AT&T has a secret plan that most people don’t know about and are never offered publicly as far as I know. Most people pay $15/month for unlimited internet with a dumb phone and $30/month for internet with a smart phone like a Nokia E71x or iPhone. Well over the weekend I was on the phone with AT&T and the rep I had was very nice and offered me a great deal. It is $10 per month for unlimited internet the only stipulation is that you’re on a family plan. Now you’re going to ask “but Jeb don’t you use a smart phone?”, the answer is YES. But because I tell AT&T I have a dumb phone they give me the $10/month plan. According to the rep you get the same speeds and she believes (I can’t guarantee) 5GB of data is your max. So bear in mind Unlimited Data has a fair use policy (just like Unlimited Drinks).
This would be a great plan for people who want full access with email (emoze for example), web-surfing and maybe some Qik video broadcasting but don’t want to pay the outrageous $30/month smart phone fee.
NOTE: @brian_stabile told me on Twitter that you may also need texting plan to be eligible for this deal.
That is right Jeb. I was using my Nokia N95-3 on AT&T with the $10/mo unlimited internet and worked just great. I do also believe that a messaging/texting plan is needed.
Posted by JCB | July 1, 2009, 6:03 amDoes that $10/month plan has a name? If I call AT&T and attempt to get that plan, what should I ask for?
Posted by Mike | July 2, 2009, 9:02 amI believe it was called something along the lines of Family Data or something similar.
Posted by Jeb Brilliant | July 2, 2009, 10:42 amDo you know if everyone on the family plan has to have it, or could it just be applied to one line?
Posted by Mike | July 2, 2009, 6:05 pmIt’s only 1 line for us that has data but both lines have the $5 sms package.
Posted by Jeb Brilliant | July 2, 2009, 6:49 pmOk. Thanks for the info. I enjoy reading your posts. Hopefully this one will end up saving me some money.
Posted by Mike | July 2, 2009, 7:06 pmIs this technique still working?
Posted by Chris | October 8, 2009, 2:08 amChris,
It’s been working for me. I even went in and changed a few things on my account and it’s still working. If you don’t get the answer you want from one operator call back again and try again. I’d say about 50% know what this is and can/will help you.
Thanks for reading my blog,
Jeb
Posted by Jeb Brilliant | October 8, 2009, 9:46 amJust wondering, does this still work?
I have the $15.00 / month data plan on my Samsung Sync, and I was thinking of buying a Nokia E71.
However the AT&T rep. told me that if I put my SIM card in a smart phone, I have to have the smart phone data plan. (Now he says “You have to upgrade the data plan.” … He didn’t specifically say it would do it automatically if I just changed the SIM w/o telling them… but he kind of implied it.)
My question is, if I change to a smartphone w/o telling them, will they figure it out and upgrade the data plan and thus increase my bill? Or stay blissfully ignorant like a wireless carrier should about what phone I use?
Posted by Alex | November 3, 2009, 12:52 amHi Alex,
Thanks so much for reading my blog. To answer your question I have a question for you. Are you buying an E71x from ATT or just picking up an unbranded E71? Like from CraigsList or Nokia? You don’t need to tell ATT anything if you’re not buying the phone from them. I have had my sim in dozens of different phones over the years and have never told them anything. I’ve never heard of ATT contacting anybody either, except if they are using an iPhone. So if you get an unbranded E71 and put your sim in you should be fine. Just don’t slip up and tell ATT if you ever call in. Plus if they ask just tell them your sim is still in your old phone, even if they say it’s in an E71. They can see what phone your sim is in but just tell them they are wrong. I’ve done that a few times. Or if you really want to be honest put your sim back in your Samsung when you call ATT.
If you ever have a problem with your phone don’t call ATT, just ping me on here and I’ll do what I can. If you have any more questions don’t hesitate to ask, I’m happy to help.
Good choice with the E71, that’s what I’m currently using.
Cheers,
Jeb
Posted by Jeb Brilliant | November 3, 2009, 1:31 pmI was going to buy the E71 off ebay (the un-branded one) on account of that it’s not like it costs all that much more, and I figure I’ve got a better chance of it working if I do that.
My question is, can I still use the Nokia E71 as a modem (assuming the data plan works) to use the phone’s internet on my laptop by dialing in? (This procedure is described in a variation here: http://www.ehow.com/how_4891806_cellphone-laptop-internet-data-calls.html )
Posted by Alex | November 3, 2009, 3:18 pmThat’s exactly what I do. I have never had an issue with it either. Keep in mind, from my understanding and I don’t know this for a fact, dumb phone plans for $15/month have a 1gig limit and smart phone plans for $30/month have a 5gig limit. I believe I have gone over my 1 gig many many times but have never heard from ATT.
I do a pretty good amount of web browsing also, using emoze for my push email, Gravity for Twitter, Qik for live video broadcasting, maps, Nimbuzz for IM and a great deal more. And I only go over the 1gig when I tether my phone to my laptop.
For tethering I suggest JoikuSpot.
