At&t shut my Nexus down

[ledfrog]

Thats wasn't the case for me at all. they knew exactly what to do and I have never had an issue. Sounds like the people in that store don't know what they are doing.

I have to agree. I think they're trained (mostly for liability purposes) that if someone brings in a phone that they don't sell or have ever sold, they probably "can't touch it" which would likely be handled by the employee saying to the customer, "Sorry, we don't support that phone." Coming from retail sales many years ago, I can understand why they would tell people this. However, there are some employees that actually know about things that aren't taught to them by a store manager and these are the people to talk to. This would explain why the rest of us with Nexus 4's have no problem getting them activated by AT&T.

 

[gmhotch]

I'm calling BS on this one...I've used ATT since March, on contract, called customer support, activated two Nexus 4's on their network. They did try to help get the devices on the network and did so successfully and I was able to maintain my unlimited data plan.

 

[fernandezhjr]

I have to agree. I think they're trained (mostly for liability purposes) that if someone brings in a phone that they don't sell or have ever sold, they probably "can't touch it" which would likely be handled by the employee saying to the customer, "Sorry, we don't support that phone." Coming from retail sales many years ago, I can understand why they would tell people this. However, there are some employees that actually know about things that aren't taught to them by a store manager and these are the people to talk to. This would explain why the rest of us with Nexus 4's have no problem getting them activated by AT&T.

AT&T has a bring your own device policy that all employees should be familiar with. I walked right into an AT&T store and told them I need a micro sim for my N4. They entered my imei number in the system, activated and popped in the sim card, and I was on my way. No charge, no hassles. Just because they don't provide technical support for a device itself doesn't mean they don't support it on the network.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[nickacs]

I'm calling BS on this one...I've used ATT since March, on contract, called customer support, activated two Nexus 4's on their network. They did try to help get the devices on the network and did so successfully and I was able to maintain my unlimited data plan.

Ditto...the OP NEVER explained what the resolution was because if it was true, he would've said so. In a 3 page thread, the OP only has posted like 3 times. LMAO... LIAR!

 

[Jnorton2724]

I used my Nexus 4 on AT&T for awhile but I gave them my IMEI number and they knew it was a Nexus 4.

Sent from my HTC One

 

[Scott7217]

Another alternative is to just use a hotspot. Verizon and AT&T are $50 for 5GB while T-Mobile is 2GB for $30 I think.

You can always take your chance with Sim card swapping but you need to keep an eye on your account for they do add payed features to your phone such as a voice plan. You can reduce or eliminate those risks by using an mnvo service which is prepaid.

I'm still waiting to find prepaid mnvo plans for mifi devices.

Walmart sells a prepaid T-Mobile HSPA+ hotspot for $85. That hotspot is eligible for a $35 plan that includes 3.5 GB of data. The good part is that the plan is good for 60 days, not just the usual 30 days. So that might be a good choice for casual users or people who just need prepaid data for special occasions, like during a vacation.

 

[Scott7217]

I bought Att HTC Jetstream on ebay. Activated $30 3 GB plan, sold Jetstream for the same money, used SIM in my Nexus 4 with no problem. Was making and receiving calls and texts using google voice and Talkaton application.

Sent from my MB865 using Android Central Forums

I've done something similar to get a Nexus 4 working with AT&T data. There is a thread where people discuss activating a SIM on an AT&T DataConnect plan. All you need to do is activate an AT&T SIM on their DataConnect site. Plans cost $14.99/month for 250 MB, $30/month for 3 GB, and $50/month for 5 GB. Once you activate the SIM, you just insert it into your Nexus 4 and change the APN settings. You'll end up with data-only Nexus 4.

It's not as good as T-Mobile's $30/month 5 GB plan, but it's fine if all you care about is data on AT&T's network.

