Database Info

AT&T cracking down on unauthorized Tethering.

http://www.bgr.com/2011/03/18/att-cracks-down-on-tethering-cheaters/
how do they know? think it's purely based on how much data you are using at once time?
Think they are really doing this or just trying to scare people out of tethering?

There's a big thread on this on another iPhone site, but I'm curious how many android users have gotten this email.

Hmmm I could see a class action lawsuit coming from this. Along the same lines as when Apple tried to make jailbreaking illeagal. Personally I don't see a problem we are using the data we pay for. It should be up to us how we use it.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App

what about a class action lawsuit about att 4G BS??
on att map, it shows i have 4G coverage in bayarea, CA but my speedtest never go higher than 4mb! speedtest on inspire 4G is the same as any 3G phones!

I tether once in a while, usually while on vacation. I did not get any notice. I seem to think this is triggered by data usage. I only use about 1GB a month.
Those of you that got notified, how much data do you use in a typical month?

Wow. I too think it's a 5GB or so trigger.

It's more the gateway than anything else. MyWi enables the broadband or ISP.cingular gateway. If we ensure we are going through the wap.cingular gateway then it is less likely. In addition, I would suggest anyone running anything close to stock edit your database in /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/telephony.DB and ensure that anything in the area of 410310 doesn't say broadband or ISP.cingular, but wap.cingular or phone instead.

bedwa said:
It's more the gateway than anything else. MyWi enables the broadband or ISP.cingular gateway. If we ensure we are going through the wap.cingular gateway then it is less likely. In addition, I would suggest anyone running anything close to stock edit your database in /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/telephony.DB and ensure that anything in the area of 410310 doesn't say broadband or ISP.cingular, but wap.cingular or phone instead.
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Click to collapse
Good info, so if you changed your APN to wap.cingular would that do it?

The email in the link says AT&T sends text messages when we hit certain percentages of data used. I have never received such a message. Are they supposed to be automatic, or do I have to enable them?

gunnyman said:
http://www.bgr.com/2011/03/18/att-cracks-down-on-tethering-cheaters/
how do they know? think it's purely based on how much data you are using at once time?
Think they are really doing this or just trying to scare people out of tethering?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say it is a little of both. This is nothing new, not even for AT&T.
Ultimately what it comes down to is, the amount of data you move at one time, services requested and types of packets sent/received. Everything which can be monitored on an automated basis.
For thethering I try not to over-do it, but only use it when I need it.
As far as I am concerned, I already pay for data usage and I should not be restricted on how I use it.

I have read people using 20+ gb a month. Those people deserve to be capped. They are the reason why capped data plans came in the first place. With that said how At&t is detecting this through browser Id's or Ttl is a mystery for now.o
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App

I've consistently used more than 5 gigs a month the last few months and I don't even tether much at all. The vast majority of my data use occurs on my device.
*Haven't seen the aforementioned text or email btw
Via the XDA app for the HTC Inspire

Simba501 said:
I've consistently used more than 5 gigs a month the last few months and I don't even tether much at all. The vast majority of my data use occurs on my device.
*Haven't seen the aforementioned text or email btw
Via the XDA app for the HTC Inspire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto what they said.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App

Simba501 said:
I've consistently used more than 5 gigs a month the last few months and I don't even tether much at all. The vast majority of my data use occurs on my device.
*Haven't seen the aforementioned text or email btw
Via the XDA app for the HTC Inspire
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Click to collapse
7.5-8 for me, mostly Pandora.

I know this is the Inspire thread but I've been thethering with my HTC pure for months now (between 3-8gb) and have never heard anything... I wonder if it's because I'm directing my data through MediaNet or if I've been lucky so far.

Everything I'm reading says iPhone owners are the only ones getting notices.
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

I wonder if they built something into the stock ROM that allows them to track and if by using custom ROMs we avoid detection.

$10 per GB is to much. I see if you upgrade your phone you can not keep your unlimited plan. 4GB is not enough if you do everything from your personal communication device.

I don't think it's unfair for AT&T to bump users off of unlimited plans if they are tethering with their device...the Smartphone data plan is for the phone...not for devices attached to the phone...they did have a 60 dollar tethering plan back in the day that was unlimited on the phone and 5GB for connected devices...I disagree more with AT&T capping DSL/Uverse more than I disagree with Mobile broadband caps...since a smartphone isn't supposed to be a person's primary source for internet

steezee said:
I don't think it's unfair for AT&T to bump users off of unlimited plans if they are tethering with their device...the Smartphone data plan is for the phone...not for devices attached to the phone...they did have a 60 dollar tethering plan back in the day that was unlimited on the phone and 5GB for connected devices...I disagree more with AT&T capping DSL/Uverse more than I disagree with Mobile broadband caps...since a smartphone isn't supposed to be a person's primary source for internet
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Click to collapse
I disagree completely. That's like saying a loaf of bread is $3, but if you're going to use it for grilled cheese it's $10. Both loaves make sandwiches, who cares what kind it is. In the end, you'll eventually run out of bread (unless you were grandfathered in).

