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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.
Just noticed this little ditty regarding mobile hotspot: "Verizon said it will allow customers to use the mobile hot spot feature for free until May 15; afterwards, customers will need to pay an additional $20 per month (2GB data cap)."
Read more: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20043272-251.html#ixzz1GfzSBWRL
Will that affect our wireless tether? They are implementing a data cap? I'm confused. (what else is new)
Sounds like they need some stress testers on the network. What better than the consumers...
Russ36363 said:
Sounds like they need some stress testers on the network. What better than the consumers...
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What about wireless tether for root users? Wonder if that will be affected? I don't think I'm supposed to even have that on my Eris, but I do, but I also don't use it a ton either.
Hmmmm
chimpsnest said:
What about wireless tether for root users? Wonder if that will be affected? I don't think I'm supposed to even have that on my Eris, but I do, but I also don't use it a ton either.
Hmmmm
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What's the difference between the two? I've always taken the two as the same, except that Mobile Hotspot is just the official, non-root version of the feature.
I'd be confused if it was anything else than 4G, but it seems like they want a lot of 4G usage to test stuff out. Or they'll probably not mention anything come May 15th and have thousands of users activate hotspot and get charged $20 for it.
Russ36363 said:
What's the difference between the two? I've always taken the two as the same, except that Mobile Hotspot is just the official, non-root version of the feature.
I'd be confused if it was anything else than 4G, but it seems like they want a lot of 4G usage to test stuff out. Or they'll probably not mention anything come May 15th and have thousands of users activate hotspot and get charged $20 for it.
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The 3g wireless hotspot app from big red has DHCP functionality with an infrastructure wireless signal... so kinda like a wireless router.... vs. Wireless tether for root, which is an ad-hoc client. This only allows one device to connect.... thy is unless they have changed the app since I last used it 4 months ago.
Plus... imo... the 3g hotspot app is a little more stable.
So the big question for the hotspot users is ... the rumored unlimited LTE. will it be capped?.. will we grandfather into it when big red switches to tiered data?
Sent from my "I feel like force closing right now" DROIDX using XDA App
I bet we can enable free 3g mobile hotspot like on the incredible by editing settings in the dialers hidden menu (i cant remember what it was on the inc, hopefully it will be the same on the T-Bolt)
Magicadder said:
The 3g wireless hotspot app from big red has DHCP functionality with an infrastructure wireless signal... so kinda like a wireless router.... vs. Wireless tether for root, which is an ad-hoc client. This only allows one device to connect.... thy is unless they have changed the app since I last used it 4 months ago.
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no offence but well over 4 months ago I used Wireless Tether for Root Users on my N1 and my dInc and was able to connect more than one device. You may have tried an old/outdated version. I agree that it does have stability issues from time to time but I feel it is a much better app than the stock big red hotspot app.
julesism said:
no offence but well over 4 months ago I used Wireless Tether for Root Users on my N1 and my dInc and was able to connect more than one device. You may have tried an old/outdated version. I agree that it does have stability issues from time to time but I feel it is a much better app than the stock big red hotspot app.
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Good call... your right... I did not have all the info on the wifi tether app.
It seems to me that the hotspot app also has way more overhead than the wifi tether app which automatically makes the wifi tether app a better call.... thx for the corrections
Just goes to show, you can't be right all the time.... lol
Sent from my "for no reason, im locking up on you" DROIDX using XDA App
I wonder how they will treat this change. Because including the feature then changing it to pay is a change of the contract terms that might let people out of contracts...
Either way a free tether solution should be possible.
andydumi said:
I wonder how they will treat this change. Because including the feature then changing it to pay is a change of the contract terms that might let people out of contracts...
Either way a free tether solution should be possible.