 

[dpham00]

AT&T has a bring your own device policy that all employees should be familiar with. I walked right into an AT&T store and told them I need a micro sim for my N4. They entered my imei number in the system, activated and popped in the sim card, and I was on my way. No charge, no hassles. Just because they don't provide technical support for a device itself doesn't mean they don't support it on the network.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Att and tmo has to accept all gsm phones capable of being on their network. It is part of the gsm requirements.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

[ledfrog]

AT&T has a bring your own device policy that all employees should be familiar with. I walked right into an AT&T store and told them I need a micro sim for my N4. They entered my imei number in the system, activated and popped in the sim card, and I was on my way. No charge, no hassles. Just because they don't provide technical support for a device itself doesn't mean they don't support it on the network.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Oh I wasn't implying that they the phone wouldn't be supported on the network, but rather an employee unfamiliar with a device may be under the impression that AT&T doesn't support it from a technical standpoint. In other words, if I were to bring my Nexus 4 down to an AT&T store and ask them to help me with a problem, they would probably tell me they can't help, UNLESS it can be proven that the issue is with my account and/or their service.

But you're right, as far as just activating it on an account, they should do this with no issues, but my point was that some lesser-educated employees may not know they can.

 

[fernandezhjr]

Oh I wasn't implying that they the phone wouldn't be supported on the network, but rather an employee unfamiliar with a device may be under the impression that AT&T doesn't support it from a technical standpoint. In other words, if I were to bring my Nexus 4 down to an AT&T store and ask them to help me with a problem, they would probably tell me they can't help, UNLESS it can be proven that the issue is with my account and/or their service.

But you're right, as far as just activating it on an account, they should do this with no issues, but my point was that some lesser-educated employees may not know they can.

No doubt. I have run into a few of those lesser educated employees over the years. Then there are those exceptional ones now and then. It is always hit and miss when dealing with AT&T's customer reps, in store and on the phone.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[srkmagnus]

Even if the phone was unsupported I don't see why they would not allow the phone to stay acvitated on a prepaid service. OP should visit another store or retailer and get this resolved being that most people have had no issues activating their N4's.

Perhaps an update of where the OP is in this process would help clear up any confusion.

 

[NotDavidMeek]

I'm brand new here - I just got my N4 from Google about five days ago. Two days later, I went to the closest AT&T Corporate store to transfer my service from my old iPhone (3GS) to the N4. Since I was moving from "iPhone" plans to "SmartPhone" plans, it made sense to let them handle it. I also had two grandfathered plans - unlimited data, and 200 messages for $5/mo - and I didn't want any problems keeping them. The rep at the store didn't flinch at my N4 - he was mostly interested in it (even a little jealous), and since I remembered to bring along the IMEI from the back 'peeloff', it was painless. He scanned it in, and just moved on.

All in all, I was there about 20 minutes, and everything transferred over just fine. So maybe in the past it didn't work as smoothly, but for today - at least in my experience - there's nothing to it.

 

[CoMoNexus]

I remembered to bring along the IMEI from the back 'peeloff', it was painless.

Interesting that you describe it that way. I was wondering if that's something I can remove or be worried about eventually having peel off due to normal wear and tear.

 

[ledfrog]

Even if the phone was unsupported I don't see why they would not allow the phone to stay acvitated on a prepaid service. OP should visit another store or retailer and get this resolved being that most people have had no issues activating their N4's.

Perhaps an update of where the OP is in this process would help clear up any confusion.

Yeah that was a weird scenario. Maybe he was acting shady or something and they thought the phone might be stolen.

 

[ledfrog]

I'm brand new here - I just got my N4 from Google about five days ago. Two days later, I went to the closest AT&T Corporate store to transfer my service from my old iPhone (3GS) to the N4. Since I was moving from "iPhone" plans to "SmartPhone" plans, it made sense to let them handle it. I also had two grandfathered plans - unlimited data, and 200 messages for $5/mo - and I didn't want any problems keeping them. The rep at the store didn't flinch at my N4 - he was mostly interested in it (even a little jealous), and since I remembered to bring along the IMEI from the back 'peeloff', it was painless. He scanned it in, and just moved on.

All in all, I was there about 20 minutes, and everything transferred over just fine. So maybe in the past it didn't work as smoothly, but for today - at least in my experience - there's nothing to it.

