What are my rights? AT&T and iPhone4

[lopri]

I have been looking to get away from Apple and iTunes, as well as AT&T for some time now. I currently use iPhone 4 with 3G network for data under my plan. My dissatisfaction with both of them are at the peak right now thanks to the hurricane Sandy. (I am running a power generator to get by with bare minimum, i.e. refrigerator, hot water, and phone charge,etc.)

I also have been looking to cut the cell phone bills down. I should have done it already but I was lazy and my phone was still under 2-year contract.

Now I am ready and determined to cut down my phone bill (I am paying way too much right now to the point that I am embarrassed to reveal here). It was me who didn't pay attention to what AT&T sold me and charged for, so I do not blame them. But once the hurricane passes I intend to fix this by visiting AT&T store.

So I am asking the experts what I need to know, and what my rights and options are beforehand. My current situation is as below.

- My phone is iPhone 4, and I have met the contract term (over 2 years)
- I realize that I actually use very little AT&T network. I am either at work or home most of the time, and only time I need their network is while I am driving.

And my primary questions are as below.

- If I cancel my ongoing plan with AT&T, do I have ownership of this phone?
- If so, doe AT&T has an obligation to unlock this phone?
- Considering My usage pattern (wi-fi 95% of the time) I would like to drastically lower the recurring phone bill. What services out there that will help this goal?

Thank you in advance!

 

[jpeyton]

First, let me congratulate you on your decision to move away from carrier/contract-locked service. I made that decision 3 years ago and it has saved me almost $2000 in service fees.

To answer your questions:

1) Yes, as long as you met the contract term and your account is in good standing, you own the device without having to pay any additional fees (early termination fees).

2) Yes: http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB414532&cv=820#fbid=T6_MyTrxyiJ

3) Do you use voice, SMS/MMS? What network has the best all-around coverage in your area?

I use Straight Talk, which is a pre-paid carrier that offers service on AT&T's and T-Mobile's networks. I use their service with AT&T's network, because it has better coverage in my area.

For $45/month, I get unlimited voice, unlimited text, and 2GB data. It costs $15 for a SIM card and activation: http://www.straighttalksim.com

You can use any AT&T, T-Mobile or unlocked GSM smartphone with Straight Talk. I'm using an AT&T Samsung Galaxy S3 that I purchased off-contract, but if you're considering moving away from Apple/iTunes and switching to Android, also give the Nexus 4 strong consideration: https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_4_16gb

Your current iPhone 4, after being unlocked, will fetch a good price on eBay or in the classifieds. Dump it and get something top-of-the-line: http://www.viddler.com/v/156bce48?secret=35112322

 

[lopri]

Thank you jpeyton! Exactly what I hoped to hear. I will definitely look into straight talk. Verizon seems to have better coverage around here but AT&T's 4G LTE is also good I've heard. But as I explained, I really don't think I need them. I send emails and upload/download stuff, and yes I use text messages and pictures occasionally.

But assuming wi-fi is available, do I need a plan for sms/mms? I am quite ignorant and new in mobile technology, and my assumption was that as long as a phone is on a wi-fi network it doesn't need any carrier network in order to do its usual functions.

 

[lopri]

Oh and nexus 4 is definitely under my consideration.

 

[jpeyton]

Thank you jpeyton! Exactly what I hoped to hear. I will definitely look into straight talk. Verizon seems to have better coverage around here but AT&T's 4G LTE is also good I've heard. But as I explained, I really don't think I need them. I send emails and upload/download stuff, and yes I use text messages and pictures occasionally.

But assuming wi-fi is available, do I need a plan for sms/mms? I am quite ignorant and new in mobile technology, and my assumption was that as long as a phone is on a wi-fi network it doesn't need any carrier network in order to do its usual functions.

I will elaborate a little more on your pre-paid options.

Straight Talk, and most other pre-paid low-cost options, do not currently support LTE. The big carriers (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint) are currently keeping LTE capacity for their post-paid customers, so the bottom line is: if you want LTE, you have to pay a premium for it and stick to the big carriers.

