Not all usage, only usage originating from their "hot spot" feature on the phone. They can track the data throughput from that service, then cut off the hot spot feature so you can't tether, but keep regular data on the phone as normal.
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T-Mobile to Restrict Unlimited Customers Using Up to 2,000 GB of Data Per Month
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Not all usage, only usage originating from their "hot spot" feature on the phone. They can track the data throughput from that service, then cut off the hot spot feature so you can't tether, but keep regular data on the phone as normal.
This may be news to you, but when tethering you are using phone data, as that is the device connected to the mobile network. What T-Mobile is really doing is blocking use of apps that consume massive amounts of data on your mobile phone. What that app does is irrelevant. What are they going to say next, that you can't connect your phone to an external display to watch movies as you can only use the screen on your phone?
Again, why would they do that? It's not unlimited tethering at that point like it is now. I'd rather have something than nothing.
No, because it's not the external display that's using the Internet access. Big difference.
Well it can't be called unlimited if one of the major features is NOT unlimited. They could call it the ALMOST UNLIMITED plan though.
They're a cellular company that sells unlimited data to use on your phone. Don't know why YOU assume everyone buys their service for their computers. Their are hundreds of millions of cellphone accounts in this country. Guess were the predominant amount of that data is used (hint, it's NOT on their computers).
But isn't that the point, that you guys are NOT supposed to get unlimited tethering like it is now? So the way to fix that on T-Mobile's part is to soft cap at 7GB, then maybe hard cap at 10GB, or 20GB. But they certainly can control their hot spot caps.
For me, it comes down to this. If you offer me unlimited data, don't tell me how I have to use my data, or how I can't use it. I can burn through 10GB of data on my phone with Netflix, YouTube, apps, etc. So how is that different than burning through 10GB of tethering data, when you only want me to have 7GB of tethering data per month? When you can give me a good answer on that, I'll agree with you.
It's not unlimited tethering now. It's never been unlimited tethering. You've always had to hack around their system to get unlimited tethering. All they're saying is that they're going to stop people from doing that.
Not really. I can easily see this becoming a problem when wireless displays become really big. People now stream most of their videos and TV shows, right? Since mobile devices are overtaking computers every day, it really won't be long until it becomes commonplace for people to project their phone display on a TV, which will then lead to people streaming hours of video from their phones to their TV.
My point is if carriers market their plans as unlimited data, they should not have these rules stating how you use the data on your phone. Whether it be to stream video to an external TV, downloading torrents on your phone, or using an app that lets you share that data with other devices.
So talk to us about Verizon's unlimited smartphone data plan, which didn't allow for tethering at all (years ago, when they actually sold it). You seem to be defending that one a lot. Talk about being told how you can't use your data.
I'm not defending any of these carriers. They are all crooks. I will fully admit that TMobile is the less crooked of all of them, and TMobile keeps the others honest. For the fact the carriers need to create a plan a week to keep us all confused and chasing something we will never get-- fair service-- I despise all of them.
You have a really skewed understanding of what is major. The majority people think tethering is what you do to a boat on a dock. Even those who do know that tethering is also a technical term, they probably couldn't explain what it is. I think less than 10% (and that's generous, probably less than 5%) use tethering at all. Not is not major, it is totally niche.
I think the "major features" of a plan today are texting and smartphone data - those are the things people actually compare and use a lot. When the major parts of the plan are unlimited, and indeed it is unlimited for the vast majority of people's actual expectation, calling it unlimited is fine.
Verizon has an unlimited data tethering add on, so for $60/mo you can get 100% unlimited data and unlimited tethering.
Plus, Verizon doesn't have these idiotic restrictions such as throttling high usage users, restricting use of mobile torrenting apps, etc.
If you don't think the ability to "tether" your connection to other devices is not major, then I guess we will agree to disagree. It's not just computers. My friend let's her son use her hotspot for his wifi only iPad. It's not all about geeks running around with computers who want access everywhere. For many, it may be cost effective to only buy wifi devices when you know you have a tethering option available at all times.
Just seems silly that you're nailing T-Mobile to the cross when they're the only major carrier that currently sells an unlimited smartphone data plan that even offers tethering. And for craps sake, the limit they put on the tethering is almost as much as the amount of data that whole FAMILY PLANS (!!) on AT&T and Verizon start with.
To me, the tethering is a perk of the plan.
Criticizing that the perk isn't unlimited, like the main plan, just seems ridiculous on your part.
I have this plan, read the contract, and discovered that "unlimited" is not the only word in it. There were lots of other words that offered more context and clarity than that single word. Also pretty sure that commercials and signs would be quite awful if they simply repeated the entire contract, so you have to expect some simplification.
Anyway, considering my experiences with other mobile providers (and ISPs) it is pretty generous. Mainly, I'm super happy that I don't have to worry about extra charges each month because I tethered more than my 7GB allotment. They still give you the data, just slower. And as far as the apps go, they are unlimited.
2TB in a month is nothing. You know how many porn vids are out there?
What are you talking about? It's unlimited on your phone. They stated tethering is limited to 7GB. The users found work-arounds to abuse this limit. Learn to read the article.
That's part of the problem. The word UNLIMITED is always up front, in big, bright print. The real words are in the TOS, which almost nobody reads. The same thing can be said of how they advertise their prices. By the time you get done paying for taxes and fees, the price they advertise is not the price you pay. I don't care how they market their products, as long as it is a true representation of what you actual will encounter. Same with cable. After you pay for set top boxes, modems, DVRs, fees, you are paying 25% more than what you thought.
Interesting. This is the first month that I hit 5 GBs (was warned prior to hitting 5GBs... not sure where this 7GBs is coming from) of Unlimited (between actual use and a bit of hotspot)... Usually have no issue since I have access to wifi, but I have been traveling a bit. They throttled me down to 64kbps... Had no idea there were work arounds
When I got the plan a few months ago their signs said 5GB tethering. For some reason they upgraded it and my bills each month now mention 7GB. I didn't complain. I'll keep an eye out though if I get a 5GB warning...
Indeed. Maybe my reactions aren't so strong anymore because after dealing with this for a couple decades I'm cynical and already expect extra charges, and so I do read the details. And in this case, I have to say T-Mobile hasn't surprised me with extra charges like everyone else did...
You have to already have an unlimited data plan, it's not offered to new customers.
Tethering using third party apps is the same as using an app on your phone that consumes a lot of data, and should be allowed as part of your unlimited data plan. Why should this not be allowed, but using apps to download torrents on your phone be allowed? Both are using your phones mobile data. What about streaming Netflix from your phone to an external display?
You can see how many loopholes carriers have in restricting our use of "unlimited" data.