AT&T doesn't want you using grandfathered unlimited data plans! MUST READ! - Galaxy Tab General

Ok, so here’s my story:
Not too long ago, I bought myself a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7”. Ever since the device was announced by Samsung, I thought this was one of the coolest ideas since sliced bread. I could have a device roughly the size of a small book that pretty much did everything the iPad could do, and then some (like take pictures and run flash). On top of that, it was capable of making and receiving phone calls and text messages. Finally, a device that literally would do EVERYTHING I needed; no more need to lug around a netbook, a phone, a GPS in my car, or an iPod.
Not all was as peachy as I would have hoped however. Initially, it didn’t look as though this wonderful piece of technology would make it to American soil at all. Then, when it did, it was deliberately crippled for the North American market so that its native ability to make or receive regular phone calls and text messages was disabled at the software level. What a terrible thing to do! I was so disappointed by this news that I nearly abandoned any desire to head down to my local AT&T store to buy it. To add insult to injury, the only way AT&T offered the Tab was on a no-contract pay-as-you-go data plan, which is ludicrously expensive, particularly when compared with the fact that I’m one of the lucky customers who is grandfathered in to an unlimited data plan.
Eventually, however, my desire to own this device got the better of me, so I finally dished out the cash (and it was not cheap either!) for an unlocked and unbranded Tab which had the phone calling and texting abilities right out of the box. I popped the SIM card from my AT&T smartphone into my new Tab, fired it up, and started enjoying what was, up until recently, the best mobile user experience I have ever known.
I started referring to my Tab as my “Do-Everything-Device,” because it literally DID do everything I needed right from one device! It replaced my netbook, my phone, my GPS, my iPod, my Kindle, and the CD player/Radio in my car! It was so liberating not to have a phone attached to my hip and a bag on my shoulder for everything else I used to have to lug around with me. Sure there were occasions where carrying around a phone the size of a small book would have been ridiculous, but that’s what swapping SIM cards is for right? I’d simply switch back to my smartphone when the situation called for it.
Then things took a turn for the worse when AT&T started getting involved… Apparently this kind of quality user experience was not meant to be. I had received an automated text message one day telling me that I needed to be on the “proper data plan,” and that if I weren’t my service could be changed or suspended. Being a loyal paying customer to AT&T in its various previous incarnations for about 11 years now, and having an unlimited data plan on my line (which I should note I was NOT abusing; I generally used about 4 – 5GB or so per billing cycle), I was perplexed as to why I would have been receiving that message. So I called into customer service to inquire.
Upon some minor investigation on the customer service rep’s part, I was informed that the issue was that I was swapping back and forth between my Galaxy Tab and my smartphone (which it may be noted is a Samsung Captivate), and that I should stop doing that. Stop swapping out my SIM card between two of my most used devices? Really? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of having a SIM card in the first place? Still perplexed as to why this was an issue, I brought the matter to the attention of AT&T’s Office of the President to hopefully find some resolution to the problem. The gentleman I spoke with said he would investigate further and get back to me with his findings. A week later, get back to me he did! At first I thought, “Great! The highest level of customer service has come to bring me good news of a fair and reasonable compromise or resolution!” Little did I know he came to bear me bad news indeed…
The representative informed me that the issue wasn’t that I was swapping my SIM card per se, but rather the issue was with my Galaxy Tab specifically. Basically, I was told that AT&T’s intended use for the Galaxy Tab, regardless of where it was purchased, and regardless of whether it was carrier locked or unlocked or any of that, was that it was to be used as a data-only device, and furthermore as a pay-as-you-go data only device! I was basically given the option to get a pay-as-you-go SIM and use my Tab as AT&T intended it to be used (not as Samsung intended), or not use it at all, sorry. I was directed to the service agreement for “Specified Device Session-Based Plans.”
Excuse me? Sorry, but I don’t want to pay-as-I-go for data! I’m already paying for unlimited data, and there is nothing in those terms of service that say I can’t put my SIM card in whatever device I want, provided I’m not violating those terms! The representative proceeded to tell me that a user such as myself only accounted for a minority of the people subscribed, and that the current data plans AT&T offers caters to the majority. Ok, fine, cater to the majority. I get that. However, even as a lucky customer who has an unlimited data package, and even as a minority who chooses to stay informed about the latest technology, I should still be catered to as well. I mean, that’s what customer service is right? Making sure your customers’ needs are catered to? He said that the reason AT&T doesn’t still offer unlimited data is that “The average user only consumes about 2 or less GB a month.” Sure, that may be true for the average user currently, and it may be true furthermore for the average user who cares more about phones calls, text messages and Facebook updates more than frequently browsing rich web content and going to Youtube on their phone etc. However, with the much faster networks that are being deployed, and with more data intensive and media rich web content available today and tomorrow, that 2GB is going to be a bite-sized portion to the “average user” very shortly…
In my frustration, I argued that I am paying for the service to the SIM, not service to the device itself (otherwise what’s the point of the SIM in the first place?). As such, there shouldn’t be any issue with my circumventing AT&T’s artificial limitations on their branded Galaxy Tab’s hardware by buying directly from the manufacturer at a premium. I should be able to use my SIM in any device of my choosing, so long as I’m not violating the terms of service to that line, which I’m not (as I mentioned earlier, there was nothing in the Terms of Service that explicitly said I couldn’t use my SIM card in a tablet device.) Furthermore, I argued that the only real differences between the hardware in my Tab and the hardware in my Captivate were screen size, battery size, and the presence or absence of a front camera. For all the times I was told “Yes sir, I understand,” it really didn’t seem like he really understood…
It seems AT&T (and indeed any other US carrier which supplies a crippled Tab, or any other device) doesn’t want you to have a “Do Everything Device.” It’s bad for business! Why would they support a device that does everything your tablet or netbook does and everything your smartphone does, all on your single line subscription? Of course they’re going to cripple the Tab, because they want you to buy separate devices with separate line subscriptions and more money in their pockets! Not to mention, AT&T probably doesn’t want something that would have, up until recently, directly competed with the iPad, and frankly outdone it in some ways (when’s the last time you could make carrier phone calls, not SIP or VoIP, and text message on your iPad right out of the box?). I suppose that’s corporate America for you… What ever happened to providing superior service at the best value though?
So, if you are on AT&T, and you own a Galaxy Tab or are interested in getting one (or any other tablet on AT&T for that matter), here are some things to watch out for and speak out to:
AT&T is sweeping their network for devices by their IMEI, and if your device does not match up to whatever plan they want you to be on based on that device, your service could be changed or suspended.
If you have a grandfathered unlimited data plan, AT&T is doing the best they can to get you OFF of that plan by being very specific about what devices can be used with those plans.
I am only one person, and as one person, my voice has fallen upon the deaf ears of a very large company. As such, I urge you to speak out as a collective to AT&T, tell them about this situation, and others which likewise are upsetting to you as a customer. AT&T can ignore one person, but not a crowd…
Don’t contact customer service. Go straight to the source! Call AT&T’s office of the president at 866-751-5784 (option 1). Also, speak out on their Facebook page. Talk to your friends and family, spread the word!
EDIT: Here's a petition to sign.

honestly what is the point? i feel sorry for you americans - if the tmobile at&t merge goes through then there will only be 1 GSM carrier (i may be wrong) in the US and the rest will be CDMA - and that means that all the foreign visitors will be on 1 bad network.

The problem with any network "merger" is that you always get the lowest common denominator.
Up to the end of last year, I was on T-Mobile UK, but when my contract came up I left and went to Three. Retentions called and asked why I was leaving, and I explained that Three had a truly unlimited data plan and TMo UK had a 3GB FUP (which was pretty good to be fair).
The CS Rep swore blind that TMo UK would never do anything to uphold the FUP, but I stood my ground and left anyway because I *knew* that the merger with Orange could only ever end up with their plans becoming roughly analogous.
True to form, less than 1 month later, TMo UK reduced their "download" allowance to 500MB bringing them roughly in line with their sister brand, Orange.
Regards,
Dave

There are others, see this thread (if you haven't already).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1000921 (I have a post in there.)
FTR, I'm using AT&T SGT as a phone and data device, just not using 3G (or mythical 4G for that matter) data. You can't swing a dead cat w/out hitting a wireless AP so why hassle with AT&T over their expensive, slow 3G (if you're lucky) connections/data.
I hated AT&T so bad I dumped them years back and went Cingular. Well, I guess they wanted me back so bad...they went and bought Cingular
Thanks for the contact info. I'll rattle the cage.

Thanks for sharing, you have taken this a great leap farther then I have.
I love your justifications, definately will call tomorrow, more people that call, better chance of a change ( I can dream).
Again, I say what about some kind of class action for this, Maybe we should get a bounty going. I would give $100.00 towards the suit. And if more is needed, I would contribute.

Timtown said:
There are others, see this thread (if you haven't already).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1000921 (I have a post in there.)
FTR, I'm using AT&T SGT as a phone and data device, just not using 3G (or mythical 4G for that matter) data. You can't swing a dead cat w/out hitting a wireless AP so why hassle with AT&T over their expensive, slow 3G (if you're lucky) connections/data.
I hated AT&T so bad I dumped them years back and went Cingular. Well, I guess they wanted me back so bad...they went and bought Cingular
Thanks for the contact info. I'll rattle the cage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Att 3g data is slow? LOLWUT. Have a look at Verizon's 3g speeds.
-Sent from my Galaxy Tab

And to the OP, I just ordered a new phone today from att. They did not once attempt to get me off of my unlimited data plan.
-Sent from my Galaxy Tab

lockheedload said:
And to the OP, I just ordered a new phone today from att. They did not once attempt to get me off of my unlimited data plan.
-Sent from my Galaxy Tab
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue (at least for the moment) isn't so much that AT&T will take away your unlimited data plan or not (although that WOULD be an annoyance), the issue is that AT&T doesn't want us using our Galaxy Tab's as phone devices, because that's not how THEY intended it to be used. AT&T would rather we have two SIM cards. One for a tablet device, and one for a phone device; not one SIM card for one device that just "does it all."
If they're artificially crippling the native capabilities of a device in order to force consumers into buying multiple devices to make up for those limitations, then they're price gouging, plain and simple.

