Oh AT&T Tethering 'Sources,' You Taunt UsLatest likely unreliable rumor says tethering drops in July for $55.... 11:04AM Friday Jun 19 2009 by Karl Bodetags: business · wireless · alternatives · bandwidthWhile you're waiting for AT&T to finally support iPhone tethering, you'll have to make do with yet another in a long line of likely incorrect Apple blog rumors about how much tethering from AT&T will cost when it finally arrives. First, inside "sources" said tethering was supposed to be $30 on top of existing voice and data plans. Then, "sources" insisted that tethering was going to cost just $10 extra. Later, "sources" insisted there'd be a $70 "unlimited" tethering and data plan. Now, those pesky "sources" tell AppModo tethering's coming in July for a whopping $55 per month: A source with AT&T informed Appmodo today that MMS for the iPhone will be coming mid July, not “the end of the summer” as previously reported. The highly anticipated tethering option will also be delivered towards the end of July with pricing around $55 per month, not $70 as suspected across the net. We assume they mean $25 on top of the existing $30 data plan, but that still seems high given the likely 5GB/month cap. With all the bad blood against AT&T right now for crippled apps, funky connectivity, and belated feature support, it's in the carrier's best interest to get tethering pricing right. As in: not a ripoff. AT&T Apple gadget blog sources also need to get on the same page before we start to cry. Maybe we need an "inconsistent tipster" forum to help facilitate better communication among leakers. Update: Shocking. According to AT&T, the rumor is false. "There are a lot of reports out there, but wanted you guys to know that rumors of $55 tethering plan on top of an unlimited data plan are false," says AT&T. "We’ll have more news to share when the iPhone tethering option is closer to launch."
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 stufried
Premium
join:2003-10-13
 ·Verizon BroadbandA..
| ATT's Tethering Plans Aren't Logical I have Blackberry International and I am not even allowed to tether domestically no matter how much I am willing to pay. Even though ATT can detect tethering via the approved mode, they seem to take this irrational position here as well. Yes, I know that there is a backdoor way to tether, but the people doing this aren't paying ATT anything whether they tether with an iPhone or a Blackberry. | |
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N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Verizon Online DSL
1 edit | Re: ATT's Tethering Plans Aren't Logical No way it's $55 over the $30 data plan.
AT&T's DataConnect plan is $60/mo for 5 GB data (they don't list it as unlimited on their web site).
So, $55 a month with 5 GB cap to tether an iPhone would make sense, and would be $5 cheaper than just getting a wireless connect card. Somewhat of an incentive to do both with one provider.
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Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power… | |
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baineschile
2600
Premium
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI | Apple, just bring the frickin iphone to verizon, and call it a day | |
| | | 
en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: ATT's Tethering Plans Aren't Logical You'll have to wait for a non GSM based chipset from Apple.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
·Verizon FIOS
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: ATT's Tethering Plans Aren't Logical All ready exists in the basement of 1 Infinite Loop, IMHO.
Apple has a long track record of developing parallel technologies. Same thing they did with OS X......
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Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power… | |
| | | puck0114
join:2005-12-24
Washington, DC | Why would you expect Verizon to price it any better? | |
| | | | weaver0
join:2004-05-05
Macungie, PA | Re: ATT's Tethering Plans Aren't Logical because competition will rear it's ugly head | |
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FastiBook
join:2003-01-08
Newtown, PA
·Verizon FIOS
| Yes, a day, a day to end iPhone sales.
VZ wireless sucks endlessly. If hell were real, it would be verizon wireless with uverse tv/phone/ and comcast internet.
If the iPhone did go to vz originally, i would have never even been interested in getting it. I love my iPhone 3G, but if it meant switching to vz, i'd pass it up without a second thought and go back to my 3 year old razr v3.
- A
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LETS GO METS! | |
| | kaila
join:2000-10-11
Lincolnshire, IL
clubs: 
| We pay $30 for 5gigs worth of data already.... Which is paid whether we use it or not. If ATT can keep track, why should it matter if it's tethered data or native. Is tethering somehow more expensive, and is $6 a gig ($30/5) not enough to give them the insane margins they're looking for?
