AT&T Cracking Down on Unauthorized Tethering

[BC2009]

What about tiered plan users being forced into 4gb plans that cost 50% more than 5gb iphone plans (aka unlimited)?

Why should ANYONE on a well defined data plan (non-unlimited) have to pay additional cost to use that data that was paid for?

To those who have limited data and just want the ability to use it any way they like -- I totally feel your pain. I fully agree that it is really dumb of AT&T to cap the data and then charge you extra per device. It is non-sensical to anyone with a basic sense of logic. To me, why not let people use the data up and pay for more if they need it (i.e.: upgrade to 4GB if they need that much data or 6GB or 8GB).

But it is still does not escape the fact that they are the ones who erected the wireless towers and built up the network infrastructure and they can license it as they see fit. And we as consumers have the option to not license it at all. I think the more dumb decisions they make the more likely folks will change carriers or somebody else will come along that offers something better.

I think Cable companies have been sticking it to Americans for years even though they are subsidized with municipal permits to build out their network under public roads. Now better things are coming along and some of these Cable companies are scared out of their minds. First Dish Network and DirectTV offered a better alternative and now the potential for wireless WAN or other internet providers to replace the need for subscription television.

Cable companies are becoming a commodity for pure data. Eventually the wireless providers will as well But for now, if you sign an agreement it should be with the intent of keeping that agreement. Most folks would expect others to keep up their end of any bargain, why shouldn't these wireless carriers expect the same or enforce it otherwise?

 

[Rocketman]

This is a simple and cheap way for AT&T to address the most abusive users in a way they give themselves the choice.

Why now? It may have iOS 4.3 as a small factor, but the larger factor is uptake on (fully paid) iPad data plans is so brisk and invites more legitimate use of the network, they need to create network capacity fast, before they install more backhaul or towers. This is that way.

A small percentage of users really are using the bulk of variable bandwidth.

Rocketman

 

[The DRis]

And this accomplishes what - exactly?

I want that text so I can call them up and lambast the eff out of them.

I'm not jailbroken, I don't tether. But it pisses me off that they are wanting to limit data.

I just checked, my data use per month for the last six months is anywhere from 4GB-7GB a month. Mostly because I stream a radio station. Pandora is better at managing data sending it in packets, this app uses straight streaming.

I'll be staying off my wifi at home and at work.

 

[TheGeekNextDoor]

Because it get's you off the unlimited GF plan then.

If you go Data pro you must decline the unlimited GF ( the way i understand it)

You see there is a reason for this two fold

At&t hates unlimited Iphone users, they do

if you have the 2gb plan and you go over you get 1gb more = 25 plus $10 = 35 and then go over to 3.1gb = 25 + 10 +10 = $45
5gb would be $55. so they loose $25 a month from every unlimited who tethers up to 5gb

20gb? would cost $205 a month right?

The person who used 90gb a month? $25 plus $880 or $1005 in usage ( profit loss) to At&t

You all yell contract contract, At&t yells profits profits profits.

even if you pay for tethering and use 3.9gb a month
its 45 vs 30 a month, do 15 x 50,000 theoretically thats a loss of 750,000 a month profit for At&t or 9,000,000 USD a year, I think capturing this would make my boss happy wouldn't it?

I guess where I was going with it is for AT&T to charge me $25 for 2GB. I get to use that data how I wish. If I go over, charge me $20 for an additional 2GB. Don't make me pay $20 more per month just for the ability to use a feature of the phone. Charge me for what I use. I would be much more inclined to drop my unlimited.

AT&T doesn't hate all unlimited iPhone users. My wife has never used over 400MB in any one month, yet I fear to give up her unlimited that I'm paying $30 a month for. I very rarely go over 800MB. I have spiked to 1.4GB, but that was only once. I still pay $30. So I think AT&T is loving me paying them $60/month for an actual usage of less than 2GB per month spread across two phones.

I would much prefer a family plan "pool" of data. Give me 6GB for $60 to share amongst all of my phones. I have 4 of them. 2 unlimited, 1 2GB, 1 250MB. I pay $100 a month just for data! It's/I'm crazy/stupid.

I share minutes. I share texts. Why not data? Then I could tie in my iPad, my refrigerator, my alarm system, etc. into AT&T and they would own me out of centralized data convenience. I don't want to pay big monthly fees for each IP based device I add onto my account.

 

[chakraj]

Dont you all understand, Unlimited is the name of the plan not the discription of the amount of data used.

Much like the Ford LTD, or Limited, they were just named LTD, they were not actually a limited edition vehicle.