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my thinking about the contract change would be that there would be no specific feature on your plan allowing the mobile hotspot for the thunderbolt, it would simply be available with the phone to whoever gets it. therefore when 5/15 comes and payment for hotspot is required you would have to add the feature to your plan for continued use. i don't know all of the specific details but i know that for most contracts you can edit features without charge or breaking/editing the contract (e.g. adding insurance, increasing minute/text allotments, carrier-based gps services) and the only contract changes that are solid are minutes + data that is required. that is my $0.02 on that issue, not sure if there is solid documentation on verizon's policy.
i do agree that with moderate usage free tether is an easy solution to this.
bkiminfinity said:
my thinking about the contract change would be that there would be no specific feature on your plan allowing the mobile hotspot for the thunderbolt, it would simply be available with the phone to whoever gets it. therefore when 5/15 comes and payment for hotspot is required you would have to add the feature to your plan for continued use. i don't know all of the specific details but i know that for most contracts you can edit features without charge or breaking/editing the contract (e.g. adding insurance, increasing minute/text allotments, carrier-based gps services) and the only contract changes that are solid are minutes + data that is required. that is my $0.02 on that issue, not sure if there is solid documentation on verizon's policy.
i do agree that with moderate usage free tether is an easy solution to this.
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A promotional period, mmmm, yes, nice work VZW, well played
bkiminfinity said:
my thinking about the contract change would be that there would be no specific feature on your plan allowing the mobile hotspot for the thunderbolt, it would simply be available with the phone to whoever gets it. therefore when 5/15 comes and payment for hotspot is required you would have to add the feature to your plan for continued use. i don't know all of the specific details but i know that for most contracts you can edit features without charge or breaking/editing the contract (e.g. adding insurance, increasing minute/text allotments, carrier-based gps services) and the only contract changes that are solid are minutes + data that is required. that is my $0.02 on that issue, not sure if there is solid documentation on verizon's policy.
i do agree that with moderate usage free tether is an easy solution to this.
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Maybe. But it is being advertised as a feature now and its therefore included in the plan. And if that feature changes price, then that can be a breach. Much like the past few years with changing text message rates where people got out of their contracts.
If V puts the V hotspot app on there then its even further endorsement for the feature.
I gues well wait and see, but I agree, a free hotspot app for when i go on a trip once in a blue moon will be good enough.
andydumi said:
Maybe. But it is being advertised as a feature now and its therefore included in the plan. And if that feature changes price, then that can be a breach. Much like the past few years with changing text message rates where people got out of their contracts.
If V puts the V hotspot app on there then its even further endorsement for the feature.
I gues well wait and see, but I agree, a free hotspot app for when i go on a trip once in a blue moon will be good enough.
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Yeah BUT (there's always a but, lol), they are specifically saying that the hotspot is only free until 5/15, so I don't think it would be in breach of anything. Kind of like when you buy a PC and it has anti-virus or MS Office free for a certain period (maybe?).
What I might expect is we'll have a charge on our invoice for $20 and then a credit on the first two bills to offset the charge. That way we're charged from the get go.
Robertjm said:
What I might expect is we'll have a charge on our invoice for $20 and then a credit on the first two bills to offset the charge. That way we're charged from the get go.
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hah, such an evil plan.....wouldn't surprise me if this were true though. it would be a safe way to avoid breach of contract while at the same time suckering in any tbolt owners who don't pay close attention to their bills. it's nothing new to charge $0 for something and then start taking money, as long as the customer doesn't manually remove the service. i think my bank offered things like this for free credit checks, free for a month or two and then it'll start charging, unless i were to call in and cancel the service. if verizon follows this it'll be up to diligent account owners to avoid unwanted charges.
andydumi said:
I wonder how they will treat this change. Because including the feature then changing it to pay is a change of the contract terms that might let people out of contracts...
Either way a free tether solution should be possible.
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This is a little ridiculous that more people aren't using common sense with this. You can't get out of your contract this way, and why not? You're clearly being told that you are being GIVEN this feature for FREE until 05/15/2011. Don't bother writing that date down, because the contract you sign probably mentions this promtion, then you'll probably get a flyer, an email and and ad show up in My Verizon clearly stating "4G Mobile Hotspot FREE on Thunderbolt Until 05/15/2011". You might even get a letter in the mail welcoming you to this free trial. Then likely at least 2 reminders as the free trial is about to end, likely mail and email. You might even get a text message on your phone. Then, on 05/15/2011, it's probably going to stop working and you will probably be told the new rate of 2 GB/$20 for the feature (and no obligation to keep it) and you'll be asked if you want to add it.
So if you decide to ignore this clear forum post that has told you, all the news articles and then Verizon's very thorough warnings about the feature change, then no...you don't get out of your contract with no termination fee. You get a medal for being cheap. You were clearly told this multiple times and it's nobody's responsibility but your own.
