Rumor? AT&T charge for tether? - Captivate General

Hey again,
I rooted my captivate using the JH2 Rom and the Unleash the beast rooter thingy. So i was all hunky dory playing around setting up my wireless tether and showing some friends, but then one of them told me that AT&T can find out if i'm tethering and will bill me an astronomical amount at the end of the month.
Is there any truth behind this?
p.s. off topic i know, but is it possible to unroot unleash the beast?
Thanks!!

It's unlikely that AT&T will find out you're tethering unless maybe they take a closer look at your account (due to excessive usage), and see that your user agent strings are for a desktop browser, etc. But I'm not entirely sure they can even legally do that (examine your data). Just go easy (no bit torrenting) and you'll do fine.
They will charge if you they find out - it's an extra 30 bucks for tethering, and it's only 2 gigs total - which is just absurd. If they're going to charge you extra, they should at least include extra data - a lot of extra data. Tethering is quite possibly one of the biggest rip offs in the mobile industry - neck in neck with the high fees for texting.

My thing...
The initial stock ROM allowed tethering wired whether or not you paid.
The current ROM right now has tethering removed completely.. I find it outlandish that were I paying for the tethering right now I couldn't even do it legally.

AT&T has theoretically charged extra for tethering since nearly the beginning of internet access on a cell phone ...
I tether frequently when traveling (not only on my Captivate but with several other phones previously), and have yet to see any additional charges. Have also never paid the extra $20-$30 for an AT&T data plan which 'includes' tethering.
AT&T may try to lock it down in future ROMs but I imagine there will always be developers finding 'work-arounds'. They certainly have for wireless tethering ...

Wireless tethering from unleash the beast doesnt even load (FC) on my ohone,.

I'm a former at&t employee the only way they will know is if you have excessive data use. Like downloading. A couple gigs a day. If you use the tethering for normal internet browsing they will never know. Just don't do any bit torrents from Yuri device haha. You would be surprise how many peoples accounts I saw with 10 gigs in a few days. But so you know your save there isn't away for them to know what your doing they only see how much data is being sent a received.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Related

