Verizon Forced To Allow Tethering - What are the implications for AT&T?

[Sam73065]

Solution: Get iPhone, jailbreak, use MyWi.

You are assuming that just because the carriers currently seem unable to detect tethering, that they will never be able to determine tethering. You are also assuming that everyone is willing to break TOS and tether when they are not paying for that service. Depending on the user's data feature, I may or may not agree with that.

[RogersUser1]

You are assuming that just because the carriers currently seem unable to detect tethering, that they will never be able to determine tethering. You are also assuming that everyone is willing to break TOS and tether when they are not paying for that service. Depending on the user's data feature, I may or may not agree with that.

The TOS on the website for a standard post-paid plan state that to activate tethering through verizon it costs $20. However there is nothing in the TOS forbidding you from using a third-party app to tether in a different way. The water company may want to charge you extra for a special machine that purifies and bottles the water for you to go. But you can also bottle your own d#*& water, and not pay them.

When you sign up for data, you should be able to use that data any way you like - wtf difference is it to the carrier? it all costs the same to them. It's just another way to try to make you not use the service you are paying for. I love it when technology defeats douchbaggery.

[jamesstarks15]

Solution: Get iPhone, jailbreak, use MyWi.

For me, there is no solution possible that involves getting an iPhone.

[Sam73065]

The TOS on the website for a standard post-paid plan state that to activate tethering through verizon it costs $20. However there is nothing in the TOS forbidding you from using a third-party app to tether in a different way. The water company may want to charge you extra for a special machine that purifies and bottles the water for you to go. But you can also bottle your own d#*& water, and not pay them.

When you sign up for data, you should be able to use that data any way you like - wtf difference is it to the carrier? it all costs the same to them. It's just another way to try to make you not use the service you are paying for. I love it when technology defeats douchbaggery.

As I said, my opinion depends upon which data feature you're paying for, tiered or unlimited. If you are on tiered data, 2gb/$30 on VZW or 3gb/$30 ATTM, then you should be allowed to use the data any d...ned way you want. But if you have an unlimited and unthrottled data, such as is the case with VZW currently, then they have every right to charge for tethering. If VZW starts throttling unlimited data plans users on 4G at any time in the future, then I agree, you should be allowed to tether for free.

[mick662]

Not really a solution if you're not inclined to buy Apple products in the first place.

For me, there is no solution possible that involves getting an iPhone.

Can I get an AMEN!

[RogersUser1]

Can I get an AMEN!

For me, there is no solution possible that involves getting an iPhone.

I focus on iPhone because that's what I have, but a quick skim of the relevant websites shows there are similar workaround for android and blackberry. Just like iPhone I'm sure it takes a little bit of learning and determination. This is evidently more commonly called 'rooting' on BB and android. Looks like tons of guides out there on how to do it, and how to subsequently get functionality for tethering.

As I said, my opinion depends upon which data feature you're paying for, tiered or unlimited. If you are on tiered data, 2gb/$30 on VZW or 3gb/$30 ATTM, then you should be allowed to use the data any d...ned way you want. But if you have an unlimited and unthrottled data, such as is the case with VZW currently, then they have every right to charge for tethering. If VZW starts throttling unlimited data plans users on 4G at any time in the future, then I agree, you should be allowed to tether for free.

I agree they have the right to charge you for tethering via Verizon's official method of doing so. However this doesn't mean you are not allowed to tether in some other way, which may not cost any monthly fee. I don't see how unlimited or unthrottled has anything to do with it. If VZW doesn't want you using unlimited data, then why do they offer unlimited data? Nobody is putting a gun to their head and forcing them to do so, and everyone is free to choose the carrier that offers them the best plan.

[Sam73065]

I agree they have the right to charge you for tethering via Verizon's official method of doing so. However this doesn't mean you are not allowed to tether in some other way, which may not cost any monthly fee. I don't see how unlimited or unthrottled has anything to do with it. If VZW doesn't want you using unlimited data, then why do they offer unlimited data? Nobody is putting a gun to their head and forcing them to do so, and everyone is free to choose the carrier that offers them the best plan.

I differentiate between unlimited and tiered data, because unlimited data was never meant to be used as a portable internet solution, unless you paid separately for tethering. Actually I suspect that customers illegally tethering are a large part of the reason that VZW and ATTM no longer sell unlimited data and that ATTM throttles data. Based on my own usage only, data usage on only my phone is under 2gb, add in tethering and it's 5 to 10 times more. As far as throttling goes, throttling introduces tiered data to the customer. In other words, you get so much first class data at one speed and after that you're a second class citizen until the end of the billing cycle. So under that scenario, I don't feel an obligation to pay for tethering, since that only means I'll reach my second class data status sooner.