Just wanted to update this thread as I just got my tbolt and have news on the topic. I asked about the free mobile hotspot while my phone was being activated and the Verizon sales rep told me that hotspot is currently free for all tbolt users. Duh. But then she added that the feature itself isn't on anyone's plan and it is just purely free use for now. The catch is that it is only free until 5/14, and on 5/15 mobile hotspot will be A LA CARTE. Meaning that if you do not add mobile hotspot feature on the 14th and use it on the 15th, you will be charged per megabyte of usage at whatever Verizon charges, instead of the feature being automatically added to your plan. So lookout for that tbolt users and don't get caught on huge usage charges!
I was wondering if anyone has gotten the wifitether to work or the other root/free tethering solutions working to test if there are notable speed difference between these solutions and the mobile hotspot? I think I remember reading that tethering via USB got better speed tests than the mobile hotspot. But was wondering if anyone had run benchmarks on the other tethering options? I'd do it but I don't get my TB till likely Tuesday.
Wifi tether from the market works great on rooted s-off tbolt.
I think every person should have the following added to their features. I'm not sure what they plan to do on 5/15?
Apparently they got hip to the tethering several apps were removed from Android market. One they really didn't like was Pdanet it is no longer on market. Does it really work that well? You can still get on the freeware site. They are too late, once it's out there its out there. Hard to put the genie back in the bottle.
Yeah, I am not sure why they are getting anal about this stuff. How can they tell the difference where the data originates?
Plus, they can't do anything to people using the Verizon 4G LTE spectrum. The FCC clearly laid out, when they sold the spectrum, that they couldn't limit what people do with their handsets, even with data usage. So they can whine and complain all they want, FCC supersedes VZW TOS.
Apparently 3G is still fair game for them to limit, but I don't care. I don't think they should have the right to tell me what I do with the data that I pay for to be sent to and from my handset, no matter what their TOS says. Data is data, bits are bits, no matter where they go and what they are used for.
About the only company offering true unlimited data thus far is Sprint, but I did read that they will eventually be adding a tiered plan for tablets.
It won't surprise me if in the near future that each provider follows suit like Apple & offers their own Market, in fact I'm surprised they haven't capitalized on it already.
You're buying data service for the handset. When carriers sell wifi hotspots plus service, it is in their financial interest to make sure that unauthorized hotspots are shut down.
There isn't anything illegal about them disallowing unauthorized hotspots.
The free ride ended for jailbroken iPhones, this was just the next logical step. Since Google/Android needs to have carrier buy in, if the carriers ask to shut down apps that violate the TOS, you can bet they'll be shut down.
Even if you side load an app, since all the apps just do NAT it's a trivial packet header inspection to detect use. That's what AT&T is doing - they notify people when they detect tethering/hotspot use.
Bottom line - if you use it, you'll need to buy the add on.
I have heard that you can put your handset in airplane mode, turn on wifi, then load up the market and still download any tethering app you want, pdanet included.
[EDIT] I am att and just tried this with my inspire. On 3g the pdanet app would not show up, so I turned on airplane mode and wifi and connected to market and voila, pdanet did show back up!
So this method is confirmed as a working solution to the carrier blocked tethering apps dilemma. ;-)
Let me know if that works out for ya.
Sent from my GTablet
hitekredneck said:
I am att and just tried this with my inspire. On 3g the pdanet app would not show up, so I turned on airplane mode and wifi and connected to market and voila, pdanet did show back up!
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Wait so then that means pdanet was not pulled from the Market, particular carriers just block it then? Interesting...
EL TEJANO said:
Wait so then that means pdanet was not pulled from the Market, particular carriers just block it then? Interesting...
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Yes, this has been known for quite some time. There is a config line, I think it is in the build.prop file, that identifies your device when connecting to the market. This line makes it possible for the goog market to make certain apps available or not available via carrier request. There are ways of getting around this though which can be found with the search feature here. There are also a few apps that will fake your devices id on the android market so you can get around the blocking of certain apps.
