Should I buy an unlocked TYTN II now or wait for AT&T's 8925?

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1) I heard some news a while back that three different Kaisers were submitted to the FCC; one was the full Kaiser as we know it, another had the front camera removed, and the third had something else removed as well (I think it was the rear camera). Does anyone know which of these three will be released as the 8925?



2) Does AT&T usually install bloatware with their ROMs? If so, could I flash an 8925 with a TYTN II ROM or would that run a risk of bricking the device?



3) if I decide to buy the 8925, it'll be without a contract. Still though, I'm wary. See, I'm currently using an unlocked HTC p3300 (Artemis), even though I'm still successfully using a "MEdia Max" smartphone data plan grandfathered back when I had a windows mobile smartphone, to get full internet access at a lower cost. I just slipped the simcard into the p3300 when I bought it and used the internet as I always did. I'd like to continue to operate 'under the radar' so to speak, but I'm afraid it won't go so smoothly this time if I buy a device straight from AT&T. Does anyone know if AT&T does some sort of owner / device lookup when you buy a new phone, to ensure you're using the "correct" service? In this case, they might force me to go with a PDA data plan, which costs twice as much - something I'd rather not do!



4) Will the kaiser's usage of HSDPA trigger a 'red flag' on this "Media Max" smartphone data plan I have and incur all sorts of extra charges? Or are there other smartphones out on the AT&T market already that feature HSDPA?

On 3), I posed a similar question a while ago:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=324535

In that thread someone suggests the best option is to tell the AT&T rep when you buy the 8925 that you just want to keep your existing plan 'as is'. Hopefully that will work!

Originally Posted by warwickwebb

On 3), I posed a similar question a while ago:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=324535

In that thread someone suggests the best option is to tell the AT&T rep when you buy the 8925 that you just want to keep your existing plan 'as is'. Hopefully that will work!

The easiest way if the ATT rep gives you a problem is to tell them you dont want any data plan, then go on the online account manager and add the MediaMax Plan yourself. And if the online manager does not list the MediaMax due to your phone being a PDA and not a phone (this happens sometimes but not usually) then borrow a friends phone (or in my case go to the closet and pick a random phone that is collecting dust) and transfer SIM and wait for ATT online to think you have a phone and then the feature for MediaMax will appear.

Originally Posted by wpbear

The easiest way if the ATT rep gives you a problem is to tell them you dont want any data plan, then go on the online account manager and add the MediaMax Plan yourself. And if the online manager does not list the MediaMax due to your phone being a PDA and not a phone (this happens sometimes but not usually) then borrow a friends phone (or in my case go to the closet and pick a random phone that is collecting dust) and transfer SIM and wait for ATT online to think you have a phone and then the feature for MediaMax will appear.

Interesting - so if you pop your SIM card into another phone, the system will automatically update to reflect this other phone? I always figured it just showed you the last phone you purchased....

I always just tell the AT&T rep that this is a gift for a girlfriend, and when you get home, just pop in your old sim... No harm no foul. Worked for me.

Originally Posted by faustiano

I always just tell the AT&T rep that this is a gift for a girlfriend, and when you get home, just pop in your old sim... No harm no foul. Worked for me.

hahah that's a good one!

although frankly i think hell will freeze over before any female will be caught lugging one of these big old HTC devices around..

Originally Posted by demione

hahah that's a good one!

although frankly i think hell will freeze over before any female will be caught lugging one of these big old HTC devices around..

We are waiting for the ladies to flame this guy. To add to it.....

I was on a plane and saw this business lady with her IBM laptop working on a spreadsheet and next to it was her 8525. She looked at a contact and then put it down on the tray table. The screen looked like she impaled it with her tweezers. It was such a stereo type moment to see such disrespect for such a high quality piece of electronics.

Are you wanting to buy it at the 2yr contract pricing? Or are you buying it at full retail(no commitment) pricing? If you want to buy it full retail, I would most definitely buy an unlocked phone elsewhere. If you're wanting the discount, you can buy the phone, sign the contract and then if you're made to switch your plan, take an old phone, call up CS and tell them you want to change your IMEI and also switch to the 19.99 Media Max plan. It's really that simple. As far as them flagging your account for HSDPA usage(I've never seen something like that in the 4 yrs I've worked for att/cingular), if you get ridiculous ie over 100mb's then you may need to worry, but to be perfectly honest with you, if you put your sim in a phone...they can tell what kind it is...doesn't matter if you call in to change the IMEI or not. If you need more details, feel free to PM me.

i didn't wait...i'm using my Tytn II w/Smartphone Connect data plan as I had been with my Trinity for the last year. this includes tethering with data usage averaging 600MB+ per month over the last 9 months. i purchased a 3125 from ATT last Sep/Oct and got the Smartphone data plan at that time... wifey has the phone now and i'm using the SIM with my Tytn II. it's my experience that tethering will connect using HSDPA by default and work down to UMTS and/or Edge if the faster services are not available... so far no issues with MaMa Bell (a.k.a., ATT)....