[Q] AT&T tethering, avoiding detection

From what I can gather there are 2 ways to tether (without buying tethering option), changing the APN or by rooting and running appropriate programs. I have a grandfathered unlimited plan so tethering would be great, but I'm not gonna pay extra for a tether specific plan. AT&T terms of service says that doing so will result in charge/termination...but how do they check? Changing the APN can be read (at least on an iphone, from what I read), not sure about rooting. Can anyone explain how data transfered during tethering by changing the APN will appear to the network vs a rooted tethering system. Also what is with this 5GB soft cap, I've read and believe BS.
Uh, I used my captivate w the USB tethering app from the marketplace just fine. Never got billed additionally.
The only way for them to "know" would be to check the browser agent information on the sites you visit. As long as you don't go nuts and stream netflix for days on end or host torrents you'll be fine.
I've tethered with an N1, Aria, now and Inspire all running stock unbranded froyo or CM, I've never had a tethering charge on my bill. I've gone so far as 10+ gb
while i haven't tried this on the inspire, before on my jailbroken iPhone, i ran a tethering app, using about 15gb a month for a few months in a row (was sitting in florida with no internet connection whats so ever to use but the phone) i never had a problem.
ive been using tethering for years on my incite,pure,tilt2,hd2 and now my inspire and never been charged extra for it.im glad they cant tell or i would owe them lots of money
double post.
I've tethered on my my old tilt 2 every day, with no issues up to 5GB. I sideloaded PDAnet on my inspire already, and plan to use it as well.
Scott
Tethering Data Usage
The Least amount I have ever had in a Month between the Inspire,Iphone 4,Iphone 3GS,Captivate,ARIA,with "MyWi",Rooting,Jailbreaking,Whatever method (I am a phone Junkie)using my Grandfathered Data Plan is 63Gigs in a Month and usually between 150 to 180 Gigs and never a Problem,They actually game me the 3rd Degree when I wanted to keep my Unlimited plan with the 4G Inspire and I told them I stream Movies,ie. Netflix,and I run a router Flashed with "DD-WRT" using the HotSpot and I have 3 teenage Boys that are Gaming,ect Constantly. My Argument is that is what "Unlimited " Means,I said to AT&T I have 5 Smartphones and have had for 6 years,I will take my Business Elsewhere,they called me back the next Day and said I could Keep the Unlimited because of my longtime status,I was one of the very first to win the Argument,I got home with my Inspire and the next day got a Data Usage Warning that I was at my 2 gig Max after the Guy in the Store said I could keep my Data Plan,Corporate said NO Way, I told them I was bringing the phone back and going elsewhere with my Business,Within a Day I had my Plan back in tact,Vegas
Wow....some people need to spring for broadband it seems.
63 gigs a month? WTF?????
Sent from Desire HD or Inspire 4G or whatever this thing is called via premium XDA app.
People like him are why the rest of us lost the ability to choose unlimited
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
daveop said:
People like him are why the rest of us lost the ability to choose unlimited
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
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Your right in that one.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
I'd love to watch him and his boys at the "all you can eat buffet"
newter55 said:
I'd love to watch him and his boys at the "all you can eat buffet"
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I do believe the owner of said buffet would be crying...
Iphone4 and APN detection vs website red flag, pdanet?
Question: I have an iPhone 4 mod with 4.3.1
Was on a lot recently in last month - 5-10 g possible downloads- got the death message from AT&T . Will charge if I don't reform ways. ( feel like some kid) what bs! Have unlimited data plan. I
I use an HP mini laptop with win 7 starter OPS, I am tethering (wireless),
Guy who jb my phone - said that detection happens by - when tethered- when downloading either by choice or by auto update - programs like flash player and adobe PDF , Microsoft windows , AT&T sees download traffic and flags as obvious tether for laptop thus their 'unauthorized'tethering traffic going on.
Is this the case- not APN ISSUE?- site location issue?
I oftentimes use remote tethering to downloading and updating data files on programs that are native to both desktop and iPhone to exchange data. I need tethering - don't need limit to band width nor 45$month charge.
If monitoring locations what steps needed other than obvious -not downloading flash updates nor adobe reader updates while online? Problem is I have quit a few programs- can't seem to completely be free of auto updates- adobe is not allowing pure manual update preference setting-to set on auto update feature.
Also does pdanet work as stated??
PDA net doesn't shield site location just APN's?! Correct? What is ideAl settings to
Max out protection . Thank-you
Guess not one of you using 60 gigs a month knows that you can get DSL, UVerse HSI, Cable HSI, etc for like $20 bucks a month for a year.
I know. It really tickles me when I hear people complain about not being able to tether or being caught for tethering. And ATT is the bad guy here?? You have never been allowed to tether on ATT without a tethering plan. FACT. Unlimited data is not unlimited. FACT. Even on the prior unlimited plan there has always been a fair useage policy of 5GB. Anything over 5GB is considered excessive. For the most part it has been overlooked by ATT.
The only BS here is those that abuse the system and come here to cry about it.
Agoattamer said:
I know. It really tickles me when I hear people complain about not being able to tether or being caught for tethering. And ATT is the bad guy here?? You have never been allowed to tether on ATT without a tethering plan. FACT. Unlimited data is not unlimited. FACT. Even on the prior unlimited plan there has always been a fair useage policy of 5GB. Anything over 5GB is considered excessive. For the most part it has been overlooked by ATT.
The only BS here is those that abuse the system and come here to cry about it.
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+1
I too am tired about people complaining about caps and tethering plans. Att networks are not ready for this kind of traffic yet. I'm sure they want to be able to offer it to people as much as they want it. People don't understand that if they just let you do whatever you wanted to now, everyone's experience would be terrible. Let them build up their networks and maybe someday it will change, but until then, just accept the fact that you still need home internet and tv service. Besides, I think its cool that att is letting people even keep unlimited data plans.
Phone: HTC Inspire 4gRadio: 26.13.04.19
Ril: 2.2.0179Rom: GB Sense 4.0 by fshami
The only times I've tethered is when I'm on the road and there is no wifi for my laptop. Even then it was just for web browsing and for no longer than 30 minutes at a time.