VZW Blocking teathering without teathering plan.

http://arstechnica.com/#!/gadgets/n...tethering-customers-may-violate-fcc-rules.ars
I'm at work and cannot confirm that vzw is now redirecting all 3rd party teathering apps to its sign-up page for teathering. Can anyone confirm this?
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

not sure if you're refering to just wireless or all tethering, but PDA Net still works just fine.

Funny that the article discusses a "jailbroken" Droid X and pictures and iphone.
Nevertheless, this is why I decided to pay for unlimited tethering, no more looking over my shoulder. With my wife's discount on service it was a great deal.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

Meh, let them try. I tethered all weekend driving from DC to Philedelphia and back
There is absolutely no way they can call tethering a provided "service" beyond simply providing data to the phones. What we do with that data is none of their dam business. If you are forced into a tiered data plan, it should not be up to them how you may use that limited data. If you want to tether and use your whole allowance on day one of the month, that should be your right.

No issues. Its working fine on mine.
Sent from my PUR3 A05P using Tapatalk

my "jailbroken" Thunderbolt is in tethercity with no concerns.
in fact, that's how I'm posting this.
-sent from my massive e-persona in which I attempt to convince you everything I do is Like A Bo$$

Good luck trying to block it. They can request the apps removed from market. We'll just download them elsewhere. They should be spending their energy on something more customer friendly, and stop trying to punish people.

Ita impossivle for verizon to determine if u are downloading bigass files on ur phone or through thetering.
Sent from my PUR3 A05P using XDA App

kevenrivera said:
Ita impossivle for verizon to determine if u are downloading bigass files on ur phone or through thetering.
Sent from my PUR3 A05P using XDA App
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Click to collapse
To them it doesn't matter. If you're downloading 80GB+ per month, which some are, you're abusing the network.
They'll more than likely develop a throttling system for extreme users. It's not fair for them to suck up all of my bandwidth if they're too cheap to pay for regular internet or the hotspot feature.
200th post...FTW!!

I had heard with LTE they have more control over the network and would actually be able to tell if it was your phone or if it was a PC attached to the network through tethering.

rommel500 said:
I had heard with LTE they have more control over the network and would actually be able to tell if it was your phone or if it was a PC attached to the network through tethering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They will never be able to tell those things unless inspecting your packets.....which is an obvious violation of privacy

Using Barnacle and traveling around the country at the moment, no issues here.

rommel500 said:
I had heard with LTE they have more control over the network and would actually be able to tell if it was your phone or if it was a PC attached to the network through tethering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they can tell, but apparently its a PIA to do it. I would expect for unlimited users to start getting throttled if they use a huge amount of data (which is already in your contract).
scook9 said:
They will never be able to tell those things unless inspecting your packets.....which is an obvious violation of privacy
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Click to collapse
umm, they are providing the data. Good luck winning a lawsuit saying they didn't have the right to verify you weren't breaking the TOS.
As far as the OP, I really think they got confused. AT&T can tell if you are tethering your iphone using the mifi cydia program. Apparently the program tells at&t that its tethering. But isn't that the dev that apple hired anyways so he probably added that on purpose?

There's no way to tell what "kind" of data is being used other than what the phone reports. On my Dinc, it was the ol' "dun" fix. I don't use it enough anymore to justify the extra expense, considering how many free WiFi locations are available. Also, I rarely even use my laptop anymore, I do 99% of my browsing from my phone.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

CanesDrew said:
To them it doesn't matter. If you're downloading 80GB+ per month, which some are, you're abusing the network.
They'll more than likely develop a throttling system for extreme users. It's not fair for them to suck up all of my bandwidth if they're too cheap to pay for regular internet or the hotspot feature.
200th post...FTW!!
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Click to collapse
They already throttle too users. No one is Sucking up your bandwidth either. I was sold an unlimited data plan and they gladly took my money.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

eallan said:
They already throttle too users. No one is Sucking up your bandwidth either. I was sold an unlimited data plan and they gladly took my money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You were sold an unlimited data plan for phone data, with the condition that the top 5% of bandwidth users could be throttled. Read your contract.

