cblaisd
Jan 25, 08, 12:57 pm
So as to not wear thin the patience of the friend whom I've been barraging with questions, I'll bring this here as well.
The context: I have an old (pre-ATT --> Cingular ---> ATT) ATTWS cell phone family plan with three users on it. The sim for each of those phones is the old blue kind.
Another friend very generously gave me an AirCard so that I could access data on my laptop. I already had an unlimited data plan add-on to my phone's line so I can use my Treo for gprs access. Rather than getting a new line (since data plans -- @$55/month -- are by the line, not the plan) I decided that when I want to use the AirCard I will simply swap the sim into it and get a pre-paid sim for the Treo so I can make, if need be, calls while online with the AirCard.
So far so good.
What I have discovered is that I can't access ATT's 3G network, only the EDGE network.
I went to the ATTWS store (note, a company-owned one, not a franchise/kiosk) and asked them to replace my old SIM with a new 3G one.
No can do.
The rep told me that the computer won't even let him input a new 3G SIM's information into my account and that instead I will have to:
a) "Upgrade" to a new ATTWS plan (with a 2-year contract). I have been contract-free for a couple of years, but still on the old ATTWS plan.
b) ALL three phones on our family plan will have to have new SIMs because of the "upgrade" and that all will have to be present at the store when the upgrade is done (this will prove difficult since one of those phones resides half-an-ocean away).
c) There is no alternative. That is, if I want to use the 3G network and get 3G speeds there is absolutely no alternative to a new 2-year contract and new SIMs for everybody.
Now, of course the rep (who really did try to be helpful) says that with the "upgrade" and new 2-year contract I'll get three new phones. However, we don't need new phones; we like ours just fine.
Now for the tedious questions:
a) Was the rep misinformed about the inability to simply replace one old ATTWS sim with a new 3G sim? (Some research indicates that while most folks on various bulletin boards say that such a change cannot be done, others say that it can be done if the rep sets your information in the computer to show that you in fact had a Cingular contract -- but backdates it in the computer to show that your 2 year contract "expired" last week)
b) If the rep is right, is there any reason not to get the phones offered with the upgrade and new 2-year plan (and just the new sims only)? I assume that I could get easily unlockable ones like Nokias and then simply sell them).
c) Is it really true that all three current phones must be present for an upgrade? (By the way, all three are unlocked -- either ATT branded or unlocked GSM)
d) There are zillions of new 3G unactivated ATT sims on eBay for <$5. Is it worth getting one, calling Customer Service with the SIM info to be put into my current phone's line information? (Or could their attempt to do so possibly completely hose my line or even all three lines)
e) Is there any way to get new 3G sims for all three lines/phones without a new contract?
I suppose I am officially no longer a Luddite (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=435636) ;)
Thanks for any wisdom.
The context: I have an old (pre-ATT --> Cingular ---> ATT) ATTWS cell phone family plan with three users on it. The sim for each of those phones is the old blue kind.
Another friend very generously gave me an AirCard so that I could access data on my laptop. I already had an unlimited data plan add-on to my phone's line so I can use my Treo for gprs access. Rather than getting a new line (since data plans -- @$55/month -- are by the line, not the plan) I decided that when I want to use the AirCard I will simply swap the sim into it and get a pre-paid sim for the Treo so I can make, if need be, calls while online with the AirCard.
So far so good.
What I have discovered is that I can't access ATT's 3G network, only the EDGE network.
I went to the ATTWS store (note, a company-owned one, not a franchise/kiosk) and asked them to replace my old SIM with a new 3G one.
No can do.
The rep told me that the computer won't even let him input a new 3G SIM's information into my account and that instead I will have to:
a) "Upgrade" to a new ATTWS plan (with a 2-year contract). I have been contract-free for a couple of years, but still on the old ATTWS plan.
b) ALL three phones on our family plan will have to have new SIMs because of the "upgrade" and that all will have to be present at the store when the upgrade is done (this will prove difficult since one of those phones resides half-an-ocean away).
c) There is no alternative. That is, if I want to use the 3G network and get 3G speeds there is absolutely no alternative to a new 2-year contract and new SIMs for everybody.
Now, of course the rep (who really did try to be helpful) says that with the "upgrade" and new 2-year contract I'll get three new phones. However, we don't need new phones; we like ours just fine.
Now for the tedious questions:
a) Was the rep misinformed about the inability to simply replace one old ATTWS sim with a new 3G sim? (Some research indicates that while most folks on various bulletin boards say that such a change cannot be done, others say that it can be done if the rep sets your information in the computer to show that you in fact had a Cingular contract -- but backdates it in the computer to show that your 2 year contract "expired" last week)
b) If the rep is right, is there any reason not to get the phones offered with the upgrade and new 2-year plan (and just the new sims only)? I assume that I could get easily unlockable ones like Nokias and then simply sell them).
c) Is it really true that all three current phones must be present for an upgrade? (By the way, all three are unlocked -- either ATT branded or unlocked GSM)
d) There are zillions of new 3G unactivated ATT sims on eBay for <$5. Is it worth getting one, calling Customer Service with the SIM info to be put into my current phone's line information? (Or could their attempt to do so possibly completely hose my line or even all three lines)
e) Is there any way to get new 3G sims for all three lines/phones without a new contract?
I suppose I am officially no longer a Luddite (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=435636) ;)
Thanks for any wisdom.