VZW disabling tethering apps from market

[freezyfreaky]

Meh. Phone data is phone data. That's what we paid for, and that's what I'll use.

You know that technically according to the TOS, tethering is not part of the unlimited data plan you paid for without an additional charge. I respect your choice to tether but let's keep the facts straight for those who may not know who are reading.

 

[NeoandGeo]

What if someone wanted to pay for tethering via USB. Can they technically do that?

This is why I see no wrong in USB tethering, and adhoc wireless tethering. Verizon doesn't offer this as a service, so noone is circumventing them. They may be in the wrong according to the TOS, but they are not techncially stealing a service.

 

[kodiak799]

This is why I see no wrong in USB tethering, and adhoc wireless tethering. Verizon doesn't offer this as a service, so noone is circumventing them. They may be in the wrong according to the TOS, but they are not techncially stealing a service.

As long as VZW offers you an option to tether, you would be stealing. Just because they don't offer that specific method of tether would be a distinction without a difference. Courts aren't going to give you a thumbs up on finding a loophole to game the system.

Now if no tether service is offered, then I don't think VZW would be entitled to backcharge you since you can't steal a service that isn't offered. But they could still terminate your contract (and enforce the ETF).

 

[Rumps]

Just because they don't offer that specific method of tether would be a distinction without a difference. Courts aren't going to give you a thumbs up on finding a loophole to game the system.

Are you kidding me? The United States as it stands today was built on lawyers finding loopholes in contracts. Tell me you knew.

 

[kodiak799]

Are you kidding me? The United States as it stands today was built on lawyers finding loopholes in contracts. Tell me you knew.

They already covered themselves in the TOS - black & white, it's ironclad. And there's a pretty consistent track record and precedent of courts ruling in favor of business with regards to devices and software that enable the stealing of goods and services.

Doesn't matter how you connect your PC, VZW charges for that service and so you are stealing if you don't pay. It's not a gray area. I mean, are you honestly going to try to claim if you found a way to connect a phone to VZW network without paying for service that you aren't stealing?

 

[freezyfreaky]

Just because they don't offer that specific method of tether would be a distinction without a difference. Courts aren't going to give you a thumbs up on finding a loophole to game the system.

Are you kidding me? The United States as it stands today was built on lawyers finding loopholes in contracts. Tell me you knew.

Hahaha.. I agree with you but what I think Kodiak is trying to say is that they closed that loophole up already. All I can imagine is the Fonz presiding in the court.

 

[freezyfreaky]

The Fonz agrees America was built on lawyers finding loopholes in contracts.

 

[czerdrill]

Just because they don't offer that specific method of tether would be a distinction without a difference. Courts aren't going to give you a thumbs up on finding a loophole to game the system.

Are you kidding me? The United States as it stands today was built on lawyers finding loopholes in contracts. Tell me you knew.

But there is no loophole in this case. The TOS clearly states you cannot tether without a mobile broadband plan. It doesn't matter if you figure out a way to tether other than what's offered...

 

[freezyfreaky]

A Few Good Tetherers

UT = Unauthorized Tetherers

Verizon: You want free tethering?
UT: I think I'm entitled to it.
Verizon: You want answers?
UT: I want the truth!
Verizon: You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world where tethering has paywalls. And those walls have to be guarded by mobile companies like Verizon. Who's gonna do it? You? You, p3droid? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for the unauthorized tetherers and you curse the Terms of Service. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that tethering plans, while tragic, probably saved bandwidth for all mobile users. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves bandwidth for all mobile users...You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in high congestion traffic mobile areas you don't talk about, you want me on that paywall. You need me on that paywall.

We use words like TOS, tethering paywalls, paid tethering plans...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent building fast, wide covering, mobile network. You use 'em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who consumes the data under the infrastructure of the very mobile freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you build your mobile network infrastructure. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to!
UT: Did you order the pulling of tethering apps?
Verizon: (quietly) I did the job you sent me to do.
UT: Did you order the pulling of tethering apps?
Verizon: You're goddamn right I did!!

