Droid Tethering Warning

[BlueIce5249]

People always ask what will happen if they're caught tethering.

Well, VZW will suspend or terminate your contract. (Probably after charging you an arm and a leg)


Just a friendly little warning to those who are already running Froyo, such as myself.

 

[Jayse]

Is this speaking from a recent personal experience?

 

[tjreishus]

I have not heard of a single person getting charged, warned, reprimanded, scolded or whatever else you can think of as a punishment. As far as I know it's legal technical stuff but has never been used. Sure, it can happen. It could happen. I've heard they are changing their system to catch people in the future. The fact still remains that I have never heard of anyone who has run into any problems. "I have a cousin who's friends brothers uncle" doesn't count. I'll only believe first person stories....and maybe not even then.

 

[BAC5.2]

Couldn't the argument be made that you pay for unlimited data, what is wrong with viewing on your laptop what you would view on your phone?

 

[nightelvesreasy]

Couldn't the argument be made that you pay for unlimited data, what is wrong with viewing on your laptop what you would view on your phone?

the problem is your basicly getting free internet through your cell, and people tend to want to game over xbox live or PS3 while tethering, now if vzw catches on, they could charge as much as $1.99/MB used while teathering, its a minor chance, but its still a chance if they start monitoring your data usage, for example, one month you use 4 gigs of data, and the next month its jumped up to 20 gigs of data, if they watch data usage close enough, that would be a instant red flag, and they would look closer into what your using all your data on, granted its possible to use 10-20 gigs of data without tethering, but like i said, its still a risk, for me, i tether just for the fact that my ISP decided to shut me off (never go with Frontier) untill i get that issue resolved, i tether very minor just to check the boards here, check email etc

 

[BlueIce5249]

This is more of a friendly warning I think. I know Verizon can see everything a smart does and has on their phone, but I don't think their searching for it.

As long as you don't go overboard on data and stay under the radar, you should be fine.

 

[G.Armour]

I seen once on crackberry where this chick got charged like 2500 dollars for tethering but she didn't have a data package.
But honestly I have tethered and downloaded torrents and almost anything you can think of, I know a couple of months back, my data total hit like 15 gigs. How it got that high? I have no idea. But I didn't get charged or punished in any way. Now, I think when VZW starts charging for tethering on the Droid, if you plan to tether, get it. And use it until you get up to a few gigs and then swap over to wireless tether for root. I don't think that it will be tracked the same way, or at least I hop3 not. But anyway, that's just my opinion and I hope this helps.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[otter]

Is this speaking from a recent personal experience?

Upgraded Your DROID to Froyo? Don’t Tether it! - Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog

 

[inssane]

Better not tell them its built into Froyo if you get caught, voids warranty since it's not official "yet".
Tell them you are using PDA Net as no root is required
PdaNet -- USB Tether/Bluetooth DUN for Android

 

[G.Armour]

Better not tell them its built into Froyo if you get caught, voids warranty since it's not official "yet".
Tell them you are using PDA Net as no root is required
PdaNet -- USB Tether/Bluetooth DUN for Android

Or Easy tether. Don't mention anything about wifi hotspot either for your Droid I.e. (wireless tether for root users) because just being rooted voids your warranty. Be smart and cautious.
As a matter of fact, I wouldn't even call VZW and ask them anything about tethering because technically we ain't even supposed to be able to do that. Calling them and asking would be like calling the cops and telling them someone stole your drugs. (That was a metaphor of course) but I hope I got my point across.
Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[BAC5.2]

But I pay for internet on my phone.

I don't plan to ever game over it, but I might watch a netflix movie or something when we go on vacation to a no-internet location.

the problem is your basicly getting free internet through your cell, and people tend to want to game over xbox live or PS3 while tethering, now if vzw catches on, they could charge as much as $1.99/MB used while teathering, its a minor chance, but its still a chance if they start monitoring your data usage, for example, one month you use 4 gigs of data, and the next month its jumped up to 20 gigs of data, if they watch data usage close enough, that would be a instant red flag, and they would look closer into what your using all your data on, granted its possible to use 10-20 gigs of data without tethering, but like i said, its still a risk, for me, i tether just for the fact that my ISP decided to shut me off (never go with Frontier) untill i get that issue resolved, i tether very minor just to check the boards here, check email etc

 

[BlueIce5249]

But I pay for internet on my phone.

I don't plan to ever game over it, but I might watch a netflix movie or something when we go on vacation to a no-internet location.

Exactly, and not on your computer. However, I must say that it's BS that internet on my phone is pretty much the same (and in some cases more) than internet at my house that I can do so much more with and is a lot faster. I'd like to see VZW explain that one

 

[BAC5.2]

I would say that I am using my computer for nothing more than a larger display and input device. I am not doing anything that I couldn't be doing on my phone.

 

[mastawyrm]

Exactly, and not on your computer. However, I must say that it's BS that internet on my phone is pretty much the same (and in some cases more) than internet at my house that I can do so much more with and is a lot faster. I'd like to see VZW explain that one

What's the difference? The phone is basically running linux, this isn't an antiquated connection just for wap. We don't have phones, we have really small computers with a built in CDMA modem. I'm paying $30/mo for about 1mbit so I should be allowed to use it on whatever device can use it. I realize that I'm on a shared bandwidth though so I try to limit heavy use.

Bottom line: the droid isn't really a phone any more than a wireless hotspot device or one of those verizon branded netbooks is a phone.

 

[otter]

Better not tell them its built into Froyo if you get caught, voids warranty since it's not official "yet".
Tell them you are using PDA Net as no root is required
PdaNet -- USB Tether/Bluetooth DUN for Android

I was wondering how they could tell the difference between PDA net and using tether in froyo? I suppose they can't

 

[jmt9779]

I'll only believe first person stories....and maybe not even then.