This isn't news.... We've known about this for months....
Sent from my HTC GingerBolt powered by Gingeritis 1.2.1

lrs421 said:
Funny that the article discusses a "jailbroken" Droid X and pictures and iphone.
Nevertheless, this is why I decided to pay for unlimited tethering, no more looking over my shoulder. With my wife's discount on service it was a great deal.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too, same as you. Except for the wifey thing.

eallan said:
They already throttle too users. No one is Sucking up your bandwidth either. I was sold an unlimited data plan and they gladly took my money.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's semantics. From a technical point of view there's no such thing as unlimited data. Multiply the download speed times the number of hours in a month and that's the theoretical limit. Of course, no one can go the full download speed all the time. It's just not possible.
What you get promised is that they won't cut you off at a specific number of bytes. However, unlike cable companies, I haven't seen any phone carrier advertise or even mention the download speed. They can't. Unlike your cable modem, your phone moves around.
So, not having promised any kind of speed performance it's easy for them to just slow you down if you eat too many bytes.
And, as an "average" user I'm THRILLED that they throttle the heavy users. I don't want to be on a network that averages 500kbps because there are hundreds of people in my cell eating up the bandwidth all the time.

AT&T Clarifies Its Policy On Data Throttling, Allows 5GB Of Unaltered Data Flow For L

AT&T Clarifies Its Policy On Data Throttling, Allows 5GB Of Unaltered Data Flow For L
With mobile data usage continuing to skyrocket and the availability of spectrum scarce, AT&T, like other wireless companies, manages its network in the most fair way possible so that we can provide the best possible mobile broadband experience for all our customers.
How we’re managing the network only affects a small minority of the heaviest smartphone data users still on unlimited plans. Put another way, this does not impact more than 95 percent of our smartphone customers.
Our unlimited plan customers have told us they want more clarity around how the program works and what they can expect. Here’s what customers need to know:
Customers with a 3G or 4G smartphone – who also still have our unlimited data plan – will see speeds reduced if they use 3GB (gigabytes) of data or more in a billing cycle. Speeds will return to normal at the start of the next billing cycle. For context, less than 5 percent of smartphone customers use more than 3GB per month.
For customers with a 4G LTE smartphone – who also still have our unlimited data plan – data speeds will be reduced if usage is 5GB (gigabytes) or more in a billing cycle. Speeds will return to normal at the start of the next billing cycle
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Customers will get a text message from us before experiencing a change in speed.
Even with reduced data speeds, these customers will still be able to email and surf the web, and continue to use an unlimited amount of data each month.
Not impacted by this program, launched last year, are customers on our tiered data plans.
The reason reduced speeds only apply to unlimited smartphone customers is because their data usage is significantly higher than those on tiered plans. For example, in January, the top 5 percent of our unlimited data plan customers used an average of over 50 percent more data than the top 5 percent of customers on tiered plans.
Because spectrum is limited and data usage continues to soar, we manage our network this way to be as fair as possible and so we can provide the best possible mobile broadband experience to everyone.
We encourage all of our customers to use Wi-Fi whenever possible – especially when watching video, which is the most data-intensive activity.
That’s because data activity over Wi-Fi does not count against the threshold for unlimited customers that triggers reduced data speeds or against customers’ tiered data plans. Customers can find out more at www.att.com/datainfo

But some people were getting throttled even when they didn't go over 3gb. I believe they shouldn't throttle for the whole billing cycle. Only when someone is abusing it when there's a lot of traffic in the network, and restore it after that period. But that would probably require a lot of work. I dunno just my opinion.
Never been throttled, I don't use a lot of data.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997

jayson94538 said:
But some people were getting throttled even when they didn't go over 3gb. I believe they shouldn't throttle for the whole billing cycle. Only when someone is abusing it when there's a lot of traffic in the network, and restore it after that period. But that would probably require a lot of work. I dunno just my opinion.
Never been throttled, I don't use a lot of data.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you read it?? That all just changed.
Well.. That sucks. Only one month did I use 6 gigs. Typically don't use over 1 though. Meh. Let the angry comments come in. I'd be pissed if there wasn't wifi at my house, and I lived in good cell reception, and depended on it. ATT.. You're full of crap.
Atleast LTE users get a break. I'll get an LTE phone next time around the block.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

It's still bull. I bought my phone because AT&T said that I was buying a 4G phone and said I was told how fast it was.
They put YouTube, a web browser, an email app and a text messaging app, just to name a few, on my phone.

Truckerglenn said:
It's still bull. I bought my phone because AT&T said that I was buying a 4G phone and said I was told how fast it was.
They put YouTube, a web browser, an email app and a text messaging app, just to name a few, on my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're still getting unlimited data. When you signed up, did the contract guarantee you unlimited data at speeds greater than or equal to XXmb/s, or just unlimited data?

Maybe a better way to "CLARIFY" is to change the Plan name from UNlimited to " LIMITED "
That would clear it all up would'nt it?
Geez....ATT you are way too big.

Erik_T said:
Did you read it?? That all just changed.
Well.. That sucks. Only one month did I use 6 gigs. Typically don't use over 1 though. Meh. Let the angry comments come in. I'd be pissed if there wasn't wifi at my house, and I lived in good cell reception, and depended on it. ATT.. You're full of crap.
Atleast LTE users get a break. I'll get an LTE phone next time around the block.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol and how will it change my opinion? Oh well. Like I said, I don't use that much data anyways.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997

Erik_T said:
Did you read it?? That all just changed.
Well.. That sucks. Only one month did I use 6 gigs. Typically don't use over 1 though. Meh. Let the angry comments come in. I'd be pissed if there wasn't wifi at my house, and I lived in good cell reception, and depended on it. ATT.. You're full of crap.
Atleast LTE users get a break. I'll get an LTE phone next time around the block.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no reading for most people is pretty freaking hard

CheesyNutz said:
no reading for most people is pretty freaking hard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Evidently... Lol. Still think it's horse****. I might actually think about Verizon... WOW.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

using data with limited speed is NOT unlimited.
using data with limited speed BY hardware specs, however, is different.
basically, people should just sue att for false advertisement.

tjy8tim said:
using data with limited speed is NOT unlimited.
using data with limited speed BY hardware specs, however, is different.
basically, people should just sue att for false advertisement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea because its in the contract you sign that they the right to throttle you and any point they choose too

Hmmm.. So what's the default APN on LTE??
I just wanted to throw it out there.. I will probably look this up later myself..
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

CheesyNutz said:
yea because its in the contract you sign that they the right to throttle you and any point they choose too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm.. Didn't sign a contract. Though I did feel the need for an iPhone 2g for a few hours.. While I had my infuse and somehow almost used up my whole 2 gigs in 2 days. Something went funky with ATT servers.. Or the infuse. Lol.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

Erik_T said:
Hmm.. Didn't sign a contract. Though I did feel the need for an iPhone 2g for a few hours.. While I had my infuse and somehow almost used up my whole 2 gigs in 2 days. Something went funky with ATT servers.. Or the infuse. Lol.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you're saying that you have no service agreement with them?
Then you shouldn't be complaining.
Sent from my AT100 using xda premium

apallohadas said:
So you're saying that you have no service agreement with them?
Then you shouldn't be complaining.
Sent from my AT100 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
No. Lol. There's a flaw where if you had the original iphone then you could set it up in iTunes and get unlimited data.
In two days, at the beginning of a cycle, when I was on my 2 gig planned (had just got the phone a month or two before..) It decided to go through the roof with my usage. 2 gigs. 2 days...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

So what qualifies as a "LTE phone"? Is the Infuse not an LTE phone??
And does anyone know if this 3GB cap just started?
Because this month I got throttled at 2040mb ... which is... roughly.. 2GB.. right.
I think 5GB sounds fair for an "unlimited" (limited) plan.
I would never go over that!... 3GB... I hover around that every month for sure.

hollywood528 said:
So what qualifies as a "LTE phone"? Is the Infuse not an LTE phone??
And does anyone know if this 3GB cap just started?
Because this month I got throttled at 2040mb ... which is... roughly.. 2GB.. right.
I think 5GB sounds fair for an "unlimited" (limited) plan.
I would never go over that!... 3GB... I hover around that every month for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No
Today
Yes
Me too
Cool...
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk

Erik_T said:
No. Lol. There's a flaw where if you had the original iphone then you could set it up in iTunes and get unlimited data.
In two days, at the beginning of a cycle, when I was on my 2 gig planned (had just got the phone a month or two before..) It decided to go through the roof with my usage. 2 gigs. 2 days...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you do have a service agreement. A contract. I can guarantee that if you've gotten a subsidized phone from them since your iPhone that you either signed or clicked through a new contract binding you to updated agreements but keeping your unlimited plan.
Sent from my AT100 using xda premium

apallohadas said:
So you do have a service agreement. A contract. I can guarantee that if you've gotten a subsidized phone from them since your iPhone that you either signed or clicked through a new contract binding you to updated agreements but keeping your unlimited plan.
Sent from my AT100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably when I finished setting it up in iTunes, it sealed the dev. Idk. Whatever. My contract expires next year. ill have this phone for a while, and keep the plan. And then onto the next phone..
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

