Mobile phones & tethering

timdownieuk

As someone who has an "unlimited" internet option on my contract with T-mobile (for use with my phone), I'm more than a little frustrated that my data access via a "tethered" iPod touch (using my phones built in wifi capabilities and a wifi hotspot app) has recently been blocked.

Strictly speaking, I know that they've got me by the short and curlies so to speak as using other devices to download data like this isn't permitted under my contract, even when that data is downloaded though the supplied handset.

That said, I do feel that this is an unfair restriction on my right to access the data allowance that I've paid for (in practice, not unlimited but 1GB per month). I'll never get anywhere near my data limits with my current handset and even when using my iPod tethered to my phone, I doubt very much whether I'd still use more than a fraction of my allowance. As said elsewhere, it's a bit like being made to eat soup with a fork. It seems to me that it's just a mechanism for network providers to stop you using your allowance and to force you into paying extra data fees.

Given that ALL the network providers seem to have similar restrictive clauses, could it be argued that such clauses are anti-competitive and unreasonable?

grumbler

...ALL the network providers seem to have similar restrictive clauses...

AFAIK, all except '3'. Am not sure if it's for all all plans.

timdownieuk

grumbler wrote: »

AFAIK, all except '3'. Am not sure if it's for all all plans.

Hmm, I've tried looking for this and all I can find is this.

Looking at their pay monthly packages:

"Internet – For use in the UK only. If you reach your monthly limit of inclusive data you’ll be charged your standard rate to continue using the internet. You can’t use your allowance for using your phone as a modem. If you want to do this you can buy an Add-on from Three, details can be found in our Three Price Guide "

So it looks like on a basic pay monthly deal, you can't use tethered devices.

Even if I could, previous experience with 3 would make them bottom of my list of choices for network provider

grumbler

There was some conflicting information recently about their 'One Plan'. I've checked and you seem to be right: no tethering.

jayme1

whereas 3 mobile may not want to allow tethering on their truly unlimited One Plan, they do fully allow it on their normal data add ons.

for instance I am on their PAYG and can buy their 2GB 30day data add on for £5, of which I can use that data however I want, video streaming, VoIP, tethering, the way 3 see it is you have bought 'x' amount of data you can use it however you want until it gets used up.
it also works for their 120MB 24hr 50p add on and their 512MB 7day £2.50 add on

(you can also use tethering without buying an add on but at 31p per MB you would have to be pretty rich to do so)

gjchester

timdownieuk wrote: »

Strictly speaking, I know that they've got me by the short and curlies so to speak as using other devices to download data like this isn't permitted under my contract, even when that data is downloaded though the supplied handset.

That said, I do feel that this is an unfair restriction on my right to access the data allowance that I've paid for (in practice, not unlimited but 1GB per month).

If you want to tether then you need to pay the tethering charge simple as that. Just because a phone can do it it does not mena your contract permit it.

Rusty!

Tethering has been blocked because you have an iOS device. They tether in a specific way which service providers can control.

If you wanted to go against the T&C's of your contract, you need another type of handset. I bet an Android handset with your SIM will function happily as a wireless hotspot until T-Mobile decide to hoof you off their network (which they probably wont in all honesty, I can't see them analysing every packet from every customer).

asylum_seeker

Rusty! wrote: »

Tethering has been blocked because you have an iOS device. They tether in a specific way which service providers can control.

If you wanted to go against the T&C's of your contract, you need another type of handset. I bet an Android handset with your SIM will function happily as a wireless hotspot until T-Mobile decide to hoof you off their network (which they probably wont in all honesty, I can't see them analysing every packet from every customer).

Wrong! You CAN tether your iphone 3GS/4 without your network operator finding out. You'll have to jailbreak your iphone and then install MyWi from Cydia which basically fools your network operator into thinking you're still using your phone for data when you're not. I have been using MyWi to access internet on my laptop via my iphone for the last couple of years and Vodafone have not charged me a single penny

Rusty!

Ah well there you go, not everyone has jail-broken of course.

But they probably should

gjchester

asylum_seeker wrote: »

Wrong! You CAN tether your iphone 3GS/4 without your network operator finding out. You'll have to jailbreak your iphone and then install MyWi from Cydia which basically fools your network operator into thinking you're still using your phone for data when you're not. I have been using MyWi to access internet on my laptop via my iphone for the last couple of years and Vodafone have not charged me a single penny

Theres two issues at play here.

One can you physically do it, and the answer is yes

Two can they tell and will they charge you. The answer is yes and maybe.

Try hammering your connection and exceeeding your data limit and they'll analyse the data and probably stick you for a large data bill. Stay below the limits and chances are they won't check because there are so many people on data plans it's not worth checking each one.

The MyWi site is quite clear about charges.

"Please check your contract/carrier agreement regarding WiFi tethering other devices to your iPhone/iPad. Additional charges may apply."

Again just because you can do it doesn't mean you won't be charged for it.

asylum_seeker

gjchester wrote: »

Theres two issues at play here.

One can you physically do it, and the answer is yes

Two can they tell and will they charge you. The answer is yes and maybe.

Try hammering your connection and exceeeding your data limit and they'll analyse the data and probably stick you for a large data bill. Stay below the limits and chances are they won't check because there are so many people on data plans it's not worth checking each one.

The MyWi site is quite clear about charges.

"Please check your contract/carrier agreement regarding WiFi tethering other devices to your iPhone/iPad. Additional charges may apply."

Again just because you can do it doesn't mean you won't be charged for it.

I understand what you're saying BUT i know for a fact Vodafone charge you £5 (for 500mb data) as soon as you connect your iphone to your pc and hit "tether" on the iphone menu...doesn't matter if you download 1kb of data or 1GB of data...tethering is tethering. Now that's where MyWi comes in; the app somehow hides your pc name and fools your network provider into thinking you're still using your phone for data. The fact that Vodafone have NOT charged me single penny for 2 years of tethering using MyWi proves that Vodafone don't know i'm tethering; of course i always stay within my monthly data limit of 1GB to avoid extra data charges.

As for MyWi's statement of "Please check your contract/carrier agreement regarding WiFi tethering other devices to your iPhone/iPad. Additional charges may apply." this is just a disclaimer to stop people suing them for charges should they ever get charged by their network. But AFAIK no-one EVER has been charged for tethering when using MyWi; again proof that MyWi fools your network operator

Taken from Vodafone's website:

How tethering works on your iPhone

Tethering is charged separately from the 1GB of mobile internet use that you get as part of your pay monthly price plan. As soon as you tether your laptop or netbook to the internet, you'll pay £5 for 500MB that lasts for 30 days. Use more than 500MB in that time and you'll pay £5 for each extra 500MB.