AT&T is cracking down on iPhone jailbreak tethering.
A number of AT&T customers have received text messages stating that to tether their smartphone to a computer, requires a tethering plan. Everyone who has received this message, have jailbroken their, and use services such as MyWi, PdaNet, and TetherMe to allow Internet tethering over WiFi, USB and Bluetooth.
One customer received this email:
Dear [Customer],
We’ve noticed your service plan may need updating.
Many AT&T customers use their smartphones as a broadband connection for other devices, like laptops, netbooks or other smartphones– a practice commonly known as tethering. Tethering can be an efficient way for our customers to enjoy the benefits of AT&T’s mobile broadband network and use more than one device to stay in touch with important people and information. To take advantage of this feature, we require that in addition to a data plan, you also have a tethering plan.
Our records show that you use this capability, but are not subscribed to our tethering plan.
If you would like to continue tethering, please log into your account online at Cell Phones and Cell Phone Plans – Wireless from AT&T, or call usat 1-888-860-6789 Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. CST or Saturday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. CST, by March 27, 2011to sign up for DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering. Here are details on the plan:
DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering
- $45 per month
(this gives you 4GB in total, combining both your smartphone data plan for $25 and the tethering feature, $20)- $10 per each additional GB thereafter, added automatically as needed
- Mobile Hotspot capabilities are included for compatible Smartphones
If we don’t hear from you, we’ll plan to automatically enroll you into DataPro 4GB after March 27, 2011. The new plan – whether you sign up on your own or we automatically enroll you – will replace your current smartphone data plan, including if you are on an unlimited data plan.
If you discontinue tethering, no changes to your current plan will be required.
It’s easy to track your usage throughout the month so there are no bill surprises. For example, we send you free text messages when you reach 65, 90, and 100 percent of your plan’s threshold. If you would like to monitor your account more closely, go to www.att.com/dataplans to learn about other ways to track your data usage.
As a reminder, our smartphone data plans also include unlimited usage of Wi-Fi at no additional charge. AT&T smartphone customers can use Wi-Fi at home or on-the-go at any one of our more than 23,000 U.S. hotspots already included in your data plan.
Thank you for bringing your account up to date. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve your mobile broadband needs.
Sincerely,
AT&T
Author Brian Sweet from Cult of Mac had this to say:
Nobody’s 100% sure as to what’s going on here, but I’m automatically going to assume that those who’ve received these messages are heavy data users, and use tethering quite often. I, myself, can easily go through at least 12GB of 3G data per month.
Is this right?
Let’s first set aside the argument of whether or not it’s okay to jailbreak a phone.
If you are tethering your phone, and use more data than what your plan is setup for, is that stealing?
Stealing bandwidth.
Sounds funny, but in all seriousness, where do you stand?
[via Cult of Mac]
Stephen Bateman says
Eek. Stealing? Can you *steal* something that is produced for so close to free?
I think everyone knows – intuitively – how it should work. One price, unfettered access. As long as we can keep the market in competition long enough, that’s what we’ll get.
Eric Dye says
Now we have LESS competition. AT&T bought out T-Mobile.
Geek for Him says
I support jailbreaking along with MyWi and other applications to be honest. I still have my unlimited data plan and should be able to use the unlimited data how I choose.
Eric Dye says
Totally. If you’re paying for unlimited data, that’s exactly what it should be!
You paid for, you should use it as you like 🙂
Ben Miller says
Very interesting thoughts, I’ll add my own. Bandwidth is not free: It costs a lot of money to set up a mobile network. When there is lots of data traveling across it, the network needs to be upgraded with more capacity to keep the service going. Internet service providers often have an unlimited price, to keep the billing simple, because consumers seem to prefer a simple pricing scheme. AT&T’s price is not for unlimited access, though; it is for access that is spelled out in their terms and conditions.
Here’s an analogy: Let’s say that my local water utility decided that to make the billing easy, they switched to an unlimited plan. Every house would pay one fee, and the meter would go away. Of course, the utility would have to determine the average use of water, and base the price on that. Some would be using less, and some more. Now let’s say I get together with 3 of my neighbors, and they cancel their water service, and I provide them water with my unlimited plan. Is that wrong? Would the utility be wrong in wanting more money from me?
Eric Dye says
Amazing input.
Love it!
Hats-off for all your awesomeness!