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ATT Charging $15/Month For A 50 cent cable? (Tethering)

Ok, So, ATT offers unlimited data like Verizon right? Wrong. They charge an additional $15/month for tethering (which is included in the $30 unlimited data fee for Verizon)
So, anyway, I was on the phone with ATT, thinking I might switch, when I asked him "Well how do you know when/if I am tethering and when I am not, if it is unlimited data?"
He said they have to send a "special cable and a piece of ATT Software on CD". Hmm, this makes no sense, since in a custom ROM (or after you have installed the internet sharing CAB) all you have to do is go to Internet Sharing, and click "Connect", and you are good to go. Activesync will recognize your phone the first time as Windows Mobile Device Modem, then you are online, that's it.
So, is ATT charging $15 extra because people are ignorant about the process? Hoping that they don't figure out you can do it already and don't need to pay for it? They are basically charging $15 a month for a 50 cent cable. Am I missing something here? anyone can get the InternetSharing CAB file installer, and never send ATT an extra cent.

crobs808 said:
Ok, So, ATT offers unlimited data like Verizon right? Wrong. They charge an additional $15/month for tethering (which is included in the $30 unlimited data fee for Verizon)
So, anyway, I was on the phone with ATT, thinking I might switch, when I asked him "Well how do you know when/if I am tethering and when I am not, if it is unlimited data?"
He said they have to send a "special cable and a piece of ATT Software on CD". Hmm, this makes no sense, since in a custom ROM (or after you have installed the internet sharing CAB) all you have to do is go to Internet Sharing, and click "Connect", and you are good to go. Activesync will recognize your phone the first time as Windows Mobile Device Modem, then you are online, that's it.
So, is ATT charging $15 extra because people are ignorant about the process? Hoping that they don't figure out you can do it already and don't need to pay for it? They are basically charging $15 a month for a 50 cent cable. Am I missing something here? anyone can get the InternetSharing CAB file installer, and never send ATT an extra cent.
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They're charging $15/mo extra because they know folks tethering are generally going to use more data. There might also be quota differences when tethering, that I'm not sure about.
Stop pretending to be obtuse about a "50 cent cable".

Read the TOS, tethering is not unlimited, it is limited to 5Gb per mo. and this is what is against the rules in your unlimited plan on Verizon:
Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (ii) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; or (iii) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services and/or redirecting television signals for viewing on laptops is prohibited. A person engaged in prohibited uses, continuously for one hour, could typically use 100 to 200 MBs, or, if engaged in prohibited uses for 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, could use more than 5 GBs in a month.
For individual use only and not for resale. We reserve the right to protect our network from harm, which may impact legitimate data flows. We reserve the right to limit throughput or amount of data transferred, and to deny or terminate service, without notice, to anyone we believe is using an Unlimited Data Plan or Feature in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts our network or service levels. Anyone using more than 5 GB per line in a given month is presumed to be using the service in a manner prohibited above, and we reserve the right to immediately terminate the service of any such person without notice. We also reserve the right to terminate service upon expiration of Customer Agreement term.
You heard them, use more than 5GB per month and they will "immediately terminate" your service "without notice." You know, if you're going to sell an "unlimited access" plan, shouldn't it not limit your access?
$ 15 tethering plan doesn't seem so bad now ?

denco7 said:
Read the TOS, tethering is not unlimited, it is limited to 5Gb per mo. and this is what is against the rules in your unlimited plan on Verizon:
Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (ii) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; or (iii) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services and/or redirecting television signals for viewing on laptops is prohibited. A person engaged in prohibited uses, continuously for one hour, could typically use 100 to 200 MBs, or, if engaged in prohibited uses for 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, could use more than 5 GBs in a month.
For individual use only and not for resale. We reserve the right to protect our network from harm, which may impact legitimate data flows. We reserve the right to limit throughput or amount of data transferred, and to deny or terminate service, without notice, to anyone we believe is using an Unlimited Data Plan or Feature in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts our network or service levels. Anyone using more than 5 GB per line in a given month is presumed to be using the service in a manner prohibited above, and we reserve the right to immediately terminate the service of any such person without notice. We also reserve the right to terminate service upon expiration of Customer Agreement term.
You heard them, use more than 5GB per month and they will "immediately terminate" your service "without notice." You know, if you're going to sell an "unlimited access" plan, shouldn't it not limit your access?
$ 15 tethering plan doesn't seem so bad now ?
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$15 for tethering on TOP of the already $30 charge is ridiculous, and the sole reason I will never go wth ATT. That is not the case with Verizon. I tether everyday, using my phone as my primary modem. I download about 2-3GB a day (not a month) of data. I have been doing this for the past 8 months. I actually specifically asked the representative if there was a bandwidth per month cap, and he said "there used to be, but not anymore".

