For those that think Tethering shouldn't incur an additional fee....

[uberamd]

All of this arguing is ridiculous. Verizon (God's network) charges for tethering. T-Mobile charges for tethering. AT&T charges every other phone for tethering access, so WHY should us iPhone users be special and not have to pay? Where is all of this entitlement coming from over these last few weeks? I have the iPhone, I have AT&T, and I think it should not be free. It makes no sense for it to be free while every other provider/customer needs to pay if they don't have an iPhone.

Those trying to say "It's my data, I should be able to use it how I want" sound moronic. Its your PHONE's data plan, you agreed to that! You have NO right to free tethering. None. Here is an example for ya. I pay to have OS X Leopard installed on my Macbook Pro. If I want to install it on a second system (aka use a second device), I need to legally remove it from my Macbook Pro. I agreed to that when I purchased the software. Tough cookies.

 

[samab]

With the iPhone, AT&T has attracted a great many more customers and are making a lot more money as evidenced by their recent earnings reports. The Air Cards alone would not have been nearly as profitable and I would argue that they can forfeit revenue from Air Cards in favor of the much greater revenue potential from iPhones.

Or AT&T can copy Verizon and make a lot more money by nickel and diming everybody.

 

[ksz]

Its your PHONE's data plan, you agreed to that! You have NO right to free tethering.

Who is talking about rights or entitlement? You should refrain from forcing your opinions.

Just because something has been a certain way for X amount of time is not justification for saying it must continue to be that way. If other carriers in the US are charging for tethering, so what? Why does that justify the status quo?

If European carriers, particular those in Finland, don't charge for tethering, shouldn't we feel justified in asking AT&T to stop charging for it as well?

The Federal Communications Commission is looking into "carrier exclusivity" agreements to determine whether they violate any free market rules. In other words, most of us signed iPhone contracts because it was a "take it or leave it" proposition and there was no competition. Most of us (probably you too) did not even read the terms and conditions (certainly not all of them). We signed for expediency.

While AT&T considers what policies to implement and what prices to charge for tethering, we are perfectly justified in voicing our opinions.

 

[samcraig]

In other words, most of us signed iPhone contracts because it was a "take it or leave it" proposition and there was no competition. Most of us (probably you too) did not even read the terms and conditions (certainly not all of them). We signed for expediency.
QUOTE]

Then those who have problems SHOULD have read the contracts before deciding whether or not to switch or continue with ATT and/or the iPhone. Griping AFTER the fact leads me to little sympathy. ATT shouldn't be liable for consumer ignorance. But that's an entirely different debate, isn't it?

 

[-aggie-]

All of this arguing is ridiculous. Verizon (God's network) charges for tethering. T-Mobile charges for tethering. AT&T charges every other phone for tethering access, so WHY should us iPhone users be special and not have to pay? Where is all of this entitlement coming from over these last few weeks? I have the iPhone, I have AT&T, and I think it should not be free. It makes no sense for it to be free while every other provider/customer needs to pay if they don't have an iPhone.

Those trying to say "It's my data, I should be able to use it how I want" sound moronic. Its your PHONE's data plan, you agreed to that! You have NO right to free tethering. None. Here is an example for ya. I pay to have OS X Leopard installed on my Macbook Pro. If I want to install it on a second system (aka use a second device), I need to legally remove it from my Macbook Pro. I agreed to that when I purchased the software. Tough cookies.

I love the reference to Verizon being God's network! You always call it perfectly, uberamd.

 

[ksz]

Then those who have problems SHOULD have read the contracts before deciding whether or not to switch or continue with ATT and/or the iPhone. Griping AFTER the fact leads me to little sympathy. ATT shouldn't be liable for consumer ignorance. But that's an entirely different debate, isn't it?

Nice try, but this doesn't apply because AT&T is still considering what policies to implement and what prices to charge. Our contracts do NOT say that tethering will be X dollars per month and/or capped to N gigabytes. In fact, all that the contracts say is "do not tether."

Certainly I am not tethering at all and thus abiding by the terms of the contract. Moving forward, however, I don't want to pay for Official Tethering as long as I use my bandwidth responsibly. I am okay with capping tethered data to something like 10 or 20 GB per month without any extra charge. That sounds like a reasonable compromise to me.

 

[-aggie-]

In other words, most of us signed iPhone contracts because it was a "take it or leave it" proposition and there was no competition. Most of us (probably you too) did not even read the terms and conditions (certainly not all of them). We signed for expediency.
QUOTE]

Then those who have problems SHOULD have read the contracts before deciding whether or not to switch or continue with ATT and/or the iPhone. Griping AFTER the fact leads me to little sympathy. ATT shouldn't be liable for consumer ignorance. But that's an entirely different debate, isn't it?

These are probably the same ignorant people who signed for mortgages they couldn't afford. There was a thread on here that talked about iPhone being a cause of the recession. Maybe. it's ignorant iPhone buyers, who are the cause.

 

[ksz]

These are probably the same ignorant people who signed for mortgages they couldn't afford. There was a thread on here that talked about iPhone being a cause of the recession. Maybe. it's ignorant iPhone buyers, who are the cause.

