real web browsing at 3G speeds - Touch CDMA General

As in the title from what I have been told that if you have a flash phone and if they put in your account that you have Motorola Evoke QA4 and the and the extra 15 to get the real web without blocking all the other ports so you can get exchange e-mail or IM can anyone tell me if this is true?

Related

T-Mobile Free GPRS problem

as of right now i cant get anything on the t-mobile free wap/gprs: cant load webpages and cant use AIM
anyone else get the same problem? thanx
Hi,
I've got exactly the same problem... stopped working about 4 days ago... tried everything... even a hard reset of my MDAIII... nothing did it... it does connect to GPRS, but then it doesn't do anything... the connection is established, it's not that the APN doesn't work or anything... it's just that no data comes through... any suggestions?
Treo
Same Issue
I'm having this problem with the wap.voicestream.com gateway on T-Mobile aswell. I contacted the Tmobile techs yesterday and they claim that there never has been (right) and never will be access to wap services over the XDA. The supposedly 'reset' my data connection, but this has no effect whatsoever on my ability to access the internet. Could T-Mobile finally do away with our free data (or in my case 4.99 for tzones)
Any further suggestions would be greatly helpful.
Best,
Matt
I just called t-mobile...
I just called t-mobile because I am having the same problem. The rep says that they finally closed the wap.voicestream.com loophole this past week and that's why it's not working. He said the only way I can get internet, e-mail, AIM etc.. is by paying the $19.99/month internet plan which is outrageous. So hopefully someone has suggestions on what to do...Is there a way to get access wth internet2.voicestream.com without paying the $19.99.
The rep was nice and said that wap.voicestream.com might still work with a wapbrowser.
I'll see if that works but either way say goodbye to your wireless XDA's!!!
Hi,
well, that's good and bad news... did he say whether the 19.99 add on is GPRS or not?... and which option is it exactly... I am willing to pay the extra bucks, but I want GPRS with a reasonable speed for that...
Ya- the internet2.voicestream.com is GPRS not so fast in my opinion- you really think it's worth $20 a month?
i'm not sure which server is which, but i use wap.voicestream.com with $4.99 t-zones and get wap speed but access to just about the entire web. the connection is way slow (do a search here for "test gprs speed" to compare my speed to others) but i don't care because i'm not a heavy user. also, i have to pay extra for any messaging that i do. i burnt agile messanger into my rom, and use it for aim occassionally; i pay $.05 for every message. unlimited email is included, but you have to use the my tmobile email bs. it's not bad, and email turnaround is usually 30 min. they will not allow me to have the $20 addon for gprs because of my credit class. i recently quite one of my jobs, selling cell phones, and can tell you that for $19.99 you get unlimited gprs everything, including IM. typical speed is 56kbps, although the network will support up to 114kbps (actual speed depends on signal strength, network traffic, blah, blah). Note that roaming is not inluded, so if you went to say NC, you will incur additional charges. anyway, post or pm me if you want to know more.
i'll screw around with different access points when i have time...
Wow- thsnks for the tips-
I installed a WAP browser last night and was able to access wap sites but I didn't even think of trying real sites until I read your post- and they work!! The speed is the same as before but I don't understand why these sites work on a WAP browser but not on IE.
Can you explain further on how to get e-mail with wap.voicestream.com. Before they closed the access I was able to just send and recieve using my POP-3 account. How can I do that now?
And for IM I used to use AIM for pocket PC using prt 80 but that has also stopped working.
I will try agile messenger when I get home- but why would that work and AIM not?
Also, I don't know why you pay $4.99 for t-zones when you can get the wap.voicestream.com access without it. I called t-mobile last night and they said that t-zones have nothing to do wth a pocket pc at all and from my experience they are right. i have been using wap.voicestream.com for months now without t-zones.
Thanks,
Daniel
what the hell is happening ? I am on my XDA right now using IE with wap.voicestream.com . AIM and my email works. Hopefully it's back up and this isn;t just a tease.