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Jeff Howe
Jeff's Blog - »www.jeffhowe.net/Jeffhowe.net/Blog/Blog.html | |
| | | dsl_sutra
join:2003-12-25
Jersey City, NJ | T-Mobile tethering T-Mobile - tethering is always FREE with an unlimited data plan  | |
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fcisler
Premium
join:2004-06-14
Riverhead, NY
| Re: T-Mobile tethering Unfortunately I've known MANY MANY MANY people who have had T-Mobile. I say had because not a ONE of them was happy with the service and every one of them jumped ship.
Maybe elsewhere in the country T-Mobile is good...but around here they blow. | |
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fuziwuzi
Not born yesterday
Premium
join:2005-07-01
Atlanta, GA
| Re: T-Mobile tethering said by fcisler  :Unfortunately I've known MANY MANY MANY people who have had T-Mobile. I say had because not a ONE of them was happy with the service and every one of them jumped ship. Maybe elsewhere in the country T-Mobile is good...but around here they blow. I've enjoyed my T-Mobile service here in Atlanta and anywhere I've traveled. Many times among my friends who have iPhones and things from other carriers, I'm the one that has a working phone and they all borrow mine (battery life on iPhones must be horrible, they're always near dead it seems). I've used T-Mobile for over 4 years now and have no reason to switch. $49/month for unlimited calling to anyone, anytime, plus $24/month for unlimited data and text, including tethering! Can't beat that anywhere else.
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***************
I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image.
- Stephen Hawking | |
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benc
Premium
join:2007-06-17
Glen Carbon, IL
 ·Charter Pipeline
 ·Future Nine Corpor..
·Callcentric
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: T-Mobile tethering said by fuziwuzi :I've enjoyed my T-Mobile service here in Atlanta and anywhere I've traveled. Many times among my friends who have iPhones and things from other carriers, I'm the one that has a working phone and they all borrow mine (battery life on iPhones must be horrible, they're always near dead it seems). I've used T-Mobile for over 4 years now and have no reason to switch. $49/month for unlimited calling to anyone, anytime, plus $24/month for unlimited data and text, including tethering! Can't beat that anywhere else. Only $49?? Did you get some sort of discount or something? The T-Mobile site says it's $100 for Unlimited Talk, for an Individual. Although they do have unlimited talk on family plans, where additional lines are $50/mo/line.
As for I-Phones, I heard that about battery life. That and the battery isn't user removable. Add the fact that batteries get worse over time, and then I-Phones will just become a shiny, worthless brick.
I don't hate I-Phones, but I would never recommend one. They cost too much for what you get, and the integrated battery are the two key reasons.
Reduce the price on an I-Phone (or increase the specs), and make the battery user removable, and put a better battery in it, and maybe I'll think it's not so bad. | |
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fuziwuzi
Not born yesterday
Premium
join:2005-07-01
Atlanta, GA
| Re: T-Mobile tethering They give the $49 Unlimited plan to current customers who have "good standing". I've been a customer for nearly 4 years, so I was one of the first they offered the plan. Sadly, I don't think they do offer the plan to new customers.
I also have a couple of friends, one in Long Beach CA and another in Houston TX, who took advantage of this plan. | |
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ablack6596
join:2005-01-28
Scarsdale, NY | A brand new iPhone costs $99 right now, that's as cheap as non pos phones get. The battery is no worse than other phones that are as powerful as the iPhone. | |
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fuziwuzi
Not born yesterday
Premium
join:2005-07-01
Atlanta, GA
| Re: T-Mobile tethering said by ablack6596 :A brand new iPhone costs $99 right now, that's as cheap as non pos phones get. The battery is no worse than other phones that are as powerful as the iPhone. But to do what I need it to do, it would cost significantly more per month, and actually provide less functionality than my current phone and plan. All just to have some "status symbol"?
BTW, is it really a status symbol if nearly everyone else has one, too?
I'll take the phone that does what I need and the plan that does what I want for $30+ LESS per month. BTW, I tether my phone to my laptop regularly when I'm in places without free Wi-Fi. I use the included "Internet Sharing" applet that T-Mobile includes on the phone, makes it simple as just connecting the USB cable (can also use Bluetooth) and clicking the button "Connect". No extra charge.
