Is it stealing?

[Chrisy]

But on the other hand, how much does it cost for a carrier to maintain SMS..Pretty much nothing or little to nothing and they are charging us for it.

I think it's 2011 and carriers need to realize people use smartphones to tether. Include it in plans.

This doesn't have anything to do with tethering though. You always have the option of not adding a text package. I don't have one and use use Google Voice to text free. Save me $20/month.

But it doesn't make sense to say you tether without paying because you pay for SMS.

 

[PensHockey]

So how much data do i get with "Ulimited Data"?

If i dont tether and dont root and all i do is use alot and i mean ALOT of data can they shut off my service for going over there limit for "unlimited data"?

Should Verizon go after Apps on the Market place that offer tethering? You can tether with out rooting?

 

[davidnc]

If you want to tether then tether,,,,,, if you dont tether then dont .If it doesnt affect your account dont worry about .

Its a personal decision in the journey of life just like the days of our lives,lol
I forgot what the limit to the "unlimited data plan" is now, used to be 5gb.
I am on wifi's most of the time, so its a non issue for me .
You can always log into your account to keep an eye of your data use,,,apx. depends on when(account) updated usually every 24 hrs. or less.

 

[RHChan84]

This doesn't have anything to do with tethering though. You always have the option of not adding a text package. I don't have one and use use Google Voice to text free. Save me $20/month.

But it doesn't make sense to say you tether without paying because you pay for SMS.

Carriers are stealing from us. SMS are free to them but are charging us. So why not take from them and tether was my point. I know I can take SMS off but I use it all the time. And Google voice is fine for me but then I would have to send that number to everyone I text.

 

[Johnly]

@Chrisy, I don't care what other people do I do have an opinion, that's it. When carriers get tired of it, they will fix it. Users will just find new ways then. I just don’t get making excuses like long drawn out reasons why their entitled to steal services. I would just man/woman up and say “ I circumvent the system, and steal tethered services." I can respect that. Anyway, like I say, it's nice to be in a situation that I can afford it. So I will pay. I understand the poor man/woman ripping it to, they just cannot pay, and that must suck, so tether away. I don’t want to make anyone mad, but it would be nice to agree to disagree hearing excuses of why it is OK, especially ones like, "it is illegal unless you have a contract" is really...welll.....see what I mean. Bottom line, when people sign an agreement, then break that agreement, then proceed to tell everyone here why they are in the right to do so sounds ludicrous. For those that say "I tether, yeah, its wrong, but I am going to do it anyway," I can at least respect that, whether I agree or not.

PS. So not to offend anyone, I am a poor broke college student. Free tether sounds great, but I have not missed a meal paying for it.

 

[Chrisy]

So how much data do i get with "Ulimited Data"?

If i dont tether and dont root and all i do is use alot and i mean ALOT of data can they shut off my service for going over there limit for "unlimited data"?


Should Verizon go after Apps on the Market place that offer tethering? You can tether with out rooting?

You have unlimited data from the device only. You can tethering without paying if you are rooted.

You can tether without paying a monthly fee to VZW if you are not rooted by buying a tethering app. They are a one time fee.

Like I mentioned earlier an app called Tether is found in a VZW branded app store. You can buy this app by accessing the VZW mobile site from your device. I can't imagine they're not aware of this.

 

[PensHockey]

You have unlimited data from the device only. You can tethering without paying if you are rooted.

You can tether without paying a monthly fee to VZW if you are not rooted by buying a tethering app. They are a one time fee.

Like I mentioned earlier an app called Tether is found in a VZW branded app store. You can buy this app by accessing the VZW mobile site from your device. I can't imagine they're not aware of this.

So my other question. If you can tether with out rooting how will they know your tethering?

If its just by the fact that you use alot of data then people who get cut off for using to much data have an argument that verizon back out of the contract and should pay the customer an early termination fee.

Can they cut me off for using to much data on the "Unlimited Data" plan?

 

[Chrisy]

So my other question. If you can tether with out rooting how will they know your tethering?

If its just by the fact that you use alot of data then people who get cut off for using to much data have an argument that verizon back out of the contract and should pay the customer an early termination fee.

Can they cut me off for using to much data on the "Unlimited Data" plan?

They can tell if they look into your data use. The packets of data sent and received while tethering is much more than when using the device.

I don't know of anyone who was "caught" tethering nor dropped nor throttled. I've heard friend of a friend stories buy no proof or first hand stories.

VZW states in the contact that they can terminate your contract.

Basic unwritten rule is to stay under 5GB. Not sure if that still applies with the amount of data we can now rack up just using our device data.

 

[GenericMessage]

Well last year VZW had 9,400,100 customers.

That's a fair number of people.

Lets just say half of them have a smart phone (this is purely a demonstration and not factual, so please don't flip out on me if you believe that more or less have smart phones).

That's 4,700,50 smart phones!
Lets just crack open the money they get from the $30 data charge ALONE.
$141,001,500
That's one month ALONE from smartphone data plans.

Let's see how much they'd made if we all paid the extra $20 to tether.
$235,002,500
That would put them nearly $100 million ahead.

They made over $63,000,000,000 dollars last year in revenue (not to be mistaken for profit).

Now these numbers are all abstract. And the only real figure I know is their total revenue from last year.

I am just putting that out there to make you think.

Does making your phone share its internet cost Verizon any extra money?
That is the real question.

