Tag: Tethering

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Downgrading Nexus 4 to Android Jelly Bean 4.3

Shortly after I updated my Nexus 4 from Android KitKat 4.4 to 4.4.2 and finding out that tethering was still broken, I downgraded to Android Jelly Bean 4.3.

The downgrading process included unlocking the bootloader and installing Nexus 4 Android Jelly Bean 4.3 factory image.

Nexus 4 back to Android Jelly Bean 4.3

Within the hour I once again have a functional  Nexus 4 mobile hotspot.

Nexus 4 Tethering and Mobile Hotspot

I do not use the Nexus 4 as a phone. I don’t even know what the phone number is.

If you’re using your Nexus 4 as a mobile hotspot on T-Mobile USA network, stay away from Android KitKat.

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Does Android KitKat Detect Unauthorized Tethering on T-Mobile USA Network?

According to a few Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 users, Android KitKat now detects unauthorized Tethering on T-Mobile USA network.

A colleague of ours noticed that after upgrading to Android KitKat on a Nexus 4, Tethering & portable hotspot no longer works. Devices connected to the Wi-Fi hotspot are redirected to T-Mobile login page.

Android Kit Kat Tethering Carrier Login

When an iPhone is connected to the Wi-Fi Hotspot from a Nexus 4 running Android KitKat, options to “Auto-join” and “Auto-login” appears.

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The iPhone then tries to connect to a T-Mobile login page, but the page never loads.

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We then use a Nexus 5 which came with Android KitKat pre-installed to create a wi-Fi hotspot. The result was the same, it forces connected devices to log in.

Another colleague of ours still has a Nexus 4 running Android Jelly Bean 4.3. The Nexus 4 is connected to T-Mobile USA network and without tethering plan. Devices connected the Wi-Fi hotspot created by the Android Jelly Bean-running Nexus 4 were not asked to log in.

We then inserted a working AT&T micro-SIM card into the Nexus 4 with Android KitKat. We had no issues using tethering through this phone.

At this point, it seems that Google has added codes in Android KitKat that detect unauthorized tethering. So far, it only affects Nexus phones (4 and 5) on T-Mobile USA network. We purchased the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 from Google Play SIM-free and unlocked.

Is it possible that Google has added this “feature” to appease T-Mobile?

After all, Google has partnered up with T-Mobile (and Sprint) to sell Nexus 5.

Google Nexus 5 T-Mobile Sprint

We recommend users to wait from upgrading to Android KitKat on their Nexus 4.

 

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AT&T vs. Unsanctioned Tethering.

On 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:

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.

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iPhone Internet Tethering on AT&T Network.

Many wonders when AT&T would give Apple the go to enable Internet Tethering on the iPhone. Well, I guess we all have to wait. The year 2009 is coming to a close and for sure we won’t see such announcement from AT&T this year.

And then I saw this:

After restoring an iPhone to OS 3.1.2 I noticed that the Data Roaming was on and there’s the option for setting up Internet Tethering. For some reasons it did not work, but the option was there. No, the iPhone was not and still is not jail broken.

Tell me that I’m not somehow travelled into the near future for a while there.