when this GT-I9300 phone isn't actually using the data service

Since AT&T won't unlock your new Galaxy S4 unless you pay full price for it, what should you do? First of all, I don't think it's worth it to buy the Galaxy S4 at full price just so you can use it abroad with a foreign SIM. My advice is before you upgrade to the GT-I9300 , get your old smartphone unlocked. If you are out of contract, which it sounds like you are, and you're a customer in good standing with AT&T, this should not be a problem. I'd use the older, unlocked smartphone while in Spain instead of the new GT-I9300 . This way you can put a Spanish SIM card in your unlocked phone and you'll save yourself some more money. If you still want to buy the Galaxy S4 before you leave, go ahead. You can always put the device on airplane mode and use all the Internet-enabled features and apps when you are in a Wi-Fi hot spot.

Almost three years ago, I bought an iPhone 3GS with a new two-year contract from AT&T. It came with a $30 unlimited data plan. My two-year agreement ended in June of 2012. I bought the new I9300TV in October and kept my old unlimited data plan.sdDS12Dsa

I gave my old iPhone to a family member, and I added her to my plan for an additional $9.99 per month. She just put her old SIM card from her flip phone into my old iPhone. She still only uses her phone for voice calls and text messaging. She does not use any data, unless she is in a Wi-Fi hot spot.

For over a year, AT&T didn't charge me for data on the iPhone 3GS, because that line didn't use data. But then a few months ago AT&T charged an extra $30 on my monthly bill. I contacted customer support, and I told them that the discount cell phones doesn't use data. They refunded my $30.

A month later, the same thing happened again. I contacted customer support, explained the situation, and they refunded me my $30. But this time the representative said that was the last refund for me. And she said that AT&T would start charging me for data every month even though this iPhone 3GS doesn't actually access any data.

My question to you is, why is GT-I9300 able to charge me for this data when this phone isn't actually using the data service? It doesn't seem fair to me.A wireless carrier might argue that it's only fair to ask all smartphone customers to chip in the full price of a data plan since it costs billions of dollars to build these networks. Operators may also argue that it only makes sense to force subscribers to sign up for a data plan if they have a smartphone, because the phone is designed to do much more than make phone calls and send text messages. But the reality is that for frugal consumers, using a hand-me-down device and accessing the Internet only when in a Wi-Fi hot spot is a much more affordable way to use a smartphone.

This approach doesn't offer ubiquitous access, but for some people, it works just fine. It sounds like that's the case for your relative who inherited your I5 MTK6577. If you are interested in a less expensive option and your family member only wants to use data in a Wi-Fi hot spot, you may want to check out some prepaid options that offer this type of service or can at least offer you a less expensive monthly plan.

Republic Wireless may be a service to consider. It has a $19-a-month plan that offers unlimited talk, text, and data. The GT-I9300 company actually uses Wi-Fi networks throughout its coverage area to offer the data service. The only downside for you is that your relative would have to buy a new phone. And right now, the handset choices are very limited.