Samsung Galaxy S4 on AT&T without data plan possible?

[oshogg]

Hi All,

I would like to use Samsung Galaxy S4 with a AT&T simcard without data plan (I am constantly connected to WiFi 90% of time and I have another mobile device with Hotspot capability for the rest of the time). Is it possible to purchase Samsung Galaxy S4 (without any AT&T contract discount of course) and use it with a AT&T sim?

I would prefer to buy a non-AT&T branded I9505 (with Qualcomm S600) just in case I do want to sign up for a data plan later on. Does anyone know where can I buy one in USA?

Thanks,
Osho

 

[Greg C]

Hi All,

I would like to use Samsung Galaxy S4 with a AT&T simcard without data plan (I am constantly connected to WiFi 90% of time and I have another mobile device with Hotspot capability for the rest of the time). Is it possible to purchase Samsung Galaxy S4 (without any AT&T contract discount of course) and use it with a AT&T sim?

I would prefer to buy a non-AT&T branded I9505 (with Qualcomm S600) just in case I do want to sign up for a data plan later on. Does anyone know where can I buy one in USA?

Thanks,
Osho

Your best bet will be to buy one off Ebay already unlocked. You will.. however... pay a premium. It will be ALOT more than buying outright from a carrier.

 

[sqa4life]

Att system will automatically detect your device and if it is smartphone, they will add data plan to your account automatically.

You may try this: put your att sim into a non-smartphone, call att customer service and ask them to block or turn off all data features, switch your sim to a new smartphone.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

 

[JudH]

call att customer service and ask them to block or turn off all data features

Just a headsup if you plan to use MMS. Users have reported that blocking data at the account level breaks MMS. MMS/SMS has their own charges/package on ATT so MMS doesn't come out of your data plan but it does require data to be turned on in order to save/retrieve the non-text portion of the message from the MMS server.

 

[oshogg]

Thanks for the info everyone - appreciate it.

AT&T really sucks. If I don't plan to use mobile data, why does AT&T care about which kind of phone I am using to send/receive calls?

Are there any (pre-paid or post-paid) GSM service in USA that would allow one to 'legally' use phone send/receive service in an unlocked smartphone (such as Galaxy S4)?

Thanks,
Osho

 

[j510]

Thanks for the info everyone - appreciate it.

AT&T really sucks. If I don't plan to use mobile data, why does AT&T care about which kind of phone I am using to send/receive calls?

Are there any (pre-paid or post-paid) GSM service in USA that would allow one to 'legally' use phone send/receive service in an unlocked smartphone (such as Galaxy S4)?

Thanks,
Osho

Yea at&t. If the phone you use is unlocked (either international or not at&t branded) then they dont force the plan. Only applies when it is at&t branded phone

 

[oshogg]

Yea at&t. If the phone you use is unlocked (either international or not at&t branded) then they dont force the plan. Only applies when it is at&t branded phone

Are you sure? I thought that if they could figure out (somehow) that you had *any* smartphone - you were forced to sign up for the data plan?

Thanks,
Osho

 

[americasteam]

Are you sure? I thought that if they could figure out (somehow) that you had *any* smartphone - you were forced to sign up for the data plan?

Thanks,
Osho

I didn't think they had the IMEI numbers for global phones in their system. How would they know it's a smartphone?

Sent from my LG-E970 using Tapatalk 2

 

[scorpiodsu]

Just buy an unlocked one when they are released and on T-Mobile $30 1500 min 30MB plan. Since you're saying you don't need data this is probably the best plan for you in my opinion.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[atoti]

AT&T really sucks. If I don't plan to use mobile data, why does AT&T care about which kind of phone I am using to send/receive calls?

Are there any (pre-paid or post-paid) GSM service in USA that would allow one to 'legally' use phone send/receive service in an unlocked smartphone (such as Galaxy S4)?

I know that this thread is somewhat old and I don't know whether or not you've already found a solution, but I'm actually in the same position as you right now so I thought I'd add my two cents.

If you want to stick with AT&T but not have a data plan, you'll need to go with their PAYG plans. In most markets, they have a $25/mo., $2/day, and $0.10/min. plan, all of which include voice and text, but charge extra for data. Since you're almost always connected to wi-fi, just use a VOIP service to make up for the limitations of these plans. And remember to make sure you disable data access on your mobile network so you'll never accidentally use it.

In general, PAYG seems to be the only way to go if you don't want a data plan forced on you, regardless of the carrier.

Whether a phone is locked or not has no bearing on whether or not they force you to have a data plan. If you use a smartphone, they'll find you eventually.

And AT&T cares about the kind of phone you use because they make a killing on data plans. All the big money is no longer in voice and text.

 

[borgroves]

My Daughter always had a Dumb phone but she started doing the horoscope and football score stuff and running up the bill. So I went to the ATT website and Blocked all her Data services. She still has unlimited text and Shared min. with the other phones but no data plan. Her total bill is like 9.99 a month + Tax.

Anyhow, She gets a different smartphone every month it seems. The website shows the phone she's using in her profile. (Smartphone) and I check regularly to see if they start tacking on a data plan. (over 2 years so far, no data plan)

I think if you have...
a. an additional line
b. ALL data blocked on that line (ATT website/Manage plan/whatever line/
c. Unlocked Smartphone that works on ATT's system

We managed to do it without really trying. I remember my other daughter trying her dumb phone sim in my wife's old galaxy and ATT adding a plan. (I got it removed, charges dropped) and to this day THAT daughter has a dumb phone.
I think the difference is the locked/unlocked issue and Data blocking BEFORE Sim is inserted into the smartphone.

 

[iHackPro]

I'm using an AT&T Galaxy S3 on AT&T right now with no data plan, and have been since July. The line was originally a dumb phone with a data block. It blocks MMS as well, but people send me a Kik message if I need a pic.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Dominika Quinones]

Yeah, love Kik, too.