Posted by Jeb Brilliant | November 3, 2009, 3:27 pmThank you for your interesting post. But I had trouble navigating past your website as I kept getting 502 bad gateway error. Just thought to let you know.
Posted by Steve Call | November 15, 2009, 5:15 amHi Steve,
Were you able to read my full post? What were you clicking on that gave you the 502?
Thanks,
Jeb
Posted by Jeb Brilliant | November 19, 2009, 2:40 pm,..] abrilliantblog.com is one another great source on this issue,..]
Posted by Trackback - Free Internation Call >> How to make free international call | November 19, 2009, 2:55 pmi agree. I have an e71x and the 10 dollar data plan also. The big questions is however, do you get hammered for tethering or not and how do they know!? (added by Mobile using Mippin)
Posted by TacoChoice | November 20, 2009, 8:47 amHi TacoChoice,
I’ve never been hit with an overage charge but I don’t really tether all that much or all that often. I doubt they would charge you the first time and just keep track on each bill. I would also slip your sim into a dumb phone when calling ATT so if they check to see what phone you do have they won’t put you on a smart phone plan.
Let me know how it goes.
Thanks for reading my blog and taking your time to comment,
Jeb
Posted by Jeb Brilliant | November 20, 2009, 5:28 pmThanks Jeb for a very informative blog. So … what will happen if you use an iPhone with this plan? There’re just a couple features that I really like with the iPhone but don’t want pay $30 for it
Posted by Bez | January 28, 2010, 7:39 pmI had a dumbphone originally and got the unlimited data plan and then came into a possession of a blackjack II. They turned off the data once they recognized that my phone was using a full web browser. So there isnt really a way to get around this to my knowledge, but im hoping someone here can help me beat thier system. Email me if you can
Posted by Peter Zellmer | February 5, 2010, 9:53 amPeter,
I suggest you pop your sim back into your dumb phone and call ATT. Tell them their mistaken and put you back on the cheaper plan. Good luck.
Posted by Jeb Brilliant | February 9, 2010, 12:07 amI’ve been told that within 24 hours ATT will detect you are using this plan because they check all the iPhones every night. I doubt it’s that hard core but when they do find out they will up you to the regular $30/month plan.
Posted by Jeb Brilliant | February 9, 2010, 12:13 amHey Jeb,
I’m switching from verizon probably to att
i want to to get the e71(plan to set up fring on it), what phone should i tell att im using when im setting up my service?(to get the $10 deal obviously) u think this will work? thanks
Posted by Kings | February 11, 2010, 6:42 pmThanks Jeb, but the issue i had was they turned off any features the phone had, they didn’t up me to the $30 plan they just kept me on the $10 plan and disabled my GPRS remotely meaning they checked the phone and found out it had a “full web browser” and got constant streaming data and disabled any use of the data. I cant even download picture messages because of it.
I just suppose it’s another way a money hungry company can stick it to the the people who find loop holes in their systems.
Posted by Peter Zellmer | February 19, 2010, 12:50 amMy at&t lg shine recently broke, and I was wondering if I buy at&t gophone, will at&t know if it’s a “smartphone” and charge me more? I’m paying for the unlimited internet in my shine, but will it hit a red flag if I put my sim in a smartphone?
Posted by Michelle | March 7, 2010, 6:30 pmThanks Jeb for the helpful tips, but AT&T found out right away that I had the HTC TILT 2 and wanted to charge me 30 bucks for it. Which was the reason that I sold my iPhone, is there anyway around this?? hope you can find something out
Posted by Jose Lopez | March 8, 2010, 3:38 pmI am looking to get a new ATT contract. I changed my chip froma dumb phone to a blackberry and ATT automatically charge me extra $30 and i only did this for 1 day. They can tell what type of phone you are using. Now I am looking to get a new 2 year plan but I want to havea iphone or click or mythic but I am not planning of using the internet too often. any recomendations. I am using a family 550 plan with 2 line.
Posted by Rotsen | June 6, 2010, 2:58 pmHow do you tether? How I use my cell to connect my laptop to the internet? Can some one giv eme info on this secret?Thanks
Posted by Rotsen | June 6, 2010, 4:35 pmhello, i was wondering…i currently have the $30/month data and messaging unlimited plan with at&t and using the samsung impression. i would like to switch and use the Nokia E71 with this same unlimited data and messaging for $30/month. can I do this?
Posted by Pauly2013 | September 22, 2010, 5:10 pmHey I was wondering if the 10.oo plan works for the iPhone to? Because i had unlimited internet on a samsung and i put my chip in the iPhone and it refuses to go online.
Posted by Jacky | September 23, 2010, 2:25 pmwhat if you’re going to open a new account and want an Iphone. can i still pay 100 bucks and still pay 10 dollars for internet or do you think they’ll make me pay 30 bucks?
Posted by Haily | November 21, 2010, 1:11 pmATT can tell what phone you’re using at any given time. If you’ve ever checked your account after you place your SIM into a different phone, it almost automatically updates what phone you’re using and puts a picture of the phone beside your name in account management. They know. Trust me.
hope this helped.
Posted by Waylon | September 7, 2011, 10:19 pm