AT&T vs. Unsanctioned Tethering. March 18, 2011
Posted by very in : Announcement, iPhone, Media, News, Resources, Security, Tech , add a commentOn Thursday a Reddit user posted a screenshot of an email from AT&T regarding the use of tethering on the iPhone. Numbers of MyWi users have spoken out that they have received such notice from AT&T through SMS followed by email.
One of the SMS reads:
“AT&T Free Msg: Did you know tethering your Smartphone to a computer requires a tethering plan? Pls call 888-860-6789 for details or visit att.com/dataplans.”
Photo Illustration by Very G.
The email from AT&T clearly pin-point user for using unsanctioned tethering method on their network:
Dear [Customer],
We’ve noticed your service plan may need updating.
Many AT&T customers use their smartphones as a broadband connection for other devices, like laptops, netbooks or other smartphones– a practice commonly known as tethering. Tethering can be an efficient way for our customers to enjoy the benefits of AT&T’s mobile broadband network and use more than one device to stay in touch with important people and information. To take advantage of this feature, we require that in addition to a data plan, you also have a tethering plan.
Our records show that you use this capability, but are not subscribed to our tethering plan.
If you would like to continue tethering, please log into
your account online at Cell Phones and Cell Phone Plans – Wireless from AT&T, or call us
at 1-888-860-6789 Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. CST
or Saturday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. CST, by March 27, 2011
to sign up for DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering.…….
The story was submitted to Hacker New and numerous other sites. There are many theories on how AT&T identifies users using the unsanctioned tethering method. It is still unclear if AT&T is targeting MyWi users only. Some speculate that AT&T is targeting users who clearly use incredible amount of data on their grandfathered unlimited data plan. Based on comments in modmyi.com forums, some users got the message even though they do not use tethering.
AT&T currently offers a specific tethering plan to smartphone users:
DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering
- $45 per month (this gives you 4GB in total, combining both your smartphone data plan for $25 and the tethering feature, $20)
- $10 per each additional GB thereafter, added automatically as needed
- Mobile Hotspot capabilities are included for compatible Smartphones
The story has since been picked up and re-reported by numerous sites:
- Reddit – AT&T has identified my tethering through MyWi 4.0 and is threatening to change my unlimited plan if I do not stop. Anyone know how the MyWi tethering works or how they would be able to know that it is tethering?
- OSXDaily – AT&T Cracking Down on Unofficial iPhone Tethering & MyWi Users
- Engadget – AT&T tells customers using unauthorized tethering methods to pay up or stop
- Ars Technica – AT&T shames unauthorized phone tetherers, gives ultimatum
- TUAW – AT&T aggressively moving against unauthorized tethering
One can only wonder if AT&T really analyzes the data use or primarily goes after those who use unbelievable amount of data on their smartphone plan.
Have Nexus One and Palme Pre 2 users been notified by AT&T? Those two phones do not require any jailbreaking or rooting to use the tethering feature without signing up for the tethering plan on AT&T.
Posted from Long Beach, California, United States.
Should I switch to Verizon for the iPhone? January 11, 2011
Posted by very in : Announcement, Apple, iPhone, Media, News, Resources, Tech , add a commentJanuary 11th, 2011.
The Universe seems to agree that Verizon will be announcing the avilability of iPhone on their network at 11:00 AM Eastern Time today. I am an AT&T customer with an iPhone plan since June 29th, 2007. I was a Verizon Customer back in early 2000′s. Previously I was a Sprint customer. My view on wireless network is something like this:
Generally the quality of service greatly depends on where I’m at. There are places where one service provider had no coverage while the others do. Customer service are equally horrible.
Am I happy with AT&T service?
What I can say is that I am considering moving to other service providers like Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile.
Am I happy with the iPhone?
In general I really like the iPhone. It was the first great phone I had. I still like the iPhone.
Does Verizon have better wireless service than AT&T?
My good friend seems to think so. I still think that it depends on where you are. Certainly in Metropolitan areas AT&T wireless does suffer. At the same time I have seen lack of coverage from Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile in different places. But it is about AT&T this time. In Southern California AT&T service is not as horrible as in The Bay Area. In general, AT&T service are available where I’m at most of the times but not all. Outside of California I have mixed results. There are a lot of parts in Nevada where AT&T has no coverage while Verizon and Sprint do. One thing I can say is that AT&T has excellent coverage around Boise, Idaho. I cannot say if Verizon’s service is as worse as AT&T’s.
Things I enjoy being on AT&T network is primarily influenced by the ability to switch my phones anytime I want. It is as easy as removing the SIM Card from one phone and installing it on the other. I am currently using iPhone 3GS and Nexus One. I am planning to get an unlock Palm Pre 2. If there’s an unlock Windows Phone 7 phone with an attractive price tag, I’d get one too.
If I were to switch to Verizon, I wouldn’t be able to use different phone on the same account. There is no way I would want to pay for different accounts so that I could use different phones. Despite of the negatives on AT&T, I still prefer having to use different phones. Switching to Verizon means I would not be able to do so.
If I were a Verizon customer today, I’d definitely get the iPhone.
Now, it’s T minus 97 minutes till Verizon announcement.
Posted from New York, New York, United States.
Reasons not to move to Verizon from AT&T for the iPhone. January 11, 2011
Posted by very in : Announcement, Apple, iPhone, Media, News, Resources, Tech , add a commentPreviously I wrote about reasons to move to Verizon from AT&T for the iPhone. Now I’m talking about reasons not to move to Verizon from AT&T for the iPhone in general.
- Might have to pay that pesky and expensive early termination fee to AT&T.
- AT&T believes that their data network is still faster than Verizon’s as illustrated by Boy Genius Report which was tweeted by AT&T.
- You prefer GSM phones, especially if you travel outside United States often.
- AT&T is giving you packaged deal with your wireless account.
Now, those were some generic reasons why you would not want to move to Verizon from AT&T for the iPhone that I could think of at this moment. By the way, it is T minus 2 hours and 30 minutes till the Verizon Announcement.
I’ll be finishing up my thought whether I would switch to Verizon from AT&T or not.
Posted from New York, New York, United States.
Reasons to move to Verizon from AT&T for the iPhone. January 9, 2011
Posted by very in : Announcement, Apple, iPhone, Media, News, Resources, Tech , add a commentVerizon is having a special event on Tuesday January 11, 2011 in New York. The event is said to be an Apple related announcement, specific to the iPhone. Media heavyweights such as The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Bloomberg and The New York Times are sure that Verizon is finally getting the iPhone. Well, Bloomberg has been rattling like an empty can for a while.
As an AT&T customer I’m considering the move to Verizon when they have the iPhone:
- Verizon’s network is better than AT&T’s, isn’t it?
I was on Verizon before I switch to Cingular (which later became AT&T in 2007) back in 2003. I was also on Sprint prior to Verizon. In general the service are equally good and bad. - Verizon is rumored to offer unlimited data plan for the iPhone per report by The Wall Street Journal.
- No more GSM noise whenever the signal dropped to Edge.
- EVDO should be faster than HSDPA, right?
Well, I’m running out of reasons for now. I’ll add it as I fond more. Next, I’ll post reasons to stay on AT&T when Verizon gets the iPhone.
Time Travel is real, according to AT&T. May 14, 2010
Posted by very in : Announcement, Apple, Applications, Apps, Comedy, Entertainment, Humor, iPhone, Media, Movies, News, Pictures, Resources, Tech, Troubleshooting, TV , add a commentThis feels like a scene from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. AT&T sent me a text message from the future for something that I have yet done.
