iPhone on AT&T without data plan - possible ?

[lafinfil]

I have googled around on this subject and found much conflicting info. The pat answer is usually no, but there are a number of pages
that talk about swapping a file that allows you to use the iPhone on AT&T without it being data enabled.

Anyone have any experience with this? I've been thinking of picking up an iPhone and was going to use it on my current T-Mobile account.
My sister has a spare AT&T account on her family plan she has been trying to give me, but I don't need the data plan.

TIA

[Ken Sp.]

Without a data plan, the iPhone is considerably less useful.
You would have to buy it on the secondary market like Craigslist or eBay.
ATT's $15 data plans are reasonable.

[Doc]

lafinfil wrote:
I have googled around on this subject and found much conflicting info. The pat answer is usually no, but there are a number of pages that talk about swapping a file that allows you to use the iPhone on AT&T without it being data enabled.

My understanding is that it's not a file, but the SIM card that gets swapped. You activate a cheap phone with no data plan, then swap its SIM into an iPhone.

The problem is that after that you are living on borrowed time. AT&T can detect that you are using an iPhone and they supposedly do poll their network for iPhone users who aren't on a data plan. Eventually, they will find you and automatically put you on a data plan.

[NewtonMP2100]

.....you can still buy an iPhone without a contract in-store (I believe) but it cost something like ~$600.....

[mattkime]

at&t sniffs your phone and automatically puts you on a data plan. now, if you can find out how to get your phone to tell at&t that its something aside from an iphone, it might work.

[lafinfil]

Ken - I don't need the data plan. Basically I would be replacing my Touch and adding phone capability so I only need to carry one device.
iPhones are very plentiful on craigslist here - $125 for a 3G/8GB with accessories.

Doc - Here is an example of one of the file swap pages I have come across http://www.iphonedownloadblog.com/2008/1...data-plan/

I may just stay with my T-Mobile account due to my low usage. My sister has been trying to give me a spare account they have.
Maybe I should make her get me an iPhone with the data plan. After all I did just did a free remodel of her bathroom.

: -)

[deckeda]

mattkime wrote:
at&t sniffs your phone and automatically puts you on a data plan. now, if you can find out how to get your phone to tell at&t that its something aside from an iphone, it might work.

I'd be surprised if there wasn't "an app" for that — on Cydia.

[Doc]

lafinfil wrote:
Doc - Here is an example of one of the file swap pages I have come across http://www.iphonedownloadblog.com/2008/1...data-plan/

Fake APNs don't work. They did for a brief time, then there were various efforts by Apple and AT&T to plug that hole... Long story short, if you're running iOS 3.1 or higher, you'll get caught.


> Maybe I should make her get me an iPhone with
> the data plan. After all I did just did a free remodel
> of her bathroom.

AT&T's basic iPhone data plan is cheap enough now that the only durable excuse not to go for it is obstinacy. (Which is a good excuse in my book, but other people will ridicule you for your stinginess.) I say, ask her if she'll go for an iPhone and don't raise the issue of the (mandatory) data plan. You might be surprised at her generosity.

[lafinfil]

Thanks for the info Doc. I'm not out to raise her monthly by adding the data plan. I am lucky to use 1000 minutes a year ($100 T-Mobile)

If I decide to get an iPhone I will probably just stay with T-Mobile (and yes - I am generous with my friends and family
but very frugal when it comes to giving money to giant corporations.

: -)