See post 56.

 

[MBHockey]

There are several posts saying that they think ATT has no right to charge more for tethering because you pay for an unlimited data plan.

Let's make something (obvious to me) very clear

1. You pay for unlimited for the device you have registered with them. One device.

2. If you had two iphones, you'd be paying for 2 unlimited data plans. Two Devices = 2 Data plans

If 1 and 2 are true - you have to accept that allowing tethering is opening up more than your ONE device to their bandwidth for which they have EVERY right to charge additional fees for.

Again - you are paying to access the net on ONE device. Tethering allows other devices in ADDITION to your phone to access their network.

So... can we stop with all the complaining or implying that ATT has no right or it's stupid of them to charge extra?

Look at Disney for example. If I pay for an unlimited 1-day park hopper - that entitles ME to go on all the rides. I can't leave at 2pm and then give my ticket to someone else.

If I go to an all you can eat buffet, that doesn't entitle me to take food home, give their food away to other people in the restaurant or worse, go into the kitchen and help myself to whatever they have

...and no. I don't work for ATT nor do I think they are perfect.

Doesn't this argument fall apart simply because when you are tethered you *are* using only one device at that time for data access?

Edit: nevermind -- misread your post

 

[dagomike]

Hey, before you sign up for service, ask ATT if tethering is or will be included. If they say no, then don't be surprised if it's an extra charge. If it's not included in the service, don't expect it to be free.

 

[samcraig]

"Moving forward, however, I don't want to pay for Official Tethering as long as I use my bandwidth responsibly."

What makes you think ATT or anyone CARES what you want. I'm not trying to incite. I'm just saying. It's irrelevant. If you want to tether, you'll have to pay for it IF they charge for it. If you work around their system and tether for free and get busted, charged, service terminated - you will have done so willfully and again, will have no recourse.

No one is forcing you to tether. No one forced you into an iphone. No one forced you into ATT. You've made choices.

 

[-aggie-]

.....and no one forced people to buy houses that might not go up in value as much as they thought.

 

[ksz]

What makes you think ATT or anyone CARES what you want. I'm not trying to incite. I'm just saying. It's irrelevant. If you want to tether, you'll have to pay for it IF they charge for it. If you work around their system and tether for free and get busted, charged, service terminated - you will have done so willfully and again, will have no recourse.

There is another thread here asking how much you're willing to pay for tethering. Why have that thread either if the price AT&T decides upon will not be affected the least bit by our little online poll?

No one is forcing you to tether. No one forced you into an iphone. No one forced you into ATT. You've made choices.

Once AT&T announces their tethering plans, if there are no free options I will judge whether or not the pricing structure they offer is justified for my needs, and will make an appropriate buy-it-or-leave-it decision at that time. But that time has not yet come so don't continue the argument of past choices having been made. This is a choice that has not yet been presented.

 

[diabolic]

In other words, most of us signed iPhone contracts because it was a "take it or leave it" proposition and there was no competition.

Of course there is competition, just not how you want it to be.

Whatever AT&T decides, I'm sure some people will complain. I'm guessing they'll charge $20-$30 for tethering. The actual number of people who use tethering is probably small enough that any complaints won't be taken seriously. Whatever is standard now will most likely continue that way for the forseeable future.

There is another thread here asking how much you're willing to pay for tethering. Why have that thread either if the price AT&T decides upon will not be affected the least bit by our little online poll?

AT&T didn't start that thread. It's wishful thinking that gets these discussions going I'd imagine.

 

[ksz]

Of course there is competition, just not how you want it to be.

Yes, which is why the FCC is looking into the legality (or fairness) of "carrier exclusivity" agreements.

http://topnews.us/content/25602-sen...e-cellphone-maker-network-carrier-exclusivity

AT&T didn't start that thread. It's wishful thinking that gets these discussions going I'd imagine.

No, this is just the nature of discussion forums, and the topic is relevant because we're being our own focus group trying to determine what a fair market price (if any) might be for an option that will soon be presented to us.

 

[Arkanok]

To the OP, sure, paying for one admission at a disney park is only for one person, which I agree with, but here's something you didn't think of: you and most people who have internet at home have routers and wireless routers that basically split your one internet connection to as many other computers and devices (such as your iphone) as needed.

In your logic, you'd have to pay for a separate internet connection for EVERY computer, videogame system, and portable device you own.

So do I think AT&T is greedy for wanting to charge extra for tethering? Yes, I do. Unless they charge only an extra $5 a month to enable, that's ok. But if they charge $20 or whatever, then they're just greedy.

 

[samcraig]

Please don't assume to know what I have or haven't thought of.

There are several cable companies around the US who actually DO charge to have a router in your home - charging a premium for the ability to use the internet on more than the system connected.

And as it's been stated - portability is the key difference between home service and mobile service.

And what are you basing your $5 charge being not greedy vs greedy on. Do you know ATT's bottom line? How much it cost to maintain their infrastructure?

