[Nexus 4 General] Johmama:
Hey guys, this is kind of a response to Nexus 4 confirmed working on prepaid AT&T tablet dataconnect plan, but it also is kind of a guide in- and of- itself. I'm not trying to steal a thread or anything, please go to that thread and read the original post, it's very helpful. The responses are helpful too. If making a whole new thread is in bad taste I apologize, if a mod wants to close/delete this thread that's ok. Credit goes to ctowne for making that thread and finding out/testing that the N4 works on the Dataconnect plan.

I decided to take the plunge and do this. I haven't completed it yet, but I'm in the process. I kind of wanted to make a step-by-step guide or walkthrough for what I personally did to get this working for anyone considering this. Basically exactly what was needed to go from AT&T's GoPhone prepaid service to using the Dataconnect tablet plan and VoIP. Well, what I did anyway. I will update when I get over obstacles and whatnot, also, when I do/don't get it fully working.

Back-story: About 2 months ago, I bought my Nexus 4. I was previously on Verizon and had to switch carriers, getting a new number. I decided to go with AT&T's GoPhone service for $50/mo for 1gb of data and like 250 minutes. Then I found that thread and was interested, but debated whether to go through the process of porting my new number to Google Voice, spending the $20, waiting for it to take effect, potentially being without a phone for a few days, etc. or to get an entirely new number and tell everyone I know that I got a new number (again!).

Two days ago, I decided to go with the porting the number to Google Voice. My situation is actually unique in this. When I was on Verizon, I was actually on a plan with my family. I am almost 24 years old and decided it's about time I start paying for my own cell-phone bill. That, coupled with the fact that I needed to switch in order to use the awesome Nexus 4. Due to a mix-up in "upgrading" devices, we found out that my line was locked in for close to two more years. Basically my younger sister took "my" upgrade, locking my line in (that's how they get you, and why I will never sign a contract with a cell-phone company). After calling Customer Service, we figured out that we can "suspend" my line, free of charge for 6 months, we just have to call in to do it again after 3 months (standard increment of time they "suspend" lines). 6 months is the magical number we needed because then a different line is cleared of a contract, and with some fiddling, we can basically drop that other line, switch the number to my old line, thereby dropping my line more-or-less.

The CSR for Verizon we talked to said they don't just suspend lines for no reason. Apparently it's mainly used for stuff like troops being deployed overseas, they will suspend their line to kind of cut them some slack. The CSR said they were willing to do that because my parents have been loyal Verizon customers since like 2004 or so. Point is, I don't think it would hurt if someone tried to call in and get a nice CSR to suspend their line for 3 months. Worst they will do is say no. Just a possible option for anyone locked in a contract.

Anyway, my old line wasn't suspended yet, so I decided to port my old number. The guides are all correct.

1. First, request the port in Google Voice. You will need your Verizon, or whatever carrier you have, account credentials, so have those handy (I have never ported a number before, I didn't know that).

2. Right after that, go to Verizon's site and request a new phone number for that line. That actually didn't work for me, so I had to call in. It was a 10 minute call with a machine to do so, but was also free. The process will take exactly 24 hours. Seriously. I don't know why it's exactly 24 hours, but it is.

Once I got the email that it was done the next day, I called my other phone and it worked. I can't vouch for SMS, I didn't think to try and I'm at work right now with just my Nexus. I can try it later today.

That's where I am right now. I plan on going to my local AT&T store without a tablet (obviously) and try to get a SIM card activated on Dataconnect, and try it in my Nexus 4. Back when I first activated my phone, I took it into the store and warned them that the IMEI on the back might not work, and they said that's ok, they have phones that they steal IMEI's off of all of the time. Sure enough, they tried to snipe one off a phone in a drawer, which I saw was full of phones, but it didn't work. After that, they tried the IMEI on my Nexus and it worked. So there's another point; the Nexus 4 IMEI works on their GoPhone prepaid plan. What I'm getting at is, I might be able to just walk in, say I have my Nexus 7 at home, and maybe the person I talk to will just grab an IMEI off of a tablet there.

I will try that today and then try it in my Nexus 4. Then I'll buy GrooveIP and try calling in/out from my N4. If all goes well, I'll post back with a cheerful confirmation. If it fails, I will still post back and try to figure out what went wrong. I sure hope it works, I would love to pay only $30/mo for service and get way more data than I have now.

*EDIT*

Went to the store today and got a different CSR. She didn't want to offer me an IMEI like I had hoped. If I would have gotten the other CSR that activated my phone, I bet I could have gotten one. Asked if I just brought the IMEI, could they activate a SIM for me and she said yes. Fair enough. If anyone has an IMEI that I could use, please PM it to me. That'll really help me out. Otherwise, I might try and generate my own.

*EDIT*

Went back the same day and got the nice CSR that set up my phone. Didn't really understand what I meant/was doing, but tried to help me nonetheless. After a half-hour of trying and calling AT&T corporate help lines and stuff, and getting transferred around, she basically said that I could just keep the SIM card, since it looked like I knew what I was doing and would figure it out. Turns out, everything worked. Calculated my own IMEI and went to the Dataconnect website and typed in the IMEI and ICCID of the SIM. Everything worked once I applied the correct APN. Initial setup of GrooveIP took a bit though. Gotta mess with the settings. Anyway: it worked! Very excited.