[i0wnj00]

I focus on iPhone because that's what I have, but a quick skim of the relevant websites shows there are similar workaround for android and blackberry. Just like iPhone I'm sure it takes a little bit of learning and determination. This is evidently more commonly called 'rooting' on BB and android. Looks like tons of guides out there on how to do it, and how to subsequently get functionality for tethering.

There's no such thing as rooting on BBs. You can only "shrink" the BBOS, but then again that doesn't allow root access (or superuser access) to the core OS and its subsystem in order to access features otherwise not available. The only thing you use on a BB is a Hybrid or "leaked", which in of itself is nothing but collection of files from other OSs. It remains to be seen if BB10 can be rooted since it's *inx based, but seeing that it's still proprietary software I doubt that it can be rooted.

BBs by nature are designed to be secure, rooting would defeat the purpose of using a BB in the first place. I doubt our President would be using a BB if it was rootable to start with.

Oh and if you want to tether on a BB then all you really have to do is install the Desktop Manager software on your laptop. The only website you need is http://us.blackberry.com/software/desktop.html and the skill to be able to install a program, couldn't be any easier than that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_%28Android_OS%29

[RogersUser1]

There's no such thing as rooting on BBs. You can only "shrink" the BBOS, but then again that doesn't allow root access (or superuser access) to the core OS and its subsystem in order to access features otherwise not available. The only thing you use on a BB is a Hybrid or "leaked", which in of itself is nothing but collection of files from other OSs. It remains to be seen if BB10 can be rooted since it's *inx based, but seeing that it's still proprietary software I doubt that it can be rooted.

BBs by nature are designed to be secure, rooting would defeat the purpose of using a BB in the first place. I doubt our President would be using a BB if it was rootable to start with.

Oh and if you want to tether on a BB then all you really have to do is install the Desktop Manager software on your laptop, couldn't be any easier than that. The only website you need is http://us.blackberry.com/software/desktop.html and the skill to be able to install a program.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_%28Android_OS%29

Well there ya go. Not sure if that helps the above posters since I don't know what devices they are using but probably helps at least a few.

[i0wnj00]

You are assuming that just because the carriers currently seem unable to detect tethering, that they will never be able to determine tethering. You are also assuming that everyone is willing to break TOS and tether when they are not paying for that service. Depending on the user's data feature, I may or may not agree with that.

Just hide your traffic with VPN.
The wireless carriers already have the ability to determine what content is being passed through their networks.

[RogersUser1]

I differentiate between unlimited and tiered data, because unlimited data was never meant to be used as a portable internet solution, unless you paid separately for tethering. Actually I suspect that customers illegally tethering are a large part of the reason that VZW and ATTM no longer sell unlimited data and that ATTM throttles data. Based on my own usage only, data usage on only my phone is under 2gb, add in tethering and it's 5 to 10 times more. As far as throttling goes, throttling introduces tiered data to the customer. In other words, you get so much first class data at one speed and after that you're a second class citizen until the end of the billing cycle. So under that scenario, I don't feel an obligation to pay for tethering, since that only means I'll reach my second class data status sooner.

That's up to you. Pay if you feel better about it. I think its shaky ground to base decisions on what was 'meant' by a telecom, since that is undefined and subjective. Ultimately what is 'meant' is to get as much money from you as possible for as little output as possible. So if you abide by what is 'meant', you should just write them a check for as much money as possible as a donation. The issue is what is allowed. You're saying customers are 'illegally' tethering. Not from what I can tell in VZW TOS. There is nothing specifically saying 'you can't tether in any way except in the way we want.' All that they say is if you want to enable tethering through their service, it will cost you. Is there federal or state law specifically commenting on this? I see lots of articles on 'illegal tethering', but none actually explain why this is 'illegal'.

I had another closer look at the VZW TOS and they reserve the right to take action in order to prevent activities that 'degrade their network'. This is extremely vague, probably intentionally so they can justify doing whatever they want. It looks as if this is primarily to prevent spamming and malware being disseminated, but one could imagine they might apply this to suspected unauthorized tethering users. However, this still does not make this activity specifically forbidden in their TOS, or illegal.

[terryjohnson16]

Only for verizons upper 700 c-block band.

Wish fcc would say its legal to tether on any data plan, since we pay for it. Data is data.

People that have the share all plans have tethering officially supported since the plan includes it.

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[Nick Walker]

no implications for AT&T, VZW made the big mistake in buying spectrum with strings attached. big dummies

[krisguy]

I hope the LTE license for AT&T contains the same provision that VZ agreed to.

Nope. This provision only applies to the C block of the 700 MHz band - aka the Google/open provision

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