Thread: AT&T Shuts Off Free Internet Tethering as of August 11th

As of August 11th AT&T user will no longer be able to tether internet for free. According to AT&T its not fair to other members when another member tethers internet for free. In this official statement AT&T says they will automatically add the tethering plan to members that are caught.

Earlier this year, we began sending letters, emails, and text messages to a small number of smartphone customers who use their devices for tethering but aren’t on our required tethering plan. Our goal here is fairness for all of our customers. (This impacts a only small percentage of our smartphone customer base.)

The letters outline three choices:

1) Stop tethering and keep their current plan (including grandfathered unlimited plan)

2) Proactively call AT&T or visit our stores and move to the required tethering plan

3) Do nothing and we’ll go ahead and add the tethering plan on their behalf — after the dated noted in their customer notification

SLASHGEAR

What does this mean for PlayBook users? Will we get an unexpected raise in our monthly bill? Let us know what you think.

Is AT&T the only one of the big companies that is charging for tethering?

No Verizon is doing it as well.

Originally Posted by ice2921

No Verizon is doing it as well.

Well then, I don't think that us poor, over charged users have a chance of getting them to stop charging for it.

I just have a problem with them telling me in what manner I can use the data that I pay for monthly. Why do they care if its data used on the device or through it for tethering? Irks me!

Originally Posted by BBOSBryan

I just have a problem with them telling me in what manner I can use the data that I pay for monthly. Why do they care if its data used on the device or through it for tethering? Irks me!

They care because your technically not paying for it. They want every bit of data to be chargeable. Its corporate greed.

If I pay for 2GB of data a month how am I not paying for 2GB of data? No matter if it is through tethering or not if I don't go over the amount of data I pay for then it doesn't matter and I am still paying for it.

Originally Posted by BBOSBryan

If I pay for 2GB of data a month how am I not paying for 2GB of data? No matter if it is through tethering or not if I don't go over the amount of data I pay for then it doesn't matter and I am still paying for it.

I can feel your frustration. AT&T should not be charging again for something that has already been paid for. Now when you exceed the data that you have paid for, then yes, charge the user for that data usage.

Originally Posted by ghostryder12

I can feel your frustration. AT&T should not be charging again for something that has already been paid for. Now when you exceed the data that you have paid for, then yes, charge the user for that data usage.

Exactly, I don't know why that's so hard for AT&T...

I think they are only targeting those who go over their data plan as well as anyone who tethers " illegally" Regardless' in my opinion this whole things stinks.

Originally Posted by BBOSBryan

Exactly, I don't know why that's so hard for AT&T...

It's hard to see anything through the green greed.

Would a complaint to FCC do any good?

You know one of the biggest reason theyare doing this is because of all the jailbroken iPhones. All of those thousands of people using the jailbroken iPhones to suck down large amounts of data, now you add the PlayBook into the mix. Im wondering if next month im going to see an additional bill because I was using my PlayBook bridge browser.

Originally Posted by DownForce

Would a complaint to FCC do any good?

I doubt it only because AT&T has some very expensive lawyers that I'm sure have researched this issue fully.

Originally Posted by ice2921

You know one of the biggest reason theyare doing this is because of all the jailbroken iPhones. All of those thousands of people using the jailbroken iPhones to suck down large amounts of data, now you add the PlayBook into the mix. Im wondering if next month im going to see an additional bill because I was using my PlayBook bridge browser.

Keep us posted. I'd like to see what AT&T will do with the BalckBerry users. I understand about the jailbroke iPhones, there are several people I work with iPhones that answer "yes" when asked, "is it jailbroke?" Having a jailbroke iPhone allows the user to access excessive amounts of data without being charged for it?

I wanted to start a data spike rebellion, and have everyone tether on everything right up on until cut off day.

Originally Posted by ghostryder12

I understand about the jailbroke iPhones, there are several people I work with iPhones that answer "yes" when asked, "is it jailbroke?" Having a jailbroke iPhone allows the user to access excessive amounts of data without being charged for it?

Jailbreaking is not illegal, in fact not to long ago U.S courts ruled in favor of people being able to jailbreak their phones. When a phone is "jailbroken" it allows for open tethering as well allowing the device to be used even more so as a hot spot. So now you have one device with internet giving two or three more devices access to that same internet connection. The problem is AT&T feels as everyone of those devices should have to pay for data on its own. Thats just silly, its like your internet service provider charging you extra for all the devices you have connected to your wireless connection.

Originally Posted by ice2921

Jailbreaking is not illegal, in fact not to long ago U.S courts ruled in favor of people being able to jailbreak their phones. When a phone is "jailbroken" it allows for open tethering as well allowing the device to be used even more so as a hot spot. So now you have one device with internet giving two or three more devices access to that same internet connection. The problem is AT&T feels as everyone of those devices should have to pay for data on its own. Thats just silly, its like your internet service provider charging you extra for all the devices you have connected to your wireless connection.

OK, now AT&T is really being silly and very greedy. I wish that Nextel worked where I live.

You mean Sprint? The iDen infrastructure is being phased out by Sprint.

Originally Posted by BBOSBryan

You mean Sprint? The iDen infrastructure is being phased out by Sprint.

yeah, Sprint. It's strange when I use their coverage maps, Sprint is nowhere near. But if I use their Nextel map, it shows great coverage. That leaves me feeling that their coverage maps are just BS.