N5 on AT&T Q&A

[mr.wizard]

no throttle. you're cut off from data after using 2GB in your plan month cycle unless you buy the extra 1GB for $10 that month. i have the same plan. i set my Nexus 5 to warn me at 1.5GB of usage (Settings-->Data Usage) so i can buy more data if needed. i only typically use about 1GB/month so i'm not too worried about it. GoPhone data speed and $$$ savings are incredible - along with SIM card freedom and the freedom of no contract.

^^ that's right. Prepaid saves a lot, if you have just one line on an account

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Gekko]

1. Its to see all appropriate plans available for your specific phone. More specifically, to get the proper data plan. And even more specifically, to make sure the phone isn't reported stolen
2. GoPhone is AT&T's network solely. Meaning wherever AT&T has towers, that's where you are covered. Speeds are the same as postpaid AFAIK (never did a speed test with a customers phone)
3. If they use our network, I'd imagine it would be the same. I just don't get the throttling thing, or know how that affects service.

Posted via Android Central App

thanks for the info.

it is my understanding that Straight Talk and AIO both make you go through a special proxy which means that you aren't on par with AT&T postpaid customer speeds and are essentially treated like a second class citizen. speed tests and discussions with AT&T tech specialists seem to confirm this. i was hoping you'd be more informed on this issue and could confirm this but i guess it's outside of your normal daily scope.

 

[mr.wizard]

New phones from AT&T are now provisioned to use Phone APN now. Looks like PTA APN is a thing of past. It still works but there will be no difference in day to day usage or speed. I have tested both on N5.

That's the new APN that automatically gets provisioned (ATT Phone, that is). And that's the one I'll enter in when it doesn't. Although, I have seen some older phones default to WAP. It just depends on the particular phone. I've done speed tests checking each APN there is, and never found a difference

Posted via Android Central App

 

[mr.wizard]

thanks for the info.

it is my understanding that Straight Talk and AIO both make you go through a special proxy which means that you aren't on par with AT&T postpaid customer speeds and are essentially treated like a second class citizen. speed tests and discussions with AT&T tech specialists seem to confirm this. i was hoping you'd be more informed on this issue and could confirm this but i guess it's outside of your normal daily scope.

When you have to try and contact Straight Talk's customer service, and deal with the headache that is getting any kind of info from them, you eventually stop caring what they do.

That, and we don't receive info on the MNVO's that use our network. I actually find most of that info here.

But that sounds right. We are going to reserve the best for our customers first

Posted via Android Central App

 

[foxbat121]

In the past, three APNs are mutually exclusive to each other:
WAP: for 3G. There is typically also a proxy configured.
Phone: for 4G HSPA+. Requires 4G plan.
PTA: for LTE. Requires LTE plan.
It was an unnecessary complication from AT&T's part for the sole purpose of controlling. It seems now Phone APN is what all new phones used.

 

[Battleship]

Got everything set up at the AT&T store in a few minutes so no problems there. Only thing I can't seem to do is send/receive SMS via Hangouts. Called in, rep told me all my settings are fine, yet still no SMS via Hangouts, though Textra (great app, btw) works just fine. I suppose it could be Hangouts, but I've not seen anyone report the problem I'm having. Any chance it's a setting the rep knew nothing about?

 

[Gekko]

Got everything set up at the AT&T store in a few minutes so no problems there. Only thing I can't seem to do is send/receive SMS via Hangouts. Called in, rep told me all my settings are fine, yet still no SMS via Hangouts, though Textra (great app, btw) works just fine. I suppose it could be Hangouts, but I've not seen anyone report the problem I'm having. Any chance it's a setting the rep knew nothing about?

did you go into Hangout settings and confirm your phone number? did you make Hangouts your default SMS app?

 

[Battleship]

did you go into Hangout settings and confirm your phone number? did you make Hangouts your default SMS app?

Yes to both.

 

[Citizen Coyote]

3. how does Straight Talk and AIO data speeds and coverage and roaming compare?

