2/24/23: As 16GB is for everyone now, you don't have to jump through hoops of temp number, you can directly port and order online, but make sure you don't provide a CC which can be charged upon activation. Once you place order you SIM card will me be shipped without any charges to CC. But the activation kit says once you insert SIM and activate, your card will be charged. So you have few choices for not getting charged. 1. Provide a temporary CC with limited balance 2. There is lock Credit card feature in some credit card, this is will be prevent any authorizations temporarily, so lock your CC before you activate. Then apply Prepaid refill to pay. However I had an issue with port, I've to call couple times to get activated so that I could login to online account.
Because this is an AT&T thread there is a few things you need to know before joining:
Good News! All AT&T Prepaid plans now include access to the AT&T 5G Network. *5G Compatible device/5G Branded Sim Card Required, device must be on AT&T's Whitelist to qualify. For eSim: 5G Device is required for 5G service on eSim.*Note: Your device may need a software update to be fully 5G compliant on AT&T.
Does your phone work on AT&T? This PDF in the link below shows what devices are AT&T VoLTE Certified/Approved and Whitelisted on the network.
NEW! Updated August 22nd, 2023: https://www.att.com/scmsassets/su...etwork.pdf
*Note: AT&T compatibility list may update at any time. Xiaomi devices are now banned from AT&T (did not get AT&T VoLTE Certification/Approval), select Huawei/ZTE devices still allowed. 5G Requires device capable of transmitting and receiving a 5G Signal/5G branded Compatible Sim Card.
AT&T Network Status as of March 2023:
5G+: This network is live and is expanding. When you see 5G+ this means your either connected to C-Band(n77) or mmWave. mmWave speed averages between: 600mbps - 1+ Gigs per second. C-Band speed averages between: 60mbps - 460mbps.
5G(NSA/SA): 5G Non-Standalone is where the carriers pair 5G tech with 4G LTE to provide fast data speeds. 5G Standalone is 5G that is on it's own and does not need LTE to work. *Note: At this time AT&T does not offer their 5G standalone(SA) core to customers, all 5G that is not mmWave is Non-standalone.
5Ge/4G LTE: 5Ge and 4G LTE are the same with a slight difference. 5Ge areas have Next evolution Carrier Aggregation/Back haul upgrades, areas that are LTE only have limited Carrier aggregation or only 1 LTE band broadcasting.
4G(HSPA+): This network has been retired and is shut down.
3G(UMTS): 3G UMTS has been shut down and no longer exists, In select Markets AT&T has re-farmed 3G's old spectrum and added it to 5G "n5" to boost speed and capacity.
2G(2G/EDGE/GPRS/GSM): This network had it's sunset date in 2019, it is shut down and no longer exists.
Sim card SKU's that do not support 5G+: 4453A, 4488A, 72290. Sim cards that were purchased from Straight Talk are based on 4488A and do not include 5G/5G+ support.
Sim card SKU's that do support 5G+: 6471C, 6531C, 6533C, 6661A, 6818B. eSim: 6969C.
*Note: For some devices, AT&T requires that you be on the latest Software Update to get all features working on the AT&T network including VoLTE specific features. Make sure that your phone is completely up-to-date for the best network experience.
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$300 + local taxes/fees on top ($20-$30 for most) if you pay directly with CC -- less hassle when activating but you might pay more if you're in a high tax area
You can look for ATT Prepaid refill cards on sale to save some money -- you can buy from Target website for email delivery in which case Target does not charge any taxes/fees (you can save at least 5% with Target RedCard or more if its also on sale)
*** A lot of people have trouble porting their number and getting 16gb promo when using "keep my number" option on initial order since they have to call CS for help with initial activation/port (this in an online promo so not available over phone or in-store) -- calling CS for initial activation/port might drop 16gb promo (you'll only get 8gb standard) and there's no easy way for them to give it to you afterwards:
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
Best option is to get a new temp number when ordering service -- just make sure the new temp number is from the same area/region as your regular phone number that you're going to port later.
For service zip code use a zip code from where your regular number is originally from -- ATT Prepaid's outdated system seems to have trouble porting numbers from different markets.
For example: if you have a Chicago number but currently live in NYC then make sure you get a new temp Chicago number when ordering/activating prepaid service. Do not get a new NYC number as their prepaid system won't be able to port a Chicago number on top of NYC number later on since the numbers are from different markets/regions.
Once your new temp number is activated you should see 16gb under line usage section (8gb bonus + 8gb standard) then you can call port activation center @ 888-898-7685 to have them port your regular number over -- let them know you just activated new prepaid service with a temp number and now you want to port your regular number over
** eSIM online activation makes it easier to get new temp number from same region and also pay with refill cards:
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
> eSIM online activation works for iPhones and maybe some new Androids (enter your EID and eSIM IMEI to see if activation page accepts it or not)
> If it doesn't accept your Android phone then you can choose to have either physical sim or eSIM card shipped when placing your online order, or just pick one up from an AT&T store or other retailer that sells AT&T Prepaid SIMS then use the AT&T Prepaid activation site https://www.att.com/pprepaid/activations then port your number later
Physical sim activation online (like with ESIM above) with using the temp number option with a physical sim picked up from an retail location (AT&T Store or department store like Walmart.
SIM/ESIM is active as soon as you hit continue after entering your email on the AT&T (short codes work even if your service isn't active) Prepaid Activation Portal https://www.att.com/prepaid/activations
Pop the physical sim into your phone and find the number or go into your cellular settings for the esim. Just use the temp phone number to register the account https://www.paygonline.
** ATT Postpaid or ATT MVNO currently then you'll need to port twice -- once to VZ/TMo based carrier to get off ATT network for few hours then port again to your new ATT Prepaid 16gb plan:
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
>> TMobile has $10 Connect prepaid plan + $10 sim = $20 + taxes/fees (you can also try eSIM: https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=
>> Visible (Verizon) is $5 if you have $25 back on $30 Visible service offer on your Chase/BoA/USBank card (you'll need compatible phone to activate service)
>> Tracfone (Verizon) $1 sim kit from Target/Walmart/BB/Amazon + $15 Tracfone prepaid smartphone plan (Target website has email delivery)
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Also here is my situation. I need a plan with higher priority. I don't need a crazy amount of data, like this plans 16GB would be fine. I need maybe 10.
My issue is not the amount of data, its that I struggle to pull any. I believe I am constantly de prioritized. I am in a rapidly growing area (suburb of columbus oh) and so I believe overcrowding to be the issue.
Because otherwise I have tried everything. I tried getting a new 5G phone (a pixel) hoping 5G would help, it did not. I have tried numerous providers over the last couple years.
I have been on postpaid tmobile, countless MVNOs (visible, cricket, boost, mint) and prepaid verizon. They all produce shitty results for me.
So my issue is is the only way to get priority to be on like some $85 a month unlimited plan or is there anything else out there that gives higher priority for a reasonable price ? Again because I don't really need THAT much data, I just want it to be usable. .My issue is data goes like in and out. Things will be fine and then next thing you know not even twitter will load. I have reception/bars, calls don't go out. Its just data.
Can also confirm works great in Mexico, Tijuana, including data/text (Waze/yelp). My data shows 8gb + 8 promo. I did have issues with porting, but I have a different # than temp #/area (but service rep figured it out after 15 min call). So far has been much better than Visible for same price, wish I changed earlier (even for just 8GB plan).
Any idea how I can take advantage of this awesome promotion while keeping my old number, which is with AT&T now?
when you get the new sim activate it with a new number same market as old number
port your old number to tmobile
same day call 1888 port activations and port that newly ported tmobile number onto new number
So I'm curious why you recommend the Unlimited Max plan to this person over this one given their stated usage. Is it primarily so they have 5G access? Or does Unlimited Max have an even higher qci?
I'm just honestly curious and trying to categorize things mentally & learn from your postings, and since you really know your stuff your comment piqued my interest.
TIA! 🙂
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ATT is good
This is one of the best deals in a long time.
So I'm curious why you recommend the Unlimited Max plan to this person over this one given their stated usage. Is it primarily so they have 5G access? Or does Unlimited Max have an even higher qci?
I'm just honestly curious and trying to categorize things mentally & learn from your postings, and since you really know your stuff your comment piqued my interest.
TIA! 🙂
but lower than max no refund even if 1-2 months used
max plan is 30 day renewal 5G highest prepaid priority
but lower than max no refund even if 1-2 months used
max plan is 30 day renewal 5G highest prepaid priority
ATT is widely considered one of the best for their deprioritization policies. They use QCI 7, 8, and 9 for consumer plans.
QCI 7 is only on ATT's postpaid Unlimited Elite plan. This is their top of the line, most expensive, consumer postpaid plan. If you demand the best performance and you're not eligible for FirstNet or a business plan, this is the plan you want.
QCI 8 is assigned to the majority of ATT's plans as well as their own branded prepaid, Cricket, and the plans offered by MVNOs other than the exceptions below.
QCI 9 is assigned to the base Cricket Unlimited plan, ATT's base Unlimited prepaid and Unlimited Starter postpaid plans, as well as all plans once their data bucket is exhausted. Boost Mobile's new plans are QCI 9 too. SafeLink and likely other TracFone brands are QCI 9 as well.
*A thing to note with ATT MVNOs is that speed caps are common - H2O caps at 8Mbps on LTE and 4Mbps on 3G while Straight Talk caps their speeds at 75Mbps on ATT's LTE. It would not be surprising to find this policy on other ATT MVNOs and may be ATT's way of compensating for the network demand their liberal QCI 8 policy can cause.
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