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So when I go to the local Sprint store, they recommend the PDANet app as a way to tether for free. Great. I use it on the laptop. Works fine. But if I simply want to eliminate the USB cable and do exactly the same thing, they charge a dollar a day to eliminate the USB cable? I can't be the only one who thinks this is excessive!
So what are we really paying for when we pay for Sprint Hotspot? Whenever someone mentions rooting and using free wifi tether, there's always the "but you're stealing from Sprint" excuse. How can that be? My free wired tether (officially recommended by Sprint employees) is using exactly the same amount of Sprint's 3G bandwidth as it is when I use a free wireless tether app on root. So we know it isn't the data we're paying for. We're paying Sprint $30/mo for the privilege of not using a USB cable? I know it's possible that several (potentially many) devices could connect via a wifi access point, but technically if you know what you are doing, you can share an access point on a laptop easily too once you've connected the phone via the USB cable.
So I guess I don't get it. What am I missing? Why couldn't Sprint at least offer a single-connection hotspot option for FREE? It's obvious that Sprint wants to be seen as the "unlimited" provider. Giving the option to at least wirelessly tether a single device would put them in the lead. DO IT SPRINT!
Mike
mikeyxda said:
So when I go to the local Sprint store, they recommend the PDANet app as a way to tether for free. Great. I use it on the laptop. Works fine. But if I simply want to eliminate the USB cable and do exactly the same thing, they charge a dollar a day to eliminate the USB cable? I can't be the only one who thinks this is excessive!
So what are we really paying for when we pay for Sprint Hotspot? Whenever someone mentions rooting and using free wifi tether, there's always the "but you're stealing from Sprint" excuse. How can that be? My free wired tether (officially recommended by Sprint employees) is using exactly the same amount of Sprint's 3G bandwidth as it is when I use a free wireless tether app on root. So we know it isn't the data we're paying for. We're paying Sprint $30/mo for the privilege of not using a USB cable? I know it's possible that several (potentially many) devices could connect via a wifi access point, but technically if you know what you are doing, you can share an access point on a laptop easily too once you've connected the phone via the USB cable.
So I guess I don't get it. What am I missing? Why couldn't Sprint at least offer a single-connection hotspot option for FREE? It's obvious that Sprint wants to be seen as the "unlimited" provider. Giving the option to at least wirelessly tether a single device would put them in the lead. DO IT SPRINT!
Mike
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You probably got the one either retarded, or just nice and down to earth rep. Spring does not sanction the use of any tethering app, that's why they charge to use the built in one. Whoever told you that shouldn't have done so.
joehunni said:
You probably got the one either retarded, or just nice and down to earth rep. Spring does not sanction the use of any tethering app, that's why they charge to use the built in one. Whoever told you that shouldn't have done so.
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The app is in the market and doesn't require root. If they have a problem with Google's market and the apps within, then they should not run the Android OS. Sprint is just trying to sucker people by charging for this free feature.
fmedina2 said:
The app is in the market and doesn't require root. If they have a problem with Google's market and the apps within, then they should not run the Android OS. Sprint is just trying to sucker people by charging for this free feature.
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While this is true, they still don't condone tethering without paying for the hotspot. It's not unheard of for Sprint to drop customers over excessive data usage due to tethering.
joehunni said:
While this is true, they still don't condone tethering without paying for the hotspot. It's not unheard of for Sprint to drop customers over excessive data usage due to tethering.
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Click to collapse
How would that work legally? It is a free app in the marketplace.
Sprint, and all other ISPs, have to pay for the bandwidth we use. When they offer us an "unlimited" plan they make a calculated guess as to how much data we may actually use and price their plan accordingly. They then hope we don't use too much.
However, the ability to tether throws the isps for a loop because of the potential for using so much more data. So they charge us an additional fee to cover the "excessive" bandwidth costs!
Of course they will never admit that the cost is for bandwidth since we are supposedly getting "unlimited". Its a catch-22 of lies for everyone.
Frankly, I get that bandwidth costs money. But I think its BS for a company to sell us unlimited data and then charge extra if we actually use it.
Either way, once this thing is rooted we will get around it.
Richard
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
mikeyxda said:
So when I go to the local Sprint store, they recommend the PDANet app as a way to tether for free. Great. I use it on the laptop. Works fine. But if I simply want to eliminate the USB cable and do exactly the same thing, they charge a dollar a day to eliminate the USB cable? I can't be the only one who thinks this is excessive!
So what are we really paying for when we pay for Sprint Hotspot? Whenever someone mentions rooting and using free wifi tether, there's always the "but you're stealing from Sprint" excuse. How can that be? My free wired tether (officially recommended by Sprint employees) is using exactly the same amount of Sprint's 3G bandwidth as it is when I use a free wireless tether app on root. So we know it isn't the data we're paying for. We're paying Sprint $30/mo for the privilege of not using a USB cable? I know it's possible that several (potentially many) devices could connect via a wifi access point, but technically if you know what you are doing, you can share an access point on a laptop easily too once you've connected the phone via the USB cable.