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***************
I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image.
- Stephen Hawking | |
| | | | | | dsl_sutra
join:2003-12-25
Jersey City, NJ
| said by ablack6596 :A brand new iPhone costs $99 right now, that's as cheap as non pos phones get. The battery is no worse than other phones that are as powerful as the iPhone. The purchase cost is insignificant. $105+ for a single line of service (2 yr. contract) for voice and data is the real cost. | |
| | | 
M A R K
St. Ides Heaven
Premium
join:2001-06-15
Long Island
clubs:
| said by fcisler :Unfortunately I've known MANY MANY MANY people who have had T-Mobile. I say had because not a ONE of them was happy with the service and every one of them jumped ship. Maybe elsewhere in the country T-Mobile is good...but around here they blow. Agreed, the do blow here on Long Island
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See you in Villains | |
| | chuckkk
join:2001-11-10
Warner Robins, GA | Read the contract details! T Mobile specifically disallows tethering. | |
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fuziwuzi
Not born yesterday
Premium
join:2005-07-01
Atlanta, GA
| Re: T-Mobile tethering said by chuckkk :Read the contract details! T Mobile specifically disallows tethering. Maybe you can't read well? T-Mobile includes a tethering app on many of its phones that makes tethering a simple "push 'connect'" and it works. When I did have an issue with connecting my phone to my laptop, a simple call to T-Mobile tech support fixed it (it was a config problem on the phone, the T-Mobile tech sent an over-the-air reconfig that solved it).
T-Mobile specifically ALLOWS and even encourages tethering.
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***************
I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image.
- Stephen Hawking | |
| 
cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs: | It already works Well I've installed the att.ipcc file and tethering works like a charm. So F- off AT&T! | |
| | 
TamaraB
Question The Current Paradigm
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Brooklyn NYC
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: It already works said by cypherstream :Well I've installed the att.ipcc file and tethering works like a charm. So F- off AT&T! Do you know what will happen when AT&T opens up tethering, and Apple sends their updated profile?
Bob
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"If we believe absurdities, we shall commit atrocities." -- Voltaire
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ATTFail
| Re: It already works Yes, we will install another profile and it will work again in about 30 seconds! | |
| 
Frink
Professor
join:2000-07-13
Scotch Plains, NJ | Stick to Telegraph... People should continue to REAM AT&T...iPhone or not, they are absolutely without a clue. | |
|
o2checkerupper
@sprintlink.net | Pricing O2 in the UK if you converted to dollars charges $20.50 for 3 GBs and $41 for 10 GBs. Thats on top of the the regular voice and data cost. | |
| | iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO | Re: Pricing Thing is, that's a LOT less expensive than tethering in the US. $20.50 for 3GB? $41 for 10GB? I can haz? | |
| dcdeadbeat
join:2008-10-07
Washington, DC
·Covad Communications
2 edits | it is probably the tech support and not the bandwidth Believe it or not people have been tethering on AT&T for some time now. I know people that were tethering their EDGE Treo 650. Tethering has not brought the network down.
The real problem is that the majority of users are not tech savy enough to handle tethering on their own. Even with the easy steps Apple did to enable tethering on the iphone, you still have to get the computer to communicate with the phone. With the usb 3G cards, they automatically install software that sets up the connection on the computer. Not so with tethering on the iphone (or most other phones except BBs).
So why in the world would AT&T want to unleash a tech support nightmare like tethering? The answer is they won't unless you are will to pay extra for the support (the reason for any extra tethering charge). Tech Support is a huge expense for any company. So my educated guess is that they will charge money for tethering to discourage inexperienced users from tethering and therefore decrease calls to tech support. Experienced users are already tethering their iPhones (courtesy of the new profiles workaround). Companies have never worried about inexperienced users. Experienced users bring in new customers, far outweighing any bandwidth usage they may use from such "illegal" activities such as tethering.
Note to AT&T death-star storm trooper attorneys reading this: I do not tether and do not condone tethering. I don't need to tether as my company pays for both my phone and a 3G card. | |
| |
JasonOD
@comcast.net
| Re: it is probably the tech support and not the bandwidth While I agree support costs are a factor, it's more than that. For reasons I don't understand, iphone users in general are different breed and would likely crush AT&T's (or anyones) network if given half a chance.
