AT&T: "You need to discontinue tethering your device"

**Reality** · 2011-09-14 22:24

So back in May, I receive a text message from AT&T (I'm a customer of theirs, have been since February 2009) stating that I need a tethering plan if I want to continue tethering.

Firstly I'm not a fucking idiot, I know what tethering is (I'm pretty well-versed in tech shit, you can look at my threads in the tech forum). But secondly, I've tethered my iphone once, last year (2010) for two days, when I moved in with my friend and our cable hadn't been setup yet, and knowing how little bandwidth FFXI requires, I downloaded a cydia tethering "Fix" or whatever (Not MyWi) to allow me to get online until our internet and shit was installed. That was 2009.

So I use my phone a lot at work, watching MLB.tv, or youtube constantly, and when I'm not watching that, I'm streaming Pandora (over 3g) to my car stereo. So I use quite a bit of bandwidth (~3GB/month). After checking my data usage on wireless.att.com, I noticed back in May and June my data usage was 5GB and 6.7GB @_@, so yeah pretty much abnormally high for my 'average' usage.

I ignored the text message, and called AT&T a couple days ago to ask about a discount for where I work, since I heard AT&T, Sprint, etc offer employee discounts depending on which franchises/corporations you work for (turned out mine was 8%). After getting that information, I thanked the woman for the info and as I was about to end the call she interrupts my "Good Bye" with an "Oh, Mr. <lastname>, did you receive our notification about using your phone as a tethering device?" I told her yes, and didn't quite understand why I was flagged for tethering, and she asked me how I used my 3G connection. I told her exactly what I used it for and when I mentioned PANDORA (???) she asked me "Do you connect your phone to headphones when you listen to it, or how exactly are you using Pandora?" Innocently I told her, "Well I use headphones when I'm at work, but I also can connect my phone to my headunit via the dock connector, and play the music over my car speakers."

Long story short:

"Mr. <my last name>, I need to inform you that connecting your phone to any dock kit and transmitting Pandora over the dock connector is data tethering."

LOL?

I told her, (i'm going to be informal in the rest of this post, because I want to get to the point) are you serious? I can attach my phone to my stereo via the AUX headphone connection as well, is that any different?

She kept ignoring my question, and kept falling back on "If you're streaming any 3G connection data like Pandora over the dock connector, or to any "Docking Kit" (she kept fucking saying "DOCKING KIT") it's considered by our terms of service as Data Tethering.

I basically was a total asshole to her at this point, because she kept dodging my question and it was pissing me off.

I ended up doing a "whatever" and told her good day.

Can you believe this shit? She's so fucking full of shit, that is NOT DATA TETHERING. Look up tethering on AT&T's website, it explicitly lists using the phone as a fucking tethered modem as tethering.

WTF? ;/

**Altariel** · 2011-09-14 23:31

Time to get your AUX jack working. As stupid as this policy may be, it is in fact exactly what their terms say:

6.1 AT&T data plans are designed for use with only one of the following distinct device types: (1) Smartphones, (2) basic and Quick Messaging phones, (3) tablets, and (4) LaptopConnect cards, and (5) stand-alone Mobile Hotspot devices. A data plan designated for one type of device may not be used with another type of device. For example, a data plan designated for use with a basic phone or a Smartphone may not be used with a LaptopConnect card, tablet, or stand-alone Mobile Hotspot device, by tethering devices together, by SIM card transfer, or any other means.

6.2 Furthermore, plans (unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/smartphone to computer accessories, BLUETOOTH® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose.

**Tweek** · 2011-09-14 23:39

6GB on your phone?

You're one of the fucking assholes taking all the bandwidth.

Were you grandfathered into unlimited or do you pay tiered?

**Reality** · 2011-09-15 09:32

She also told me there's no way to see how I'm using data, and that it was only from me telling her about attaching my phone to my stereo that she was able to give the big "No no!"

yes, on unlimited, grandfathered in

**Furtwangler** · 2011-09-15 10:36

I'd have asked for a manager and bitched up the chain a bit. I think the avg joe employee's ignorance is coming into play here.

**jmc** · 2011-09-15 10:51

Had a similar problem with them last month....... exact same idiot response from a rep.

**Ragnell** · 2011-09-15 12:37

Time to move on to sprint I'd say

**Mjd** · 2011-09-15 13:00

Go to a Verizon Wireless. Kid behind counter notices my 25 GB of data from the month before, gives me a fist bump.

I tether at work constantly and when I'm on the road.

**Reality** · 2011-09-15 13:08

Originally Posted by Ragnell

Time to move on to sprint I'd say

Funny you mention Sprint, my employee discount with ATT is 8%, Sprint told me they'll give me 18%

ATT contract ends in april

**avelle** · 2011-09-15 13:12

Originally Posted by Mjd

Go to a Verizon Wireless. Kid behind counter notices my 25 GB of data from the month before, gives me a fist bump.

I tether at work constantly and when I'm on the road.

Can you tether with Verizon? I thought Verizon was trying to stop that too.

**Mjd** · 2011-09-15 13:18

Originally Posted by avelle

Can you tether with Verizon? I thought Verizon was trying to stop that too.

Yeah. I don't know if Wireless Tether for Rooted still works since I had to get another Droid1 since it broke. Have yet to root my new one but EasyTether works just fine (cracked it). Going to root it again soon.

PDANet doesn't work anymore. Goes to the Verizon site and does the "sign up for it"

**Don Katsu** · 2011-09-15 13:24

Wifi tether for rooted users still works

**Mjd** · 2011-09-15 13:39

Lol it does, just rooted again thx

**Olo401** · 2011-09-15 14:28

Man AT&T is so fucked now that Verizon & Sprint have the iPhone..

**Ragnell** · 2011-09-15 15:04

Originally Posted by Mjd

Yeah. I don't know if Wireless Tether for Rooted still works since I had to get another Droid1 since it broke. Have yet to root my new one but EasyTether works just fine (cracked it). Going to root it again soon.

PDANet doesn't work anymore. Goes to the Verizon site and does the "sign up for it"

Thats Funny

Spoiler: show

**Ragnell** · 2011-09-15 15:04

Originally Posted by Shinebox

Wifi tether for rooted users still works

Not on Droid 3 yet ;_;

**shidobu** · 2011-09-16 11:02

yea im using pda 3.02 on my HTC inspire (lol4g)

Using it right now and i use it every fucking day downloading alot of shit.. i haven't gotten a msg. also grandfathered in since fucking 2002 on data

**dejet** · 2011-09-16 11:12

for PDA to work you need to DL it via their web page, or download an app that lets you change the market you can see(if your a Verizon user). I use T-mobiles market for most rooted apps.

**Franzer** · 2011-09-16 12:29

I don't know what I would do without wireless tether. I have my asus transformer mounted on my dash in my car, and use wireless tether when i want to stream music, play movies, use gps etc.

**Mjd** · 2011-09-16 13:00

I did download PDA Net from the market when it did that VZW bullshit.

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