Is sprint more lenient? Because i heavily stream and download through my phone and they have never even sent me anything...

sycorange said:
Is sprint more lenient? Because i heavily stream and download through my phone and they have never even sent me anything...
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Exactly my point...Sprint and Verizon actually mean "unlimited" when they say it, lol. It appears that only the GSM carriers get all uppity about it, specifically ATT.
P.s. - when my Verizon contract was about to expire a week ago, I called up ATT, because I had been thinking about switching for a while because it might be cheaper...well boy, was I wrong. The EXACT plan that my wife and I have on Verizon, would have been $240/month on ATT. Right now we pay $150 for 1400 minutes/unlimited text/unlimited data (both my wife and I have PDA phones), tethering included. On ATT they wanted almost $100 more?? Wow. glad I stayed with Verizon. I called up Sprint, and they were the same as Verizon, cheap If I ever switch it will be to another CDMA carrier.

What I quoted was Verizons current TOS. The fact that you get away with 2-3GB a day doesn't make it right.
And just because you haven't gotten caught doesn't mean that some day they won't review your bill and send you a $2,000 dollar charge for overages and throw the TOS in your face,
.......................I'm just saying....................................

denco7 said:
What I quoted was Verizons current TOS. The fact that you get away with 2-3GB a day doesn't make it right.
And just because you haven't gotten caught doesn't mean that some day they won't review your bill and send you a $2,000 dollar charge for overages and throw the TOS in your face,
.......................I'm just saying....................................
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You apparently didn't hear me...the Verizon reps themselves have told me (on multiple occasions now), both reps in the store and on the 800 number, that there is no more cap, and they do not care if we use it tethered all day long or not, lol. I think I will go by what Verizon told me rather than an outdated TOS that has not been updated by their webmaster obviously.
If they told me, on the phone and to my face that what I am doing is fine, then they have no recourse to send me a $2,000 bill. i think maybe you're mad that verizon allows it and ATT doesnt. Everyone already knows Verizons data plans and speeds are way better, so why have this argument. I know what the VZW employees told me, and I am going with that. The same applies to Sprint, they honestly do not care if you use your phone as a modem 24/7 either. It's only ATT that has a stick up their butt about it.

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?

Paying for tethering?

Is it ethical to use tethering without paying for the "tethering service plan"? If I pay for xGb/month shouldn't I be able to use that bandwidth in anyway I see fit?

Ethical? Nope. It's part of your contract you agreed to when you signed up for a service plan. If you want to tether, you've got to pay.
Now as to whether or not you care, that's up to you.

omegafiler said:
Ethical? Nope. It's part of your contract you agreed to when you signed up for a service plan. If you want to tether, you've got to pay.
Now as to whether or not you care, that's up to you.
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Just because it's part of your contract doesn't mean it's ethical. That's like saying "Because you signed a contract saying you will give me your first born child in exchange for this Evo 3D, it must be ethical".
I agree with carriers that computers use data at a faster rate than phones (as in they are more capable), but they don't give us many choices. With carrier such as AT&T, without a doubt you should be able to use your 2GB as you see fit. It's not a lot to begin with and it's capped. With unlimited data carriers, we should be given a bucket of data for tethering each month. It's stupid to pay for tethering when you have unlimited data.

