I have an unlimited 3g media plan with cingular.. when I connect it via dialup modem to use the internet, am I still using my unlimited plan? Or am I getting charged =\
i'd check with your phone service provider but most have a "reasonable use" policy and will withdraw your "unlimited" offer if they think you're usage is unreasonably high. Streaming video or audio will probably make them unhappy. Check the details of your contract.
It's against the terms of service, but as long as you use the same settings as your plan (wap.cingular if it's MEdiaWorks or Smartphone Connect) you don't get charged. If you're supposed to be using wap.cingular and you use the (potentially) better isp.cingular you MAY get charged. If you PDA Connect or Laptop connect (the only one where 'tethering, as it's known, is acceptable in the terms of service) you can use isp.cingular or the lesser settings.
Haven't quite setup tethering on mine yet, but my wap.cingular service has been asstastic since I got the phone. Can't use mapping software like map4pda for crap because the data keeps timing out...
so im guessing its pretty easy for them to realize if youre tethering or not eh? what if youre just streaming really large video files with your pda?
Your plan is unlimited, but not-so-unlimited (refer to your Terms of Service). If they deem you to be abusing -- either on the handheld or via tethering -- they reserve the right to drop you...
Related
Hey guys.
I bought my XdaIIs almost a year ago, but have had no need to use the WiFi until quite recently. I'm with O2 on the 200 Plan (light user) and everything works fine with the phone, including the GRPS: apart from the WiFi. When the phone was sold to me I was told very clearly, and on multiple occasions, that if I can pick up a WiFi signal, and that it's free, then I can connect and browse for free. I don't have a WiFi connection at home, so it's only when out and about that I need to connect. However, when I tried this at a Coffee House that had free access I could only connect via one of two of O2's "Gateway Partners" and they wanted to charge me for this, which I find outrageous! Can someone confirm to me whether this is correct, as O2 told me that I have to be a "Business User" on a Business Plan to get free WiFi, and that the fact that the phone has WiFi doees not mean that they support it!
If the above is the case, is there anyway around this, such as unlocking the phone, or connecting via a completely different network? I just find it galling that O2 can mis-sell me the phone on the basis that I can connect via WiFi "anywhere and anytime for free" and then to be told that this isn't the case.
Thanks in advance.
Tron
Tron,
WiFi isn't free. It's usually provided by some operator (e.g. BT, The Cloud, T-Mobile, etc), and these guys want money for providing a service.
Generally you can create an account with them whilst you are in a WiFi Hotspot - and their charges vary. It's nowhere near as prevalent as GSM, so you'll find that not all of these operators have agreements between themselves; basically this means that you can use an operators account only with it's partners.
As for if "if you can see a wifi signal it's free" - it's not true. Not wishing to condone anything illegal, you can generally get away with it if there's no encryption on the access point; but it is illegal to use a signal that is not meant for you. The idea of unlocking your phone doesn't really apply in this case either - it's nothing to do with the network lock but the way the people who run the equipment choose to charge; remember the equipment for WiFi is completely separate from the Mobile GSM network you use when you call someone on your mobile.
As for the O2 WiFi network/partners, I've no idea about the pricing. But it does make sense that they would have a different tariff for those subscribing to their wifi service, like their Business Plan.
No doubt the salesperson over-played this a bit when selling it to you!
Hey Bal, thanks for the reply.
So, if I'm sitting in a Library, for arguements sake, and they have a completely free and open WiFi connection, how am I meant to connect? Surely O2 via "The Cloud" cannot charge me to use someone's network who are letting me use it for free: can they? Likewise, if I pop around your house and you let me use your connection, do I have to connect via one of O2's partners? That's what I'm trying to get at, I guess.
Thanks once again.
wifi is just like a normal network between computers you set up at home
you can let people from the outside hop on if you want
but you are to blame if they abuse your network connection though i guess
some places offer free wifi too some plane companys offer it in their planes
some trains offer it
7-11 offer it and so does mcdonals i believe
Rudegar is right of course, if it's free and you open your wireless lan manager you should see the network and be able to connect without a password.
This has nothing to do with the mobile operator you have a contract with.
It's the same as you bringing your laptop over to my place and plugging it into the wired lan - only difference being that there are no wires involved.
If you think of your wifi as just a way of "plugging into" a network rather than as part of your mobile it makes more sense.
I would suggest that you find somewhere with wifi access and have a play - you'll learn much more that way
well if the mobile operators wanted to they could offer it
and charge people for it of cause it would require them
to set up MANY hotspots and repeaters to service all their customers
Okay, cool. Thanks for all of the help guys. I guess I'll have to wander around an find a free WiFi spot (there are none that I know of anywhere near me).