The iphone should be a strictly WiFi device for net services, but apple has shown little regard for the network providers who actually make their products work (itunes & apple tv's hd movie downloads for example). | |
| | | 
NOVA_Guy
Obama- Commander in Thief
Premium
join:2002-03-05
·VOIPo
| Re: it is probably the tech support and not the bandwidth What published evidence do you have to back your claim that iPhone users "...in general are a different breed and would likely crush AT&T's (or anyones) network if given half a chance"?
Does it come from the total destruction of AT&T since the release of the iPhone 2G? Or 3G for that matter? I doubt so, since they appear to be as strong as ever today.
Does it come from statements from AT&T about their 3G network not being able to handle the additional load? I doubt so, since most comments I've seen from them seem to be stating just the opposite.
I'm not trying to completely discredit what you've stated, I'd just like to see how you have arrived at your opinion.
If anything, I think the iPhone has been a Godsend to AT&T. It has likely brought thousands of customers to them that they otherwise would not have had-- customers that are spending to the tune of $75, $100, or more per month. That amounts to a rather big number-- one with lots of zeroes after it-- that AT&T has put into its pocket; money which would have gone to its competitors.
And I couldn't disagree more with the opinion shared in your second paragraph. The main reason that most people have purchased an iPhone-- and the main reason why people purchase smartphones to begin with-- is the ubiquitous access to network resources that it provides. Out on the road and need to check an email? No problem. At work with a monitored or slow Internet connection, but want to check on where the FedEx package is? No problem. Want to watch TV on your device through a Slingbox? No problem. These devices have literally changed how we as a society live, work, play, and interact with each other.
I seriously doubt that most of us would have considered purchasing an iPhone without the non-WiFi data access component. It wouldn't have been worth the cost.
As for Apple showing little regard for the network providers... this sounds a bit like the pot calling the kettle black to me. Network providers sell people access on a monthly basis-- for a rather hefty price, IMHO. ($60/mo for the non-bundled slow tier on Comcast is hardly a bargain price.) And after the sale, these network providers seem to do everything within their power to discourage people from actually using the service they've been sold. They set quotas without telling users exactly what those quotas are. They actively try to prevent people from legally sharing legitimate files with each other. They don't run newsgroup feeds-- and those that do don't keep adequate newsgroup histories. They cooperate with government and quasi-government agencies (read as RIAA et al) in efforts to entrap individuals who *may* be doing something illegal-- without a shred of evidence or a court order in sight. And that seems to be just the beginning.
Perhaps if network providers had a little more business sense and a more sound and technically capable network they wouldn't have to whine about Apple releasing a product that lets people actually use their Internet connections the way they were intended to be used. What's next-- start complaining about DirecTV On Demand allowing users to download movies using the Internet connections as well? Your complaint sounds like it is coming directly from a network provider shill.
--
How soon will the Obama wack job nut cases wake up and realize that he's tearing this country apart, limb from limb? Thanks to people like him, Pelosi, and Dodd, Socialism is alive and well in our country. | |
| | | | dda
Premium
join:2003-12-29
Bolton, MA
| Re: it is probably the tech support and not the bandwidth said by NOVA_Guy :I seriously doubt that most of us would have considered purchasing an iPhone without the non-WiFi data access component. It wouldn't have been worth the cost. While I agree with most of what you posted, I have to disagree with this part. Apple has sold quite a few iPod Touches which are, pretty much, exactly what you've described; an iPhone without the non-WiFi data access component. | |
| | | 
sousademiami
join:2003-02-04
Miami, FL | Yeah, these crazy innovators should just cut it out! You're making those of us who like to hoard our profits and do as little work as possible look bad!
