AT&T says SIM-only service available contract free, 2-year plan was a mistake

Apparently, the news we got (and saw on the company's website) yesterday concerning AT&T's offer of a SIM-only service plan was off the mark... or so says AT&T. According to the telco's reps, a SIM card can be had sans-contract, saying that its attitude towards the service hasn't changed and that pre-paid, post-paid, or any other millions of varieties of arrangements can be made to tap into its sweet service. So move along folks, nothing here to see.

[eVader @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:51PM]

The AT&T link is http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?device=AT%26T+3G+64K+SIM+card&q_sku=sku981990

A SIM only program is not new however what is new is being able to do it online vs. a retail store or calling them. After the $5 you still need to either sign up for a 2yr commit monthly plan or a no commit GoPhone prepaid account.

In the old days the cost of the h\w was recouped within the contract however now even pricey devces they (all carriers) say they need to charge for a phone and get you on contract.. hah! If i have my Treo, BB or other device and just want service it should be like a gas station — fill me up with service and let me be.

[Kunikos @ Jan 28th 2008 6:10PM]

Yeah, it's gone. The SIM cards are no longer available online.

[sfitzjava @ Jan 25th 2008 6:24PM]

And just like that it's gone.
I've looked at all the links to the ATT site and there is no page there.
Yesterday I saw it, but they were "out of stock". So today I tried to
go back from my browser history and figured I had messed up.

Nope, none of the engadget page links, nor the once in the comments work today.
I guess someone felt a draft from being so open, so they closed that door. ;D

-sfitz

[Valgas @ Jan 26th 2008 11:22AM]

Get rollover minutes?

[Anthony @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:22PM]

Aww, that means it actually makes sense now and is not nearly as funny.

[Graham @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:36PM]

Couldn't you then in turn do this plan on an Iphone, since Iphone's can be purchased out right at any apple store. Then just change the SIM card on your SIM only service to the Iphone's internal SIM?

[RD @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:38PM]

That is the question. Anyone care to answer it?

[Alexander @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:44PM]

You can get the SIM card, and use it in your iphone but you will be like that lady who had a $3k phone bill.

[Ryan R @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:44PM]

no it wont work with an iphone

i am a long time att customer, with the old n. america plan (i live in seattle, im always in vancouver, and my parents live in mexico) and im not giving up that plan....

so when i got the iphone it wouldnt let me keep that plan and it wanted me to sign up for a new iphone plan... my att sim wouldnt just work so i had to unlock my iphone to work with my existing att sim.... stupid assholes they are

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:04PM]

well this sim plan probably gonna be 3G only so it won't work on the iphone I think

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Jan 22nd 2008 7:28PM]

what I mean is that IF the sim could work on the iphone ( and not be locked up on it's seperate plans) the SIM woudn't work because it's 3G. The iphone is not capable of 3G netowrks so it runs on at&t's criticsised EDGE netowork. In conclusion, this SIM would not work in the iphone at all. No 3G and locked onto it's own plans.

[varun @ Jan 23rd 2008 1:23AM]

Pics or it didn't happen.

AT&T is notorious for this type of BS. I've been trying to switch to them, bringing my own Nokia with me for at least the past five months and without fail they've insisted that even though they're not subsidizing the equipment, there is a minimum two year contract requirement. So I'm still stuck on T-Mo with its non-existent (and at the rate it's going NEVER WILL exist) 3G.

This is PR BS.

[JJV @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:32PM]

Lol?

[JJV @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:33PM]

Lol?

[derX @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:33PM]

OMG, do the SIM cards really talk though?

This is why GSM's SIM cards > CDMAs' ESN.

*canned*

------

Yeah, finally this makes sense, although with the test trial period and the prorated ETF, I don't see why anyone would need this. If you need service for a very short period of time, get a prepaid; if you need it for an extended period of time, "test drive" (I get it, TM'd by VZW, yada yada yada) the network to see if service is good, then sign a 1 or 2 year contract if you approve, hell, you get a free phone out of it that way.

Regardless, it's just one more choice and I cannot argue with that.

[RD @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:33PM]

Can this be used with an iPhone?

[Alexander @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:42PM]

Yes. But you will be using up data minuets and usage charges like crazy. Not a good idea.

[Ryan R @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:47PM]

no it wont work with an iphone!
see my comments above
dont answer questions when you dont know the answer

[Allen Farris @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:40PM]

Ryan, did you have your ATT plan from before it was merged with Cingular, if so that ATT is different from the current ATT and is the reason your old SIM card did not work.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:34PM]

So does this imply that one might acquire an Iphone sans crappy contract and use it with prepay cards?

[Alexander @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:41PM]

No. The phone is still locked to AT&T. You can't use it on any other GSM network.

