AfterDawn: News

Tethering with Jailbroken iPhone will cost AT&T users their unlimited plans

Customers lucky to still have unlimited data plans are putting it at risk if tethering.

AT&T has confirmed that it will revoke unlimited data plans held by users who are using a Jailbroken iPhone for tethering. It will then lump its 4GB tethering-approved plan on the customer. The carrier has sent out warning letters to those tethering without a plan.



In order to keep tethering, a customer will have to switch plan, but since the unlimited data plan no longer exists, that means taking on a 4GB limit split between smartphone use and tethering. The minimum tethering plan would actually cost a customer with unlimited data an additional $15 per month.

Customers lucky to still have unlimited plans could be forgiven for getting angry about this policy, as there was no state restriction on tethering at the time the unlimited plan was still available.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 5 Aug 2011 21:54

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• 18 comments

• KillerBug

  Verizon will be next then.

  5.8.2011 23:31 #1

• Hyasuma

  F U AT&T, good thing I jump ship u P.O.S
  

  6.8.2011 00:01 #2

• xaznboitx

  we should be hearing about anonymous very soon
  

  6.8.2011 01:47 #3

• dp70

  Caveat Emptor, caveat vendor especially true when one has AT&T on their payroll.I got rid of these thieves, and am glad I did.

  6.8.2011 06:34 #4

• dp70

  Caveat Emptor, caveat vendor especially true when one has AT&T on their payroll.I got rid of these thieves, and am glad I did.

  6.8.2011 06:34 #5

• Jeffrey_P

  I don't need another comm device.
  Do not own a business, never will use iPoop for anything.
  There is nothing that is to urgent for me to use my thumbs for texting. It is a waste of money unless you are a must have person.
  I pay $43.00 a month, no contract for the past ten years. Never use my 4xx minutes and lose my rollover minutes because I never use them. Life does not revolve around an Apple or any other smart phone. My old Razor fits my needs.
  
  Many people will lose their minds if they have their smartphones surgically removed from their hand.
  
  Yes I have AT&T. So far they just let me be.
  
  Poor babies.
  
  Little off topic..
  Journalism was my minor. Apple has the perfect marketing department. They can turn humans into a herd of sheep.
  
  Create a need then fill the need.
  
  Marshall McLuhan is my hero..
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_McLuhan
  
  Jeff
  

  Cars, Guitars & Radiation.

  6.8.2011 07:39 #6

• KillerBug

  I need a smart phone...I need to get flight updates quickly at all hours and I need Google Maps with streetview and GPS...there are a lot of other things I don't really need, but those two things are absolutely vital. A few years ago I didn't need these things...now the competition has them so I need to have them too.
  

  
  

  6.8.2011 09:50 #7

• ruff4life

  I wonder how long before Sprint follows. I have 4 lines on Sprint and pay an avg of less than $50 a line with unlimited data through the family plan. Sprint Coverage is OK at best but it serves it's purpose.

  6.8.2011 10:25 #8

• CaptHook

  Cancel!!

  6.8.2011 11:40 #9

• surrealzz (unverified)

  Can't just make up rules as you go! My phone and I will do whatever the hell I want with it... Come and get me and show where and how this is illegal AT&T... Can You Say "Lawsuit"...

  6.8.2011 12:39 #10

• SoTired

  Thank goodness I dumped AT&T long ago.

  6.8.2011 14:41 #11

• ZeusAV

  Originally posted by KillerBug: I need a smart phone...I need to get flight updates quickly at all hours and I need Google Maps with streetview and GPS...there are a lot of other things I don't really need, but those two things are absolutely vital. A few years ago I didn't need these things...now the competition has them so I need to have them too. Agreed.
  
  In my business not having GPS, email, and various other real time updates on the go would cost me money. There aren't very many industries where one can successfully compete without a smartphone these days.

  6.8.2011 16:59 #12

• carlvo

  Originally posted by surrealzz: Can't just make up rules as you go! My phone and I will do whatever the hell I want with it... Come and get me and show where and how this is illegal AT&T... Can You Say "Lawsuit"... It does not have to be illegal to be a violation of the terms of service...
  

  Carl V. O.

  6.8.2011 19:25 #13

• ebega

  I wonder if this will apply to rooted android devices as well
  

  Encoder vs. Transcoder results:
  http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/343299

  6.8.2011 20:11 #14

• cygnus_76

  What prompted all carriers to stop offering unlimited plans?! I think some of the internet providers are capping usage as well!! WTF!!?? Technology should be going forward not backward!
  
  

  7.8.2011 19:47 #15

• CaptHook

  CARLVO posted..
  It does not have to be illegal to be a violation of the terms of service... So.... The debate starts here!
  
  Jimminy Cricket above thinks it's okay for these cell phone crooks to rob us any chance they get. Since when is it against the terms of service to tether. NO.... Tethering is only against the terms of service if the cell company cannot get paid off of it..
  
  My point is this.... Y lock up a feature that is native to the device and only agree to unlock that feature if a tax is paid. NONSENCE! ...and then when we do get savvy and replace the NAZI OS with an OS that makes ALL of the features on MY phone available, we get demonized and threatened.. What a shame!

  7.8.2011 20:16 #16

• buxtahuda

  Dear Lord that I don't believe in, please stop this upcoming merger T.T
  
  I swear, I lucked out swapping from my old T-Mobile Fave5 to an unlimited data plan when I did, I was so freaking happy to finally get a good deal somewhere. And now the business known most for their absolutely awful "deals" is about to get a hold on my plan; I really don't want to have to put up with this kind of nonsense.
  
  How can you charge more money for a (stated above) native feature, especially since people pay for unlimited use. One of the only reasons I was willing to go the smartphone route is because I could have decent mobile speeds (eventually anyway, as this area sucks) that I could tether to my other devices. I paid for it. Was an advertised feature for my phone. And I'm pretty sure T-Mobile stopped offering free tethering (non-rooted new devices, roots move freely) as well, not too long ago.
  
  Does all this remind anyone of an OtherOS kind of situation? How are these companies allowed to completely go back on their promises? They get thousands of people to buy their product for a reason and then remove that reason; how can a pretty much unsigned , non-verbal contract (ToS) make this alright?
  

  ~*Livin' Electronicallly*~

  8.8.2011 17:08 #17

• hearme0

  Originally posted by Hyasuma: F U AT&T, good thing I jump ship u P.O.S Jump ship anywhere you'd like smart guy. Just because you want to get something for nothing you leech, doesn't make it right. Most reasonable minded people taking advantage of this would honestly be thinking "hmmm........can't last forever but I'll take it as long as I can". But noooooo,oooooo, you believe you're entitled.
  
  No doubt you went to Verizon but even if you went to Tmobile, US Cellular or even Sprint, they charge extra for tethering and your ass will get busted because they are well aware that NO PHONE CAN DOWNLOAD THE AMOUNT OF DATA THAT A COMPUTER CAN.

  8.8.2011 17:20 #18