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Google Blocking Tethering Apps For AT&T, Verizon
Google Made Wireless Tether Unavailable at Carrier Request
Both AT&T and Verizon often block tethering applications or cripple embedded tethering functionality, hoping to force customers --already paying a significant sum for mobile bandwidth -- on to more expensive mobile data plans. The efforts are often futile, as users frequently jailbreak devices and install third-party tethering apps like MyWi anyway. AT&T's been trying to crack down on the practice lately, firing random e-mails at users who aren't signed up for tethering, but whose accounts show higher-than-normal usage for smartphones. This week both AT&T and Verizon were found to be nudging Google to block tethering apps from the Android Marketplace:
quote:
A spokesman for Google said while it is not blocking the app in Android market, it is making it unavailable for download at the request of wireless carriers. The spokesman added that if an application is in direct violation of the terms and conditions of a usage contract, a carrier can request Google make the app unavailable, and Google will regulate those. These types of apps likely violate the terms and conditions of data usage contracts, he said.
So it's not "blocked" -- it's just unavailable because carriers want it blocked? Whatever Google and the carriers would like to call it, some would call it crippling the embedded functionality of a smartphone in order to make an additional buck for doing nothing. The practice highlights precisely what AT&T, Verizon -- and Google really think about "open" devices.

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Robert
Premium Member
join:2001-08-25
Miami, FL

2 recommendations

Robert

Premium Member

Can we put this to rest?

Google is not the company everyone thought they were. They aren't the 'community', 'open source', 'everyone should have equal access' as everyone thought.

"You are who you hang out with", and Google hangs out with AT&T and Verizon.