FYI: Verizon, by law is not allowed to block tethering on 4G devices

[jedoles]

There is also consumer greed. It goes both ways.

"I can leave Hulu streaming 24/7 if I would like so, I payed for unlimited data and that's what I can go for if I want."

If you think you are getting screwed, then take VZW to court. I wonder... how will that turn out?

I don't understand how it can be consumer greed if you are paying for unlimited data. I could just as easy download over 100gb in a month without tethering using just my handset. If I am paying for unlimited why is it that I should have to limit what I download? What happens when streaming netflix comes out. Im sure data useage is going to go through the roof. Is that greedy?

Verizon boasts about all the things you can do with the Thunderbolt and with 4G itself. Verizon isn't stupid. They already know how much data streaming uses. I figure they are already expecting data usage to be extremely high. Those that pay for unlimited should receive just that.

I remember working for Comcast back when routers were not widley used nor accepted. We would refuse to support their connection unless they removed the router from their setup. Hell people often lied about the fact that they had a router even though we could tell they did. We did not disable their account or flag them as doing something they shouldnt, we just asked that they remove it during troubleshooting. As time went on and more people were using them Comcast gave the option of purchasing their home networking service but were not required to. It was a battle they were not going to win. Its just a matter of time before this happens with cell phone internet usage.

 

[1966cah]

It's obvious to me the FCC doesn't much care.

Seriously, whoever thinks the FCC doesn't already know all about this please raise your hand. If there was a problem, a huge contractual violation being/about to be perpetrated by all the major cell carriers, I seriously doubt that it is under the FCC's radar. Likewise, I am convinced that the lawyer brigades have gone over this every which way and that there is no argument or angle being discussed here that they have not considered and planned for.

 

[FrankXS]

I don't understand how it can be consumer greed if you are paying for unlimited data.

"Unlimited Data" is a VZW invented term. They can simply un-invent it. Or, they can just reinvent the term to say "Unlimited Data Connection Time". Problem solved. Bottom line... VZW can not be forced to sell or give away anything. Ever. It's up to the consumer to take it or leave it. There are other carriers. This is what the free market is all about.

I get the feeling that some folks may be happier in certain other countries.

-Frank

P.S. There won't be any "court battle" over this. Just ain't gonna happen.

 

[jedoles]

"Unlimited Data" is a VZW invented term. They can simply un-invent it. Or, they can just reinvent the term to say "Unlimited Data Connection Time". Problem solved. Bottom line... VZW can not be forced to sell or give away anything. Ever. It's up to the consumer to take it or leave it. There are other carriers. This is what the free market is all about.

I get the feeling that some folks may be happier in certain other countries.

-Frank

P.S. There won't be any "court battle" over this. Just ain't gonna happen.

Im not saying there will be a court battle. I am just disputing the consumer greed portion of this discussion.

The average person will associate "unlimited data" as just that..unlimited. So those people would then use the service they think they are paying for. I for one under the impression that is free data would download as much as I would like in thinking that it is unlimited.

 

[bucrepus]

Don't understand

Maybe some stupid questions.. I don't understand, please help... The whole reason of these 4G huge screen phones was faster access for a more rich multimedia environment, wasn't it? Download media messages, browse web (rich in media), video chat, and watch / stream movies applications? That?s what I see pushed in commercials and at store displays. What?s the deal with capped data? Why produce phones and limit data to a 5 or 10 GB cap. Doesn't this severely limit me on, say, how many movies I can watch in a month (along with normal data usage). At 4G speeds, these caps would surely be reached before the user realized how much they have used!!!..? I don't understand this whole 4G fast download media experience thing? Drive a Porsche and then constrict the gas line after 5 miles.. What the crap. Maybe I am looking at this wrong.

 

[danperde]

There is also consumer greed. It goes both ways.

"I can leave Hulu streaming 24/7 if I would like so, I payed for unlimited data and that's what I can go for if I want."

If you think you are getting screwed, then take VZW to court. I wonder... how will that turn out?

Instead of taking carrier's side and bashing customers as being greedy (when they payed for unlimited plans) you should be outraged that you are paying for something that you don't get. They sell you an unlimited plan and then they limit you. How's that for greedy? And BTW, I never went over 2GB data/month, I was just pointing out that we are in our rights to go for unlimited if we want to. If the carrier's network can't handle it, maybe it's time for them to get their off their lazy asses and upgrade the network. Or don't sell something that you can't deliver.

 

[jedoles]

Instead of taking carrier's side and bashing customers as being greedy (when they payed for unlimited plans) you should be outraged that you are paying for something that you don't get. They sell you an unlimited plan and then they limit you. How's that for greedy? And BTW, I never went over 2GB data/month, I was just pointing out that we are in our rights to go for unlimited if we want to. If the carrier's network can't handle it, maybe it's time for them to get their off their lazy asses and upgrade the network. Or don't sell something that you can't deliver.

Thats exactly the point I was trying to get across. If its not unlimited dont call it unlimited. Not everyone reads their TOS. I know they probably should and I'm sure most people are guilty of that. It's misleading however to call something unlimited that is not. Its just like saying something is Free when you have to buy something else to get it. It's not really "Free" then is it?

 

[rayjr13]

Not everyone reads their TOS.

(Not directed at you but quoting you cause you mentioned it...)

and that about sums it up doesn't it? In case we missed the lesson in school and one of the root personality disorders we Americans have: that, whatever i believe, i should be entitled to as my reality; and that capitalism is most lucrative when you can get the "stupid" to part with their money.

