Really need help with this,AT&T support has been useless

[wolfestone]

Sorry this is kind of long, I wanted to include all the relevant information.

We got two AT&T samsung sync phones recently, and as part of the rebate, we had to sign up for a month of media max 200. As I understand it, this means unlimited video, unlimited mobile internet, and 200 free text messages.

I didn't like the sync much and so I exchanged it for a nokia N75. Same plan, just a different handset. As I was about to leave, I asked whether the html browser on this phone (nokia's symbian browser) and the wap browser (media net) would work fine with the media max plan on our service. The store clerk said no, I'd need to upgrade to a smartphone data plan which would cost extra. I declined, thinking I'd just not use the mobile internet.

Later, I looked at my account online, and under add/manage options for this phone, it lists available plans, one of which is the smartphone data connect. It says that these plans are for windows smartphones, and lists them. My phone isn't in the list, and isn't a windows smartphone.

I called AT&T support and asked them, and after a long time on the phone, I got a somewhat unsure answer that yes, my phone's browser will work fine on media net, and no I can't be charged anything extra for bandwidth.

Still unconvinced, today I tried the online forums chat. I think the answer I got there was somewhat nonsensical. I was told that I won't be charged for bandwidth because I have the media max plan which includes it, but that some websites won't work or web browsing may suddenly stop working because I don't have a smartphone data plan. I was also told that cingular video might stop working sometimes again because I didn't have a smartphone plan.

My main concern is that I don't get charged extra for data/bandwidth because it will quickly add up and be a nasty surprise when the bill comes (1 cent per kb, and it won't show my data usage online for another month - the next billing cycle).

If anybody can clarify any of this for me, or suggest who I should contact who can give me a definite answer and be accountable, I'd really appreciate it.

[imported_ghengis]

hello wolfestone,
sorry to see that you are already having issues. I foudn the following for you so far, again i will show you the links that i got from and i am not responsible for your usage. Lets move forward:


Q. How is MEdia Net usage billed? Found at www.att.com
A. MEdia Net usage is billed in kilobytes.

Q. UNLIMITED MEdia™ Net
A. You already have w/ your Media max 200 plan. With MEdia™ Net, you can browse the mobile web, check your Email, get your sports scores, movie times, weather and news right on your mobile phone. Plus, you can access the latest ringtones, games, graphics and AT&T Mobile Music.

MEdia Net Usage Samples
Example Usage so you know how they charge the customers.
Check Email = 4 KB
Check a Sports Score = 6 KB
Check Weather Forecast = 8 KB
Read a News Headline = 10 KB
Download a Ringtone = 16 KB
Download a Game = 120-150 KB
Download a Music Tone = 120 KB

Note: media bundles are not available for PDA's , RIM devices and PC card modems. With Media Net ONLY selected sites are accessible through a mobile connection. And as far as the vCingular video, you can use your 3G phones to watch it . keep in your mind if you download/watch any premium video then you have to pay.

So just to make it simple :
- Since you have a 3G and a NON PDA, BB phones you are just fine with Media net Max200 plan.
- You wount get charge for any data since you already have unlimited data with your plan
- You can browse only selected websites since a)its not a smart phone b) with media net number of sites that you can browse is selected.
- You can watch only the free video from att and it will not stop since you have a 3G phone.

You can find all the afove at the following links

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/me...inment/faq.jsp
and
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-pho...tId=cat1470003

Hope it helped .

[wolfestone]

Thanks ever so much, I'd found the info about nedia net and billing, but not the rest of the information.

I believe my phone also has GPRS, EDGE, and UMTS, and it gives me an icon when each of these are available.

To be honest, I don't really know what that means, but am I correct in thinking that none of those connection types require a data connect plan other than media max/media net?

I have a couple of other questions I've been unable to get answers to as well, hope you don't mind my asking:

- if I use the nokia messaging client to access POP email, will that also work just fine over media net/media max without extra charges?

- This phone has an FM radio function, and also has mobiradio. I'm pretty sure mobiradio is a streaming music service which you need a data package for. Would you happen to know whether the FM radio on this phone (nokia n75) is just a regular radio, as in is it independant of the phone service? I'd like to know if I can use the radio without charge even if I cancel my media max subscription.

Thanks again for the help, it's much appreciated.

FM Radio
Some phones (in this case your N75) include an integrated FM radio for listening to live-broadcast FM radio stations. With this feature require that a headset be connected to use this feature, so that the headset wire can be used as an antenna. And you dont have to use mediastream to listen to radio.

Q. UNLIMITED MEdia™ Net
A. You already have w/ your Media max 200 plan. With MEdia™ Net, you can browse the mobile web, check your Email, get your sports scores, movie times, weather and news right on your mobile phone. Plus, you can access the latest ringtones, games, graphics and AT&T Mobile Music.

Seems like you can. If you want to be in safe side then just set up the pop3 email account and use for couple of days and wait till they genereate the bill so that you can verify. Its a great phone that you have by the way.

[wolfestone]

Thanks! That would explain perfectly why it needs the headset.

Unfortunately I can't check my data usage on the bill until next month, AT&T's site says it won't show until the end of the next billing cycle. I know the phone has IM style e-mail through media net (like hotmail, yahoo mail) but I wasn't sure if this counts for POP3 as well.

I really do like this phone, it seems to have so much more functionality than the samsung sync I replaced with it. The only reason I went for the sync in the first place was the supposedly awful battery life on the nokia. I've since learned that setting some packet data setting to 'when needed' instead of 'when available' increases the battery life, and the display is still reporting full charge after two days, 10 minutes of talk time and probably 30 minutes of playing games and other stuff.

I really appreciate the help, thanks very much.

good to see that we got some help here. hang around and keep communicating with others.

[wolfestone]

Just out of interest, what is the deal with this forum? Someone pointed me here when I asked this same question on yahoo answers. Most of the posts look very recent so I'm guessing it's a fairly new board.

Is it affiliated with any phone store, or is it purely an independent messageboard for phone related stuff?

[imported_ghengis]

yes, its a new board, we are not affiliated by any wireless service provider. Its a non biased discussion forum for all the cell phones users like you and me.

[wolfestone]

That's awesome. Some good info here and you guys obviously put a lot of effort into listing and posting special offers etc. I've got it bookmarked now, I hope it catches on

[imported_ghengis]

Its a pleasure to help you. Hope that you will find this thread useful and feel free to post anythign. thanks