[kentusmc]

So many people are debating the tethering issue, some say its stealing, others say that its our right being as how we pay for unlimited data. I am curious what everyone thinks.

Google wants us to have the ability, the carriers don't. Who is right?

Please feel free to explain your vote in a civil manner. There is no need to flame eachother just because they have a different view.

[Droid800]

So many people are debating the tethering issue, some say its stealing, others say that its our right being as how we pay for unlimited data. I am curious what everyone thinks.

Google wants us to have the ability, the carriers don't. Who is right?

Do you pay the carrier for tethering? No? Well its stealing then.

It is not your right to tether if you're not paying for it. Yes, you might have unlimited data, but that unlimited is ONLY good for data usage on the device. It does not cover data usage THROUGH the device acting as a hotspot or otherwise. The argument that because you pay for unlimited you have the right to tether is BS. You signed a contract for using data on your device. If you want to tether, pay for it.

[Arelunde]

Smartphone tether for a PC/Laptop/Mac's internet use vs. only phone internet use seems a cheap but quantum difference in data usage. I have no illusions that it's unfair to charge for a phone's internet use while providing internet access for a computer.

HOWEVER, someday ... SOMEHOW, we will be free (I hope) of either cable or phone service (or even satellite) to access the internet.** Meanwhile, phone companies, cable companies, satellite companies are Gatekeepers to the Internet. And so we pay. I'm hoping this is part of the info/techno evolution (like tape decks) and won't continue forever.

The answer lies, in IMHO, with some sort of internet access that isn't dependent on anyone or anything. I live in a rural area. Internet isn't a "given". The way things are going, especially with the explosion of smartphones (ie: relatively cheap computers with internet access) and those creating websites, it shouldn't be long before the Internet is, indeed, a given. It could/should be much like radio and TV (in the days before cable) ... Buy a receiver and you are good to go.

[DroidXcon]

You pay for unlimited data to the phone not to your laptop and any other device you want...

[kentusmc]

I have tethered without a plan, I have since stopped unless VZW is offering I for free as a promotion. With that said, I feel that bits are bits, and unlimited should also mean that as paying customers we should not be limited on how we use it. I understand the tethering without a plan violates the TOS, I still need to read it over myself, hopefully some day the carriers will change that policy. I own a smartphone because I don't want a phone, gps, and an mp3 player, I look forward to the day that I can do this with services too.

[DroidXcon]

Its like showing up to a restaurant that offers free refills with kegs and telling them to fill them up

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

[kentusmc]

If this is the stance that the carriers are going to take they should call their data plans "no cap data", its not unlimited if they limit how it can be used. Just like using the term 4G it is false advertising.

[BlackSand]

I am aware that using wifi tethering when not paying for wifi tethering may technically be considered "stealing" but I do not agree with this at all. This would be analogous to a broadband internet service provider charging its customers for the use of a wireless router or gateway on their network an extra fee and at a higher rate to use the same internet connection. On top of that stock gingerbread actually allows free wifi tethering before carriers modify it for release on their phones.

This is in my opinion similar to if car manufacturers made you sign an agreement to purchase gas at one particular gas companies gas stations, that you could only drive on the roads they specified and that if you drove the car a certain way you would be charged at a higher rate. This paragraph is off the wall but its the closest thing I could come up with at 1:06 am.

[kentusmc]

I am aware that using wifi tethering when not paying for wifi tethering may technically be considered "stealing" but I do not agree with this at all. This would be analogous to a broadband internet service provider charging its customers for the use of a wireless router or gateway on their network an extra fee and at a higher rate to use the same internet connection. On top of that stock gingerbread actually allows free wifi tethering before carriers modify it for release on their phones.

This is in my opinion similar to if car manufacturers made you sign an agreement to purchase gas at one particular gas companies gas stations, that you could only drive on the roads they specified and that if you drove the car a certain way you would be charged at a higher rate. This paragraph is off the wall but its the closest thing I could come up with at 1:06 am.

Those are some great points. FYI wireless tethering has been built into unmodified Android since 2.1, I had a Nexus One on AT&T and I used it all the time, they must have hated me!

[Arelunde]

Charges for tethering internet access stem from the costs of physical installation of towers, etc. Costs of actual data transmission must be miniscule by comparison. So, once the (soon-to-be-outdated) transmission systems are outdated ... maybe the Internet will be universally available to whoever has the right equipment.

[DroidXcon]

I am aware that using wifi tethering when not paying for wifi tethering may technically be considered "stealing" but I do not agree with this at all. This would be analogous to a broadband internet service provider charging its customers for the use of a wireless router or gateway on their network an extra fee and at a higher rate to use the same internet connection. .

they way data gets to your router and the way it reaches your phone is completely different and although you may not realize you are not running unlimited speeds so although it seems like you are unlimited you are infact limited. but again two different forms of technology

On top of that stock gingerbread actually allows free wifi tethering before carriers modify it for release on their phones. .

there is no data to tether with, so charging something that is not available would not make sense

This is in my opinion similar to if car manufacturers made you sign an agreement to purchase gas at one particular gas companies gas stations, that you could only drive on the roads they specified and that if you drove the car a certain way you would be charged at a higher rate. This paragraph is off the wall but its the closest thing I could come up with at 1:06 am.

yes this anology is way off,i appreciate the effort but way to many holes in this i dont know where to begin lol

[DroidXcon]

If this is the stance that the carriers are going to take they should call their data plans "no cap data", its not unlimited if they limit how it can be used. Just like using the term 4G it is false advertising.

it could only be false advertisment if you buy the phone and get service without signing a contract that states in details all the terms

[BlackSand]

Charges for tethering internet access stem from the costs of physical installation of towers, etc. Costs of actual data transmission must be miniscule by comparison. So, once the (soon-to-be-outdated) transmission systems are outdated ... maybe the Internet will be universally available to whoever has the right equipment.

