HELP: i wanna buy an Unlocked Android Phone to use with AT&T

[CrazySte]

HI EVERYBODY,
in my family they are all crazy for iPhones, but i really can't stand all the limitations of that device, anything you wanna do, you have to pay for it when on the web you can find softwares very similar that can do the same thing for free.

So i wanted to buy an Android Phone, but as everyone knows, AT&T has found the way of limiting the Android to suits their greediness, meaning that they locked the possibility of tethering your internet connection, unless you pay, they blocked the possibility of purchasing programs outside the Android Market... etc etc etc

Moral of the story, after almost 5 years with a Blackberry Curve 8310 and after several months of savings, i am getting ready to purchase an Unlocked Google Android Phone that supports AT&T 3G Network so i can still fit inside my family plan.

At the moment i do not have a 3G phone, but i have an unlimited data plan, the rest of the family has 3 iPhones 4 all with unlimited iPhone plan.

Will i be able to access the 3G Network or what will i have to do with my Phone to be able to work with AT&T... knowing that AT&T doesn't like Android phones, i think i will have to avoid talking to their customer service about the device i am purchasing...

what would you suggest?
Thank's for any info
BEST REGARDS

 

[lunatic59]

...but as everyone knows, AT&T has found the way of limiting the Android to suits their greediness, meaning that they locked the possibility of tethering your internet connection, unless you pay, they blocked the possibility of purchasing programs outside the Android Market... etc etc etc.

to quote Independence Day ... That's not entirely accurate.

You can tether using an app like PDAnet, provided your phone supports an Android version that it works with. And you can sideload apps if you'd like. The easiest way is to download them via WiFi with the sim card removed.

At the moment i do not have a 3G phone, but i have an unlimited data plan, the rest of the family has 3 iPhones 4 all with unlimited iPhone plan.

Will i be able to access the 3G Network or what will i have to do with my Phone to be able to work with AT&T...

I don't know if the unlimited Blackberry plan can be grandfathered in to an Android phone. I know a WinMo plan could. At one time AT&T differentiated between iPhone, BB and Smartphone data plans. If they do, then you'll be okay. If not, they will switch you to an eligible plan.

knowing that AT&T doesn't like Android phones, i think i will have to avoid talking to their customer service about the device i am purchasing...

what would you suggest?
Thank's for any info
BEST REGARDS

Not exactly sure why you think AT&T doesn't like Android. Their announcements at CES say quite the opposite.

As for which phone ... if you want a truly unlocked Android phone with support for AT&T's 1900MHz 3G data band, you should look for a Nexus One on eBay or CL. However, there's nothing wrong with the Captivate, and the new phones announced today look spectacular. You might want to just wait a month or so until they are in the stores.

 

[CrazySte]

to quote Independence Day ... That's not entirely accurate.

You can tether using an app like PDAnet, provided your phone supports an Android version that it works with. And you can sideload apps if you'd like. The easiest way is to download them via WiFi with the sim card removed.

The point is that you have to pay to Tether with that app, and i don't see why i should install an app to tether when Android has a built in function to Tether the Internet connection.

The second thig is that if to save $200 i have to stay there and remove the SIM card every time i want to load an app, i prefere to avoid the Hassle and pay a little more, PLUS why in the world AT&T doesn't want me to install apps from the Web?
Everybody elses allows it, it's only AT&T that has this limitation, and i hate limitations... that's why i even refused when someone offered to gift me an iPhone.

Not exactly sure why you think AT&T doesn't like Android. Their announcements at CES say quite the opposite.

To me it looks much more like the hate them: they were the last one to put in the market an Android, they were so attached to the iPhone and believed in it up to the end, then they got spoiled, Apple gives a cut of the profits from the sale of apps, and AT&T would like the same from Android, that's why they block some applications... well, if i buy a device, that device is MINE and i want to be able to do what i want with it.


===

Look at tMobile, they truly believe in Android phones and they sell it to you totally Unlocked, you are still under a contract for 2 years, but still: if i take a trip to Europe and i want to slide in a European SIM card, i can do it without any prob

Anyway... we will see what happens, i am afraid that if i tell AT&T that i am buying an unlocked Android phone, they will give me hell with the plan
REGARDS

 

[HustlinDaily]

You can sideload apks through ADB. It is very easy to use once you get the hang of it.

 

[HustlinDaily]

Also on the HTC/Samsung, you can root the device and install a custom ROM (while the Moto can be rooted, a custom ROM cannot be installed) which removes all the AT&T limitations (tethering, sideloading apps) but that does void the warranty (tho there is a way to return it back to stock for warranty purposes).