Tethering on T-Mobile UK?

[unkletom]

One of the reasons I invested in a HTC Desire was the ability to use it as a modem and hook it up my laptop. This has worked well so far and I'm surprised by the speed.

Reading the terms & conditions and the usual small print, it states that T-Mobile don't allow you to use your phone as a mobile and advise people to go for their Web n Walk option (

 

[fido1357]

In theory no, as T-Mobile would only see the data going to and from your phone, not what happens to it after that. When carriers want to disable tethering it normally requires preventing it on the phone itself. Most US carriers do this which is one of the main reasons people root or jailbreak their phones. Although you are technically in breach of your contract I can't see why T-Mobile would care that much as long as your data usage doesn't flag up as being regularly excessive.

 

[OFI]

All Android plans with T-mobile include Web n Walk (hence your 3GB FUP)

Tethering is allowed provided you stay inside the 3GB and don't use P2P etc.

Official response from T-Mobile staff: http://support.t-mobile.co.uk/discussions/index?page=forums&topic=80103803ac7b7fd01276dd2137000728a

 

[chrisl]

I've read the official T-Mobile response however their FUP at

Fair Use Plans - Our Services - T-Mobile

states "you can't use your phone as a modem".

Further down the FUP page at

Fair Use Plans - Our Services - T-Mobile

it states that you can get Mobile Broadband Plus with 3GB a month for

 

[charliehowes]

Sorry noob here and a pretty clueless one at that lol. And sorry to unkletom for hijacking your thread.
I'm currently waiting for my Desire (T-Mobile upgrade) to arrive.
I noticed when reading many reviews of the handset that you can use it as a modem, when doing this does can I have my phone connected to the net via my router/adsl broadband or does it have to be connected via Web N Walk ?

 

[OFI]

I've read the official T-Mobile response however their FUP at

Fair Use Plans - Our Services - T-Mobile

states "you can't use your phone as a modem".

Further down the FUP page at

Fair Use Plans - Our Services - T-Mobile

it states that you can get Mobile Broadband Plus with 3GB a month for

 

[OFI]

Sorry noob here and a pretty clueless one at that lol. And sorry to unkletom for hijacking your thread.
I'm currently waiting for my Desire (T-Mobile upgrade) to arrive.
I noticed when reading many reviews of the handset that you can use it as a modem, when doing this does can I have my phone connected to the net via my router/adsl broadband or does it have to be connected via Web N Walk ?

You can either connect to the internet through wifi from your router.

OR you can connect using 3G and then tether to your PC/laptop through the USB cable to give you 3G internet on your computer.

 

[chrisl]

It includes Web n Walk + hence the official post above

OK, but that still doesn't explain why the FUP contradicts this. It's like the FUP is making an exception for Android phones to what Web n Walk Plus normally offers, e.g. you get 3GB of data to use on the phone because Android phones need to use a lot of mobile data, but you can't use it for tethering.

I've asked for clarification in the T-Mobile forum as I will probably want to do some tethering myself at some point.

 

[OFI]

Sorry you are right I read that numerous times wrongly!

 

[OFI]

Has anyone ever got any official clarification on this?

'Barry' on T-Mobile is adamant you CAN tether yet the T&Cs still say you can't.

Another post with the same answer here: http://support.t-mobile.co.uk/discussions/index?page=forums&topic=8010380679ea7d701251d3764a2007f01

 

[beyond]

i've used pdanet on my mac a few times just to try it out and probably totalled about 10-15mins (max) of usage, so again probably 50mb (max) of data and so far haven't seen anything extra on my bill.

oh and it worked really really well.

 

[chrisl]

I recently moved home and had to wait for my broadband to be connected. I got through nearly 3GB in about 10 days using my MacBook and PdaNet. Nothing out of the ordinary has appeared on my bill.

 

[mlines]

Regardless of policies etc. I can confirm this works just fine.

No special set-up or software, just plug in the USB cable and set the Link to "Internet Sharing" on the phone.

I am on T-Mobile UK with unlimited (subject to fair usage) contract

Martin

 

[OFI]

Regardless of policies etc. I can confirm this works just fine.

No special set-up or software, just plug in the USB cable and set the Link to "Internet Sharing" on the phone.

I am on T-Mobile UK with unlimited (subject to fair usage) contract

Martin

That didn't work at all for me, had to go to PDANet.


I know people have done it without any issues but it's still annoying that T-Mobile can't make their mind up on it being allowed or not.