Jade Eyed Wolf said:
Ok, so here’s my story:
Not too long ago, I bought myself a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7”. Ever since the device was announced by Samsung, I thought this was one of the coolest ideas since sliced bread. I could have a device roughly the size of a small book that pretty much did everything the iPad could do, and then some (like take pictures and run flash). On top of that, it was capable of making and receiving phone calls and text messages. Finally, a device that literally would do EVERYTHING I needed; no more need to lug around a netbook, a phone, a GPS in my car, or an iPod.
Not all was as peachy as I would have hoped however. Initially, it didn’t look as though this wonderful piece of technology would make it to American soil at all. Then, when it did, it was deliberately crippled for the North American market so that its native ability to make or receive regular phone calls and text messages was disabled at the software level. What a terrible thing to do! I was so disappointed by this news that I nearly abandoned any desire to head down to my local AT&T store to buy it. To add insult to injury, the only way AT&T offered the Tab was on a no-contract pay-as-you-go data plan, which is ludicrously expensive, particularly when compared with the fact that I’m one of the lucky customers who is grandfathered in to an unlimited data plan.
Eventually, however, my desire to own this device got the better of me, so I finally dished out the cash (and it was not cheap either!) for an unlocked and unbranded Tab which had the phone calling and texting abilities right out of the box. I popped the SIM card from my AT&T smartphone into my new Tab, fired it up, and started enjoying what was, up until recently, the best mobile user experience I have ever known.
I started referring to my Tab as my “Do-Everything-Device,” because it literally DID do everything I needed right from one device! It replaced my netbook, my phone, my GPS, my iPod, my Kindle, and the CD player/Radio in my car! It was so liberating not to have a phone attached to my hip and a bag on my shoulder for everything else I used to have to lug around with me. Sure there were occasions where carrying around a phone the size of a small book would have been ridiculous, but that’s what swapping SIM cards is for right? I’d simply switch back to my smartphone when the situation called for it.
Then things took a turn for the worse when AT&T started getting involved… Apparently this kind of quality user experience was not meant to be. I had received an automated text message one day telling me that I needed to be on the “proper data plan,” and that if I weren’t my service could be changed or suspended. Being a loyal paying customer to AT&T in its various previous incarnations for about 11 years now, and having an unlimited data plan on my line (which I should note I was NOT abusing; I generally used about 4 – 5GB or so per billing cycle), I was perplexed as to why I would have been receiving that message. So I called into customer service to inquire.
Upon some minor investigation on the customer service rep’s part, I was informed that the issue was that I was swapping back and forth between my Galaxy Tab and my smartphone (which it may be noted is a Samsung Captivate), and that I should stop doing that. Stop swapping out my SIM card between two of my most used devices? Really? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of having a SIM card in the first place? Still perplexed as to why this was an issue, I brought the matter to the attention of AT&T’s Office of the President to hopefully find some resolution to the problem. The gentleman I spoke with said he would investigate further and get back to me with his findings. A week later, get back to me he did! At first I thought, “Great! The highest level of customer service has come to bring me good news of a fair and reasonable compromise or resolution!” Little did I know he came to bear me bad news indeed…
The representative informed me that the issue wasn’t that I was swapping my SIM card per se, but rather the issue was with my Galaxy Tab specifically. Basically, I was told that AT&T’s intended use for the Galaxy Tab, regardless of where it was purchased, and regardless of whether it was carrier locked or unlocked or any of that, was that it was to be used as a data-only device, and furthermore as a pay-as-you-go data only device! I was basically given the option to get a pay-as-you-go SIM and use my Tab as AT&T intended it to be used (not as Samsung intended), or not use it at all, sorry. I was directed to the service agreement for “Specified Device Session-Based Plans.”
Excuse me? Sorry, but I don’t want to pay-as-I-go for data! I’m already paying for unlimited data, and there is nothing in those terms of service that say I can’t put my SIM card in whatever device I want, provided I’m not violating those terms! The representative proceeded to tell me that a user such as myself only accounted for a minority of the people subscribed, and that the current data plans AT&T offers caters to the majority. Ok, fine, cater to the majority. I get that. However, even as a lucky customer who has an unlimited data package, and even as a minority who chooses to stay informed about the latest technology, I should still be catered to as well. I mean, that’s what customer service is right? Making sure your customers’ needs are catered to? He said that the reason AT&T doesn’t still offer unlimited data is that “The average user only consumes about 2 or less GB a month.” Sure, that may be true for the average user currently, and it may be true furthermore for the average user who cares more about phones calls, text messages and Facebook updates more than frequently browsing rich web content and going to Youtube on their phone etc. However, with the much faster networks that are being deployed, and with more data intensive and media rich web content available today and tomorrow, that 2GB is going to be a bite-sized portion to the “average user” very shortly…
In my frustration, I argued that I am paying for the service to the SIM, not service to the device itself (otherwise what’s the point of the SIM in the first place?). As such, there shouldn’t be any issue with my circumventing AT&T’s artificial limitations on their branded Galaxy Tab’s hardware by buying directly from the manufacturer at a premium. I should be able to use my SIM in any device of my choosing, so long as I’m not violating the terms of service to that line, which I’m not (as I mentioned earlier, there was nothing in the Terms of Service that explicitly said I couldn’t use my SIM card in a tablet device.) Furthermore, I argued that the only real differences between the hardware in my Tab and the hardware in my Captivate were screen size, battery size, and the presence or absence of a front camera. For all the times I was told “Yes sir, I understand,” it really didn’t seem like he really understood…
It seems AT&T (and indeed any other US carrier which supplies a crippled Tab, or any other device) doesn’t want you to have a “Do Everything Device.” It’s bad for business! Why would they support a device that does everything your tablet or netbook does and everything your smartphone does, all on your single line subscription? Of course they’re going to cripple the Tab, because they want you to buy separate devices with separate line subscriptions and more money in their pockets! Not to mention, AT&T probably doesn’t want something that would have, up until recently, directly competed with the iPad, and frankly outdone it in some ways (when’s the last time you could make carrier phone calls, not SIP or VoIP, and text message on your iPad right out of the box?). I suppose that’s corporate America for you… What ever happened to providing superior service at the best value though?
So, if you are on AT&T, and you own a Galaxy Tab or are interested in getting one (or any other tablet on AT&T for that matter), here are some things to watch out for and speak out to:
AT&T is sweeping their network for devices by their IMEI, and if your device does not match up to whatever plan they want you to be on based on that device, your service could be changed or suspended.
If you have a grandfathered unlimited data plan, AT&T is doing the best they can to get you OFF of that plan by being very specific about what devices can be used with those plans.
I am only one person, and as one person, my voice has fallen upon the deaf ears of a very large company. As such, I urge you to speak out as a collective to AT&T, tell them about this situation, and others which likewise are upsetting to you as a customer. AT&T can ignore one person, but not a crowd…
Don’t contact customer service. Go straight to the source! Call AT&T’s office of the president at 866-751-5784 (option 1). Also, speak out on their Facebook page. Talk to your friends and family, spread the word!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not on AT&T network any more I moved to sprint a few months before the Iphone came out its been that long, However AT&T is well with in there right to limit what device is allowed to do what on there network. Its sad that they would do that but in there contract agreement it is listed there.
Since this has completely ticked you off I would suggest you move carriers if you truly want to show them how unhappy you are with there service. Calling and complaining really isnt going to do you any good since you are in the minority of users that do what you described.
just my 2 cents

In europe the wireless operators are selling services - like phone calls and data. In US they are selling devices capable of calling or having data.
This diffrenece means that in eu if I don't like something I can move to difirenet operator and keep devices. In us you can't. that is why are people complaing that at&t is messing with them. Cause if they go to other provider they need to pay again for every device. In my home country hspa+ is still caled 3g, dataplan 12Gig for 19eur/month included all taxes

icreepin said:
Since this has completely ticked you off I would suggest you move carriers if you truly want to show them how unhappy you are with there service. Calling and complaining really isnt going to do you any good since you are in the minority of users that do what you described.
just my 2 cents
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would gladly switch carriers if it weren't for the fact that I do a lot of international traveling, and Sprint/Verizon both being CDMA carriers is a deal-breaker for me. I'm with AT&T because of the GSM bands it supports, and that's it. If it weren't for that, if Sprint and Verizon were GSM carriers too, just like most of the rest of the world, I'd have switched a long time ago without a doubt.
The other thing is, for the most part I'm not entirely unhappy with the service AT&T provides, when it's providing service to the equipment I use as that equipment was designed. I only have an issue when it's clear that they are imposing artificial schemes which force customers into a price gouging situation.
Crippling the native features of one device (i.e. phone calling on the Tab) in order to force the consumer into buying ANOTHER device and ANOTHER line subscription in order to fulfill that function, which was artificially crippled on the other device, THAT to me is price gouging.
AT&T absolutely has the right to lay out their own criteria for HOW their network is used. Likewise, the customers have the right to make enough of a fuss to AT&T about WHAT they can use on their network, particularly when they're not violating the HOW part of the ToS.
If we all as consumers are complacent and passive enough to just lay down and go with the attitude of "Oh well, it's their network, and they can treat us however they want with it..." then AT&T (and any company for that matter) will take advantage of that and gouge us for as much money as they can get.
I'm arguing that we've reached an "Enough is enough" point from the customer's perspective, and I am urging as many people as I can to speak out in a common voice to say "This is what we want. Please deliver."
If you don't like something, don't just say "Oh well..." and keep it to yourself. Express yourself, and make your issues known, and band together with people who share the same concerns, otherwise nothing will ever change for the betterment of the user.

Ok I think you need a better example what is fundamentally wrong with your wireless providers. Lets say the you would buy and electric drill and you use it as screwdriver as well. The power company would you charge $ more for that. And if you say no I go to someone else they say you need new drill cause it does not work on our grid. And cause of that some has made a standard power gird. Or am I wrong? If you solve this problem you get better service.

monoko said:
In europe the wireless operators are selling services - like phone calls and data. In US they are selling devices capable of calling or having data.
This diffrenece means that in eu if I don't like something I can move to difirenet operator and keep devices. In us you can't. that is why are people complaing that at&t is messing with them. Cause if they go to other provider they need to pay again for every device. In my home country hspa+ is still caled 3g, dataplan 12Gig for 19eur/month included all taxes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly! And that's the thing, in America, we're in a largely CDMA network environment, where you can't just so easily keep on piece of hardware and jump from one carrier to another like you can with GSM using a SIM card. I mean you can still jump from one CDMA carrier to another using the same hardware, but it's a big hassle... Nowhere near as simple as popping in a different SIM card.

monoko said:
Ok I think you need a better example what is fundamentally wrong with your wireless providers. Lets say the you would buy and electric drill and you use it as screwdriver as well. The power company would you charge $ more for that. And if you say no I go to someone else they say you need new drill cause it does not work on our grid. And cause of that some has made a standard power gird. Or am I wrong? If you solve this problem you get better service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the issue it this:
The Galaxy Tab, directly from Samsung and in virtually every other market throughout the world, makes and receives phone calls and text messages just the same as any other smartphone can.
AT&T (and pretty much all other US carriers) have artificially (that is, on the software level, not hardware) disabled those native capabilities. In essence, they've crippled the functionality of the device.
The consumer is therefore forced to buy and carry two devices with them (a phone AND a tablet) in order to fulfill the complete functionality and user experience desired, in addition to paying for TWO separate lines.
My point is that if there is an option to use ONE device, which when unhindered can fulfill the duties of BOTH phone AND tablet, and AT&T FORCES you out of that option, and therefore FORCES you into paying more money, when you really don't have to, then THAT is price gouging.

icreepin said:
Since this has completely ticked you off I would suggest you move carriers if you truly want to show them how unhappy you are with there service. Calling and complaining really isnt going to do you any good since you are in the minority of users that do what you described.
just my 2 cents
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or we could get a http://www.groubal.com/ petition going and see just how many people are considered minority. I be it is not a minority,
Whos to say the SGT users are a minority.

Jade Eyed Wolf said:
Exactly! And that's the thing, in America, we're in a largely CDMA network environment, where you can't just so easily keep on piece of hardware and jump from one carrier to another like you can with GSM using a SIM card. I mean you can still jump from one CDMA carrier to another using the same hardware, but it's a big hassle... Nowhere near as simple as popping in a different SIM card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
check ur PM

Jade Eyed Wolf said:
No, the issue it this:
...
AT&T (and pretty much all other US carriers) have artificially (that is, on the software level, not hardware) disabled those native capabilities. In essence, they've crippled the functionality of the device.
....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't understand the point. They can do it cause you have no other easy choise. (anti competitivie)
You should have standard, I am not saying GSM or SIM etc.
But to understand look at europe. (I am european, but that is not the point)
SIM - is external (that is the point of it)!!!... it's easy to change (dead phone... just borrow frends old and you fixed till you get new),
Protocol (GSM etc) is defined for allowed spectrum.
Defined Spectrum and no other. (they still need to buy the spectrum)
This gives you posibility of selling GSM phones without carriers cripple them.
So your US problem is free market. Sorry to say it that way I know you mostly proud of that. (Lest leave this alone... ).
Just I can see competition in this market as a bit virtual. (at least to me)
(check your history about power gird you will find that standards are sometimes needed for better consumer protection.)
Please no flame war.

mine just got blocked.
i got the email yesterday telling me to change it back to my phone or call in to discuss options for the tab. so i did at my first opportunity...
i just got blocked and then an email sent to me saying to call in and that it may be blocked on both devices...
awesome, just awesome...