So I guess I don't get it. What am I missing? Why couldn't Sprint at least offer a single-connection hotspot option for FREE? It's obvious that Sprint wants to be seen as the "unlimited" provider. Giving the option to at least wirelessly tether a single device would put them in the lead. DO IT SPRINT!
Mike
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Click to collapse
Sprint's terms & conditions specifically prohibit tethering, unless paying for a plan that specifically allows for tethering. A Sprint rep telling you that you can tether for free doesn't suddenly change this fact. It might give you some leeway if you're caught tethering, but you're still against the T&C of your service.
I would prefer legitimately being able to tether without paying extra, but Sprint has the right to charge for it.
fmedina2 said:
How would that work legally? It is a free app in the marketplace.
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PDAnet isn't free, you have to buy the app or at least the full version. And Sprint can't ban the app because it can be used on many platforms and many devices so how do you think Sprint can ban it from the Android Market, Sprint doesn't own the Market, Google does.
Your whole argument in this thread is invalid. Sprint has every right to charge for its services and if you don't want to pay for them don't. If there are legit ways to get around the charges than do it. Don't whine here.
Good points and that's kinda why I brought it up. You have to wonder about both the present and the future of paid wireless tethering. I'm hoping soon that Sprint will lead the way to free tethering by announcing that they are the only company who now offers free wifi hotspots. Imagine how many people would switch THEN!
For now, we have free wired tethering that Sprint employees are (maybe "unofficially") supporting but yet you have to pay to do the same thing without the wire. And then there's the Nexus S which can do free wireless tether right out of the box as a standard feature. Sprint sets those up for you too, activates the phone, and you walk out of the store with a phone that does for free what they are charging us Evo 3D owners $30/mo for.
You gotta wonder WTF is up with the status of wireless tethering here.
Mike
mikeyxda said:
Good points and that's kinda why I brought it up. You have to wonder about both the present and the future of paid wireless tethering. I'm hoping soon that Sprint will lead the way to free tethering by announcing that they are the only company who now offers free wifi hotspots. Imagine how many people would switch THEN!
For now, we have free wired tethering that Sprint employees are (maybe "unofficially") supporting but yet you have to pay to do the same thing without the wire. And then there's the Nexus S which can do free wireless tether right out of the box as a standard feature. Sprint sets those up for you too, activates the phone, and you walk out of the store with a phone that does for free what they are charging us Evo 3D owners $30/mo for.
You gotta wonder WTF is up with the status of wireless tethering here.
Mike
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They charge you because they can. There is no other reason. They set the price as high as they think they can and still get a decent number of people to bite. The only reason the Nexus S does it for free out of the box is because Google didn't let Sprint tamper with the software and disable the feature.
cruise350 said:
PDAnet isn't free, you have to buy the app or at least the full version. And Sprint can't ban the app because it can be used on many platforms and many devices so how do you think Sprint can ban it from the Android Market, Sprint doesn't own the Market, Google does.
Your whole argument in this thread is invalid. Sprint has every right to charge for its services and if you don't want to pay for them don't. If there are legit ways to get around the charges than do it. Don't whine here.
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AT&T & Verizon (from what I know) do in fact have tethering apps filtered out of the market on their service...
...I recall hearing that Sprint had a non-anti-tether-app policy, officially. I'm pretty sure I heard that on Androidcentral, but don't remember specifically.
Just don't abuse your tethering.
Though, truth be told, I could saturate that wimpy 3G connection with pandora and basic web surfing--on my phone....so I don't see what the big deal is...and 4G isn't metered by Sprint.
I say keep tethering, hopefully Sprint will overcompensate for the extra bandwidth people are abusing.
I've used the wireless tethering before sprint even started charging for it so screw them. If anything they're stealing from the devs who made the original app by charging such a ridiculous amount for something that's available for free.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
XxDjbluexX said:
I've used the wireless tethering before sprint even started charging for it so screw them. If anything they're stealing from the devs who made the original app by charging such a ridiculous amount for something that's available for free.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
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That's some jacked up logic, dude.
fmedina2 said:
The app is in the market and doesn't require root. If they have a problem with Google's market and the apps within, then they should not run the Android OS. Sprint is just trying to sucker people by charging for this free feature.
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rofl your on their network though and you sign a contract stating you won't.
Bottom line is this: There is only so much bandwidth to go around. You can't just pretend that the airwaves are limitless and "corporate greed" is the reason we can't go nuts with data usage. Fact is that if everybody did this, nobody would be able to have decent quality of service. It would be like trying to have a hundred people squeeze through a door at once. It's just a matter of physics, it can't be done.
Right now when it comes to wireless tethering, sprint is simply looking the other way. There are many things that they could be doing to stop it, and they are aware of these things (verizon and at&t implement many countermeasures) but they don't use any of them. Why exactly this is, I don't really know, but I'd wager to guess that they want to appeal to users like us who don't want to go to other carriers just because of the little things like this.
However they can't go to the opposite extreme and outright allow it, simply because if they did this, people WOULD go nuts with their data usage, and sprint couldn't afford that. So this is their middle ground: saying don't do it, but looking the other way when you do, and if you go overboard, they tell you to go with another provider.