Hi,
no such luck here... I still don't get anything through wap.voicestream.com ... even though I even signed up for unlimited t-zones now... the 4.99 one... just to see whether that would get me anything... but no... not even wap sites work...
Even stranger... trying internet2.voicestream.com gets me the "Modem disconnected" crap, but actually, for a second or so, it works, loading parts of pages... any idea?
Treo
In order to use the email setup that I have, you have to have T-zones. Basicly, you go to "my tmobile" at tmobile.com, and click on my email. put in the info and it will send your phone program call that sets it up automaticly, or you can put it in manually. If you have the developer SE rom, it won't work, becuase they removed the programs that allow your carrier to program your phone. Also, I think "my email" only appears on "my tmobile" if you sign up for tzones. You tell thier server your emial info ,it checks your mail, and then forwards a copy to your phone...
As far as why stuff won't work......
OK. the way it used to work...
You could put in the server, blah, blah, blah..... and get just about free everything.
BUT THEN.....
T-Mobile started gearing up for T-zones. A new concept where they make money off of people accessing the internet through wireless devices. Makes sense. BUT this is a VERY LARGE and INTRICATE network of computers LANS and WANS not to mention GPRS connections. SO, T-zones is implemented across the network, hurridly, so not everything is 100%. Some geographic areas still allow unauthorized (free) access, becuase not all the equipment is set up correctly. On top of that, if your device confuses the network, you might sitll get free access. Some devices do, some don't. IF you sign up for T-zones with win 2003 and set up wap.voicestream.com as the access point using GPRS/Cellular, then you should be able to go to PIE, put in an address, and it will fire up WAP or WWW. Some wallabies/himilayas just won't do it (radio and rom ver???)(to the best of my knowledge). It is what I have been using for quite some time and it's what I'm using right now.Right now I still have WWW access, but not IM (agile will not sign on anymore (aim)).
I also happen to know that they are performing MAJOR system wide maintainance right now in geographical blocks. I had a problem and called cust care, and then asked my T-Mo rep about it. Sure enough, they are updateing alot of equipment. So this might explain why my AIM is out.
Ports are only unlocked when the system unlocks them (IE you paid for access) or somehow those ports were just never locked on your account (IE your lucky).
Short of the long.... in VA (where I am) I have access with what I have setup. In other parts of th country, it might not work.
If you just buy hte GPRS package, then stop screwing around with us, call customer care, and keep reaming new a$$holes in customer service reps, until you get what you want.
Do a search for "free unlimited GPRS" find all words. About 2/3 down the page, someone announces that it only works with 2003. That's where I set up my connection from. I don't specify anything but wap.voicestream.com.
Anyway.....I'm very busy, but will try to check back tommorrow.
On my MDA II, Agile doesnt connect through APN=WAP gprs. In their manual, they say it should connect!
I'd like to upload pictures from my device. My provider is Orange NL
I want to use APN=WAP, because it is free.
any idea?
Hi,
well... I've been quite on an adventure with T-Mobile GPRS... I purchased their 4.99 unlimited t-zones add-on after my free GPRS didn't work anymore... couple days later I was back online with wap.voicestream.com ... now, about 5 days ago, internet stops working again... no http... but my email still works... so, I figure they are blocking port 80 for some reason... to test that I was going to start a proxy server on one of my webservers... to see whether I can tunnel http through one of the open mail ports... what do you think about this... do other people have the same issues?
Treo
I had no problem sending HTTP thru port 110 to Squid running on my server.
Check this out too:
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=517786
Looks like that person is using T-Mobile's proxy server to surf both HTTP and WAP.
I just got of the phone with Cus Care. EXCELENT. I actually got someone who owns a wallaby, and cooks his own roms. This is much different from the normal pageturner I end up haveing to deal with!
Anyway, the damn 6315 required the network to be revamped, and the bastards ended up cutting out tzones for wallabies. :evil: now it's $20 unlimited GPRS or nothing.... dirty bastards.