This is a perfect example as to why i am dreading the att/tmo merger. I am a current tmo customer and i am currently using my tab as a phone like many tmo/att customers. I have called a few times to tmo customer service regarding different minor issues and they know that i am using the tab as my phone, because i have told them, and they have not said anything they just mention how good of a devise it is and all that stuff, no issues.
Basically i am on an unlimited android plan $24.99 and of course the voice is extra. Now since this is supposed to last a year before it goes through (i really hope not) i will probably be at the end of my contract if the merger goes through and i am sure i will be forced to make changes to my plan: first i would need to chose one of their plans (god know what they will be then and how much) and second, forget about even using my tab as i am currently using it. If they do this to their own customers they i dread to think what they will do to the tmo customers that decide to stay with them once their contracts are up.
So my question is what would be the chances of me keeping my original plan on a month to month basis and not sign a new contract? (don't want to sign a new contract as i am planning to move to the UK around 2013 if everything goes as planned), who knows the answer to this but all i can say that it is not looking good for us tmo customers that are used to good customer service.
A sad, sad day for us all!!!!!

honggee said:
mine just got blocked.
i got the email yesterday telling me to change it back to my phone or call in to discuss options for the tab. so i did at my first opportunity...
i just got blocked and then an email sent to me saying to call in and that it may be blocked on both devices...
awesome, just awesome...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and i am sure there is nothing anyone can do about this, either comply or move to sprint/verizon. i feel your pain even though i am not an att customer.

Related

[Q] What's the strategy behind "no voice"

What do you think is the strategy behind selling the Tab with no voice capability? Make us buy two devices instead of one? I don't think that would work, the first carrier that decides to sell it with voice will get the whole market.
Is there some other reason I'm not seeing? Come to think of it, why am I buyng this thing from the phone company if it's not even a phone!?
I'm with Bell and the TV add clearly says "complete communications solution" and shows a guy in a phone call... but only when you get to to store do they tell you you can't actually make a phone call!
No hothead answers please and yes, I know you can flash the thing and make calls anyway...
davidke said:
What do you think is the strategy behind selling the Tab with no voice capability? Make us buy two devices instead of one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly.
A few of us has commented on this in other threads... and I come down on the thought that all of the carriers are now rolling out these data-only (or Mobile Broadband, webConnect, DataConnect, etc) monthly plans where the obvious intent is to lock customers into multiple contracts -- one for their phone and another for their tablet device -- i.e., it is a play for additional revenue.
I can't imagine how there wasn't collusion involved here by the US carriers... unless it was Samsung's strategy, but that seems rather ham-fisted, even for Samsung.
Forcing you buying the device with additional data plan to the one you have now for your smartphone, that's whats behind date.
Wont I just cancel the data plan on my current phone when I get the Tab?
I'll be giving them less money not more... Why would anyone get two data plans?
Well, had just been to the TMobile store today to sort some other things out.
Had a chat with the sales girl who at first said it was impossible to get phone calls, they were different to the Euro models. When I took out my Tab and made a phone call, she was suprised but I pointed out that it was crazy I could get voice on Tmobile, but not 3G, but AT&T could be hacked to enable both. I asked 'why would I want to keep 3 accounts (my phone, my tab, and GF's phone) on TMobile, when I can more them to AT&T and get the device working the way I wanted to.
She couldn't really come up with a reason but didn't try to BS me. Eventually she realised that it was mad buying a phone capable device that had the phone part removed, but understood why I'd be bringing it back in < 30 days to get a refund and go to AT&T.
Then, after all that, she admitted that I wasn't the first person in complaining about it.
Sheesh.
But yeah, at this time, it's Prisoner's Dilemma. If NO-ONE offers voice, they'll get away with it. As soon as one carrier in the US offers it, the rest will have to offer it.
Jyveafk said:
Well, had just been to the TMobile store today to sort some other things out.
Had a chat with the sales girl who at first said it was impossible to get phone calls, they were different to the Euro models. When I took out my Tab and made a phone call, she was suprised but I pointed out that it was crazy I could get voice on Tmobile, but not 3G, but AT&T could be hacked to enable both. I asked 'why would I want to keep 3 accounts (my phone, my tab, and GF's phone) on TMobile, when I can more them to AT&T and get the device working the way I wanted to.
She couldn't really come up with a reason but didn't try to BS me. Eventually she realised that it was mad buying a phone capable device that had the phone part removed, but understood why I'd be bringing it back in < 30 days to get a refund and go to AT&T.
Then, after all that, she admitted that I wasn't the first person in complaining about it.
Sheesh.
But yeah, at this time, it's Prisoner's Dilemma. If NO-ONE offers voice, they'll get away with it. As soon as one carrier in the US offers it, the rest will have to offer it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting I plan on doing the same but did she say anything about returning it with the modified firmware allowed?? But yeah I'm seriously trying to debate if I really like having my second phone as a access point just to access Internet with the tab , and going to AT&T now with no unlimited Internet would be a crappy option stupid AT&T
TurckBoatTruck said:
Exactly.
A few of us has commented on this in other threads... and I come down on the thought that all of the carriers are now rolling out these data-only (or Mobile Broadband, webConnect, DataConnect, etc) monthly plans where the obvious intent is to lock customers into multiple contracts -- one for their phone and another for their tablet device -- i.e., it is a play for additional revenue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, the joke's on them because I've cancelled my smartphone line & using the hacked Skype app to handle all of my Google Voice calls over their 3G network for a cool $25 a month. Can't imagine Im alone.
Unfortunately for tmobile I am going to return mine and get one from att. Didn't know they offer non contract. And their data plan seems cheaper and I can enable voice...
Sent from my SGH-T849 using XDA App
My buddy who is a manager for AT&T said there were 2 reasons to cripple the tab... #1 - why have customers have a total solution when they can pay for 2. #2 - can't have it take any fame from the iPad. Come on, why would AT&T make a stupid move and take out mms on their tab?! As small as it is but still, didn't they learn their lesson with mms on the iPhone?? He said this was covered in training. Im sure other US carriers have the same think in mind... Minus tmobile for reason #2... I am rather surprised in tmobile as they have been Rollin out devices like nobodys business and meeting the community demand.
peestandingup said:
Well, the joke's on them because I've cancelled my smartphone line & using the hacked Skype app to handle all of my Google Voice calls over their 3G network for a cool $25 a month. Can't imagine Im alone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just signed for Axvoice unlimited international for just under $17/mo. and will be porting my cellular number to it. Now I can choose Simple Mobile or At&t for $60/mo for data only on the respective Tab and have simultaneous data and voip. I've been wanting to do this for a long time but now the plans and options make it possible .
peestandingup said:
Well, the joke's on them because I've cancelled my smartphone line & using the hacked Skype app to handle all of my Google Voice calls over their 3G network for a cool $25 a month. Can't imagine Im alone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. I'm sure a ton of folks will simply move to a data-only voip solution... but then you have folks like me who can't deal w/ any voip lag and require a traditional voice solution (but then I'm just going to use an ATT reseller as I refuse to contract w/ ATT directly!).
TurckBoatTruck said:
Agreed. I'm sure a ton of folks will simply move to a data-only voip solution... but then you have folks like me who can't deal w/ any voip lag and require a traditional voice solution (but then I'm just going to use an ATT reseller as I refuse to contract w/ ATT directly!).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tell her to keep quiet while you're talking, problem solved!
TurckBoatTruck said:
Agreed. I'm sure a ton of folks will simply move to a data-only voip solution... but then you have folks like me who can't deal w/ any voip lag and require a traditional voice solution (but then I'm just going to use an ATT reseller as I refuse to contract w/ ATT directly!).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I imagine it may not be a robust enough solution for a lot of folks, esp business types who need to talk on the phone a lot & need everything to be solid.
Fortunately for me, Im just a stay at home dad & dont talk on the phone that much. My wife & I mostly email/IM when she's at work, even when I had a smartphone. And the Skype/Google Voice combo works well enough when Im on the road to make/receive decent calls from random friends/family if I need that.
So for someone like me who uses much more data than voice, its pretty awesome that the US carriers actually didn't try to turn the Tab into a phone & charge extra for a voice plan.
Its possible to use the voip for the sprint g tab?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

AT&T blocking data connection ?