Sent from my CM7 OC'd G-Tablet
Vzw mobile hotspot from verizon has been extended again until july 6 and will receive a software update to remove the mobile hotspot offer. The $20/gb plan will not be available on 4G smartphones.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
Where are you getting your Intel from...just asking....
sporty377 said:
Where are you getting your Intel from...just asking....
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Probably from here:
http://www.droid-life.com/2011/06/14/verizon-extends-4g-lte-mobile-hotspot-offer-through-july-6th/
We just received some pretty welcoming news from Verizon concerning the free 4G LTE mobile hotspot promotion that has been available to owners of the DROID Charge, HTC Thunderbolt and LG Revolution for the last couple of months. According to our friends at Big Red, the promo has been granted an extension and will take users all the way through July 6. We had already seen one extension that gave us all free hotspot usage through tomorrow, but we’ll gladly accept another month.
Verizon Wireless has extended the Limited Time promotion for Mobile Hotspot and Mobile Broadband Connect on 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) Smartphones, ThunderBolt by HTC, DROID Charge by Samsung, and Revolution by LG. The following are the Unlimited Hotspot promotion details.
Limited Time promotion available through 7/6/2011 which allows customers unlimited 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot and Mobile Broadband Connect usage until July 6, 2011 with the purchase of a ThunderBolt by HTC, a DROID Charge by Samsung, or a Revolution by LG, with a voice plan and a data package $29.99 or higher.
The $20/GB (Gigabyte) plan will not be available on 4G LTE Smartphones. On July 6, 2011 a software update will remove the Mobile Hotspot offer. A message will be sent to the end user to contact their system administrator to subscribe to Mobile Hotspot.
So be sure to live it up for another month! You never know what sorts of prices we could see once July hits.
Has anyone else come across the complaint filed by Free Press with the FCC averring that for Verizon to charge customers for tethering using 4G would in fact be in violation of the terms under which Verizon bought its 700MHz block at auction? I've read that this could conceivably at least be partially behind this series of delays.
Edit: Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20069580-264/complaint-to-fcc-verizon-mustnt-bar-4g-tethering/
johnpwu said:
Has anyone else come across the complaint filed by Free Press with the FCC averring that for Verizon to charge customers for tethering using 4G would in fact be in violation of the terms under which Verizon bought its 700MHz block at auction? I've read that this could conceivably at least be partially behind this series of delays.
Edit: Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20069580-264/complaint-to-fcc-verizon-mustnt-bar-4g-tethering/
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I've heard this as well, I'm pretty interested to see how it plays out.
johnpwu said:
Has anyone else come across the complaint filed by Free Press with the FCC averring that for Verizon to charge customers for tethering using 4G would in fact be in violation of the terms under which Verizon bought its 700MHz block at auction? I've read that this could conceivably at least be partially behind this series of delays.
Edit: Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20069580-264/complaint-to-fcc-verizon-mustnt-bar-4g-tethering/
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The complaint is that Verizon is blocking the apps to access tether. You should be allowed to use whatever app you want to tether data signal. It has nothing to do with whether or not tether should be free. Mobile Hotspot (wireless tether) is a service offered for a fee and Verizon wants to make sure users pay accordingly. Please don't flame me for this but after the free hotspot promotion ends and you use a wireless tether app without paying for service, it is stealing...
knave68 said:
The complaint is that Verizon is blocking the apps to access tether. You should be allowed to use whatever app you want to tether data signal. It has nothing to do with whether or not tether should be free. Mobile Hotspot (wireless tether) is a service offered for a fee and Verizon wants to make sure users pay accordingly. Please don't flame me for this but after the free hotspot promotion ends and you use a wireless tether app without paying for service, it is stealing...
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Retracted
Sent from my ThunderBolt using XDA Premium App
Lol I gave droid-life that info to post!
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
Edit: deleted
Mobile hotspot just needs to be made free.. dumb that they charge for it when we have umlimited data anyway.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
The sources say that "A software update will remove the hotspot feature" so how's that gonna affect rooted users?
peyman_2002 said:
The sources say that "A software update will remove the hotspot feature" so how's that gonna affect rooted users?
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This is what I want to know
+1 10chars.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
We can tether either way. Who cares.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Stealing? As in breaking a law? How about merely violating terms of a contract?
