T-Mobile now blocking built in tethering feature on Nexus 4

[chrlswltrs]

I have been using a NexusS or Nexus4 on T-Mobile to tether for years (since the first day the NexusS came out) and just yesterday I got a text from T-Mobile saying if I didn't get a tethering plan that it would be blocked. Then a couple hours later I was unable to tether my data connection. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, but right now is one of the very rare times that I NEED to be able to tether.

I tried several tether apps, both with and without requiring root and none of them worked to get past the block. Then I found Free Tethering Unlock (requires root). At first it didn't work, but after a few emails back and forth with the developer, a little app update to fix a bug, and now... tethering works again (using the built in Android tether feature) !!!!

If you need to tether and get blocked I highly recommend this app. Unless you can pay the $60 a month extra for T-Mobile's limited "unlimited" tethering plan.

 

[SiempreTuna]

When this was discussed in the past, people came up with a change that made the PC browser report itself as a phone browser which seemed to do the trick. Can't remember the details, but I'm sure a search would find them.

 

[chrlswltrs]

When this was discussed in the past, people came up with a change that made the PC browser report itself as a phone browser which seemed to do the trick. Can't remember the details, but I'm sure a search would find them.

If you were only using a PC browser. What about connecting a PS3 or tablet? Making a change on a PC browser does nothing to help unless you only want to use a PC and only use a browser

 

[SiempreTuna]

If you were only using a PC browser. What about connecting a PS3 or tablet? Making a change on a PC browser does nothing to help unless you only want to use a PC and only use a browser

Very true ..

 

[OhSeven]

When this was discussed in the past, people came up with a change that made the PC browser report itself as a phone browser which seemed to do the trick. Can't remember the details, but I'm sure a search would find them.

I wonder if TMobile still screens for that if the tethering feature is blocked in phone?

To get around it, you change the user-agent string, which was easy with browser extensions. TMobile simply screened for tethered traffic by looking at that bit of information. It could be bypassed by using mobile-based strings, but websites would display as intended for mobile devices, or a linux-based string so you still get the desktop interface.

I don't know what it would take to do something similar for a gaming console

 

[egDonald]

Is this the case even if purchased from Google Play? I figure any phone sold by the carrier has some sort of trigger to allow the carrier to enable and disable features on the fly

 

[chrlswltrs]

Is this the case even if purchased from Google Play? I figure any phone sold by the carrier has some sort of trigger to allow the carrier to enable and disable features on the fly

Other than price there is no difference whatsoever if you buy from Tmobile or Google. They are 100% identical phones.

I don't run Android anyways, I have AOKP


BTW, after more testing, I can tether my iPad after using this app but not my PC or PS3.

 

[PlayfulGod]

Other than price there is no difference whatsoever if you buy from Tmobile or Google. They are 100% identical phones.

I don't run Android anyways, I have AOKP


BTW, after more testing, I can tether my iPad after using this app but not my PC or PS3.

which is android. lol

 

[chrlswltrs]

which is android. lol

No it is not. Android is what a Nexus 4 runs stock. AOKP, Cyanogen, Touchwiz, Sense, etc are all OS's based on Android, but they are not the same.

 

[PlayfulGod]

No it is not. Android is what a Nexus 4 runs stock. AOKP, Cyanogen, Touchwiz, Sense, etc are all OS's based on Android, but they are not the same.

ok I will rename cm to pg, does that make it PG OS???? I think not.

they all are still android.

What a Nexus runs is AOSP.

 

[sammyz]

No it is not. Android is what a Nexus 4 runs stock. AOKP, Cyanogen, Touchwiz, Sense, etc are all OS's based on Android, but they are not the same.

Delete android source, AOKP will not exist.

They're all android. Look in settings>about phone...it says android version