At&the now detecting tethering by packet type value

Is it possible to change the tethering application built into most roms so that it won't deincrement the ttl value?
where did you get this info at?
http://osxdaily.com/2011/03/17/att-cracking-down-on-unofficial-iphone-tethering-mywi-users/
http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/03/18/att.clamps.down.on.unofficial.tethering.users/
If you dig through the comments on those articles, it appears that the people who receive the letters are using in excess of 5GB on their unlimited data plan.
Case in point: One of the comments was from a guy who said that his wife was sent the notice from AT&T. From what he says, she hasn't ever tethered, but she's always listening to streaming audio or watching streaming video.
This is nothing new for AT&T. They have long held that 5GB is 'effectively unlimited' for a smartphone, and that anyone who uses more must be using a computer tethered to the phone. With the phones we have now, that simply is not the case anymore. But AT&T is using that as an excuse to try and get people off of the unlimited plans and on to something where they can charge customers more money.
Krynn! said:
If you dig through the comments on those articles, it appears that the people who receive the letters are using in excess of 5GB on their unlimited data plan.
Case in point: One of the comments was from a guy who said that his wife was sent the notice from AT&T. From what he says, she hasn't ever tethered, but she's always listening to streaming audio or watching streaming video.
This is nothing new for AT&T. They have long held that 5GB is 'effectively unlimited' for a smartphone, and that anyone who uses more must be using a computer tethered to the phone. With the phones we have now, that simply is not the case anymore. But AT&T is using that as an excuse to try and get people off of the unlimited plans and on to something where they can charge customers more money.
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I hope you're right.
Also just saw this......I personally dont tether much but have used mobile AP. Might be worth looking into for those that do tether.
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2011/03/18/att-shutting-down-unauthorized-tetherers/
cnigro1279 said:
Also just saw this......I personally dont tether much but have used mobile AP. Might be worth looking into for those that do tether.
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2011/03/18/att-shutting-down-unauthorized-tetherers/
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If they are using ttl to detect tethering, then mobile ap would be effected. I'm not sure if usb tethering does deincrement ttl. All the reports seem to be mentioning WiFi tethering.
i think its a scare tactic.
I don't think they are detecting tethering. I think they are targeting people going beyond a certain threshold of usage as suspected tethereres (4gb or 5gb or more likely)
bames said:
i think its a scare tactic.
I don't think they are detecting tethering. I think they are targeting people going beyond a certain threshold of usage as suspected tethereres (4gb or 5gb or more likely)
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+1
Just a scare tactic. I'm on my 11th day of this months cycle, and between tethering, mobile ap, and downloads, I'm sitting at 9gb of data usage and haven't heard anything from AT&T. Yet
vunuts said:
+1
Just a scare tactic. I'm on my 11th day of this months cycle, and between tethering, mobile ap, and downloads, I'm sitting at 9gb of data usage and haven't heard anything from AT&T. Yet
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WOW what are you doing to use 9gb of data lol.
Even though i think its more of a scare tactic i think it can be done...its just not cost efficient to do it wide scale unless their is a huge red flag...like oh say 9gb of data usage . I won't be surprised if you get a letter if your usage rates continually reach anywhere near that later as i suspect that is the type of red flag that may cause them to actually take the time to audit the account and look at the ttl/packet data more closely.
if you have a 2gb or even unlimited and tether never going over 2gb i seriously doubt you would received letter or raise an eyebrow.
This goes back to my initial thought on how stupid their marketing team and management decisions are.
ALLOW FREE TETHERING
Pay for the extra data you need. It breaks down to the same cost...they are just being short sighted and greedy hoping people will think oh...2gb more data for 20bucks and then continue to not even fully use the 2gb they already had paid for on their smartphones plan (they are playing on peoples ignorance of how much data they are actually using). Part of good business and sales is fitting the client with their needs so they can afford it and continue to be a good longterm customer rather than bilking them for services they don't need or use (much like requiring all smartphones to have data plans when some smartphone users could be completely happy with a smartphone and wifi only usage).
If i have $25 2gb plan and want to tether and don't go over 2gb DON'T CHARGE EXTRA or REQUIRE TETHERING. If i go over charge me by the GB just like you would if i used all the data on my smartphones. 2gb Plan + 2gb overage =$45 for that months data (shouldn't matter whether it was used tethered or untethered). If i have a 2gb plan and tether and only use 3gb for the plan why not allow my to pay for 3gb data instead of forcing me to pay for 4gb/tethering. Let people police and pay for their usage. DATA IS DATA and it doesn't cost more for att to deliver 4gb to a tethered user than it does to someone using the 4gb downloading torrents or streaming movies on their smartphone.