And personally, I wouldn't have it any other way, and I give props to sprint for doing that.
cruise350 said:
PDAnet isn't free, you have to buy the app or at least the full version. And Sprint can't ban the app because it can be used on many platforms and many devices so how do you think Sprint can ban it from the Android Market, Sprint doesn't own the Market, Google does.
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Click to collapse
Sprint can ask Google to hide the app from sprint users, much in the same way that at&t and verizon asked google to hide the wifi tethering apps from their respective users, and google did exactly that.
Rakeesh_j said:
Bottom line is this: There is only so much bandwidth to go around. You can't just pretend that the airwaves are limitless and "corporate greed" is the reason we can't go nuts with data usage. Fact is that if everybody did this, nobody would be able to have decent quality of service. It would be like trying to have a hundred people squeeze through a door at once. It's just a matter of physics, it can't be done.
Right now when it comes to wireless tethering, sprint is simply looking the other way. There are many things that they could be doing to stop it, and they are aware of these things (verizon and at&t implement many countermeasures) but they don't use any of them. Why exactly this is, I don't really know, but I'd wager to guess that they want to appeal to users like us who don't want to go to other carriers just because of the little things like this.
However they can't go to the opposite extreme and outright allow it, simply because if they did this, people WOULD go nuts with their data usage, and sprint couldn't afford that. So this is their middle ground: saying don't do it, but looking the other way when you do, and if you go overboard, they tell you to go with another provider.
And personally, I wouldn't have it any other way, and I give props to sprint for doing that.
Sprint can ask Google to hide the app from sprint users, much in the same way that at&t and verizon asked google to hide the wifi tethering apps from their respective users, and google did exactly that.
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Well said...
What about how the nexus s 4G (which I had for a couple weeks) that has wired and wireless tether built into the stock android, without sprint blocking it? Hoe come that is exempt from the t&c?
Sent from my Shooter
if you need justification to pay 30 bucks, good luck. You will never get it, atleast not from sprint. Everyone does it, atleast sprint gives you unlimited for 30 bucks.
it is what it is and it has been for a while now. If you want to legally use the phone as a hotspot you have to shell out 30 bucks. Yes its a *****, so is life.
tjb3401 said:
What about how the nexus s 4G (which I had for a couple weeks) that has wired and wireless tether built into the stock android, without sprint blocking it? Hoe come that is exempt from the t&c?
Sent from my Shooter
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Not sure but seeing as its built in to the phone, since Google doesn't let them touch the software, you can use it on the NS.
Ok here's my scenario...I have the grandfathered unlimited data plan from At&t and I made a point of them making a note in my account before I purchased the SGS2. I rooted my phone and installed Cognition soon after. I attempted to tether before I rooted etc because the option was present while on stock, but of course a pop up appeared saying that I need to change my plan blah blah blah. Once rooted, I didn't tether because I really haven't had the need to yet...because I have wifi in my home. I will admit that I do consume a lot of data...particularly streaming and downloading content (such as roms etc directly to my device)...but that's the point of 4G unlimited data, correct? And even then a lot of the time I'm connected to wifi at home. The only thing I did differently was tried some APN settings that I seen on Android Central which were supposedly giving other SGSII users better download and upload speeds by connecting to the "backhaul". It was actually worse. So I receive an email saying that if they catch me tethering again, they will change my data plan on their own. So my question is, since I haven't actually tethered, could my actual data usage triggered the message...or since I attempted to tether...or or the APN changing...and how could I prevent them from changing it?
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S 2 using the mind reader app...
Ill tell you what, if you edit this into at least 3 readable paragraphs, I promise to give you a decent response.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
I think a phone call to att should solve your issue. If they did put you on a tethering plan, they can undo it. But, you may need to get a supervisor if the unlimited plan has been removed.
From what I understand you get warned at least once before they make any changes.
Also, story perfectly understandable to me as is.
Sent from my SGS II
quarlow said:
I think a phone call to att should solve your issue. If they did put you on a tethering plan, they can undo it. But, you may need to get a supervisor if the unlimited plan has been removed.
From what I understand you get warned at least once before they make any changes.
Also, story perfectly understandable to me as is.
Sent from my SGS II
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See how your post had 3 easily readable paragraphs and sentences? That's what I was referring to. His wall of text hurts my brain. Maybe its because I'm reading from the app.
But then again I wouldn't expect you to understand much of anything judging by the majority of your posts on this site.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
seh6183 said:
See how your post had 3 easily readable paragraphs and sentences? That's what I was referring to. His wall of text hurts my brain. Maybe its because I'm reading from the app.
But then again I wouldn't expect you to understand much of anything judging by the majority of your posts on this site.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
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Wow ... you really are living up to the nickname you had in the Atrix forum. What was it again, "third rate troll"?
Sent from my SGS II
quarlow said:
Wow ... you really are living up to the nickname you had in the Atrix forum. What was it again, "third rate troll"?
Sent from my SGS II
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I'm not hijacking this guys thread anymore than we already have. If you want to argue with me (and be destroyed in every imaginable way) then go ahead and shoot me a pm.
To answer the original posters questions. Att can only send you warnings about tethering if they catch on. You can do things that wont raise any flags on their end such as using less data for less lengths of time.
