Portable WiFi Hotspot locked... so much for being a Nexus Phone!

[edoublediz]

Re: Portable WiFi Hotspot locked... so much for being a Nexus Pho

I was hoping being a nexus phone VZW wouldn't require the extra data subscription to use the hotspot feature like you can with the Nexus S.... looks like I was wrong... How foolish of me!

i missed the part where google or verizon said that because it is a nexus phone you got services for free!!! these forums.......i swear.

 

[Channan]

Re: Portable WiFi Hotspot locked... so much for being a Nexus Pho

So true. Even the iPhone does this, and you wouldn't say that's not a true Apple device.

 

[jphillips1963]

Re: Portable WiFi Hotspot locked... so much for being a Nexus Pho

Correct me if I'm wrong but when Verizon applied with the FCC for there LTE signal one of the things that was required of verizon from the FCC was to provide free Hotspot? I had read this someplace else online and actually saw the FCC ruling on this in a letter of approval for verizon to carry the bandwidth for the LTE service.

James

 

[jasoraso]

Re: Portable WiFi Hotspot locked... so much for being a Nexus Pho

I don't believe the FCC auction requires free hotspot. However, my understanding of the FCC auction included a stipulation that the buyer (Verizon) ALLOW users to use devices/applications of their own choosing and design. In other words, Verizon can't keep you from using the a Hotspot application on the new frequencies. 3G, and possibly even some 4g (if it is on the older frequencies) wouldn't be subject to this requirement.

There has been talk of a lawsuit (maybe one actually was filed) against VZW because Google removed some hotpspot apps from being visible in the Market when accessed by a device using VZW's cell service (if you use wifi service, those apps typically have shown up). However, because this was an action taken by Google, not VZW, and because technically VZW isn't preventing you from USING a hotspot app, but merely being aided and abetted by Google to keep you from downloading from Google's market a hotspot app (when other sources are available), I don't believe the lawsuit will be very effective.

Theoretically, VZW should NOT attempt to block you or charge you for using a hotspot app of your choice on the 4G (or at least the new frequencies). However, I don't believe VZW has an affirmative obligation to provide hotspot for 4G devices.