Hotspot feature

[jennay22]

Hi everyone! I have the SG3 with unlimited data. We are going on a trip to visit my folks, about a 4 hour drive, and wanted to use the hotspot feature on my phone so the kids can watch YouTube on the road on their tablets. I only need the hotspot for 4 days. The last I heard,I would be able to use this feature and only get charged per day, ~$1/day, and then just turn off the feature online. Is this still an option? Like I said,I don't need this feature permanently, just for the drive up and back down. Thanks!

 

[JnEricsonx]

I need some verification on this as well. I was told at a Verizon kiosk that even with unlimited data, the best you can get for a mobile hotspot for a tablet is 2 gigs a month for like 20 bucks, and yet, other people have told me you can get unlimited hotspot, if you still have the unlimited data plan on your phone, for 30 a month.

 

[jhawkkw]

Yes, if you have unlimited data, you can sign up for unlimited tethering for 30 dollars a month, or prorated to roughly 1 dollar per day. This can be done online by signing into your account and then clicking on change features. Select your line, and under Data Hotspot Packages, it should be listed there with the ability to add it. It should be roughly the 5th add box down from the top.

 

[AntimonyER]

And you can remove it just as easily, no need to call up a CSR. Worked great for a 4 day trip we took last month.

 

[JnEricsonx]

No kidding? Well, damn. I dont have a tablet atm, but that sure is a nice feature, if on occasion you figure you'd be stuck somewhere for a while during a day and having the ability to watch Netflix/HBO Go, etc, on your tablet via your phone. Now, so I know in the future, am I able to do this through my phone itself, MyVerizon or whatever the app is called?

 

[jhawkkw]

No kidding? Well, damn. I dont have a tablet atm, but that sure is a nice feature, if on occasion you figure you'd be stuck somewhere for a while during a day and having the ability to watch Netflix/HBO Go, etc, on your tablet via your phone. Now, so I know in the future, am I able to do this through my phone itself, MyVerizon or whatever the app is called?

I'm not sure it can be done through the app, but you can sign into your myVerizon account via your phone browser to do it.

 

[jennay22]

Thanks guys!! I just logged on VZW.com and I can get 4G Hotspot for $30 with my unlimited plan!

@JnEricsnx, do you have a 3G or 4G phone? I've had my SG3 since last summer and was always able to get the $30 unlimited hotspot feature for it, but when I switched to the iphone 4s (only 3G) back in december, I was only able to get the 2 GB hotspot feature. Now that I've switched back to my SG3, the $30 unlimited hotspot was back. BTW, I'm glad to be back on my SG3. I liked the iphone so I'm not bashing it, but I couldn't stand the small screen and really missed Swype and a few other little things. Still a nice solid phone of course.

 

[Cares]

I'll just leave this here ... root and tether

 

[JnEricsonx]

I have a Thunderbolt, got it back in May 2011, because I heard Verizon was getting rid of unlimited data, so I figured if I was ever going to get a smartphone, NOW would be the time. I love this phone.

 

[AntimonyER]

I had the thunderbolt for a short time prior to getting my Galaxy Nexus. It got a bad rap due to some major bugs at first. But it grew into its own. Glad you enjoy it!

 

[jennay22]

I'll just leave this here ... root and tether

BTDT. I'm with you. I rooted my Thunderbolt and before that my OG Droid and was just thinking about doing that with my SG3 to get the free hotspot. I really like the way my SG3 is set up and ever since the Jelly Bean update, my phone has been super snappy, no lag what-so-ever. The only reason to root would be for the free hotpot, but I don't mind paying ~$1 a day for unlimited hotspot, may even be cheaper with my corporate discount .

 

[jennay22]

Just wanted to update my experience with the hotspot feature. I was able to turn it on Friday morning and turned it off Monday, late evening (all done online), for our trip to visit family 4 hrs away. It worked great and just got our bill (this was done w/in my billing period) and it only added ~$2.60 to our usual amount. I did find that I get a 20% feature discount on the HS feature, I already get 20% off on my line and data too (corp disc). That was a nice surprise

 

[jhawkkw]

Just wanted to update my experience with the hotspot feature. I was able to turn it on Friday morning and turned it off Monday, late evening (all done online), for our trip to visit family 4 hrs away. It worked great and just got our bill (this was done w/in my billing period) and it only added ~$2.60 to our usual amount. I did find that I get a 20% feature discount on the HS feature, I already get 20% off on my line and data too (corp disc). That was a nice surprise

Wow, that's a pretty sweat deal.

 

[Cares]

BTDT. I'm with you. I rooted my Thunderbolt and before that my OG Droid and was just thinking about doing that with my SG3 to get the free hotspot. I really like the way my SG3 is set up and ever since the Jelly Bean update, my phone has been super snappy, no lag what-so-ever. The only reason to root would be for the free hotpot, but I don't mind paying ~$1 a day for unlimited hotspot, may even be cheaper with my corporate discount .

I wouldn't say that's the only reason. If you think your stock ROM is snappy - you definitely can get it even snappier with custom ROMs. Plus AdBlock for rooted phones!