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It was a loop hole I'm sure hundreds of thousands of people exploited and cost T-Mobile millions but they were nice enough to take 2 and a half years to fix but for some reason people seem to think it was they're god given right to pay less then most and still get the same service. Anywho glad its over and if you were a good customer t-mobile are nice enough to give you a discount on a data plan
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
It's not closed. Mine still works. It was a maintenance error.
PhoneConnect247 said:
2 and a half years
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ha this has been a thing since back when the MDA came out & it went out then for a few days/weeks & then came back. People are cheap & will do anything to save $$$ each month. I'm happy with my $20/month service
people think they are entitied to stuff and as a result get pissed when forced to follow the rules.
I am not buying that maint issue either. They ran a query to see what is up and closed it, (if it was a maint issue, one would have ever seen the message stating your plan is incompatable with your device and you need to upgrade message) they then "fix" it for the customer who call in and complain and the rest just update their data plan as requested.
Eventually they are going to close that loophole and that's just too bad if you don't like it and as a consumer you can take your business elsewhere if you think you can get a better deal
I never had to call T-Mobile. I hadn't used the internet all day and when I did, I had no issues what so ever. Everything was fixed before I even noticed.
T-Mobile Web (Unlimited T-Zones) $5.99 Restoration
Maybe they will close it but I'm sure they will let me know before they cut it off so I can pick another plan. In the mean time, I'll just go on saving $14.00 every month.
I think you're just angry because you don't have T-Zones.
It's the principle of the thing. People are *****ing because something that have used for years, knowingly against the "rules"(or against what T-Mobile wants if you will) is finally getting closed off. I mean, I used to have SunCom, and got my unlimited data plan from them grandfathered in at 14.99 a month when they got bought by T-Mobile...but it would only allow me to get EDGE speeds. I was told upgront about T-Zones, but that if I switched to a "smart" phone(coming from SunCom with the Excalibur no less) I would have to upgrade to the "full" internet package at 20USD. I mean seriously, T-Zones is meant for feature phones. It's not there so that people "in the know" can proxy around the rules and get cheap internet, its so that people with non-smartphones(the poor souls) can just get online via a regular phone to do simple tasks...nothing super network intensive. The 20USD plan isn't just T-mobile getting more money out of you because they can, its because if you have a smartphone, you are more than likely streaming video or music, downloading programs, getting email...all that jazz, constantly, and it all uses bandwidth...which ain't free. And its MUCH more bandwidth than a dumbphone checking email or IM'ing uses. Anywho, thats my peice. Like it or leave it I don't really care.
I don't know what rules you're talking about. I bought my HD2 outright when it came out so I didn't have to change my plan. The T-Mobile clerk didn't tell me anything about having to change plans. Probably because I wasn't getting a subsidized phone requiring a new plan. If it makes you happy, if I upgrade to an Android phone on T-Mobile I will be required to upgrade to another data plan as soon as the system scans my IMEI number on the network. I'll bet they will have the same requirement for new WP7 phones when they come out. So in all likelihood I will be required to get a new data plan with my very next phone purchase, whether I buy the phone outright or not.
Paten said:
I don't know what rules you're talking about. I bought my HD2 outright when it came out so I didn't have to change my plan. The T-Mobile clerk didn't tell me anything about having to change plans. Probably because I wasn't getting a subsidized phone requiring a new plan. If it makes you happy, if I upgrade to an Android phone on T-Mobile I will be required to upgrade to another data plan as soon as the system scans my IMEI number on the network. I'll bet they will have the same requirement for new WP7 phones when they come out. So in all likelihood I will be required to get a new data plan with my very next phone purchase, whether I buy the phone outright or not.
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might want to go brush up on t-mobile's terms and conditions.....they clearly state that certain internet plans are meant for certain phones....like I said if you don't like it, too bad you can go elsewhere if you think you can get a good deal. No reason to get all pissy about it. and yes you are ripping off t-mobile and you know it's wrong so you know what they say about karma.....
anhyeuemmaimai said:
might want to go brush up on t-mobile's terms and conditions.....they clearly state that certain internet plans are meant for certain phones....like I said if you don't like it, too bad you can go elsewhere if you think you can get a good deal. No reason to get all pissy about it. and yes you are ripping off t-mobile and you know it's wrong so you know what they say about karma.....
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The only person getting pissy about it is you. Go back and read what I wrote. If and when T-Mobile requires me to change my plan, they will let me know. If they aren't telling me I need to change, then I don't need to change. It's really not for you to decide what the rules are.
Paten said:
The only person getting pissy about it is you. Go back and read what I wrote. If and when T-Mobile requires me to change my plan, they will let me know. If they aren't telling me I need to change, then I don't need to change. It's really not for you to decide what the rules are.
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Not for me to decide? Wake up grasshopper I don't make the rules Tmo does lol.........(amd btw I never said it was up to me nor did I imply it was) I just told you to go back and read what TMo's terms of use are and they do not include using a $5 and $10 plan on the HD2
Do you guys think that for even a moment that it was some maint issue? lol....keep dreaming....
