Tethering on Orange - argument between supplier and orange - what is position

usignuolo

I have a Samsung S3 which I took out with a contract from Get Connected (Orange agents) in November. I have a small business contract which includes 1 gb data a month. One of the things I wanted included in my contract was the ability to tether my phone as I am developing an app with a friend (who is the technical person). I specified the contract should include that and was assured it did by Get Connected, on several occasions.

We are now trying to test the app and cannot get tethering to work. I can tether the phone to my laptop but cannot then see the Internet. After an extended conversation with Orange last week I was told it was a problem at their end and they would fix it. It still does not work and now today they have changed their tune and say this is because internet tethering is not included in my contract as far as they are concerned - it is an additional option which costs extra and I do not have this option included. They referred me back to Get Connected.

Get Connected say as far as they are concerned my phone supports tethering and I have more than enough bandwidth to do so, so there is no reason why it should not work and Orange are talking through their hat. They say that I simply tether and once I have used up my bandwidth I get charged extra but that I have more than enough bandwidth to support it.

The Orange website says:

Tethering has become a lot easier with the introduction of Wi-Fi connectivity. Android 2.2 and later and iPhone iOS 4.3 operating systems have Wi-Fi hotspot applications. Simply follow the onscreen instructions to turn it on, enable Wi-Fi on the other device (e.g. laptop), search for the phone's Wi-Fi signal on the other device and pair the two together with a password:

Anyone got any insights? Are Orange just fobbing me off?

grumbler

usignuolo wrote: »

Get Connected say as far as they are concerned my phone supports tethering and I have more than enough bandwidth to do so, so there is no reason why it should not work and Orange are talking through their hat.

Anyone got any insights?

They are talking rubbish. Tethering isn't allowed on the majority of tariffs regardless of the handset used and the bandwidth available.
If they promised tethering they have to either sort this out with Orange or reimburse you for the extra costs of having it added. As simple as that.

usignuolo

Well I have found a number of chat lines with Orange users saying that tethering is allowed with 1gb plans, which mine is. Maybe they have changed it recently?

withabix

Tethering is normally contract-specific on Orange.

It depends on the T&Cs of your Plan - it will either be included or extra.

Neil49

Tethering is allowed on their Panther packages (which is what I am on) but, as far as I am aware, I don't think there is any kind of block as such, but they would eventually identify tethering from the pattern of usage.

Quite what the situation is for a business package I don't know, but in terms of actually connecting via tethering it just takes a few seconds to activate on the phone, enter a very basic passcode and off you go.

I don't have any problems at all tethering from from my HTC phone to either my HP netbook or Samsung tablet.

usignuolo

So basically Get Connected were lying or ignorant when they told me it should work because I had enough bandwidth. They certainly appear to have no knowledge of extra contract requirements for tethering via Orange.

How does this work?

usignuolo

I have looked up tethering on the Orange website, for sole traders, and there is lots of information about how it works for the iphone and the tethering options for the iphone but I cannot find any for the androids. My bundle does include unlimited free wifi.

in_the_Cotswolds

You can turn your S3 into a WiFi hotspot and connect your devices to it.

chanz4

get connected just wanted the connection sold

Valspire

Hi

The Orange 1Gb data allowance is really designed for UK browsing and emails only, however if the roaming facility is enabled at the network, then you can still access data however it is extremely expensive.

If you wish to use broadband efficiently whilst abroad you have three options:

1. Use the available wireless signal in the vicinity ie. cafe, hotel etc which is by far cheaper and will undoubtedly be faster than your mobile.

2. Add a bolt-on 'browse and tethering option' [this is the product name] which will provide two levels of data whilst tethered to your laptop. The current available allowance is either 2Gb or 3Gb priced at £15 and £20 respectively per month Exc. Vat.

3. Purchase a mobile broadband dongle however the rates will be as high as point 1 and the signal depending on your location is likely to be slow.

It really doesn't matter which device you use, however IPhone tethering is currently more expensive at £40 pcm. Please be mindful of the out of bundle costs if you exceed your contracted allowance.

With regards your current provider they may have mistaken your requirements for general data use unless you specifically advised data should be accessible whilst abroad and budgeted within a Plan.

Hope this helps

Tony5101

Where was anything mentioned about using data abroad?