I got the Tmobile WAP working again!
I have the 4.99 tzones. Mail always worked. The web stopped working earlier this month.
I installed NetFront 3.1 and use 216.155.165.50 port 8080 in the proxy settings. Works like a charm. NetFront is cool too. Beats the stew out of Pocket IE.
Does anyone know how to remove Pocket IE...I could really use the room.
GPRS IE Now Working on T-Mobile
I have an XDA II running 1.72.181 and using the Blackberry mail with internet and voice plans on T-Mobile. My internet also stopped working a week or so ago. T-Mobile unable to help because "XDA is not supported device..." :evil: I believe my problem stems from the same network changes that are mentioned above related to HP PPC.
Anyhow, based on Fuzzie's post and info, I set a new wap.voicestream.com connection up under My Work Settings, set up the proxy based on fuzzie's IP info and, hey presto!, internet browsing restored!! Have to stop the blackberry client and connect using the My Work connection BEFORE launching IE, but small price to pay to get my internet connection back!!
Thanks to all for the leads and data!!
Regards
Chris
Were you on an Internet plan or a t-zones plan?
Actually on a Blackberry Minutes and mail plan, using the Blackberry APN or the wap,voicestream.com APN for browsing. Both stopped working a week or so back. Then I read this thread and am now back up browsing using the wap.voicestream APM via the proxy
SO,
is there anyway to use PIE and Tzones to browse the web, or would I have to install some other wap browser???
Which settings would one use if he were using PIE?
Thanks in advance!
and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

ATT 8525 and ATT 8925 Email problems

The company I work for recently (3 months ago) bought 3 ATT 8525's for people who travel. All 3 of the phones have this issue where when they go into their power save mode, and they will not send or receive Email or produce notifications about new email. It appears to me that when the phones go into this power save mode they turn off the wireless card in the phone. I have made every effort to figure this out myself but I finally broke down and called ATT who then transfered me to HTC. HTC told me that this is a bug in the phone and that they do not have a solution for it other than trying Windows Mobile 6. However, since ATT has not released WM6 for the 8525, and I don't feel like bricking a phone, the company decided to go ahead and buy the ATT 8925, hopping that the new phone wouldn't have this problem. Unfortunately it dose.
So getting down to my question. Does anyone know how to get these phones to send and receive Email, through WIFI and not the cell network, when they are in their power save mode?
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Oh and BTW, after toying around with the 8925 I do have to say that the new features included in the phone are quite nice, hate the chrome though.
Thanks
Via WiFi? No. You wouldn't like the battery life if it did.
Battery life
I don't really care about that right now. I'm just looking for a solution to the problem i am currently having.
Could be connected to this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=332362
you need to disable the at&t proxie to use wifi to send mail/etc
To have the wifi alwayz on even in standby is not wise, you batter will die fast ......
I have no issues using Active sync with exchange 2007 i get emails even when in power save maybe you should get some exchange accounts
pwnage said:
I don't really care about that right now. I'm just looking for a solution to the problem i am currently having.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't understand the gravity of what he told you. The battery life would literally be 2-3 hours.
Manually pressing the power button and tapping 'check for new messages' is a much better solution than being completely unable to access email for 3/4 of the workday because the battery has died.
Think about it.
Also, on your install CD, you'll find some AT&T software to push email to the phone automatically, waking up the phone using SMS. And, as other people have suggested, these phones were designed with Microsoft Exchange in mind and setting up an Exchange server would also help your problem.
Thank you for the replies.
Dose the "push" feature work with non exchange email servers. The only reason I ask is because we don't have an exchange server.
ringy2 said:
Could be connected to this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=332362
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I took a look at this and it seems to describe the problem i have very well. In regards to the battery life, is there a way to have the WIFI turn on when its time to check mail and then turn off after its finished? I would really like these phones to be using WIFI most of the time even though we have an unlimited data plan, WIFI just seems to be faster.
pwnage said:
Dose the "push" feature work with non exchange email servers. The only reason I ask is because we don't have an exchange server.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try www.emoze.com
ringy2 thank you. I'll take a look at that.