Seems like it would be great customer relations, marketing, and a blow to verizon if ATT and came out with a marketing campaign that said Free Mobile AP/Tethering. Use as much data as you need....pay for the data you use. If those still grandfathered under unlimited plans are the concern you could easily audit those accounts if the usage is excessive and either throttle or require tethering for unlimited plans only which might encourage more people to give up the unlimited and take one of the tiered plans. They talk about tethers using all the data while i suspect those doing a combination of significant streaming and downloading torrent using in an untethered state.
A good question is why is one industry being allowed wipe their A** with net neutrality (with so little backlash)
bames said:
WOW what are you doing to use 9gb of data lol.
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Lol, I just opened my own auto shop, and we have yet to get internet hooked up in there, so I'm tethered to my desktop there for about 5-8 hours a day. I wouldn't be surprised if I do hear from AT&T, but they can't do anything to me. They've tried before and I fought them and won. I have unlimited text and data and I'm going to use it to my advantage. If they want to try and blow smoke up my ass, go for it. I'll blow it right back
Funny how this coincided with the new bandwidth cap for cable customers... AT&T is slowly trying to eliminate all unlimited customers. I wish they spent as much time working on increasing signal strength across the US as they do finding ways to squeeze more money from their customers.
vunuts said:
+1
Just a scare tactic. I'm on my 11th day of this months cycle, and between tethering, mobile ap, and downloads, I'm sitting at 9gb of data usage and haven't heard anything from AT&T. Yet
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I thought my 3 -4 gb / month was a lot.
Isn't a byte of data still a byte of data no matter how you view your porn.
what they are doing with tethering would be akin charging us $10 per month to use google navigation.
They could say "hey our navigation per att nav with your device is $10 per month.....if you want to use navigation on your phone you must have a navigation plan add on and if you try to use another free navigation program we can tell and will change your plan without your permission"
I don't get any letters, but I get a "friendly call" from AT&T about every other month asking why I use so much data. I've been on unlimited since it first came out and I'm taking full advantage of it. When I get the call about my usage, I start downloading on my phone, just to eat more data. I've downloaded several ISOs of Linux distros and MS ISOs from the MSDN. Is it my fault I signed up for 'unlimited data' or is it there fault they didn't look into the future? ComCast tried to complain when I pulled down over 300gb in a month and wanted to charge me for it. Sent off a copy of the original contract and there was no bandwidth cap in it. It becomes a breach of contract if you haven't physically signed anything new accepting and agreeing to the new changes.
If you don't mind switching carriers (which isn't that attractive because they all suck and use the same ploys pretty much)
but if they change your plan (for example adding a tethering plan to your account) you have 30 days to cancel your contract WITHOUT penalty no matter how many months you have remaining.
bames said:
If you don't mind switching carriers (which isn't that attractive because they all suck and use the same ploys pretty much)
but if they change your plan (for example adding a tethering plan to your account) you have 30 days to cancel your contract WITHOUT penalty no matter how many months you have remaining.
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This is true. You can avoid any early termination fees and essentially end your contract in good standing credit wise.
pbclst said:
I don't get any letters, but I get a "friendly call" from AT&T about every other month asking why I use so much data. I've been on unlimited since it first came out and I'm taking full advantage of it. When I get the call about my usage, I start downloading on my phone, just to eat more data. I've downloaded several ISOs of Linux distros and MS ISOs from the MSDN. Is it my fault I signed up for 'unlimited data' or is it there fault they didn't look into the future? ComCast tried to complain when I pulled down over 300gb in a month and wanted to charge me for it. Sent off a copy of the original contract and there was no bandwidth cap in it. It becomes a breach of contract if you haven't physically signed anything new accepting and agreeing to the new changes.
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For every time they call and ask you you should place 20 calls to their customer support line asking them why someone called you again and telling them you just wanted to make sure they knew you had an unlimited data plan because someone keeps calling.
vunuts said:
Lol, I just opened my own auto shop, and we have yet to get internet hooked up in there, so I'm tethered to my desktop there for about 5-8 hours a day. I wouldn't be surprised if I do hear from AT&T, but they can't do anything to me. They've tried before and I fought them and won. I have unlimited text and data and I'm going to use it to my advantage. If they want to try and blow smoke up my ass, go for it. I'll blow it right back
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I'm sorry, but this attitude just rubs me raw. Cell phones were never designed to be ISPs. It's abusers like you that have made it hard for the rest of us by forcing AT$T to eliminate unlimited plans and by slowing down the network with your extreme usage. Why do so many feel the need to squeeze whatever they can however they can out of a company? If you think they're screwing you then simply take your business elsewhere.
People receiving the letter today are iphone users? am i correct? Did any android user receive it?