Here's the deal. Less than 5% of AT&T users have unlimited data. They want the unlimited people gone. They are trying to monetize power-users while managing bandwidth (which is a finite resource) to keep the average users happy. If you had a business and had to choose between keeping 5% of your customers happy, or 95% of your customers happy... you would make the same choice. These decisions aren't about the users today... it's about 2015 when the average smartphone user will use alot more data... and there will be more smartphone users.... etc, etc.
Not saying I condone these decisions... but after all they are a business. They have a finite resource (bandwidth) and have to make as much profit as possible with that finite resource. Bandwidth doesn't grow on trees, and neither does money. End of story.

So AT&T is up to their tricks again....

I come home today and find a letter from AT&T and open it up (thinking this outta be good)...Apparently they finally figured out the way they're gonna force us (those in grandfathered unlimited data plans) off. Their letter goes as following:
"Dear (My Name)
We've noticed your service plan may need updating.
Many AT&T customers use their smartphones as a broadband connection for other devices, like laptops, netbooks or other smartphones- a practice commonly known as tethering. Tethering can be an efficient way for our customers to enjoy the benefits of AT&T's mobile broadband network and use more than one device to stay in touch with important people and information. To take advantage of this feature, we require that you have a tethering plan.
Our records show that you use this capability, but are not subscribed to our tethering plan.
If you would like to continue tethering, please log into your account online at www.wireless.att.com, or call us 866-975-0003, Mon-Fri, 6am-midnight or Sat-Sun, 8am-9pm CT, by the end of this month sign up for a plan that allows tethering. Viable plans include the DataPro 5GB for Smartphone plan, the DataPro Enterprise plan, or any of our AT&T Mobile Share plans."
They then go on to list both plans priced $50 and $65 then go on to say "If we don't hear from you, we'll plan to automatically enroll you in one of the above individual Smartphone DataPro 5GB plans in an upcoming bill cycle........If you discontinue tethering by the end of the month, no changes to your current plan will be required."
Funny thing is I don't tether and any usage has been me watching netflix, youtube videos, downloading files from threads here and browsing the web. I wanna complete listing of these alleged "records" they speak of because I'll be damned if they get me off my unlimited data plan!

I got the same letter today. Also got a text
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app

It's based strictly on usage. I routinely use my phone as a mobile hot spot for my laptop, but only when absolutely necessary and only for a few MB at a time. I've never once heard from AT&T. Meanwhile, I know someone who never tethers to their phone (why would they when they have a mobile wifi router FROM AT&T?). They do, however, smoke through 3-4GB of data per month, as they use their phone in lieu of a laptop when on the road. Now, not that I would ever piece together what I've learned through casual conversation with an AT&T employee or two, but they've both suggested that something like this might resolve the situation if you're ever presented with it:
1. Call AT&T. Ask for supervisor right away--don't waste time with the peons.
2. Ask for the supervisor's name and number. Write them down. Inform supervisor that you received the letter, but do not tether and never have. Ask what "records" they're pulling from. You'll probably get a "usage" reply. If so:
3. Ask them how simple data usage can indicate whether you're tethering or not. They'll most likely say that the amount of data you're using is indicative of tethering.
4. Ask whether your plan contains unlimited data. The answer, of course, is yes. State once again that you do not tether, and as your plan has unlimited data linked to it, they cannot use the amount of data you consume as evidence of tethering.
5. Without giving the supervisor a chance to talk, quickly state that unless they can produce for you documentary evidence of cell data traffic being generated by a device tethered to your phone (here's a hint--they can only see your phone's data, they can't see anything connected to it), you expect them to honor the unlimited data agreement you have with them, and any attempt on their part to move you onto a different plan will be seen as a breach of that agreement and handled as such. Tell the supervisor that you expect a call from the call center's manager within 24 hours to acknowledge that your plan will not be changed absent documentary evidence of tethering, which you are not engaged in in the first place. Confirm the supervisor's name and number with them, "just in case we have any discrepancies when I talk to the center manager".
Not that I would've ever relied upon friends in the right places to detail such an approach for me or anything, but I have heard through the grapevine that the tethering letter consistently goes out to unlimited data users in certain "usage brackets", and they're banking on us not knowing that their towers can't tell whether the data is coming from our phone or from a laptop tethered to it.