ATT REP; Hello sir, would you like to sign up for our unlimited data plan? with that plan you get 5gigs, you can use anyway you want, as long as it is viewing facebook or google only, any other web traffic is not in your unlimited plan. For that you would need our world wide Unlimited web access plan. With that plan you get 5gigs and you also get to look at youtube and Amazon. If you want more there is our unlimited universal time and space plan. With that plan you get everything from the other unlimited plan plus you get access to ebay!. for a limited time..

 

[supmango]

There are a dozen and one ways they can use rules/logic engines - they don't need a human eye.

And the timing of this new policy isn't by accident nor has it taken ATT "long enough". It's strategic.

With 4.3 - mobile hotspots are now enabled on their network and there is a clear billing system set up within their infrastructure. Remember - prior to 4.3 - ANY tethering via the iPhone was against TOS.

Now that they have a specific plan they can switch you to and/or illustrate that you have LEGAL ways of tethering - they are in a much better position to win any of these so called "arguments."

It's no accident. They clearly have been poised to take action and waited until everything fell into place with the enabling of hotspots.

I never said anything about it being an accident. I also don't think your argument is "clear" unless you have some kind of internal information that the rest of us don't know about.

If it is really that simple to develop "rules and logic engines" to crack down on tethering, why did it take almost a full year (after introducing tethering) to do it? A logical evaluation of network activity (one that can be done by a computer) works in many cases, but there are always instances where it misses things, or triggers a false alert. AT&T is limited in this regard. I also don't see anything special about the mobile hotspot feature that allows AT&T more access to information that it did not have previously. See the rest of my post.

If people aren't being careful about what they are doing online while tethered (for example, they are doing things their iPhones cannot do natively), it's pretty simple for AT&T to see that kind of activity. But someone who is smart about it can probably get by indefinitely.

I think AT&T is starting to panicking about the people who are leaving to go to Verizon. They need to make sure they are milking every dime they can get out of the iPhone users they still have

 

[Simm0nS777]

Peoples stupidity ITT is hilarious.

I RARELY crack the 2GB level on my unlimited data plan. I usually tether about 2 days a week for a few hours. I work at a job with a ton of downtime. I spend that downtime browsing forums. If ATT takes away my tethering ability (no way in hell Im pay an extra $45 to tether) I will then have to spend that downtime watching netflix which is going to use A LOT more bandwidth than browsing forums on my laptop.

So those of you not bright enough to realize that for many they will be using MORE data need to use that head of yours a little more.

Its funny that in your guys minds that its better for someone to use 15GB a month watching netflix/streaming pandora etc. than it is for me to use 2GB tethering.

 

[aristobrat]

I'm going to tether til they change my plan, and when they do, cancel with no ETF, and use the money I would have spent paying the ETF on clear spot 4g+.

Really? There's an active lawsuit against Clear for throttling the speed of the high-bandwidth users on some of Clear's unlimited plans. Oh, and their CEO just quit. Switch with confidence!

I smell a lawsuit against AT&T coming along!

Maybe.

T-Mobile and Verizon have both (in previous years) goine after people tethering on plans that don't include tethering. No lawsuits.

Here's what happens: the carrier cracks down, the blogosphere publicizes that the carriers are doing it, forums have threads like this, and after a few weeks, the commotion dies down and people pick the appropriate data plans.

The weird thing was that with unauthorized tethering on T-Mobile and Verizon, how to do it wasn't really mainstream info. Some folks figured it out, and they'd post on forums like howardforum, but it's nothing like how info about MyWi/iPhone is pretty much virtually everywhere nowadays.

 

[matthew23]

I wonder if MyWi will patch their program some how to get around all of this. Anyone know if they have said anything?

 

[samcraig]

I want that text so I can call them up and lambast the eff out of them.

I'm not jailbroken, I don't tether. But it pisses me off that they are wanting to limit data.

I just checked, my data use per month for the last six months is anywhere from 4GB-7GB a month. Mostly because I stream a radio station. Pandora is better at managing data sending it in packets, this app uses straight streaming.

I'll be staying off my wifi at home and at work.

Ok - so you didn't even get the text. You might never get the text - but yet you're still going to have a tantrum and "teach ATT a lesson" ??? Ok - good luck with that.

I never said anything about it being an accident. I also don't think your argument is "clear" unless you have some kind of internal information that the rest of us don't know about.

If it is really that simple to develop "rules and logic engines" to crack down on tethering, why did it take almost a full year (after introducing tethering) to do it? A logical evaluation of network activity (one that can be done by a computer) works in many cases, but there are always instances where it misses things, or triggers a false alert. AT&T is limited in this regard. I also don't see anything special about the mobile hotspot feature that allows AT&T more access to information that it did not have previously. See the rest of my post.