A better alternanative would be to mask your device id. I'm not aware of any apps that can do it on Android but PDA net can do it for Apple. Maybe someone else can Chime in on an app.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
If you do tether, it was claimed in the Captivate forum that att sniff out the browser agent for Internet Explorer, so to avoid detection to use Google Chrome, or another browser.
But, if you haven't actually tethered I would start with a call to att customer service. If they flagged your account, you should be able to sort it out over the phone.
Sent from my SGS II
If tethering, either by device or plan feature, was specifically included in the plan you were grandfathered from you should be fine. If it wasn't specifically called out as included they'll charge you for the add-on. You can't grandfather something that didn't exist. In other words, if "unlimited data" didn't specifically apply to tethering and tethering as a feature was introduced afterward you'll have to pay for it.
OP, are you using the stock GSII browser? If not, that could be the culprit. As stated above, they're basing it off the browser agent. Call and say you're using a market browser with Mozilla as browser agent. That should help your case later if they end up jerking you around.
bigblue95z said:
As stated above, they're basing it off the browser agent.
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They use heuristics to sniff packet data for suspect traffic. While it's not 100%accurate, they hold the cards and it's up to you to prove your innocence.
No one knows what the new heuristics are - but something in your post-root non-tethering data usage probably set off a false positive.
Apparently a few others have had false positives and no one knows the true triggers. Good chance that mangling your browser useragent is one of them.
Call them and complain that you received a nastygram despite not attempting to tether after the app blocked it.
I have been using unlimited data for a few years. I tethered with my iphone. Used MyWi, and then PDAnet. I was contacted by them concerning my 'illegal' use of tethering.
A few weeks ago, I switched from the Iphone to the GSII. Rooted it, and almost IMMEDIATELY got a text message saying that tethering has been added to my contract and that I lost my unlimited data.
Am I screwed here? I don't think tethering existed when I signed my original contract with unlimited data.... Can I get this back?
I do apologize if anyone felt my OP was lengthy, but I was at work and I just wanted to cover all sides of the situation just in case I couldn't respond at the time.
I use the stock browser on Cognition to surf and stream to my video player, and Opera Mobile when downloading from Filesonic, etc.
I was mainly trying to get and idea of what might becausing the flag so I would know which route to go when I do call into ATT. I don't want to receive a bill in a month or so and have to battle them then. The tethering plan wasn't included in the grandfathered Unlimited data plan, but I actually did "abuse" it for a while with my Captivate before I got my DSL installed in my new apartment.
I was just thinking that this could have possibly been some sort of scare tactic on behalf of AT&T because of my current data usage, and it was a preemptive action to contain the abuse of their already spotty 4G network.
Also, I wanted myself and any others who have had this experience to control and prevent future occurrences.
I have a friend that works for Verizon wireless and he told me that he received information from a tech that when you call into the tech support, they can get some of the details of your current rom...and conclude whether or not you are rooted, etc...how true this is idk...
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S 2 using the mind reader app...
Original email (just in case)
Dear xxx xxx,
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 in addition to a data plan, you also 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 at 866-975-0005, Monday -Friday, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. CT, or Saturday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. CT, to sign up for the DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering plan or the DataPro Enterprise 4GB for Smartphone Tethering plan.
If we don't hear from you, we'll plan to automatically enroll you into one of the above DataPro 4GB plans in an upcoming bill cycle. The specific plan selected for you will depend on your current smartphone data plan; if you are currently subscribed to another Enterprise data plan, you will automatically be enrolled in the DataPro Enterprise 4GB for Smartphone Tethering Plan so that you can continue to access corporate email and applications. Your new DataPro 4GB plan – whether you sign up on your own or we automatically enroll you – will replace your current smartphone data plan, including if you are on an unlimited data plan.
If you discontinue tethering by the end of this month, no changes to your current plan will be required.
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Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S 2 using the mind reader app...
jgotti107 said:
Original email (just in case)
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S 2 using the mind reader app...
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Click to collapse
Wow. Is tethering only available as part of a specific DataPro package? If it's not available as a stand-alone option this is a really nasty and back-handed way to get people off grandfathered unlimited packages. That or to greatly reduce the network burden of tethering.
BarryH_GEG said:
Wow. Is tethering only available as part of a specific DataPro package? If it's not available as a stand-alone option this is a really nasty and back-handed way to get people off grandfathered unlimited packages. That or to greatly reduce the network burden of tethering.
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I would say: both.
Sent from my SGS II
BarryH_GEG said:
Wow. Is tethering only available as part of a specific DataPro package? If it's not available as a stand-alone option this is a really nasty and back-handed way to get people off grandfathered unlimited packages. That or to greatly reduce the network burden of tethering.
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Exactly my point...the phone only came on the 2nd...there's no way I could've hit a data cap like that on my own to raise a flag in a mere 2 weeks...I don't have that kind of porn habit lol...not sure if it was something in the software...quite possible that it is something in the useragent of the browser...
But it feels like I'm getting bullied here...just want something concrete to fire back with.