Att did the same thing with Iphone users but it wasn't a bluff.. They knew in fact you were tethering...
I wouldn't be so quick to assume they are going only on data usage..
I'm willing to bet they know the second you tether...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

T.J. Bender said:
It's based strictly on usage. I routinely use my phone as a mobile hot spot for my laptop, but only when absolutely necessary and only for a few MB at a time. I've never once heard from AT&T. Meanwhile, I know someone who never tethers to their phone (why would they when they have a mobile wifi router FROM AT&T?). They do, however, smoke through 3-4GB of data per month, as they use their phone in lieu of a laptop when on the road. Now, not that I would ever piece together what I've learned through casual conversation with an AT&T employee or two, but they've both suggested that something like this might resolve the situation if you're ever presented with it:
1. Call AT&T. Ask for supervisor right away--don't waste time with the peons.
2. Ask for the supervisor's name and number. Write them down. Inform supervisor that you received the letter, but do not tether and never have. Ask what "records" they're pulling from. You'll probably get a "usage" reply. If so:
3. Ask them how simple data usage can indicate whether you're tethering or not. They'll most likely say that the amount of data you're using is indicative of tethering.
4. Ask whether your plan contains unlimited data. The answer, of course, is yes. State once again that you do not tether, and as your plan has unlimited data linked to it, they cannot use the amount of data you consume as evidence of tethering.
5. Without giving the supervisor a chance to talk, quickly state that unless they can produce for you documentary evidence of cell data traffic being generated by a device tethered to your phone (here's a hint--they can only see your phone's data, they can't see anything connected to it), you expect them to honor the unlimited data agreement you have with them, and any attempt on their part to move you onto a different plan will be seen as a breach of that agreement and handled as such. Tell the supervisor that you expect a call from the call center's manager within 24 hours to acknowledge that your plan will not be changed absent documentary evidence of tethering, which you are not engaged in in the first place. Confirm the supervisor's name and number with them, "just in case we have any discrepancies when I talk to the center manager".
Not that I would've ever relied upon friends in the right places to detail such an approach for me or anything, but I have heard through the grapevine that the tethering letter consistently goes out to unlimited data users in certain "usage brackets", and they're banking on us not knowing that their towers can't tell whether the data is coming from our phone or from a laptop tethered to it.
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Click to collapse
Exactly! I literally haven't tethered and my data usage did surpass 5GB last month ( I got the infamous text the very last day literally minutes before my billing cycle resets) but is around 3.5 this month....this is a pathetic move on their part to bank on people not opening that letter and change their plan without notice. Once the subscriber notices the call will go something along the lines of "Oh I'm sorry there's nothing we can do as it's a system change and we can not reverse or restore that previous plan." As if I don't pay enough for my monthly plan as it is......corporate greed at its best.

waiters said:
Att did the same thing with Iphone users but it wasn't a bluff.. They knew in fact you were tethering...
I wouldn't be so quick to assume they are going only on data usage..
I'm willing to bet they know the second you tether...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Based on what those in the know have told me, they have no way of knowing and go solely by usage on Android platforms.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

T.J. Bender said:
Based on what those in the know have told me, they have no way of knowing and go solely by usage on Android platforms.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Either that is 100% false or I'm very lucky.. I get throttled from att every month still and in my protest have reached 30gb+..
The only time I got a letter from att I was on an Iphone and was in fact tethering.
I do believe att knew this whole time about tethering but didn't care because they had bigger fish to go after.. Android will eventually level the playing field and att will be concerned with our data usage also.. That might be what you see going on now.. Att trying to go after tethering android users before it becomes a bigger problem...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

T.J. Bender said:
Based on what those in the know have told me, they have no way of knowing and go solely by usage on Android platforms.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They don't. They just rely on usage patterns to determine if you're a "data hog" and look for backhanded ways to penalize you based on that data ( really only applicable to those remaining unlimited data folks ) If I was on a tiered data plan they could give two ****s what and how I use up data they'd encourage me to rack up all the GB of data I can and smile at the end the billing cycle cause they know I got ****ed good and hard.

