Sun, 14 August 2011
Hello Rob,
I'm a recently retired Mac Sys Admin from Penn State, and now that I'm on a fixed income, I really can't justify spending almost $1,000.00 per year for a phone contract. So, I dropped my monthly AT&T plan, and converted to a Motorola RAZR with an AT&T goPhone plan ($2.00 per day, unlimited use, unlimited text). That serves me well since I rarely use the phone for voice or text and I'm almost always within reach of WiFi. But, when I go out and about, I very much hate carrying two phones around. I really want a way to use my iPhone as an AT&T goPhone.
So, I researched unlocking the iPhone, cutting down sim cards, etc. etc. But I never found a solution to using the iPhone as a goPhone that I was 100% comfortable with. But then, once Apple starting selling unlocked iPhones, I thought I should go to an AT&T store and request them to unlock my iPhone. I figured I'd grovel and beg and explain to them that I'd never ever pay a monthly contract, and wouldn't they like me to be a happier customer not weighed down by two phones? I knew there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell that AT&T would agree, but I figured I'd give it a go anyways.
In early June, I was visiting my sister in West Lafayette Indiana, and she happened to need something from her local AT&T store, so I tagged along, figuring this was a perfect chance to see if they would unlock my iPhone. I waited to speak with a service agent and I asked, "I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this question, but might you unlock my iPhone?" I explained my recent retirement, and how I couldn't justify spending close to a grand a year on an iPhone plan, and how I really, really, really wanted to use my iPhone as an AT&T goPhone. When I heard the guy let out a belly laugh, I knew I was pipe dreaming. He says, "No-o-o-o-o, I can't unlock your iPhone (more chuckling and laughing), but what I can do for you is to set up your iPhone up as an AT&T goPhone." I was in shock -- so much so, I gave serious consideration to firing up one of my iPhone survival apps! He asked the other clerk if that was now allowed, got confirmation that it was, and within minutes, my iPhone was configured as a goPhone! Smiling faces all around, especially mine! I've never been so happy to visit an AT&T store in my life.
I don't think I've heard or seen reports of this new AT&T policy. So, I thought you and your listeners would like to hear about it. If I missed the news, either in print, or on a show, my only out is that since I am recently retired, I must have been napping when word hit the street! Zzzz. Zzzz. Zzzz.
Again, thanks for providing such a superb podcast.
Cheers,
~~Kenster
Ken,Which iPhone did you have that they unlocked?How long had you had it? Did you get all the way through your initial 2 year contract with AT&T?RW
Hi Rob,
It's an iPhone 4. I got the phone in July of 2010. When I retired at the end of Feb 2011, I opted out of the contract and paid the early termination fee. I was 8 months into a 24 month commitment having purchased the iPhone 4 in July. I think the early termination fee was $255.00. I figured it was better to pay that rather than having to pay for an additional 16 months of service at $70.00 per month.
I've been an AT&T customer since about a year and a half prior to the release of the iPhone. But I was only 8 months into my most recent 2 year commitment, (having purchased the iPhone last July).
I should be clear, AT&T didn't unlock the phone, it's still tied to working only with AT&T as the carrier. But what they did do is set up the phone so it could be used as a goPhone -- which is AT&T's version of a prepaid wireless plan.
I opted for the $2.00 per day goPhone plan. That gives me unlimited voice and SMS for any day I choose to use the phone. But no data at all. If I'm out of range of WiFi, I can't do anything that requires data (like use the Map app, etc). It's probably not a great plan for everyone, but I like it. Especially when I think about having an extra $740.00 in my pocket at the end of a year. I'd rather use the money for a new iPad than gifting it to AT&T for cell service that I don't use all that often.
PS - I actually don't miss the Map app when I'm out and about. Instead I fire up G-Map which I purchased a while ago as a voice navigation app. It also has POIs so it's a descent replacement for google maps when I can't get WiFi. For hiking, I use Topo Maps, by Phillip Endicott. It's a great app that let's you pre-download USGS topographical maps. It's better than relying upon online maps especially in some of the wooded areas of Pennsylvania, where cell service can be somewhere between spotty and non-existent.
Cheerio,
~~Kenster
Category: vip_iPhone
-- posted at: 6:30pm EDT
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