You know I have been working off of the thread linked above and I have gotten the phone to the point where it seems to be checking our mail server over GPRS/3G (I have turned the WIFI antenna off). The problem now is that the when it goes to check messages it won't DL any new ones that may be on the server. Any ideas?
Do you not have unlimited data with at&t? If you do then there is absolutely no reason not to leave wifi off and just use that for email. As for checking emails and not getting anything new. You need to adjust the settings for your account.
surrept, Yes we have an unlimited data plan and at this point i have given up on getting the phone to check via WIFI. As for the settings, what are you refering to? I have the account setup and i have configured it exactly how it is supposed to be. i have it DLing full copies of messages w/ no attachments, and it is set to check mail every 5 min (will change this back to 15 once i have finished testing).
Um, BTW - AT&T did release WM6 for the 8525... VERY much worth it. However, I'm still going for a 8925 for the doubled RAM/ROM & GPS...
I highly doubt that. Again i have looked in every deep dark place that the internet has and haven't found any WM6 ROM that I can DL from ATT site. you are probably referring to the "official" ATT ROM that i have seen floating around. Im not going to put that on these phones because, one I work for a descent size company and I don't want to be breaking any law and such on there behalf. Two I don't feel like bricking any of these phones. I want the warranty to be valid on them. If it was my personal phone i might try it. but since these are the companies phones it ain't gonna happen.

T-Mobile Tech Support Really Sucks...

Man I really hate T-Mobile's tech support. I called them to ask a simple question:
If I cancel my Total Internet Package which is just 20$ more on by phone bill that I don't really need to be spending, will I be charged for using the WIFI on my phone when I am at home?
I have Comcast cable internet at home and can pick up the router's signal with my MDA even with the sim card out and browse the internet.
They turned around and told me that I would be charged per Kb if I canceled my Total Internet Package and then used my WIFI to pick up my home internet service.
By the way this was T-Mobile's Windows Mobile Department that told me this...
-------------------------------------------
Ok now I have 2 questions for all of you.
Is what T-mobile told me true?
Is there a cheaper way to get unlimited GPRS internet than T-Mobile's $19.99 Total Internet package?
The only time I use my GPRS is to update WeatherPanel and when I am using the OZ Instant Messenger. All other time I spend on the internet is with WIFI turned on and GPRS turned off.
Please, all help will be greatly appreciated and well received.
Thanks in advance, your friendly neighborhood computer geek, Dan.
Well I hope I can help answer your question somewhat.
I do not pay for the GPRS service through Tmobile, I try not to use it at all. If I pull data through it then I am charged. But if i use a wifi hotspot then Tmobile will not charge me. In truth they should have no way of telling if and when I use a WiFi connection. The reason the rep told you this was really a twisting of the truth. He can probably get away with telling you this because it will cut your access to Tmobile HotSpots which you get access to with the data plan. Sneaky sneaky bastards, you should post this little tale on http://consumerist.com/ .
To answer the second if Tmobile is your carrier then NO I dont believe you can get GPRS data from another carrier. Unless your phone is sim unlocked and you choose to use another carrier to get your data through, but this will need you to switch sims out. Either way your gonna pay for it. I would hold out till 1-2 quarter of 2008 Tmobile will start its HSDPA role out, providing upwards of 3Mbps for data. Of course you will need a phone capable of HSDPA, but such is life.
If I am uninformed of another method maybe someone here will be so kind as to enlighten us.
ritalin said:
Well I hope I can help answer your question somewhat.
I do not pay for the GPRS service through Tmobile, I try not to use it at all. If I pull data through it then I am charged. But if i use a wifi hotspot then Tmobile will not charge me. In truth they should have no way of telling if and when I use a WiFi connection. The reason the rep told you this was really a twisting of the truth. He can probably get away with telling you this because it will cut your access to Tmobile HotSpots which you get access to with the data plan. Sneaky sneaky bastards, you should post this little tale on http://consumerist.com/ .
