I'd go into a store if I were you. Since you have your own equipment you won't require a contract.

Also, be really careful with this smartphone business. Even if at&t doesn't sell the device, sometimes their system can still recognize your phone as a smart phone and automatically add the $30 data plan.

You are welcome - glad to give a straight answer to the question that was asked (I know I am bucking the general trend of these boards with that).

Until something replaces the i-Phone as "The" device or until other carriers get the device, AT&T will be able to continue to shove crap down their customers' throats. Why? Because idiots have to have their gadgets.

The Iphone has nothing to do with being charged a smartphone rate for a smartphone.

I was not aware any of the company would allow you to have a smartphone on a feature phone rate plan.

I wish my phone bill was cheaper. I wish gas was cheaper. I wish food was cheaper. But I dont wish I made less money. And nither does anyone else. In order for things to be cheaper people would have to make less money, and I dont know of anyone telling their employer to pay them less money.

You must work for AT&T because T-Mo won't require it on an unlocked device. Simply put, that's an option. Additionally, that's why we have choice in carriers. If you don't like what company A is doing, switch to company B. Same can be said for gas. While we can't be completely in control, we don't have to use the station charging $2.79 when the one across the street is charing $2.69.

The cell phone industry is mature. The price war is beginning to take hold. You just wait.

First I don't work for AT&T. Just thinking out loud.
So what your saying is one out of the 4 majors don't require a smart phone plan on smart phones. How much money did the lose last quarter? And I believe I read somewhere that they are have trouble making money and they are trying to sell the company! Not good to follow the business practices of a company going under. I could be wrong, just my opinion.

Unless Verizon is doing it, I don't expect AT&T to follow the lead of any other carrier. Verizon is NOT going to allow data to be used on a smartphone without collecting at least $29.99 so small wonder that AT&T is trying to tighten up that unsubsidized handset loophole. From the carrier standpoint, this is a problem the CDMA carriers would never have. From a consumer standpoint it is a great way to get over.

T-Mobile isn't going bankrupt. Their parent company wants to see some profit so they are exploring spinning them off or merging T-Mobile with another carrier. Nothing wrong wit that. It's just business.

Its still amazing that the two carriers that offer low prices, or choices in data are not making profits and losing customers. I myself do not see why VZW or ATT will follow a plan that is not working for another company. People are staying with the two major companies. It has been proven that customers that use data are less likely to churn because they need the device in their minds.