Funny how those of us who are on the supported plans for the phone did not get the "Please upgrade your data plan" message even though we were on the network at the same time as all of you guys who got the message...
I think it's funny when you get all of the whiners in here saying OMG I can't getz Internetz on my HD2 using an unsupported planz anymorez....even though they knew they were in the wrong....
If you are grandfathered in on a specific unlimited plan, that's fine but you have no room to complain when you go buy a $10 plan and try to use it with a smart phone and you get smaked down like a redheaded step child.
anhyeuemmaimai said:
Not for me to decide? Wake up grasshopper I don't make the rules Tmo does lol.........(amd btw I never said it was up to me nor did I imply it was) I just told you to go back and read what TMo's terms of use are and they do not include using a $5 and $10 plan on the HD2
Do you guys think that for even a moment that it was some maint issue? lol....keep dreaming....
Funny how those of us who are on the supported plans for the phone did not get the "Please upgrade your data plan" message even though we were on the network at the same time as all of you guys who got the message...
I think it's funny when you get all of the whiners in here saying OMG I can't getz Internetz on my HD2 using an unsupported planz anymorez....even though they knew they were in the wrong....
If you are grandfathered in on a specific unlimited plan, that's fine but you have no room to complain when you go buy a $10 plan and try to use it with a smart phone and you get smaked down like a redheaded step child.
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Ah, I see now. You're just trolling.
Folks, I switched to the $20 plan yesterday after 4 days of almost solid outages. It would work occasionally, but mostly not.
One call to T-Mo the gal said there was a issue and they were working it, but when I called back later they said that there was a software change this weekend in order to cut off the access that we were using. I explained that I had the service for quite a while, back to when I bought my Dash, and she looked at my records and saw that I bought the HD2 as an upgrade and said my account had not been updated when I bought the phone and it was not eligable for T-Zones service, and wanted me to get the $30 service. I talked her into the $20 plan, and it seems to be working fine, although T-Zones doesn't show up on my plan online anymore neither does the $20 plan.
I suspect the rumor about the new CEO coming in and tidying up things is correct, and anyway, now mail works properly (SMTP outbound) and some other apps I have wanted to use as well.
Marc
tmo readz xda...
i have the $30 plan since April on my Leo, not gonna change cuz $10 isn't a big deal...
btw, no message sent to my toy.
Well ... yesterday I almost pulled a trigger and moved to $20 total internet package. And I'm glad I didnt, because TZones works again on my HD2. I know it is a loophole. And I WAS and WILL get pissed when they will close it.
Why ? In addition to be used to have it there are other things too
E.g. I'm on grandfathered plan with 600 shared minutes. I cannot move to 750 EM+ plan W/O a contract for the same price, because I will lose my TZones. I cannot add "kids free" lines to my account, because it is only for EM/EM+ plans. So I lose free extra line and 150 extra minutes a month just because I want to keep $5.99 TZones. Or I purchased my HD2 for full price (instead of 2 for $200 promo or 1 for $160 promo), because I'm not able to buy it subsidized from TMO w/o buying total internet and losing my $5.99 TZones.
Paten said:
Ah, I see now. You're just trolling.
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Ah, I see you're just ignorant of the facts as they are lol
anhyeuemmaimai said:
Ah, I see you're just ignorant of the facts as they are lol
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No, that would be you. lol yourself.
Paten said:
No, that would be you. lol yourself.
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lol gee I wish I was like 2 again so I could think of something cool like that to say lol.......
anhyeuemmaimai said:
lol gee I wish I was like 2 again so I could think of something cool like that to say lol.......
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Tell you what, you find where it says anywhere from T-Mobile that I need to have a different plan then T-zones for my HD2 and post a link to it and I'll admit you're right. You just saying it doesn't mean anything.