EDIT: Came home from work and loaded up my laptop...remembered that in a drunken stupor I was up debating between a Slingbox adapter or a Logictech Revue...and I remember that I said eff it so I downloaded the Gmote and Unified Remote apps to connect to the server in my house via wifi and use my phone to control my media and browser through my TV. Could that have triggered the email? That was at approx 12-1am last night and I recieved the email on my way to work at 9:20 this morn
I just got that same email from them this morning.
I'm a little confused as to what their plan of action is. Do they plan to add a tethering plan at the end of the month w/out our consent if we don't contact them, or will everything stay the same if we stop tethering?
"If we don't hear from you, we'll plan to automatically enroll you into one of the above DataPro 4GB plans in an upcoming bill cycle."
but then towards the end of the email, they state:
"If you discontinue tethering by the end of this month, no changes to your current plan will be required."
Should i contact them or will i be fine if i stop tethering?
Sounds to me if you don't contact them you going to get enrolled
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
I've seen a lot of these threads around different forums with plenty of people stating that they got the email, but not many of them following up whether or not their plans actually got changed or not.
Wondering how many people actually got their data plans changed or if the email is more of a warning/scare tactic.
Hi guys just wanted to let you know I found a way to get a working free mobile hotspot from Big Red using the same method as the Bionic's (thanx to who ever found this). Anyway I made a quick video for the the Razr. As for those wondering about Big Red watching you, I used 43 gb last month and 32 gb so far this month Also here's an article from XDA about throttling legalities on 4g networks. Can't say for sure, I'm no lawyer but it looks legit.
Worked perfectly. Thanks!
Your account can be flagged, and Verizon can either sue you for illegally using (read: stealing) their services, throttle you permanently, or just be nice and just tack on the tethering price to your monthly bill without telling you.
This is illegal, don't do it.
looks like you copied zedomax post man...
i am 1addictsad78 and i just found a way to resolve to endless loop by changing the MTU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdTOOfogAaU
So, we should stay away from this procedure???
[TSON] said:
Your account can be flagged, and Verizon can either sue you for illegally using (read: stealing) their services, throttle you permanently, or just be nice and just tack on the tethering price to your monthly bill without telling you.
This is illegal, don't do it.
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This is NOT illegal, in my mind, if you have payed for a certain amount of data. You are not stealing their services because hot spotting is NOT their service. It is a a feature built into your phone that they blocked so they could charge you extra. Period. Even if this was illegal, you can always root and install a tethering app. At that point, I'd like to see them explain why this is still a service provided by then.
[TSON] said:
Your account can be flagged, and Verizon can either sue you for illegally using (read: stealing) their services, throttle you permanently, or just be nice and just tack on the tethering price to your monthly bill without telling you.
This is illegal, don't do it.
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Click to collapse
You are probably correct. I changed the setting back after testing because I don't need any legal issues (or an increase in my bill), but for people who don't care or think they won't get caught, the procedure at least appears sound...
i have a massive data when i started using the thunderbolt with open garden tether. I'm a netflix guy and use as a modem to my apartment for over 6months and never get flagged. now i have the droid razr doing this Verizon hotspot too.
grandfathered rules!
It's not a matter of legality. It's not illegal.
It's a matter of ethics. Are you willing to break the Terms of Service that you signed agreement with when you bought the service? And are you willing to deal with Verizon's reaction when they find out? If they add a tether charge to your account, you earned it.
@ x2breakoffate, you have paid for unlimited phone data. You have not paid for ANY tether data. They sold it to you with the data blocked. If you didn't like that you should not have bought a phone that was crippled.
What you offered is a lame attempt to make yourself feel better, not a justification.
If any of you would read the full post and the associated links, you would know about the Block C provision. I've used it for a couple months on the Bionic and had no problems.
@ ad78.....I'm sorry it wasn't clearly stated that this was not my own work and I copied it from the Bionic
jkoldha said:
Hi guys just wanted to let you know I found a way to get a working free mobile hotspot from Big Red using the same method as the Bionic's (thanx to who ever found this).
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Click to collapse
@ everyone else: Stated I am no lawyer but I can say for those like me on the UNLIMITED DATA PLAN, yes I think it's BS that they lock down the devices and limit tethering to a usb. As posted earlier http://goo.gl/cL3L1 it is illegal under Block C to limit or throttle 4g devices.
You can throttle Block C devices for reasonable network management reasons (you using a 100 GB of data per month and therefore causing data congestion is one of those reasons).
And yes, it is illegal to use a paid service without paying for it.
I could tap into DirectTV's cable service and use it for free somehow, or get channels that I'm not paying for...is it simply a moral dilemma because they lock it down "simply because they want to charge me money" for them?
Terms of use aren't just a wall of text there because they want to put it there, it's a legally binding document that you AGREED to (which is the equivalent of signing). They CAN sue you for "pirating" their officially branded tethering service on their network. That's what you're doing. You're disabling the check in THEIR software to make sure you have the tethering plan, and you're using THEIR officially branded service, through THEM, without paying THEM. That is illegal.
The only difference between this and pirating a version of Microsoft Office and disabling the serial check is the fact that it's more easily monitored since all of the stolen data you're sending is going through their servers, possibly with something attached that tells Verizon that you're tethering.
