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Will TMOBILE charge me if I use my home wifi (don't have an internet plan)

JDMasFCK

JDMasFCK

Newbie
Hi, I plan on purchasing the S2 on Weds. I don't have ANY internet plan AT ALL. So any internet use is either going to be at home or any free wifi. So my question is if I use my home internet (wifi) will Tmobile still charge me? And since the S2 constantly updates, wouldn't that affect my bill? and is there a way to turn off all updating until I get on wifi? I just want to use wifi ONLY not the 3G/4G.

Thanks so much! :D
 
If you buy this phone and activate it on T-Mobile they will require a data plan. You have no option. Just like any AT&T and Verizon smartphones T-Mobile requires a data plan.
 
MisterEd is correct. If you don't want to pay that much for the Data plan, just get the 10/mo one..then you can also use it on Wi-Fi as well, and from what I understand, Wi-Fi calling and stuff is free, but I could be wrong..
 
MisterEd said:
WiFi calling uses minutes unless you are on an unlimited voice plan.
Click to expand...

I actually called Tmobile and they said you don't need to purchase the data plan if you pay the full price $500ish. That's the route I'm going, I already have a sim card, so no need to buy a whole new plan.
 
WIFI calling won't use your plan minutes anymore since June this year. It has been confirmed in many other threads already.

Google this and you will see "tmobile wifi calling free"
 
LunchBB said:
WIFI calling won't use your plan minutes anymore since June this year. It has been confirmed in many other threads already.

Google this and you will see "tmobile wifi calling free"
Click to expand...

I was told that is only true if you have unlimited. I guess the phone people don't have a clue as evidenced by JDMasFCK's experience 2 posts above this one.


Edit: I found this. So I guess you have to make sure they add the "free" plan to the account. It seems it is only on certain plans.

http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1680


Wi-Fi Calling Overview
Wi-Fi Calling is a free feature for T-Mobile customers with a Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Calling capable phone. Wi-Fi Calling is an excellent solution for coverage issues in and around the home or wherever cellular coverage is limited. Minutes used while connected to the Wi-Fi network count against available rate plan minutes unless the Free Wi-Fi calling feature is added to the rate plan. With the Free Wi-FI Calling feature, voice minutes are no longer decremented on calls over Wi-Fi.

Also the device must have the app on it for wi-fi calling. The article clearly explains it so you are correct and (as expected) the T-Mo person was a fool which is no surprise.
 
JDMasFCK said:
I actually called Tmobile and they said you don't need to purchase the data plan if you pay the full price $500ish. That's the route I'm going, I already have a sim card, so no need to buy a whole new plan.
Click to expand...
:p Off course you don't in order to purchase the phone at full price. :p They told you that and they are correct. But when you put it on an account (put in your SIM) the system will flag it as a smartphone and add the data plan. Same thing AT&T does. I bought an Infuse outright (no plan required) put in my dumbphone SIM and 4 days later had a data plan added (but I was expecting it).

If they told you anything other than that they either misunderstood what you intended to do after purchasing the phone (maybe they thought you were giving it as a gift?) or they were blatantly lying or were just morons. All smartphones require data plans when on the system as you will find out very quickly.

The only way around it is if you buy a phone from another carrier that T-Mo doesn't recognize the IMEI of the phone as a smartphone. If it's a T-Mo phone you'll have a data fee.

You have 2 weeks to return it so hope they pick it up before you're stuck with it.
 
I don't think Tmobile can force you join a "data plan" without your consent. Worst case that can happen is they start charging you "data" without a "plan".. which means, count by each KB usage. You don't want that. So once you have the phone, make sure you turn off the Mobile Network option in Settings. Then go online while WIFI presence.

I'm pretty sure you will need to sign up a data plan when buying the phone at a subsidized price with contract. If you pay full price, you don't need to sign up any data plan.

The best way is to call Tmobile to find out. Tmo store clerk might not know as much.
 
@JDMasFCK & @LunchBB

Well, I better not let my wife see this message .... but for the first time in my life :D :D I have to admit .... I was wrong.

Unlike AT&T which definately CAN (and does) force a data plan on you if you use any smartphone they recognize (full price or subsidized) on their system T-Mobile does NOT require it.

Reason is, it is in the Terms of Service you sign with AT&T that states they will do just that. It is also well documented all over the web.

T-Mobile (at least according to the store I was at today looking at the GSII) does not.

The rep there brought up a good point though .... If you're buying the phone at full price and not taking data you may as well go on a prepay plan and he showed how much cheaper it could be (depending on how many minutes you use). In my case if I use 400 minutes a year it's a lot and I can get 1000 text or voice minutes for $90 (or less) with prepay. I've already switched my wife over because she has a dumbphone and rarely uses it. Saved a LOT of money.

Anyway ... WRT T-Mobile I was wrong .... ATT is different.
 
hahah.. oh wait.. what about the comment "WiFi calling uses minutes unless you are on an unlimited voice plan" too? Would that be wrong twice in one thread? heheh
 
LunchBB said:
hahah.. oh wait.. what about the comment "WiFi calling uses minutes unless you are on an unlimited voice plan" too? Would that be wrong twice in one thread? heheh
Click to expand...
Wize azz!

Sorta right because there is no Wi-Fi Calling app on the phone so evidently the guy on XDA was right, it doesn't have it, at least not yet. T-Mobile reps all tried to figure it out and the decision was that it isn't there.

Played around with the phone for a while. Very nice. Can't wait to get rid of my Infuse but I won't get it until it is rooted.
 
JDMasFCK said:
Hi, I plan on purchasing the S2 on Weds. I don't have ANY internet plan AT ALL. So any internet use is either going to be at home or any free wifi. So my question is if I use my home internet (wifi) will Tmobile still charge me? And since the S2 constantly updates, wouldn't that affect my bill? and is there a way to turn off all updating until I get on wifi? I just want to use wifi ONLY not the 3G/4G.

Thanks so much! :D
Click to expand...
You can using it by wifi without data plan. Like I did bought samtab7 without data plan, but use wifi, and update from sammy site, ZERO problem.. So you will be fine! :D
 
I know this is an old thread to reply to,
Tmobile does not charge for home wifi use either browsing the web or making wifi calls through your home internet or anyone's home or office wifi connection for that matter. Tmobile hotspot connections are charged by a data plan from what the csr says. I don't see the point in that offer.
I have the galaxy s2 with the update to ICS and I don't see any charges for
web access or calls when I'm using my home wifi or Starbucks or Mickey D's
or at Safeway and the Chevron gas station across the street.
On the s2 with ics has a setting for wifi only or wifi preferred or cellular service only setting for this.

My first smartphone, you all may know this already ;)
 
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