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Help Tethering with Razr Maxx (on Verizon Wireless)

Th3 Doctor

Lurker
Jul 31, 2012
1
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I want to be able to tether my PC to my Droid Razr Maxx (either through Wifi, Bluetooth, or USB). I don't want to go through Verizon because I honestly can't afford it (kind of why I'm not just buying a USB dongle). I have an unlimited data plan.

Is there an app that allows me to access the Internet on my PC through my phone without paying for a tethering plan? Is this even possible?

Any help would be appreciated.

If it makes a difference, I am running Android 4.0.4 ICS.
 
From an article I read today, if you are on a metered data plan, you don't need the extra add-on on the plan anymore.

I'll find the link...

edit: here you go:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/31/verizon-to-stop-blocking-tethering-apps-settles-with-fcc-for-1/


+1 for Foxfi. Great app and easy to use.

The other part of that article that is significant is that the FCC said that Big Red cannot restrict third-party tethering apps. Big win for us. Of course, I'm sure they will figure out some way around that eventually.
 
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+1 for Foxfi. Great app and easy to use.

The other part of that article that is significant is that the FCC said that Big Red cannot restrict third-party tethering apps. Big win for us. Of course, I'm sure they will figure out some way around that eventually.
They can't restrict ACCESS to 3rd party apps, but they can still charge for the services you use with that app. So they can charge you for tethering even if you're using FoxFi.
 
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How would they know you were using foxfi unless you told them? Not sure how to determine if I would be tethering cblock, but I do not see how they can monitor. Any thoughts?

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http://www.zdnet.com/let-my-wi-fi-go-fcc-rules-verizon-cant-charge-for-wi-fi-tethering-7000001916/ (click for entire article)

In the case of Verizon, the company started charging users a $20 per month tethering charge even if they had an “unlimited” plan. Those days are done. You will now be able to freely share your bandwidth as you see fit.


In addition, “Under the terms of today’s settlement, Verizon Wireless will make a voluntary payment to the Treasury in the amount of $1.25 million, and has committed to notifying the application store operator that it no longer objects to the availability of the tethering applications to C-Block network customers” and that Verizon “revised its service offerings such that consumers on usage-based pricing plans may tether, using any application, without paying an additional fee.”
 
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How would they know you were using foxfi unless you told them? Not sure how to determine if I would be tethering cblock, but I do not see how they can monitor. Any thoughts?

DPI or deep packet inspection boxes. Every major carrier has some version of these.

Is this a fact that they can still charge you even if it is a free app? I am still on the unlimited data plan.

Thanks.

They can, but will they?
 
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Boom
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Verizon: No free tethering for unlimited data plan customers


Earlier, Rich Young, Verizon’s director of media relations for human resources issues, told The New York Times that Verizon had not blocked customers from using third-party apps. Verizon blamed third-party tethering apps being blocked on an employee who had been working with the Google’s Android app store operators. Lewis continued:
We still offer Mobile Broadband Connect, and the fee applies to customers using unlimited data plans. If a usage-based customer wants to subscribe, or continue to subscribe, to Mobile Broadband Connect, they can do so. They get both a high-quality robust tethering app and additional data allowances. On the other hand, a usage-based customer that wishes to tether other devices but does not wish to subscribe to Mobile Broadband Connect can cancel the service, purchase or obtain a third-party tethering application, and simply pay for the additional data usage.

What all this means is that if you have an unlimited Verizon plan you're still going to be stuck with a tethering fee. If you have an older restricted data plan, though, you will be able to freely share your bandwidth with third-party applications. You'll just need to keep in mind that you'll pay for the extra bits if you go over your monthly bandwidth limits.
And, finally, what Verizon would really like from all of this is for you to switch over to one of its Share Everything plans.
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Entire article....good read. Looks like we are in the crosshairs.

http://www.zdnet.com/verizon-no-free-tethering-for-unlimited-data-plan-customers-7000001987/
 
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That's why I think there is no way to enforce this crap

Sure there is. It's been done in the past for walled garden non-pay accounts, not on vzw in my story. They have to look up your account, query, and then have a result. I've seen it first hand. The packets and info going through the network can be setup for a flag/result. Your computer or tablet tethering through your phone doesn't have the same results as sent through your phone directly.

In fact, they are grossly different. DPI, it works. Can they? Yes. Will they? Maybe :D:D
 
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Sure there is. It's been done in the past for walled garden non-pay accounts, not on vzw in my story. They have to look up your account, query, and then have a result. I've seen it first hand. The packets and info going through the network can be setup for a flag/result. Your computer or tablet tethering through your phone doesn't have the same results as sent through your phone directly.

In fact, they are grossly different. DPI, it works. Can they? Yes. Will they? Maybe :D:D

I will just play stupid..I know I can pull that off.. :)
 
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I'm confused. I don't see in the press release where this applies only to metered data plans. Whether you have a metered plan or unlimited, those C Block rules still apply: "requiring licensees of C Block spectrum to allow customers to freely use the devices and applications of their choosing." Am I missing something here?

At the bottom of the press release, the terms/actions say VZW is:

"committed to notifying the application store operator that it no longer objects to the availability of the tethering applications to C-Block network customers in the operator's online market. Verizon Wireless has also agreed to implement a compliance plan, requiring that:
 
Upvote 0
I'm confused. I don't see in the press release where this applies only to metered data plans. Whether you have a metered plan or unlimited, those C Block rules still apply: "requiring licensees of C Block spectrum to allow customers to freely use the devices and applications of their choosing." Am I missing something here?

At the bottom of the press release, the terms/actions say VZW is:

"committed to notifying the application store operator that it no longer objects to the availability of the tethering applications to C-Block network customers in the operator's online market. Verizon Wireless has also agreed to implement a compliance plan, requiring that:
 
Upvote 0

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