as soon run Skype or something over the data side and go from there.

I think UMA quality depends on the phone. When I had it a year ago with a Nokia 6301 it was fine. Quality was good and it could switch between cellular and wifi without missing a beat. Only downside was it sucked up batteries like popcorn.
The Blackberry Curve has a much better battery and you can also get huge extra high capacity batteries easily. I got my mom a Curve for work and she only makes calls on the wifi. Never had any problems.

But since you already know exactly what you want to do, I say go for it.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Well I suppose I can also go Flexpay and get the $29.99 plan + $9.99 unlimited web too, $40/mo for unlimited data + 300 minutes, though that isn't really much better than the prepaid Sidekick plan (it doesn't include text messaging for example). Hmm... I wonder what exactly I can do.

I hear UMA isn't all that great - drops calls while switching networks a lot. I'd just as soon run Skype or something over the data side and go from there.

I think UMA quality depends on the phone. When I had it a year ago with a Nokia 6301 it was fine. Quality was good and it could switch between cellular and wifi without missing a beat. Only downside was it sucked up batteries like popcorn.
The Blackberry Curve has a much better battery and you can also get huge extra high capacity batteries easily. I got my mom a Curve for work and she only makes calls on the wifi. Never had any problems.

But since you already know exactly what you want to do, I say go for it.

I already have an iPhone 2G on the way. I was just extending the conversation.

 

[theeedude]

I got T-mo prepaid, and I like it quite a bit. I don't talk that much, and use Skype/IM more, so it ends up costing me something like $15 per month.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: senseamp
I got T-mo prepaid, and I like it quite a bit. I don't talk that much, and use Skype/IM more, so it ends up costing me something like $15 per month.

You have it on an iPhone? The regular prepaid plan?

 

[theeedude]

regular phone. I use skype/IM on my PC.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: senseamp
regular phone. I use skype/IM on my PC.

Ahh... okay I got ya. I'm trying to migrate communications to more of a communications platform as inexpensively as possible.