Ross
or you could just get a wifi router for your internet connection for your normal computers should you have a such
and make your own hotspot
Ive just got the basic web & walk package and going to use it as a usb modem for my laptop, I spoke to t-mobile CS and they advised if i were to download files such as mp3 I would be charged per kb
does anyone use there verio ii as a modem and also downloads files from a p2p network such as limwire/emule or ftp, will i be charged for this?
Thanks
I would advise against using P2P over your WnW connection, mostly because they probably have filters set up to spot just this kind of usage (regardless of what portranges you use) and if you used BitTorrent or similar, your connection would be RUBBISH (as you'd be constantly running through a proxy).
I've downloaded stuff and used my WnW connection with its wireless modem though, and as it just uses the phone's data connection I doubt that your usage would be flagged if it was just regular web page surfing... How could they prove that you were using it through a computer then?
Using P2P through the wireless modem connection is just asking for trouble, it's (imo) abuse of already limited network infrastructure and it reduces the quality of service for all users, that's why if you want to be able to do that (officially, and within the terms of service) you have to pay more for the privilege.
Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear
Im going away over xmas and new year and was just wondering if i were to d/l the odd mp3 here and there, its not that I want to abuse the service just thought id ask here, before I had the W&W option I visited two websites and was charged £25
maybe it's different in your country but here in the Netherlands I can use torrent files just fine with my Vario II. I even installed WmTorrent on the device itself and get data rates of 80 KBps. Thats Kilo Bytes not bits
I'm on T-mobile with unlimited dataplan
Despite tmobile saying that the 5.99 restricted dataplan will not work on the Wizard even though I've had it working since the day I got the phone, I stumbled upon something that seems strange henceforth I think I'm missing something with this GPRS stuff:
Here is what I've found recently:
Use "tmobile web on wizard"
set proxy to 216.155.165.50 on port 8080
set T-mobile data to dial wap.voicestream.com
This will allow pretty much complete web browsing, except for FTP and Remote desktop.
I'm sure everyone on this form knows this by now.
Though I was playing around with the bluetooth modem/USB modem capabilities of the device.
In the connection settings for the number dialed you use *99# change a few setting in windows and then you have your GPRS connection on your PC. Change firefox to use 216.155.165.50:8080 for the proxy good to go.
Though friday I discovered something, the internet was down at my house and I needed get online, seeing that I know I can use my phone as a internet adaptor I paired the bluetooth and created a dialup connection using bluetooth number dialed *99#. I was on the web but this time it was different, I no longer had to put in the proxy into my browser, RDP worked, VNC works, it is like I had a full (somewhat slow) connection. No restrictions except FTP access.
I find this great, I can do pretty much everything I could normally but what is different? Did tmobile screw up?, is it using my minutes instead? Is there something about the networking when used as a modem I do not understand?
Though I am not able to replicate this level of non-restriction on my phone itself (which would be really nice), when is the other foot going to drop and I get really large phone bill from tmobile?
I don't think you're going to get hammered with a big data bill but those ports will not stay open forever. Check out threads in the t-mo forums on hofo from the last few days. Everyone had connection troubles and now it looks like the ports are closed again on the t-zones apn. Prior to this I was able to tether, stream, run bit-torrent(slowly), d/l large files, etc. Now everyone is reporting, myself included, that we HAVE to use the proxy again and the ports are closed up now. Some people, mostly east coast, are reporting no problems yet. But from Cali to Illinois it looks like the free ride is over. And I'm finding it hard to open my wallet and fork out $20/mo for what I was paying $6/mo for last week. Especially when seeing my bro down the hall from me paying Cingular $30/mo and getting 900+kbps down and 384 kbps up. Speeds are way down on the t-zones apn now too. Have been getting 190-220kbps now getting around 70, if I'm lucky. Way to go T-Mo, I stab at thy heart.
I'm really pissed now because I used to be able to access Citrix through the proxy but it is not letting me anymore.
Does Using the Internet Sharing Feature on the new 8525 ROM cause more charges if I have media works and unlimited internet or is that teathering?
If you tether on Media Net they will charge you for it, you are supposed to have the PDA connect plan. I heard of people getting away with it if you are just checking e-mails and such, but heavy usage is supposedly detected.
Others have also reported anything to being charged overages to just having been switched to the PDA Connect.