If people aren't being careful about what they are doing online while tethered (for example, they are doing things their iPhones cannot do natively), it's pretty simple for AT&T to see that kind of activity. But someone who is smart about it can probably get by indefinitely.

I think AT&T is starting to panicking about the people who are leaving to go to Verizon. They need to make sure they are milking every dime they can get out of the iPhone users they still have

You missed the point of what I said in my post. For one - I explained why they may have waited. Pretty clearly.

I'm guessing a lot of people here are pissing and moaning about something that hasn't even affected them (yet) and might not ever. Which is even sillier. It sounds like very few (if any) on this thread actually GOT the email/txt.

And to reiterate what I said several posts ago (but so few people read full threads...) that I don't agree with ATT charging twice for people on CAPPED plans. If you pay for 2 gigs - you should get 2 gigs - no matter what. It's finite.

But unlimited data is a different matter. And for those that can't understand or see the difference - there's little use in trying to explain it over and over. You don't get it.

 

[aristobrat]

Its funny that in your guys minds that its better for someone to use 15GB a month watching netflix/streaming pandora etc. than it is for me to use 2GB tethering.

How the hell do you propose they implement an "Hey, it's cool if you tether with your unlimited, since you're just browsing forums" policy? Because, you know what? Not everyone tethering on unlimited is as cool as you.

Maybe if they make everyone pinky swear on it?

 

[Sodner]

LOL yeah Right,

I have dealt with the president of At&t on a serious matter this past year.

I will not get into what Apple does to At&t but it was over my Iphone

anyway, I do not make such calls or demands on At&t and in fact I like at&t over Verizon.

But if you advertise unlimited as At&t does and did, it should be unlimited no matter what (Slimey) lawyer drafts a document meant to swindle people is signed.
a Con game is still a con game, if i sign and pay for unlimited, it should be unlimited not what ever At&t decides.

Its wrong and you cannot convince me of otherwise.

If unlimited is "limited" then using the word "Unlimited" is deceitful and when a contract is deceitful is may not be binding...........yes that is what courts are for.

What interest is it of yours to defend At&t anyway? Hmm I suspect something is up............

Bust every last one of them AT&T!! In fact start with this person.

 

[fehhkk]

Carriers don't seem to understand that if you consume your 2GB data allowance in one day, it's actually better for them, because they will get your for overages

Stupid AT&T.

On a separate note, I don't think I mind paying $20 for an extra 2GB of data. I was paying $59.99 for a Verizon USB data stick for a 5GB/mo. plan... So, since I don't tether that much, it seems adequate, *AND* I can switch off the tethering plan as I need it (without getting into a 2 year contract for just a USB data stick).

 

[dave420]

To everyone that is running jailbroken and tethering (against your AT&T TOS) via MyWi. Did you purchase the app or are you pirating that as well?

I purchased the app, though I haven't received any warning either. I only using it occasionally to provide connectivity to my iPad, and usually only for small amounts of data.
(I have been known to use large amounts of data (>15 GB) in a month streaming Netflix on my phone though)

 

[Simm0nS777]

How the hell do you propose they implement an "Hey, it's cool if you tether with your unlimited, since you're just browsing forums" policy? Because, you know what? Not everyone tethering on unlimited is as cool as you.

Maybe if they make everyone pinky swear on it?

I just dont get why all you are acting like children about it. Who cares? what is your 3G download speed gonna go up by .00001?

I see people who claim they have used like 80 gigs in a month. Do I care and cry that ATT should do something about it so they can "clear" up the network for me? No I dont give a crap. My speeds are great even with all that. ATT introducing tethering is MUCH worse than the select few who jailbreak and tether.

 

[Howdr]

Bust every last one of them AT&T!! In fact start with this person.

LOL for what using 900mb of data last month.........

You people are too much............

I know the road At&t is on, they are trying to make money.

I posted the lost revenue

I posted the reason they hate unlimited

you can make excuse after excuse for At&t bottom line is

If I have 5gb lets say, then I should be free to use up to 5gb without worry.

The facts get distorted by deceptive TOS's from At&t and peoples own agendas.

Agendas on both sides
The stupid people who use 10's of GB a month to download movies and torrents
The people who are righteous and like to point fingers and "I told you so"

I haven't tethered in 6 months.

 

[aristobrat]

But if you advertise unlimited as At&t does and did, it should be unlimited no matter what (Slimey) lawyer drafts a document meant to swindle people is signed.
a Con game is still a con game, if i sign and pay for unlimited, it should be unlimited not what ever At&t decides.