Straight Talk offers HSDPA, so you'll typically see speeds of 3-5Mbps on AT&T and up to 10Mbps on T-Mobile.

A modern smartphone will use WiFi for data when it's available, but voice/SMS/MMS are always sent over your cellular network. Voice/SMS actually travel on the same signal and do not use your cellular data connection; MMS uses your cellular data connection. As I mentioned, Straight Talk's $45 month plan includes unlimited voice/SMS/MMS, so you don't have to worry about hitting any quotas in that regard (and with you being on WiFi so much, I don't think you'll have to worry about the 2GB data limit either).

Page Plus Cellular is a great pre-paid low-cost carrier that uses Verizon's nationwide 3G (CDMA) network. They have some great smartphone plans in the $30-$40 range, but there is one major caveat: the newest smartphones will require some custom "flashing" to be compatible with Page Plus. You can't simply buy an off-the-shelf Verizon Galaxy S3 or Droid RAZR and expect it to work. I used Page Plus for a year back in the 3G days, but their device compatibility has gotten complicated with newer 4G phones because of the locked-down nature of Verizon's CDMA network.

Contrast this with Straight Talk, which can use any of the latest off-the-shelf AT&T or T-Mobile phones because of the open-compatibility of GSM networks.

If you want more resources on available pre-paid carriers in the US, check out Howardforum: http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php/325-US-Prepaid-MVNO-Discussion

Other popular options include T-Mobile pre-paid and Virgin Mobile. Although when I last compared all the available options, I found that Straight Talk won by a mile, and their $45 plan is the best "all-around" option if you want a large allowance of everything, nationwide network coverage, plus compatibility with the newest phones. T-Mobile has some plans that are much more data heavy at the expense of having a very small voice allowance, but that sounds like the opposite of what you need with so much WiFi access: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tmobile-30...-Card/15443357 Virgin Mobile uses parts (but not all) of Sprint's nationwide 3G (CDMA) network, but device compatibility is even worse than with Page Plus (limited to only Virgin branded phones).

 

[jpeyton]

A sample timeline for you might be:

1) Call AT&T and get your iPhone 4 unlocked.

2) Order a Nexus 4 from Google and a micro-SIM from Straight Talk.

3) Once you receive your orders, port your number to Straight Talk, which also closes your AT&T account.

4) Setup your Nexus 4, and sell your iPhone 4.

Your other alternative (which is what I did):

3) Once you receive your orders, port your number to Google Voice, which also closes your AT&T account.

4) Activate a new number on Straight Talk, and setup your Nexus 4 with the Google Voice application. And sell your iPhone 4.

Even if you choose not to port your current number to Google Voice, I would use the service anyway since Google basically provides you with a second telephone line for free.

 

[TheStu]

A sample timeline for you might be:

1) Call AT&T and get your iPhone 4 unlocked.

2) Order a Nexus 4 from Google and a micro-SIM from Straight Talk.

3) Once you receive your orders, port your number to Straight Talk, which also closes your AT&T account.

4) Setup your Nexus 4, and sell your iPhone 4. Save money!

This is basically what I intend to do in a couple weeks. I ordered my phone in mid-November of 2009, so my contract should be up really soon. Looking forward to saving $40/mo. I realized that I don't need the latest and greatest anymore, and with the money I save through Straight Talk, I can always just get unsubsidized or used phones.

 

[ControlD]

Are there no such options if you currently have a Verizon phone (say iPhone 4S in this case)? I would love to keep my 4S but ditch Verizon once my contract is up.

 

[Capt Caveman]

A sample timeline for you might be:

1) Call AT&T and get your iPhone 4 unlocked.

2) Order a Nexus 4 from Google and a micro-SIM from Straight Talk.

3) Once you receive your orders, port your number to Straight Talk, which also closes your AT&T account.

4) Setup your Nexus 4, and sell your iPhone 4.

Your other alternative (which is what I did):

3) Once you receive your orders, port your number to Google Voice, which also closes your AT&T account.

