[Q] T-Mobile's Phone Tethering & WiFi Sharing plan - Samsung Galaxy S (4G Model)

Hey guys,
I'm new to the forum and thinking about getting a Galaxy S 4G. I have a question about tethering & WiFi Sharing.
On T-Mobile's website they list "Phone Tethering and Wi-Fi Sharing" as a separate service you can add to your plan that costs $14.99. Is it necessary to add this to my plan for me to use the Galaxy S 4G to share Wi-Fi with my laptop? Or can I turn on mobile access point without paying the extra $15/month.
And if I can use mobile AP w/out adding this to my plan, why does T-Mobile offer it? Does it allow you to go over the 5GB monthly cap?
Thanks,
Cory

Mine works without the 14.99 a month. Works on my friend's G2 also. I have no official knowledge as to why there is a charge. I did read at&t went after some of their unlimited plan users who were up to 50+ gigs. If you keep it around 5 gigs and not use it as your regular primary broadband connection, it should be fine.
Sent from my GT-I5800 using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

Don't buy this phone lack of memory and the fact that there is two awesome phones coming out in april and may LG G2x optimus and the htc pyramid.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA Premium App

I'd be more concerned about t-mobile's so called "unlimited" data plan, when it's known that after you have passed their 5 gigabyte cap, they bring you down to edge speeds.
Sent from my at&t Vibrant 4G using XDA Premium App.

Coryred5 said:
Hey guys,
I'm new to the forum and thinking about getting a Galaxy S 4G. I have a question about tethering & WiFi Sharing.
On T-Mobile's website they list "Phone Tethering and Wi-Fi Sharing" as a separate service you can add to your plan that costs $14.99. Is it necessary to add this to my plan for me to use the Galaxy S 4G to share Wi-Fi with my laptop? Or can I turn on mobile access point without paying the extra $15/month.
And if I can use mobile AP w/out adding this to my plan, why does T-Mobile offer it? Does it allow you to go over the 5GB monthly cap?
Thanks,
Cory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do your research first. TMO says LARGEST 4G NETWORK, but there are gaping 2G holes in their network even in large areas like Los Angeles, Ca. So you better know someone that has 4G in the area you are going to use your phone.

Related

Anyone w/ an Infuse + grandfather data?