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OASAASLLS | |
| | | | | beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Try again. The native I phone tethering you just plug it in and you're online. no software to launch, etc. IT is installed as a NIC via itunes behind the scenes. Step one: Plug in Iphone. Step two: Launch internet explorer.....that's it. | |
| | | dcdeadbeat
join:2008-10-07
Washington, DC
·Covad Communications
| Re: it is probably the tech support and not the bandwidth said by beaups :Try again. The native I phone tethering you just plug it in and you're online. no software to launch, etc. IT is installed as a NIC via itunes behind the scenes. Step one: Plug in Iphone. Step two: Launch internet explorer.....that's it. Actually it does not work like that in real world. What you are talking about is "in theory". But the reality is that Windows networking is very complex and many users will have trouble getting it to work correctly using the iphone native app. If you don't believe me, install the profile on your iphone, plug it into your laptop (or use bluetooth but let's not even get into problems with pairing and networking over bluetooth).
Chances are it won't work and you will have to spend some time getting it to work. That's the problem I am talking about. If it also was easy, then tech support would not be such an issue for businesses. | |
|
podstolom
@kanren.net
| Tethering is a big-time ripoff Verizon is no different from AT&T in regards to tethering. $30/5Gig per month surcharge on their $29.99 data plan. I have some ethical problems with using third-party options to bypass tethering surcharges, probably would be called "theft of service in legalese" but these cash-cow pricing ripoffs are simply too insufferably outrageous to tolerate. I am part of the "market" and these prices I will not bear.
The FCC should initiate similar investigations into these low data caps, overage charges and outrageous tethering surcharges in much the same way as they are investigating SMS charges.
And to the "pro-American" free-market capitalist-loving opportunists, if this sounds like over-regulated Socialism, then so be it. I'm sick and tired of being bamboozled, preyed upon and ripped off by crorporate opportunists whose only interest is in serving the investment portfolios of their investors by excessive monitization of minimal value to the consumer. | |
| |
NOVA_Guy
Obama- Commander in Thief
Premium
join:2002-03-05
·VOIPo
| Re: Tethering is a big-time ripoff So what ethical options do you have with tethering? I would be hard pressed to see how this is theft of service, since you're simply using bandwidth you've already paid for (albeit on a different device than the provider originally anticipated).
Is it theft of service for me to buy a GSM phone, then take the SIM card from that phone and put it into another, different phone to be used? I can't think of a single person that would argue that it is. The same logic applies here... by tethering a person is taking the bandwidth that was sold/allotted/intended to be used on one device, and using that very same legitimately purchased bandwidth on another device.
Adding a surcharge for tethering to a data plan is like a restaurant telling you that there will be an additional cost associated with your meal because you brought your own silverware/utensils to eat from and have decided to use them. At the end of the day, the same 5GB bandwidth cap applies to your data plan, so AT&T doesn't actually lose anything. Their tethering charge isn't because they actually incur greater costs-- it's because they want yet another opportunity to reach into our wallets and grab another chunk of hard-earned money.
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How soon will the Obama wack job nut cases wake up and realize that he's tearing this country apart, limb from limb? Thanks to people like him, Pelosi, and Dodd, Socialism is alive and well in our country. | |
| | jjeffeory
join:2002-12-04
USA
| said by podstolom :
Verizon is no different from AT&T in regards to tethering. $30/5Gig per month surcharge on their $29.99 data plan. I have some ethical problems with using third-party options to bypass tethering surcharges, probably would be called "theft of service in legalese" but these cash-cow pricing ripoffs are simply too insufferably outrageous to tolerate. I am part of the "market" and these prices I will not bear.
The FCC should initiate similar investigations into these low data caps, overage charges and outrageous tethering surcharges in much the same way as they are investigating SMS charges.
And to the "pro-American" free-market capitalist-loving opportunists, if this sounds like over-regulated Socialism, then so be it. I'm sick and tired of being bamboozled, preyed upon and ripped off by crorporate opportunists whose only interest is in serving the investment portfolios of their investors by excessive monitization of minimal value to the consumer.
Data is data is data... There shouldn't be an extra charge for tethering... iPhone users already pay $30 for a "data" plan. It shouldn't matter where the data is requested from. It's simply OUTRAGEOUS. | |
| | 
Wizeguy
join:2008-08-23
Safety Harbor, FL
| "$30/5Gig per month surcharge on their $29.99 data plan."