4) Activate a new number on Straight Talk, and setup your Nexus 4 with the Google Voice application. And sell your iPhone 4.

Even if you choose not to port your current number to Google Voice, I would use the service anyway since Google basically provides you with a second telephone line for free.

I also will be going from AT&T to Straighttalk using Google Voice.

What do you mean by contact AT&T to get your phone unlocked?

Also, wouldn't I want to activate a new straight talk number before porting my number to Google Voice, so I don't have a phone service interruption?

 

[s44]

Are there no such options if you currently have a Verizon phone (say iPhone 4S in this case)? I would love to keep my 4S but ditch Verizon once my contract is up.

PagePlus $55 plan. 2gb 3g data.

 

[ImDonly1]

PagePlus $55 plan. 2gb 3g data.

Or any other page plus plan. It's not limited to the $55 plan, but that's probably the best one for high data use.

No lte phones work. IPhone will work if you activate through a third party dealer. Page plus won't directly activate one I believe.

 

[TheStu]

I also will be going from AT&T to Straighttalk using Google Voice.

What do you mean by contact AT&T to get your phone unlocked?

Also, wouldn't I want to activate a new straight talk number before porting my number to Google Voice, so I don't have a phone service interruption?

AT&T announced that all iPhones that are out of contract are eligible to be carrier unlocked. Take the phone in and they'll take of it for you (or can apparently do it over the phone?). They announced this maybe... 6 months ago?

 

[ImDonly1]

AT&T announced that all iPhones that are out of contract are eligible to be carrier unlocked. Take the phone in and they'll take of it for you (or can apparently do it over the phone?). They announced this maybe... 6 months ago?

They won't do either. They will tell you to do the online form. They always redirect to the form now. The link is in jpeytons post talking about iPhone eligibility requirements.

It takes about a week for them to get it done.

 

[lopri]

The connection is so bad here and I have no idea when I'm going to get power back here (North Jersey). AT&T's 3G is so bad and I can't even make a phone call, forget doing anything data.

I got to read responses, however, and I wanted to thank everyone's input. Jpeyton, you've raised my knowledge on cell phones overnight and I appreciate much. I will get back to this thread when I can have reliable power. Kind of running everything on rope.. err.. a small power generator. Food/water take the first place in power rank.... ugh.

 

[lopri]

Well, before I go offline. In my case, I do not need a data plan. (does data plan include texting?) But if data refers to web serfing, emails, downloads, etc. those are all done in wi-fi. Literally, there is no reason for me to check emails or read forums while driving, and wherever I go there is wi-fi.

If text is considered data, I would try using a phone without texting. Also, I've heard of Google voice - How does it exactly work? Does it work like Skype?

 

[rsutoratosu]

gv is more like a redirector, you need data to get their free text incoming/outgoing.

you also need data to call out using their number, otherwise you'll be advertising your real number thats on your cell phone.

 

[ponyo]

gv is more like a redirector, you need data to get their free text incoming/outgoing.

you also need data to call out using their number, otherwise you'll be advertising your real number thats on your cell phone.

You can call out without data and still have your Google Voice number displayed. You just have to call your Google Voice number and use the touch tone prompt to dial out from there. I think it's option 2 prompt from the menu. It's been awhile I used it manually but it works.

 

[jtatech]

Definitely get that iPhone unlocked before you sell it. You'll fetch a lot more.
After reading this thread, I'm tempted to pick up the nexus 4 and head over to straight talk

 

[ImDonly1]

Well, before I go offline. In my case, I do not need a data plan. (does data plan include texting?) But if data refers to web serfing, emails, downloads, etc. those are all done in wi-fi. Literally, there is no reason for me to check emails or read forums while driving, and wherever I go there is wi-fi.

If text is considered data, I would try using a phone without texting. Also, I've heard of Google voice - How does it exactly work? Does it work like Skype?

Data means internet, web browsing, e-mail.