My mother got and Infuse yesterday and i was over at her house playing with it with my sim in. after i was done i took my sim out and put it back in my fuze (shudder). this morning just as i was leaving the house for the day i got a text message from AT&T telling me that "An eligible data plan is required for your 4g Smartphone. We have added an appropriate data plan. Learn more at att.com/smartphoneplans."
so i disabled data and when i went into my acct on the web when i got home, sure enough the only data feature options i could choose were the new tiered data plans. i had to put my sim in my old ooooooold tmobile MDA for an hour or so until it updated the imei and then i could go back and choose the unlimited data option.
is this normal? if i upgrade to an infuse will that cancel my grandfather'd status? has anyone else grandfather'd updated and kept their data plan? if so how? and if i upgrade through best buy or amazon at the discounted price will i be allowed to keep it or do i have to go to an att store and pay the full upgrade price?
This has happened to a few people on the forums (lost the unlimited when it switched them to 4g) but it shouldn't. Call 611 or go into a store and they can fix it for you. You can have unlimited 4g with you grandfathered plan its just apparently sometimes putting people back to the 2gb.
I was able to keep my unlimited..
sent from Infuse but miss my captivate on cont. 5.5.... One day this can be as good...
They make it a hassle, but you can keep your unlimited data.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA Premium App
I got the Inuse at Best Buy and they let me keep my unlimited data without any issues. Before that I had bought the Atrix at Best Buy and had no problems either. The rep just said he was going to switch me to unlimited 4G cause the 4G plan is a bit different.
thanks all of you
the issue that occured is that our at&t systems have different classification data plans.
ie: one for blackberries, one for general smartphones (android/palm/symbian/winmo ect), iphone, and hspa+ devices. the fuse is a general classification smartphone so the message was saying that when you put your sim card in the infuse as it is a hspa+ phone, your data might not work correctly, hence the text message to change your data plan. if you go into a cor store, any rep should be able to continue your grandfathered unlimited status.
No issues here, I still have my unlimited plan...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA Premium App
If they try to do that, call customer care, let them know you have grandfathered unlimited data, they will file a case to change it back. They "accidentally" did that when they provisioned our sim cards for 4g when my wife and I got our Inspire's...
Hell yeah if they remove it I woukd transfer my four family plan to Sprint, now sprint has the same customer service as verizon up date according to recent survey.
Sent from my SAMSUNG Infuse
When you call ATT tell them it's called SmartPhone Personal.
Tell them you want to keep the unlimoted plan. Some reps may say you can't but you Can. Dont ttake no for an answer.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA Premium App
I'm a Rep with att. Just shoot to a store and do it. We are MORE than happy to switch you to the unlimited HSPA+ PLAN because its more commission for us. I switch it all the time!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA Premium App
Ok so i duno if im getting the rite plan now. Looked online and im getting Smart unlimited..$30 .. But under that u can choose something with 4g.. Also when i click on smart unlimited this windows pops up. Whats "gold list"
It was no hassle keeping my unlimited plan. She asked and I said I wanted to keep it. Done deal.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
bullet358 said:
I'm a Rep with att. Just shoot to a store and do it. We are MORE than happy to switch you to the unlimited HSPA+ PLAN because its more commission for us. I switch it all the time!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It still possible to get an unlimited plan even if you weren't grandfather by iphone or something? I only had the option for 200mb for $15 or the 2gb for $25 and no option for unlimited.
bullet358 said:
I'm a Rep with att. Just shoot to a store and do it. We are MORE than happy to switch you to the unlimited HSPA+ PLAN because its more commission for us. I switch it all the time!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, i have a question for you, i'm planing on getting an infuse on upgrade, selling that and getting a gs2. if i go back to the $30 unlimited plan when i upgrade after getting the gs2 would i be able to switch back to the cheaper unrecognized imei data plan that i'm on now?
if YOU don't choose to change to another plan, you stay grandfathered. I am still unlimited. If you choose to go to another plan because its cheaper and later decide to use tons of data, you cant go back. If your plan was automatically changed, let CS know. they have the ability to override and re-authorize unlimited.
If they switch me to the H+ unlimited from regular old unlimited will I be able to still use my sim in my HD2? Thanks!
Also has anyone bought from Amazon. How did you go about keeping your unlimited? Just sign up for one of the available plans and then call and have it switched back?
Grandafthered plan
I have grandfathered $30 real unlimited on infuse - only thing changed is 4G addition to it. I understand that they need to classify plans somehow but i do not believe that 4G changes anything related to connection speed. I live in Portland,OR area and eventhough ATT coverage is good localy there are still no real 4G speeds. I tried Inspire, Atrix and now Infuse and none of them went over 2.5Mbps download and 0.5Mbps upload -EVER.
All their bogus stories about 4G cards and 4G dataplans are fairytales --- GSM phone needs provisioned (active) SIM Card of any type, proper APN setup, and reciever able to decode given 3G /4G frequency bands. With such combination you can connect to any GSM network (provided roaming is enabled too). So you can switch SIM cards from phone to phone regardless of data plan in their system.
I was landing on PDX airport in 2009 from Frankfurt, had my N95 with Vodafone prepaid SIM in it and as soon as I turned it on, it autoconfigured and locked to Tmobile 3G network as I still had some money on it to use data and calls. I was also using one ATT SIM card with same data plan (switching to and from ) Iphone3Gs, HTC Touch Pro2, Nokia N97 and unlocked Motorola Defy. Never had single issue...
On the other hand, after being AT&T, Cingular, at&t customer for 10+ years, I am starting to wonder is their service generally worth the money I pay every month.
My bill is for 4 phones;
unlimited family text,
1400min,
real unlimited data plan for Infuse,
real unlimited data plan for Iphone,
2 unlimited data for non smartphones for kids ($10 each)
Total: ~$220 every month....
I was recently looking into Virgin Mobile plans and they give $40 unlimited calls, messages and data. For $25 you get unlimited calls, messages and 20 megs of data (for kids...and my kids use barely any data)
Now that would cut my phone bill about ~$100/month ($1200/year)
Problem is that my dear wife would let go of the Iphone only from her dead cold hands...and she is using it like it is Apache server ~ 10Gig/month
I know I am going off topic but regardless grandfathered or not, my data plan on ATT costs only $10 less then all unlimited package on Virgin mobile.
I am aware that they do not have fancy phones as ATT but honestly ATT does not have a near selection of good phones as Verizon or T-mobile...and lesser data speeds too.
Now I wanted some opinions on my thoughts to switch carriers (and just to let you know I never used anything but GSM since i got my first cell phone in 1993 in Hamburg Germany where I am originally from)

Is USB Tethering on Sensation free?!

Hey Guys, I've been in Atlantic City for two days. Have my macbook and my Sensation. Have been paying $12.99 a day for internet. I have two more days and have GREAT 4G signal in my hotel room. I would like tether either using my USB or WiFi tether. I don't think WiFi tether is free, but is USB tethering? And how does it work?
thanks in advance everyone!
It just goes against your GB cap you have on your account; but it's "free". Go for it. Plug in your sensation to the laptop and it will come up with a menu with options.
Only thing you'll need to change is under "Settings" > Wireless & Networks > USB Tethering Settings and select "OSX" instead of windows....assuming it defaults to windows.
I do WiFi hotspot all that time since when I'm at work there's no WiFi n sometimes I need to use my compok, plus I get excellent 4g signal/speeds. Bt like the above poster said, its "free", just goes against ur GB cap.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
GB Cap?
Sorry I'm new. What is GB Cap?
snarestud940 said:
Sorry I'm new. What is GB Cap?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gigabyte Cap (2 gig, 5 gig..etc); Tmo plans give you a tiered gigabyte maximum use for data before they throttle you each month (slow you down after surpassing said cap).
So don't go downloading a movie or torrents unless you want to eat that up really fast; web surfing, e-mail, games etc should be fine.
It should be mentioned that once the cap is exceeded, your connection will slow down BELOW the 2-300Kbps EDGE speeds that 2G normally is capable of. Its generally more 30-40Kbps.
EtherealRemnant said:
It should be mentioned that once the cap is exceeded, your connection will slow down BELOW the 2-300Kbps EDGE speeds that 2G normally is capable of. Its generally more 30-40Kbps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow!! I thought it would be throttled back to their normal 3G. They take it all the way down to edge. That is AWFUL!!!
So WiFi tethering on the sensation is free until u pass the cap each month?
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
snarestud940 said:
So WiFi tethering on the sensation is free until u pass the cap each month?
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its still free (included in your plan) after the cap although barely usable as a tethering device because of the low speeds. Remember the US Robotics X2 ?
so it goes against your data plan? or against your gigabyte usage for wifi hotspot? I'm confused. Don't I have unlimited internet on my phone? Or is that capped?
Not so much"capped", but all the plans have a throttling point, assuming you have a current plan. It should be in the name of the data plan. The older unlimited plans had a 5gig throttling point. You can check your usage by dialing #web#
fyi: If tmob catches you teathering with there AI Alarms, then you'll have to also pay for a monthly Teather plan...

T-Mobile now charging 14.99 for wifi sharing

This is bull****. Yesterday I was using my mobile ap on my computer and everything was going fine. Then a message popped up in my browser saying to continue using the mobile ap I need to add it to my plan for 14.99. Idk about all of you but I've had no problems since I got this phone at launch using the wifi sharing is there a way around this cuz T-Mobile is really starting to piss me off.
Sent from my SGH-T839 using XDA App
azcledel said:
This is bull****. Yesterday I was using my mobile ap on my computer and everything was going fine. Then a message popped up in my browser saying to continue using the mobile ap I need to add it to my plan for 14.99. Idk about all of you but I've had no problems since I got this phone at launch using the wifi sharing is there a way around this cuz T-Mobile is really starting to piss me off.
Sent from my SGH-T839 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, don't use the t-mobile tether app download wifi tether for root users from the market and use that. I'm assuming you are rooted?
Yea I'm rooted lol I've tried 3 tethring apps off the market and they had the same result as the built in one. I can't find the one your talking about tho. All I'm finding is the ones I already tried.
Sent from my SGH-T839 using XDA App
I used pda net but u got to pay the pro to used https websites so no fb or gmail etc
Sent from my SGH-T839 using XDA App
OP: have you gone over your high-speed data cap? i read somewhere that Tmo mainly charges for tethering if you use a LOT of data. but yeah, that would suck if they are now charging for the use of the data we have already purchased!
yogi2010 said:
OP: have you gone over your high-speed data cap? i read somewhere that Tmo mainly charges for tethering if you use a LOT of data. but yeah, that would suck if they are now charging for the use of the data we have already purchased!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No they changed it all its an added feature now. I got wifi tethering for root users tho. So I think everyone should get it maybe have it included in roms too seeing as tmobile are being cheap *****es now
Sent from my SGH-T839 using XDA App
It sounds like it's not the wifi app that's doing it, but the t-mobile data servers. I imagine they're acting as a captive portal, redirecting pageloads from a browser with a desktop user agent to their nag screen or something along those lines. I use a Sidekick 4G with the stock firmware and wifi app up here in Canada on the Wind network and it's been working fine.
(BTW, Wind beats the crap out of any American carrier! Their plans include free tethering.)
Networks are greedy they suck.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
Jax184 said:
It sounds like it's not the wifi app that's doing it, but the t-mobile data servers. I imagine they're acting as a captive portal, redirecting pageloads from a browser with a desktop user agent to their nag screen or something along those lines. I use a Sidekick 4G with the stock firmware and wifi app up here in Canada on the Wind network and it's been working fine.
(BTW, Wind beats the crap out of any American carrier! Their plans include free tethering.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A lot of the android browsers are able to set user agent as desktop so I doubt it's that. They have blocked the free tether apps from the market and only provide theirs so I think it's just them monitoring their app.
BTW I'm jealous of your free tethering, as soon as the carriers heard people were doing it here they were quick to monopolize on it
Well, if t-mobile is able to interfere with wifi tethering even when you use a third party wifi tethering app, then there must be something else at play. I can't say what though as I'm not on t-mobile.
<brag> Wind is even better than that. $40.00 after tax for unlimited calling, unlimited long distance to US/Can, unlimited text messaging to anywhere on earth, unlimited data with tethering. And I get that whenever I'm connect to a Wind tower, anywhere in Canada. It doesn't distinguish between my home city and another. And no contract. It's prepaid! </brag>
Jax184 said:
Well, if t-mobile is able to interfere with wifi tethering even when you use a third party wifi tethering app, then there must be something else at play. I can't say what though as I'm not on t-mobile.
<brag> Wind is even better than that. $40.00 after tax for unlimited calling, unlimited long distance to US/Can, unlimited text messaging to anywhere on earth, unlimited data with tethering. And I get that whenever I'm connect to a Wind tower, anywhere in Canada. It doesn't distinguish between my home city and another. And no contract. It's prepaid! </brag>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I mean is they block them in the actual market, like you can't download them. They have no way of monitoring 3rd party apps, that's why I think almost all US carriers have capped data so they can try and stop some.
Not fair man, US needs to get on bord with the contract free stuff. A cheap cell phone plan here for unlimitted is $80 a month and that comes with a 2 year contract, at&t and verizon charge around $120 for unlimitted
Have you tried sneaking one of the third party apps on to see how it works?
That's staggeringly awful. This is the most featureful cell phone plan available, and it's $40. I'm told that people in another province got the plan for $35 at one point.
Yeah we have to side load the apps, google search and download from the browser. I've had a copy in my sd card since the g1 days when things were good lol.
We also have at&t trying to buy out t-mobile which would more than likely drive prices up further. there are a few pay as you go carriers that offer cheaper plans for unlimitted data and text (around $40) but the minutes are rarely unlimited, the data is slower, and they are buying towers off the bigger companies so coverage is usually terrible
Not sure if this has been posted yet, but I've always gotten Wireless Tether straight from the Google Code site. It always has the very latest versions, but somtimes earlier ones are the more stable.
http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/downloads/list
xmeatizmurderx said:
What I mean is they block them in the actual market, like you can't download them. They have no way of monitoring 3rd party apps, that's why I think almost all US carriers have capped data so they can try and stop some.
Not fair man, US needs to get on bord with the contract free stuff. A cheap cell phone plan here for unlimitted is $80 a month and that comes with a 2 year contract, at&t and verizon charge around $120 for unlimitted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dunno man, I got 2 unlim calling lines and 2 lines with their own 500 minutes. All 4 lines have unlim SMS and data (throttled after 2gb), and I pay $132. BUT, I'm on contract. Shoot, for these prices I'd sign up for a 20yr contract lol.
farfromovin said:
I dunno man, I got 2 unlim calling lines and 2 lines with their own 500 minutes. All 4 lines have unlim SMS and data (throttled after 2gb), and I pay $132. BUT, I'm on contract. Shoot, for these prices I'd sign up for a 20yr contract lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that's the only way you can get a good deal, if you have several lines on an account. Unfortunately us americans aren't into the whole "sharing" thing so finding people to sign up with you tends to be difficult ;P
What?
EDIT: Only post paid costumers have that issue... prepaid still doesn't have the tethering service available... so it is enabled by default. http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/addons...PAsset=InternetEmail&tp=Svc_Tab_TetheringWifi
I'm not sure what everyone is talking about... I'm wifi tethering and I've never seen that message. I only tether to a linux computer though. I'm also on the $30 5GB 4G prepaid plan, with unlimited text and 100 mins (I voip with grooVe).
Maybe they are attacking specific customers... I don't think wifi sharing is even an option for prepaid. Perhaps I should stop paying a month in advanced.
oldarney said:
EDIT: Only post paid costumers have that issue... prepaid still doesn't have the tethering service available... so it is enabled by default. http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/addons...PAsset=InternetEmail&tp=Svc_Tab_TetheringWifi
I'm not sure what everyone is talking about... I'm wifi tethering and I've never seen that message. I only tether to a linux computer though. I'm also on the $30 5GB 4G prepaid plan, with unlimited text and 100 mins (I voip with grooVe).
Maybe they are attacking specific customers... I don't think wifi sharing is even an option for prepaid. Perhaps I should stop paying a month in advanced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The way tmobile explained it to me was they noticed ppl using it and changed their service if your using it and not getting the message its only a matter of time according to the reps I spoke to. I'm thinking the more data you use that gets picked up as being sent through mobile ap the quicker they catch on and slap you with the message and put a stop to it
Sent from my SGH-T839 using XDA App
So I'm still getting the tmobile page when I tether to my computer even when using wif tether for root users... this sucks :-/
Sent from my SGH-T839 using XDA App
oldarney said:
EDIT: Only post paid costumers have that issue... prepaid still doesn't have the tethering service available... so it is enabled by default.
I'm not sure what everyone is talking about... I'm wifi tethering and I've never seen that message. I only tether to a linux computer though. I'm also on the $30 5GB 4G prepaid plan, with unlimited text and 100 mins (I voip with grooVe).
Maybe they are attacking specific customers... I don't think wifi sharing is even an option for prepaid. Perhaps I should stop paying a month in advanced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on T-mobile prepaid monthly 4g plan, rooted running GingerClone ROM on my Sidekick 4g, and I've had no problem tethering. (mostly just testing it out to see if it works, running speed tests etc.)
I can see how T-mobile cracks down on post-paid plans running stock software, but with a prepaid plan on a wifi-sharing-capable phone with a custom ROM, I'm in the clear, right? T-mobile can't block tethering or charge me for it?
But ya, charging $14.99 to tether using data that you're already paying for is a complete scam. Seems like a class action suit waiting to happen.

[Q] curious about the new ICS update for the sensation 4g

ok so i was just reading this post over a tmonews it says its blocking tethering for free on the sensation4G which i don't have a use for, free or not anymore. so i check out tmobiles plans and they ditched the one i pay for now the 25.00 for 5GBs of data for the 35.00 5GB of data with tethering. will this affect me and will i be forced to use the new added data cost? if so tmobile can kiss my add good bye. I had them since the Dash3G
Updating your phone will not switch your data plan or change your monthly cost in any way.
What they are saying is that, Sensation users running Gingerbread were able to use Wifi hotspot for free, but if you want to keep using Wifi hotspot with the ICS upgrade, you will need to add the feature to your account.
If you don't use wifi hotspot, nothing to worry about.
If that's the case, I'm leaving tmob. The fact they didn't force services on me was the main reason for staying with them...... I'm in the far West side of Houston and their signal here sucks so what's the point.... Att here I come
Good luck
Sent from my HTC Sensation using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Cheapest 4G home internet option

Hi,
I will be moving onto a houseboat on saturday and am looking for an internet solution.
I am hoping to find the cheapest plan that offers me good speeds and unlimited data (if not at least a lot of GBs, MIN 10)
I will be living in marina del rey, in los angeles.
I am currently using a samsung galaxy S 1 (GT-i9000m) with straighttalk as my carrier. I pay 45$ a month for unlimited talk text and web (though the reviews say that if you go over 2GB you will likely get disconnected), the fineprints say that i am not allowed to do mobile hotspot on this plan (and they dont have an option to add that feature) but I use it everyday on the bus for webbrowsing and have not yet received any notifications (2 months in)
I would like to buy a seperate mobile hotspot device (be it a cheap used phone, or a dedicated device) and use it as my internet router on the boat. I also refuse to sign a contract, so am only considering monthly plans.
I am a heavy data consumer who sometimes uses over 100GB a month, but if need be, i will curb my habits when on the boat.
I have already done a somewhat rudimentary comparison of my options which i will list below.
T-Mobile has a cheap hotspot device for 40$ here http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Phones/cell-phone-detail.aspx?class=prepaid&cell-phone=T-Mobile-4G-Mobile-HotSpot-No-Annual-Contract-Refurbished
and they have a plan that has unlimited 4G speeds for the first 5GBs for only 30$ a month. http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans
I do not think I would be allowed to hotspot on this plan, and i do not know if they have an option to add that feature for xx$
also, that hotspot device is not LTE compatible (i think), but could I get LTE speeds on that plan if i bought an LTE hotspot phone/device?
Virgin Mobile has a plan for 35$ that claims unlimited 4G (though the fineprints say that only the first 10GB are 4g speeds), this plan is made for hotspots, so theres no problems there. http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobile-broadband-plans/broadband-2-go/overview/
and they have hotspots for 80$ here http://www.virginmobileusa.com/shop...-2-go/sierra-overdrive-pro/features/#features
MetroPCS has a reasonable offer as well
they have a 55$ plan that has true unlimited LTE service http://www.metropcs.com/metro/detail/per+month+4GLTE/4G4ME55
but i have been told by one of their reps that I cannot hotspot with this plan and cannot pay to add that feature.
Would they know if i put their SIM in a hotspot device and used it as such?
Which hotspot device would work well with MetroPCS LTE?
I think those are the only options i have found.
do you guys know of any other ones?
did i miss anything?
how does the carrier know if i am tethering?
thanks!

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