Santoro said:
you have paid for unlimited phone data. You have not paid for ANY tether data.
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There is no difference to phone data and tether data.
It's all just information sent by the TCP-IP protocol.
It is like buying a book, but you are only allowed to read it outside because you have not payed for the ability to read it by artificial light.
Its still stealing bottom line. If you can afford a smartphone you should be able to afford internet at home or just pay extra for a tethering plan.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using XDA App
But in order for this to not count towards you're data is if you're on the grandfather plan and rooted right? Cuz if ur on a 4gb plan then you're data would count correct?
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
With a net income of over 3 billion, I don't think it hurts them that much from the very few root user users and even fewer heavy 4g users.
tgeigel said:
But in order for this to not count towards you're data is if you're on the grandfather plan and rooted right? Cuz if ur on a 4gb plan then you're data would count correct?
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
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Not sure what you mean. Basically I was grandfathered in on 3g unlimited so I fell into the unlimited 4g plan. Yes you have to be rooted to use this.
jkoldha said:
Not sure what you mean. Basically I was grandfathered in on 3g unlimited so I fell into the unlimited 4g plan. Yes you have to be rooted to use this.
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Yea I meant the unlimited data plan. That's the only way you can use the tether hack because if your not on the unlimited data then if you use this hack you're data will count right?
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
or you could just download the latest android wifi tether app from google. it works perfectly.
pajn said:
There is no difference to phone data and tether data.
It's all just information sent by the TCP-IP protocol.
It is like buying a book, but you are only allowed to read it outside because you have not payed for the ability to read it by artificial light.
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Click to collapse
No, it's like buying basic cable and expecting to get all of the channels. It's all just data sent by the cable line after all!!!
jkoldha said:
With a net income of over 3 billion, I don't think it hurts them that much from the very few root user users and even fewer heavy 4g users.
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Click to collapse
Right, let's just all steal food from Walmart, it's a multi-billion dollar retail chain, it won't hurt much.
Honestly, if you're going to tether, at least use a 3rd party app. Using their software to steal free service is like peeing on a cop car and expecting to get away with it.
[TSON] said:
No, it's like buying basic cable and expecting to get all of the channels. It's all just data sent by the cable line after all!!!
Right, let's just all steal food from Walmart, it's a multi-billion dollar retail chain, it won't hurt much.
Honestly, if you're going to tether, at least use a 3rd party app. Using their software to steal free service is like peeing on a cop car and expecting to get away with it.
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Ok but if you use a 3rd party app to tether its still using your data allowence right?
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
I figured that the WiFi tether root app should work fine with temp root, what I don't know is if Verizon can tell if we use it and thus, bill us for hotspot use? I remember that there was some concern with the Incredible that Verizon had somehow set it up where there could detect this, just wondering if anyone knows for sure if its safe on the Rez?
bast525 said:
I figured that the WiFi tether root app should work fine with temp root, what I don't know is if Verizon can tell if we use it and thus, bill us for hotspot use? I remember that there was some concern with the Incredible that Verizon had somehow set it up where there could detect this, just wondering if anyone knows for sure if its safe on the Rez?
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I have saw plenty of customers coming in to my location being billed or shut off until they remove the program. Why risk it? Right now they are being nice, you are stealing. Pay the $30, get unlimited hotspot, and don't worry about it. Back to the old saying, if you gotta ask, you shouldn't do it.
Been doing it on my Droid incredible for a long time. Doing it right now from my boys nook color at wrestling practice. Never been charged, or shut off. Don't feel like I am stealing, but others will. If they catch me, there is always other carriers. Would be rocking out on my resound overclocked, and undervolted with a nice cm7 theme, but they have that door locked. They r breaking the rules there, so we r even.
Sent from my SPH-P100 using Tapatalk
brockeverly said:
I have saw plenty of customers coming in to my location being billed or shut off until they remove the program. Why risk it? Right now they are being nice, you are stealing. Pay the $30, get unlimited hotspot, and don't worry about it. Back to the old saying, if you gotta ask, you shouldn't do it.
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I fail to see how it's stealing. You pay for your data, so you should be able to use it.
I Don't See At All How It Is Stealing.
The Only Difference Between My Netbook And Cellphone Is Screensize.
Both Are Dual-Core.
Both Are HD Screens, One Is 4.3in And The Other Is 11.6in.
HDMI Out On Both.
Both Use USB Connections.
Both Have Headphones Jack.
Both Have Wi-Fi Antennas.
Netbook Can Use Skype Or Google Voice For Calling If I Wanted To. (Also Could Buy A 3G Wireless Card Instead Of Just Using Wi-Fi)
Both Are Charged By Plugging A Cable In.
Both Have Okay Battery Life.
Both Run Linux OS.
Google put the feature in froyo, and the carriers blocked it to make money. It's not stealing. At all. I know they have a tether guard apk on the thunderbolt. Havnt looked for it yet, and I don't know what it does
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda premium
Yeah locking the bootloaders on phones has been questioned legally multiple times. It's like the carriers are trying to control your smartphone experience.
zetsumeikuro said:
It's like the carriers are trying to control your smartphone experience.