[Q] Teathering and Wifi Extra T-Mobile?

I use my Touch Pro 2 to share internet with my laptop and I dont pay any extra for it with my current t-mobile plan. I avg about 200-250kb per second downloads (pretty decent) and when teathered with my gaming pc I play Battleground Europe online and get an avg ping time of 150ms so its great but t-mobile is telling me I will have to pay an additional $15 per month to teather with the G2x which I dont want to do since I dont have to now for internet. I'm using a custom Energy Windows Mobile 6.5 rom currently and it also works great with bluetooth internet sharing so I dont even need to teather using my bluetooth adapter on my laptop. Is there anyway to have the same data teathering with the G2x without having to pay the extra $15 per month to t-mobile? Is this just a matter of installing the necessary applications to make that work as it does on my Touch Pro 2?
Not sure this adds too much to the conversation but I had been able to tether with my Vibrant for free until a couple weeks ago when I got a text advising I would need to purchase the plan, the next time I tethered it blocked tethering, I think this is happnening to all ther phones now that they offer a tethering plan. Would be interested in hearing if there is a work around though, I may use mine 1x a month for a limited amount of data so I can't justify the extra $15.
I did some searching and found this thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=840539&highlight=t-mobile+teather&page=15
Sorry should have searched before posting. Plenty of information on this issue. But since I am eyeballing the G2x as my next phone and have very little experience with Android phones I would like to know if anyone that has this phone is teathering with it with no issues and of course not paying the additional $15 fee.
from what i have found is if you use the default tethering in the options you will see this happen. I have been using the Wifi Tether app http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/ and have yet to see a problem. I used with my N1 as well as with my G2X right now and haven't got a text yet.
I've been tethering for the past year using Easy Tether with no problems. If they end up catching me I'll just do one of the many work arounds.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Good to know. Thanks for the info.
I think it's extra just for Tethering. I think HotSpot is included with Data plan. At least that's what the T-Mobile Website says.

Tether Police: Has Anyone had to Change plan?