Sent from my Evo
Question. I use the free hotspot while it has been free, to connect my xbox to live and play over 4g when not at home. Is tether possible after hotspot promotion is gone?
sent from my uprooted Thunderbolt. help me root XD
Its possible if you root your device. According to verizon tethering without their hotspots software is against their TOS
je2345 said:
Lol I gave droid-life that info to post!
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
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LOL nice info!
knave68 said:
The complaint is that Verizon is blocking the apps to access tether. You should be allowed to use whatever app you want to tether data signal. It has nothing to do with whether or not tether should be free. Mobile Hotspot (wireless tether) is a service offered for a fee and Verizon wants to make sure users pay accordingly. Please don't flame me for this but after the free hotspot promotion ends and you use a wireless tether app without paying for service, it is stealing...
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Really? Breach of contract, sure, but stealing? The fact is that carriers are using the subscriber-contract model to impose ridiculous rules on the way a commodity service is used. The fact is that this structure is unjustifiable and wouldn't survive for more than a day in any market that wasn't crippled by lack of competition. It's like you having to sign a contract with Shell stating you will only buy gas from them from now on, and in return you get a tracking device attached to your car and they charge you $1 per gallon more for fuel used outside a 5 mile radius of your home.
I just want to know your guys' thoughts on this, if Verizon offers VZ Navigation for a fee but we also have access to the free Google Maps, how does that differ from having Verizon offering Mobile Tether and a random dev giving us access to Mobile Tether for Rooted Users?
Is it some sort of contract thing, which I think it is, but it just doesn't make sense to offer free alternatives to "some" of your features then force charges on others. Again, I am sure there is something in the contract that specifically states "Tethering" is prohibited but why just prohibit one thing when probably 10x more people use Google Maps or some other free navigation?
Just got HATE mail from at&t to stop tethering before Dec 31st or they will change my Unlimited data plan to the 4GB $45 tethering data plan. I am running the Cleardroid ROM! Does anyone know of a ROM that I can run that will let me tether without getting the HATE mail or allow them to detect?
thanks P!
Well, you could try using another ROM if you wanted to (such as an ASOP-base), but the best advice I would give you is to watch your total usage. If you keep your total usage in a normal range, then you wouldn't raise any red flags for AT&T.
Here's a really wild and very radical Idea. Not for the faint of heart. DON"T TETHER WITHOUT A TETHERING PLAN! If you do, there is no one to blame but yourself. You agreed to their TOS when you signed up to use their network. Live with it or move to another carrier. Its that simple. Have a nice day
I'm pretty sure no one here is going to tell you how to circumvent AT&T's policies as this is a development site. Your best bet would be to use google.
pc09 said:
Just got HATE mail from at&t to stop tethering before Dec 31st or they will change my Unlimited data plan to the 4GB $45 tethering data plan. I am running the Cleardroid ROM! Does anyone know of a ROM that I can run that will let me tether without getting the HATE mail or allow them to detect?
thanks P!
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I used the Android Revolution rom for over 6 months with no issues and I downloaded OSX10.7 via wifi tether. I averaged 8-12GB/month.
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gflare said:
Well, you could try using another ROM if you wanted to (such as an ASOP-base), but the best advice I would give you is to watch your total usage. If you keep your total usage in a normal range, then you wouldn't raise any red flags for AT&T.
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This is false I have a friend/customer that is at 2.51GB on an Unlimited plan and she just got the text stating that she will be throttled due to being in the top 5% of data users. Which is BS as I am already at 7.24GB myself and have not recieved any messages from AT&T.
Noodles5666 said:
I used the Android Revolution rom for over 6 months with no issues and I downloaded OSX10.7 via wifi tether. I averaged 8-12GB/month.
---------- Post added at 01:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:09 PM ----------
This is false I have a friend/customer that is at 2.51GB on an Unlimited plan and she just got the text stating that she will be throttled due to being in the top 5% of data users. Which is BS as I am already at 7.24GB myself and have not recieved any messages from AT&T.
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The top 5% text is for using data too much on your cell which is completely different from being warned about switching to a tether plan for getting caught tethering.
I tethered using ARHD rom and never got flagged, used as much as 9gb for a month but barely use tethering, only when on the road or out of the city.
