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Has Big Red Punished Anyone for using FoxFi?
- Thread starter Batt1719
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- galaxy nexus
There are various ways they can tell.
I haven't heard of anyone getting nailed lately. That doesn't mean they can't or won't start nailing folks...
Tim K
Android Expert
Such as?
I know the iPhone on att transmitted data differently when tethered which was how they could tell. I was under the impression that Android data is not differentiated for the carriers to see.
ron scubadiver
Android Enthusiast
One way they can tell is if you are visiting the regular version of sites that normally redirect phones to the mobile version of the site.
D
Deleted User
Guest
Many browsers allow you to set (spoof?) the user agent, so that can't be grounds for a nasty-gram alone. I do agree that they probably can tell though.
I think they just don't bother with it. They have plenty of people paying for tethering plans, and for those who bypass the system they are going to settle for aggressively eliminating the unlimited data plans and eventually get everyone capped. In the meantime, don't be pulling torrents all day long, and hopefully they'll let us slide.
I think they just don't bother with it. They have plenty of people paying for tethering plans, and for those who bypass the system they are going to settle for aggressively eliminating the unlimited data plans and eventually get everyone capped. In the meantime, don't be pulling torrents all day long, and hopefully they'll let us slide.
Idunno
Android Enthusiast
I think there are ways they can speculate that you're tethering... but no tell tale thing that says for sure unless they look at your phone and see. I don't see how they can tell the difference if I'm bored out of my mind streaming HD netflix all day or tethering so I can browse the web, to me it seems that data is data. Now, that being said they can probably profile people who are candidates for tethering by the amount/frequency of data use just based on trends and statistics.
In the end, I think they're getting smarter about it... and in the grand scheme of things not a whole lot of android users know about tethering and/or want to be bothered with the hassle (maybe 10% or less). So they probably look at it as yes its an issue, but not that many people do it and that isn't going to outweigh the number of people who pay for limited data plans and don't tether. I think we're good to go, especially if you're lucky enough to have a grandfathered in old school truly unlimited data plan on 4G.
In the end, I think they're getting smarter about it... and in the grand scheme of things not a whole lot of android users know about tethering and/or want to be bothered with the hassle (maybe 10% or less). So they probably look at it as yes its an issue, but not that many people do it and that isn't going to outweigh the number of people who pay for limited data plans and don't tether. I think we're good to go, especially if you're lucky enough to have a grandfathered in old school truly unlimited data plan on 4G.
Tim K
Android Expert
No. Most of my phone's bookmarks are set to request the desktop version.
No. Same as above. Plus "Gobs of data" don't imply anything. I could stream Netrflix over 4G all day long (if I was on AC power anyway!).
What he said.
callmeox
Android Enthusiast
If you trip the usage meter and they take a deeper look at your usage, they would be able to figure out if it was tethering traffic.
The point that I was unclear on was that tethering occasionally and in small volume would probably go undetected unless your account is flagged for review for some other reason. I would bet that high volume data consumers get the scrutiny that others don't.
Nashdroid
Android Expert
Ahhh.... Finally, the voice of reason. I thought my head was about to explode over here. haha
Demache
Android Expert
Certain traffic is without a doubt going to be from tethering like PC and console games and services and such. Granted, for them to truly tell without a doubt, they would need to do a pretty thorough search. And I highly doubt Verizon is going to spend that much time (and money) investigating several thousand plus accounts. Like we've said, how often are people getting busted by VZW for this? On these forums, essentially never.
They are moving to capped data anyway so its probably not as much a worry anymore for them as those who are tethering are just going to reach that cap faster (if they are using data intensive services).
just be a '**** about it and download movies/music.
BlackHawk1776
Newbie
It's been a while since I was really in the depths of TCP/IP but I'm pretty sure that the original requesting devices MAC address is likely in the packets somewhere. When FoxFi acts as the proxy it replaces the MAC in the packet with it's own (the phone's MAC address) but I'd bet there are other traces in some layers of the network communication. If Verizon is going to do any snooping; they'll likely do it at the lowest networking layer possible.
What are you guys (and gals) doing that uses so much data? I'm using my phone all day (I go through 2-3 fully charged batteries per day) and at the end of the month I seem to hit about a half gig of data used. The only thing I've been able to suck up data on was some Skype calling that used 80MB in short order.
What are you guys (and gals) doing that uses so much data? I'm using my phone all day (I go through 2-3 fully charged batteries per day) and at the end of the month I seem to hit about a half gig of data used. The only thing I've been able to suck up data on was some Skype calling that used 80MB in short order.
dockmaster
Well-Known Member
I dont tether much, surley not the 30bucks a month they want to charge me for unlimited. I'm actually tethering right now cause my cox cable is dowm...used a whole 21.3mbs so far. I tethered yesterday while in a doctors office so my kid could have connection on her ipod touch, again a few mb's.
I dont use more than 2.5gb a month of data for everything so im not sweating it even though I have unlimited data. The people streaming netflix and gaming and using vzw for there internet connection will be screamming the loudest. At some point I suppose VZW will set a threshold and start looking at all the data hogs. Ive said all along thoug, its not about using bandwith, its about selling data. Theres evidently enought bandwith to sell!.
