4G hotspot? Provided with the GN?

**JoeUserTX** · 11-30-2011, 03:34 PM

I don't see this on the list of similar threads (and don't recall it being discussed here in the GN forum), so excuse the duplicity, should this have already been discussed.

IIRC, VZW offered the Hotspot feature as a bundled app/service on my Fascinate. Do you have to install their app on the GN to utilize this feature, or does anyone know if the GN serves this natively?

**botero** · 11-30-2011, 03:37 PM

It should be on there natively since it is a nexus. The Xoom has it baked into honeycomb and verizon does nothing to block it. I'm pretty sure it is part of the deal of having a nexus on their network. If they do manage to disable it, you can guarantee someone bakes it into a pure AOSP ROM.

**p08757** · 11-30-2011, 03:44 PM

The Xoom uses the same plans as the Personal MiFi devices, so tethering is included.

As far as the Nexus goes, I would bet that VZW will charge for the service and you will not be able to use it without paying for it.

**JoeUserTX** · 11-30-2011, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by p08757

The Xoom uses the same plans as the Personal MiFi devices, so tethering is included.

As far as the Nexus goes, I would bet that VZW will charge for the service and you will not be able to use it without paying for it.

Now, that would suck. But, understandable, since they aren't making any revenue off bundled services, I guess.

Appreciate the responses, guys. I use the hotspot occasionally, but really don't relish being charged extra for simply using my wireless connection. Heaven forbid...

**goldkear** · 11-30-2011, 04:01 PM

hmmm. I don't really see how they'd be able to stop you? i mean there are plenty of 3rd party apps that work fine. heck even the HTC app that i've seen on some roms for my inc works fine without having to pay extra for it.

**Dirty-Bird** · 11-30-2011, 04:05 PM

Does Data used on Hotspot come out of your data plan? Is that what the question is?

**bmoore0909** · 11-30-2011, 04:54 PM

I've never teathered before, but I'm interested since I have an hp touchpad thats wifi only.
So if this nexus is like the others, youre saying I should be able to be riding on a bus with my nexus in my pocket, have hotspot turned on, and connect my touchpad to it for free?
And I have unlimited data..so it shouldn't cost me anything extra?

Thanks

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

**Nothing2Lose** · 11-30-2011, 05:31 PM

Using your phone as a hotspot/tethering device is an additional fee.

**Mr. Poppalopolis** · 11-30-2011, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Nothing2Lose

Using your phone as a hotspot/tethering device is an additional fee.

My question (and I think most other people's question) is whether or not Verizon will block the stock tethering app and make you pay for their app, considering that this is a Nexus phone. I hope not but I would bet they do block it.

**CynicX** · 11-30-2011, 05:40 PM

Verizon will find a way to block it since that's an additional service. If you had the service would you keep it or cancel it if the GN did it for free? Nuff said.

The Xoom does have it baked into honeycomb but the plan from Verizon includes hotspot.

**milan03** · 11-30-2011, 05:52 PM

On my unlocked GSM version I can tether without tethering plan straight out of settings, at no additional cost:

**DessVZW** · 11-30-2011, 06:09 PM

If tethering is an additional fee, you can probably just side-load Wireless Tether. I have a ton of different .apks saved from XDA over the years. That's the kind of stuff you keep backed up in a nice, safe place.

**BSG75** · 11-30-2011, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by JFMFT

If tethering is an additional fee, you can probably just side-load Wireless Tether. I have a ton of different .apks saved from XDA over the years. That's the kind of stuff you keep backed up in a nice, safe place.

No need to hoard this APK. It's still actively supported

*

* Disclaimer: Be sure to consult your terms of service

**Rennat** · 11-30-2011, 06:33 PM

looks like occording to P3Droid on twitter he said that the Wifi Wireless Tethering for root users does not work on the Nexus.

Don't know how long it will take for them to port/fix it on ICS

**CynicX** · 12-01-2011, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by Rennat

looks like occording to P3Droid on twitter he said that the Wifi Wireless Tethering for root users does not work on the Nexus.

Don't know how long it will take for them to port/fix it on ICS

It doesn't work on purpose on the Verizon model. This isn't anything new for tethering in OS's on Verizon's network...

**Rennat** · 12-01-2011, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by CynicX

It doesn't work on purpose on the Verizon model. This isn't anything new for tethering in OS's on Verizon's network...

Little bit of confusion here.

So has Verizon found a permeant way to block Wifi Tether? or has the team just not got their hands on it to find a way around it?

**Akuma** · 12-01-2011, 03:59 PM

I have a rooted droid incredible on Verizon's network...I can do wifi tether just fine

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

**Ricky Babalu** · 12-01-2011, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by Akuma

I have a rooted droid incredible on Verizon's network...I can do wifi tether just fine

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

Same here.

