How much would you be willing to pay for tethering?

[uberamd]

Anyways, I agree. I am willing to pay $0 for tethering. I already pay money for "unlimited" use of data/bandwidth, why should I have to pay more. I already give them $152 every month. Besides, AT&T rip us off for the SMS plans, which cost them no money. This seems to be legal though. With that said, I have no guilty conscience "stealing" tethering from them.

Welcome to the cellphone industry, my name is Steve and I will be walking you through the way cellphone companies operate:

• A cellphone company will charge you for data on the device
• The cost to tether your device with your computer is not included in a standard data package. It never is, no matter which cell provider you deal with. So thats the way the industry operates, AT&T is not evil.
• SMS messages cost similar rates across the industry. Thats how it works, AT&T is not evil.
• Verizon (and their network which was created by God himself apparently) charges $40/month for 250MB of computer data access. Thats right, $40 for 250MB, or 6.25MB/$1. Thus, a $1.00 song will run you about $1.60 after network fees.
• This concludes our tour of the wireless world. These are standards you will find across all carriers, but please continue to complain about being ripped off even though you agreed to the contract in writing.

 

[joro]

The city where I live actually has a free wifi connection in the downtown area and nearly every restaurant has a free network as well be it a fast-food or something more traditional. Accordingly, there are only a few times per month I would use it so I would be willing to pay anything under $10.

 

[-aggie-]

$0.00. I think they should offer it for free to make the iphone even more attractive, but that's just my opinion, and I'm sure AT&T won't do that.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

I would only want to tether if *all* of these conditions are met.

*I have my iPhone with me
*I have my laptop with me
*I am not at home
*I am not near free WiFi
*I am within a reliable 3G region
*I need to use laptop software

So how likely are those conditions? For me, not very. So rare,in fact, that paying a regular amount for the service would be nuts.

However, if an emergency came up, I would like to be able to use it. In an emergency it could be suddenly valuable.

So I'd argue that for most people, a monthly fee is not going to be very popular, but paying by the megabyte would be something I'd happily do in an emergency.

C.

These are pretty much my thoughts. I would love to be able to use it on occasion and wouldn't mind paying on a per-use basis.

 

[robindahlia789]

i would pay NOTHING!

 

[Carniphage]

These are pretty much my thoughts. I would love to be able to use it on occasion and wouldn't mind paying on a per-use basis.

I forgot one other condition.

* I am in my home country.

The main times I use a laptop, is when I am away from home, on business. And nine times out of ten that means overseas. So while tethering might be attractive, any data use while roaming is prohibitively expensive.

C.

 

[netslacker]

Exactly. I know full well I am not paying for tethering right now. They will charge more, and they should. Unlimited data on your computer? Verizon (yes, the beloved super-carrier) charges $40 for 250MB of transfer via computer. So $30 for unlimited on phone AND comptuer? You people are dreaming if you think that will happen.

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/06/19/rogers-allows-iphone-tethering-in-canada-for-no-extra-charge-unt/

 

[hchavarria]

I don't mind paying $30 a month as long as they don't cap my use. Other AT&T teathering plans replace your current data plan and cap at 5GB...there are months that I use about 4GB on my data card and if they were to cap then I would exceed with usage on the iPhone.

 

[ncsmith4]

0euros.

And that's is just how much it's here in Finland. All of our carriers allow tethering without any extra costs. Just buy a data plan and you're set.

America+many other country is so much behind us in these mobile network things

Exactly. Thank you. Unlimited data is unlimited data. No matter HOW you use it...

 

[uberamd]

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/06/19/rogers-allows-iphone-tethering-in-canada-for-no-extra-charge-unt/

Canada? Are they still around? Only kidding, but thats pretty cool. So you will have ~5 months of free tethering, then they will likely bill you. At least they are doing it free for a period.

And I noticed they don't offer unlimited iPhone data like AT&T, they cap the iPhone data at 6GB it seems. I suppose that is the difference here, there is an existing cap on the Rogers iPhone, where AT&T has 'unlimited', which obviously wouldn't translate over to the computer for free.

 

[QCassidy352]

Personally, I wouldn't pay anything for it because I don't even have a laptop anymore (except my dell from work, and they'll give me a 3G card if I need one for a few days). But if I did need tethering, I think $30/month would be fair.

The reason people feel entitled to this is because AT&T advertises its plan as "unlimited" data. It would be better if they just told you what the real (unoffical) cap is (rest assured, there is one) and then let you go up to that on your phone, computer, or a combination thereof.

 

[Hauss316]

i would never use it except here and there and I wouldn't pay a dime for it!

 

[samab]

0euros.

And that's is just how much it's here in Finland. All of our carriers allow tethering without any extra costs. Just buy a data plan and you're set.

America+many other country is so much behind us in these mobile network things

"Allow" is a big word --- what it probably means is that carriers have languages in their contracts forbidding tethering but they are not enforcing them at the moment.