This is definitely one of my new favorite quotes

 

[BlueIce5249]

What's the difference? The phone is basically running linux, this isn't an antiquated connection just for wap. We don't have phones, we have really small computers with a built in CDMA modem. I'm paying $30/mo for about 1mbit so I should be allowed to use it on whatever device can use it. I realize that I'm on a shared bandwidth though so I try to limit heavy use.

Bottom line: the droid isn't really a phone any more than a wireless hotspot device or one of those verizon branded netbooks is a phone.

The difference is when you have internet on your phone, you're paying for internet on one device. When you're paying for internet at home, you're paying for the right to use it yourself on any device as long as you don't give it out for free.

 

[inssane]

I was wondering how they could tell the difference between PDA net and using tether in froyo? I suppose they can't

I have always used PDANet anyhow when tethering was broken and it's nice and quick anyhow.

 

[shadowdude777]

To anyone that argues that you're paying for "the right" to internet access, you aren't. It's a privilege, and the terms specifically say that tethering is in violation of your agreement. Supposedly they can charge you $1.99/MB for that data, which is quite a pretty penny.

EDIT: Considering the fact that I've heard that the Droid X's tethering plan will have a 2GB cap that will only be depleted by data used over tethering, it seems Verizon might be getting smarter. Soon they might be able to differentiate tethered data from natively accessed data.

 

[Gunner]

@ shadowdude: They'll be able to tell the difference on the X or any newer Android phone when you're using the official VZ tethering app on the phone, because that app will record & report your tether usage back to VZ. That's how they can differentiate between tether data & 'on-phone' data usage.

I don't believe they'll be able to tell the difference if we're using Wireless Tether, PDANet, etc. That will continue to look like 'on-phone' data usage (IMO).

I think the important point is, if you're not using VZW's official tethering plan, be smart about your usage & don't abuse it. Use it only when you really need it. That's what I do, and I've not run into any problems.

 

[Gunner]

What's the difference? The phone is basically running linux, this isn't an antiquated connection just for wap. We don't have phones, we have really small computers with a built in CDMA modem. I'm paying $30/mo for about 1mbit so I should be allowed to use it on whatever device can use it. I realize that I'm on a shared bandwidth though so I try to limit heavy use.

Bottom line: the droid isn't really a phone any more than a wireless hotspot device or one of those verizon branded netbooks is a phone.

I agree. I've always looked at these 'tethering plans' as pure profiteering on the part of the wireless companies. It's 'double-dipping'. With all that these 'phones' are capable of (full desktop browsing, video streaming, music streaming, etc), you can burn thru just as much data 'on-phone' as on a laptop tethered to the phone. The data has already traversed the network and hit your phone, it shouldn't matter where it goes after that. I don't feel one bit bad about using my own tethering solutions (for $0) as opposed to paying the wireless company for the same thing twice.

 

[shadowdude777]

I agree. I've always looked at these 'tethering plans' as pure profiteering on the part of the wireless companies. It's 'double-dipping'. With all that these 'phones' are capable of (full desktop browsing, video streaming, music streaming, etc), you can burn thru just as much data 'on-phone' as on a laptop tethered to the phone. The data has already traversed the network and hit your phone, it shouldn't matter where it goes after that. I don't feel one bit bad about using my own tethering solutions (for $0) as opposed to paying the wireless company for the same thing twice.

I seriously doubt anyone thinks tethering is MORALLY wrong. Hell, the only reason I use it, like someone else here said, is for the larger screen and keyboard. If the Droid had a micro-HDMI out port and there was a decent Bluetooth HID solution for Android, my phone would pretty much be the same as my netbook.

Bottom line: Tethering plans are a huge freaking rip-off. I look at them as insurance for not getting charged $1.99/MB; you know insurance is a huge rip-off, but what if something happens and you don't have insurance!?

 

[kg6epf]

I seriously doubt anyone thinks tethering is MORALLY wrong.

Well... There is a contract with your signature on it that clearly says this is out of bounds. Do I think I should be able to do what I want with my data? Of course I do.

I also know that I am very clearly violating the terms of my contract, and much more importantly to me, breaking my word every time I tether.

It's wrong for VZW to charge extra for this, but 2 wrongs don't make it right and I know that I am cheating the system ("morally wrong") every time I do. Just like when I drive too fast to work, I'm taking a risk, I know I'm wrong, and I may eventually get caught.

To the jerks that tether ridiculous amounts of data... Thanks for drawing attention to it and making us all pay.

 

[yournamepenor]

i was using native froyo usb tether and i saw a message in lime wire advertising that i do somthing with my data plan so now i just wifi it.

 

[shadowdude777]

Well... There is a contract with your signature on it that clearly says this is out of bounds. Do I think I should be able to do what I want with my data? Of course I do.

I also know that I am very clearly violating the terms of my contract, and much more importantly to me, breaking my word every time I tether.

It's wrong for VZW to charge extra for this, but 2 wrongs don't make it right and I know that I am cheating the system ("morally wrong") every time I do. Just like when I drive too fast to work, I'm taking a risk, I know I'm wrong, and I may eventually get caught.

To the jerks that tether ridiculous amounts of data... Thanks for drawing attention to it and making us all pay.

Yeah, I agree that I know that I shouldn't be doing it. But like they say, some rules are made to be broken. Yes, you could incur a penalty for breaking said rules, but I won't have problems sleeping at night because I breached a clause in my Verizon contract that says that my netbook (which is only marginally more versatile than my Droid. Both devices can rack up huge data usage. Both devices can even torrent) is not allowed to use my 3G data connection.