Product F(RED) said:
Just because it's part of your contract doesn't mean it's ethical. That's like saying "Because you signed a contract saying you will give me your first born child in exchange for this Evo 3D, it must be ethical".
I agree with carriers that computers use data at a faster rate than phones (as in they are more capable), but they don't give us many choices. With carrier such as AT&T, without a doubt you should be able to use your 2GB as you see fit. It's not a lot to begin with and it's capped. With unlimited data carriers, we should be given a bucket of data for tethering each month. It's stupid to pay for tethering when you have unlimited data.
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Agreed. The label "unlimited" is BS in general.
If $30 buys me unlimited data, then why does my family member (same house and account) have to pay another $30? Do you pay for each device you connect to DSL? Of course not. (Heard this argument on cnet...Molly Wood, I think.)
You are definitely breaking their arbitrary rules, but I wouldn't call it unethical. Assuming you're still limited to 2GB, how is it harming the carrier? Why are they entitled to the extra revenue? Are they doing anything to allow you to tether? How did consumers lose this argument?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA Premium App

agreed.
ethics and contractual obligations are two different things in usa.

omegafiler said:
Ethical? Nope. It's part of your contract you agreed to when you signed up for a service plan. If you want to tether, you've got to pay.
Now as to whether or not you care, that's up to you.
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Just like how it's not ethical to charge people extra for the ways that they're using the data that they PAID for.
What's next? Internet service providers start charging people extra for using streaming services (ala netflix) or watching copious amount of youtube videos? I know XDA don't have the power compare to lobbyists, but don't be stupid enough to think that it's somehow illogical and unethical for using the data that you signed up for (be it on your phone or on your laptop). Bandwidth cap I can understand (because if you use more than 5gb a month on your phone, you need psychological help), but dictating HOW a user can use their data is absolutely not.

Product F(RED) said:
Just because it's part of your contract doesn't mean it's ethical. That's like saying "Because you signed a contract saying you will give me your first born child in exchange for this Evo 3D, it must be ethical".
I agree with carriers that computers use data at a faster rate than phones (as in they are more capable), but they don't give us many choices. With carrier such as AT&T, without a doubt you should be able to use your 2GB as you see fit. It's not a lot to begin with and it's capped. With unlimited data carriers, we should be given a bucket of data for tethering each month. It's stupid to pay for tethering when you have unlimited data.
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I suppose it just depends on your personal view point here. There isn't a right or wrong answer to the question. Some may feel it's wrong, some may not. Personally I think it's dumb. I'm just saying you agreed to a contract. So if you then decide some of the fine print was dumb and would rather disagree, that's up to you.
But it's pretty easy to make an argument for it being "unethical" to ignore portions of a contract you agreed to because you don't like it.

lude219 said:
Just like how it's not ethical to charge people extra for the ways that they're using the data that they PAID for.
What's next? Internet service providers start charging people extra for using streaming services (ala netflix) or watching copious amount of youtube videos? I know XDA don't have the power compare to lobbyists, but don't be stupid enough to think that it's somehow illogical and unethical for using the data that you signed up for (be it on your phone or on your laptop). Bandwidth cap I can understand (because if you use more than 5gb a month on your phone, you need psychological help), but dictating HOW a user can use their data is absolutely not.
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Net Neutrality prevents that but lately it's been losing to asshole lobbyists that are on ISP and Cell Phone network payrolls. Verizon and MetroPCS specifically voted against it. Verizon is officially going to start tiering and throttling data in the summer and MetroPCS already charges you $10 more for being able to visit YouTube and other sites.

If I am paying for unlimited data i deserve to get unlimited data and use it however I wish

Product F(RED) said:
Net Neutrality prevents that but lately it's been losing to asshole lobbyists that are on ISP and Cell Phone network payrolls. Verizon and MetroPCS specifically voted against it. Verizon is officially going to start tiering and throttling data in the summer and MetroPCS already charges you $10 more for being able to visit YouTube and other sites.
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I can't believe this is even a political issue...it's embarrassing. Just one more thing that causes the rest of the world to look at us and laugh.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA Premium App