There are plenty of people on T-Mobile USA who can tether with a $6 WAP plan.

 

[samcraig]

Exactly. Thank you. Unlimited data is unlimited data. No matter HOW you use it...

Wrong.

If you go to an all you can eat buffet - that doesn't mean you can take food home or give it to other customers. You are paying for a specific usage.

You are paying for data on your phone. Period. Not for your computer. Not for your playstation, psp, or whatever OTHER device.

Why is this SO hard for people to understand. Oh wait. I know. They DO understand. They just want something for free. And with moan like babies until they find other babies they can cry with.

 

[samab]

Canada? Are they still around? Only kidding, but thats pretty cool. So you will have ~5 months of free tethering, then they will likely bill you. At least they are doing it free for a period.

And I noticed they don't offer unlimited iPhone data like AT&T, they cap the iPhone data at 6GB it seems. I suppose that is the difference here, there is an existing cap on the Rogers iPhone, where AT&T has 'unlimited', which obviously wouldn't translate over to the computer for free.

AT&T has a 5 GB cap. Canada's Rogers's 6 GB cap is time-limited special --- also 3 year contract.

 

[crisg]

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

I pay $30 a month on top of my wireless bill just to have internet on my device. I am forced to pay this regardless of how ****** my service is (absolutely no bars near my home, or in the surrounding blocks) and I
was specifically told it would be UNLIMITED. I signed an agreement
for unlimited internet use on my device. My device will allow me to
share its internet connection with my laptop. I should be allowed to
do whatever the hell I want with that connection so long as I'm paying
what At&t determined it wanted to charge me for UNLIMITED access.
They provide the unlimited internet, I provide the money, case ****ing closed.

 

[uberamd]

AT&T has a 5 GB cap. Canada's Rogers's 6 GB cap is time-limited special --- also 3 year contract.

I am still waiting for proof that AT&T has a 5GB cap on iPhone data.

 

[samcraig]

I should be allowed to
do whatever the hell I want with that connection so long as I'm paying
what At&t determined it wanted to charge me for UNLIMITED access.
They provide the unlimited internet, I provide the money, case ****ing closed.

YOu must be fun at restaurants too.

I'll call the waaaambulance for you. Seriously. You are paying (as you, yourself said) for internet on your DEVICE. And ATT is providing THAT service. If you want more services, you'll have to pay.

Your phone can txt, but they charge for txting
Your phone can download apps, but you have to pay for them
Your phone can utilize international roaming but you have to pay for them
Your phone can use various voicemail options but you have to pay for them

Just because you're phone can do things, doesn't mean you're entitled to get them for free.

And heaven forbid ATT conducts themselves as a BUSINESS and wants to provide their stockholders with - I dunno... returns on their investments.

SHAME ON ATT! lol.... jeez

 

[-aggie-]

I am still waiting for proof that AT&T has a 5GB cap on iPhone data.

There is no proof. The threads going around that the iPhone in the U.S. with AT&T is not truly "unlimited" are wrong. The iPhone is unlimited; the threads are quoting part of the TOS that has nothing to do with the iPhone (i.e., aircards, or whatever they're called, that you plug into a laptop).

You gotta love the people who spread misinformation, huh!

 

[doubleatheman]

$10

 

[terp26]

You are just viewing the data on another device, it is still feeding into the phone. What is the difference? They should charge nothing for it and market it as such. The increase in market share from this would more than cover the costs of not charging.

 

[uberamd]

You are just viewing the data on another device, it is still feeding into the phone. What is the difference? They should charge nothing for it and market it as such. The increase in market share from this would more than cover the costs of not charging.

Its a matter of use. Its easier to pound the crap out of the network when you have a computer in front of you with online games, the ability to download anything, etc.

This spins into what I find hilarious. How many times a day do people complain about the AT&T network, and how there are data outages, data slowness, blah blah bah. So, those same people want free tethering, which will likely increase the strain on the network and possibly increase the network strain? Classic. If they do offer free tethering, let the "zomg the network is so slow" threads begin.

 

[chr1s60]

I wouldn't use tethering very often so I wouldn't pay more than $10 per month. I am thinking ATT will end up charging $40-70 for tethering total for tethering and unlimited data(this includes the current $30 charge). I am one of those users that would use tethering maybe once or twice a month instead of daily like some users.

 

[pmbooks]

I would only want to tether if *all* of these conditions are met.

*I have my iPhone with me
*I have my laptop with me
*I am not at home
*I am not near free WiFi
*I am within a reliable 3G region
*I need to use laptop software

C.

Why the need for tethering if you have your laptop and free WiFi??? (unless you have an older laptop sans airport card)

 

[FearNo1]

Zero, zilch, nadda, etc. If I get an iphone, I prob will jailbreak it.