Tethering - Here's why I wouldn't do it...

[mcatdtDroid]

don't go throwing facts in here like that, it crinkles up the tinfoil hats

 

[LtKen]

It's funny how everybody is concerned about getting charged and or fined for tethering when the new 2.2 OTA update will have WiFi hotspot and Tethering built in.........Been doing it via pdanet since the droid came out....no problems, oh ya, thats 2 droids tethering on this account......:icon_eek:

The fact that it's part of the OS that Google releases doesnt mean that Verizon wont remove it, or using it doesnt violate their terms of use.....

AT&T crippled the Moto Backflip, what makes you think Verizon wont do the same to 2.2 to keep their resource use in check? It couldnt have been said better a few posts ago. Verizon will not maintain a network that supplies 80% of the use to 5% of the customers. That's not how businesses stay in business.

Again, since talking to some is like talking to a wall: you are fooling yourself if you think Verizon will allow you unchecked use of their network. You dont OWN the network just because you pay for an unlimited data plan on your phone. Read the contract, accept the truth, and accept responsibility if and when the hammer comes down. It's really not that hard.

 

[aminaked]

It's funny how everybody is concerned about getting charged and or fined for tethering when the new 2.2 OTA update will have WiFi hotspot and Tethering built in.........Been doing it via pdanet since the droid came out....no problems, oh ya, thats 2 droids tethering on this account......:icon_eek:

The fact that it's part of the OS that Google releases doesnt mean that Verizon wont remove it, or using it doesnt violate their terms of use.....

AT&T crippled the Moto Backflip, what makes you think Verizon wont do the same to 2.2 to keep their resource use in check? It couldnt have been said better a few posts ago. Verizon will not maintain a network that supplies 80% of the use to 5% of the customers. That's not how businesses stay in business.

Again, since talking to some is like talking to a wall: you are fooling yourself if you think Verizon will allow you unchecked use of their network. You dont OWN the network just because you pay for an unlimited data plan on your phone. Read the contract, accept the truth, and accept responsibility if and when the hammer comes down. It's really not that hard.

Right, and 2.2 having tethering built in could just mean that VZ will now have a way to charge for it.

 

[K1K]

Verizon isn't charging Palm pre users anything extra to use the wifi hotspot app.why would they charge or disable Droid users when 2.2 comes out????

 

[aminaked]

Verizon isn't charging Palm pre users anything extra to use the wifi hotspot app.why would they charge or disable Droid users when 2.2 comes out????

They had so many palm pres in stock that they came up with the wifi hotspot idea to get rid of the things--that's what I heard, at least.

We're speculating that they'll start charging droid users. Overall VZ is moving in that direction: charging for tethering.

VZ would love to replace your DSL/cable internet company, but not for free.

 

[jsh1120]

Verizon isn't charging Palm pre users anything extra to use the wifi hotspot app.why would they charge or disable Droid users when 2.2 comes out????

Well, I have no idea if they will or not, but there is no reason that a carrier necessarily must offer the same options and features on different phones. Verizon (and Palm) were severely disappointed in the early sales of the Pre Plus (and Pixi Plus.) They apparently believe it's worthwhile to offer the hotspot feature on a slow selling device to increase sales. Nothing odd about that.

 

[K1K]

Verizon isn't charging Palm pre users anything extra to use the wifi hotspot app.why would they charge or disable Droid users when 2.2 comes out????

They had so many palm pres in stock that they came up with the wifi hotspot idea to get rid of the things--that's what I heard, at least.

We're speculating that they'll start charging droid users. Overall VZ is moving in that direction: charging for tethering.

VZ would love to replace your DSL/cable internet company, but not for free.

Sounds like BS to me. And probably grounds for a class action law suit.
Company policy on tethering should be the same for all devices and OS.
Verizon has a long way to go to replace my cable connection at home.

 

[aminaked]

Verizon isn't charging Palm pre users anything extra to use the wifi hotspot app.why would they charge or disable Droid users when 2.2 comes out????

They had so many palm pres in stock that they came up with the wifi hotspot idea to get rid of the things--that's what I heard, at least.

We're speculating that they'll start charging droid users. Overall VZ is moving in that direction: charging for tethering.

VZ would love to replace your DSL/cable internet company, but not for free.

Sounds like BS to me. And probably grounds for a class action law suit.
Company policy on tethering should be the same for all devices and OS.
Verizon has a long way to go to replace my cable connection at home.

You're tossing me a real softball.

 

[K1K]

Well knock it out of the park. I'm listening.