Is it ethical to use your home internet on 1 device or on a few trough a router?
I have seen a few ISPs who thought it wasn't, and can you imagine what happened to them?
Yes, they went bankrupt

It's a no-brainer...YES

All they are trying to do is preventing from using too much data and so they don't have to pay for it. And anyways the companies are out to make money and they find anyway possible to make consumers pay for things that at times doesn't cost them anything, why should you worry about your contract a lot of times they break the rules all the time. I remember I was in a two year contract and when sprint and nextel merged my unlimited text messages went from 5 dlls to 15 I went in to the store and called over the phone and they didn't do anything about it they just changed my plan without me knowing and their excuse was that "Now text messages are consider a feature and not part of the contract and my text are not part of my contract anymore" right there who cares what you do with with the amount of data usage. Don't think if it is ethical or not, they aren't always ethical either, to put it in another perspective to look at it! (sorry for the long story there)

johnston9234 said:
If I am paying for unlimited data i deserve to get unlimited data and use it however I wish
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I agree with you there, I had a problem with an ISP once that I was using too much bandwidth on an unlimited plan(Cable Internet). They felt the need to cap my dl speeds to 50kbs from 300kbs. There explanation was that they put me in the "dog house" and said I was using the network for things other than personal use to be consuming all that bandwidth. I ended up arguing with them and they disconnected my service and refused to provide me any. So in the end the ISP or the phone company can screw you over no matter what.

wow. it's ridiculous that they'd even think of charging someone for tethering a phone. it's always been about money, when a greedy moron runs a multi-billion dollar company all they want is money. money money money.

Unlimited data should mean Unlimited data. And this means texting should also be included since it is, in fact, data. It's all data! It all comes down to corporate greed, and nickle & diming the consumers. Why do you think so many people are switching to Vonage (and similar) these days.

Bandwidth cap I can understand (because if you use more than 5gb a month on your phone, you need psychological help), but dictating HOW a user can use their data is absolutely not.[/QUOTE]
How is using more than 5Gb on your phone indicative of psychological instability? I'm not talking about using 20 Gb per month (maybe not even 10). I will
say however that I like to listen to two podcasts a day. That, combined with a few emails,maybe downloading some apps and web surfing I hit the cap almost every month. Back when T-mobile had a 10 Gb cap it was much more comfortable for me and I didn't have to monitor every kilobyte. I'm definitely not talking about copious amounts of data here, and I'm not talking about using it for a replacement for my home broadband. That said, I do feel your remark is offensive.
Sent from either my Nexus S, N1 or telepathically using two tin cans and some string.

Well I'm an AT&T customer and I actually agree on them cracking down on people tethering without paying for it...if people weren't jail-breaking their iPhones to use tethering services without paying for them I think unlimited data might still have been an option for their customers today...I wish they would started doing it a couple years ago... Just because you have unlimited data the TOS that you agreed to has the fine print saying that Unlimited Data applies only to data used on the device by that device not any other connected devices

steezee said:
Well I'm an AT&T customer and I actually agree on them cracking down on people tethering without paying for it...if people weren't jail-breaking their iPhones to use tethering services without paying for them I think unlimited data might still have been an option for their customers today...I wish they would started doing it a couple years ago... Just because you have unlimited data the TOS that you agreed to has the fine print saying that Unlimited Data applies only to data used on the device by that device not any other connected devices
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Of course, that's your opinion, and your entitled to it, as everybody else is on this forum.

steezee said:
Well I'm an AT&T customer and I actually agree on them cracking down on people tethering without paying for it...if people weren't jail-breaking their iPhones to use tethering services without paying for them I think unlimited data might still have been an option for their customers today...I wish they would started doing it a couple years ago... Just because you have unlimited data the TOS that you agreed to has the fine print saying that Unlimited Data applies only to data used on the device by that device not any other connected devices
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Ugggghhhh. When was it ever truly unlimited? The iPhone data plan was 5GB when I got one in 2009. That's a set amount...people should have been allowed to use it in any way. Tethering didn't get you more data in this case (don't think anyway? Did they charge extra or throttle?)...it simply guaranteed that you'd probably use the ACTUAL AMOUNT that you paid for. 5GB is 5GB...they just didn't expect people to actually use it. And when people actually did get their money's worth, AT&T completely screwed everyone with the extra fees.
If you're going to blame anyone, blame AT&T shareholders for demanding outrageous profits.
Not trying to be a jerk, but embracing their viewpoint really doesn't help the consumer cause.
Edit: Assuming Unlimited means Unlimited, I think you're absolutely correct about tethering costing extra. But unlimited in the iPhone's case meant 5GB...they had no right to complain about people using something they already paid for. Isn't this thread addressing whether or not tethering within the cap is ethical?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA Premium App