I got a nice SMS on March 18th from AT&T saying "An eligible data plan is required for Laptop, Tablet or MiFi devices. Call 611 as soon as possible for details and to avoid service interruption"
We are on 20th and I have no dtaa connection anymore
I happen to be paying the most expensive plan for my device (Coming from TP2), with an extra to have Exchange emails (Yeah can you believe you are charged extra for Exchange emails) and now.... I would have to pay even more because I use my SIUM in my tablet. WTF...
Maybe it's just me but if some of you have the same issue and found a workaround... Or maybe I should just step away from AT&T... F them...
Edit: Just got an SMS "Your data service has been restricted due to SIM swapping with a data Connect device". I pay 150$ a month for my data plan, calsl, etc... How much is not enough ????
I got the same thing. AT&T is now doing the same thing T-Mobile is doing. You cannot put a T-Mobile phone SIM in a T-Mobile tab, and, now, you cannot put an AT&T phone SIM (for example one with an unlimited data plan attached to it) into an AT&T tab.
It's all robbery.
My reaction to the text I got from AT&T was to erase, wipe, and flash my AT&T Galaxy Tab to Overcome 1.3.0, and then put my T-Mobile phone SIM into my AT&T Tab. Ha! THAT at least still works, since the two companies are separate.
And now, AT&T just bought T-Mobile! HA
Looks like after all the effort, I lose.
I am SO DONE with tablets and smartphones. Back to laptops and WiFi. The monopolies here in the U.S. are unbearable. And our government does nothing. No wonder the rest of the world hates us - we hate ourselves!
I got AT&T on the phone
The guy first explained me that technically tablets and phone cannot connect teh same way, etc, etc... So I asked him to stop the Bs#it because technically it was possible for 3 months... The guy I had on the phone was polite and pretty embarrassed...
I was straight forward explaining I don't mind paying for an extra tethering plan if that's what they want but I just want to carry around only ONE device, etc, etc... In the end he was very clear: they want us to use our tablet with a different plant and different SIM card. period
Now... for me it's clear they saw the IMEI of my device was different from the one I used to have so this + the fact I used a lot of Data may have triggered the detection... Or it is in the access point we use... But anyway/anyhow there is no way we cannot make our tablets appear as a Galaxy S or whatever other phone. Aside from the screen too much of the Hardware is similar to a phone not to be able to do something about it...
Meanwhile my data plan is frozen
I am SO pissed off. I can't believe I leave these guys 150$ a month and they can't even provide a decent service...
The worst: if I take a specific plan for my tab and trim down my phone plan it will cost me less
They are just F&*%#@ dumb and a terrible pain in the ass
Now let's work to "disguise" our Tab as a phone for AT&T connection...
I still think it has a lot to do with the Acces point setup... Or just the tethering... They guy on the phone was (maybe deliberately or not...) confusing about what was allowed and what was not... he was kind of implying that even if I get a tethering plan, tethering from my phone to my Tab would still be an issue if I don't use some kind of AT&T official tethering Software... (Weird...)
I am SO pissed off
I am thinking and if I go for the tethering plan I really don't see under which stupid claim they can block me... Sue it will cost more, but whatever...
Still this is justa shame
More AT&T fun I see.
Sent from my Incredible with the XDA Premium App.
I Am Marino said:
More AT&T fun I see.
Sent from my Incredible with the XDA Premium App.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes... Teh problem is since they try to avoid users going around their stuff it is not even easy to understand what is allowed or not. Initially i brought a phone from abroad and was told I could use it on an illimited data plan... Fine. But now the guy on the phoen didnt even wnated to be clear whether I could use a non AT&T phone for my plan (So we're not even talking about the tab)
I think they may be targeting heavy users that dont show the same IMEIR as the one they registered. Or soemthign else.. probably can detect by the protocols used that we are not technically ona phone (But hey technically, aside teh screen tehre is no major difference betweena Galaxy tab and a Galaxy phone...)
They are targeting unlimited data plan users who are sim swapping. If you're on the 2gb or tethering 4gb plan you shouldn't see anything. People were putting their sims into laptops/netbooks and going nuts. It breaches the agreement with AT&T and they have the right to change your plan if you don't reply to them or stop sim swapping.
waltah! said:
They are targeting unlimited data plan users who are sim swapping. If you're on the 2gb or tethering 4gb plan you shouldn't see anything. People were putting their sims into laptops/netbooks and going nuts. It breaches the agreement with AT&T and they have the right to change your plan if you don't reply to them or stop sim swapping.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not using it in a laptop but in my Tab. I use my Tab as my main phone and I ma pretty pissed off that AT&T decides which phone they like and don't like. It's not EVEN about the money: I proposed them to pay for a tethering plan (which would be stealing from me but whatever) and they do not even care
I would not even mind going for the 4Gb plan but that would mean giving up on voice services on my tab, ie would have to carry around two devices which i definitely do not want
Going the 4Gb plan + stripping down my phone to the cheapest plan AT&T has, would cost me less than I pay now... So it's not even a money issue. I am completely pissed off since I a ready to pay whatever they want but they do not seem to care
Anyway it's fine. They managed to kill the GTab and all other 7" tablets to come
They nearly succeeded by originally forbidding calls on it. They succeeded with this last measure
It was for me the perfect size between a phone and an iPad. If I cannot have Voice + illimited data on it I will just go for a large 4.3" phone
Thank you AT&T for killing progress and congratulation for displeasing customers who were actually ready to pay (Because in actual facts I was ready to pay more if it is what they wanted from me)
Alcibiade said:
Anyway it's fine. They managed to kill the GTab and all other 7" tablets to come
They nearly succeeded by originally forbidding calls on it. They succeeded with this last measure
It was for me the perfect size between a phone and an iPad. If I cannot have Voice + illimited data on it I will just go for a large 4.3" phone
Thank you AT&T for killing progress and congratulation for displeasing customers who were actually ready to pay (Because in actual facts I was ready to pay more if it is what they wanted from me)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat, Alcibiade. Never tether, just like the phone and tablet in one device.
Just got off the phone with our friends at AT&T and got the same message. Unfortunately, there is no 4GB plan for data devices like the Tab, just "phones". So I'm stuck with carrying a phone and a Tab until we figure out a way around this issue.
I got the same message from at&t too. I think the only workaround to this is to get the telstra or the other canadian tab that uses the 850 band. Anyone with the telstra tab want to do a trade for a like new at&t tab?
Believe me it pisses me off too, and I work there. lol
I'm planning on getting a GTab and was going to use it for voice occasionally so it kinda throws a kink in the works. I have the 4gb tethering plan. I really just want to be able to jump right on the Tab and use it without kicking the hotspot on so I'll just end up going down to the 2gb plan for my Atrix and the 2gb plan for the Tab. I wanted to carry one device when I wanted to, but I love my Atrix so I'm not sure how often I would do it anyway.
I believe AT&T doing the same as T-mobile by look up the IMEI. The IMEI database will match the phone you use. The only workaround is change the IMEI on the tab.
You will see the TAB Icon under your att account but I did not see that months ago....
Currently on the phone with att about the same issue...thing is im using an htc desire from telus...im not swapping my simcard with anything at all. They are saying my device is coming up as a telemetry unit which is therefore making the assumption of sim swapping. On the phone for an hour now and the geniuses still cant figure out how to fix the issue.
small9 said:
I believe AT&T doing the same as T-mobile by look up the IMEI. The IMEI database will match the phone you use. The only workaround is change the IMEI on the tab.
You will see the TAB Icon under your att account but I did not see that months ago....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure it's through the IMEI. How do they do if I use a foreign phone ? If it is that simple, we all know how to find a solution...
I hope they do not make me PAY for my data plan while I they block it, I would be even more pissed off
One point I do not get: if I pay for a Tethering plan (Which I don't but am considering if it can help), why the hell would they block me from using my plan the way I want. Illimited + tethering --> I use it on my tab or anything else doesn't matter (Could be my phone tethered to my laptop it would be the same)
jstdontgiva said:
Currently on the phone with att about the same issue...thing is im using an htc desire from telus...im not swapping my simcard with anything at all. They are saying my device is coming up as a telemetry unit which is therefore making the assumption of sim swapping. On the phone for an hour now and the geniuses still cant figure out how to fix the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny cause it's exactly what I told them: I have a foreign phone as well (On top of my Tab) and I bet them that my foreign phone would have the same issue
MMh so they either detect what we do with the IMEI or potentially the radio (Or a combination of both)
I feel really bad trying to find a workaround while what I ma doing is perfectly legit when it is on my TP2, or I am even ready to pay for their Tethering plan........
If the issue is just the IMEI, that can be easily solved... But I dont like to have to be sneaky when again I pay honetsly my stuff every month
If you find a solution for your telus please tell us
Yeah I got that text last night around 9 pm I nearly craped my self. I was like wtf. I have the unlimited data. it shouldn't matter what device my Sim is in.. I guess I'll see what the tab does with the Sim that it came with. my Nexus still works fine though. I checked the website today and they are doing Maintenance to the data section. figures.
hybred-nexus said:
Yeah I got that text last night around 9 pm I nearly craped my self. I was like wtf. I have the unlimited data. it shouldn't matter what device my Sim is in.. I guess I'll see what the tab does with the Sim that it came with. my Nexus still works fine though. I checked the website today and they are doing Maintenance to the data section. figures.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am pretty sure my Tab fits ok within a 4Gb plan (I don't tether anyway). BUT I just dont wnat to carry aound 2 devices. My phone + teh Tab. And if I ahve to use their stupid plan / SIM card I will have to
I am surprised we don't see many more reactions. I thought a lot of us were doing Data + voice using their phone plans... Maybe not everybody was blocked yet. Or I just overestimate the number of US users using their tab like this. What's unbelievable is how other countries are managing the Tab vs the US (real pain here...)
Alcibiade said:
Funny cause it's exactly what I told them: I have a foreign phone as well (On top of my Tab) and I bet them that my foreign phone would have the same issue
MMh so they either detect what we do with the IMEI or potentially the radio (Or a combination of both)
I feel really bad trying to find a workaround while what I ma doing is perfectly legit when it is on my TP2, or I am even ready to pay for their Tethering plan........
If the issue is just the IMEI, that can be easily solved... But I dont like to have to be sneaky when again I pay honetsly my stuff every month
If you find a solution for your telus please tell us
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After getting off the phone here was the scenario:
The guy admitted to me that he was not very familiar with what was going on, however I could tell he was still trying pretty hard to find out how to resolve the issue by calling other departments and he didnt have a bias towards me having an unlocked phone like I know ATT personel tend to have.
Basically there were 3 options
1. return the phone which I laughed in his face ( this was recommended not by him but by another person in a diff dept
2. Turn the internet back on with the risk of shutting off again ( which I did not do because he told my my account was now flagged for disuse of internet and could result in plenty of charges I wouldn't want.)
3. Wait until Tuesday for a call back from him since some1 has to manually put in my IMEI # and override the system, (which was apparently down)
I took option 3 with the hopes that this will be resolved by the time the rep gets back to me on Tues. If it doesn't go well my phone is basically useless and I will probably push for a free phone somehow. Best of luck to everybody else, I will update ASAP

June 30, 2011 Update: Sprint tracking usage/Knows if your rooted/Canceling Service