Not the first time I have received the letter, all times I had in fact tethered in the month prior.
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app

Part of me hopes they pull this with me so I can get out of my contract...I used 16 GB a few months ago and no letter though. Oh and I never tether.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

They know if you tether. That's why certain tethering apps have spoof capabilities to mask your ID.
Sent from my SGH-I727 using xda premium

It's all in HOW the tethering is done. If the app or ROM just simply says to use the built in tethering, then it's very trackable. If the tethering is spoofed to look like the normal data connection, then it can't be tracked.

dakpluto said:
It's all in HOW the tethering is done. If the app or ROM just simply says to use the built in tethering, then it's very trackable. If the tethering is spoofed to look like the normal data connection, then it can't be tracked.
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Click to collapse
All I use is foxfi and got the letter FWIW
And no, you can't get put of your contract with att on something like this ....its in the fine print that they can change pretty much whatever they want.
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app

00mred00 said:
All I use is foxfi and got the letter FWIW
And no, you can't get put of your contract with att on something like this ....its in the fine print that they can change pretty much whatever they want.
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Fine print isn't automatically legally binding. That guy sued AT&T for throttling and won.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Sheolrock said:
Fine print isn't automatically legally binding. That guy sued AT&T for throttling and won.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
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That guy won simply because it was proven they were throttling him at a lower usage than an equally priced capped plan.

00mred00 said:
And no, you can't get put of your contract with att on something like this ....its in the fine print that they can change pretty much whatever they want.
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Legally, you are correct.
However, if you speak to the right people, anything is possible; ESPECIALLY if you've been a customer in good standing for a long time.
Not saying it could happen, just saying it's possible. I missed out on unlimited data, but I do agree with the person on page 1 who numbered out the steps. That is definitely the right way to go.

liquidzoo said:
Legally, you are correct.
However, if you speak to the right people, anything is possible; ESPECIALLY if you've been a customer in good standing for a long time.
Not saying it could happen, just saying it's possible. I missed out on unlimited data, but I do agree with the person on page 1 who numbered out the steps. That is definitely the right way to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with post on page 1 for sure. I wouldn't be very optimistic on being released from contract obligations though
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app

00mred00 said:
All I use is foxfi and got the letter FWIW
And no, you can't get put of your contract with att on something like this ....its in the fine print that they can change pretty much whatever they want.
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used foxfi too... first time this month. Probably around 30mb only, decided to try it to see if it works. I received the exact same mail.
Wonder if I should call or not because it says if you stop they will not switch you over. Now, I'm thinking maybe I should. I spent 3gb last month (our area is not LTE but my phone is LTE). What's the best advice on how to go about calling them? SHould I admit to using it or pretend I didn't.

droidbabyxda said:
I used foxfi too... first time this month. Probably around 30mb only, decided to try it to see if it works. I received the exact same mail.
Wonder if I should call or not because it says if you stop they will not switch you over. Now, I'm thinking maybe I should. I spent 3gb last month (our area is not LTE but my phone is LTE). What's the best advice on how to go about calling them? SHould I admit to using it or pretend I didn't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Last time I got the letter I just told them I downloaded some app , was unaware of it being an issue, thanked them for the warning and let them know I wpuldnt do it again
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app

Att probably targets high usage customers for data profiling. When your WoW user agent pops up... bam, they send the letter.
Replace "WoW" with your favorite easily-profiled bandwidth-sapping client, Windows time request, etc.
And that's ignoring any differences between Windows/Linux/android networking stacks that can be finger printed...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

Do NOT update to ICS yet

I was at a VZW center yesterday, and one of the reps (to who his credit, didn't sound like a complete idiot like a lot of the employees there.)
Anyway, he told me that if you have the $30 unlimited tethering promo that was optional for a short time when the Tbolt came out...once you update to ICS you will lose it.
I don't know if what the rep said was true or not, but just felt I should give anyone who might be in this situation a heads up.
Sorry, if this has already been mentioned, by the way...I just wanted to get it out there quickly.

That salesman's knowledge seems questionable
Fail on reading comprehension on my part...I read that as unlimited data not unlimited tethering. I thought they lost a court case recently where they couldn't charge for tethering anymore? (Found a link, can't post it, yay new user, but if you google "verizon court case tethering" you should find several articles about it) At any rate I imagine as long as you keep root they can't really stop you from tethering.

nuggetfn22004 said:
Fail on reading comprehension on my part...I read that as unlimited data not unlimited tethering. I thought they lost a court case recently where they couldn't charge for tethering anymore? (Found a link, can't post it, yay new user, but if you google "verizon court case tethering" you should find several articles about it) At any rate I imagine as long as you keep root they can't really stop you from tethering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah with root, I don't think they can do anything about you tethering. I personally have used my rooted tethering for some really data-intensive power sessions--like 10-15GB a week while I was away (VZW was much faster than the local wifi at my hotel where I was doing after-hours work). Never heard a peep from Verizon about it.