And without copyrights or infringements involved in the situation, yes it's free if you didn't pay for it. The thing you bought was what cost money. Free in commerce means you cannot have it just cause you have the money to pay for it :-$. Means you can only have it if the owner wants to give it to you. Free just means you can't buy the rights to ownership not that you are entitled to have it because you want it and there is no charge

oh boy...I'd hate to hear the retort once people figure out what 4G does/doesn't mean.
Not that any of this will ever change, it's too ingrained in American culture. Land of the free and home to those who don't read their TOS but thankfully have the freedom to speech about it. lol

oh and I love the "by unlimited" we meant "unlimited time" that's perfect and probably not far from the truth!

 

[reyxlp]

You guys can argue the language and ethics of this thing until you're blue in the fingers.

Look at the history of similar class action cases - most result in a one time pathetic credit or coupon of a laughable amount of money.

Look at the recent scoreboard of corporations vs. governmental regulating bodies - it's a lopsided blowout.

Of course Verizon (and all these other companies) advertise more than they actually deliver, it's all in the fine print.

The bottom line is their bottom line:

Verizon is also an internet provider through Fios and DSL, so it is clearly not in their best interests to let people use their 3G or LTE device to replace all their other internet connections under a truly unlimited data plan with no extra fees.

The reason they are able to charge the most of any other carrier while also providing the crappiest assortment of handsets (until only very relatively recently) is the reliability of their network so the last thing they are going to risk is the AT&T iPhone fiasco with everyone eating up all the bandwidth through unlimited free data tethering on handsets.

As long as the vast majority of "tetherers" sign up for the Mobile Hotspot plan, I bet they will happily look the other way on the few unlimited tetherers -- whom they would otherwise lose to other carriers that will allow them to get away with this -- while targetting the most extreme, flagrant data-hogs.

If you think "unlimited means unlimited, tethered or not" -- and I personally don't disagree with that -- and you want to hold Verizon accountable to that, get ready to get organized because the only way to do it would be to get MILLIONS of subscribers coordinated to switch to another carrier once their contracts run out AND specifically tell Verizon THIS is the reason why.

In America, we can't get our act together to do this for basic life or death needs like healthcare, lol, so good luck getting people together to do it for unlimited data tethering.

 

[pazzo02]

I think I have to agree with Droid800. Verizon is not blocking tethering if they offer it as a paid service.

 

[raynoldsk]

Here's an idea, for those who are all wadded up because free tethering is on the way out:

Start your own phone company and offer everyone free and unlimited tethering.

You'll have thousands of customers right out of the box, so I am sure you will be very successful. Just don't have a contract or terms of use for your customers, because you clearly have no respect for contractural agreements, and it would be a shame for that attitude to bite you on the butt.

 

[blackmannx#AC]

As stated... Verizon does not Block tethering.. Simply allows you to do it if you pay for it. and the auction does not apply to your contract which allows VZW to bill or close your acct for anything that places the network stability at risk.

that being said you really dont want free tethering to the masses.. trust me the network isnt meant to be used like that at least unless you want data prices to skyrocket..

 

[PJnc284]

yeah, a lot of people don't understand that it isn't a replacement for a dedicated broadband connection. Someone at xda showed a screenshot of where they had used over 100GB. That's a bit ridiculous.

 

[tdizzel]

As stated... Verizon does not Block tethering.. Simply allows you to do it if you pay for it. and the auction does not apply to your contract which allows VZW to bill or close your acct for anything that places the network stability at risk.

that being said you really dont want free tethering to the masses.. trust me the network isnt meant to be used like that at least unless you want data prices to skyrocket..

I could really see it going this way if people continue to be so stubborn about their perceived right to tether. VZW deciding to have their only plan be $99.99 for unlimited data. You wanna tether? fork over you $99.99 a month and tether all you want. Don't wanna tether? Sorry, but a few boneheads ruined it for everyone now fork over your $99.99 a month. And I'm sure other carriers would follow suit.

 

[PJnc284]

I could really see it going this way if people continue to be so stubborn about their perceived right to tether. VZW deciding to have their only plan be $99.99 for unlimited data. You wanna tether? fork over you $99.99 a month and tether all you want. Don't wanna tether? Sorry, but a few boneheads ruined it for everyone now fork over your $99.99 a month. And I'm sure other carriers would follow suit.

I think they should just go to tiered with tethering included. I wouldn't really care if I was paying $29 for 5GB if I could use it how I wanted. The ones using the phone as dedicated internet or streaming a lot would be the only ones angry.

 

[mpciii]

I think they should just go to tiered with tethering included. I wouldn't really care if I was paying $29 for 5GB if I could use it how I wanted. The ones using the phone as dedicated internet or streaming a lot would be the only ones angry.

I've always thought this makes the most sense.

 

[Holley2583]

Um, call me crazy or stupid, but is there a single tethering app out there that isn't the currently free to use til may 15th one that supports 4g? If there is, does it have 0 support for 3g? I ask because the thing says that 4g network access cannot be hindered, the 700 mhz spectrum, but all tethering apps use 3g, or have support for 3g. Since verizon has the right to block 3g tethering, isn't it fully within their rights to block such apps as best as possible to as to protect their 3G network? Now if you can point me to a 4G lte tethering app that has no 3g or 2g support and which verizon has blocked, then I'd say they are violating the terms they agreed to. However I don't believe such a thing has happened yet, and they still have free 4g tethering via their own wireless hotspot app til the 15th, so no one has any right to really even complain until then.

Could you please point me in the direction of where you got this information? I'd like to read more about this as I am looking into switching from Sprint to Verizon for device purposes. thanks.