June 30, 2011 Update:
First, thank you to all of you who posted and had positive things to say or add to the situation. I am not going to go into all of the post and try to refute and explain myself as what I posted is totally accurate and true from MY experience and from my HOURS of time spent on the phone and the endless emails and down time with my phone and the hours driving back and forth to the Corporate Sprint store due to either lack of service or because my phone completely stopped working. That, in and of itself, is another long drama that I have had to deal with. Good news for me, staying true to yourself and NOT lying, does sometimes pay off in the long run.
Anyway, from what I have found out from a Radio Shack manager, the excessive usage was coming from multiple sources. I did post and ask about this, but I didn't ever see a reply. Just heads up in case you are in a similar situation as I was, you might want to double check your settings on your wireless settings if you are using either the Sprint Mobile Hotspot Paid version or if you are using the free tethering App.
Basically, as stated, I did have one month of almost 45GB. Most, are around 22 according to the new graph on Sprint's online webpage. I do have three computers that are/were linked to my EVO using the Hotspot. The problem is that I had turned the setting from either OFF/Disable After 10 Minutes/Always On to "Always On". According to the R/S manager that is where the problem started. I had turned it to "Always On", because my Dad sometimes gets up early and likes to use the computer so I just figured I would leave it on so it is ready at any time. Because the computers, though not really being used physically, are constantly pinging for information. Checking for auto updates. Checking for new email. If a page was left open that has news on it, that is being constantly updated.
Now, this past month, due to Sprint's problem with their towers/service, I was in a constant state of roaming. Where I live, there is NO Sprint/Verizon/AT&T/T-Mobile official towers. Surrounding my area are all the old Alltel towers, which Verizon bought. So, when it did roam, it was using Verizon and costing Sprint an arm and a leg, through no fault of my own.
How this got resolved, like I said after MANY HOURS!! on the phone-my house phone as my EVO completely died. (Short story-In April the USB port stopped charging my EVO. My local store gave me a replacement but flagged it the same day as being water damaged/damaged beyond repair! I didn't find this out until I had performed the new 2.3.3 update and my EVO started shutting down and wouldn't turn back on for a day or so. My local store, advertises as being an authorized repair center, didn't have a Slate machine, so I had to drive 1 hour one way to a Sprint Corporate store. At the time, I didn't know it had been flagged improperly. They looked it over. Didn't find any water damage or any scratches. The tech DID know it had been rooted. He said he was new and didn't care about the software part, only the hardware.
Again, as soon as I got home, the phone stopped working again. Again, this is becoming WAY too long. I could write a book about ALL that happened. It has been a literal NIGHTMARE. Now, the Corporate store was saying that it was NOW water damaged. (It must have happened between the time they improperly flagged it as being water damaged to now-the day I walked into the store now). I have never had water touch or even come close to my phone so I knew that the refurbished phone that they had given me that was replaced for the bad USB was probably water damaged and they gave it to me. Of course all was denied by both my local store and the Corporate store. (I was told they couldn't possibly make TWO mistakes-one flagging the phone wrong the first time, then overriding it because they said it wasn't water damaged, then now suddenly it became water damaged).
Because I do keep such good records and because it was noted on my account all of the notes and all of the problems(A Sprint Phone Supervisor had taken off the bad IMEI damage report on my EVO. After sticking to my grounds about what had been happening and the excessive data/roaming issue, I ended up getting a brand NEW EVO from Assurion(Sprint paid my $100.00 deductible because the Corporate store wouldn't. They are very nice if you need a new phone or service, and are usually pretty good when you have problems. But these people, knowing most people do lie to them or whatever, acted the way some have on here. If it hadn't have been for all of my emails/recorded phone calls etc to Sprint Customer Phone Care, I would be SOL. I did also pick up a new EVO 3D at a Radio Shack.
Now, as far as the tracking/usage information. Yes, they can track you. Yes, they have the capabilities to see what sites you are visiting/what you are downloading etc. This was confirmed to me when I called the number that I had listed for me to call. Yes, they will send you the data statistics. However, as one user pointed out, it is MUCH easier for them to just cancel one user's account than to actually fix the problem of roaming issues. Unless, as one user pointed out, if you can use a secure private VPN that scrambles your personal IP address or uses servers that go through other servers type of thing. They can tell if you are rooted and if you are using the UNPAID version of the Sprint Mobile Hotspot. Are they watching everyone? No. It would simply take too much man hours to do so. HOWEVER, in my case, because last month the EVO was not working properly due to whatever the problem with the phone was, it made it roam excessively. When this gets triggered, your account WILL go to a SPECIAL DATA analyzing department. They will NOT tell you how much is TOO much and they DO NOT send out a warning letter.
According to the Radio Shack manager, and I can hear some of you doubters now, but although the EVO was always listed as being UNLIMITED 3G/4G, it is really only for NOW for the 4G. If you are using data usage over 5GB a month on Sprint's 3G network, your account will be flagged and it then because throttled. Those who have experienced this will agree. It may not happen if you live where there are an abundance of towers for you to bounce off from. Where I live, there is ONE and it is shared by Verizon on a private property owned tower/land. That is why it became such an issue as in MY town and even surrounding towns, all towers are/were Alltel towers, now owned by Verizon.
The funny thing is after all of this, Verizon is putting up an official new LTE tower about 2500 feet or so from my house on the same side of the road. I still love my EVO and more so the new 3D. And, looking once more at Verizon's cost, Sprint is WAY more cost effective.
The moral of the story. If you are honest and know you are in the right, stand your ground and don't let others who don't even know you try to tell you otherwise. Good always overcomes EVIL and hatred, if you can make it through it to the end. I can't begin to tell you how sad I felt the way the comments on here were. Not that it was a big surprise when I have read other threads-people are people-which are really just dressed animals. Take off the clothes and we are just pretty much barbaric.
PS. If you have your Wireless Hotspot setting to "Always ON", make sure you disable that to either "Disable after 10 minutes" or simply turn off the Hotspot or computers so that they are not always hooked up to the EVO.
If I have helped even one person who might have had this type or similar situation, this long saga, with lots of in-betweens not even listed, I have done my job.
Again, A Big Thank You to all who didn't bash and those who shared similar experiences or at least had some faith from a fellow XDA-Member. I appreciate it. Have a great day!
Good Morning.
I just wanted to post this as other post seem to talk about Sprint canceling service due to excessive roaming data/phone usage on the EVO. I am being canceled even though my phone is not roaming.
Long story short, Sprint said that they are now tracking exactly what sites people are using. They are actually pinpointing what sites you visit(thus the reason why I couldn't access XDA-Developers or Android Central, among other sites. They are taking readings from your phone and if it doesn't match what the official Sprint versions should be, your phone is flagged as being rooted and you are put on a list. This is not good people.
I never received any notice about excessive usage. In fact, I had called them to find out why my data usage was so high as I never(can't, because my 3G service is too slow, anyway), download any movies, rarely watch YouTube because of excessive buffering, can't use QIK, etc, but it would show I was using between 3-45GB a month. That part is what is discerning as I don't download anything that could be anywhere near that amount. And yes, I pay for the $30.00 Mobile Hotspot feature.
This was confirmed when I took my phone in for servicing because of a faulty USB port(wouldn't charge phone). EVO had been rooted many times, but I had put it back to specs by running RUU. The in-store REP said he knew it had been Rooted because their Slate machines show them everything that has been done to the phone. Also, because my towers were having problems, I called because my phone kept Roaming, when it shouldn't be. I was told by every person on the phone and in-store not to worry as you have an EVO with Unlimited Everything, including roaming, which I knew that was not true.
So, after being with Sprint since 1991,(In 1989 United Telecom purchased a controlling interest, and in 1991 completed its acquisition of US Sprint. The same year United Telecom changed its name to Sprint, due in large part to the increased brand recognition as a result of the successful Candice Bergen "Dime Lady" advertisement campaign). I am getting the boot. They also told me they are really cracking down as I was personally about the 30th person calling the special number they gave me to call. I asked why no one ever told me the past few weeks when I literally spent hours on the phone and hours driving to an actual Corporate store to get my phone repaired. I was told they don't have to. Only if you have excessive phone roaming they might give you a courtesy call or letter. However, if they consider you a Power data user, roaming or not, you will not receive any other type of letter than a termination of service plan.
They will, however, waive the ETF. I asked her what would be causing the excessive usage as I have wondered the same. I maybe downloaded a few roms a month. I do have three computers hooked up, but mainly do updates, then shut them down. So, it makes no sense. Just beware, they are now tracking what sites you visit and even block them. I was wondering why I couldn't access XDA or say Android Central etc, and they told me that is why. I live in Michigan and was being pinged from Oklahoma City, I was told. They said every detail of what sites I was visiting, what software version I had on my phone at that time and even when using the Mobile HotSpot, what type of devices were connected.
Since I live 1 1/2 mile from the city where I could get a packaged high speed Internet connection, my only available providers are Sprint or Verizon, no T-Mobile available and AT&T still using 2.5 Edge. I wanted to put as much info here so you would know and not have to ask too many questions if you have any. This is more of an F.Y.I. as Big Brother really is upon us. Packet Sniffers and all. Just be careful if Sprint is your only provider as they are watching, waiting, and canceling upon their discretion. I too, will miss this great forum and all of the devs and users for their help and knowledge and making my EVO fun to use. Take care and have a great day!
PS Please, if you don't have any information regarding the actual issue, please don't take up extra space and pages by adding in your comments about grammar, spelling mistakes, paragraphs needed, or you simply have no relevant information to add, etc. It serves no use on this post or any other. Just move on. I am not looking for sympathy or need chastising. If you read the post, I have done everything that I know to be perfectly legal. I am just letting others know that with this type of selective termination of someone's account, with no advanced warning, you could be next. Since MOST reading this are heavy users or are using the Mobile Hot Spot for free, Sprint knows and is starting to do something about it. Nothing more, nothing less.
Thank you and have a great day. Peace Out!
Wow..its like its hard to beleive but than again, ITS NOT :/ So Sprint is taking the same route as Microsoft with the ban-hammer over rooting? Seems fishy..i understand about the excessive roaming data, ive read that even in Cricket Wireless' agreement.
Are you saying that you're tethering three computers off your phone and taking Micrososft Updates? That could explain the excessive data usage right there and why you were flagged. An adroid pone should never be visiting the Microsoft Update website.
(EDIT: Just re-read your post where you say you pay the $30.00 tethering fee... well, that pretty much puts the lie to Sprint's "unlimited data" claims.)
Something doesn't seem right... If you are using 45GB a month then you are doing something and that is excessively high usage and to be honest, I don't blame them for kicking you off their network in order to protect it from customers who arent' using it as their sole internet provider (which it is not designed to be).
The issue here is quality of service. Sprint is in trouble imo. They have all these great phones, but their service (especially data rates) are going into the dump. I never get above 600 kbits/s and 3G is supposed to be as high as 3 mbits/s.
Agree about the 45GB part. That's probably why you were flagged and dropped. I doubt Sprint would give a rats ass about someone who's rooted but only using a few hundred MB of data each month.
Are you the reason my speeds are so slow?
That's excessive bro. Since you had been paying for the hotspot, then I would argue the case, but it appears from the outside that you may have abused the system and got caught.
Adapt and overcome...
holy wall of text .... my eyes hurt
That's my point.....I am paying for the tethering....but even just doing computer updates should not be putting me(my max was 45GB one month). Right now I am at 12GB and have 12 days to go. I did just download Google's new beta Music App...but, I mean, they put all of these apps.....Netflix, Blockbuster, actually on the phone to use. Then, you can stream Pandora, I do use Weather Bug Premium and have that set to update every 15 minutes since we are in the Tornado range so I think that uses a lot of data on my EVO. But, other than that, not much else. Like this month, I haven't even downloaded any new Roms....since I have an EVO 3D at The Shack that I am supposed to pick up......Sprint said they would buy back my EVO for $150.00.....but because I bought so many accessories......it would be best to list it on Craigslist! I mean, I have the HDMI to watch movies on my TV.....that never worked because I could never download a movie as it would just time out....That is/was half the problem and I told Sprint that I think that most of the usage is because I try to download something....it gets up to 98% and then errors out....so I have to start all over.....this happened all the time....so I still can't see how the data usage ever got that high......I basically have one lap top that I use and my EVO.....but no movie downloads....no Peer to Peer type of stuff.....just roms from XDA....and that was like at the most maybe 4 or 5 in one month....and navigation for my car......and I was paying the extra $30.00 so that I could utilize the "up to 8 devices" that the EVO allows to be connected. I had three....so, enough justification on my side as I was no doing anything illegal....other than rooting and putting on another rom.....but paying for the Hot Spot....but the scary part was that they know and could tell right away that it is now or EVER has been rooted and what version. It is pretty eye opening for me as most people always said that they could do this but wouldn't or wouldn't take the time...but with new advances....we are all being tracked one way or another and for them to know all of my business and what sites I am visiting is scary....and how they can put blocks on say this site because they saw I was downloading roms(which is not acceptable in their minds) to change Sprint's software version....against their terms and services agreement........and if I had any way of not having to use Sprint as my only means of Internet connection.....I would.......but it is just not available.....thus...the reason I chose the EVO for the Unlimited 3G or 4G......I even mentioned that Dan Hesse keeps making that distinction in his ads.......so take it for what you want.....just don't want anyone else to lose their service.....but, you have no control.....they said they look....and see what version is on your phone, what sites you are visiting...and then send you a letter. From what I was told, many, many letters have and will be going out.....and they had received many calls from people like myself......but, basically, without saying that exactly, but they really don't care if you have been an on-time paying customer for 20 years......
if its unlimited.
how can using it be abuse?
dsf3g said:
Agree about the 45GB part. That's probably why you were flagged and dropped. I doubt Sprint would give a rats ass about someone who's rooted but only using a few hundred MB of data each month.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is, say, because my USB port was not holding a charge or charging, even when you think that you have Unrooted your phone....and take it in for service.....they are starting to use that as a reason to not allow you to use your insurance to have it fixed because their software shows that it is now or was in the past rooted...thus violating Sprint's terms and conditions.....so that was my point...it is just a heads up that they do know......even when running a RUU to completely wipe your phone....it is the pinging that that do to your phone that goes back to their servers that tell them....and they will/can use that against you when you need a repair service......
I think basically what you have proved is that "unlimited data" doesn't actually mean "unlimimted data" even if you're paying for the hotspot feature.
Right now you're on track to use about 20GB of data in one month. It sounds like this isn't really an aberration either, given that your data usage has spiked as high as 45GB.
I don't doubt that Sprint can tell a lot about your phone's history by examining your current build and update history. But I don't think a typical user has much to worry about (yet) based on what you've told us... not unless they, too, are using tens of GB of data per month.
1Brite1 said:
The problem is, say, because my USB port was not holding a charge or charging, even when you think that you have Unrooted your phone....and take it in for service.....they are starting to use that as a reason to not allow you to use your insurance to have it fixed because their software shows that it is now or was in the past rooted...thus violating Sprint's terms and conditions.....so that was my point...it is just a heads up that they do know......even when running a RUU to completely wipe your phone....it is the pinging that that do to your phone that goes back to their servers that tell them....and they will/can use that against you when you need a repair service......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't carry the insurance on my EVO or my Nook Color for that reason: rooting violates your warranty. Why pay these companies for an insurance policy if you intend to do something with the device that will invalidate that warranty? Sure, maybe you can cover you tracks well enough that they'll never know when you bring it in for warranty service... but maybe not.
Agfadoc said:
Are you the reason my speeds are so slow?
That's excessive bro. Since you had been paying for the hotspot, then I would argue the case, but it appears from the outside that you may have abused the system and got caught.
Adapt and overcome...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's my point though....listing what I have listed above....what in the world would it ever cause it to use that type of usage.....I mean.....when I first got my EVO and didn't know anything about rooting.....it was like 43GB the first month.....it just doesn't make any sense and it has all been reported.....by ME....to Sprint in the past why is my data usage so high.....they never mentioned anything....like...it could be this or that.....nothing......so, I just never worried about it because I thought it as a glitch in their system or something......I told my friends and they were like "Whoa"....that is a lot but they couldn't figure out how in the heck it could even download that much in a month.....mostly....it is around 9-15GB a month....45GB was the most.....but still......where is the 9-15GB coming from.....movies would be the most obvious...but I can't/don't stream or download any movies....so I am just perplexed, actually.....especially since I was the one many months ago that brought it to their attention.....but I would always get the "Don't worry...you have the EVO where everything is unlimited" story.......NOT!
Quick question: Are you using encryption? if not, it could be that other people are connecting to your Evo and gobbling up your data.
Note: I don't now much about the built-in hotspot feature, so I don't know if it requres encryption or not.
dsf3g said:
Quick question: Are you using encryption? if not, it could be that other people are connecting to your Evo and gobbling up your data.
Note: I don't now much about the built-in hotspot feature, so I don't know if it requres encryption or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I do......or did.....and not sure if anyone knows....but, if you get this letter....does this mean you may never have another Sprint account? I forgot to ask that part when I was talking to the REP. She said that she was just telling everyone that kept calling that Sprint must be paying an arm and a let for 3G service.....so when the data is high or if your phone calls are roaming....it costs Sprint a lot of money.....So.....wondering as I heard before that only 4G is truly unlimited......if that is really true.....
I'm am at t
2,636,454 kb right now with 13 days left in the billing cycle. Does that equal 2 gb? (if its not on a tape measure,i can't figure it out...lol)
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
If Sprint is cancelling service due to modifications on your device, and I'm going to research the exact court case, number, etc and keep it handy, then they are violating the court ruling from last year that allows the end user to modify their device, as long as it's owned, not leased or rented, in anyway they see fit.
Warranty adherence is up to the end user, not the service provider. no one can FORCE you to adhere to a warranty on anything you own. Anything. They can only advise the potential for voiding a warranty.
As for your data usage. 45 gigs is an insane amount of data.
I understand though, that if you pay 30 bucks a month for tethering, which is basically what it costs for AT&T DSL's lowest priced package, then they should have no say in how you use it, unless it's for illegal means.
1 Gigabyte = 1,048,576 Kilobytes
1 Gigabyte = 1,024 Megabytes
1 Megabyte = 1,024 Kilobytes
So, yeah....you are using about 2.6GB
So maybe 5 gig by the end of the month between 2 evo's. Not so bad....
Thanks.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
How can you determine the amount of data you've used thus far in a month? Do you have to install a separate app, or is there an option built-in.

