Unlocking & Using the Aria without data

[roltzje]

Hey guys, I was thinking about getting an Aria for my girlfriend. I have a few questions before I purchase one though:

1. I heard you could unlock it by talking to AT&T, but just in case, can anyone point me to a cheap/reputable place to get it unlocked online? Thanks

2. Is it easy to permanently disable Cellular Network data? She would be using it with no data plan, so we wouldnt want any data to get through.

 

[DanGeorges]

Hey guys, I was thinking about getting an Aria for my girlfriend. I have a few questions before I purchase one though:

1. I heard you could unlock it by talking to AT&T, but just in case, can anyone point me to a cheap/reputable place to get it unlocked online? Thanks

2. Is it easy to permanently disable Cellular Network data? She would be using it with no data plan, so we wouldnt want any data to get through.

If you get the phone unlocked, it should work fine on any GSM network.
As far as data is concerned, I know that AT&T will detect your phone and may apply a smart-phone data plan (even if you don't want or use one).

One way around this is to put the SIM card into a dumb phone and disable the data plan on-line or call ATT to disable it.

Then pop the SIM card back into the Aria and you're in business.
It has worked for me like this for over 5 years of owning smart phones without data plans (which I don't use or need).

 

[drumist]

One way around this is to put the SIM card into a dumb phone and disable the data plan on-line or call ATT to disable it.

Then pop the SIM card back into the Aria and you're in business.
It has worked for me like this for over 5 years of owning smart phones without data plans (which I don't use or need).

This will ONLY work if you have a very old plan with AT&T and you are grandfathered in.

If you switched plans or started your service after AT&T started requiring smartphones to have data plans, you will be automatically switched to a data plan if you put your SIM card into an Aria. There's no way around it.

 

[DanGeorges]

This will ONLY work if you have a very old plan with AT&T and you are grandfathered in.

If you switched plans or started your service after AT&T started requiring smartphones to have data plans, you will be automatically switched to a data plan if you put your SIM card into an Aria. There's no way around it.

That's unfortunate. I will definitely keep my "old" plan just to make sure I'm still able to keep the data plan off.

I had, for a month, an unlimited ($15) plan, but since I really didn't see a need, dropped it and opted out. Looking back, I probably should have kept it in case there could be a day when I need a new plan.

When that day comes, I will be switching to a pay-as-you-go plan.
That would allow me to keep my Aria, WiFi, etc. - without subscribing to an unnecessary data plan. The only downside is losing my mobile number...