No - you're basing it on YOUR threshhold. And that's fine. If you don't want to sign up when and if tethering is offered - that's your decision.

 

[samcraig]

KSZ

You had a choice not to buy an iPhone is what the poster meant. You could buy any phone you want and be with any carrier you want.

Again - we all have choices. No one is forcing you to buy anything or sign anything.

 

[crisg]

There are several posts saying that they think ATT has no right to charge more for tethering because you pay for an unlimited data plan.

Let's make something (obvious to me) very clear

1. You pay for unlimited for the device you have registered with them. One device.

2. If you had two iphones, you'd be paying for 2 unlimited data plans. Two Devices = 2 Data plans

If 1 and 2 are true - you have to accept that allowing tethering is opening up more than your ONE device to their bandwidth for which they have EVERY right to charge additional fees for.

Again - you are paying to access the net on ONE device. Tethering allows other devices in ADDITION to your phone to access their network.

So... can we stop with all the complaining or implying that ATT has no right or it's stupid of them to charge extra?

Look at Disney for example. If I pay for an unlimited 1-day park hopper - that entitles ME to go on all the rides. I can't leave at 2pm and then give my ticket to someone else.

If I go to an all you can eat buffet, that doesn't entitle me to take food home, give their food away to other people in the restaurant or worse, go into the kitchen and help myself to whatever they have

...and no. I don't work for ATT nor do I think they are perfect.

You started a whole new thread to say something you could have said
in the actual tethering thread?

I want attention fail.

 

[Arkanok]

Please don't assume to know what I have or haven't thought of.

There are several cable companies around the US who actually DO charge to have a router in your home - charging a premium for the ability to use the internet on more than the system connected.

And as it's been stated - portability is the key difference between home service and mobile service.

And what are you basing your $5 charge being not greedy vs greedy on. Do you know ATT's bottom line? How much it cost to maintain their infrastructure?

No - you're basing it on YOUR threshhold. And that's fine. If you don't want to sign up when and if tethering is offered - that's your decision.

So you're saying it's ok for them to charge you $30 (let's say) for your data plan, plus another $30 (let's say) for the ability to tether with that existing data plan? So you're ok with spending $60 just for the ability to tether, plus whatever your voice/text plan costs you? Do you think they'd actually expect to have a lot of people actually signup for and use that service if they priced it that way? No, unless you're either a. rich or b. an idiot, paying that much for the ability to tether is ridiculous.

Anyways, I'm glad that I'm here in Canada because our providers for the iPhone (Rogers and Fido) both allow tethering under out existing data plan. I personally think that's the best way to do it. Mind you, we don't get unlimited data (I have 6gb) so if I'm stupid and use it way too much, I'm gonna go over the 6gb and my provider will get more money anyways. I think the problem is the fact that they offer "Unlimited" data, and most people means "Use it constantly!" Whereas me, since I don't have unlimited, I won't use it for just the heck of it and will only use it when it's necessary.

 

[samcraig]

the $30 tethering charge ISN'T unique to iPhone. ALL of the smartphones that can tether come with an additional charge. Same for other carriers here in the US. They all charge for tethering. Again - why are iphone users special? They're not. Not in the REAL WORLD.

As for your multiple choice question - I choose none of the above. If I needed to tether, I would happily pay what the rate was. When I needed international data I paid the $20 or so for the week I was overseas. I barely used my cell phone. But that's the charge IF I WANT THE CONVENIENCE.

If ATT offered a smaller plan I would have taken it. They don't. But I'm not going to post ad-infinitum on here and other message boards moaning and groaining that they're lowest international data plan is more than I would need.

 

[ksz]

KSZ

You had a choice not to buy an iPhone is what the poster meant. You could buy any phone you want and be with any carrier you want.

Again - we all have choices. No one is forcing you to buy anything or sign anything.

I understand, but buying the iPhone was a past decision. The decision we're talking about now is a future decision, and it hinges on the price (if any) that AT&T will charge for tethering. At the time I purchased the iPhone I did not know what the cost of tethering will be. None of us knew. And in fact none of us knows even now. There is no mention of a tethering price in the contract. Hence, the past decision to buy an iPhone is irrelevant to the future decision of paying for a tethering plan.

 

[dagomike]

Anyways, I'm glad that I'm here in Canada because our providers for the iPhone (Rogers and Fido) both allow tethering under out existing data plan. I personally think that's the best way to do it.

That's great and if ATT did that I'd be thrilled. But that wasn't the deal when I signed up so I'm not going to throw a fit about it. Also I understand that there is a finite resource at play. I'd rather pay extra for that and have my services work well.

 

[samcraig]

You bought the phone with no tethering

you got a phone that doesn't tether

so you're not "missing" anything

when att turns tethering on, they will offer it to you at whatever they decide to price it at. If you want to activate it, be prepared to pay for it. Or don't activate it. Your phone hasn't changed.

 

[DiamondMac]

You started a whole new thread to say something you could have said
in the actual tethering thread?

I want attention fail.

To be fair, we see that 10-15 times a day on here. I have just gotten used to it.

How many times can someone post a "My battery is low" thread?