I'm just curious if ATT is just bluffing? Are there tethering solutions that hide activity from ATT? PDAnet claims it does, but you have to pay $15 to get full version that accesses secure sites. However I have no idea what PDAnet does to hide it, or it if it works.
Stock roms will have a program that sends data to att on what type of data is being downloaded. From that, they will know if you are tethering. Custom roms removes that useless program, but crazy big data usage will probably get you in hot water.
Many of us that were running stock roms got the letter/text/email
They did not change my plan....but I stopped did not tether afyer getting the warnings.
Was in a bbind last week and tethered for a few hours and nada....no warnings etc.
xdahgary said:
Stock roms will have a program that sends data to att on what type of data is being downloaded. From that, they will know if you are tethering. Custom roms removes that useless program, but crazy big data usage will probably get you in hot water.
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Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
I got the message today and I called about it. I don't know how it is they know or can detect it. I stream a lot, but I haven't tethered in over 2 months. Somehow they just target big data users, apparently and assume the worst. I'm going to unroot and s-on my phone and take it in to the store and see what they have to say..
I dont have unlimted data, but i teather My laptop ALL the time at work.....watch netflix, or hulu, even download roms......i never go over 2gigs because thats all i have on my Plan......but i have never gotten a letter or text.
i think its just for the Big Data users<<<
another good reason to root/ and install a custom rom
I tethered a bunch last year when I had my iPhone, I am still currently on the "unlimited" data plan.
I just put the MIUI rom on my phone a couple weeks ago, and tethered to my wife's tablet. She only checked a couple web pages to verify it worked.
The other day I get the email telling me if I don't stop tethering after October 31st I will be charged and put on a tethering plan automatically.
I wonder if they looked back as far as a year and totaled up all my tethering..
Are they really just going after the "unlimited" users??
If that is the case, I will tether through my wife's captivate running MIUI rom, as she is on the 2GB data plan, and just monitor as to not go over...
the2rrell said:
I dont have unlimted data, but i teather My laptop ALL the time at work.....watch netflix, or hulu, even download roms......i never go over 2gigs because thats all i have on my Plan......but i have never gotten a letter or text.
i think its just for the Big Data users<<<
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I've never used over 1gig and I got a letter. I only tethered very briefly 5-6 times I have had the phone. Once for a few hours but just browsing no downloading or anything (internet outage) but that was months ago as well.
Speaking of data plans, I gave my old HTC Pure to my brother. He had a "dumb" phone with no data plan previously, but when I put his sim in and fired it up, it used a little bit of data. Therefore, AT&T signed him up for a data plan automatically. He called about it to cancel and they refused to let him off of the plan because he's using a smartphone. I know AT&T requires a data plan with the PURCHASE of a smartphone, but I didn't think you had to purchase one for merely using a smartphone. I think this is down right false. What's the story?
You have to look into blocking AT&T from seeing your phone as a smartphone which is changing the IMEI which is also illegal to my knowledge. Some people call in and change the imei every time it changes.
Sent from my SGH-I997 using XDA App
You can change the imei all you want but att still ends up finding out you are using a smartphone. I get calls about the same issue everyday. Put your sim in a blackberry and use data and now u have a bb data plan. My imei shows all 1s and unknown manufacturer but still reads as a smartphone. Atts systems arent as stupid as most of you think
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using xda premium
If your IMEI number shows all 1's then AT&T shouldn't notice you are on a smartphone. If they notice then there's anothing thing with your APN settings because as far as I know the IMEI number shows up in a system not our billing system but another system where I can tell you what time and day and phones you have used and switched from to.. etc..
Sent from my SGH-I997 using XDA App
I tether all the time. Custom Rom. No calls or issues.
In all the time I've done support for my organization across all the smartphone carriers (BES setup/smartphone support/etc), I've never seen any customer have a data plan 'automatically' added to their plan. Every single time, it simply fails to load webpages unless we get on the phone and make sure their data is configured in their wireless plan. I am fairly confident that when people think this happens automatically, it's because they did something wrong or agreed to a data-as-you-go option.
Just the other day I had major issues trying to set up a Blackberry on BES after moving the SIM over from an iPhone. The network refused to recognize the change in IMEI and device information. It took a call to ATT to fix it and make sure the plan was changed from 'iPhone' data to 'Blackberry' data.