To answer the second if Tmobile is your carrier then NO I dont believe you can get GPRS data from another carrier. Unless your phone is sim unlocked and you choose to use another carrier to get your data through, but this will need you to switch sims out. Either way your gonna pay for it. I would hold out till 1-2 quarter of 2008 Tmobile will start its HSDPA role out, providing upwards of 3Mbps for data. Of course you will need a phone capable of HSDPA, but such is life.
If I am uninformed of another method maybe someone here will be so kind as to enlighten us.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I figured T-Mobile was full of S**T... I know I can access the internet via WIFI even without a sim card in the device. I only use it at home or in hospitals anyway. Like I said though, the GPRS for me, is just for WeatherPanel. That's why I am trying to find a cheaper way...
Thank you for your help though. Not the answer I was hoping for but very grateful non the less.
Dan.
You won't get charged for using wifi. If weather panel is all you really use GPRS for then go to the 5.99 plan. That's what I use and have no problem using weather panel or even browsing the web. The other day I even streamed video over it, although GPRS is way too slow to be any use for that but I wanted to see if it worked. The only apps that I know of that do have problems are mostly IM apps since they have most of the ports that those programs use blocked on the 5.99 plan.
Just realized that you said that you use OZ IM, I'm not sure if that will work or not, I can't seem to get it to work with WM6.
You will not be charged per kilobyte, whoever told you that was either new or retarded. The only difference you will see is that your instant messaging will go thru text messages instead of wifi, charging you per message, to log in, to log out, etc. That's due to the way the OZ instant messaging is written. The 5.99 has been working for a lot of people, but it was a glitch in the system that is slowly being fixed market by market, so don't get upset if it doesn't work for you or if it suddenly stops working, as it was never meant to work. If you connect thru wifi, you won't pay anything as it's your connection thru wifi to your phone's wifi, and the T-Mobile network is nowhere in the mix. Again, the Instant Messaging will be billed as text messages.
johnny12times said:
You will not be charged per kilobyte, whoever told you that was either new or retarded. The only difference you will see is that your instant messaging will go thru text messages instead of wifi, charging you per message, to log in, to log out, etc. That's due to the way the OZ instant messaging is written. The 5.99 has been working for a lot of people, but it was a glitch in the system that is slowly being fixed market by market, so don't get upset if it doesn't work for you or if it suddenly stops working, as it was never meant to work. If you connect thru wifi, you won't pay anything as it's your connection thru wifi to your phone's wifi, and the T-Mobile network is nowhere in the mix. Again, the Instant Messaging will be billed as text messages.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is really good to know. Can you tell me or direct me to a thread that explains the real difference between the 5.99 plan and the 19.99 Total Internet Package?
i don't know about the question you had, but I've had the other extreme as far as Tmo's customer support/tech support... always been great to me. Even after 2 refurbs.
Whoever told you that you'd be charged using Wi-Fi was either full of it or was ASSUMING you would then be accessing T-Mo services...why would you? Just use whatever service you use from home.
I use my MDA with Wi-Fi in my house ALL the time and it has NOTHING to do with T-Mobile. It's not EDGE/GPRS--it's a totally different technology, just like hooking your wireless laptop up to your home router.
Furthermore, you can use the Wi-Fi with T-Mobile Hot Spots if you have that subscription with ANY Wi-Fi computer you have--no reason to have more than one Hot Spot account--many hotels now have it, not just Starbucks.
T-Mobile NOW forces you to pay for Hot Spots with Internet Service as a bundle but they are different technologies.
The Internet Service is EDGE/GPRS and that is a CELLULAR service and is programmed into your SIM chip. I use that too. My MDA can hook into eMail and web sites without a Wi-Fi connection via the cell modem. But it's not nearly as fast.