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For most people that is a good thing. I am sure it helps mobile device security for the general population. If a webpage could execute a root method and then wipe your system partition, that would be terrible for the average user, so it gets nand-locked.
zetsumeikuro said:
Yeah locking the bootloaders on phones has been questioned legally multiple times. It's like the carriers are trying to control your smartphone experience.
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Click to collapse
It's the "smart" check for the 4g hotspot. Hotspot won't work as long as that apk is disabled or missing.
Are they able to read it on the resound though? That hasn't been answered here. Do they know we are tethering on temp root?
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
I froze the TetheringGuard.apk. I haven't even tried to use the WiFi tether app yet.
I don't think they can tell if you are tethering with root unless they are looking really closely.
I'm on the fence about hotspot. I think for occasional use (tablets), I'm ok with not paying for it, but if you are trying to use it as your home internet service, you should pay for it. Wireless broadband is not unlimited.
on my Inc I used it very rarely. I don't have a tablet and my laptop never leaves the house where I have cable WiFi. My data usage on Verizon averages 2-3 GB a month. I haven't tethered since getting the rez the day they came out. I use it on my work laptop once in a blue moon because they are Nazis and block EVERYTHING on their network.
Sleek69 said:
I fail to see how it's stealing. You pay for your data, so you should be able to use it.
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If someone charges for something, and you find a way around being charged for it and use it free, how is that not stealing? Not worth the debate, all of you that don't see it will not see it. You probably think getting music from p2p is also not stealing, until you get caught and thrown in prison.
brockeverly said:
If someone charges for something, and you find a way around being charged for it and use it free, how is that not stealing? Not worth the debate, all of you that don't see it will not see it. You probably think getting music from p2p is also not stealing, until you get caught and thrown in prison.
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I see where you are coming from, but I don't think you quite understand what is going on behind the scenes. It seems like the carriers are trying to see how much they can get away with, and letting them do so is the worst thing for consumers. We aren't getting something for free, we have already paid for it; the carrier is trying to charge you for the same thing twice. It is like buying tickets to a game or concert, then being told you have to pay an extra fee if you want to use your own binoculars. Or buying a nice meal but being given a plastic spork to eat it with, and being charged more if you want to use your own fork and knife.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA App
I have unlimited data from bring grandfatherrd in. unlimited means unlimited no matter how u look at it. and if they say otherwise then they better change the wording around.
Sent from my HTC Rezound using XDA premium.
what if your home cable or DSL broadband said that you could only use desktop computers with a physical connection, but charged you an extra $30 if you wanted to use a laptop over wifi? Its the same thing.. you are already paying for a certain allotment of data... Verizon has no right (in my opinion) to tell you on what devices you can use that data that you've paid for.
a.mcdear said:
what if your home cable or DSL broadband said that you could only use desktop computers with a physical connection, but charged you an extra $30 if you wanted to use a laptop over wifi? Its the same thing.. you are already paying for a certain allotment of data... Verizon has no right (in my opinion) to tell you on what devices you can use that data that you've paid for.
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I agree and don't agree. Mobile data should be that, for mobile devices. My problem is with those that use it to run their home networks.
I'm curious to see how verizon structures the shared data next year. Unless its unlimited or some ungodly amount (100gb), I'll keep my current plans.
nrfitchett4 said:
I agree and don't agree. Mobile data should be that, for mobile devices. My problem is with those that use it to run their home networks.
I'm curious to see how verizon structures the shared data next year. Unless its unlimited or some ungodly amount (100gb), I'll keep my current plans.
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Click to collapse
What About The Mobile Data Cards They Wanna Sell For Laptops Or Home Computers?
Agreed
nrfitchett4 said:
I agree and don't agree. Mobile data should be that, for mobile devices. My problem is with those that use it to run their home networks.
I'm curious to see how verizon structures the shared data next year. Unless its unlimited or some ungodly amount (100gb), I'll keep my current plans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 On mobile data being for mobile devices.
I can see using wireless teether when you have other devices needing internet in a pinch.
On my HTC Incredible, I used wireless teether on very few occassions. Sometime we lost power here alot within the last year, and I turned on teether so the fiance could use her laptop to get work done (she work alot as a social worker).
Other times I have used teether while on the road and she needed to use the laptop on our 2 1/2 hour trips up north.
People that use teether to be their sole internet for all their pc's at home, to the point of dropping their actual broadband provider, I do not agree with.
A guy I work with uses the teether to provide internet now to 4 computersand 2 xbox360s in his house. Yikes.
This is my opinion only, I don't speak for others, and I don't hate. I'm aware when verizon now offers 4g unlimited hotspot, that people will say well it's unlimited and I will do with it what I want. I truly don't believe it is meant to replace Uverse, Comcast, etc, since that is what Verizon Fios is for.
I can only imagine the big stink that would happen if Verizon changed the small print for the 4g Unlimited Hotspot to say "Only to be used to supply internet for other mobile device ie laptops, tablets, etc and it is not meant to replace your actual Broadband Provider."
When I try to turn the hotspot function on through settings, it says "use of this service requires a subscription to Mobile Hotspot or Mobile Broadband Connect..." which I don't have. But when I use Power Toggles to turn on the hotspot function, I am able to connect my computer to my device.