The T-Mobile Thread

Too much chatter across multiple threads...
I found a temporary solution. I ported my number to AT&T. Thus far, coverage is fine, data speeds are disappointing only in the sense that where I am right now, I am getting less than the 8 Mbps Cricket would cap me at.* Cricket is apparently now owned by AT&T and now offers unlimited talk, text, and 20 GBs of LTE for $60.
My data worked upon activation.* It seemed my AT&T rep had to alter the IMEI associated with my prepaid account to get phone calls working.* Don't know if there will be any implications, but in the hour I have been with AT&T, some root apps (including Ultimate Dynamic Navbar, without which I have no Navbar) have force closed for the first time. Seems like coincidence but I guess not? This is happening regularly now, X many minutes after boot, and bluetooth is being disabled as well.
I hope that T-Mo gets this straightened out, unless AT&T really impresses me, I look forward to hopefully switching back to the $30 Wal-Mart 5 GB plan.
(I'm too lazy to delete all the pasted asterisks)
Possible Solution?
thref23 said:
Too much chatter across multiple threads...
I found a temporary solution. I ported my number to AT&T. Thus far, coverage is fine, data speeds are disappointing only in the sense that where I am right now, I am getting less than the 8 Mbps Cricket would cap me at.* Cricket is apparently now owned by AT&T and now offers unlimited talk, text, and 20 GBs of LTE for $60.
My data worked upon activation.* It seemed my AT&T rep had to alter the IMEI associated with my prepaid account to get phone calls working.* Don't know if there will be any implications, but in the hour I have been with AT&T, some root apps (including Ultimate Dynamic Navbar, without which I have no Navbar) have force closed for the first time. Seems like coincidence but I guess not? This is happening regularly now, X many minutes after boot, and bluetooth is being disabled as well.
I hope that T-Mo gets this straightened out, unless AT&T really impresses me, I look forward to hopefully switching back to the $30 Wal-Mart 5 GB plan.
(I'm too lazy to delete all the pasted asterisks)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I work for T-Mobile and have also have the same issues with my Z3tc I, being a store manager, have limited resources available to me but i plan to submit a ticket in hopes of resolving this issue, it would help if i had multiple issues to report however. If you folks are willing to help me out with this (power in numbers as they say) i think we may have a chance of getting a fix, what i need from each of you is your T-mobile telephone number that you've been using your Z3TC on and i can submit this ticket. Email your name and phone# to [email protected] and I'll do my best
Some more info on this can be found here
ipetitions.com/petition/let-us-call-because-our-tablets-are-made-to-call
Ive been using xda for a while now but didn't really have a good enough reason to creat an account but......since im new and can't post links hopefully you can addbthe http stuff
I really hope this can get cleared up soon a 500$ phone with practically the same features as a flip phone........ Smh
Any update?
tysontthompson said:
I work for T-Mobile and have also have the same issues with my Z3tc I, being a store manager, have limited resources available to me but i plan to submit a ticket in hopes of resolving this issue, it would help if i had multiple issues to report however. If you folks are willing to help me out with this (power in numbers as they say) i think we may have a chance of getting a fix, what i need from each of you is your T-mobile telephone number that you've been using your Z3TC on and i can submit this ticket. Email your name and phone# to [email protected] and I'll do my best
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any luck with the ticket you opened? You might consider posting the ticket number both here and in the t-mobile support forum so that anyone with the same issue can easily contact t-mobile and reference that ticket. As you said there is power in numbers!
montp said:
Any luck with the ticket you opened? You might consider posting the ticket number both here and in the t-mobile support forum so that anyone with the same issue can easily contact t-mobile and reference that ticket. As you said there is power in numbers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any update on this? My billing cycle started today and I think I got my internet pulled too. Called tech support and they said they don't know what the problem is. They said they elevated my ticket to a engineer and should hear back from them in 3 days. :crying:
just port the number to Metro its' the same network and just $10 more for unlimited you can always port the number back if t-mobile fix this issue.
Tweeted at Legere and Tmobile help and now I'm sitting on the phone with a tech rep. Let's see what happens. Seems like such an easy thing to switch and the irony is the paying customers and getting screwed and are jumping ship to pacify the freeloaders. I'm in love with huge phones and this is the First tablet with phone capabilities that plays nice with us carriers. I'm prepared to jump ship over this.
SO far she keeps insisting that it will work fine its it has the phone capabilities and i have the proper rate plan. She keeps putting me on hold....
There's someone who clocks into work 9-5 at t-mobile who can fix this issue with very little trouble, just have to locate that person.
---------- Post added at 11:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:32 PM ----------
tysontthompson said:
I work for T-Mobile and have also have the same issues with my Z3tc I, being a store manager, have limited resources available to me but i plan to submit a ticket in hopes of resolving this issue, it would help if i had multiple issues to report however. If you folks are willing to help me out with this (power in numbers as they say) i think we may have a chance of getting a fix, what i need from each of you is your T-mobile telephone number that you've been using your Z3TC on and i can submit this ticket. Email your name and phone# to [email protected] and I'll do my best
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, The tech rep I just spoke to says that she can't open a ticket for me to send to the engineers until there's physically a problem. SO, I'm going to pick it up tomorrow and start the process. Anything happen with your ticket? Am I wasting my time?
I'm still waiting on a call back. Day 2 with no Internet. I told them to call me 24/7. I didn't bother calling today, but you can bet I will again tomorrow. Please, also get it elevated so that they realize this is not an isolated incident. I stopped by at&t today to ask about porting over my number. They said it would take 15 mins. About to jump ship and take my 5 lines on the account with me if I can't get the Internet to work again.
Please keep me updated, I'll keep you updated too.
Sent from my SGP621 using XDA Free mobile app
AirBruce said:
I'm still waiting on a call back. Day 2 with no Internet. I told them to call me 24/7. I didn't bother calling today, but you can bet I will again tomorrow. Please, also get it elevated so that they realize this is not an isolated incident. I stopped by at&t today to ask about porting over my number. They said it would take 15 mins. About to jump ship and take my 5 lines on the account with me if I can't get the Internet to work again.
Please keep me updated, I'll keep you updated too.
Sent from my SGP621 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The question is, you can't buy this device from a good reputable store with a 14 day no questions asked return policy. Expansys, or Amazon (not fulfilled by amazon) and the place where I'm going to go to in Manhattan are all "you buy it you keep it".
So, should I even go buy this tomorrow... The only way they will submit a ticket is if I actually have the device with the issue but if it turns out no one will fix the problem... I dont want to be stuck with it..
I guess I could always switch carriers but I'm in a family plan where we split the bill each month and the payments on my note 4 are going to come due... Big mess... But maybe that's what I'll do.
Why not just switch to metro though? Why at&t? Metro the exact same coverage. Or so I've heard.
Maybe I'll take the time to check out metros coverage while I wait for the issue to be fixed. Although.. I wonder, people were already working on this 2 months ago,why should I have any impact at all.
Whatever, yeah, let's keep each other updated!
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
AirBruce said:
I'm still waiting on a call back. Day 2 with no Internet. I told them to call me 24/7. I didn't bother calling today, but you can bet I will again tomorrow. Please, also get it elevated so that they realize this is not an isolated incident. I stopped by at&t today to ask about porting over my number. They said it would take 15 mins. About to jump ship and take my 5 lines on the account with me if I can't get the Internet to work again.
Please keep me updated, I'll keep you updated too.
Sent from my SGP621 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They responded on twitter, let's see if they can do anything... Day 2 with no internet you said, did you just get it or have you had it for a while and it just stopped giving you data?
I wonder if walking into a tmobile store would help too...
---------- Post added at 03:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:22 AM ----------
mottyengel said:
They responded on twitter, let's see if they can do anything... Day 2 with no internet you said, did you just get it or have you had it for a while and it just stopped giving you data?
I wonder if walking into a tmobile store would help too...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just read through a pretty depressing thread. I'm posting the OP's final depressing post after finally getting through to a tmo vp. You can read through the whole thread too if you like. Seems like the battle is lost at this point, it's over, i just have to decide in a few hours when the store opens if I want to leave tmo over this and go to metro... I've been really happy with tmo up until now...
https://support.t-mobile.com/thread/86423?start=0&tstart=0
After doing some research I got a hold of a couple of T-Mobile's executive e-mail addresses and typed in detail about what is happening here hoping someone would respond. Today I received a phone call from the office of the Vice president of T-Mobile. I had a detailed conversation about the problem. They said that our device, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Tablet LTE SGP621 should have never worked as phone with a data plan and T-Mobiles network should have recognized the device as a tablet and not allowed it to work as a phone with a data plan for the few months that it did right away. He also stated that T-Mobile up until I told him was unaware our device existed. He actually had to look up the device. He then went on to explain how the network didn't register the IMEI of the device right away that's why it worked on their network for those few months until the IMEI of the device was registered and classified on their network as a tablet. He didn't actually admit it was the free data for life program but if you understand how network protocols work I don't have to state the obvious. So the bottom line is that T-Mobile doesn't offer the service we are asking for on our devices. The way the network is structured it uses the IMEI number to determine the devices classification and then only allows approved services to be used on that particular device. So the rules on T-Mobiles network work says "Smart phones" are allowed to make phone calls, surf the web, send multimedia text messaging ect. and "Tablets" are only allowed to have a mobile data plan and are incapable of making phone calls. Our device is a phablet but there isn't a phablet classification on T-Mobiles network. Even though our devices will work, have worked, and can work the way we want, it is irrelevant due to the way the network protocols have been written. The industry is somewhat at fault here by not having a specific classification for a device like ours. It really should just be classified as a phone. The world I live in, if a device is capable of making phone calls its a phone end of story. Phones make phone calls, this is kid stuff. So there is no solution to our problem and there never will be one as of right