Can I buy a Smartphone on Ebay and use it an AT&T data plan

Factual Questions
1

So I need to replace my cell phone. I was planning on getting one on ebay, rather than have to sign up for new 2-year AT&T contract.

Rather than go for my usual bog-standard phone, I was thinking I could add a data plan for $15 a month and get a smart phone (not an iphone, just something that has decent web and GPS apps like this).

Is that doable, will my ebay-purchased smartphone work with AT&T’s data plan ?

Additionally if I get the phone first then get a data plan later, will I be safe using it as a phone without it deciding to connect to the web via my pay-per-use plan, and cost a fortune.

2

Probably.

Does the new phone take a Simm?

Have you checked with AT&T? They want the subscription more than they want to sell you a phone. They will do what they can to work with you.

3

I haven’t picked one yet, but I would assume any modern phone would. Am I wrong ?

I figured I would be met with shock and disbelief, and dire warnings that of course it wouldn’t work. And will probably explode and steal my identify while I’m at it. But I guess it’s worth trying.

4

I bought a Nokia E71 on eBay and just took out my AT&T (actually Cingular) SIM card from my old phone and stuck it in the new one without telling AT&T. I upgraded to the $15 data plan at the same time, but I could have disabled/not configured the network stuff to prevent it from burning money. I could have gotten an E71x directly from AT&T for free to cheap, but then I would have had to pay the we-know-you’ll-actually-use-the-unlimited-data $15 upcharge.

5

As long as its unlocked ( Carrier unbranded) or AT&T branded, the phone will work when you put a sim card inside.

I’d get the plan first and then get the phone, just go with the minimum data package. You really dont want to find out that your phone talks to different services , even if your not actively using it for net purposes, metered data is expensive.

Declan

6

Having just rung them about this, and they do indeed charge $30 if you have a “smartphone” that might actually use the plan. Did they not catch on when you connected your smart-phone to the network ?