I actually have 2 SIM chips with this service--I got one for my old IPAQ6315, but that's in the MDA. The one in the MDA is in my notebook computer--it has a Cingular Sony Ericsson cellular modem that I got the unlock code for, and put the chip from the MDA in there--I ALSO can use my notebook with EDGE/GPRS, or Wi-Fi (or even RJ45) connections.
I have the eMail for my regular eMail routed to my MDA--no messing with another address. So it's working a lot like a Blackberry as well.
Finally, you asked if there's a cheaper alternative: There is. It's called "T-Zones" and it's T-Mo's WAP service, for $6 or $7/month. It gives you the limited access you get on cell phones, and you already have it with the fancier internet access--click on T-Zones and you'll see it.
Generally, with T-Mo, service is a waste of time till you get to Level 2. But if you get to Level 3, then you get the techs that really know their business. The PDA support can be similar. But you got to jump through a lot of hoops to reach that level and that can take 30-45 minutes on the phone. Be persistent.
dharvey4651 said:
That is really good to know. Can you tell me or direct me to a thread that explains the real difference between the 5.99 plan and the 19.99 Total Internet Package?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the 19.99 plan gives you your actual connection to the GPRS/EDGE(and in 4 test markets 3G! T-Mobile bought a whole lot of 3g network up recently.) network (internet2.voicestream.com), by connecting thru this route you are given access to the ports required to get to full websites, as well as email servers, etc.
the 5.99 plan is your basic wap access, t-zones and other wap sites. It's what is used by motorola's, samsungs, basic phones. Gives you access to your account information from T-Mobile's wap sites (but not on an mda running less than wm6 and having had the tzones applett installed), accuweather's website, and other wap websites. By connecting thru the wap APN, you are directed thru a filter that doesn't allow you full access to normal websites.
Now, T-Mobile has a glitch in their system where every now and then you get 5.99 internet and your number isn't put into the filter, so the ports that were supposed to be closed off to you never were, and you can browse and email just as if you had the 19.99 feature. The only problem? They know of the glitch and are closing it market by market, which has been taking the better part of 7 months now, but it's not that far from being finished.
Almost all programs you have installed on the mda that are third party will default to what ever internet connection is available, however, the OZ instant messaging program from the MDA and almost all other T-Mobile PDA's is written specifically to use the SMS (short message system) as the next backup if you aren't connected thru the internet2.voicestream.com, or blackberry.net apn if you are using a blackberry, so if you are connected thru wifi, then you will be charged text for each message.
Hope this helps, if not, let me know.
Johnny

Help: Would AT&T GoPhone Service with MEdia Net Work with Unlocked Diamond?

Here's the deal: I'm a big fan of prepaid pay-as-you-go contract-less cell phone service. I currently use a T-Mobile ToGo SIM in a Sansung Omnia, and for voice, it works great. Unfortunately, ToGo doesn't currently have a data option. Since I'm in range of a WiFi network 99% of the time, up til now, data hasn't been a problem. However, on a recent trip it would have been nice to occasional check e-mail and browse a web page when no WiFi network was available. So I'm thinking of making a change.
As far as I know AT&T offers the only prepaid plan with data in the US: GoPhone with MEdia Net. Also, since the unlocked HTC Diamond offered through Best Buy happens to support the AT&T 3G bands, I'm thinking of trading my Omnia for a Diamond. (Note: 3G isn't a requirement, I'd be more than happy with Edge speeds.)
My data requirements of MEdia Net are modest. First, I must be able to access my pop3 mail server through MEdia Net, preferably using the Mobile Outlook e-mail client. Last, I need to occasionally browse an arbitrary web page like Google Maps, preferably using the Diamond's default Opera web browser. As you might have guessed, I have no interest in the Internet "services" touted at the AT&T web site.
Searching this forum and AT&T's web site gives the impression all this may be possible, but I'm not convinced. I don't want to call AT&T sales because I doubt they'll give me the information I need.
Please help; any information or even opinion will be appreciated!