The fact is that tethering does not create any more physical connections (nodes) to the towers themselves. There is still only one ip address assigned to your phone and all other connections through the phone are handled by the phone itself through dhcp. This is the same as using a wireless router at home. Unless you are suggesting that each cell tower does not have the bandwidth to support a lot of people tethering. In which case I would argue tethering is still using the same 3g connection you use to browse (do whatever) on your phone that we pay to have unlimited use of.

[BlackSand]

they way data gets to your router and the way it reaches your phone is completely different and although you may not realize you are not running unlimited speeds so although it seems like you are unlimited you are infact limited. but again two different forms of technology

Not really, data transmission starts with the providers backbone, then goes to the ISP, then gets sent out to ISPs multiplexers, DSLAMS for DSL, Cable cell towers etc. Then data is sent out to be received by the different technologies modems. Cable, dsl or our phones, they are all modems which modulate whatever type of connection.

Im not sure where you get the unlimited speeds point though as that wasnt even in my point.

there is no data to tether with, so charging something that is not available would not make sense

Ok on this I mistakenly wrote free when I meant open as in no authentication required.

yes this anology is way off,i appreciate the effort but way to many holes in this i dont know where to begin lol

It really isnt that far off you just have to think about it.

[DroidXcon]

It really isnt that far off you just have to think about it.

yeah sorry i suffer from the lack of being able to think

[BlackSand]

yeah sorry i suffer from the lack of being able to think

Sorry, I didnt mean it like that.

[kentusmc]

it could only be false advertisment if you buy the phone and get service without signing a contract that states in details all the terms

The terminology used in advertisements implies unlimited, yet it is limited therefore it is false advertising. And there isn't a single true 4G network in the world, that I know of, so once again its false advertising by the carriers. The only carrier that is half way honest about 4G is VZW because the say its 4G like, yet that isn't what is printed on the devices themselves.

[kentusmc]

The fact is that tethering does not create any more physical connections (nodes) to the towers themselves. There is still only one ip address assigned to your phone and all other connections through the phone are handled by the phone itself through dhcp. This is the same as using a wireless router at home. Unless you are suggesting that each cell tower does not have the bandwidth to support a lot of people tethering. In which case I would argue tethering is still using the same 3g connection you use to browse (do whatever) on your phone that we pay to have unlimited use of.

Game, point, match! Sounds like someone is a network admin!

[kentusmc]

I must say that some of the post aren't as constructive as others, mine included, but thanks for being able to discuss this issue like adults and not turning it into a flame fest!

[BlackSand]

Game, point, match! Sounds like someone is a network admin!

Yes, actually I am.

[kentusmc]

Yes, actually I am.

Lol I'm going to school for it right now!

[kentusmc]

The fact is that tethering does not create any more physical connections (nodes) to the towers themselves. There is still only one ip address assigned to your phone and all other connections through the phone are handled by the phone itself through dhcp. This is the same as using a wireless router at home. Unless you are suggesting that each cell tower does not have the bandwidth to support a lot of people tethering. In which case I would argue tethering is still using the same 3g connection you use to browse (do whatever) on your phone that we pay to have unlimited use of.

Going off the fact that it is the phones IP address that is hitting the towers and not the tethered device, one could stand to reason that it is the phones data no matter what and isn't any different. People like myself can rack up large amounts of data usage tethered or not by streaming content to the device. Data theft is a term made up by the carriers to make more money, and does not reflect how the network/internet protocols actually work.

[Chrisy]

I used an app called Tether on may Blackberry to tether. Didn't use it much, only when needed. Always stayed under 2 GB.

I haven't tethered using my Android because my POS computer is too slow.

I voted for, " I don't care." If there's an app available, I'll use it to tether.

The Tether app that I had for my Blackberry is sold in the VZW branded app store. I'm pretty sure they're aware of it.

Either way, doesn't bother me. Is it a breach of TOS, yes clearly. If you choose to tether, you accept the risks of a breached contract whatever that may be. Illegal, no. Stealing and morality aren't really part of it.

[.46caliber]

Strictly as a matter of principal: I pay for an unlimited data connection between my phone and VZW, what I do with that data is up to me. Verizon provides the exact same service to me whether I use 5GB of data on my DX or 5GB of data between my DX and tethering to my netbook. They need to be careful about using a word like "unlimited." No limits, that's what the word means. If I'm paying for an "unlimited" connection, by definition, there should be no limits or restrictions to what I can do with it.

My ISP bill at home is the same every month. Whether I use my internet connection for 1 computer or I use that connection for a desktop, couple of laptops, a netbook, a DVR, Blu-Ray and my Droid X. It makes no difference. Both my ISP and VZW are providing me with an internet service. VZW's network is more expensive to run and maintain, but I'm paying $30 per device for our 3 DXs. I pay one flat fee for my home internet that's less than $90.

If Verizon was giving me something extra when I pay for a tethering package, OK. Essentially what they do is lock a feature that is built into Android. They didn't write the software, they just disable it. Then they charge me a fee to unlock a feature that was already there that they locked to make more money.

Is free tethering stealing? No. Is it a breach of contract? I guess, I haven't read my contract in that detail.

All this being said, it's not a big concern for me as I don't have the need to tether anything to my DX. I will be irritated if they come after all root users because some break contract rules and free tether.

[deletion]

Wait so is it illegal to USB tether?