Chinese smartphone with AT&T and no data plan?

[ItzAiyana Biznatch]

So, I was just wondering if it is possible to use a Chinese made Samsung Galaxy S4 clone with AT&T without them adding on a data plan? I would obviously have data turned off on the device and would only use wifi on it. Would they recognize the IMEI number? If anyone knows anything and can tell me more about it, it would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Aiyana

 

[Khanh Dinh]

It varies. Just head to a store and get a Sim activated for minutes and text only

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[Almeuit]

I would ask them to put a data block on the line.. That way you won't have to worry.

Sent from my T-Mobile HTC One using AC Forums.

 

[ItzAiyana Biznatch]

If I get a data block on my line then will it matter if they know I have a smartphone?

 

[Craig Rogers]

AT&T should let you choose to not have data on your phone since it wasn't purchased through them. Typically when a phone is purchased through AT&T, they require special options such as a data plan for the special price of the phone. Seeing your phone is an off contract purchase outside of AT&T, you should be fine. However, why you would want to buy a knock off galaxy s4 baffles me

 

[ItzAiyana Biznatch]

I have a plan with AT&T already but for a basic messaging phone with no data.

 

[Craig Rogers]

You should be able to just swap the card no problems then, you won't even have to bring the phone in. You may need to cut a standard sim to a micro sim, but that's pretty easy to do. Ah the wonders of gsm, it makes it so much easier

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[ItzAiyana Biznatch]

So that they won't recognize it.

 

[bigkevbosky]

I dunno - people report that AT&T is really good at spotting IMEI numbers and they know exactly what phone you're using - but I'm not so sure.

I have a micro sim that I had in an adapter that I put into an iPhone 3GS. So AT&T, on their website under my account, shows I have an iPhone 3GS. Then I had bought two unlocked devices not sold in the US except through Expansys or Newegg or whatever - a Samsung Ativ S i8750 and a Galaxy S4 i9500. Both phones are meant for international markets and won't get LTE on AT&T. Either phone, if I put my micro sim in it, works great on AT&T. Yet neither one shows up on their website under "my account" - it still thinks I'm using an iPhone 3GS.

So yeah, you probably will be able to put your current sim into a Chinese "smart phone" and have it work fine without data.