now. So the device is useless in the US for what we bought it for. I would have never bought the LTE version if I knew this was the situation. The service I'm willing to pay for is not offered by any US carrier according to T-Mobile. I find the whole situation funny at this point. Look at it in this perspective, the hardware of our device is identical to the Sony Xperia Z3 that T-Mobile currently offers, the only difference is the size of the screen. and the IMEI number that says its a tablet. You can actually flash the Sony Xperia Z3 operating system onto our devices thats how Identical the hardware is. It's just the IMEI number that defines the devices classification. Overseas this isn't an issue. I'm hoping soon there will be a US carrier offering this service, the first company that does I'm switching to. I think I'm just going to cancel the line and use WiFi for now. I can't believe I spent close to $700 for this device and it's now basically the $400 WiFi version. I'm keeping my T-Mobile account because I'm grandfathered into a very good rate and I'm hoping they will eventually offer the service. but I know for a fact our devices will never work the way they did because of our devices classification. They would only be able to work if T-Mobile changed the networks protocols that classifies the device as either a phone or a tablet, as long as they have that protocol in place we are out of luck. I really don't see them ever getting rid of this classification/rule system on their network. So if they ever do offer a "Phablet" device with the service it will be on T-Mobile branded devices only because those devices will have an IMEI that classifies it as a "Smart phone" or by that time they will have added the new classification of "Phablet".. Good luck to everyone that was having the same issue, I really thought we had a chance at solving the problem because our devices "WORK" on T-Mobiles network perfectly. If anyone knows a carrier willing to provide the service to our devices please let us know.
mottyengel said:
They responded on twitter, let's see if they can do anything... Day 2 with no internet you said, did you just get it or have you had it for a while and it just stopped giving you data?
I wonder if walking into a tmobile store would help too...
---------- Post added at 03:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:22 AM ----------
I just read through a pretty depressing thread. I'm posting the OP's final depressing post after finally getting through to a tmo vp. You can read through the whole thread too if you like. Seems like the battle is lost at this point, it's over, i just have to decide in a few hours when the store opens if I want to leave tmo over this and go to metro... I've been really happy with tmo up until now...
https://support.t-mobile.com/thread/86423?start=0&tstart=0
After doing some research I got a hold of a couple of T-Mobile's executive e-mail addresses and typed in detail about what is happening here hoping someone would respond. Today I received a phone call from the office of the Vice president of T-Mobile. I had a detailed conversation about the problem. They said that our device, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Tablet LTE SGP621 should have never worked as phone with a data plan and T-Mobiles network should have recognized the device as a tablet and not allowed it to work as a phone with a data plan for the few months that it did right away. He also stated that T-Mobile up until I told him was unaware our device existed. He actually had to look up the device. He then went on to explain how the network didn't register the IMEI of the device right away that's why it worked on their network for those few months until the IMEI of the device was registered and classified on their network as a tablet. He didn't actually admit it was the free data for life program but if you understand how network protocols work I don't have to state the obvious. So the bottom line is that T-Mobile doesn't offer the service we are asking for on our devices. The way the network is structured it uses the IMEI number to determine the devices classification and then only allows approved services to be used on that particular device. So the rules on T-Mobiles network work says "Smart phones" are allowed to make phone calls, surf the web, send multimedia text messaging ect. and "Tablets" are only allowed to have a mobile data plan and are incapable of making phone calls. Our device is a phablet but there isn't a phablet classification on T-Mobiles network. Even though our devices will work, have worked, and can work the way we want, it is irrelevant due to the way the network protocols have been written. The industry is somewhat at fault here by not having a specific classification for a device like ours. It really should just be classified as a phone. The world I live in, if a device is capable of making phone calls its a phone end of story. Phones make phone calls, this is kid stuff. So there is no solution to our problem and there never will be one as of right now. So the device is useless in the US for what we bought it for. I would have never bought the LTE version if I knew this was the situation. The service I'm willing to pay for is not offered by any US carrier according to T-Mobile. I find the whole situation funny at this point. Look at it in this perspective, the hardware of our device is identical to the Sony Xperia Z3 that T-Mobile currently offers, the only difference is the size of the screen. and the IMEI number that says its a tablet. You can actually flash the Sony Xperia Z3 operating system onto our devices thats how Identical the hardware is. It's just the IMEI number that defines the devices classification. Overseas this isn't an issue. I'm hoping soon there will be a US carrier offering this service, the first company that does I'm switching to. I think I'm just going to cancel the line and use WiFi for now. I can't believe I spent close to $700 for this device and it's now basically the $400 WiFi version. I'm keeping my T-Mobile account because I'm grandfathered into a very good rate and I'm hoping they will eventually offer the service. but I know for a fact our devices will never work the way they did because of our devices classification. They would only be able to work if T-Mobile changed the networks protocols that classifies the device as either a phone or a tablet, as long as they have that protocol in place we are out of luck. I really don't see them ever getting rid of this classification/rule system on their network. So if they ever do offer a "Phablet" device with the service it will be on T-Mobile branded devices only because those devices will have an IMEI that classifies it as a "Smart phone" or by that time they will have added the new classification of "Phablet".. Good luck to everyone that was having the same issue, I really thought we had a chance at solving the problem because our devices "WORK" on T-Mobiles network perfectly. If anyone knows a carrier willing to provide the service to our devices please let us know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is some F#* King BULL SH!T!!!!!
I'm going to port my number out.
I just called back tech support and they didn't even know what was happening. No one ever seems to know. I'm going to Metro PCS. EFF these s0n's of b!tch3s.
Yup... Yup... I just had a very long conversation with a tech support guy (i gave him all a bunch of different forum thread links to read through) he read everything I showed him and he understood fully. He transferred me w8th details to someone else who again took plenty of time to read through everything including internal T-mobile discussion. He's gonna call me back on Sunday. I left off with him that everyone is jumping ship because of this, including me, all to pacify some freeloaders.
Of course, I'm not delusional. after reading the above thread I realize he's probably gonna get back to me with a sorry, nothing we can do. That's why I'm going to a metro pcs store today to sign up. I'm not porting my number just yet, first I want to test metro and give tmo a little more time. Plus, I have a new note 4 (warranty issue replacing my current note 4) coming which I will then have to pay off when I port my number out so I'm gonna sell. And actually, I'm going to finally port my number to Google voice so I can always jump around and back to our tmo family plan if they ever fix this.
So, to recap, joining metro today with the tablet and if/when he comes back Sunday with nothing, I'm porting out to Google voice.
I'm so disappointed with tmo. I joined them in 2012 right before everything started getting exciting in 2013 and on and I have been increasingly more happy with them ever since...
What a shame
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
mottyengel said:
Yup... Yup... I just had a very long conversation with a tech support guy (i gave him all a bunch of different forum thread links to read through) he read everything I showed him and he understood fully. He transferred me w8th details to someone else who again took plenty of time to read through everything including internal T-mobile discussion. He's gonna call me back on Sunday. I left off with him that everyone is jumping ship because of this, including me, all to pacify some freeloaders.
Of course, I'm not delusional. after reading the above thread I realize he's probably gonna get back to me with a sorry, nothing we can do. That's why I'm going to a metro pcs store today to sign up. I'm not porting my number just yet, first I want to test metro and give tmo a little more time. Plus, I have a new note 4 (warranty issue replacing my current note 4) coming which I will then have to pay off when I port my number out so I'm gonna sell. And actually, I'm going to finally port my number to Google voice so I can always jump around and back to our tmo family plan if they ever fix this.
So, to recap, joining metro today with the tablet and if/when he comes back Sunday with nothing, I'm porting out to Google voice.
I'm so disappointed with tmo. I joined them in 2012 right before everything started getting exciting in 2013 and on and I have been increasingly more happy with them ever since...
What a shame
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just came back from the cricket store. After writing my last post, I put my jacket on, and walked out, walked 6 blocks down, and had them port my number. So far so good. LTE speed is decent, and now I'm actually paying less! $35 a month. 2.5GB (which is enough for me, they had $45 for 5GB, maybe I'll upgrade next month) and unlimited talk and text. Not too shabby.
Dear T-Mobile. See how easy it was to "Un-carrier" you? I did it in less time, than it takes to do one load of laundry.
Nice hope it works for you. I need the unlimited data because I use North of 30gb a month... With I could go to cricket, but metros probably where I'll end up
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
AirBruce said:
I just came back from the cricket store. After writing my last post, I put my jacket on, and walked out, walked 6 blocks down, and had them port my number. So far so good. LTE speed is decent, and now I'm actually paying less! $35 a month. 2.5GB (which is enough for me, they had $45 for 5GB, maybe I'll upgrade next month) and unlimited talk and text. Not too shabby.
Dear T-Mobile. See how easy it was to "Un-carrier" you? I did it in less time, than it takes to do one load of laundry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I'm now a happy metro pcs customer. Just started porting my tmo number to google voice and it'll work through the new metro number. Turns out, my eip on my note 4 doesnt come due at all. As long as there are still more lines on the account, i can just keep paying it off month by month. Of course I'm gonna sell it soon but still.
BTW, to anyone who had this issue with tmo, you can get through to the engineering department for technical support, forward them to the following link so they can read up on the problem and then you can get them to credit your bill for the data portion since february. The credited my account 60 bucks.. Not bad. I wish I could have stayed with t-mobile but what can ya do.
Again, to all you people holding out for this to change. Not gonna happen. Not a chance in hell. really. It's a tablet now and it's final. you're gonna all have to move on
Metro is working fine for me is $10 more for the unlimited data but I am happy at least to have this working don't hesitate guys

Note 4 Developer, No Longer Available???