Actually I see people get data plans added everyday automatically and I have to deal with them... although I haven't seen a tethered one yet.
Sent from my SGH-I997 using XDA App
@Max. Im a tech and i handle that all day. We use 2 main systems. One will show the imei and the other is just basic t/s but it also shows what phone they are using no matter if the ime says in it. Look for all 1s on the imei and then look at the first system you pull up. It will show the model. Or take your sim and put it in a diff phone and i bet u anything that phone will show up!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using xda premium
Yup Busted!!
Yup I was busted and it wasnt for tethering. ATT said I was tethering in Sept. I informed them that i was simply streaming music and that I used pandora rather then the radio in order to listen to music. And that it was not being used to provide internet access for my laptop. that while yes it was connected to my computer while streaming it was to keep the phone charging...nothing i could do to keep my unlimited data, was transferred to a 4GB tethering plan, when pressed as to why. they reffered me to paragraph 6,1-6.2. which basically states that if you are adversly affect their network (i.e larger amounts of data) or tether in any way (connect to ANY other device in ANY fashion to transfer data) they reserve the right to change plan as they see fit.
I Was averaging 6-8GB of data per month and would guess that at max actual tethering accounted for 1GB or less. Seems as if they are mainly targeting high data users and waiting for any excuse to change your plan
.
Furthermore, plans (unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/smartphone to computer accessories, BLUETOOTH® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose. Accordingly, AT&T reserves the right to (i) deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited or whose usage adversely impacts its wireless network or service levels or hinders access to its wireless network, including without limitation, after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive usage
Yea right i bet att told u to post that here as a scare tactic. Show prof this happen to you then i will believe that happen
. This did happen to iPhone users not androids. If this happen to android users it would have been in the media by now
socialal said:
Yup I was busted and it wasnt for tethering. ATT said I was tethering in Sept. I informed them that i was simply streaming music and that I used pandora rather then the radio in order to listen to music. And that it was not being used to provide internet access for my laptop. that while yes it was connected to my computer while streaming it was to keep the phone charging...nothing i could do to keep my unlimited data, was transferred to a 4GB tethering plan, when pressed as to why. they reffered me to paragraph 6,1-6.2. which basically states that if you are adversly affect their network (i.e larger amounts of data) or tether in any way (connect to ANY other device in ANY fashion to transfer data) they reserve the right to change plan as they see fit.
I Was averaging 6-8GB of data per month and would guess that at max actual tethering accounted for 1GB or less. Seems as if they are mainly targeting high data users and waiting for any excuse to change your plan
.
Furthermore, plans (unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/smartphone to computer accessories, BLUETOOTH® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose. Accordingly, AT&T reserves the right to (i) deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited or whose usage adversely impacts its wireless network or service levels or hinders access to its wireless network, including without limitation, after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive usage
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Click to collapse
Nope and dont work for ATT and the quotes I posted are where i was told to go by a manager from att when i called protesting the change..check out paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 of the customer agreement that you signed/agreed to. DUH!!! its happening all over the place. I know of at least 2 other people who have gotten busted (HTC and sony erickson android devices). And NO I wasnt using app the few times i did tether it. I used the native samsung funtionality. and do yourself a favor and google it.I lost my $35 per month unlimited plan in favor of a 5GB $45 per month.
Im going to try calling and talking them out of it one more time....beware the 9am text messages from ATT
socialal said:
Nope and dont work for ATT and the quotes I posted are where i was told to go by a manager from att when i called protesting the change..check out paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 of the customer agreement that you signed/agreed to. DUH!!! its happening all over the place. I know of at least 2 other people who have gotten busted (HTC and sony erickson android devices). And NO I wasnt using app the few times i did tether it. I used the native samsung funtionality. and do yourself a favor and google it.I lost my $35 per month unlimited plan in favor of a 5GB $45 per month.
Im going to try calling and talking them out of it one more time....beware the 9am text messages from ATT
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait. Didn't you say the first time that you didn't tether? Now you did? So did you or didn't you tether data?
Sent from my not-an-iPod