When does charging customers for service get away from covering costs and making profit to expand, to boosting corporate wages?

 

[Kwdan]

if they allow me to plug my phone into my laptop and usb tether, how come i cant use a wifi tether. My sprint plan says unlimited data. data passes through my phone when i usb tether and it passes through my phone when i wifi tether. how can they tell the difference?

 

[GenericMessage]

if they allow me to plug my phone into my laptop and usb tether, how come i cant use a wifi tether. My sprint plan says unlimited data. data passes through my phone when i usb tether and it passes through my phone when i wifi tether. how can they tell the difference?

From what I understand when you tether (Via USB or WIFI) it can use different ports (DNS?), and that is what tips them off.

That and the larger data amounts.

 

[kentusmc]

But on the other hand, how much does it cost for a carrier to maintain SMS..Pretty much nothing or little to nothing and they are charging usfor it.

I think it's 2011 and carriers need to realize people use smartphones to tether. Include it in plans.

The cost to the carrier is nothing compared to the cost to us, if the included free unlimited tethering they would gain so many new customers and so much profit. Help us, help them.

 

[garrettfarnum]

Wait so is it illegal to USB tether?

No, they're talking about wireless tethering. Which is creating a wireless hot-spot from your phone and connecting computers (or other wireless devices) to your phone


Sent from my HTC Evo 3D using Tapatalk

 

[garrettfarnum]

Isn't rooting also a breach of contract?

Under most terms, no. As long as you're not doing something against your TOS then you're okay. There is nothing wrong with rooting.


Sent from my HTC Evo 3D using Tapatalk

 

[GenericMessage]

Under most terms, no. As long as you're not doing something against your TOS then you're okay. There is nothing wrong with rooting.


Sent from my HTC Evo 3D using Tapatalk

I cannot speak for other carriers, but for Verizon?

Yes, rooting is a form of software modification, and in-turn, is against verizons TOS.

Rooting however is not ILLEGAL (thank's to the supreme court now).

But if Verizon deems it that you've been abusing their system they can take you to civil court. But there is no way with 3G speeds you'd do enough data to make them even consider it.

 

[ottscay]

So I just need to sign a contract honestly then I can proceed to break the terms as I see fit? Got ya

Ok, I'm done being polite. Are you dense, or are you just a jerk? I've said repeatedly that it's not something I'd condone. But that's an ethical consideration, and the OP was clearly asking about whether it's stealing, and whether you like it or not that's a legal issue. Tethering with an alternative app is NOT stealing, it's breach of contract. This should be really obvious - if you make a contract with a company (in any industry) and then try to leverage your position in a way the contract doesn't allow it's a civil issue; if you simply try to "benefit" from a company with no contract it's stealing. Niether is a commendable behavior, but that doesn't mean there aren't legal differences between them.

It's not an ethical statement at all but a legal distinction, so stop trying to play cutsie and making it so. And this is important, because some things that are legal are still unethical, and some things that are illegal may not necessarily be unethical. The two don't perfectly overlap.

 

[Droid800]

Carriers are stealing from us. SMS are free to them but are charging us. So why not take from them and tether was my point. I know I can take SMS off but I use it all the time. And Google voice is fine for me but then I would have to send that number to everyone I text.

Your attitude is what is wrong with the world. First of all, SMS is not free for them. Have you seen the data for the exponential increase in SMS and MMS? Increases in the amount of SMSes being sent requires more infrastructure on Verizon's part in order to cope. They pay the cost up front, which is then amortized by the fees it charges users. Yes, at a certain point they break even. But you're still using their network for it.

Second of all, even if they were somehow 'stealing' from you, (which is a ridiculous notion, because you don't own the network that SMSes are sent over, and they're not stealing anything from you), it doesn't entitle you to violate your contract and use a service for which you are not paying. Don't try and spin it as 'well they owe me since I'm paying for SMS' because that line of argumentation will get you nowhere.

You are not entitled to anything, so stop acting like you are. If you choose to tether in violation of your contract, Verizon knows it and you deserve to get caught.

 

[DCooper323]

If my carrier didnt want me to use it, they would not have sold me a phone that had the app pre-installed, and available without restrictions.

 

[Droid800]

If my carrier didnt want me to use it, they would not have sold me a phone that had the app pre-installed, and available without restrictions.

Except it isn't available without restrictions. You use it, you pay for it.

 

[Johnly]

@ottscay. Relax, and please continue to be polite. This is a good thread. Insinuating I am being "dense, cutsie, [sic] or a jerk," doesn't strengthen your argument any. I am open minded enough to realize not everyone sees hacking tether (you must hack your phone first) the way I do. I don't expect people to stop, and it is none of my business what they do with their phones, and ultimately I don't care. I say it again, and I know I am not the only one that feels this way, but stealing tether is no different than stealing premium cable if you only have basic. It is stealing, bottom line. Is it against the law? I an not a lawyer and states have their own laws on piracy. It is no different than stealing music or movies from torrents when the artists is selling THEIR work. Same thing, networks providing THEIR services do so under the assumption that t I follow the agreement I put my name on. Not trying to offend anyone here, and I know some people are really sensitive about it. With that, I still hold firm on my original stance. It is stealing man. I know plenty if people feel the same. OP deserves opinions from both perspectives. It is clear we see it differently, and that is OK we can continue to introduce reasons why we have our opinions, but let's do it politely? And even though we disagree here, I bet we agree on something android! Take care.