Hear Hear! Well said indeed. I went to the Verizon store to inquire about Wireless Broadband. $59.99 a month for 5gb!! My Verizon phone plan is I have 2 lines with 700 minutes that I usually don't come close to between me and my wife. After all the silly little taxes, user fees, franchise fees plus $5 for each line for 250 text messages my bill comes to $95.00 a month. Now you would think here is a loyal customer giving us a tidy profit they would offer me those 5 gigs for an extra $10 or $15 a month. But all they see is $$ and the CEO needs to hire another maid or nanny so by all means lets get them for as much as we can.
BTW along with that $59.99 a month comes those pesky little taxes and fees again. I would look for it cost about $65 to $70. | |
| ackman
join:2000-10-04
Acworth, GA
1 edit | The US is so funny You know, we all get our panties bunched up when big corpos give consumers the shaft, due to either monopoly or collusion. Yet, any time regulation is suggested, people get their panties all bunched up and shout "communism, marxism, fascism, socialism", etc. The very definition of mental dysfunction is doing the same thing over and over, without change, and expecting different results. Until government regulation is put back in place to regulate big corporations into doing the right thing for society, like Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower believed, then we're all doomed to the same old crap, just a different day. | |
| | 
cousintim
join:2004-10-10
Dallas, TX
1 edit | Re: The US is so funny My prediction is tethering will be available in November for an additional $20/month. | |
| | sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH | Well said. But Americans are so intensely insecure about their freedoms they'll suffer a much lower quality of life than other nations just to maintain the status quo. | |
| | | 
verolom
join:2002-03-23
Eagleville, PA
·Comcast
| Re: The US is so funny said by sonicmerlin :Well said. But Americans are so intensely insecure about their freedoms they'll suffer a much lower quality of life than other nations just to maintain the status quo. For a good reason, Big Government infringes on those freedoms every chance it gets, regardless of who wields the executive and legislative powers. We like our freedoms legitimately recognized and protected. | |
| | | | kinabrew
join:2002-02-01
1 edit | Re: The US is so funny Thank God the telecommunications companies are here to protect those freedoms. | |
| |
NOVA_Guy
Obama- Commander in Thief
Premium
join:2002-03-05
·VOIPo
| In a totally free market economy without any government intervention (such as Adam Smith envisioned) with little to no barriers of entry, AT&T would have to be more responsive to consumers and give us what we want-- without government intervention.
However, these conditions do not exist. There is a significant barrier to entry in the wireless phone game (the cost alone of acquiring land rights, equipment, installation, and maintenance fees are staggering), significant government intervention with regulations in place, and little competition (OK, some competition exists but there's still somewhat of a quasi-monopolistic market with only 4-5 major carriers out there).
While I'm not a big fan at all of government regulation and red tape (government just tends to screw up anything it tries to manage-- just watch what Barry O and his crew do to screw up GM next), in this case some oversight in the form of prodding these wireless companies to do the reasonable and right thing (i.e. not charge any extra for tethering, as long as existing caps are heeded) might be warranted.
Hopefully no laws will need to be passed for such a thing, and just some Congressional hearings coupled with the same strong-arms tactics the president's goons used on GM's creditors will be enough to make the wireless carriers see the error of their ways.
--
OBAMA'S DEFINITION OF CHANGE: "America: Land of the Free, Home of the Brave" rapidly turns into "America: Land of the Fleeced, Home of the Slaves." | |
|
verolom
join:2002-03-23
Eagleville, PA
·Comcast
| iPhone Mania Why is every other story on DSL Reports these days about iPhones? You know, not every soul out there cares much about this device or the misery of its owners. Poor they, someone should let them know there are other mobile devices out there that cost less and work better at the same time. | |
| | | 
Qumahlin
Never Enough Time
Premium,MVM
join:2001-10-05
united state
1 edit | Why Wait? nm | |
| chuckkk
join:2001-11-10
Warner Robins, GA
·Cox HSI
| Tethering & AT&T In the 90's, my analog phones had digital data/fax and tethering on Southern Bell. The phones used a serial adapter cable to a P/C, and the phones acted as a fairly "dumb" modem. I got into quite a fight with what, by 2000 or so had become Cingular, and now AT&T. Seems that to convert my service from analog to digital service, using a then new Nokia GAIT phone, they, if I requested, (and I did) had to support digital data, including tethering, since my analog phones supported it. The in between years were interesting, since my really old grandfathered plan billed data as connected minutes used, and no nonsense about per kilobyte, etc.. Occasionally, the data service would disappear, until I called and complained. Finally about three months ago, it disappeared again. I was told that there was no way to restore it, since the AT&T system would not permit re entry of the old plan details and services (Bull C%^p), There is a way, using over rides and technical supervisory codes. This really irritated me since I had 5000 non expiring minutes that were planned to be used with replacement phones when they were available in the next month or so.