wasn't that hard to find
10. * Data Plans and Other Features. You will be charged for data usage on a pay per use basis unless you are required to maintain a data plan (“Data Plan”) as part of your Service, or as otherwise provided by your Rate Plan or prepaid data pass. Permissible and Prohibited Uses: Your Data Plan is intended for Web browsing, messaging, and similar activities on your Device and not on any other equipment. Unless explicitly permitted by your Data Plan, other uses, including for example, using your Device as a modem or tethering your Device to a personal computer or other hardware, are not permitted. Other examples of prohibited uses can be found in Section 17. Protective Measures: To provide a good experience for the majority of our customers and minimize capacity issues and degradation in network performance, we may take measures including temporarily reducing data throughput for a subset of customers who use a disproportionate amount of bandwidth. If your total usage exceeds 5GB (amount is subject to change without notice; please check T-Mobile’s T&Cs on www.T-Mobile.com for updates) during a billing cycle, we may reduce your data speed for the remainder of that billing cycle. If you use your Data Plan in a manner that could interfere with other customers’ service, affect our ability to allocate network capacity among customers, or degrade service quality for other customers, we may suspend, terminate, or restrict your data session, or switch you to a more appropriate Data Plan. Downloadable Content and Applications: Content or Applications (e.g., downloadable or networked applications, wallpapers, ringtones, games, and productivity tools) (“Content & Apps”) that you can purchase with your Device may not be sold by T-Mobile. For some third party purchases, although the charges may appear on your T-Mobile bill, T-Mobile is not responsible for the Content & Apps, including download, installation, use, transmission failure, interruption, or delay, or any content or website you may be able to access through the Content & Apps. Any support questions for these Content & Apps may be directed to the third party seller. You may be able to restrict access and certain services by implementing controls available at www.T-Mobile.com or by calling T-Mobile. When you use, download or install Content & Apps sold by a third party seller, you may be subject to license terms between you and third parties. When you use, download, or install Content & Apps that you purchase from T-Mobile, the Content & Apps are licensed to you by T-Mobile and may be subject to additional license terms between you and third parties. Whether purchased from T-Mobile or a third party, any Content & Apps you purchase are licensed for personal, lawful, non-commercial use on your Device only. You may not transfer, copy, or reverse engineer any Content & Apps, or alter, disable or circumvent any digital rights management security features embedded in the Content & Apps. Content & Apps may not be transferable from one Device to another Device. Some Devices or Content & Apps may continue to have contact with our network without your knowledge which may result in additional Charges, for example, while roaming internationally. Software on your Device may automatically shut down or limit the use of Content & Apps or other features or Services without warning. T-Mobile is not responsible for any third party content, advertisements, or websites you may be able to access using your Device. Use of Information: T-Mobile may retain, use, and share information collected when you download, use, or install some Content & Apps, may update your Content & Apps remotely, or may disable or remove any Content & Apps at any time. Refer to T-Mobile’s Privacy Policy, as well as the Content & Apps creator/owner’s privacy policy for information regarding their use of information collected when you download, install, or use any third party Content & Apps. We are not responsible for any transmission failure, interruption, or delay related to Content & Apps, or any content or website you may be able to access through the Content & Apps. Wi-Fi Calling: You acknowledge and agree that your use of any Wi-Fi network is permissible and that you (and not T-Mobile) are responsible for your use. Cell Broadcasts (alerts that go to certain customers) and Wireless Priority Service (WPS) may not be available with Wi-Fi Calling.
The bolded section covers the part about being switched to an approperiate plan
anhyeuemmaimai said:
The bolded section covers the part about being switched to an approperiate plan
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How does that apply to T-Zones on the HD2?
I know this isnt galaxy related as such but please take a moment to sign the petition:
http://www.petition.co.uk/unlimited-data-fair-use-policy-removal
please please sign this and pass it on to as many people as possible.
This is to petition Ofcom to get communication providers to remove the word unlimited from their product descriptions where a fair use policy exists.
The oxford dictionary describes the word unlimited as:
1 not limited or restricted in terms of number, quantity, or extent:
If you are sold a product as unlimited that is what it should be, companies should no longer be able to use unfair practices enforcing restrictions when their product contains the word unlimited.
I urge everyone in the UK to sign this petition and stop companies falsifying their advertisements to sell their products.
As an example:
BT option 3 broadband unlimited has a fair usage policy of 100GB per month, logic dictates then that option 3 is 100GB and not unlimited.
Let’s stop ISP's from doing this no matter if it's home broadband or a mobile data plan.
Let’s get clarity in what we pay for and not allow companies to get away with it anymore!
Hi mate,
We have the same thing in Australia. I believe the difference between unlimited with fair use and actually giving you the quota is that with fair use they cannot charge you more if you go over.
I think they have to actually discuss it with you and find solution. If the same thing happened with normal quota they actually will charge you on top which is quite expensive here.
K.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
Your link is broken mate.
Should be fixed now thanks mate
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA Premium App
I have signed it i hope many many others do
I F**KING HATE FALSE ADVERTISEMENT..... MONEY GRABBING B*S*ARDS !!!!
I would gladly and eagerly sign but I do not want my email added to the petitioners list and it will not allow me to sign without doing so.
Tehpriest said:
I would gladly and eagerly sign but I do not want my email added to the petitioners list and it will not allow me to sign without doing so.
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+1 on the above comment
Signed! Let's declare "war" on those moneygrabbing ****** ...
Nobody can see your email not even me but why not sign up for a free email account somewhere and use that. We need as many people as possible to sign a little effort can go a long way
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
waz000000 said:
Nobody can see your email not even me but why not sign up for a free email account somewhere and use that. We need as many people as possible to sign a little effort can go a long way
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
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If that is the case then just switch the option in your control panel to allow the NO option to be used. Much easier.
Its not my site I'm not affilaited with it in any way its just there's no no 10 petition available any more and this site looked the best option.
I have no control other than start and stop.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
Same thing in India, but with even WORSE limits like 6GB, 10GB, 15GB etc
http://afup.broadbandforum.in
Those companies do the same all around the world. In Brazil, "unlimited" plans cut you out as soon as you reach 2GB.
This is why I got my SGS on contract from 3.
data is "all you can eat" and they mean it... unlike orange etc 3 have their own infrastructure, towers, etc.
I'm actually okay with "fair usage policies"... Just read the actual contract before you sign it. I have unlimited same network calls which is not really unlimited- but 3000 mins per month.. which for a reasonable person is pretty unlimited.
Likewise as long as the FUP is clear before i buy and it usually is if you bother to look .
Agree with the word Unlimited is bad but that goes for ISPs as well as networks .
I see no way a campaign like this can work spread across multiple networks and countries . Who you going to appeal to United Nations .
jje
you should never under estimate the power of speech
you should never under estimate the power of speech
But the right people have to be hearing it .
A single target with a massive feedback/complaints would be more effective as the effort is not diluted . If the single target then decides to adopt what is required rest assured that they will make publicity out of it forcing others to go that way .
One thing is for sure all you can eat internet over the networks will mean hefty price rises .
jje
JJEgan said:
you should never under estimate the power of speech
But the right people have to be hearing it .
A single target with a massive feedback/complaints would be more effective as the effort is not diluted . If the single target then decides to adopt what is required rest assured that they will make publicity out of it forcing others to go that way .
One thing is for sure all you can eat internet over the networks will mean hefty price rises .
jje
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Yea, true in that sense,
It could happen however, but it would need a lot more than the people on XDA to sign it, needs every person that has signed it to get their friends and family to sign it, and then their friends and family...... and so on....
But all i meant was power of speech can do good things. But TBH unless this gets millions of signatures, i think it will end up in the recycle bin.
If you haven't heard all ready Verizon is tracking down root users and limiting there data or fully suspending it so watch out. But we have to fight back against them by hiding Verizon from seeing that we are proudly rooted and some people have said the would sue Verizon. Please do whatever you can to fight against this.
Also motorola and htc are going to start doing the same.
Link? Proof that this is happening?
We are allowed to use our devices as mobile hotspots, having root does nothing to circumvent paying for our bandwidth, this make no sense. Proof please...
I thought we could root our xooms and Motorola wouldn't trip....... or was i wrong?
I think it's a Shamockery!
Seriously though, where did you hear this?
http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/...rooting-manufacturers-carriers.html#post65013
P3droid is a very well known dev. This all over and isn't fake
I don't see the Xoom specifically mentioned in that article at all. That being said, if there really is any truth behind this, I don't really see them going any further then AT&T did with the original iPhone when they found people tethering and then added the appropriate tethering package. It's shady, I agree, but I have a feeling on Android it would just turn into another cat and mouse game of hiding the fact you are rooted against whatever measures are put in place.
Yeah I hope android turns this around. And hides us.
Some dev might just come up with an apply that hides the status of rooted phones. It may sound like an easy idea but its extremely hard, though its not impossible.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
I think they should start working on it now
If I'm understanding this correctly, it's not about rooting the phones but rather about attempts to steal data service (via tethering without paying it). And whether anyone likes it or not, the carriers have a right to determine how their networks are used, including the right to say that tethering isn't allowed unless the required tethering plan is paid for.
I can't imagine the ability to sue Verizon or any other carrier for making it more difficult for users to violate the agreements they sign when they purchase services. Maybe one feels that locking the devices down is too broad a stroke, but then if that's the case come up with a viable alternative. Propose some other control to stop tethering on a rooted device.
Really, I'm amazed that people think the carriers are being "shady" by trying to protect their revenue streams (i.e., to protect their private property from unauthorized use), while users who try to get services without paying for them are, what, the good guys?
----edited----
You forgot the "Root and tether and not give VZW one mother****ing cent" option. Verizon is just plain evil.
I wonder how many attitudes will change when some of these pp are old enough to own their own businesses. I own a small business and if people can get over on you, people will get over on you. I see no problem with Verizon trying to protect their revenue. People need to realize that as a company, Verizon's number 1 loyalty is to it's stock holders not to it's customer. They provide a service and we buy it, or we choose to go elsewhere. I can't imagine VZW and the other providers doing this if they haven't noticed a hit to their bottom line.
Do I root my devices? Yep, both of them. Have I occasionally tethered to my DX? Yes I have, but I understand the risks and accept the responsibility. Once my Xoom gets LTE I'll buy the appropriate data plan for all my tethering needs.......
wynand32 said:
If I'm understanding this correctly, it's not about rooting the phones but rather about attempts to steal data service (via tethering without paying it). And whether anyone likes it or not, the carriers have a right to determine how their networks are used, including the right to say that tethering isn't allowed unless the required tethering plan is paid for.
I can't imagine the ability to sue Verizon or any other carrier for making it more difficult for users to violate the agreements they sign when they purchase services. Maybe one feels that locking the devices down is too broad a stroke, but then if that's the case come up with a viable alternative. Propose some other control to stop tethering on a rooted device.
Really, I'm amazed that people think the carriers are being "shady" by trying to protect their revenue streams (i.e., to protect their private property from unauthorized use), while users who try to get services without paying for them are, what, the good guys?
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What really bothers me is that there really is no stealing involved. Tethering doesn't magically get you service: you have to pay for the service you're tethering through. What's worse, being an android device, the xoom doesn't really use significantly more data than my phone would anyways. The carriers are just mad because people are preventing them from charging an extra fee, not for more service, but for using a different device. In reality this Is no different than if two people were sharing a parking pass for a private lot. If both cars are never parked at the same time, the service rendered is the same, but the company loses out On the opportunity to get twice the cash. Am i taking advantage? Absolutely. Using a device in a way other than intended, yep. Is that morally wrong? I think of it more as growing pains for new technology. Charging me twice for a single service, that sounds more like stealing to me.
If I can pay a flat rate for an internet connection at home, use a wireless router and connect as many devices as I want, why can't the same pricing principle be applied to mobile data? If your isp tried to charge you by the COMPUTER rather than by the bandwidth, you'd be furious. My phone + data service costs more than my home internet, even though it is slower, and requires no rented equipment or installation, (The cost of towers is theoretically shared by all of the users in the area, and I actually OWN my phone, and buy new ones relatively frequently). I still remember when we paid for the internet by the HOUR.
I understand why the carriers want to crack down; it totally makes sense, but as long as the general public continues to pay what they charge, the prices will continue to be set by the carriers, and not by the actual costs. I would much rather that the pricing structure be reactive to the way these devices are being used, rather than proactively restrictive because they want you on a contract. I think it is a good thing in the long run for both the consumer and the carrier if mobile data sharing continues to be un-resrictable. I believe that if they would just charge for the bandwidth and not worry about how that data is used, they would actually increase the market share for high end mobile devices and speed up the process of tablets bridging the gap with PCs.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
yeah but a bit is a bit. why should they care(or being charge for)how i'm using my capped bandwidth? tethering isn't a service that they provide. its a feature of the device we are using.
It's like being charged for Water to your house. your paying for the service, and the amount of water you are using. Should you be charged again for each bathtub you have hooked up to your pipes? Or if i decide to use that water to water some flowers?
I don't get it, at least not in the context of the Xoom. Verizon's tablet data plans include tethering, so they are not losing revenue. Tethering is a built-in feature of Honeycomb and one need only go in to settings and turn on the wireless hotspot feature. No root, hacks, or tweaks are required.
Now smartphone data plans are a different story, but they have "unlimited" data.
Neoterra said:
yeah but a bit is a bit. why should they care(or being charge for)how i'm using my capped bandwidth? tethering isn't a service that they provide. its a feature of the device we are using.
It's like being charged for Water to your house. your paying for the service, and the amount of water you are using. Should you be charged again for each bathtub you have hooked up to your pipes? Or if i decide to use that water to water some flowers?
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+1 on this.. Very good point! It's funny how some people looks at us like we're stealing from these provider, and that we're screwing them over. When in reality we the consumers are the one who's getting screwed over time and time and time again by these giant corporations. The only and real reason they don't want us to tether is because they want us to pay a separate data plan for our laptops on the go, which is crazy! It's like getting an internet service at home and getting charged for every single connection through your wifi! Crazy!
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
First, it's Verizon's service, and thus their right to determine how their services are provided. Nobody has to buy from them. And the bottom line is: people agree to use their services a certain way when they sign their agreements. One may not like their terms, but that's life.
Second, the carriers need to determine how much data is going to be used and provision their services appropriately. Notebooks and tablets tethered to smartphones WILL use more data; that's obvious. Hence, the movement away from unlimited plans and toward metered plans. We're seeing all sorts of responses to the dramatic increases in mobile data use, and this is just one of them.
I think in 10 years things will be very, very different and these things will have shaken themselves out. We're just suffering from the effects of demand for mobile data pushing hard up against supply. In the meantime, nobody should expect the carriers to sit idly by while some people violate their agreements and necessarily cause dislocations in their systems--which inevitably results in poorer service to other users and headaches for the carriers.
Unlimited services are tricky. Drawing accurate pictures of them is even harder in this case because both sides have things leading up to the million dollar question that are either unreasonable, or just stupid. People get caught up on those things when the issue is something plainer.
Unlimited *cellular* data is allowed under a set of circumstances. Those circumstances are supposed to put up "soft" limits (how much the single device can consume) on data consumption. You can only consume so much data through a phone. You and your data plan is not something that entitles you to a data plan aura, in that any device you can link to the plan falls into that plan. Intuitively, everyone knows this is the case.
Maybe it should entitle you to that, especially if you use tethering reasonably. I would like to see a 500 MB--> 1GB allowance for free, especially if your "unlimited" data usage is below average or within a range the carriers set. The carriers have caused a lot of this themselves by biting off more data plans than their networks can chew, and charging ridiculous rates for tethering.
