I use an iPhone with a prepaid SIM with AT&T. I pay 10¢ a minute for calls and texts in addition to a $25/1gb data plan. I make my calls over VOIP with Talkatone and use the Google Voice app for texting. I pay $25 a month.
It was really hard to get this set up. I had to literally fight with AT&T, cut my own SIM, manually enter APN settings. When I have to purchase a new AT&T SIM after traveling they tell me it's not possible, that I can't do it. I explain that it is and I can, tell them how to set it up on their end. Ridiculous.
They tell me the iPhone can't do prepaid (it can), that it isn't unlocked (it is), that it won't work if it's jailbroken (it's not) and that all of my data will magically disappear (it will if you don't configure up the APN settings). They will say anything to steer you from prepaid.
Overseas in Southeast Asia you just walk in to a corner store, pay $2 for a SIM, give him a few dollars to load it up and send a text to buy a data plan. Vietnam was the cheapest, a couple bucks for gigs and gigs of mobile broadband.
I will never buy a phone on contract. AT&T is a nightmare and the fact that we're no longer married helps me rest easy.
Unfortunately, as already pointed out, we are being screwed in the USA and have been for about a decade now. This extends, not only to mobile data, texting/SMS, and calling; but also to land data.
It's not just AT&T that is the problem there is an unspoken wink and a nod between the carriers to maintain an, essentially, monopolistic cartel on the market. More so on land, but also in the air.
As much of our economy, choice in mobile and land data is nothing but a facade.
Buy a prepaid SIM and tell them you want $25/1gb of data. They might force you to buy a $25 rate plan that goces you some minutes and texts. Dont turn on celluar data. Connect to wifi and go to APNChanger.com
Use the wiki to look up your GSM carrier's APN settings.
Using APNChanger's manual entry option, enter the correct settings and install the APN. You may now turn on cellular data. If it says you're not subscribed to a plan when you try to load a website, turn off data, uninstall the APN and repeat, paying careful attention to the APN settings - you typed them in wrong.
At the end of the month, set your data plan to auto renew and make sure you have enough money in your prepaid account so that it does. You'll be charged a few cents for texts and calls if you make them.
You also may have to cut the SIM down to fit in your iPhone.
It was really hard to get this set up. I had to literally fight with AT&T, cut my own SIM, manually enter APN settings. When I have to purchase a new AT&T SIM after traveling they tell me it's not possible, that I can't do it. I explain that it is and I can, tell them how to set it up on their end. Ridiculous.
They tell me the iPhone can't do prepaid (it can), that it isn't unlocked (it is), that it won't work if it's jailbroken (it's not) and that all of my data will magically disappear (it will if you don't configure up the APN settings). They will say anything to steer you from prepaid.
Overseas in Southeast Asia you just walk in to a corner store, pay $2 for a SIM, give him a few dollars to load it up and send a text to buy a data plan. Vietnam was the cheapest, a couple bucks for gigs and gigs of mobile broadband.
I will never buy a phone on contract. AT&T is a nightmare and the fact that we're no longer married helps me rest easy.