Funny thing is now that I'm not tethering at all I get 2 text from att for being top 5% at 2gb on the second week of my cycle, throttled now at .15kbps...WTF is going on here!!! I think they just want everyone one off the unlimited plans for good.
Really mad here >
I suspect I got flagged because I downloaded GTA3 overnight which is only 500mb. At 7am I had gotten the hate texts. They should just put a Max cap at 5gb and not bullsh!t about location based 5% nobody knows...if everyone whose unlimited gets off wifi, top 5% will increase..but wait foh'gee is not fast enough so we must use wifi.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
And here we go again. There have been tons of threads about this already guys, did we really need another one?
Simple fact of the matter is that ATT is cracking down and with the way they are doing it there is no work around for tethering. ATT will end up removing all unlimited data plans, it is just a matter of time. If you want to tether then get a tethering plan. Simple.
I acquired over 15 gigs of usage in less than a month tethering, and never got the hate mail from AT&T. My average is around 6gigs a month though... Sounds strange that you are getting that letter.
lol, we dont have this issue in australia.. yet
Here they dont care if we teather.. but they dont offer unlimited plans either....
im guessing that alot of people just assume that there data is private. Truth is they can tell easily what data is being transmitted unless it is encrypted. They only need look for a few tell tell signs, for instance they can see if a pc is at the end. There is alot of information they can get if they want to. They can tell u the os version mac id etc... So no rom can make it where att isnt aware of what is going on.
Its not the amount of data they are looking at to know if your tethering. Its data packets themselves. All isp have this ability or anyone with alot of computer knowledge.
Well hey, at least we know that ATT has limits. A friend of mine uses C-Spire, formerly Cellular South, (a regional carrier for southern US) and the constantly advertise no data limits and how they won't implement data limits. they are soon to start charging for streaming from pandora, youtube, etc. But the data plans are still unlimited. False advertising?
Haha it is safe to say cell phone companies are far dirtier than politicians.
AT&T is a bunch of liars. I got grandfathered into an unlimited plan. Who the hell are they to tell me how I use my data. Its none of their business. But because it stops them from making another 20-30 bucks off of me, I'm not allowed to use my data as I want. Its a joke
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using xda premium
As a ex AT&T employee the simple answer is that it's against the Terms of Service that you clicked thru when you activate a phone.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using Tapatalk
nmbr1ctrman said:
AT&T is a bunch of liars. I got grandfathered into an unlimited plan. Who the hell are they to tell me how I use my data. Its none of their business. But because it stops them from making another 20-30 bucks off of me, I'm not allowed to use my data as I want. Its a joke
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using xda premium
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Let me guess, you didnt read the TOS? I dont understand signing something without reading it. That is just plain stupid. Mainly when your liable for it.
willwalk93 said:
Well hey, at least we know that ATT has limits. A friend of mine uses C-Spire, formerly Cellular South, (a regional carrier for southern US) and the constantly advertise no data limits and how they won't implement data limits. they are soon to start charging for streaming from pandora, youtube, etc. But the data plans are still unlimited. False advertising?
Haha it is safe to say cell phone companies are far dirtier than politicians.
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ATT was the same way with their unlimited plan from the beginning. There was a 5GB fair use clause in the TOS. At that time 5GB was an almost unlimited amount of data. If you went over 5GB you were just doing something excessive. As technology developed (iphone to the forefront) 5GB may have seemed easily reachable by many. But the fair use clause was still there.
Also on your ATT unlimited plan TOS there was a clause that you could not stream video and audio. How many of you saw that? This was very hard to enforce and was mostly ignored.
Also from the beginning you were not allowed to tether without a tethering plan. What is so difficult to understand this?
nmbr1ctrman said:
AT&T is a bunch of liars. I got grandfathered into an unlimited plan. Who the hell are they to tell me how I use my data. Its none of their business. But because it stops them from making another 20-30 bucks off of me, I'm not allowed to use my data as I want. Its a joke
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using xda premium
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Did you read my responses above? They have EVERY right to tell you how to use your data. You agreed and signed the contract. Nowhere has ATT lied to their customers. The issue is that they didn't enforce their rules and allowed too many to take advantage of the system. So now that they are getting some balls and trying to keep data use in line, people are crying foul. Well it is because of you that abuse the system that ATT is cracking down. You have only yourselves to blame.