This was the official link to purchase the developer edition, gone??
http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SM-N910VMKEVZW
Yeah it has been down for about a week or so. Looks like the end for them new from Samsung. Shame because I checked the stock on them the day before it was pulled and they still had over 80 of them.
Note Edge DevEd is gone too.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
Just when I finally decide to buy the developer edition it disappears from their site. It's getting harder and harder to find newer devices on Verizon that can be rooted and has external storage/removable battery.
Are they going to offer a Note 5 DE?
Get a unlocked phone off of tmobile and you can have removable back battery and sd card and you can put a verizon chip and root.
Sent from my SM-N910V using XDA Free mobile app
Confirmed by Samsung - no more developer note 4's for sale. off the website about a week ago.
good news though. there will be Galaxy S6 Developer Editions, this year, and there will be a Note 5 developer edition (next year)
rob
anticloud said:
Confirmed by Samsung - no more developer note 4's for sale. off the website about a week ago.
good news though. there will be Galaxy S6 Developer Editions, this year, and there will be a Note 5 developer edition (next year)
rob
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, a non replaceable battery is a deal breaker for me.[emoji20]
Extra Virgin said:
Unfortunately, a non replaceable battery is a deal breaker for me.[emoji20]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking the same thing. Especially if they go with an even smaller battery then what the N4 has, like rumors state.
I haven't been using the spare battery for mine. Just to see if it would be a total inconvenience or not. Hasn't really been at all. Though they never decide to die until it is a major inconvenience haha.
Well, I have to get my Note 4 reflashed back to developer. It's being sent to texas on tuesday. I wasn't thinking, and duked my device with the latest update from Samsung / Verizon. not a good idea, stuck in retail land. I am also planning to get a new screen put in as the one I have has some severe burn-in.
btw - if you are near contract's end, consider this (I am). Don't opt to renew your plan for a new two year agreement just to get a new phone. Verizon, if your plan is expired, will drop your rate 24.99 to keep you. either keep your existing phone, or, pay full retail for your next one.
I know, if you buy a Note 5 (or S6) and want gob loads of memory you pay big bucks. You could also purchase a S5 Developer off of Samsung's site for 599.00 and get the luxury of a new phone plus developer, plus removable battery, plus additional storage.
just a few thoughts your way.
There's this too. Verizon Will Drop Phone Contracts, End Discounted Phones
Yup. No more contracts or contract pricing as of this coming Tuesday. Only options for phone purchase from VZW will be EDGE or full price. If you want a subsidized phone price point, get to the store tomorrow (although it doesn't seem like ANYONE wants more contract... lol)
And, the retail note 4, discontinued...
Sadly the development has never been great for the DE. Lack of root for the retail version has killed an otherwise amazing phone for tinkerers and Nandroiders.
If I am wrong let me know and I'll try to get one used... but until then I stick with my extremely versatile note 2!
Note 5 is a no go for 2 simple reasons: SD and fixed battery.
Samsung Will Feel It.
Telemachus said:
Sadly the development has never been great for the DE. Lack of root for the retail version has killed an otherwise amazing phone for tinkerers and Nandroiders.
If I am wrong let me know and I'll try to get one used... but until then I stick with my extremely versatile note 2!
Note 5 is a no go for 2 simple reasons: SD and fixed battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, Note 5 looks great, but from a distance...
And that's why I picked up a 2nd Note 4, found one, at a Best Buy, who states their inventories are depleting and they are discontinued in their systems. So, as soon as they are all sold out, no more. I had to run to a store far away from my home to get a new one. Yup, it's retail, but of course has the two main features people want. And I'm holding on to it for right now, not sure what I'll do with it.
Samsung most definitely does not have em, and whatever Verizon has they REFUSE to sell one at full price walking out of the store with them - poop-heads
================================================================================================================
But Samsung will feel it, for sure - Hmmm, apple-wanna-bees, maybe we'll call them "Sample", yup, we tried it, doesn't taste so good anymore...
================================================================================================================
On a final note, and what might be regarded by most of you as a "Good luck with that.." attempt - this, is the reason I am named "Anti-Cloud"
I would like to start a petition, in which we, the users of phones, regain 100% control if it's use, who has access to it, what's on it, and with full administrative access rights. I would like that to see the petition be forged into a bill and work it's way up to Washington and become law: it basically puts the business of communication devices on a simple one-to-one basis, a simple business model - which in the end, if a person pays for phone service to make calls, send texts, run apps, browse web etc, that the business relationship is solely between "you" and the carrier - meaning you pay for the service and the carrier can only conduct business scoped to making phone calls sending receiving data / text - no collection of whereabouts, providing location services (which is BS anyway), nor using the phone by any means to sell more services - a simple contract more or less, that all other business conducted, whether the user knows about it or not, is prohibited by law - the phone is a phone, it is not a platform for a carrier / 3rd parties to conduct further business (or the government for that matter).
History / Background - A purchased computer, by any of us, is for the most part, an honest transaction - meaning once we purchase that computer, which may have an operating system / software on it, it is free to do with what we want. We, the user, can decide to employ administrative access to that PC, even go as far as completely remove an operating system. Note, not sure about apple, but with Microsoft, although a bit harder to do with Windows 8/10 etc, the user can still remove virtually anything they don't want in that operating system let alone they can fully preserve administrative access even in the midst of an update of operating system / software...
Phones, are not that way today. The phone's calling / data / text service is a basic service, yet there are many hands / fingers / services nested with a phone as it leaves the confines of the carrier, with the intent to solicit, collect, and control the business conducted of (on) that device - I want an end to it.
You realize that when you walk out of a carrier with your new phone it is not just a phone you can make calls with, send texts, browse the web - using Samsung / Verizon as a base example: It has Verizon, Samsung, Google, and the Government's fingers into it. The device is a platform to do "further" business with, on top of which we, the user, do not have full administrative rights to.
1. I seek to defund the business models (fingers), i.e. amputate - 3rd parties abilities to do ANY business (collect data, or sell) on devices that does not have to do with making phone calls, sending texts, using data (sending / receiving data between the carrier's towers and the device - the raw service, what you pay for)
2. Give the user FULL unadulterated administrative rights to the device with ability to remove ANY / ALL components / software / drivers - and that no non-essential-software shall be "baked-in" to the point that if removed the device becomes in-operable - i.e. NFL football, google maps. The device's ability to make calls, send texts, consume data must be independent of ALL other applications. Essentially, there would be no need for rooting / jail breaking as the phone's will come that way.
3. Location services can be disabled / removed and are completely free / untethered from the hardware GPS and or the phone's ability to operate - a consumer can, at will, have the ability to remove ALL location features even up to the point of removing drivers which employ the hardware GPS - if they so choose. And, a carrier / 3rd party cannot make the claim of greater accuracy (as that is a lie, complete lie) - using the hardware GPS is by far the most accurate and ALL software models at a minimum should be required to have the ability employ the hardware GPS only with no transmission of location datum to a 3rd party / carrier without the expressed consent of the user / knowledge there of.
4. Device manufactures and carriers MUST give the user a complete freedom from cloud service and or provide an equal means of storing / transmitting user's private data without the intervention / knowledge of a 3rd party provider / carrier - the user must have the choice as to whether to use the cloud or not. No carrier / manufacturer can put a device in service which forces the consumer to use cloud services. and the carrier / 3rd party provider MUST allow the user to move data off / on to the device in a sealed vacuum of privacy.
5. Operating System Providers MUST provide an operating system in which the user can have FULL administrative access to do all the above while maintaining a secure model - meaning carriers / manufactures cannot debilitate a secure service or claim the device is insecure if administrative access is gained by the local user. Secure models must be independent of administrative access - just like a PC!! It is an excuse, 100%, if a provider / carrier insists that security has been compromised if administrative access is gained.
This is a start -
Now, having said that. in a reasonable fashion, a carrier / 3rd party should have the ability to deem a device secure (or not) by virtue of a minimum set of requirements that deem the device safe to transact financial / secure private business - i.e. the user could remove components that defund a device's security model making it vulnerable for attack etc. carriers and 3rd party providers in order to maintain a secure model should be allowed to prevent an application / certain services from transacting if the device is not compliant. We see this in an application like Soft-Card etc. although I contend that a user gaining root access does not constitute a breach in security - if it does, it is because the operating system (or software) is weak - see #5, and providers must ensure that they can achieve a secure platform with administrative access.
any takers?
Ummmm...
Good luck with that!
lexbian said:
Yup. No more contracts or contract pricing as of this coming Tuesday. Only options for phone purchase from VZW will be EDGE or full price. If you want a subsidized phone price point, get to the store tomorrow (although it doesn't seem like ANYONE wants more contract... lol)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to clarify, from what I've been reading if you are on a VZW legacy plan with a 2 year contract you can stick with it and get contract upgrades like normal going forward. I have not seen anything official from VZW on this, but that's the word on the street and I really hope it proves to be true. I still have unlimited data on 4 of my 5 family plan lines and if they steal the contract upgrade subsidies from me I'll be f*#king pissed since it's a value of around $20/month per line.
On a side note I'm looking for a DE Note 4. If anyone has any leads let me know. Those things are like leprechauns these days.
If someone here with a DE wants to move to a different phone I have a contract upgrade available with Verizon so I can trade you any new phone for a DE Note 4.
vmod32 said:
Just to clarify, from what I've been reading if you are on a VZW legacy plan with a 2 year contract you can stick with it and get contract upgrades like normal going forward. I have not seen anything official from VZW on this, but that's the word on the street and I really hope it proves to be true. I still have unlimited data on 4 of my 5 family plan lines and if they steal the contract upgrade subsidies from me I'll be f*#king pissed since it's a value of around $20/month per line.
On a side note I'm looking for a DE Note 4. If anyone has any leads let me know. Those things are like leprechauns these days.
If someone here with a DE wants to move to a different phone I have a contract upgrade available with Verizon so I can trade you any new phone for a DE Note 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@vmod32 I sent you a PM.
madchainsawer said:
Get a unlocked phone off of tmobile and you can have removable back battery and sd card and you can put a verizon chip and root.
Sent from my SM-N910V using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to repeat what you just said but are you saying that if I get an unlocked phone designed for T-Mobile that I can run it on the Verizon network as long as I put the Verizon sim card in? That would be awesome as I want to buy a note 4 developer edition but can't find one.
burbank said:
Not to repeat what you just said but are you saying that if I get an unlocked phone designed for T-Mobile that I can run it on the Verizon network as long as I put the Verizon sim card in? That would be awesome as I want to buy a note 4 developer edition but can't find one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No - this doesn't work as Verizon has to white list the device for it to work on their network.
So is it just sadistic that this page is still up?
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/ET-N910VMKEVZW

Categories

Resources