Rock on
Billd
I dont use more than 2.5gb a month of data for everything so im not sweating it even though I have unlimited data. The people streaming netflix and gaming and using vzw for there internet connection will be screamming the loudest. At some point I suppose VZW will set a threshold and start looking at all the data hogs. Ive said all along thoug, its not about using bandwith, its about selling data. Theres evidently enought bandwith to sell!.
Rock on
Billd
Tim K
Android Expert
I agree that there may be traces of the data source in there somewhere.... but I don't think Verizon is about to start sniffing packets as they cross the network for fear of getting sued for it. I'm sure there would be an uproar if any carrier started inspecting customers data streams... at least once it got out.
If you are really worried, or need tethering for lots of data, just activate it through VZW for a few days or whatever (say on a road trip), and then deactivate it when done. They should prorate it ($1 a day or so).
But if you are going to tether on a tiered data plan, I say use it to your hearts delight until you hit your cap... I'm not arguing VZW's legal authority to determine how that data is used, I just don't like the policy. Maybe $20 for two gigs mobile, and a $5 extra monthly charge to allow hotspot use of that 2GB would be reasonable (and I think more people would pay that rather than break the policy --- they don't seem to be profiting from dinging people for 'illegal' tethering --- a total loss)... but forcing you to pay an extra $20 for 2GB more data just doesn't seem to be in the consumer's interest at all.
And if you are on unlimited, you should probably either pay for the tethering or just use it minimally... say less than 1-2 gigs a month or so, or at least have it be 20% or less of your data use. I mean, tethering is my main data use, which is why I pay for it. It is my home internet connection.
If you are using 25GB a month tethered and only half a gig mobile data, that might raise a flag! Just use common sense... keep it below what you could pay if they charged you for it! $10 per GB...
My main concern would be losing unlimited data due to contract violation (not sure if that is possible or if it has happened). That's why I play by the rules. Lock in unlimited tethering while it is available... I bet pretty soon, they will stop allowing that as an add on to unlimited plans... its inevitable...
But if you are going to tether on a tiered data plan, I say use it to your hearts delight until you hit your cap... I'm not arguing VZW's legal authority to determine how that data is used, I just don't like the policy. Maybe $20 for two gigs mobile, and a $5 extra monthly charge to allow hotspot use of that 2GB would be reasonable (and I think more people would pay that rather than break the policy --- they don't seem to be profiting from dinging people for 'illegal' tethering --- a total loss)... but forcing you to pay an extra $20 for 2GB more data just doesn't seem to be in the consumer's interest at all.
And if you are on unlimited, you should probably either pay for the tethering or just use it minimally... say less than 1-2 gigs a month or so, or at least have it be 20% or less of your data use. I mean, tethering is my main data use, which is why I pay for it. It is my home internet connection.
If you are using 25GB a month tethered and only half a gig mobile data, that might raise a flag! Just use common sense... keep it below what you could pay if they charged you for it! $10 per GB...
My main concern would be losing unlimited data due to contract violation (not sure if that is possible or if it has happened). That's why I play by the rules. Lock in unlimited tethering while it is available... I bet pretty soon, they will stop allowing that as an add on to unlimited plans... its inevitable...
RichSz
Not Entitled
They already do. It's called deep packet inspection. I don't know the ins and outs of it but they appear to use it for advertising purposes. The best reference I could find was this:
Seems to me that if they're looking at your web traffic, it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to work out that you're connecting to XBox Live, for example.
I'm paranoid when it comes to this and have only used tethering once or twice and always with something pretty vanilla.
Never heard of anyone getting busted though.
chris.eckeard
Lurker
You never have to pay Verizon to tether or worry about using any tethering apps due to the open access agreement that went along with the 700 mhz C Block spectrum they won the bid on from the FCC. It was tested after Verizon Wireless required Google to remove tethering apps from the Play Store. It was brought to the FCC's attention that Big Red had done this through the EFF, Free Press and consumer petition and Verizon was found to be violating the purchase agreement of the C Block Spectrum and fined 1.25 million for restricting apps in the Play Store including tethering apps. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407907,00.asp
You may argue how then can that be when they offer tethering for $20/$30. The agreement stated that they could not restrict users use of data connectivity. It didn't say that they couldn't sell the service and so they do. The soft 5GB cap on the unlimited plan only applies to 3G service and does not apply to the 4G service. Personally I have been using FoxFi since before PDANet acquired it for my non Rooted devices. I average over 100GB of data per month with my max month in december using a 186.5GB on my grandfathered unlimited data plan. I have never once been sent a letter, text, phone call, or extra charge on my account. The only thing I get from Verizon is a monthly bill and notices that my account is due for an upgrade. They would really like me to get a subsidized phone and get me off my unlimited data plan.
You may argue how then can that be when they offer tethering for $20/$30. The agreement stated that they could not restrict users use of data connectivity. It didn't say that they couldn't sell the service and so they do. The soft 5GB cap on the unlimited plan only applies to 3G service and does not apply to the 4G service. Personally I have been using FoxFi since before PDANet acquired it for my non Rooted devices. I average over 100GB of data per month with my max month in december using a 186.5GB on my grandfathered unlimited data plan. I have never once been sent a letter, text, phone call, or extra charge on my account. The only thing I get from Verizon is a monthly bill and notices that my account is due for an upgrade. They would really like me to get a subsidized phone and get me off my unlimited data plan.