[q] at&t new data charges for tethering - Captivate General

I'm grand fathered in to the AT&T Unlimited Data plan $30 extra a month. I just received a letter telling me that due to my tethering usage, they will automatically enroll me into a 4GB monthly tethering plan and add extra charges. It doesn't make sense to have an unlimited data plan if you can't use it for tethering. You've paid for the data so what difference does it make if you use it for tethering.
Any feedback would be well appreciated and also if there is any app that can mask the tethering mode of your device so they think its only the device using the data.

This thread again??

studacris said:
This thread again??
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Lol I know right.
I am not amused by your phones performance

This has been covered too many times to count in the past few months. Bottom line is read your TOS. Unlimited data was started for the business user that had to use alot of data while away from his PC. Not for the person wanting to tether.
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Related

Data Plan Differences?

I'm currently using an unlocked G1 on AT&T. I went way over my data usage ($1200 over) and AT&T said they would backtrack it if I signed up for a data plan. I said ok and they gave me the Data Unlimited plan ($15). What is the difference between the Data Unlimited Plan ($15) and the PDA Personal Plan ($30)? Will I be charged more since I have a smartphone and am using the internet as much as I want or will the Data Unlimited cover that?
No, you get charged for the plan you have. Your device is considered a PDA (according to them that is) since it has a QWERTY keyboard. There's absolutely no difference but ATT just wants us PDA users more since we apparently get more out of the internet. If you don't need it, i'd call and cancel it.
I got the iPhone yesterday and 3 minutes later, I sold it. Called them up and she removed it for me.
Well I want to keep the internet plan so I can use the internet without being charged per usage. So just to clarify, because AT&T assigned the Data Unlimited plan (on the website since my phone is from T-Mobile it's just represented by a generic phone and not a smartphone) to me it will cover all my internet usage?
Fuze*Freak said:
Well I want to keep the internet plan so I can use the internet without being charged per usage. So just to clarify, because AT&T assigned the Data Unlimited plan (on the website since my phone is from T-Mobile it's just represented by a generic phone and not a smartphone) to me it will cover all my internet usage?
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Yes (except tether which you need a separate plan for).
I believe the data unlimited just includes internet access, while the more expensive PDA Personal plan includes unlimited messaging ( sms, mms ) too. I think there in lies the cost difference.
denco7 said:
I believe the data unlimited just includes internet access, while the more expensive PDA Personal plan includes unlimited messaging ( sms, mms ) too. I think there in lies the cost difference.
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SMS/MMS are a different package.
kareeem said:
SMS/MMS are a different package.
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On the data unlimited package, on the pda personal package they are included.
I have the pda personal package with no separate sms package and get unlimited texts.
Which is why, even though his phone is considered a pda, he is still getting the cheaper plan.
That's the 50 dollar plan, right?
That's the $30.00 dollar PDA personal plan.
that is on top of the $39.99 phone plan.
$15 unlimited plan!??!?!
what state do you get this plan in? i'm moving . . . i pay either $50-$65 for unlimited (5GB)!
5GB = unlimited --------- weird eh
ciao
reperion said:
what state do you get this plan in? i'm moving . . . i pay either $50-$65 for unlimited (5GB)!
5GB = unlimited --------- weird ehciao[ /QUOTE]
$20 unlimited data plan with tmobile usa! I would go broke with your plan
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(T-Mobile US) What happens if you attempt to wifi tether using stock menu options?

So what happens if you set up wifi tethering and start using it without a tethering plan?
Do they know automatically or do they attempt to guess based on increases in data usage?
This would be using the menu options available to you under Network settings in STOCK (not rooted).
there no tethering plan with t-mobile you can wifi tether all you want. But if they do see that you're hitting your cap quickly lets say in a 3 month period. they'll text you if you want to upgrade.
when I was picking up my mt4gs, I overheard a rep trying to sell people an additional tethering plan. is that for unlimited tethering? I wanted to walk up to them and tell them I have been tethering since the G1 without any additional plan... the only real issue is getting throttled, but most months I don't hit the data cap.
pmcqueen said:
when I was picking up my mt4gs, I overheard a rep trying to sell people an additional tethering plan. is that for unlimited tethering? I wanted to walk up to them and tell them I have been tethering since the G1 without any additional plan... the only real issue is getting throttled, but most months I don't hit the data cap.
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Well the rep that sold me my MT4GS said that they don't throttle automatically. He had one customer use 200+GB before he was throttled. Apparently it's hit or miss anyway and he basically talked me into a lower data rate because of it.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App
If you attempt to tether or do wi-fi sharing on any T-mobile phone that is capable of it one of four things will happen.. Either
A) it will fail...
B) Any browsing attempt will re-direct you to T-mobile.com
C) You will automatically get directed to a page that prompts you to call Customer care to add the $14.99/month Tethering and Wi-Fi sharing feature
D) It will allow you to browse a certain amount and then give you the above page.
The feature has to be on the account for tethering to work long term.. Even if you get away with it for a short time, eventually they will catch you and shut you off until you add the feature. The $14.99/month allows you to share whatever data is on your phone (2GB, 5GB, 10GB) with the phone and Tethering... SO... If you have the 5GB data plan, you get 5GB to share between tethering and your regular phone data usage, then speeds get slowed down to approx 100kbps after that until the bill cycle resets.
Like i told you before there is no tethering plan for t-mobile. My gf tether her phone with her iPad all the time. Nothing had happen so far.
Say that now, but I am guaranteeing you that T-mobile will catch up with her eventually.. There IS a tethering plan and you can call T-mobile and and verify that whenever you want.
Brock6949 said:
Say that now, but I am guaranteeing you that T-mobile will catch up with her eventually.. There IS a tethering plan and you can call T-mobile and and verify that whenever you want.
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I've been tethering since 2008 without a plan.
perhaps it has something to do with new data plans? I've had a grandfathered data plan for years.
pmcqueen said:
I've been tethering since 2008 without a plan.
perhaps it has something to do with new data plans? I've had a grandfathered data plan for years.
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Same and I have a grandfathered unlimited data plan that comes with unlimited texts for only $35. Been tethering forever.
I think he's just making it up. hahaha
A grandfathered plan may be the reason you are still able to tether, but I will tell you that I am a T-mobile employee who works in the phone as modem department and there IS a tethering plan that t-mobile does charge for... Infact, go to t-mobile's website and search for "Tethering" and then look at all of the official documents for tethering with different devices and they will all mention the tethering and wi-fi sharing feature.
Brock6949 said:
A grandfathered plan may be the reason you are still able to tether, but I will tell you that I am a T-mobile employee who works in the phone as modem department and there IS a tethering plan that t-mobile does charge for... Infact, go to t-mobile's website and search for "Tethering" and then look at all of the official documents for tethering with different devices and they will all mention the tethering and wi-fi sharing feature.
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I tethered my Touch Pro 2 a few times after they introduced tethering and nothing ever became...
rorytmeadows said:
I tethered my Touch Pro 2 a few times after they introduced tethering and nothing ever became...
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A few times may not have been enough for you to get the message... There is a preset threshold you have to meet or exceed to get the message about the tethering plan.. THey have not told any of us what that threshold is (for obvious reasons)
and even if you don't get the message right away, at some point our system will flag the account... Trust me, I field these calls 5 days a week.
Brock6949 said:
A few times may not have been enough for you to get the message... There is a preset threshold you have to meet or exceed to get the message about the tethering plan.. THey have not told any of us what that threshold is (for obvious reasons)
and even if you don't get the message right away, at some point our system will flag the account... Trust me, I field these calls 5 days a week.
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So how can they tell that it's tethering data vs. data from the phone? Especially since I can set my browser to desktop mode. Well, I'm too lazy to do it but if tethering ever goes to court, service providers will lose.
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using XDA Premium App
There is no way to tell between tethering and phone data... it's all lumped together... even when you add the tethering feature (if the system makes you) you get your data shared with your cell data usage so on a non grandfathered rate plan you get 2gb,5gb, or 10gb to share between tethering and phone data usage.
Brock6949 said:
There is no way to tell between tethering and phone data... it's all lumped together... even when you add the tethering feature (if the system makes you) you get your data shared with your cell data usage so on a non grandfathered rate plan you get 2gb,5gb, or 10gb to share between tethering and phone data usage.
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So tethering won't get caught...
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App
HTTP traffic is TCP which means it's encoded in ASCII which makes it really easy to scan what goes over the line. In those HTTP headers they can check what the user-agent is as well as the time-to-live setting on each packet which will be different from a windows desktop connection.
However it's possible to mask this. I could in theory make an SSH connection from the phone to an SSH server I have on the internet and tunnel all my tethering through that. It would be very difficult to prove tethering at that point because it would be masked behind the phone's connection to a server.
That all being said. In real world usage I might only tether once or twice a month in what basically amounts to not much more bandwidth usage then normal.
Also. The telecom providers are very backhanded about tethering. We made tethering possible before they knew what the **** tethering even meant. I've been doing this since before most people understood what it means to tether. And I signed up for my unlimited plan back when unlimited meant unlimited. So uh..... T-mo can go **** itself if they expect me to pay extra. lol.
-my 2 cents
Akujin said:
We made tethering possible before they knew what the **** tethering even meant. I've been doing this since before most people understood what it means to tether. And I signed up for my unlimited plan back when unlimited meant unlimited. So uh..... T-mo can go **** itself if they expect me to pay extra. lol.
-my 2 cents
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YES!
Tethered on my MDA before I even used the word!
Theoretically based on some of the statements here of how PC band with flows, I should be able to tether my Acer A500 tablet without any problems or discovery.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

[Q] how to fake skyrocket as a non-smart phone?

I have unlimited $10 data plan for non smart phones. When I got my skyrocket I used it with that "non-smart phone sim card" and it worked, I even disabled the carried detection and used tethering and worked flawlessly. I updated the phone to the first leaked ICS and continued to do the same without issues. When I updated it to the second leak last month, AT&T detected it as smart phone and changed the data plan to 3GB LTE for $30. I didn't root, disable the carrier detection or add anything special, just the "stock leak ICS"
I've been having the phone for almost 6 months. Any idea what could be the reason it was detected and how to prevent that?
I don't mind paying the $30 but I use my phone to stream video, games and so many things that 3GB or even 5GB won't be enough for me.
It's not too difficult for AT&T to detect when a device on a non-smartphone plan is using more than about 500KB of data per month.
Learn to ration
freeman9911 said:
I don't mind paying the $30 but I use my phone to stream video, games and so many things that 3GB or even 5GB won't be enough for me.
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And people wonder why they started capping unlimited plans.
phillybits said:
And people wonder why they started capping unlimited plans.
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many other carriers use unlimited data plan now..why would you need unlimited if you won't use it!! what's the point of having unlimited data plan if they don't want you to exceed 3GB or 5GB! it reminds me with home internet services when it started...sooner or later everyone will be on unlimited high speed data plans
freeman9911 said:
many other carriers use unlimited data plan now..why would you need unlimited if you won't use it!! what's the point of having unlimited data plan if they don't want you to exceed 3GB or 5GB! it reminds me with home internet services when it started...sooner or later everyone will be on unlimited high speed data plans
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Ya but the unlimited is for phone use not for tethering... What's the point of having smartphone unlimited if everyone is using it to tether and get internet for the whole house?? Also, do those other carriers allow tethering on their unlimited plans??
freeman9911 said:
many other carriers use unlimited data plan now..why would you need unlimited if you won't use it!! what's the point of having unlimited data plan if they don't want you to exceed 3GB or 5GB! it reminds me with home internet services when it started...sooner or later everyone will be on unlimited high speed data plans
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If they're not capping it, it's for one of two reasons.
1. The service is slow as balls, like T-Mobile's "unlimited" where you get 4G speeds for x-amount of data, and then unlimited access at the speed of molasses.
or
2. You're paying an arm and a leg for data.
I read other threads where people on LTE plans were getting Throttled and I know the solution is just changing the Apn to a Hsdpa Apn instead of LTE, but I'm not sure how to beat this one. You might try this solution but you are still going to use the 3gbs just a little slower. And for the record(To the people who feel it's right to pay twice or even 3x for internet when intending to tether,lmao)we get robbed enough by these corporations like AT&T & Verizon so if you can beat them at their own games then more power to you my friend. Just keep looking for the answer. There may be a way Good luck
Edit** I just figured out that a skyrocket is s galaxy s2(lol). Now your thread is much more amazing to me. How the hell were you on a $10 unlimited internet plan with a higher-end android? I thought the other phones used wap browsing & connected to apn that way?? Good job. Maybe you could pm me the apn config.
Sent from my R800i using xda premium
Its not a matter of IF but WHEN... they run serial number sweeps an put any smartphone on correct plan. You disable carrier check, an they look at abnormal use on certain data plans.... Randal Stevenson said a few weeks ago in an interview that when consumers use too much bandwidth, he has to invest capitol into rebuilding the network. The more money the company spends, the more eager they will be to look for means to make it back i.e. raising everyone's costs... so kudos to the 2% of folks that ruin it for the people that stay within reason!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

Wireless Tethering

Hi I hope this question is appropriate for this thread. I have an unlimited data plan with Verizon Wireless (I was grandfathered in). I currently root my phone and have access to wireless tethering (using the most recent Carbon Rom). I was streaming the Bruins game on my computer while connected to the wireless tethering on my phone and managed to rack up over 1.3 TB in data usage. My understanding is that since I have the unlimited plan, I cannot be charged for this. Can anyone confirm this? I only ask because this is a significant amount of data over the 2GB generally alotted for a VZW data plan and I don't want to be stuck with thousands of dollars of charges.
Thanks!
You are fine. I have never used that amount but you are fine.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
If you haven't already, you'll probably just get the 'complimentary' call from Big Red to review your account and make sure you are getting the best services from VZW. Tell them 'no thanks' and not to change a thing. It's a trick to slyly knock grandfathered unlimited users out of their unlimited plans. Unlimited means unlimited... Except for the annoying throttling, which I'm sure you will experience real soon, with over a TB of data. Other than that... You're fine. Stream on!
Sent from my xt926 using Tapatalk 2

Keep ATT unlimited data or switch to unlimited ATT+direcTV??!

So I've had the grandfathered unlimited data a LONG time but now there is a possible better option.
I have four lines on my account, only I have unlimited data. The recent DirecTV deal is something like ~$150 for four lines of unlimited everything (same 22gb/mo data shared before some sort of throttle) as long as you have a DirecTV account.
The net difference is about $140/mo cheaper for me and everyone gets 'unlimited' data. My parents will probably carry their DirecTV account for at least another 10yrs...
I'm a serious power user and usually use about 30-50gb/mo. I don't even notice the slow down with what I do.
Worth sacrificing the grandfathered personal unlimited which is now $35? I'm not sure I know all the details so I ask here. Thank you!
eatkabab said:
So I've had the grandfathered unlimited data a LONG time but now there is a possible better option.
I have four lines on my account, only I have unlimited data. The recent DirecTV deal is something like ~$150 for four lines of unlimited everything (same 22gb/mo data shared before some sort of throttle) as long as you have a DirecTV account.
The net difference is about $140/mo cheaper for me and everyone gets 'unlimited' data. My parents will probably carry their DirecTV account for at least another 10yrs...
I'm a serious power user and usually use about 30-50gb/mo. I don't even notice the slow down with what I do.
Worth sacrificing the grandfathered personal unlimited which is now $35? I'm not sure I know all the details so I ask here. Thank you!
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Did you switch to the new Unlimited Data plan with Directv
If yes where you able to use rooting or foxfi to tether. They offer no tethering plan with the new unlimited. I was wondering if there is a workaround.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/general/general/att-unlimited-data-plan-directv-t3422618
diljosh said:
Did you switch to the new Unlimited Data plan with Directv
If yes where you able to use rooting or foxfi to tether. They offer no tethering plan with the new unlimited. I was wondering if there is a workaround.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/general/general/att-unlimited-data-plan-directv-t3422618
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Yes I did switch to the Directv unlimited and I've never even considered a tethering plan. It's always worked and I get the occasional text message informing me that tethering plans exist. With the new directv plan I haven't gotten a single text or letter about it. I only use android things so it's pretty easy to get some utility that does what I need. I'm currently on the OnePlus Three which does tethering default as part of the OS. I don't use it a lot, but it's extremely useful when I need it. The past month I've been really over using it however. It's usually faster than wired net anyways.
eatkabab said:
Yes I did switch to the Directv unlimited and I've never even considered a tethering plan. It's always worked and I get the occasional text message informing me that tethering plans exist. With the new directv plan I haven't gotten a single text or letter about it. I only use android things so it's pretty easy to get some utility that does what I need. I'm currently on the OnePlus Three which does tethering default as part of the OS. I don't use it a lot, but it's extremely useful when I need it. The past month I've been really over using it however. It's usually faster than wired net anyways.
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The ATT rep told me, that I cant add tethering option to the new Unlimited plan even if I want to pay for it. But you are telling me that hotspot just works
So ATT does not block third party WIFI hotspot tethering or if it is built into the OS with the new unlimited data plan. Have you tried this on other android phones or just the One plus.
I am thinking of switching to ATT because of this plan, but the Hotspot is must for me.
diljosh said:
The ATT rep told me, that I cant add tethering option to the new Unlimited plan even if I want to pay for it. But you are telling me that hotspot just works
So ATT does not block third party WIFI hotspot tethering or if it is built into the OS with the new unlimited data plan. Have you tried this on other android phones or just the One plus.
I am thinking of switching to ATT because of this plan, but the Hotspot is must for me.
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I've only had the oneplus 3 on the new plan but I can tell you I'm on USB tether right now and it's 100% flawless. I tested wifi too but as we all know, wifi just isn't as snappy as a wire. lemme test it on various devices for you later today. The wifi hotspot, not the tethering ability...bit too lazy for that, sorry.
eatkabab said:
I've only had the oneplus 3 on the new plan but I can tell you I'm on USB tether right now and it's 100% flawless. I tested wifi too but as we all know, wifi just isn't as snappy as a wire. lemme test it on various devices for you later today. The wifi hotspot, not the tethering ability...bit too lazy for that, sorry.
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That would be great, really appreciate it. I mainly need the wifi Hotspot. Have you been going over the 22GB throttle limit, if so are they slowing you down.
diljosh said:
That would be great, really appreciate it. I mainly need the wifi Hotspot. Have you been going over the 22GB throttle limit, if so are they slowing you down.
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Even on the previous unlimited plan they would throttle you after only 5gb. I pass 22gb in the first two weeks every month. Sometimes in the first week. I don't even notice anymore if it's slow or fast. I'm sure it's being throttled but it's still fast 'enough' for me not to care. I was really skeptical of the plan but it's actually working out pretty well and it's FAR cheaper than I ever expected. Especially if you're getting your own phones...the oneplus 3 is excellent.

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