I can understand the frustration from both, but tethering away and being surprised when the carriers try to stop you from doing it is just funny.
theahlenius said:
Unlimited services are tricky. Drawing accurate pictures of them is even harder in this case because both sides have things leading up to the million dollar question that are either unreasonable, or just stupid. People get caught up on those things when the issue is something plainer.
Unlimited *cellular* data is allowed under a set of circumstances. Those circumstances are supposed to put up "soft" limits (how much the single device can consume) on data consumption. You can only consume so much data through a phone. You and your data plan is not something that entitles you to a data plan aura, in that any device you can link to the plan falls into that plan. Intuitively, everyone knows this is the case.
Maybe it should entitle you to that, especially if you use tethering reasonably. I would like to see a 500 MB--> 1GB allowance for free, especially if your "unlimited" data usage is below average or within a range the carriers set. The carriers have caused a lot of this themselves by biting off more data plans than their networks can chew, and charging ridiculous rates for tethering.
I can understand the frustration from both, but tethering away and being surprised when the carriers try to stop you from doing it is just funny.
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Well said. Its why I pay for a small plan and use wireless everywhere I go. no real need to tether anyway.
A different thread (Here) degraded into an angry, but compelling discussion of tethering ethics.
Since the other thread was so lively, but off of original topic, I figured this would be a better, less phone specific, location.
This guy burned through 105G of data in a billing cycle.
Wow.
Twiddler said:
This guy burned through 105G of data in a billing cycle.
Wow.
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I don't care if people tether provided they keep it at a reasonable rate. I think the T-Mo 5 GB limit is plenty for tethering and I don't care if they throttle past that point. 105GB is completely and utterly retarded and I wouldn't hesitate to say that he was probably downloading illegal files while tethering.
You're using AT&T and you're concerned about ethics LOL. They're screwing you every chance they get. If you get the chance to return the favor, be my guest.
The only crisis of conscience I might have is degrading the user experience of someone else on that same antenna.
The 'I don't give an F' users eventually bring the issue to a head; they push the limits and draw the attention of the carriers.
On the positive end, this (kind of) spurs bandwidth and rollout plans.
On a negative end, this hurries security and monitoring development that closes off these avenues.
There's no reasoning with 'power' users though; they'll take anything that's not nailed down. We all just have to live with it.
Turducken said:
You're using AT&T and you're concerned about ethics LOL. They're screwing you every chance they get. If you get the chance to return the favor, be my guest.
The only crisis of conscience I might have is degrading the user experience of someone else on that same antenna.
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I've never had any issue with AT&T, but I have had issues with T-Mobile. It's funny that a provider can be so cheap (T-Mobile), yet can't seem to get any subscribers... wonder why? :C
Could it be their poor service/coverage? Probably.
I used to tether a while back, but I got a letter from AT&T telling me if I continued I'd lose my unlimited data and be automatically enrolled in their 4GB for $45 tethering plan. I since stopped, and bought myself a 5GB "4G" data connect card @ $50 per month ($10 for every GB over). Seemed like a reasonable deal.
If you're gonna tether, good luck, you will get caught eventually. c:
MikiOCN said:
I've never had any issue with AT&T, but I have had issues with T-Mobile. It's funny that a provider can be so cheap (T-Mobile), yet can't seem to get any subscribers... wonder why? :C
Could it be their poor service/coverage? Probably.
I used to tether a while back, but I got a letter from AT&T telling me if I continued I'd lose my unlimited data and be automatically enrolled in their 4GB for $45 tethering plan. I since stopped, and bought myself a 5GB "4G" data connect card @ $50 per month ($10 for every GB over). Seemed like a reasonable deal.
If you're gonna tether, good luck, you will get caught eventually. c:
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So instead of using something you were already paying for, you now are paying for another monthly charge to continue doing what you were already doing before? Yep, definitely. Sounds like you've never had an issue with AT&T. At least not one that you want to admit.
But in all honesty, it cripples the system when people are overusing. Then again, we should be getting what we pay for. And considering the unreasonable rates carriers provide compared to elsewhere in the world... f*** them.
I honestly don't tether that much these days. I only use it when the internet is down and at best, I use about 200MB worth of data from tethering. Haven't been caught and I am pretty sure T-Mobile doesn't care enough to send me a warning about tethering on a non-tethering contract.
With that being said, I did hit my 5GB limit. Twice. Without the use of tethering. Throttled speed is honestly not that bad, I can still do some stuff.
upichie said:
So instead of using something you were already paying for, you now are paying for another monthly charge to continue doing what you were already doing before? Yep, definitely. Sounds like you've never had an issue with AT&T. At least not one that you want to admit.
But in all honesty, it cripples the system when people are overusing. Then again, we should be getting what we pay for. And considering the unreasonable rates carriers provide compared to elsewhere in the world... f*** them.
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When you say unreasonable rates VZW certainly comes to mind
I don't tether but really don't see the problem with it. As someone else stated when it comes to 'power users' they are out there and we all have to deal with it no matter what the service you use, ie DSL/CABLE/SAT etc.
What about the 'ethics' of locking bootloaders and loading my phone full of bloatware? ROFL...
I don't think its unethical to use your data the way you want to use it. You are paying for the data. I think caps, for the price of unlimited home broadband (and not achieving close to the same speeds as those of home broadband) is unethical.
If my contract says unlimited data, I see nothing unethical about it. It is my data to use when and how I want to. The only thing unethical is the fact that I pay $160 a month for 2 lines.
Whats the difference between using 2GB of data on your phone compared to using 2GB of data when you've got a laptop tethered to it? You should just be able to pay for data and thats that. No paying extra if you want to tether.
It is abusing it if you have unlimited data and rinse it all since it's never really unlimited. Maybe they should say how much data you're ACTUALLY allowed to use.
people should stop using 3G/4G as a replacement for home internet, sigh...
I am about to go a little off topic.
I think it is the fault of the carriers themselves. Earlier it was allowed for me tether as much as I wanted. I had an unlimited data plan (A real one).
Now I am limited to 2 gb (or not yet, only when I renew my contract) This is not caused by power users but because of wrongly anticipated investments. They need to get back their investment of economically aged techniques.
Also I am forced to buy more calling minutes and text when I want more data.
I think, especially compared to earlier, that giving us this little data for a ridiculously high price is unethical. 10 gb should be more fair. I mean they tell us to watch youtube on my phone at home. Why would I do that when I have a laptop or maybe later even a tablet?
Its not really unethical to download 105 gb unless you are downloading illegal stuff and causing others unable to use mobile data.
Sent from my X10i using XDA App
Closed
No double threads, instead use the report button so we can act on the original thread
Twiddler said:
A different thread (Here) degraded into an angry, but compelling discussion of tethering ethics.
Since the other thread was so lively, but off of original topic, I figured this would be a better, less phone specific, location.
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Ekamsaral said:
I am about to go a little off topic.
I think it is the fault of the carriers themselves. Earlier it was allowed for me tether as much as I wanted. I had an unlimited data plan (A real one).
Now I am limited to 2 gb (or not yet, only when I renew my contract) This is not caused by power users but because of wrongly anticipated investments. They need to get back their investment of economically aged techniques.
Also I am forced to buy more calling minutes and text when I want more data.
I think, especially compared to earlier, that giving us this little data for a ridiculously high price is unethical. 10 gb should be more fair. I mean they tell us to watch youtube on my phone at home. Why would I do that when I have a laptop or maybe later even a tablet?
Its not really unethical to download 105 gb unless you are downloading illegal stuff and causing others unable to use mobile data.
Sent from my X10i using XDA App
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Well, people would tether because why bother having two Internet es, one at your home and one in your pocket? Sounds easier to have it all on your phone as you can tether to your other devices. Also, some people don't have tablets or aptops, etc. To even use, so they use whatever they can but I mean this is unlikely since they can afford such an Internet service on their device.
Also, it's the isp fault of their network can't support thousands or millions of users using their network, they should get better networks, etc since you're paying for the service. For the ones who download like several gigabytes of stuff, why not? It's the Internet and they paid for it. Watching a million videos, movies, watching live tv, etc. Why don't they leech off starbucks? Because they are paying for an "unlimited" service.
For the throttling, I find it stupid, or good. Stupid because unlimited users shouldn't be doing because they use a lot, it's a service they paid for. Well, how much they throttle anyways? But it's good because at the end of the month, that's when team network is the fastest, if the heavy users get throttled.
Either way, I think throttling is stupid and bad for user who paid for unlimited Internet,.
---------- Post added at 08:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 PM ----------
AllGamer said:
people should stop using 3G/4G as a replacement for home internet, sigh...
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Why not? Although home Internet is faster, why pay for home when you have unlimited 3g/4g?
Im on sprint, so we have unlimited data in our contracts. I think its my right to use it in any way i like just like i do at home with fios. i can plug in any device i want into my router. I could give my dog her own videophone and verizon wont care. Cell carriers should be the same, they should treat it as a just a connection, thats it. we would all be happier.
I was on AT&T. Got the tethering notice and decided no more with them. I switched to Verizon.
When I tether, I really don't use that much data than I would on my phone. I average around 6.5GB a month on my phone usual data. From there, I would venture to say 2GB of data is tethering and when it's done, it's usually not even their peak network times. I don't think it's unethical because data is data. A byte is a byte whether it originated on the phone or the other device. The company has the capability, they just want more money for it.
Really, it boils down to moderation. If everyone tethered, but did it moderately, we could all enjoy it. But for the 105GB guy, he ruins it for all of us.
xplus93 said:
Im on sprint, so we have unlimited data in our contracts. I think its my right to use it in any way i like just like i do at home with fios. i can plug in any device i want into my router. I could give my dog her own videophone and verizon wont care. Cell carriers should be the same, they should treat it as a just a connection, thats it. we would all be happier.
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I agree.