This question is just out of pure curiosity, but why did you even go into n AT&T store for activation? My buddy used to work there and would always wonder why people would come in to a store and possibly have to wait for some help when all you really have to do is put your SIM card into a new device and you're off and running. The IMEI number gets updated instantly in your account and you will have no downtime in service. I can see if you needed to go from a standard SIM to a micro SIM and you didn't feel like cutting it down to size, but other than that...I can't tell you the last time I was in a AT&T store and I've gone through 4 phones in the last 3 years!!

I see you went from an iPhone 3GS so maybe you had to go to the store to swap from 3G to 4G so you could get the HSPA+ data to work, right? Now that I think about it, that was the last time I went in as well and it cost me $30 to get a new updated SIM. Why AT&T still can't process SIM orders online (other than pre-paid) is beyond me!

 

[adam1314#IM]

I would think At&t would want to have people bringing unlocked phones to their network. This saves them the cost of paying for part of a phone when a customer upgrades or signs a new contract. Not sure why they would shut your account down when the Nexus 4 is compatible with the At&t network.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2

 

[dkhmwilliams]

This question is just out of pure curiosity, but why did you even go into n AT&T store for activation? My buddy used to work there and would always wonder why people would come in to a store and possibly have to wait for some help when all you really have to do is put your SIM card into a new device and you're off and running. The IMEI number gets updated instantly in your account and you will have no downtime in service. I can see if you needed to go from a standard SIM to a micro SIM and you didn't feel like cutting it down to size, but other than that...I can't tell you the last time I was in a AT&T store and I've gone through 4 phones in the last 3 years!!

I see you went from an iPhone 3GS so maybe you had to go to the store to swap from 3G to 4G so you could get the HSPA+ data to work, right? Now that I think about it, that was the last time I went in as well and it cost me $30 to get a new updated SIM. Why AT&T still can't process SIM orders online (other than pre-paid) is beyond me!

I went into the store too. It was on my way hone and I just figured that I would stop in and have one if the reps do it. I had never activated an unlocked smartphone before so I wanted to make sure that I everything was done correctly.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[TheLibertarian]

No Chetan, I do not work for AT&T. I am an attorney and self-employed. I am now retired. I do have an internet account with AT&T (a dongle that has a separate telephone number assigned to it). You see I saw so many cheaters in my practice of law, and I simply do not want to be one of them. You can see for yourself that there are quite a few here that are attempting to do anything that they can to avoid paying their fair share. As an attorney, I got sort of upset and tired of freeloaders. Just my opinion, OK?

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk HD

Who here is a freeloader? Who was cheating?

I sure hope you didn't make these kinds of asinine assumptions during your career as an attorney.

 

[Unicorn Rancher]

It took 96 days to think up that zinger?

 

[NotDavidMeek]

This question is just out of pure curiosity, but why did you even go into n AT&T store for activation? My buddy used to work there and would always wonder why people would come in to a store and possibly have to wait for some help when all you really have to do is put your SIM card into a new device and you're off and running. The IMEI number gets updated instantly in your account and you will have no downtime in service. I can see if you needed to go from a standard SIM to a micro SIM and you didn't feel like cutting it down to size, but other than that...I can't tell you the last time I was in a AT&T store and I've gone through 4 phones in the last 3 years!!

I see you went from an iPhone 3GS so maybe you had to go to the store to swap from 3G to 4G so you could get the HSPA+ data to work, right? Now that I think about it, that was the last time I went in as well and it cost me $30 to get a new updated SIM. Why AT&T still can't process SIM orders online (other than pre-paid) is beyond me!

My understanding has been - and I'm perfectly willing to admit to being wrong here - that the data and message plans for the iPhone are set up/coded differently than for other smartphones. And since I'm grandfathered on two items (data and messaging), I didn't want to run the risk of trying to just have the online system switch me over and lose either of them. So for me, I felt it was the safest move.

In the future, if I move to another unlocked phone, I may just do the SIM card swap and be done with it. (PS: I was not charged for a SIM card replacement...it might be due to being on a corporate discount, or they just might have decided that the wind was blowing from the SSW instead of the ESE.)