Communication costs started getting out of hand when pay phones went from $0.10 per call to $0.25 per call. Its been down hill ever since with these companies.
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Verizon iPhone Wireless Hotspot to Cost an Additional $20/Month
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This is what I just addressed above...it leads me to believe that there's going to be a cap on their "unlimited" data. As the phone probably isn't going to distinguish "phone" data from "tethered" (i.e. Hot Spot) data, the only way to keep people from using truly unlimited data to tether anyway is to cap it...unless the Hot Spot app/setting (whatever it is) connects to the network through a different APN that they can monitor.
I feel for you americans. Stupid dumb a** companies, why pay more? its a joke, there is no need.
Here in estonia we had tethering on the iphone long before the US lol. My iphone plan includes 15gb of usage every month. They could not care less if i used a 100 devices to use my phones internet, 15gb is 15gb lol.
Shocking.
And one more thing, why is it legal for companies to offer UNLIMITED internet when its actually LIMITED???? Its like saying yes means no.
Here in estonia we had tethering on the iphone long before the US lol. My iphone plan includes 15gb of usage every month. They could not care less if i used a 100 devices to use my phones internet, 15gb is 15gb lol.
Shocking.
And one more thing, why is it legal for companies to offer UNLIMITED internet when its actually LIMITED???? Its like saying yes means no.
Although you're correct in the respect of the 'extra 2 gig' That could also be included in an upgraded phone package.
The service is being provided by the phone. You're not paying for the 2 gig, you're paying for a service that is being provided by your phone, with an extra 2 gig allowance to back it up.
Does that make sense? Or are we going to debate semantics all day.
People expected this to be free?
It is free for Palm devices, so people were hoping for something similar.
Also, remember the 2 GB is for the tethered devices, as they don't get the benefit of the unlimited data.
TEG
There is no need for MyWi anymore. Since the Hotspot feature will be part of the iPhone OS, all you need is a CommCenter hack to enable it.
You'll have Unlimited data when using the phone itself, but will be limited to 2Gb of data use when tethering devices. This is unlike AT&T, where you have 2GB of total data and tethering subtracts from that same pool of data. And on AT&T, you can't have both Unlimited data and tethering - you have to switch to the tiered plans to get tethering.
So in that respect, Verizon's deal is much better than AT&T's (at least right now):
- On Verizon, you have Unlimited data on the phone and 2GB for tethering up to 5 devices.
- On AT&T, you have 2GB of total data that can be used on the phone or with a single tethered device. Of course, when iOS 4.3 is released, the AT&T will have the hotspot capability as well, so we'll see if AT&T implements it and if the terms change.
As it stands, I really don't know whether to get the Verizon or the AT&T iPhone. Either way, there are tradeoffs:
- No more Unlimited plan on AT&T if you are not grandfathered
- No simultaneous voice and data on Verizon
- AT&T has faster 3G, but less consistent coverage
- Verizon has the better tethering option, but AT&T may change when iOS 4.3 is released
- We don't really know how Verizon's network will handle the additional traffic from iPhone
These are things I am still contemplating before deciding on which carrier to go with... In my area, both networks are pretty decent, but AT&T is clearly faster.
Yes... same price. $20 per-month for 2GB.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobilebroadband/?page=products_connect
The iPhone plan is unlimited data for $30.
The mobile hotspot plan is 2 GB of data for an additional $20 that is separate from your unlimited data plan. When you are using the mobile hotspot, you are using data from the limited mobile hotspot data pool, instead of using data from the unlimited pool.
In other words, when you are using your iPhone without the mobile hotspot you have unlimited data. When you are using the mobile hotspot feature, you have 2 GB of data, and overage charges ($20/GB) will apply if you exceed that. The 2 GB is a limitation, not a benefit.
This isn't tethering though. Tethering is you using your connection on another device, not simultaneously sharing a connection with other people.
Every carrier charges more for this feature on every platform. Sprint charges $29.99 for 4G hotspot on top of your plan, but their 4G data is unlimited, not capped so it probably is a much better deal. Why even have a hotspot feature to share your connection if it's just going to suck away your "not really unlimited data plan?" Oh, yeah, so the carrier can charge you for going over and make money. Right. Right.
I don't think this is really useful for most people. I'm curious to see how Verizon will price LTE plans. If they went the route Sprint did that would be VERY useful and cost effective.
Every carrier charges more for this feature on every platform. Sprint charges $29.99 for 4G hotspot on top of your plan, but their 4G data is unlimited, not capped so it probably is a much better deal. Why even have a hotspot feature to share your connection if it's just going to suck away your "not really unlimited data plan?" Oh, yeah, so the carrier can charge you for going over and make money. Right. Right.
I don't think this is really useful for most people. I'm curious to see how Verizon will price LTE plans. If they went the route Sprint did that would be VERY useful and cost effective.
So if you have a family plan with 2 iPhones - that'd be $40 extra for hotspot? Ouch, kinda. And does anyone know yet how the texting plan fits in?
Looks like the cheapest family plan (2 lines, 700 minutes) with unlimited texting is:
Family SharePlan® Nationwide Talk & Text 700
$99.99
Unlimited data, $30 per line
$60
Mobile hotspot, $20 per line
$40
Total: $200.
Looks like the cheapest family plan (2 lines, 700 minutes) with unlimited texting is:
Family SharePlan® Nationwide Talk & Text 700
$99.99
Unlimited data, $30 per line
$60
Mobile hotspot, $20 per line
$40
Total: $200.
This is exactly the same for all devices. This isn't news. Tethering of any sort has always been $20 for 2GB transfer.