They're allowed to provide their own paid tethering service, they just aren't allowed to force you to use that or use nothing. In other words, they can't tell you not to use a free app for the same thing.
Sent from my ADR6400L using xda app-developers app

tm24fan8 said:
They're allowed to provide their own paid tethering service, they just aren't allowed to force you to use that or use nothing. In other words, they can't tell you not to use a free app for the same thing.
Sent from my ADR6400L using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
I believe the actual compromise was that if you were on a tiered data plan, they weren't allowed to prevent you from tethering, and they can't prevent you from installing the app regardless, but they could prevent you from tethering if you are using one of the grandfathered "unlimited" plans?

They can't prevent you from using it nor can they even prove that you are using it. If they could I would have been charged thousands of dollars already since I've been using WiFi tether for about 4 years now.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

I know awhile back I mentioned to a verizon rep that they couldn't prove if I was tethering and he went on a long defensive rant about how they monitor your usage and if it spikes they know you are tethering. It took a lot of self-restraint to keep from laughing in his face. I guess they figure most people won't do outside research and just listen to whatever they're spoon fed by verizon.

I have unlimited data so that is a crock of ****. They can tell if I use a lot of data and that is about it. They can't tell if it resulted from tethering. 95% of my data usage comes from using my phone to download roms.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

disconnecktie said:
I have unlimited data so that is a crock of ****. They can tell if I use a lot of data and that is about it. They can't tell if it resulted from tethering. 95% of my data usage comes from using my phone to download roms.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
Yeah, they just try to use scare tactics on people who don't know any better. Since tethering goes through the phone, it shows the same on their network regardless of whether its the phone or 10 other devices connected to the phone doing the downloading.

If you use their hot spot and it isn't the hacked version I think they can tell. I'm not sure though and wouldn't take that risk.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

disconnecktie said:
They can't prevent you from using it nor can they even prove that you are using it. If they could I would have been charged thousands of dollars already since I've been using WiFi tether for about 4 years now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The big fun will come when you get the letter saying, "We understand you've used thousands of dollars worth of tethering but we see you've failed to declare this as taxable income.
We figure you owe $xxx,xxx.xx plus interest and penalties.
Love ya, the IRS!

xs11e said:
The big fun will come when you get the letter saying, "We understand you've used thousands of dollars worth of tethering but we see you've failed to declare this as taxable income.
We figure you owe $xxx,xxx.xx plus interest and penalties.
Love ya, the IRS!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol last time I checked the verizon corporation wasn't apart of the irs. Just saying....
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

But you can bet the IRS keeps track of VZW AND VZW customers :crying:

xs11e said:
But you can bet the IRS keeps track of VZW AND VZW customers :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah maybe verizon but not me.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

Im a little confused, since im pretty new to the t-bolt since i bought it on ebay a few months ago. If i use a free tether app, will VZW NOT charge me for data? on my old moto x2 using a root tether app meant you still got charged for data, but not for the tethering service. Is this different on the TB?

ryan1407 said:
Im a little confused, since im pretty new to the t-bolt since i bought it on ebay a few months ago. If i use a free tether app, will VZW NOT charge me for data? on my old moto x2 using a root tether app meant you still got charged for data, but not for the tethering service. Is this different on the TB?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're on a limited data plan, tethering uses your data. If you're on an unlimited plan you're supposed to pay a monthly fee to use tethering, however, there are apps that you can use to get around this.

Classic Verizon reps, think they're smarter than you... No I'm only here because I need a SIM card and corporate says you can't just give me a SIM card, you have to do it yourself.... Of course that's changed now, but boy that was a *****. I hate giving them my brand new phones, too, I've heard stories where they screw up the battery cover and such.
Woo rant!
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

nuggetfn22004 said:
I guess they figure most people won't do outside research and just listen to whatever they're spoon fed by verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When paid by Verizon I assume one becomes a mouthpiece for Verizon, and it makes some logical sense for them to preach Verizon's sermons to all who aren't tech savvy.
That said, I did a doubletake on the OP, as I have the unlimited data and I sometimes tether while on the road (yay root). Tbh, I (ab)use an app called DropSync to do some crazy stuff with DropBox, and when I'm not on WiFi for a time it's common for me to rack up 10GB+ from just that. I really haven't got as much usage from my tethering. So if anyone from Verizon ever got after me for tethering, I'd just disable my WiFi and let them watch me push a ton thru my LTE, just to be spiteful. :victory:

Screw them tether away!!!!
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

why not??
why not??i just flash santod stock ics last month..no problema at all...