Is there a way that Verizon would figure out that I can use their hotspot function without paying for the monthly subscription?
I've been using it for over two years with out them knowing.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2
Jonnay0808 said:
When I try to turn the hotspot function on through settings, it says "use of this service requires a subscription to Mobile Hotspot or Mobile Broadband Connect..." which I don't have. But when I use Power Toggles to turn on the hotspot function, I am able to connect my computer to my device.
Is there a way that Verizon would figure out that I can use their hotspot function without paying for the monthly subscription?
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Click to collapse
The simple answer is Yes. No matter what method you use for enabling tethering on your phone, if Verizon cares to examine the data going in and out of your phone, they can tell if you're tethering.
Will they bother to look? Will they do anything about it? Those are the more relevant questions.
My philosophy is, don't abuse it and they'll probably never look at you. I suspect that somebody, somewhere at Verizon is responsible for running a report every month of their top data users who don't pay for tethering. Then, they go look at those users and bust the ones that they find are tethering without paying for it. My personal goal is just to make sure I'm fare enough down that list that they never get to looking at me.
I can tell you that according to the C block spectrum that Verizon leases for their LTE network, they can not stop, inhibit, or penalize you for tethering your phone while on LTE. It is in the licensing rights of their spectrum. Hence, all the new plans include free wifi tethering. Now, this was not an oversight, because Verizon used to attempt to block tethering apps from the play store to their customers. The FCC just so happened to put a stop to that 2 months prior to Verizon announcing new Share Everthing plans that include tethering. Verizon knows that the people who tether tend to use a lot more data. With more data being used across the whole account, the customer pays more. Verizon only wanted to prevent People from tethering long enough to release the new plans, because they are doing exactly what they intended them to do... Convince people who don't use a lot of data to move to a tiered plan and give them hotspot for free. Saying "Try it. If you find it convenient, you can add a mobile hotspot device to your plan for only $20 more a month and you can connect up to 10 things to it. All while conserving your phones battery life".
Man that is a big assumption .
stuartv said:
I suspect that somebody, somewhere at Verizon is responsible for running a report every month of their top data users who don't pay for tethering. Then, they go look at those users and bust the ones that they find are tethering without paying for it. My personal goal is just to make sure I'm fare enough down that list that they never get to looking at me.
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Click to collapse
Itsmyphoneyo said:
I can tell you that according to the C block spectrum that Verizon leases for their LTE network, they can not stop, inhibit, or penalize you for tethering your phone while on LTE. It is in the licensing rights of their spectrum. Hence, all the new plans include free wifi tethering. Now, this was not an oversight, because Verizon used to attempt to block tethering apps from the play store to their customers. The FCC just so happened to put a stop to that 2 months prior to Verizon announcing new Share Everthing plans that include tethering. Verizon knows that the people who tether tend to use a lot more data. With more data being used across the whole account, the customer pays more. Verizon only wanted to prevent People from tethering long enough to release the new plans, because they are doing exactly what they intended them to do... Convince people who don't use a lot of data to move to a tiered plan and give them hotspot for free. Saying "Try it. If you find it convenient, you can add a mobile hotspot device to your plan for only $20 more a month and you can connect up to 10 things to it. All while conserving your phones battery life".
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Click to collapse
Yes and no. The FCC left the door wide open to Verizon managing tethering by unlimited users. The FCC specifically only took issue with usage based customers being charged. Additionally, the Share Everything plans preceded the Verizon/FCC consent decree by one month.
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ilkevinli said:
Man that is a big assumption .
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Actually, it's exactly what I said it was. A suspicion. Nothing more.
That is a very descriptive "suspicion".
stuartv said:
Actually, it's exactly what I said it was. A suspicion. Nothing more.
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najaboy said:
Yes and no. The FCC left the door wide open to Verizon managing tethering by unlimited users. The FCC specifically only took issue with usage based customers being charged. Additionally, the Share Everything plans preceded the Verizon/FCC consent decree by one month.
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You are wrong my friend, there is no difference from a tiered data user and an unlimited one on C block. And the FCC stepped in 2 months prior to the share everything plans, Verizon finally took action one month prior. They were allowed time to coordinate the stop of blocking those apps.
Itsmyphoneyo said:
You are wrong my friend, there is no difference from a tiered data user and an unlimited one on C block. And the FCC stepped in 2 months prior to the share everything plans, Verizon finally took action one month prior. They were allowed time to coordinate the stop of blocking those apps.
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The FCC actually began their investigation in Oct 2011 and first contacted Verizon in November 2011. The discussion of timing is fairly inconsequential, so let's move on to the meat & potatoes...
The assertion that this also applicable to unlimited plan users is directly contradicted by the plain language of the consent decree published by the FCC, which explicitly states, ”... customers on unlimited usage plans must continue to pay an additional fee to tether their devices.” Additionally, “ nothing herein prejudices Verizon Wireless's right to [...] take remedial actions, including termination of service, against customers who violate the terms and conditions of their service plans or Verizon Wireless's policies applicable to the service provided to such customers.”
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD