Question about the GoPhone Transaction Alert

[TheTaylorEffect]

Hello everyone... obviously this is my first post here and let me apologize in advance if this is something thats been covered (I did a quick search and I couldn't find an answer).

This is a speculative post.

I'm considering an iPhone for testing at work. I don't want to commit to a contract, so I was going to use it with a GoPhone account (and according to one of my friends at an AT&T retail store that is perfectly acceptable).

But after an afternoon of sniffing around - I noticed a LOT of complaints regarding the frequency of transaction alerts ("...the last transaction cost 0.00 USD...") making the iPhone almost unusable.

Most of the posts were dated Summer 2007 - so I was wondering if anyone knows wheather or not AT&T, Apple, or any 3rd party app's have fixed this issue.

[hexonxonx]

I have one of my iPhones set up with a GoPhone account simply because when I no longer need two iPhones, I can cancel the GoPhone one at anytime.

It does still have the transaction alert after each call but I actually like it because it shows my balance as well. It does not make the iPhone unusable at all. It only appears after each call. Surfing the net or sending SMS does not show the message.

[TheTaylorEffect]

I have one of my iPhones set up with a GoPhone account simply because when I no longer need two iPhones, I can cancel the GoPhone one at anytime.

It does still have the transaction alert after each call but I actually like it because it shows my balance as well. It does not make the iPhone unusable at all. It only appears after each call. Surfing the net or sending SMS does not show the message.

Thats really good to know. From what I've gathered, at one time the Transaction Alert was appearing every time the device transfered or received data of any kind (and evidently, with the default "heartbeat" that was once every 7-10 minutes while it was idling).

But if what you're telling me is correct, that means they fixed the bug!

I can see how receiving the message after a phone call would be very useful... and I really appreciate your input. I think I might be heading out for a 8gb on Monday (if I can find one)!

[hexonxonx]

You'll be fine with a GoPhone plan. Like I said, there is no alert with internet usage and the widgets such as stocks and weather because these all use the data plan which come with the GoPhone plans and they are unlimited data usage.

[Anachronism]

I thought you had to fail the credit check before you could use gophone?

[TheTaylorEffect]

I thought you had to fail the credit check before you could use gophone?

My friends at the AT&T retail store confessed that is a common misconception. Failing the credit check by using all 9's rather then an actual social security number is one way to activate it on your own. But if you want something more complicated (like porting a number from another carrier) then if you go into a store or call customer service and explain that you want the GoPhone plan, they'll either lie and say its not possible -or they'll concede and give it to you.

Most of them work on a commission based system - and from what I understand they get less of a "rip" off the GoPhone plans... so they often try to discourage people from using them with the already low-commissioned iPhone.

But it is a perfectly legitimate alternative to the contract. AT&T just doesn't advertise it.

[hexonxonx]

My friends at the AT&T retail store confessed that is a common misconception. Failing the credit check by using all 9's rather then an actual social security number is one way to activate it on your own. But if you want something more complicated (like porting a number from another carrier) then if you go into a store or call customer service and explain that you want the GoPhone plan, they'll either lie and say its not possible -or they'll concede and give it to you.

Most of them work on a commission based system - and from what I understand they get less of a "rip" off the GoPhone plans... so they often try to discourage people from using them with the already low-commissioned iPhone.

But it is a perfectly legitimate alternative to the contract. AT&T just doesn't advertise it.
All 9s or or all 2s or whatever number hasn't worked on iTunes iPhone activation in months.

There are still ways to make it fail but I will not say how here. My first iPhone was setup on the two year standard iPhone contract. My second iPhone purchased about six months later was setup under a GoPhone so that I can cancel whenever I want to.

[iPirate]

This is good to hear because I'm about to do the same thing. I didn't know that GoPhone came with unlimited data though. Also, does anyone know how old you have to be? I know for a contract you have to be 19.