 

[Rumps]

They already covered themselves in the TOS - black & white, it's ironclad. And there's a pretty consistent track record and precedent of courts ruling in favor of business with regards to devices and software that enable the stealing of goods and services.

You're referring to the music and movie industry. And yes, you're correct in that matter, although it took a while for the pirating market to take a big blow. However, it's still going strong.

As for tethering? It's an unknown how this will play out because there hasn't been a lawsuit submitted by any carrier to a consumer for illegal tethering. If verizon knows who is doing it RIGHT NOW, then why isn't anyone getting charged for the usage? Perhaps its because their TOS isn't so ironclad afterall. Or, they can't legally track what apps people are using without breaking privacy laws.

Trust me, there is a loophole.

 

[kodiak799]

You're referring to the music and movie industry.

There's a key difference here. See if you can figure it out. I tried to help you. There's no loophole. People who are tethering are stealing, and VZW would win that one. Whether that's the best course of action for VZW is a completely different story.

Go ahead and imagine there's a loophole and twist reality to justify that you aren't doing anything wrong to begin. Don't come crying to us if VZW decides to smack you around.

Even then, how long did it take the music and movie industry to go after people? A lot longer than Android has been around in any real numbers. All the carriers are getting their ducks in a row. Someone is going to get slammed sooner or later.

 

[wingdo]

They already covered themselves in the TOS - black & white, it's ironclad. And there's a pretty consistent track record and precedent of courts ruling in favor of business with regards to devices and software that enable the stealing of goods and services.

You're referring to the music and movie industry. And yes, you're correct in that matter, although it took a while for the pirating market to take a big blow. However, it's still going strong.

As for tethering? It's an unknown how this will play out because there hasn't been a lawsuit submitted by any carrier to a consumer for illegal tethering. If verizon knows who is doing it RIGHT NOW, then why isn't anyone getting charged for the usage? Perhaps its because their TOS isn't so ironclad afterall. Or, they can't legally track what apps people are using without breaking privacy laws.

Trust me, there is a loophole.

Unlike the music industry and pc (mac etc) applications industry which have to resort to lawsuits to stop people from pirating (i.e. stealing) their material, all the carriers have a way to deal with this w/o costing them ANY legal fees. Once again it is called tired data plans.

I am honestly sick to death of people who come up with some lame reasoning where they believe it is OK for them to steal from a company. Yes, VZW makes a boatload of money. I don't believe that is illegal in this country. This however in no way makes it right for anyone to steal a service which the carrier requires you to pay for. Of course, the odds are we're also probably on different side regarding pirated music and applications / games too.

 

[Xander Crews]

I didn't read through all 50 pages, but anyone that Verizon comes down on for tethering, would only be extremely heavy tetherers.

Someone who only uses it a couple times a month for quick access to the internet when wifi isn't available for their laptop isn't going to get a cease and desist letter or get charged for their data. It's not worth Verizon's time for 100 mb of data...especially if their total for the month is only around a gig, including tethering data. It's just not that much to worry about.

It's the guys tethering 20gigs of data on unlimited plans that they want to put a stop to. I'm not sure how many people that is, but it can't be that many.

 

[Jeyman]

I didn't read through all 50 pages, but anyone that Verizon comes down on for tethering, would only be extremely heavy tetherers.

Someone who only uses it a couple times a month for quick access to the internet when wifi isn't available for their laptop isn't going to get a cease and desist letter or get charged for their data. It's not worth Verizon's time for 100 mb of data...especially if their total for the month is only around a gig, including tethering data. It's just not that much to worry about.

It's the guys tethering 20gigs of data on unlimited plans that they want to put a stop to. I'm not sure how many people that is, but it can't be that many.

You can be a heavy user that does tethering without going nuts. I mean iv hit 10GB a few times when my net went down and I was using my PC as a TV(net/tv are linked)

Last night same thing happened, I was not using it but my brother and his friend spent all night and used like 200MB of data...

So the ones that hit 20+GB I really think are doing torrents or something like that.

 

[pc747]

They can go after you for tethering 2 megs or 100 gigs. Will they go after the light tethers probably not. But I think we may see some changes coming real soon to possibly deal with this.