Posted on 03/18/2011 3:24:04 PM PDT by Swordmaker
/johnny
When I recently got my new Android. the rep told me that it costs $20 per month to tether a laptop(in addition to the $20 I already pay for data on the phone itself). I just gave her a funny look and asked her why I should pay that, while I can simply do it anyway, without paying anything (always have). Of course, I don’t abuse it. I only tether under certain circumstances, such as when I’m on call and have to remote in to work. My Android can turn into a wireless access point. The perfect companion to my non-3G iPad.
How is AT&T still in business? They have crappy coverage, crappy service, and they charge though the nose for every little thing.
Maybe they think they'll make more money if they charge people more? It is a business, you know...
From what I’ve heard, the way they catch people is by the user agent, which is pretty easy to spoof.
It’ll be a cold day in hell before I pay AT&T $45 a month so I can tether once in a blue moon when I need to use a full screen to do something on the road.
It’s a dishonest business. He ran an honest one. That’s probably why he doesn’t get it.
Because their competition is just as bad if not worse.
They are currently the only provider currently offering a dual-core phone (Atrix), will be the only ones getting the new I-phone in June.
I hate AT&T.
ATT and other ISP’s are looking at new pricing scheme’s to increase revenue.
They know people are going to go over the bucket of GB’s alotted to a plan.
They measured plans just like the old days of per minute charges.
Personally, I think they should improve the network for all subscribers and raise the cost per subscriber.
But it’s still tough to price as the first thing people consider is minutes and texting.
After that they want a better connection.
So the pricing problem is driven by customer priorities.
They tried that with nailed up circuits and it was totally rejected. Now the cable companies are trying that scheme too.
I’ve been tethering on my Blackjack II phone for three years now. I had to re-install files they removed from windows software when I bought the phone to re-enable tethering. I guess I made out on that deal. I haven’t had a need to tether anymore except in emergency connectivity needs. I used it for covert connectivity at an old job where they blocked my interests...right wing talk radio...:-)
There's your answer, right there. AT&T is first and foremost a telephone company, with the mentality that that entails. They do not want to allow cannibalization of profits derived from their voice/data rate structure. A pure ISP makes no such distinction, outside of connection speed.
Okay, call me stoopid (I’ve had a few beers here).
What exactly is, “Tethering?”
“Maybe they think they’ll make more money if they charge people more? It is a business, you know... “
Sort of like the government taxing you more to make more money..
I had tmobile and thought they had crappy coverage and lots of dropped calls. I don’t have any trouble with At&t - is it just bad coverage in your area?
i especially enjoy dropped calls on at&t phones calling to complain about at&t uverse service.
Using your phone with data plan to provide a mobile internet connection to your computer (typically a laptop or netbook). This is typically done either with a Bluetooth connection or with an actual tether, a cable from your phone to your computer, usually USB.
AHH! So, using my iPhone on my home network (Or any other available network) isn’t tethering?
Tethering is when you link 2 devices together using a USB connector so the 2nd device displays whatever data the 1st device is streaming. A very useful functionality since most smartphones automatically have the capability enabled out of the box. :)
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