As noted, your coverage will be the same as with AT&T GoPhone. None of the prepaid services roam. For speed, I know AIO openly states what speeds you will get, and they are nowhere in the neighborhood of AT&T's. However, you only get throttled if you go over your allotment rather than cut off. ST is notoriously vague when it comes to listing speeds and throttling, but enough anecdotal evidence exists to say the throttling cut-off is anywhere from 1.5GB to 5.0GB+ depending on location, time of day, moon phase, and rate of hair growth on your neighbor's cat. Also, their speeds seem to be potentially more in line with what you'll see under AT&T directly.

 

[MERCDROID]

As noted, your coverage will be the same as with AT&T GoPhone. None of the prepaid services roam. For speed, I know AIO openly states what speeds you will get, and they are nowhere in the neighborhood of AT&T's. However, you only get throttled if you go over your allotment rather than cut off. ST is notoriously vague when it comes to listing speeds and throttling, but enough anecdotal evidence exists to say the throttling cut-off is anywhere from 1.5GB to 5.0GB+ depending on location, time of day, moon phase, and rate of hair growth on your neighbor's cat. Also, their speeds seem to be potentially more in line with what you'll see under AT&T directly.

Actually, Straight Talk confirmed their data policy, back in May. You get 2.5GB of LTE/HSPA data and are throttled, afterwards.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Mobile Nations mobile app

 

[Gekko]

Actually, Straight Talk confirmed their data policy, back in May. You get 2.5GB of LTE/HSPA data and are throttled, afterwards.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Mobile Nations mobile app

i believe that PRE-THROTTLE Straight Talk speeds are slower than postpaid AT&T.

 

[MERCDROID]

i believe that PRE-THROTTLE Straight Talk speeds are slower than postpaid AT&T.

Thanks, brother. That's good to know.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Mobile Nations mobile app

 

[Citizen Coyote]

Actually, Straight Talk confirmed their data policy, back in May. You get 2.5GB of LTE/HSPA data and are throttled, afterwards.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Mobile Nations mobile app

Ah, good to know. Thanks.

 

[tw33k2514]

I'm on att postpaid right now. I want to switch to GoPhone. What is the easiest way to do this? Do I pay the ETF still?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Gekko]

I'm on att postpaid right now. I want to switch to GoPhone. What is the easiest way to do this? Do I pay the ETF still?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

i would go into a corporate AT&T Store and just tell them exactly what you want to do. don't let them talk you out of it. ETF? yes you probably will have to pay a prorated ETF. but you should make up some/all of it on the monthly $$$$ savings. do the math.

 

[pseudoware]

Why do some AT&T unlimited data customers get popped for tethering, while others (claim to) tether to their heart's content w/o warning or repercussions?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[mr.wizard]

I'm on att postpaid right now. I want to switch to GoPhone. What is the easiest way to do this? Do I pay the ETF still?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Ask. They will tell you the benifits of postpaid. And depending on the contact length remaining, you'd have to pay that

Posted via Android Central App

 

[mr.wizard]

Why do some AT&T unlimited data customers get popped for tethering, while others (claim to) tether to their heart's content w/o warning or repercussions?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

3 things that I can think of:
1. They are lying
2. Their unlimited data plan includes tethering (costs more than $30)
3. They have rooted, modded to tether with carrier bypass.

The Nexus can tether, as there's no carrier check on stock software

Posted via Android Central App

 

[pseudoware]

3 things that I can think of:
1. They are lying
2. Their unlimited data plan includes tethering (costs more than $30)
3. They have rooted, nodded to tether with carrier bypass.

The Nexus can tether, as there's no carrier check on stock software

Posted via Android Central App

Thanks for the reply.
2. Such a plan does not exist
3. Not really a violation of TOS if data source is not AT&T

 

[mr.wizard]

Thanks for the reply.
2. Such a plan does not exist
3. Not really a violation of TOS if data source is not AT&T

Microsoft employees (depending on which department they work in) around here get that. $45 per month, and they can tether.

True, but you do that with an AT&T sold phone and it is. But, hey, get a Nexus and its all good

Posted via Android Central App