Go Phone with Tilt
I have only had a pocket PC for a couple of weeks, but have spent a lot of time reading and testing. Whatever you can do with a Diamond, should be the same with a Tilt. The Diamond is only a faster device and costs more money.
Here is what I am able to do: I put the Sim from my obsolete LG AT&T phone in the Tilt that I bought used on Ebay for $200. My Sim has funds from a $25. per 90 day Go Phone account. With the Tilt's WiFi I access the internet free. With the built-in GPS and google maps, I can track and locate my position. However as google maps requires a continuous internet connection, it keeps saying the connection is lost as I drive around, closing that window when it pops up, keeps things going. I am testing other software that doesn't require a constant connection. But you didn't indicate any interest in GPS.
The voice phone and text messaging works fine. It makes a really nice pocket computer, does everything and when connected to the desk top computer you can easily manipulate files. I bought a double capacity battery for it and it runs everything all day with power left over.
What I can not do is receive instant messages. I never used that service before anyway. If you want internet anywhere, AT&T wants $30. per month for the data plan (media net) and if you want navigation anywhere, that is another $10. per month. I think I understood them to say that these features and not available with a Go Phone plan, but you can ask. A store told me it was and telephone support mentioned it wasn't.
I have my phone configured to never use media net. One forum user made some tests and ran up a bill for a couple hundred dollars real fast with a pre-pay plan. Go Phone or AT&T? I don't recall.
I plan to use the pre-paid MEDia Net sparingly. By some accounts, it's over 100 times more expensive than some equivalent European plans. If someone was using pre-paid like they might use a contract plan, I'm not surprised they'd run up a big bill.
Any way, I'm going to try this since it's costs next to nothing to get a GoPhone SIM with a few minutes; enough to download an e-mail and browse a few web pages if everything goes right.

Caught wifi sharing

As of tonight I have been getting an sms from t-mo U.S. everytime i start up the wifi sharing. This is the message "Free T-Mobile Msg: Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi Sharing access has been blocked. Please add a Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi......."
I never used it much so its not the end of the world, nor am I here to discuss wether or not it is. I am more interested in simply understanding how it is that they determine I was using the data on my laptop as opposed to my phone. Im sure others have discussed how this could be done in the past but I specifically curious how T-MO US detects this.
Because your phone turns into a NAT router and a major carrier's proxy server is not exactly monitored by one fat slob in a basement.
The moment you open the browser on your laptop you give the game away. Each request for a web page carries information on the browser you are using. If the browser is non-mobile then they know you are tethered.
You say you never used it much but I spoke at length with an AT&T tech regarding tethering and he told me that they don't actively look for non-mobile browsers but rather they look at the data usage. Mobile browsers tend to request the mobile friendly pages with less data so large chunks of data trigger a flag.
I have been with T-MOUS tech for the better part of the day, apparently my apps that are not working are being recognized as tethering activity by the network. No one at TMO at this point understands why but they can tell that certain applications that access data are triggering the tethering notification, rendering them unable to gain network access. I have had trouble getting F.IM last.fm, internet explorer (at times) yet opera browser and slacker radio work just fine. To prove to T-MO it wasn't my device we initially tested all this again on other SIM Cards and all was well. It sounds to me like they are blocking internet 80 but they assure me that is not the way they prevent tethering. They said that the new system for blocking tethering went up in the last few days at the same time they cut our throttling pt from 10gig to 5gig. I am the first to have this problem or anything similar according to tech. I must add they have been very kind and understanding, they believe me when I tell them I know something and they don't make me hard reset the device or replace battery when I told them I already did that myself. ATT never believed me and always made me repeat myself and processes.
I'm not entirely sure but I think most of the major providers just changed to the "unlimited" plan that is limited as standard so changing provider might not be a good option.
There have to be a bazillion unprotected WAP's near where ever you are...
I've experienced the same in the last 2 days. Now, when I do try to tether, it routes me to a T-Mobile site offering their tethering option for 15 bucks.