T-Mobile to punish tethering theives!

http://www.theverge.com/2015/8/31/9230595/t-mobile-unlimited-data-tethering-warning
I got my warning however tethering the normal way no longer works. Idk why. Might be my APN. So currently my only ability to tether is using WifiTetherRouter. I'm not sure but the post says once a customer has hit their limit they will be able to track who is using more tethering than they have. So not sure if they can still track people who are tethering before the limit is hit. This is my only current means of Internet. They think blocking my ability to tether is going to stop me from using my 9999999999tb monthly cap they are mistaken. I do most of my data downloads directly on my phone. 160 to 180gb worth a month. If they don't like it they shouldn't have given unlimited data. For what they want you to use it for, you won't even use up 5gb total. Browsing the Web and Facebooking.
What phone do you have and what method did you use to tether?
Wifi Tether Router used to not count against my tethering allotment, but now it does.
I also USB tether with PdaNet+, but I don't know yet if they detect this and count it against my allotment. I won't know (unless someone else confirms or denies) for a few days, because I only noticed this today after getting a text message that I've hit 80% of my allotment (6.1 out of 7.0GB), and I've got a few days left on my billing cycle, so I have to be cautious and conservative until it resets. I know Wifi Tether Router does this because tested it while watching the "Space Mutiny" MST3K episode on youtube (I got about half-way through it and went from 6.1 to 6.3GB used). I'll keep an eye on it and give updates when I have something to report.
I did get the dreaded text message about violating the TOS by concealing tether usage to circumvent my 7.0GB allotment with my plan. It's interesting that they're able to detect, and now track wifi tethering with Wifi Tether Router, yet are still threatening to "punish" abusers. Because what would be the point since I'd hit my 7.0GB allotment and get throttled to 128kb/sec? This leads me to believe that other methods might still work. Maybe signing up for a VPN? I'm still worried though (since I'm already flagged), and I'm going to radically change my habits, at least for the time being. I'd hate to have to switch to Sprint. I do use a lot of data. Right now I'm at 118GB with a couple days left on my cycle. Once (the first or second month after switching) I hit just shy of 400GB, but that was because I'd just come from Verizon where I had a 4GB limit (and absurd bills because I'd go over), so I did a ton of downloading. Most months I'm under 200GB. Maybe the FCC will slap T-Mobile on the wrist and tell them they can't do this, but I have no idea if what they're threatening is truly kosher or not. It does irk me that Legere has been spending the last couple years spouting all this "Uncarrier" and "truly unlimited" stuff, and first they semi-throttle during peak times if you go over 21GB/month, and now this business. Yet, music streaming doesn't count? What if someone streams 12 hours of music every day, using the cheapest plan? How much data does that use? How is that less evil than downloading torrents to my phone then transferring them over to my PC instead of just tethering and downloading to my PC (arguments about torrenting/piracy aside). How is tethering and watching Amazon Prime, youtube, or whatever on my TV any different than doing the same on my phone? Same data, same content, yet I'm a data thief?
As I mentioned, torrenting is another issue, because you're uploading as well as downloading, so I can see why they'd get upset with that. I also find it irksome that in their press-release they mention nearly 3000 customers (wow, I'm one of 3000!), some who use as much as 2TB/month. I can't even conceive of actually using that much data for myself. So it's obvious that those users are running torrent servers (constant ones, not just download and delete), or game servers, or running a hotspot for entire household. And I don't like being lumped into that group of true abusers, even though I lose some moral ground on the torrent issue (plus the whole piracy thing).
I guess I need to buy some more 64GB microSD cards...
I notice WiFi Tether Router does let some leak in. I used PDA net on my old vetizon work phone that had no tethering plan. It allowed me to tether despite not having tethering on the plan.
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