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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
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
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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

Verizon LTE Throttling confirmed via tech support

I know this may seem strange given that Verizon is not allowed to throttle the 700 MHz c block according to the FCC, but today I spoke with a lady who was a higher tier tech support (not sure if it was 2 or 3) who claimed the reason I was having data issues is because they are having system issues where people using large amounts of data are being throttled when using LTE.
She stated that normally this should only happen on 3G but confirmed she has spoke to multiple people with this issue and that it is a nationwide problem that has been effecting some people since march 23rd. This also wasn't something she spoke lightly or timid about rather she was bold and confident that was the issue I was having.
Strangely the problem seem to go away when I switched to Global mode but that could have been a coincidence and more related to network congestion on that particular tower. Has anyone else been experiencing these issues?
I'm also wondering if this is related to the LTE advanced tower upgrades they are doing but can't find any info on when or if they have upgraded the Austin, Texas area.

LOL, might be coincidence but I'm going through the same thing in MD. My post should be a few down from here but I get perfect 3G, absolutely no 4G signal. Replaced SIM card, Verizon set it up and I had 4G. Within 5 minutes after the activation, the signal went to zero, then restarted and I was at 3G again. I'm heading to Verizon store in a bit to get this taken care of.
Samutd45 said:
I know this may seem strange given that Verizon is not allowed to throttle the 700 MHz c block according to the FCC, but today I spoke with a lady who was a higher tier tech support (not sure if it was 2 or 3) who claimed the reason I was having data issues is because they are having system issues where people using large amounts of data are being throttled when using LTE.
She stated that normally this should only happen on 3G but confirmed she has spoke to multiple people with this issue and that it is a nationwide problem that has been effecting some people since march 23rd. This also wasn't something she spoke lightly or timid about rather she was bold and confident that was the issue I was having.
Strangely the problem seem to go away when I switched to Global mode but that could have been a coincidence and more related to network congestion on that particular tower. Has anyone else been experiencing these issues?
I'm also wondering if this is related to the LTE advanced tower upgrades they are doing but can't find any info on when or if they have upgraded the Austin, Texas area.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I'm doubtful that you'll be able to get much done on the store level. Your best bet is to call tech support and the first call will be long as well as tedious just humor them. The second call back they will ask if your calling about the same issue say yes. This is when you will get transferred to a higher tier or higher authority where they can actually report the issue to the field techs and then possibly get a fix in the works.
How much data do you use?
The second person told me I had used over 100gb last month but that was not a justified reason for me to be throttled on 4G, it would be if I was on 3G.

I also find it curious that we both have a s3, I did a search and couldn't find any similar posts which makes me wonder if its because we don't have the LTE advanced functionality. I wish we knew where they are upgrading the towers.

Samutd45 said:
I know this may seem strange given that Verizon is not allowed to throttle the 700 MHz c block according to the FCC, but today I spoke with a lady who was a higher tier tech support (not sure if it was 2 or 3) who claimed the reason I was having data issues is because they are having system issues where people using large amounts of data are being throttled when using LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are if you're on unlimited. The throttling isn't allowed if you're on a tiered data plan - but unlimited plans weren't covered by the FCC's ruling, IIRC.