Tried the hotspot about an hour ago. so far so good
I was sharing with my zune hd, not a laptop, so that might make a difference. logged into msn messenger and sent some messages, used the FB app, and dl a song. so far no nasty-gram texts from T-mo. I'll let you know if one comes later.
Airborne Aircrew said:
The moment you open the browser on your laptop you give the game away. Each request for a web page carries information on the browser you are using. If the browser is non-mobile then they know you are tethered.
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that's a bit of a broad method. i have opera set to present the FireFox useragent, to bypass mobile sites, are you saying i wouldn't be allowed to do this on t mo us? surely that's illegal? i mean its not like you have to hack opera to make it do it, its a user setting.
what if you wrote your own browser? surely they can't be allowed topresume you are tethering on such flimsy evidence.it would be a bit like doing you for downloading music just because you have some speakers and a computer.
the easy way to test of course is to set your pc useragent to opera.
samsamuel said:
that's a bit of a broad method. i have opera set to present the FireFox useragent, to bypass mobile sites, are you saying i wouldn't be allowed to do this on t mo us? surely that's illegal? i mean its not like you have to hack opera to make it do it, its a user setting.
what if you wrote your own browser? surely they can't be allowed topresume you are tethering on such flimsy evidence.it would be a bit like doing you for downloading music just because you have some speakers and a computer.
the easy way to test of course is to set your pc useragent to opera.
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barring online privacy acts and what-have-you, they could easily read your header and determine that the client/laptop/tethering device does not contain mobile protocol and with reasonable doubt that traffic is getting moved fairly quickly (amount of data relay, TTL, etc) on a "mobile" device, they'll flag the activity. Changing user-agent isn't a problem when they have other concrete methods to track you by.
Like airborne aircrew said, the OP must've sent a huge amount of traffic when he's tethering. That's like saying I only tether once a month, but when I do, I download 4GB torrent...
Its not when I use my PC browser because the message comes as soon as I launch the wi-fi sharing app. If I USB tether then I get a message on my desktop browser.
I called t-mo us
Now apparently my threshold is 5g a month instead of the 10g when I signed up. Also since this tether block several apps can't get online via 3g on my HD2 such as F.IM Facebook instant messenger. (This all stinks because the reason I went to T-MO U.S. is because they never removed usb tether from winmo, and they had the threshold for speed throttling at 10 gigs. Now they have lowered my throttle to 5 gigs and expect me to pay an additional 15 to access those same 5 gigs with my laptop.)
Im not trying to start a debate on their policies or anything just after all that my HD2 itself can't access that value raped service with some apps.
***I added the Wi-Fi Internet sharing app to the phone my self. This is why its so puzzling that they message me as soon as I launch the app.
hecatombercm said:
Now they have lowered my throttle to 5 gigs and expect me to pay an additional 15 to access those same 5 gigs with my laptop.)
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You'll need to do some digging on local state laws but down under if you've signed a term contract the carrier can only upgrade your plan (e.g. 10G to 15G) not downgrade your service until the contract expires. With tactics like that I'd be looking at another carrier and port your phone number across.
visser said:
You'll need to do some digging on local state laws but down under if you've signed a term contract the carrier can only upgrade your plan (e.g. 10G to 15G) not downgrade your service until the contract expires. With tactics like that I'd be looking at another carrier and port your phone number across.
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Yep same here - in my T&C it said that if they change your plan and give you less, you have the right to get out of it there and then.
Very interesting cause the customer service rep admits that I had a 10g throttle point that is now 5g and also admits that the sales rep would have told me I'm allowed to use the built in tethering app modestly. This was my first attempt to tether in several months, and the one time I reached the 10g throttle point I didn't own a laptop so it was all done through the handset. I imagine I'll easily hit the new throttle point now even if I never utilize tethering. Heres and interesting thread over on the t-mo us forums. Someone talks a little bit about how T-Mo determines someone is tethering. http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/myTouch-4G/tethering/m-p/551487/highlight/false#M5025

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