New Optimus V User - Couple of Questions

[Finchy63]

Hello,

I just got the Optimus V. Had a couple of questions. Per the terms of use, am I allowed to jump on my home wifi? I'd read in a few places on the forum that tethering was not allowed - is this classed as tethering? It worked this morning, but don't want to over do it.

Secondly, I use the Optimus V for moderate web browsing/fbook/ a few other apps - is it worth me rooting? I'm not especially tech smart and don't want to brick the phone. I have 190MB or so of space left - once that runs out, can I store apps on the SD card?

Many Thanks - great forum, changed my mind from the Intercept to the Optimus - and real happy so far.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[drfreeman]

Hello,

I just got the Optimus V. Had a couple of questions. Per the terms of use, am I allowed to jump on my home wifi? I'd read in a few places on the forum that tethering was not allowed - is this classed as tethering? It worked this morning, but don't want to over do it.

Secondly, I use the Optimus V for moderate web browsing/fbook/ a few other apps - is it worth me rooting? I'm not especially tech smart and don't want to brick the phone. I have 190MB or so of space left - once that runs out, can I store apps on the SD card?

Many Thanks - great forum, changed my mind from the Intercept to the Optimus - and real happy so far.

Any advice appreciated.

You are allowed to use Wifi connection on your phone. What they mean is that you can't use your phone as a Mobile Hotspot, meaning you can connect devices to your phone, which is using their (VM) network.

For what you want to do, no there is no need to root your phone. Get a bigger SD card, and just be weary of what you download and install on your phone. Move any app that you can to the SD Card.


******************

If you ever think about rooting, visit the Optimus V rooting subforums, and read, read, and then read some more. Become familiar with the process BEFORE you do it. Then follow ALL instructions to the exact letter. If you have questions, ask. There are many people here to help, and they are all EXTREMELY FRIENDLY!

 

[jkbbna]

Some apps will store on and function from the S.D. card. Many will not. It seems most users, myself included, end up rooting the phone in order to utilize more apps that the out-of-the-box storage won't accommodate. App2SD is a good app to help move the moveable ones for now. Don't rush into anything. I had mine six months before I got tired of every Google update leaving me no room for what I bought a smartphone for. Thankfully, I have a real geek in the house who was only too happy to root the phone for me. He'd already done is own.

 

[AndyOpie150]

Something to think about: 1. Rooting your phone voids your warranty.
2. In order to root your phone you must alter the OS which goes against the agreement you entered into with VM when you activated your phone (read near the bottom of the introduction page in the "Terms Of Service" booklet.

 

[Petrah]

The United States Library of Congress stated that rooting your phone was perfectly legal. Mobile Carriers have no say in this matter.

Library of Congress finds no issues with rooting, jailbreaking

 

[MacFett]

The United States Library of Congress stated that rooting your phone was perfectly legal. Mobile Carriers have no say in this matter.

It is perfectly legal to root your phone, it can still void your warranty. Just as it is legal for me to fix my own computer, but if I break the seal on the back that says warranty void if seal is broken, then the warranty is void.

 

[Petrah]

It is perfectly legal to root your phone, it can still void your warranty. Just as it is legal for me to fix my own computer, but if I break the seal on the back that says warranty void if seal is broken, then the warranty is void.

I was mainly addressing the legalities of rooting the phone, and left out anything dealing with the warranty. Breaking your warranty isn't illegal. Like rooting your phone, its a personal choice.

 

[AndyOpie150]

I was mainly addressing the legalities of rooting the phone, and left out anything dealing with the warranty. Breaking your warranty isn't illegal. Like rooting your phone, its a personal choice.

OK, now I'm really confused. Maybe you could shed a little light on my confusion and your last couple of statements. So as not to get this thread too far off topic maybe this would be better discussed in private???

 

[Thorsten]

Breaking your warranty isn't illegal.

But it

 

[Petrah]

That was not an opinion. It was a ruling.

 

[AndyOpie150]

Do tell. Were can I find this great new info (court ruling).

 

[hiwatt]

I think this ruling was in regards to jailbreaking iphones, but should be applicable to any other phone.

 

[Petrah]

Do tell. Were can I find this great new info (court ruling).

Google? Not sure how anyone could miss it. Every mobile news site online posted an article about it. This is old news.

Edit: Kind of annoyed that I would have to look this up myself, when the answer is there for you to find via Google.

http://www.copyright.gov/1201/2010/RM-2008-8.pdf

If you need help with this, feel free to contact an attorney for legalese translation.

Edit 2: Still adore you, Andy.

 

[AndyOpie150]

My concern was with weather or not the "Terms of Service" constituted a legal and binding agreement. The last time we discussed this matter you pointed out that it was in fact a legal and binding agreement. Now do you understand my apparent confusion with your statement in post #5 and #7.

 

[MacFett]

My concern was with weather or not the "Terms of Service" constituted a legal and binding agreement. The last time we discussed this matter you pointed out that it was in fact a legal and binding agreement. Now do you understand my apparent confusion with your statement in post #5 and #7.

I believe the legal ruling trumps the VM TOS. They can not do anything to you for rooting, unless it alters the service you receive (such as rooting to tether, or somehow get more minutes than your plan allows).

 

[smankins]

Back to the original post topic - no problem using wifi anywhere you can. Many businesses have wifi available; legal and free. Your phone will notify you when an open wifi connection is available, if you so desire. I rarely use the 2G or 3G network, which is where your data usage comes in to play. Wifi does not affect any part of your data usage so have at it.

In my opinion there was only one reason to root the phone - storage space for apps. Sounds like that is not an issue for you so I would not bother with rooting the phone. If it becomes an issue for you later then you should learn what rooting a phone really does and go for it.

 

[Thorsten]

That was not an opinion. It was a ruling.

Thanks for the correction, although the disctinction is irrelevant in this case.

I believe the legal ruling trumps the VM TOS.

TOS constitute a private contract between you and VMU. (Re-)read the LOC ruling and you should see that TOS aren

 

[Petrah]

\
Orange: U.S. Code

 

[Thorsten]

That entire thing prevents mobile carriers from holding us legally accountable for rooting our phones.

There can be a difference between doing something illegal or (merely) breaking terms of service (TOS).

It's no different than if I bought a Dell computer and replaced the hard drive in it, took off Windows 7 and installed FreeBSD. The hardware is mine and I can do whatever I choose with it. Granted the warranty is no good, but I wouldn't have broken any laws, unless I put it back the way it was and tried to get them to fix the hard drive.

I completely agree, but none of this directly relates to questions of complying with TOS. VMU