It's an unlimited iPhone data plan.

iPhone data plan.

Not an unlimited iPhone + tethering data plan.

AT&T isn't limiting the amount of iPhone data that your iPhone can consume.

AT&T is enforcing the part of the contract where it says (as clear as day) that you cannot use an iPhone data plan to tether data to other devices.

"Unlimited data" isn't the issue they're enforcing, Howdr. They're enforcing the devices that are allowed to be used on the iPhone unlimited data plan.

 

[Howdr]

It's an unlimited iPhone data plan.

iPhone data plan.

True

Not an unlimited iPhone + tethering data plan.

they never offered this so its Moot

AT&T isn't limiting the amount of iPhone data on your iPhone data plan.

AT&T is enforcing the part of the contract where it says (as clear as day) that you cannot use an iPhone data plan to tether data to other devices.

I'm not, I'm using Data that is taken from the Air by my Iphone and instead of being used to display what I'm doing on the phone its on my laptop or my browser is going to the same site I could view on my phone browser.

I'm not Downloading I'm using it to surf and use sites difficult to use on my phone but I could if have to.

"Unlimited data" isn't the issue here, Howdr. The type of devices allowed to use an iPhone data plan is.

The amount of data they used by tethering is the issue per the previous articles and statements by At&t in the last 2 years.

I do not have all them handy but you can google the At&t and the worries they have over Data abuse and tethering.

 

[tirexstorm]

Will this affect people using tetherme or just mywi?

 

[samcraig]

The facts get distorted by deceptive TOS's from At&t and peoples own agendas.

It's not deceptive. It's just that people don't read it until they want to prove/disprove something.

People are more concerned with shortening their wait time/shopping experience online or in the store to get their hands on their devices more so than reading the terms and usage regarding those devices.

But that's not deceptive. You're confusing deceptive with laziness

 

[C N Reilly]

I'm not worried about this. There's only two possibilities:

1) AT&T is just assuming anyone who uses more than X amount of data must be tethering, and shooting out threats. In such a case, all you have to do is call them and tell them you stream a radio station all day. They take you off the "evil tetherer" list; end of problem. (I've already seen two people post elsewhere that this has worked for them.)

2) There actually is something in the software/firmware that's enabling AT&T to tell who's tethering. In this case, the jailbreakers will just add some code to the next release to block or fool that bit of code. End of problem.

All signs thus far point to (1) being the truth, btw.

 

[aristobrat]

Who cares?

I dont give a crap. My speeds are great even with all that.

Oh, OK. You're one of those "hey, everything is great for *me*, so what the hell are YOU complaining about people". Cool.

I work in a decent sized office building where 3G speed isn't consistently great. I also know of at least four people that bring their personal laptops and torrent via MyWi here during the day so that they don't get the DMCA notifications (and risk of getting their service canceled) from their home broadband provider (Cox Cable).

If these people want to pony up and pay for the bandwidth that they're using here, that's fine. But I bet they wont. And I also bet that overall speed for the AT&T 3G coverage where I spend the majority of my waking hours increases if they don't.

 

[CrAkD]

Woohoo I switched from my 1st gen wifi iPad with mywi on my iPhone to a 3G iPad 2 just in time.

 

[Howdr]

Look I'm not childish or demanding I just disagree with the way At&t has sucked many of us into the Unlimited plan from the beginning. After a time we all had it and they came out with the secrete 5GB idea. You want posts of me complaining back in 2008? Why ? I don't have to prove anything to anyone to state my opinion and dislike of the policy.

Don't point the finger at me and say I'm stealing, I paid for my internet use every month for over 3 years now.

I'll cut back on the righteous talk if the finger pointing stops.

I do not tether on a regular basis and have not for 6 months.

I do not Download with my phone except apps and docs.

I agree there can be abuse even with unlimited

(ie: the people who claim 90 and 120Gb a month DL)



You feel your right,

I feel I'm right,

we disagree, end of story

Also At&t will do this from time to time and unless something changes that stops them there is nothing we can do about it.

 

[sawah]

What the hell is your problem? AT&T has broken the law. Are you content with that?

Do you think it's appropriate for any company to sell an unlimited service, and make every attempt possible to limit it?

And how do YOU not get the giant paragraph in their TOS that says you can't tether it to another device?? Use all the unlimited data you want on your phone. A judge isn't gonna waive that all away.

Not to mention, At&t is warning you that you are gonna get charged for it, which also covers their butts. They aren't charging you for it without telling you in advance first.

We've all know for years that our cell phone companies charge way too much for things. We still choose to pay them.