As most of you know, I’m a big HTC fan: I love the HTC EVO 4G LTE for Sprint, I love the HTC One S on T-Mobile, and I really want to love the AT&T HTC One X. But AT&T has really left a sour taste in my mouth, for a variety of reasons, and because of this, I can’t really see myself using the One X long-term.
Today marks one month since I first picked up the One X from Best Buy on its release date. And today is also the day I’m going to return it to Best Buy. Here’s why:
- AT&T won’t let me activate the phone on a prepaid plan. Apparently, because this phone is a 4G phone, it’s not compatible with any of AT&T’s prepaid plans. I’ve been told by several different AT&T reps – both in-store and on the phone – that if I were to attempt to put in a prepaid SIM card, my data services would stop working very quickly; this is because AT&T is actively monitoring who is using what device on prepaid plans, and it would cut me off as soon as it detected the One X. It wouldn’t even matter if I purchased the prepaid smartphone add-on; absolutely no EDGE, 3G, or 4G services would work on the phone.
- AT&T won’t let me accept any OTA updates unless I’ve activated the phone on an AT&T plan. When I enter the settings menu, HTC’s System updates option has been replaced with AT&T software update. However, even if I have a solid WiFi connection, the phone will not let me check for updates. Instead, I get this message: “Network is not ready.” Essentially, this means I won’t get any updates unless I put in an AT&T SIM card.
- AT&T’s post-paid plans still require a credit check and approval, even though I paid full-price for the device and I want to pay month-to-month. My credit is fine, but I don’t want the ding to my credit score that comes with every credit check. And yes, I realize that this point isn’t necessarily unique to AT&T. What’s different, however, is that AT&T won’t activate the device on any prepaid plans. So basically, if I want to get an OTA update, I have to submit to a credit check.
- Too much bloat. Yes, most of it’s removable through the Disable feature in Android 4.0. But it’s still a pain: the first time I power up my phone, I don’t want to see: AT&T Code Scanner, AT&T FamilyMap, AT&T Navigator, AT&T Ready2Go, Live TV, myAT&T, Top HD Games, and YPmobile. Also, the default email signature is extremely long and annoying: “Sent from my HTC One (TM) X, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone”
For these reasons, I’m returning my HTC One X. Due to AT&T’s restrictive policies, it’s just not a good device to use as a WiFi-only UMPC or as a back-up prepaid phone. Don’t get me wrong: if I were an AT&T customer, I’d be all over this. But for my purposes – and especially since I’m already using the EVO 4G LTE as my daily device – it’s just not the phone for me.
However, perhaps I’m acting unreasonably? Maybe my expectations were too high? I really want to know: what do you think?
I think your final comment is the right one; you’re being too unreasonable. I adore this phone and the AT&T stuff is easily removed. Being that its ICS and I need to customize the phone anyway, removing a few apps is no big deal. My data uses represent 99.9999% of all data users, in that I will not go over 2GBs/M and I don’t care if I am on AT&T’s lockdown contract.
Your needs are so specific, it isn’t fair to criticize the phone or the provider.
Sorry, how are his needs too specific? He wants to use a smartphone on prepaid, but AT&T won’t let him. It’s not just the One X; off-contract iPhones, Galaxy whatevers, etc aren’t allowed either. It has nothing to do with data caps. Try reading a little more slowly next time.
Also, it’s not about bloatware; AT&T won’t let him get ANY ANDROID updates unless he’s on a postpaid plan.
Amazon has the unlocked One X for about the same price. Since AT&T didn’t sell it, they wouldn’t have the IMEI and probably wouldn’t be able to see what phone it is. If you aren’t married to having LTE, maybe you could go this route?
True – I wanted to use this phone for just a little while on AT&T’s prepaid network, so I could write a bit more about it for Pocketables. Getting the international, unlocked version would have been slightly inconvenient, and not what most US users opt for. However, AT&T made it impossible for someone like me – someone who wanted to use it for a little while and then get rid of it – to use the device the way it was intended to be used. Why should a carrier practice so much control over a device that’s not tied to any contract, and that I own outright?
To be fair, “most US users” wouldn’t pay full price for a smartphone from the carrier.
As for the OTA update thing, I’ve done a little digging and it seems that it’s more of a technical limitation than anything. Without activating your phone on AT&T service, AT&T’s servers can’t recognize your IMEI, and therefore can’t see your phone either. True, they could provide some kind of workaround app or service to get that authenticated over WiFi, but I suspect that the cost, manpower, and validation for what–objectively speaking–is an edge case isn’t worth it to AT&T.
I was with you for the most part, but after some additional consideration: that you’re irritated with AT&T for not going out of their way to support “someone who wanted to use it for a little while and then get rid of it” IS starting to encroach upon “acting unreasonably” territory. This is not a case of malice so much as apathy.
If not for all this, would you really use the One X over the EVO as your primary phone?
Jenn – you caught me; probably not. I am too addicted to Sprint’s unlimited data. However, that being said, AT&T’s data speeds blow Sprint’s out of the water. So – maybe I would, maybe I wouldn’t. I just think it’s crap that the phone is *so* extremely restricted.
I had the same shock and horror when I opened up my AT&T HOX. However, the experience – however tedious – has left me more informed. I dived into the community and as a result I’ve rooted, unlocked and flashed CleanROM my device.
Good to hear! I didn’t root, because I knew I’d probably end up returning it, and didn’t want to risk being stuck with a $600 device I was never going to use, anyway…
Another reason NOT to buy a carrier branded phone. My last two devices have been non branded, couldn’t be happier. While my unbranded G Note already got ICS, those on at&t are still waiting, unless they root and install a different rom from XDA
I was with AT&T for over ten years and I left about two years ago… They’ve consistently had the worst combination of policies and artificial limitations of any carrier for a while now IMO. T-Mobile & Sprint have price and no overage charges on their side (plus full unlimited data for Sprint), plus the most flexible plans. VZW has the most robust network even if you pay thru the nose for it, some of the best phone selection too. AT&T has the worst data policies, ranging from throttling on top of caps to being the most concerned with root/tethering… And they aren’t any cheaper than VZW.
So question? I have AT&T go phone n tried to put my sim in n it said imei locked is that the same since it won’t let me even into the phone?? I have a iphone4 n they just let me use it on that …. Kinda sucks I want the onex so badly and can’t
I was told they are blocking prepaid SIMs on all LTE phones, which is why it would work in the iPhone but not the One X. Yeah, it sucks… I know.
I’m glad I found this thread – as I am not in a test-trial situation but in actual need of a prepaid service that would accommodate my unlocked [international version] HTC One X.
Right now, I have a prepaid contract through T-Mobile, though due to their network Band selections – I can only get 2G.
I just need a prepaid solution that would [at least] give me 3G capabilities.
Any help would be appreciate it.
Hi John, I work for at&t, and you can definitely have the HTC one x on prepaid, with data and everything, same goes with any smartphone
In response to Gabe how can I get my HTC One X on AT&T’s Prepaid with data? I have an unlocked HTC One X it’s AT&T branded but I unlocked it by IMEI. Is there really a way to do this? Please let me know, thanks.
im in the same boat as you peter, i too have an sim unlocked at&t branded htc one x also and want to try it out on a prepaid service.