T-mobile Prepaid Data still available?

[hanguolaohu]

I'm using a Pwnage v3.1.2 unlocked iPhone 2G on T-mobile's prepaid plan. I'm dying for data but am not sure whether the T-zones hack still works, and I didn't want to try it as my current plan is I pay 10 cents/minute whenever I use the phone, which is a much better deal than the Sidekick's $1/day & 15 cents/min. plan. My question is:

How do I get data on my T-mobile prepaid plan?

I've researched this question on the forums already, but it seems that the situation keeps changing as T-mobile blocked iPhone users on T-zones in August.

Thanks.

[lightyear22]

I continue to use t-mobile pre-paid with the side kick plan. I have to use a VPN server to log on to before I can surf the internet and use apps. I have a VPN server at the house so the home cable connection is used for the internet with edge getting me there through the VPN tunnel. I am stunned that this still works. The down side is that you have to connect to the vpn every time you want the internet or network over edge. The t-mobile service is so spotty where I am I feel it is my best option to pay as I go, and not get locked up in a contract. You cant get unlimited internet and unlimited messaging for a dollar a day anywhere. I also have skype with the free 3g hack and can make skype calls over the edge connection via the VPN and still have decent quality. I was amazed at this. The server at the house is a mac mini running iVPN 2.4b for the VPN and Ziproxy 2.7.2 that recompress's the web pages to be sent to the phone for faster load times. I still load my iphone every month and when it stops working I am sure another work around will be found. This is not my primary phone so I am happy with the small things I need to do to keep my data at a reasonable price. I also like the challenge!

[GIRLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL]

The only prepaid data T-Mobile offers is Flexpay and that's bundled with a minimum voice plan of 29.99.

[hanguolaohu]

lightyear22, can you connect to the VPN when you're outside or only while on your home's wifi network? Sounds a bit complicated :-p

Girl, so is the Tzones hack totally dead now? I read earlier posts by you mentioning using an APN of "epc.tmobile.com". Is that the APN for Flexpay only?

[GIRLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL]

T-Zones is gone, and T-Zones required a voice plan.

[lightyear22]

I only use the VPN when on T-mobile edge network. No Wifi. I can use the VPN over wifi for private surfing in public free wifi areas. It is kinda complicated, but a little reading and trial and error it will work. Good Luck!

[allmanbrother]

Settings-General-Network-Cellular Data Network-APN. Enter wap.voicestream.com, this allows access to CNN, ABC and ESPN over edge on T-Mobile Prepaid. Cheers ^^

[hanguolaohu]

Thank you Allmanbrother, great tip! Just wish there was access to Google Maps, the main reason I would need data! :-p

[allmanbrother]

Glad I could help . Hopefully the AT&T rates (which are ridiculous) will go down or maybe Apple will sign with another carrier, until then I'm ok with news/weather/sports, and alot of locations now offer free wifi.