Agoattamer said:
Also on your ATT unlimited plan TOS there was a clause that you could not stream video and audio. How many of you saw that? This was very hard to enforce and was mostly ignored.
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This is not entirely true. There was more to that clause that specified to another device, like your PC or television screen. It was specific to not using your device as an access point, which, you are correct, covered tethering. You are also correct about the about the 5gb soft cap. It basically stated if one continued to go over 5gb, they could take your unlimited plan away. Streaming to your phone has never been a violation.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using Tapatalk
I have a copy of the original TOS since it is no longer available on ATT's website. I just have to find it. It was revised at one point in time to state what you are saying. I have found parts to that TOS on the web. They are quoted below. But I still stand behind that at one point in time it also forbid audio and video streaming from the web. That was quite a few years ago. But needless to say with or without the streaming part the TOS was laid out and some just did not pay attention to it.
The parties agree that AT&T has the right to limit throughput or amount of data transferred and/or deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service if you use more than 5 gigabytes in a month. If you require more than 5 gigabytes per month, ask us about our DataConnect 5GB Overage plan.
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AT&T RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE YOUR SERVICES WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, UPON EXPIRATION OR TERMINATION OF YOUR WIRELESS SERVICE AGREEMENT.
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Except as may otherwise be specifically permitted or prohibited for select data plans, data sessions may be conducted only for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; and (iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, email, and individual productivity applications like customer relationship management, sales force, and field service automation).
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While most common uses for Intranet browsing, email and intranet access are permitted by your data plan, there are certain uses that cause extreme network capacity issues and interference with the network and are therefore prohibited. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) 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; (ii) as a substitute or backup for private lines, landlines or full-time or dedicated data connections; (iii) "auto-responders," "cancel-bots," or similar automated or manual routines which generate excessive amounts of net traffic, or which disrupt net user groups or email use by others; (iv) "spam" or unsolicited commercial or bulk email (or activities that have the effect of facilitating unsolicited commercial email or unsolicited bulk email); (v) any activity that adversely affects the ability of other people or systems to use either AT&T's wireless services or other parties' Internet-based resources, including "denial of service" (DoS) attacks against another network host or individual user; (vi) accessing, or attempting to access without authority, the accounts of others, or to penetrate, or attempt to penetrate, security measures of AT&T's wireless network or another entity's network or systems; (vii) software or other devices that maintain continuous active Internet connections when a computer's connection would otherwise be idle or any "keep alive" functions, unless they adhere to AT&T's data retry requirements, which may be changed from time to time. 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, redirecting television signals for viewing on Personal Computers, web broadcasting, and/or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition devices is prohibited. 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/PDA-to computer accessories, BLUETOOTH® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose.
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There's a copy of your contract, accessible through your att account online. Read it. Love it. Live it. Or go to another carrier. That simple.
Ze, is it time to shut this down?
Agoattamer said:
I have a copy of the original TOS since it is no longer available on ATT's website. I just have to find it. It was revised at one point in time to state what you are saying. I have found parts to that TOS on the web. They are quoted below. But I still stand behind that at one point in time it also forbid audio and video streaming from the web. That was quite a few years ago. But needless to say with or without the streaming part the TOS was laid out and some just did not pay attention to it.
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Hah, you jolted my memory with that. I remember that now. It wasn't that long of a period that AT&T had that in the TOS. After it was inserted in the TOS, AT&T received so much negative backlash over it, it had to later remove it.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using Tapatalk
Contract and TOS are 2 separate items. At the bottom of your contract it reads...
I HAVE READ AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THIS
AGREEMENT WITH ITS SEPARATE TERMS OF SERVICE,
RATE PLAN AND FEATURES BROCHURES (including
but not limited to, their Changes to Terms and Rates,
Limitations of Liability, and Arbitration clauses).
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Terms of Service is not linked to your account or contract. It is separate and not available anymore for the grandfathered unlimited account.
fernandezhjr said:
Hah, you jolted my memory with that. I remember that now. It wasn't that long of a period that AT&T had that in the TOS. After it was inserted in the TOS, AT&T received so much negative backlash over it, it had to later remove it.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using Tapatalk
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I imagine TOS was changed quite a few times over the years. As technology changes so does the rules.