Help Moved to Australia & Mobile Hot Spot won't open

Sleemcaninch · Dec 1, 2015

This was an AT&T phone. We moved to Australia and I am now with Vodafone. I used the mobile hot spot feature in the USA, but I can't get it to even go on here. We tried swapping the sim card to another phone, and that phone was able to hot spot, so it's not the SIM. Can anyone help me?

KOLIO · Dec 1, 2015

WELCOME TO ANDROID FORUMS Sleemcaninch !

Does everything else seem to work normally w/Vodaphone (phone/data/messaging) ?

Sleemcaninch · Dec 2, 2015

Everything else does seem to be working. I went to a Vodafone kiosk today, and they said the problem with ATT, and has to do with the unlock process. We need to try to call ATT during US business hours and see if they can help.

KOLIO · Dec 2, 2015

Were you on an unlimited data plan with AT&T?
If so, that might explain why the hotspot feature isn't working ATM.
Either way, please keep us posted on your progress. :thumbsupdroid:

Sleemcaninch · Dec 2, 2015

No, it wasn't an unlimited plan.

BaronMarshal · Dec 20, 2015

Sleemcaninch said:
Everything else does seem to be working. I went to a Vodafone kiosk today, and they said the problem with ATT, and has to do with the unlock process. We need to try to call ATT during US business hours and see if they can help.

I'm sorry to say, you've just experienced how much control other people have over your phone. The Vodafone people are only sort of correct about it being an AT&T problem. More accurately it has to do with the AT&T software that is installed on the phone. It may be set to automatically lock the hotspot without the proper sim and contract. They are desperately trying to keep hotspot as a extra money maker, so they have a lot of extra code written in to make it easier to pay them rather than find a way around it. To many, it is ridiculous to charge extra money for the data that you already pay for in your contract. An accurate metaphor is, if you bought a tank of gas, and then decided to put it in your lawn mower instead of your car, then you would have to pay an extra $20 for that month.
Anyway, because of this business practice, anytime you change services, you will have problems getting the same functions that you had with your old contract, thus prompting you to buy a new phone and contract.
The best way around this is to root the phone and install your own ROM. This gets rid of all the software added in to weasel more money out of you by restricting your phone.
Now I'm not sure about Vodafone, but they may have an extra payment plan somewhere that would let you hotspot again, but you'll have to check around. If I'm a little long winded, sorry. But feel free to ask me questions if you need more info.

Sleemcaninch · Dec 20, 2015

BaronMarshal said:
I'm sorry to say, you've just experienced how much control other people have over your phone. The Vodafone people are only sort of correct about it being an AT&T problem. More accurately it has to do with the AT&T software that is installed on the phone. It may be set to automatically lock the hotspot without the proper sim and contract. They are desperately trying to keep hotspot as a extra money maker, so they have a lot of extra code written in to make it easier to pay them rather than find a way around it. To many, it is ridiculous to charge extra money for the data that you already pay for in your contract. An accurate metaphor is, if you bought a tank of gas, and then decided to put it in your lawn mower instead of your car, then you would have to pay an extra $20 for that month.
Anyway, because of this business practice, anytime you change services, you will have problems getting the same functions that you had with your old contract, thus prompting you to buy a new phone and contract.
The best way around this is to root the phone and install your own ROM. This gets rid of all the software added in to weasel more money out of you by restricting your phone.
Now I'm not sure about Vodafone, but they may have an extra payment plan somewhere that would let you hotspot again, but you'll have to check around. If I'm a little long winded, sorry. But feel free to ask me questions if you need more info.

Sleemcaninch · Dec 20, 2015

Thank you so much. That really helps explain the problem. Your solution is beyond me, but the next visit with my son in the states should allow him to do the root thing!

KOLIO · Dec 20, 2015

Sleemcaninch said:
Thank you so much. That really helps explain the problem. Your solution is beyond me, but the next visit with my son in the states should allow him to do the root thing!

Have him convert your AT&T HTC One M9 to a Developers Edition HTC One M9 (& root/mod for tethering as needed):
http://www.droidviews.com/how-to-convert-your-att-htc-one-m9-to-developer-edition/

Essentially an unlocked/carrier free M9 that you can use virtually anywhere.
The AT&T & Dev Editions are literally identical as hardware goes,including GSM/LTE Bands,but,you'll be free/rid of AT&T's crapware & constraints.
You should have no problems once the conversion is done,may be worth your while to take this info to a reputable shop near you & get a quote,see if they can do it at a reasonable price. Any decent computer shop should have the skill set to do this.

Sleemcaninch · Dec 21, 2015

My husband says I will need to completely rebuild my phone. Is there a way to back up contacts, notes, etc onto a laptop?

KOLIO · Dec 22, 2015

Sleemcaninch said:
My husband says I will need to completely rebuild my phone. Is there a way to back up contacts, notes, etc onto a laptop?

Sounds like these will do the trick:
https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/2819582?hl=en
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.htc.backup&hl=en
http://www.htc.com/us/software/htc-sync-manager/

Help Moved to Australia & Mobile Hot Spot won't open

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