**GTvert90** · 12-01-2011, 04:16 PM

Sprint removed it from the nexus s4g iirc.
is USB tethering traceable?

Wifi tether just started working on the bionic I bet they can get it up on the nexus

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

**thedeceiver** · 12-01-2011, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by Ricky Babalu

Same here.

They can block you by analyzing your web traffic and the types of data you're transmitting. The fact they haven't yet is because they are not aggressively pursuing everyone that does that... yet. But one day, they will come after everyone as they came after some of the abusers previously.

**jamesbrown33** · 12-01-2011, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by thedeceiver

They can block you by analyzing your web traffic and the types of data you're transmitting. The fact they haven't yet is because they are not aggressively pursuing everyone that does that... yet. But one day, they will come after everyone as they came after some of the abusers previously.

That requires deep packet searching, which is currently illegal.

On another note, the palm pre plus came with free wifi hotspot on verizon, so it would not be a first if verizon let the nexus through with it.

**Small_law** · 12-01-2011, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by JFMFT

If tethering is an additional fee, you can probably just side-load Wireless Tether. I have a ton of different .apks saved from XDA over the years. That's the kind of stuff you keep backed up in a nice, safe place.

I've got my own stockpile of .apk's from over the years. Solid advice.

**Stides** · 12-01-2011, 06:53 PM

Unfortunately, I don't think verizon will do a free hotspot promotion like they did with the launch of the thunderbolt. That was done as an incentive to get people into a 4G LTE phone and to get them hooked on the great tethering speed and then after a few months they wanted all users to pay for it.

Hotspot is definitely a paid feature with verizon. It is $30 for LTE hotspot with a 2gb cap I believe. I don't want to get into the debate of the definition of unlimited and why it is not included in your plan. Rest assured AT&T and verizon expect to be paid for this feature. Currently, I understand that individuals on rooted android phones have been able to use hotspot for free with limited success. Some wireless tether apps like barnacle, etc. have worked in certain cases. Currently, rooted bionic users have not been able to get hotspot for free with the stock rom without a work around by altering some files on the device using SQLite editor. It appears that you can use wireless hotspot for free with a custom rom and/or kernel and verizon does not stop you.

Somehow, they know when you are trying to use hotspot for free even on a stock rooted device. If you get caught trying to use hotspot for free on the device you are trying to tether when you go online you are directed to the verizon page where you can sign up for a the plan. This is much nicer than AT&T where they allow you to use the hotspot and then send you a letter regarding you unauthorized use of tethering and then threaten to charge you or place you into a tiered plan (if you are grandfathered into an unlimited plan). Some users are saying they only used a total of 60 mb on the hotspot for free and got the letter so it was not done only for data abusers.

**greydarrah** · 12-01-2011, 07:08 PM

Why then do Android phones have a USB tether option that can be used to turn your phone into a cabled modem for your PC? I know with hotspot, other pc's can tag along, but in reality, when we hotspot, it's just for our own pc. So how could Verizon tell the difference?

**Stides** · 12-01-2011, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by greydarrah

Why then do Android phones have a USB tether option that can be used to turn your phone into a cabled modem for your PC? I know with hotspot, other pc's can tag along, but in reality, when we hotspot, it's just for our own pc. So how could Verizon tell the difference?

I think usb tethering costs less than hotspot ($15) and I am not really sure there is a difference between the two as far as the carrier seeing something different in the data on their end. I have not heard of anyone getting letters or being blocked for tethering via usb. I can only guess that the carriers are not as concerned about usb tethering because it is somewhat less threatening than hotspot. While I would probably only use it for my laptop, you can connect up to 5 devices to a hotspot where you are limited to the 1 pc when tethering via usb. I also know that I use hotspot more than usb tethering because it is just easier to connect via wifi than connecting the device with usb. I also suspect that a lot of abusers of free hotspot are ipad/tablet/ipod touch users. These are all guesses of course. I know the developers of pdanet have included a hide wireless tethering feature in their latest version in an effort to try to hide free hotspot from the carriers. However, if you look it up you will see many users saying it isn't working. Although I think many are iphone users because they can jailbreak but cannot install different roms/kernels. It could be software on the device that is giving the info. to the carriers or something in the data. If you search there are tons of people speculating how the carriers are figuring it out. The good news is with the galaxy nexus there will be a way to get free wireless hotspot if you really want it. The question will be whether you can just run it naively, or you have to root it and use a work around, or you have install a custom rom (of which there will be many, including cyanogenmod 9 which is currently in development). For those who insist on getting it for free there will most certainly be a way. Once the device releases on VZW there will be tons of threads on it.