Since the other thread was locked (good choice I think), and HF 9 said someone could feel free to create another one, I've decided to kind of summarize everything I know about Verizon Wireless's CURRENT tethering policy to attempt to answer a lot of the questions out there (who wants to read through 1000+ posts in the old thread?). Information can be added as needed.

1. To tether with a feature (non-smart) phone, Verizon currently offers the same $59.99/month Broadband Access plan that it has for it's aircards that offers unlimited (5GB cap) data and can be prorated. This data is for tethering only and does not include data used on the phone (I think, correct me if I'm wrong). There is also a slightly cheaper plan that offers a measly 50MB/month for $39.99.

2. For smartphones, the tethering cost depends on your data plan. Basically no matter which plan you have, the total cost will amount to approximately $60.

3. HOWEVER, on ACI or II plans, there was a clause that allowed one to tether a 1x ONLY phone (not an EVDO capable-but-disabled phone) for only Minutes of Use (making night and weekend browsing free).

4. On NW plans, that clause no longer exists (and why should it, for although it may still technically work to tether a 1x-only phone on NW, who would want to pay $1.99/MB to do so??)

5. EVDO capable phones have NEVER been allowed to tether within the Terms of Service on ANY plan without a compatible Access plan (except possibly with Q2N, who knows). In fact, Verizon has added code to EVDO-capable phones that won't even allow you to connect to their server without hacking your phone.

6. Finally, for Q2N (or QNC, basically using your phone as a modem to call an external ISP), some say you can use EVDO phones, some say you can't. It's kind of a gray area. Bottom line: I say Verizon isn't going to care at all if you use it, no matter what phone or plan your on (you will have to pay the same $1.99/MB if on NW plans), because you are using an absolute minimum of resources. So if it works for you, go ahead and use it and be happy with your 14.4kbps speeds.

7. Also, the wording in the TOS for the $15 vPak specifically prohibits tethering of any kind, so no, you can't use it to cover your data costs in #6.

And that's about all I have for now. Have I missed something critical? Any feedback would be appreciated. Hopefully this thread can be used to clear up most questions for people without growing to a disproportionate size (and thus becoming nearly unreadable).

Thanks,
Luigi

3. EVDO phones forced to 1x with Vcast removed works just fine.

5. VZW allows EVDO phones on AC plans. Adding an EVDO does not invalidate your 1x MOU billing. Unlimited 1x MOU tethering is allowed with EVDO phones on AC plans.

6. Q2N is a CSD connections with terrible latency. It is almost completely useless for any web browsing. VZW has also disabled CSD in certain areas since no one really uses it.

3. Sure it works just fine, it works just as well with EVDO enabled and the vPak added.

5. On ACI or II, ALL data is billed as MOU. This does not change the fact that you are not allowed (according to Verizon policy) to tether an EVDO phone without a BBA plan.

6. Hey we agree on something!

Yeah, the old 1x-only tethering clause still has to do whether or not the phone that is being used is 1x-only or not--we keep on coming back to the same old things that have been covered fairly extensively by knowledgeable people quite a bit over time: http://www.howardforums.com/showthr...0&postcount=958.

i'm confused... if you have an unlimited data plan and add tethering, does that mean they add the 5gb cap?

When it comes to tethering, there's a cap (since it's that much easier to use lots of data compared to just using data on the phone itself). Technically speaking, there's the same cap on data on the phone as well, it's just that in the case of tethering you are simply charged overage rates if you go over, while in the case of the phone, if you go over (if you really manage to do that somehow) VZW can take some other actions (down to even terminating your service).

Does anyone know anyone who has seen the "big bill" or termination from breaking ToS?

Yeah, there have been a few posts about people getting large bills for going over, like a recent thread at http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1482012, although not so much on getting terminated, even though a few posts here and there have made references to it.

http://www.howardforums.com/showpos...947&postcount=7



An aircard going over the clearly defined 5GB limit has little to do with tethering a phone.

3. Why pay for something that you can legally "pay" for with minutes under AC I & II?

5. Tethering @ EVDO speeds is against the ToS of AC plan. Tethering @ 1x, as long as it is not a BB/PDA, is NOT.

If you are on the America's Choice I, II, or older plan, tether @ 1x until you are blue in the face. It is legal, unlimited, and has no cap @ 1x speeds.

If you are tethering EVDO speeds, you will get caught.

For the purposes of overages or things of that nature VZW sees it the same way, as the quoted reply in the post you linked to also implies.

Why pay for something with minutes and get relatively slow ~100kbps speeds when you can do the same thing at EV speeds??



All data is counted the same way, it doesn't matter whether it was at 1x or EV speeds. At 1x speeds, you could still use 5GB in about five days if you kept the connection maxed out, at which time I'd think Verizon would be letting you know...
Also, the last sentence should say, "you COULD get caught", as there are plenty of people who are tethering, even now, at EV speeds on a regular basis and have not been billed. Its not GUARANTEED you'll get caught.

I am totally new to this. I have an lg Dare and a week long road trip coming up and I would like to be able to get the tether data for just the week and have it prorated. I have two questions:

1. How do you actually set this up? What I mean by this is after I call VZW cust service and add the plan on the day I am leaving. Then what do I do? How is the phone connected to the PC and how do you get it working?

2. How well does it work? Is it as good as an air card for speeds and latency? Does the connection stay connected? How about when moving like in a car?