Texting is separate.
You could get something like 1,200 minutes, 3000 texts, and 100 MB of data for $30/mo on Pageplus (verizon)
https://www.pagepluscellular.com/online store/minutes.aspx

That is if you want verizon and don't want the Straight Talk (ATT) $45 plan.

You could have to sell your iPhone and get a Verizon one.
Or you could take the unlocked iPhone to t-mobile prepaid if you don't want data.
Or other ATT prepaid providers
Jolt, H2O (not recommended), and others.

 

[dagamer34]

The connection is so bad here and I have no idea when I'm going to get power back here (North Jersey). AT&T's 3G is so bad and I can't even make a phone call, forget doing anything data.

I got to read responses, however, and I wanted to thank everyone's input. Jpeyton, you've raised my knowledge on cell phones overnight and I appreciate much. I will get back to this thread when I can have reliable power. Kind of running everything on rope.. err.. a small power generator. Food/water take the first place in power rank.... ugh.

A few things to point out:
1) Straight Talk may use AT&Ts towers from time to time. If you currently aren't getting a good AT&T signal, Straight Talk likely won't be any better.
2) Make sure the provider you are switching to works well in your area BEFORE doing a number port. Nothing worse than switching carriers only to find that you moved to a worse one.
3) Since you live near new Jersey, I wouldn't recommend switching anytime soon (like within the next 1-2 weeks) simply because any damage in the area is going to affect your evaluation of the network you pick. Wait until after that.

 

[jpeyton]

Also, wouldn't I want to activate a new straight talk number before porting my number to Google Voice, so I don't have a phone service interruption?

You can do those steps more or less at the same time. Remember that porting to Google Voice can take up to 2 days. Activating a new number on Straight Talk is immediate.

you also need data to call out using their number, otherwise you'll be advertising your real number thats on your cell phone.

Actually the regular Google Voice app on your smartphone uses no data for calls; it simply dials out to a Google Voice number, which in turn relays your call to your target. The entire process is transparent to both parties in the call. Google Voice uses data for SMS.

3) Since you live near new Jersey, I wouldn't recommend switching anytime soon (like within the next 1-2 weeks) simply because any damage in the area is going to affect your evaluation of the network you pick. Wait until after that.

Absolutely. Cell phone call volume in that area is probably much higher than normal because of the storm and various relief efforts. Higher than normal call volume degrades network quality. 25% of cell service is out

 

[vshah]

fyi, using gv as your primary number will make mms not work. i stay away from giving it to friends/family for this reason, but i do use it for voicemail and as a number to give to businesses etc.

 

[Capt Caveman]

fyi, using gv as your primary number will make mms not work. i stay away from giving it to friends/family for this reason, but i do use it for voicemail and as a number to give to businesses etc.

Can someone else confirm this?

Also, if I'm buying a Nexus 4 and using Straighttalk, if I have an issue with AT&T, can I change to T-Mobile by just changing Sims?

 

[jpeyton]

Can someone else confirm this?

Also, if I'm buying a Nexus 4 and using Straighttalk, if I have an issue with AT&T, can I change to T-Mobile by just changing Sims?

You can't send MMS. You can't receive MMS in Google Voice, but I have had GV forward the MMS to my GMail account instead (doesn't always happen though).

And yes, you can simply change SIMs to change networks with Straight Talk, but I don't know the procedure to transfer your number or account from one SIM to another.

 

[vshah]

You can't send MMS. You can't receive MMS in Google Voice, but I have had GV forward the MMS to my GMail account instead (doesn't always happen though).

And yes, you can simply change SIMs to change networks with Straight Talk, but I don't know the procedure to transfer your number or account from one SIM to another.

i think the mms forwarding only works if you're on sprint, or if the person sending the mms is on sprint (one or the other, i can't recall). mms working/forwarding to gmail has something to do with the sprint/gv linkup that is possible. but as jpeyton said, reports are that it is flaky.

i'd stick to an unlimited minutes/text plan, which many of the prepaid options are. you can still use GV for your voicemail, which is great.