Well...it was my sim card. Apparently the one I purchased online is an older version. They replaced it with a new sim, rebooted and I sat there waiting. After a couple of minutes, the no data signal came back so got the sales rep and signal came back, to 4G like a champ. I can't honestly tell the difference between the sim they had and the one I purchased online. She did she throttling is a possibly for next year, but no plans this year but take it for what it's worth. It was no charge for me to get the sim card and took no time.
carngeX said:
They are if you're on unlimited. The throttling isn't allowed if you're on a tiered data plan - but unlimited plans weren't covered by the FCC's ruling, IIRC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I just wanted to confirm that this issue has been resolved by Verizon, I believe it was network issue that was fixed within one day of me calling tech support.

carngeX said:
They are if you're on unlimited. The throttling isn't allowed if you're on a tiered data plan - but unlimited plans weren't covered by the FCC's ruling, IIRC.
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There is no real distinction from the FCC of tiered vs unlimited. The only possible reason verizon could is by using the excuse of trying to protect vulnerabilities on their network.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/1...-does-not-violate-fcc-block-c-spectrum-rules/

Samutd45 said:
There is no real distinction from the FCC of tiered vs unlimited. The only possible reason verizon could is by using the excuse of trying to protect vulnerabilities on their network.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/1...-does-not-violate-fcc-block-c-spectrum-rules/
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Click to collapse
It's saying it can't restrict (throttle) users who pay for the service. Tether wasn't included in Unlimited data plans (it was a separate plan on plans when Unlimited was around). Tethering is included in tiered data, therefore they cannot throttle users tethering on the tiered data plans.

carngeX said:
It's saying it can't restrict (throttle) users who pay for the service. Tether wasn't included in Unlimited data plans (it was a separate plan on plans when Unlimited was around). Tethering is included in tiered data, therefore they cannot throttle users tethering on the tiered data plans.
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Click to collapse
carngeX said:
It's saying it can't restrict (throttle) users who pay for the service. Tether wasn't included in Unlimited data plans (it was a separate plan on plans when Unlimited was around). Tethering is included in tiered data, therefore they cannot throttle users tethering on the tiered data plans.
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Click to collapse
From my experience I have specifically found this to be untrue but I could certainly see how one would interpret it that way. There really is no one true answer to this question but I will say the higher tier tech confirmed on the phone with me that it was perfectly within my right to have 100 gb or more per month of unthrottled 4g lte use. They don't track whether you are tethering or not...can they? They certainly can especially if you use the my verizon app as they are able to see certain diagnostics and also they can see specifically which applications are running on your phone. The tech actually told me I was running an excessive amount of apps which was true at the time and she specifically told me which apps were running. This proves the point that they know I'm tethering without paying the $20 per month service charge, they are not charging me for it.
I think your misunderstanding is that you are incorrectly correlating tethering to throttling as these two things appear to be mutually exclusive. In other words verizon doesn't really treat you differently if you are on tiered vs non tiered as far as throttling goes.
Please read the following portion taken from the referenced article on android police, it's at the very bottom:
"Finally, we'll talk about tethering and Block C.
Much hoop-lah has been made of the following provision, as related to the legality of charging for wireless tethering on Verizon:
(c)(1)... The potential for excessive bandwidth demand alone shall not constitute grounds for denying, limiting or restricting access to the network. 47 CFR §27.16
The key issue is that this provision says nothing about limiting access on the basis of contractual obligations - it only applies when a carrier is limiting, restricting, or denying access to data services it has promised on the basis that a user is "congesting" the network. Verizon is still very much within its right to assert that it has the authority to prevent users from stealing access to a service it charges for, namely, tethering. Opponents say this is traffic discrimination and money-grabbing, Verizon says it's a perfectly legitimate usage-based access fee that it doesn't want users to circumvent.
There is absolutely nothing in the text of 27.16 suggesting carriers must provide unlimited data to users on networks operated on the 700MHz Block C frequencies. All (c)(1) is saying is that, once users have paid for a given service, carriers cannot discriminate against their traffic on the basis of bandwidth usage (eg, they can't throttle you) - but there's nothing to stop them from charging your more for using more. This is why Verizon's throttling only affects the top 5% of 3G, rather than 4G, users. I'm not sure if I explained that clearly, so I hope the distinction got across.
Of course, in matters involving regulatory authority, there's always going to be some wiggle room for discretion.
The FCC is unpredictable. There is no way to know if the agency will change its interpretation of its own rules, or if it will decide Verizon's particular actions aren't reasonable. This is all evaluated on a case by case basis. However, the agency's interpretation of reasonable network management in the past has tended to favor service providers in all but the most extreme cases (such as content-based throttling by Comcast), so it's hard for me to see them suddenly adopting a more demanding standard in regard to "reasonable network management.""