[RD @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:44PM]

Alexander,

I think the question is: Can you buy an iPhone at an AT&T store, pop that SIM card out, get one of these SIM cards, and pop it in to enjoy contract free AT&T service? Or is that not how this works?

[Alexander @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:47PM]

Most likely, yes. A SIM is a SIM, and the iPhone is locked to AT&T, which this SIM card is.

But you will most likely rack up charges out the wazoo as the iPhone uses data like crazy.

[Ryan R @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:52PM]

Alexander.
you dont know what you are talking about and you are misleading people
the iphone is not just locked to att, it is locked to iphone specific att sim cards... you cant just take a sim out of any att phone and put it in an iphone, it wont work unless it is already on an iphone plan and associated with one specific iphone

[ChillyWilly @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:35PM]

So is the the start of the end of phone contracts? Maybe the wireless carriers can now focus their efforts on good service and customer relations, which would be a better way of keeping customers instead of holding them hostage for 2 yrs.

[Alexander @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:46PM]

You never needed to get into a contract with any of the phone companies. There has always been non-contract options from every major wireless carrier in the US.

If you want the cheap phones, you get the 2-year lock-in.

If you want to pay full price (500-600 bucks) for phones, then you don't get the lock-in.

And you can't use any 'promotional' plans either. These are basically the best deals, dollar vs. minutes, because they want you in that contact.

So in the end it's a better idea to stick with whatever has the best coverage in your area--and wherever you work. You get cheap minutes, and a cheap phone.

[ChillyWilly @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:54PM]

@Alexander wrote:
"You never needed to get into a contract with any of the phone companies. There has always been non-contract options from every major wireless carrier in the US."

True. Buying the phone outright, you should be able to go month to month with a plan. Or bring your own phone over.

[Brent @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:13PM]

Every major carrier required a contract until now, even if you provide your own phone. Sprint has one plan, $40/month 200 anytime and maybe nights and weekends that is non contract and a total rip-off. T-Mobile at one time would activate a sim with no contract, but no more, you can however still sign only a 1 year contract if you provide the phone, but cannot get on any promotional plans. Cingular required a 2 year contract just to get a rate plan. I stopped selling phones before they became ATT but I doubt it changed, what, with this announcement and all.

[cwj @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:35PM]

Um, Brent, I just got a free phone on T-Mobile on a 1 year contract this past Nov. by calling the 1-800 number. Are you saying they've done away with that since then?

[mlody11 @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:36PM]

Good... Now give me WM6 on my BlackJack or the SIM gets it!

[Alexander @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:40PM]

This has always been the case. The problem is that it is only for PRE-PAID phones, not for any credit-based plan.

Credit == you pay for your minutes AFTER you used them
pre-paid == you pay for your minutes BEFORE you use them.

This was brought over from Cingular, for what it is worth.

[gfunk @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:05PM]

All your posts on this topic have been misleading, misinformed, or just plain wrong.
This is not ONLY for prepaid phones, it is for non-locked phones.
And just so you know more than 10 countries have already been doing this before cingular, for what its worth.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:06PM]

That really f*ckin sucks.

BTW - alexander is dumb.

[tadghostal @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:54PM]

Hmmm, this is another great candidate to say, once again...

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/01/predictions-for-2008/comments/9612968/

[sunz @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:14PM]

where do you find this plan . i want to sign up (maybe)

[Brent @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:15PM]

Anyone know if it applies to all plans? Or is this just some worthless gimmick limited to either a plan way too small or way too big??

[Jason McKinney @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:21PM]

The article said it would work with either pre-paid or post-paid accounts. If it only worked with pre-paid there would be no need to make a point about there not having to be a 2 yr contract since all the go-phones are contract free. They had it up on their website yesterday for sale for $5, but they've taken it down today...for some odd reason....hmmmm

[djenryte @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:22PM]

Over the past weekend, I tried to swap the service from an old phone I had onto a Razr phone I brought in. The ATT rep forced me into a 2 Year contract, saying that there's no month to month option, EVEN if you bring in your own replacement phone. Was I hustled?

[davidsshamilton @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:02PM]

Sorry, the rep seems to be wrong based on the above and also my own experience. When I moved to the states in August I went to an AT&T store and got a sim card for free.. just signed up for a GoPhone plan. Month to month, no contract.

[Andy @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:54PM]

djenryte,

I was told the same thing by two different AT&T stores. They also told me that if I wanted a 1 year contract, that I'd have to call AT&T Customer Care. So I did, and when I asked them if they did 1 year contracts, at first, they said NO. So I asked the lady to check to make sure, and she came back and said that that actually, they DO offer 1 year contracts. A few days later, I had a new SIM and a one year contract.

[forums @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:21PM]

Just got a little clarification from at&t rep. Checked on line, spoke with a rep online in a chat window and also my local att store. Below is a cut and paste of part of my chat session:

"Travis: So over the phone, online, or in store it is not possible to get a sim-only plan without a contract but you can get a 1 year contract sim-only plan?
Denice: Correct! The only non contract plans are the go phone plans."

Maybe corporate has always sold sim-only plans without contract which is great, but if they don't desiminate the information to their sales force it doesn't mean very much because the consumer can't actually purchase it.

And to some people that don't see the need for a sim-only plan here is one. A contract is a mutually beneficial agreement by definition. It has always been that carriers subsidies phones as the benefit to consumer and consumer agrees to a 1 now a 2 year contract. Also note that the subsidy has been reduced over the years. Currently by definition no one is signing a contract. It is not mutually beneficial. If they wanted a 1 or 2 year contract for a sim-only plan they should give a credit (equal to subsidy) on your new account.

[BerryReview @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:52PM]

For some reason this just does not jive. If you look at AT&T's product page for the SIM only option you will see that you can only buy it with a 2 year contract. If anybody wants one free I have a few but AT&T will not let you activate post paid service without a contract:
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?device=AT%26T+3G+64K+SIM+card&q_sku=sku981990

[Andrew @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:11PM]

Ryan R and a bunch of people in his thread are idiots. There are no specific iphone SIM cards. a sim car is a sim card so you can put anyone you want into the iphone.


Now when it comes to using an iphone with out contract yea you can do that with a little trickery. Buy the iphone, take it home, jail break it, then go into an ATT corporate store and setup a new account with that sim card and give them the IMEI of a prepaid phone or some other GSM phone you might have. Once the sim is active pop it in your phone and you are good to go. No contract and you got an iphone. Now if you want data add a data package either through the online account manager or call up. The iphone uses Media Max with the visual voice add on so if you want the same package just add the media max.


/has an iphone with out a contract on ATT
//use your head people

[Ryan R @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:32PM]

no dude... you are wrong, and you are an idiot!
what you are saying here not only contradicts itself but reinforces what i have been saying all along

there are iphone specific sim cards... i will bet you your house on the matter

second: if there arent iphone specific plans, then why is it necessary to jailbreak and unlock the phone to make it work with the sim card? this is what i have done to solve the problem, but without jailbreaking and unlocking it doesnt work! that is because there are iphone specific att sim cards

you dont know what you are talking about, and i do, because i have been through it, and am using an unlocked iphone with my old att sim.. it was my only choice,... now leave you troll!

[AMaench @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:42PM]

Ryan you are once again an idiot. I WORK for ATT I know the billing system like the back of my hand. What I just explained was how to use an iphone with out a contract. THERE IS NO IPHONE SPECIFIC SIM CARD! the iphone comes with a standard GSM sim card, the only thing that makes it special is the way in which you activate it which then sends a small file to the iphone through the internet that tells it that its activated so it will go past the activation screen.Once an iphone is jailbroken it puts on the fake activation file so you can then throw in whatever the hell ATT sim card you want. I have had 5 different ones, from different accounts in mine all with out ever having to worry about activation.

There are iphone specific plans but all they are are regular plans with media max, but they call it iphone data. How do I know this? Because I know and program the billing system.

Seriously get a clue because you are speaking like the dumb people I train.

[IndiaTech @ Jan 22nd 2008 7:23PM]

Why DON'T people check their facts before they comment!
@ Ryan
NO. iPhone SIM is not something special. IT doesn't have any magical ability. It is a simple 3G 64k card. And unlike cell phones there are certain standards and specs for SIM cards so that it works Globally.
If you don't trust me, then here, from horse's, I mean Apple's own mouth:

About SIM cards
If you already have a SIM card note that not all SIM cards work with iPhone. For best results, use the SIM card included with your new iPhone.

Emphasis on "not all" and "best results". And yeah, iPhone SIMs work on other phones. The reason your OLD SIM didn't work is probably it wasn't 3G 64k SIM.

@AMaench
You are not doing a good job training those dumb people. Otherwise Mr. Ryan here would have been little bit more enlightened when he called them up.

[AMaench @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:14PM]

I don't know about anybody else but I refuse to have a contract anymore with a cell phone provider. I will pay full retail or get on ebay way before I get a contract.

[jeremy @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:15PM]

thank you at&t. i'll forgive the 5GB limit, the 'rumor' that pay per use text message charges are going up to 20 cent, the bloatware you put on all handsets sold by you and the utter lack of open java access on those same handsets. Ol' Stan must have came by and paid you guys a visit and laid the smack down...

[Brent @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:16PM]

From ATT's website... "IMPORTANT: SIM Only order is not available with all phones."

ORLY? And which phones are available with SIM only?

[forums @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:27PM]

I thought that pretty funny as well. But what it is trying to say is that not every phone i.e. CDMA phones will not work with this sim card. If you click on the link it gives more detail. But they could definatly word it a lot better.