VZW disabling tethering apps from market

[cynnar]

Where I live, dial up is the only way I can connect to my internet, other than my phone. I have pdanet which works fine and I've never had complaints. Wireless is easier, and more convenient and is why I prefer it. Now most new smart phones offer both wired and wireless tethering at $20 a month. In my opinion, ridiculous. Through pdanet, I pay a one time fee and no complaints from vzw. However, it becomes a problem when wireless comes into the equation. I could understand if people actually use it as a hotspot where other users tap into it but in my experience that is very rare. More than one person using the hotspot is too slow to serve any valuable purpose. When I pay $30 a month for the unlimited data plan i find it hard to pay another $20 a month to just have access to wireless tethering. The cell companies already overcharge for what they offer. Don't get me wrong, I could not live without my Dinc but is hard to know that i'm paying for services that are making these companies sooo much money and they are still trying to find ways to make more, off services that SHOULD be included in the data plan.

Very well said. I to live in rural area with limited means to internet. I have the 5gb access card play games and more. Now when it comes to large files I turn on my phone fire up the stock browser (on phone no tether) download then transfer via USB to PC.
I tether when I'm on the road.

Sent from my Droid

 

[kodiak799]

Where I live, dial up is the only way I can connect to my internet, other than my phone. I have pdanet which works fine and I've never had complaints. Wireless is easier, and more convenient and is why I prefer it. Now most new smart phones offer both wired and wireless tethering at $20 a month. In my opinion, ridiculous.

To be honest, while I appreciate you only have dial-up I don't understand why you feel entitled to tether as needed as opposed to purchasing one of the mobile broadband plans. The smartphones were never sold or marketed as a home ISP replacement.

 

[kodiak799]

RIAA example is not to compare with vzw, but to state the fact other fish has tried to battle something they didn't like and ultimately lost.

Yes RIAA had to worry about customers downloading illegally. The eventually lost our and most mp3s are not copy protected anymore.

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Let me turn around the question - what proof do you have that they CAN'T tell you're tethering? Most people believe they can - seems common sense, like I said I'm sure they can see the MAC address of the device connecting to their wireless service. Believe me, if Dropbox can tell what computer I'm connecting to their service, VZW can too.

As for RIAA, you missed the point. I wasn't talking about copy protection, I was talking about ILLEGAL downloading of copyrighted material (comparable to violating TOS, which often stipulates penalties, in this case backcharge of services). The RIAA successfully sued numerous users for thousands of dollars.

 

[cynnar]

RIAA example is not to compare with vzw, but to state the fact other fish has tried to battle something they didn't like and ultimately lost.

Yes RIAA had to worry about customers downloading illegally. The eventually lost our and most mp3s are not copy protected anymore.

Sent from my Droid

Let me turn around the question - what proof do you have that they CAN'T tell you're tethering? Most people believe they can - seems common sense, like I said I'm sure they can see the MAC address of the device connecting to their wireless service. Believe me, if Dropbox can tell what computer I'm connecting to their service, VZW can too.

As for RIAA, you missed the point. I wasn't talking about copy protection, I was talking about ILLEGAL downloading of copyrighted material (comparable to violating TOS, which often stipulates penalties, in this case backcharge of services). The RIAA successfully sued numerous users for thousands of dollars.

Like I said not one person can show me proof they can tell you are tethering. Just because you think they do doesn't mean they can. Just because they say they can doesn't mean they can.

I can say I'm rich or I invented McDonald's.
That doesn't make it true.

And you still didn't answer my question why are you hung up in they can?

Dropbox knows you are right. Correct me if I am wrong but do you not tell dropbox that it is ok to register your PC yo it?

Common sense says that vzw has access to the tether data. When you purchase that option.

I don't recall pdanet saying I have to register there app with vzw yo get access.

As for your Mac address you would have to kno

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[cynnar]

Oops wrong button.

You would have to know how those apps work.

I mean look at ICS on windows.
it is the job of the host PC (one with internet) to assign an IP address to the lan. That information is kept on the host. Therefore it is private information and would only be obtained illegally.

To comment further on either side of the discussion someone nerds to inform us on how tether apps work. I have not found the info yet.

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[cynnar]

As for RIAA point. You are way off base to my point.

While your point is valid, they did win cases.

My point is where is there DRM protection now? They lost the battle and now I can't remember the last time someone was sued for illegal mp3 download.

I respect the fact you see it a different view.
Please respect the fact that it was the end result is my view and in reference to my take on the outcome of vzw and the tether battle.

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[kodiak799]

And you still didn't answer my question why are you hung up in they can?

