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Confirmed: iPhone 3G Works With Pay-As-You-Go SIM

Submitted by Edward Kirk on September 15, 2008 - 7:26pm.
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Probably one of the biggest downsides to the iPhone 3G in the U.S. is the limited choice of carrier plans with AT&T. Erica Sadun recently confirmed that unlike it's predecessor, the iPhone 3G works just fine with an AT&T Pay-As-You-Go SIM card right out of the box, with no hacking involved.

As for data, you can add data to your Pay-as-you-go device by purchasing one of AT&T's refurb packages, such as this one for Nokia phones that offers $100 refill card for $80 shipped. Make sure to add the next one before your 30 days expire and you get charged a crazy-high per-kilobyte rate. Instructions:

"Call 611. Say "Buy Features". Which store? Say "Media Net". Listen to the three choices. Say "Unlimited" and then "Buy It". Quit with "I'm done here." You can "Check my feature packages" by calling 611."

[via TUAW]

Could this be a look to the future?

Submitted by maaangler (not verified) on September 15, 2008 - 8:27pm.
Im currently using the 2G iPhone with a prepaid sim and works great. This could be a feature that ATT is planning to reveal with iPhones in the near future. Prepaid 3G iPhones with a price.

Submitted by Edward Kirk on September 15, 2008 - 8:57pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by maaangler View Post
Im currently using the 2G iPhone with a prepaid sim and works great. This could be a feature that ATT is planning to reveal with iPhones in the near future. Prepaid 3G iPhones with a price.
I think that's entirely possible, and I considered that myself. Only time will tell I suppose.

Submitted by Peter000 on September 15, 2008 - 10:28pm.
I could really use something like this. Last month I used 20 minutes of my voice plan because I just don't get reception in my house. But when I'm out and about I'm using the data plan all the time. If I could buy a data plan and have pay-as-you-go minutes, I'd be a happy man.

Any SIM

Submitted by Ohiomulchboy4 on September 15, 2008 - 11:27pm.
The 3g iPhone will work with any at&t SIM card, as a matter of fact the iPhone 3g will work with an Original iPhone SIM card. So say you currently have at&t and dont wanna extend your contract you can score one like on ebay and throw your at&t SIM in it and thats it (of course you will have to add data to use the data features and visual voicemail) And if you have an original iPhone you can buy a 3g iPhone say like on ebay and throw your SIM in it and it work and still only pay the LOWER data package price with 200 sms included and access 3g speeds, I know this bc that is what i have been doing. Rather than pay the extra $10 per month for data and then the min. text package at $5 so another $15 your at $35 (vs. $20 for Original) and I am still at only $20 for Unl. data and 200 sms on my 3g iPhone

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on September 16, 2008 - 3:10pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter000 View Post
I could really use something like this. Last month I used 20 minutes of my voice plan because I just don't get reception in my house. But when I'm out and about I'm using the data plan all the time. If I could buy a data plan and have pay-as-you-go minutes, I'd be a happy man.
AT&T wouldn't do anything that dumb. cite the outrageous cost of text messages as an example illustrating their intentions to look out for your best economic interest.

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on September 16, 2008 - 3:15pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohiomulchboy4 View Post
The 3g iPhone will work with any at&t SIM card, as a matter of fact the iPhone 3g will work with an Original iPhone SIM card. So say you currently have at&t and dont wanna extend your contract you can score one like on ebay and throw your at&t SIM in it and thats it (of course you will have to add data to use the data features and visual voicemail) And if you have an original iPhone you can buy a 3g iPhone say like on ebay and throw your SIM in it and it work and still only pay the LOWER data package price with 200 sms included and access 3g speeds, I know this bc that is what i have been doing. Rather than pay the extra $10 per month for data and then the min. text package at $5 so another $15 your at $35 (vs. $20 for Original) and I am still at only $20 for Unl. data and 200 sms on my 3g iPhone
but you probably paid a buttload for the ebay phone. this is a tradeoff. over time you'll save money, admittedly, provided that rates are what they are and nothing changes. hope you got good money for your original phone.

-but it's actually getting the 3g network? it actually says '3g' on your phone when you're online? it's not just accessing Edge? -that's a serious question i'm actually intrigued.

Yeaaaaaa lol

Submitted by Ohiomulchboy4 on September 16, 2008 - 4:45pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
but you probably paid a buttload for the ebay phone. this is a tradeoff. over time you'll save money, admittedly, provided that rates are what they are and nothing changes. hope you got good money for your original phone.

-but it's actually getting the 3g network? it actually says '3g' on your phone when you're online? it's not just accessing Edge? -that's a serious question i'm actually intrigued.
Haha to your question, Yes I am on the 3g network there is no difference in your iPhone accessing it vs say a Blackjack. The radio in the phone is configured to work on the freq. that at&t uses for there network. The newer iPhone 3g data package there is no special unlock or code to allow you acces to the 3g speed. It is only more than the original due to the low cost of the new iPhone 3g upfront So it will access 3g when available or Edge when it is not. And Ive done speed test to verify also so that someone may not say that maybe it just shows the 3G icon.
Also on the price of my new 3g it was only ...... you guessed it $199.99 I bought it from at&t upgrading my old iPhone. I just changed my plan once i got home (certain way of doing so)
Also I think i did well selling the original 4gb i had. Bought it for $300 brand new (discontinued model lol) and sold it for $335 after 9 months of use.
And for anyone interested all of my features work as they are suppose to, SMS Visual Voicemail Internet Phone etc.
So there you have it .... iPhone 3g accessing 3g speeds paying the original data price of $20 with 200 SMS included. I love sticking it to the man.

Submitted by fazeizme on January 4, 2009 - 4:43pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Edward Kirk View Post


Probably one of the biggest downsides to the iPhone 3G in the U.S. is the limited choice of carrier plans with AT&T. Erica Sadun recently confirmed that unlike it's predecessor, the iPhone 3G works just fine with an AT&T Pay-As-You-Go SIM card right out of the box, with no hacking involved.

As for data, you can add data to your Pay-as-you-go device by purchasing one of AT&T's refurb packages, such as this one for Nokia phones that offers $100 refill card for $80 shipped. Make sure to add the next one before your 30 days expire and you get charged a crazy-high per-kilobyte rate. Instructions:

"Call 611. Say "Buy Features". Which store? Say "Media Net". Listen to the three choices. Say "Unlimited" and then "Buy It". Quit with "I'm done here." You can "Check my feature packages" by calling 611."


[via TUAW]



I have a 3g phone and i want to make it pay as you go with pick your plan
so can i just get the 1mb data for 4.99 since i hardly use 3g i have wifi mostly everywhere i go?

Submitted by ZenTigerpaw on January 5, 2009 - 1:32am.
Makes me want to get an iPhone. I'll deal with Pay-As-You-Go over monthly any day.