The end result is that I now have fairly expensive non subsidized 3G phones operating on a competing carrier. The phones and the carrier do support tethering, although subsidized and "locked" phones of the same model do not. Data is data, period. A similar issue with the subsidized and locked phones is "Wi-Fi" service. The phone version I have does not have the "Wi-Fi" limitations of the subsidized version.
I'd rather pay for an un-subsidized version of a phone with it's features un-crippled, than the carrier to un-cripple for a monthly fee.
Even without tethering, it is possible to transfer a file to the 3g phones, and then send it on. | |
| stufried
Premium
join:2003-10-13
·Verizon BroadbandA..
| Thoroughly Divided on Self-Help Remedies The ethical issue associated with third party tethering software solutions is not whether the cell phone company is gouging us. It is. I also agree with the basic proposition that we have paid for a fixed bucket of megabytes and that a cell phone company should not make the determination of whether you are using your 5 gigs responsibly or not.
The sticking point for me is the question of when "self help" remedies are valid. There is a huge question of imbalance of contractual abilities. I can't mail ATT a notice saying that I am changing our contract and they can back out within thirty days. I can't schedule a meeting with the executives of cell phones companies and say that I would like to custom negotiate a contract. At the same time, how many of you assigned to a hypothetical jury could rule for the tether. The contract is clear and not so grossly violative of public policy that it can be ignored. | |
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karnivaldogg
Premium
join:2004-02-05
Portageville, MO | MMS I don't care about tethering cause I'll never use it.. but what I'm wanting to know is... if I bought an Iphone now.. when the MMS finally happens.. is it going to be just a firmware upgrade or having to buy a new Iphone? | |
| | stufried
Premium
join:2003-10-13 | Re: MMS It will be a software upgrade. | |
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MMSer
@charter.com | Re: MMS No it will just be a carrier update. No software. Some of us have MMS and have had since beta3. It is in the phone now just blocked. And yes they can just push an update down the pipe without connecting it to a computer. | |
|
Lightbrazer
@myvzw.com
| Data is data, but the rate of consumption isn't the same Actually data isn't data. While it's true that it's the same data, the speed at which that data can be used it very different on a computer than on the iphone and with a computer you can peg your data connection at max far more consistently. This is like saying I pay for electricity, why can't I disable my circuit breaker and run all the power into my house? Well you can't because this can interrupt OTHER users in the area. By charging for tethering less people will do it and thus you probably won't run into any data problems, as we all saw when the 3g first came out and over a million people were trying to use it at once, the network really can't handle it. Now imagine if only half that many people were tethering and things would actually be much worse. You don't get that now, but if it was free you certainly would and then you'd see half the people here complaining that they can't load their email in under 20 minutes. | |
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vtmad
@verio.net
| tethering cost I had Unicel until ATT purchased it. There is not other provider in our area. I was paying $ 15 for tethering, which is my only source for internet. With ATT they want 60 dollars. Not to meant ion the sales people did know what they were talking about. I was told if i purchased a blackberry, which i did i could still tether but only for 30 dollars....wrong you still have to pay the 60. ATT should honor our plans!!!! or reduce their tethering cost. | |
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cw
@meridianmt.com
| Original question But somewhere at the beginning of the thread the question was asked... How can ATT tell if I'm tethered. I can and have tethered my tilt. I used the default settings on the phone, nothing tricky at all. It connected through the same networks it does when I connect with my unlimited data plan.
How can ATT tell if I'm tethering it to my computer?
I can watch Hulu and youtube on my tilt. How can they tell I'm watching it on my laptop with a tethered phone? Or can they? | |
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