Can confirm this, grandfathered in unlimited. I use around 180gb a month. They hate me and any day that I am downloading continuously for more than 1 hour or sometimes less, I immediately start getting throttled. I know this because I have friends right beside me who have verizon and they will be pulling down 10-15mbps around 20ms and I will be getting .7-2 mbps. As soon as I take a small break from downloading (usually an hour) my speeds resume as normal. It is total BS that I pay for unlimited LTE and they claim they don't throttle. And anytime I call them to complain, magically my speeds go back after they tell me to try "rebooting my phone".
EDIT: I'm from the Canton, OH region and this happened frequently. I recently moved to the Tampa Bay area and have not had a problem. I suspect the network isn't as congested (although technically does LTE have bandwidth limitations? I read in an article that It should not). Also Florida happens to be flatter than Ohio, so they have less towers I'm assuming that cover a greater area with stronger coverage.

From the snippet you just posted:
There is absolutely nothing in the text of 27.16 suggesting carriers must provide unlimited data to users on networks operated on the 700MHz Block C frequencies. All (c)(1) is saying is that, once users have paid for a given service, carriers cannot discriminate against their traffic on the basis of bandwidth usage (eg, they can't throttle you) - but there's nothing to stop them from charging your more for using more. This is why Verizon's throttling only affects the top 5% of 3G, rather than 4G, users. I'm not sure if I explained that clearly, so I hope the distinction got across.
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Which backs up what I was saying. If you're on a grandfathered in unlimited plan... they have the legal right to throttle you because you're not paying for the tethering service, because it was not included in their non-tier plans. Will they? Most likely not unless you're using tons and tons of data - it's all up to VZW if they decide to start throttling or not. Although I've seen people in the Rezound forums post data usage screenshots, and some people have upwards around 1TB of data usage in a month, and nothing ever was done to them or their service.

carngeX said:
From the snippet you just posted:
Which backs up what I was saying. If you're on a grandfathered in unlimited plan... they have the legal right to throttle you because you're not paying for the tethering service, because it was not included in their non-tier plans. Will they? Most likely not unless you're using tons and tons of data - it's all up to VZW if they decide to start throttling or not. Although I've seen people in the Rezound forums post data usage screenshots, and some people have upwards around 1TB of data usage in a month, and nothing ever was done to them or their service.
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How do they know if you are tethering or not? Can they see that? Is high data usage synonymous with tethering in their minds?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

ErikFry said:
How do they know if you are tethering or not? Can they see that? Is high data usage synonymous with tethering in their minds?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
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Well ask yourself how do websites know you are on a mobile device. yes verizon knows you are tethering unless you use a tether app that hides it or if you use a vpn (highly recomended). I have used 300 gigabytes of data a few months ago without being throttled so it all depends on how well you cover your tracks.
---------- Post added at 04:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:50 PM ----------
I usually use between 2 - 5 so I am not a repeat offender. That might be why I have never been throttled.

ThePagel said:
Well ask yourself how do websites know you are on a mobile device. yes verizon knows you are tethering unless you use a tether app that hides it or if you use a vpn (highly recomended). I have used 300 gigabytes of data a few months ago without being throttled so it all depends on how well you cover your tracks.
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I see, I use the built in AOSP hotspot toggle. What could I use to hide the connection automagically every time I toggle it on? Thank you for your advice.

ErikFry said:
I see, I use the built in AOSP hotspot toggle. What could I use to hide the connection automagically every time I toggle it on? Thank you for your advice.
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I'm not sure if there is a solution for WiFi tether. I know USB tether apps can. Your best bet for WiFi tether is a cheap or free VPN.