 

[LtKen]

Well knock it out of the park. I'm listening.

I'll take a practice swing.

Verizon can charge whatever they want for whatever service they offer. They can charge different amounts for the same service for different phones. You might call it BS, I call it free-ish market. There's absolutely no grounds for any type of lawsuit, as long as Verizon is clear with you when they sell you the service.

 

[aminaked]

Well knock it out of the park. I'm listening.

Lol, I don't know if I can do that but...

I don't see how a class action would be possible. As jsh1120 pointed out, a carrier doesn't have to offer the same plans for all of their phones. A law forcing that would be kind of weird, no? The Verizon ToS for the Droid says that tethering is against the rules. I agreed to it when I signed up. I don't think I would win a lawsuit based on that.

As far as Verizon needing to go a long way to replace dsl/cable, I totally agree but I think they'd love to do it and they're heading in that direction with LTE.

 

[K1K]

Well knock it out of the park. I'm listening.

Lol, I don't know if I can do that but...

I don't see how a class action would be possible. As jsh1120 pointed out, a carrier doesn't have to offer the same plans for all of their phones. A law forcing that would be kind of weird, no? The Verizon ToS for the Droid says that tethering is against the rules. I agreed to it when I signed up. I don't think I would win a lawsuit based on that.

As far as Verizon needing to go a long way to replace dsl/cable, I totally agree but I think they'd love to do it and they're heading in that direction with LTE.

for the record you won't find anyone more for free market/capitalism than myself. if you know anything about the history of our country (assuming were all from the USA) it's one of the things that made us great. (stepping off of soapbox now)

but here is my point. tethering is an application that uses my data plan which I pay as much for as my cable at home. If they allow this application on another device on there network but not on mine, without an extra charge.....color me pissed off and looking for a fight. and I am no lawyer but I think your wrong and there is some room in there for a legal debate.

and don't get me wrong I have had Verizon since it was Ameritech, so I like the company and we are arguing in hypothetical situations at the moment.
I guess we'll see when 2.2 drops to the public.

 

[LtKen]

for the record you won't find anyone more for free market/capitalism than myself. if you know anything about the history of our country (assuming were all from the USA) it's one of the things that made us great. (stepping off of soapbox now)

but here is my point. tethering is an application that uses my data plan which I pay as much for as my cable at home. If they allow this application on another device on there network but not on mine, without an extra charge.....color me pissed off and looking for a fight. and I am no lawyer but I think your wrong and there is some room in there for a legal debate.

and don't get me wrong I have had Verizon since it was Ameritech, so I like the company and we are arguing in hypothetical situations at the moment.
I guess we'll see when 2.2 drops to the public.

Philosophically, we're on the exact same page, but I dont see any sort of grounds for any sort of lawsuit, unless Verizon somehow misrepresents this contract to people.

Verizon has already done what you say. Different fees depending on the type of phone you use, to access the same internet. Think VZW Navigator. Droid users get GPS for free, and dumber-phone users pay extra for this service. It's a similar idea with tethering.

 

[aminaked]

Yeah, I'm not a lawyer either and I feel ya. I just think it would be un-American for the government to dictate laws like the one you're proposing. Why shouldn't a company be able to make different service levels? Anyway, the ToS says I can't tether. That's a contract I agreed to.

 

[nateccnn]

You guys are both jumping to conclusions. My contract is not for my Droid. Maybe you signed one but I think that would be silly. My contract with Vz is for the service they provide. The Droid is a peice of equipment I use to access that service.

My contract says that I cannot attach my equipment to another device to share internet unless I subscribe to Mobile Broadband Service.

So you may think it is right to be able to connect a device and use the data you paid for but in fact you would be in violation of your agreement with Vz unless you subscribe to the service they require you to in order to connect another device to their network.

It really is plain and simple and good luck with a class action suit. First you need a class...then you need to show damages. You don't get a class by being pissed off. The entire class has to prove they were wronged. Maybe you should read your contracts before signing them.

You could certianly try to prove that Vz has no basis to require you to pay extra to connect a seperate device but the claim would have to be that Vz has no damages and therefore is not entitled to compensation. This would be hard to do since it is clear that Vz could have sold you an air card and charged for that service. And since the majority of users who need mobile internet for their laptops do just such a thing, you'd be in a tough spot finding your class.

Good luck with it. I try real hard to not post in these silly tether threads because there are way too many cracker jack lawyers trying to practice law it gets rediculous. LOL

10 bucks per month for Mobile Broadband guys. How much do you pay for your coffee when you're sitting in the cafe tethered to your laptop?

Nate