Because aren't you the one saying they can't tell so why does it matter? If they can tell you're tethering (and no one with common sense thinks they can't) then they can charge you.

VZW has all kinds of information about your device connecting to its service, I'm sure their right to do so is buried deep within the TOS. Like I said, Dropbox can tell what PC I'm using. It would be naive to think VZW doesn't reserve the same right within the TOS to access similar information. I believe the MAC address is embedded in the packet information. So end of discussion. Whether it's practical for them to examine packet data or whether they feel that's the best approach is a different discussion.

 

[kodiak799]

My point is where is there DRM protection now? They lost the battle and now I can't remember the last time someone was sued for illegal mp3 download.

What does DRM have to do with this discussion? The point was people were stealing, the same as "free" tethering is stealing service from VZW, and the RIAA took those people to court and won judgements against them.

There haven't been many recent lawsuits because mp3 downloading is not as rampant as it was. They accomplished their goals shutting down Napster and some other p2p and putting the fear of god into other potential downloaders. They can't eliminate it completely and aren't going to try. But the cell providers may take the same path at some point, and it appears at least AT&T has already started down that path.

 

[kptphalkon]

Can they tell if the data is coming to/from another device, tethered through your phone? Sure as hell yes. Packet information does not lie.

 

[cynnar]

And you still didn't answer my question why are you hung up in they can?

Because aren't you the one saying they can't tell so why does it matter? If they can tell you're tethering (and no one with common sense thinks they can't) then they can charge you.

VZW has all kinds of information about your device connecting to its service, I'm sure their right to do so is buried deep within the TOS. Like I said, Dropbox can tell what PC I'm using. It would be naive to think VZW doesn't reserve the same right within the TOS to access similar information. I believe the MAC address is embedded in the packet information. So end of discussion. Whether it's practical for them to examine packet data or whether they feel that's the best approach is a different discussion.

First you can't tell me end of discussion.

I simply state what my thoughts are I never said them to be fact. I stated I don't know how the app works. I just said why I think the way I think.

No it does not matter if they can or not see tether, but everyone seems to want to know why I think that and when the question is reversed everyone fails to answer with anything besides it is common sense. That is no answer. Does everyone come to there conclusion and not know why?

If you want to throw around TOS EVERYONE ROOTED is on violation. Read it you will see you ate not allowed to modify the phone from factory condition.

Now don't bother me with they can until upon bring facts you don't know period.


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[cynnar]

My point is where is there DRM protection now? They lost the battle and now I can't remember the last time someone was sued for illegal mp3 download.

What does DRM have to do with this discussion? The point was people were stealing, the same as "free" tethering is stealing service from VZW, and the RIAA took those people to court and won judgements against them.

There haven't been many recent lawsuits because mp3 downloading is not as rampant as it was. They accomplished their goals shutting down Napster and some other p2p and putting the fear of god into other potential downloaders. They can't eliminate it completely and aren't going to try. But the cell providers may take the same path at some point, and it appears at least AT&T has already started down that path.

Ok now you can't tell me you didn't know DRM was the way to track mp3 files and keep them on one device.
They didn't get rid of Napster. Getting mp3s are as common as it has ever been.

And you think that because vzw says they will stop tethering that it will happen?
I guess those hackers who brought us the root hack, the deb's working around the clock couldn't possibly do it again.

Come on if you think that you don't know much sbout
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[cynnar]

About hacking do you?


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[cynnar]

Can they tell if the data is coming to/from another device, tethered through your phone? Sure as hell yes. Packet information does not lie.

And you mean to tell me that packets can't be cloak? Google it.

I simply think that until I know more about how those apps work o make my judgment based on the fact that if is a big deal to tether and vzw can detect it, why haven't the done something?
I don't want to hear they are the good Guy and overlook it.
If they such good guys why they wanting the apps pulled again?

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[cynnar]

Back to topic.

Maybe the tether apps will have a check for update added.

Like one post said it will notify you on start up.

Maybe a check for update button like TiBu has.

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[kodiak799]

Ok now you can't tell me you didn't know DRM was the way to track mp3 files and keep them on one device.
They didn't get rid of Napster. Getting mp3s are as common as it has ever been.

LOL, where did I say that? I said DRM was really irrelevant to the lawsuits. The people illegally downloaded music and DRM had nothing to do with them being slapped with heavy judgements.

And, yes, they did bring an end to Napster in its original form. You can still get MP3's illegally, but it's not nearly as widespread. And, yes, the RIAA still does occasionally go after these P2P services, one for the Droid recently.

Bottom line is they can tell you are tethering from the packet info. Whether or not you can spoof doesn't really matter, people who don't spoof can still get nailed. And, yes, from my perspective that is the end of the discussion.