Owycx said:
If you tether on Media Net they will charge you for it, you are supposed to have the PDA connect plan. I heard of people getting away with it if you are just checking e-mails and such, but heavy usage is supposedly detected.
Others have also reported anything to being charged overages to just having been switched to the PDA Connect.
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Sorry, you are wrong, a little. While tethering is against the Terms of Service with ALL plans except the Laptop Connect Plan, it works fine AND I have NEVER been charged in almost two years. While I agree I dont tether as I use a home DSL line, I still use my share of data. Actually I use much more data without tethering, but with a PDA that happens.
@ wpbear:
Are you just using the Media Max plan then? Might as well save myself 20 bucks a month.
Thanks for the correction
All I know is that using SlingPlayer Mobile takes the same bandwidth whether I tether it or run it on my Dopod (which is to say a lot of data gets downloaded either way).
Definitely go with the MediaMax or Smartphone Connect plan. MediaMax 200 bundle will get you 200 text messages, Smartphone Connect will get you the XpressMail push e-mail. Both are $19.99 for unlimited internet.
(I have the MediaMax 200 bundle)
Anyone agree that its safe to assume if I setup my own private vpn at home I can vpn through that as an encrypted session which will stop att from snooping my data, then in turn if I vpn first then run a hotspot they'd be none the wiser?
Screwbal said:
Anyone agree that its safe to assume if I setup my own private vpn at home I can vpn through that as an encrypted session which will stop att from snooping my data, then in turn if I vpn first then run a hotspot they'd be none the wiser?
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Click to collapse
I would say a resounding NO. They don't care if your data is encrypted or not, VPN will do absolutely nothing to mask the amount of packet data your device is sending/receiving. You most likely don't have unlimited data (if you did before) and will probably be charged per gigabyte if you go over your monthly allowance.
From my understanding, carriers really cant stop you from tethering without a "tethering plan" once your device is rooted. I believe that's why most carriers got rid of unlimited data and moved to the tiered data plans. If you happen to somehow still have unlimited data and generate a lot of bandwidth, once they realize that your using an absurd amount of data without a tethering plan, they will hit you hard with overage charges. I think Verizon charges per kilobyte, not sure about AT&T.
I still have unlimited LTE data with AT&T but know if I hit 5GB in a month they throttle the hell out of me since I've hit it before. The reason I ask is if/when I'd ever use it then it would be more for a light connection like say if the GF wants to use the ipad in the car on a road trip. Or if I get some on call issue for work where I need a connection for my laptop on the go but not as a replacement for any large data transfers.
I just thought part of how the carriers tell that people are tethering would be say if you have an android phone and they start to notice traffic from your device to say Windows Update or the ITunes store and hence the VPN encryption if used day to day would mask any calls later that would be tethering related.
They can't tell if you're tethering plain and simple.
Your phone is sending and receiving the packets so thats all they see, if an app or your phone broadcasts those packets it doesn't matter as your phone is the connection point.
At the end of the day your phone is asking to go to youtube.com if it gives youtube to your iPad all you carrier see is that your phone wants youtube, not why.
The safest way to tether is to always use a VPN on the client that your tethered to your hotspot with. There are some great super cheap VPNs out there that have great bandwidth and good security.
Carriers can definitely tell if you're tethering - this isn't rocket science when you're using packet capturing tools. If you're constantly going to websites with a desktop browser they can see from the browser stats that it's a desktop vs mobile.
The other method is perhaps capturing the mac address off the packet isn't from a mobile-branded device. Since the phone hotspot is NAT'ing all the traffic from your own little private lan to the outside public addressing it *should* only contain the phone's IP and MAC, but depending on the packets it could also contain information from a device within the private lan (mac addresses). I have never tested this but in theory it's possible.
It's one thing to tether a tablet or another phone, most likely seems you would probably not get caught doing that.. but still possible. Tethering your desktop/laptop.. yea you'll get caught.
Like I said, use a VPN and you most likely won't be caught.
I think no need to. ived been tethering since 2010 using rooted phone(or non rooted using foxfi) and my 3gb data plan limit is the same. no notice from att that they detected that I am tethering and sometimes I over 2gb so I pay extra 20 bucks though
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
Yes so I have changed cell phones from an LG K425 piece of garbage to a Motorola Razer 2 phone but now I am getting notices that I have gone over my 10 gigs a month hot spot which I haven't EVER gotten in the past almost 2 years or more of service. Guessing the Razer 2 has somehow reported this usage whereas the old LG didn't? Any suggestions or comments about what to do about this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.