As our devices become capable of higher volumes of data in a billing period, AT&T markets faster speeds (translation: greater volume in less time), more apps (translation: more downloads, more apps pulling data), we are expected not to use greater volumes of data if we have an unlimited contract.
As for people who say that power users cause network bottlenecks, I would like to see data to prove this allegation. I haven't seen any information to support this allegation. I believe that AT&T's network problems, including cell towers that lose internet, are a much bigger problem.
Power users don't cause the bottleneck. There's so few who actually use over a fairly small amount of data that it's ridiculous for the carriers to say that power users are the cause of network congestion and general slowness, which prompt data caps and other unpleasantness.
The actual issue is similar to Comcast's handling of torrenters. The whole Sandvine debacle wasn't caused because so many people were torrenting that the network couldn't handle it. The cause was simple greed and laziness--the provider sold more bandwidth than they actually possessed. The same is true for the mobile networks, as well. These guys know that "unlimited" is the magic word to sell data plans, but they don't want to spend the money necessary to expand network infrastructure to actually handle unlimited data access from thousands upon thousands of subscribers. So they blame it on the handful of folks who actually make use of the whole unlimited part, and throttle or cap bandwidth.
If they had been honest to begin with, we probably wouldn't be so torqued about it all.
I'm on T-Mobile and I tether fairly often, but not to excess, mostly because I have a 2GB cap and I'm almost always in a place where I can get wifi. The tethering is there for those 1% of times when there's no 802.11 nearby and I need to get my laptop online for whatever reason.
I pay for my bandwidth, I ought to be able to use it however I please. T-Mobile doesn't seem to mind whether my bits are pulled down through my Nexus S or my laptop.
Now if I could only figure out how to stop their proxies from compressing JPEGs...
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
I was doing some reading on another website and came across this article
http://pocketnow.com/2012/06/01/at-s...-them-already/
what it basically says is that AT&T will be making a move to Data only service because they have seen a decrease in cellular service (Voice and TXT) so here is the way i see it..we started with unlimited data then 3 out of the big four decided that they were not making any MORE money on the customer so lets take unlimited away and still charge them the same and tell them its a better plan for them. Well that didn't work because these darn customers found a way to save by using the web and those darn apps so now instead of calling people and going over their minutes and making us MORE money, they are using free apps like TANGO, SKYPE and many others as well as free text apps. no MORE money.
So i went from 1400min down to 700min and paying them less on my monthly bill..no MORE money..so now there is a very good chance that we may pay even more for data only plans.
if this happens do you think that all carriers will fallow? could this be why LTE is so important?
What do you think??
ATT rep told me that's where the future is headed. I believe it, no doubt.
rueben68 said:
I was doing some reading on another website and came across this article
http://pocketnow.com/2012/06/01/at-s...-them-already/
what it basically says is that AT&T will be making a move to Data only service because they have seen a decrease in cellular service (Voice and TXT) so here is the way i see it..we started with unlimited data then 3 out of the big four decided that they were not making any MORE money on the customer so lets take unlimited away and still charge them the same and tell them its a better plan for them. Well that didn't work because these darn customers found a way to save by using the web and those darn apps so now instead of calling people and going over their minutes and making us MORE money, they are using free apps like TANGO, SKYPE and many others as well as free text apps. no MORE money.
So i went from 1400min down to 700min and paying them less on my monthly bill..no MORE money..so now there is a very good chance that we may pay even more for data only plans.
if this happens do you think that all carriers will fallow? could this be why LTE is so important?
What do you think??
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Click to collapse
Tiered data, and tiered minutes is how they make their money. They give you plans that are just shy of average optimum sweet spot usage and hope that you go over your plan to ream you a new one if you are not aware.
A Sprint representative supervisor told me this when I complained about overages and there not being a way to set alerts for overages automatically so consumers will be aware of their usage.
Why do you think they don't want you to root or use certain apps.....they take away from the cash cow of overages like Verizon and tiered text, or tethering ....money, money, money more money for stock holders. They are no longer in the service business, but are in the business of improving their stock for bonus, and stock holder share return, thereby again increasing bonus at customers demise.
The CS Supervisor told me that overages is how they make their profits, and that they want you to go out of your plan because that's how they make more profit. With VOIP coming in 2013-2014 for everyone in a tired data package plan will be screwed. There won't really be digital land line services like today every thing will be voice over IP and that is going to use data.
So this can only mean that they are setting you up to fail two years from now and then saying that you are going to need to increase your data usage package to a higher data plan cost......mark my words you are sheep being led to slaughter. They are making a big deal today about data usage making it seem like it will slow services and you need to keep under a minimum usage, when in fact they are making you think this so that they can raise rates in the future when data will be the only way to make calls, send messages, and surf the net.
There are three rules that every business lives by. get the cash, Get the Cash, GET THE CASH!!
The only thing you can ever do to make them stop trying to screw you is to find a way to not spend money with them. Otherwise wake up every day and remind yourself.
Cash Rules Everything Around Me
and use a little lube when they screw you.