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Is MobileHotspot free still?

I

inexplicable

Lurker
I just bought the ThunderBolt about a week ago and have been looking around and saw that MobileHotspot was rumored to be free before the release of the device, but I have not been able to find anything confirming this.

So my question, is MobileHotspot indeed free until May 15?
 
Last I heard it was. I am hopping they extend it with the charge coming out.
 
As far as I know still free until May 15. Also, if you're rooted they're (Verizon and AT&T) supposedly blocking free tethering apps from the market. I can confirm as of the other day I could no longer find Wireless Tether when I searched for it. I downloaded Barnacle for when the free Mobile Hot Spot expires. Apparently they're trying to crack down on illegal (free) tethering...
 
This would be great! I'm going on a ~14 hr road trip next this weekend, so this would help our immensely!
 
cmotion said:
As far as I know still free until May 15. Also, if you're rooted they're (Verizon and AT&T) supposedly blocking free tethering apps from the market. I can confirm as of the other day I could no longer find Wireless Tether when I searched for it. I downloaded Barnacle for when the free Mobile Hot Spot expires. Apparently they're trying to crack down on illegal (free) tethering...
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Sort of a nit, or not. But there isn't anything "illegal" about tethering.

There's no law that says you can't tether. You are breaking the terms and conditions of a company and therefore in violation of the contract. The carrier can then seek recourse under the agreed-to contract. But you aren't breaking a law and its therefore not "illegal". Carriers like you to think its "illegal" to shame you into not doing it. But they're arbitrarily making up the rules to squeeze more money out of you. They could say data used on full moon Tuesdays are capped, other whatever terms they want. The consumer supposedly can decide to accept it or go elsewhere. Except of course when all the carriers illegally collude and all change their terms the same way at the same time. That is illegal and will eventually inspire monopoly oversight. AT&T buying T-Mobile won't help in the competition department.

Interesting how AT&T and Verizon both happened to crack down on tethering apps in the marketplace at the same time...
 
dm33 said:
Sort of a nit, or not. But there isn't anything "illegal" about tethering.

There's no law that says you can't tether. You are breaking the terms and conditions of a company and therefore in violation of the contract. The carrier can then seek recourse under the agreed-to contract. But you aren't breaking a law and its therefore not "illegal". Carriers like you to think its "illegal" to shame you into not doing it. But they're arbitrarily making up the rules to squeeze more money out of you. They could say data used on full moon Tuesdays are capped, other whatever terms they want. The consumer supposedly can decide to accept it or go elsewhere. Except of course when all the carriers illegally collude and all change their terms the same way at the same time. That is illegal and will eventually inspire monopoly oversight. AT&T buying T-Mobile won't help in the competition department.

Interesting how AT&T and Verizon both happened to crack down on tethering apps in the marketplace at the same time...
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Lets see the sources to support what you just said.
 
Dark Jedi said:
Lets see the sources to support what you just said.
Click to expand...

Why don't you cite sources that say it is illegal in this country (the U.S.) to tether? While you're at it, why don't you also provide contracts from both AT&T and Verizon Wireless that specifically state that tethering is an illegal offense in this country?


The fact is, dm33 was right in everything he/she wrote about......
 
Wanderlusterer said:
Why don't you cite sources that say it is illegal in this country (the U.S.) to tether? While you're at it, why don't you also provide contracts from both AT&T and Verizon Wireless that specifically state that tethering is an illegal offense in this country?


The fact is, dm33 was right in everything he/she wrote about......
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Because he said that it wasnt illegal so burden of proof is on him. So I want to see his sources, If he even has any :rolleyes:.
 
Dark Jedi said:
Because he said that it wasnt illegal so burden of proof is on him. So I want to see his sources, If he even has any :rolleyes:.
Click to expand...

Really? So you want someone to provide burden of proof on a concept that you can do alone just by typing, "tethering" into Google, and seeing what the results are? You are so much the better person for not proving otherwise.

Tell you what, I'll give you $500.00 U.S.D. if you can cite 3 independent, reliable sources, stating it's illegal to tether your phone to your computer through a service provider you pay for your phone service.

Just so we're clear, here are a few examples of the term, "illegal":

Illegal | Define Illegal at Dictionary.com (the first term/definition as an adjective)

illegal - Wiktionary (again, the first term/definition given as an adjective)

Illegal - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary (for the third time, same as the first two times)

To reiterate my point; dm33 was exact in the statement made in the original post.
 
Alright, alright, no need to argue.

But thanks for the info!

I suspected it was free because when I enabled it the app gave no notification that it may cost extra or anything like that.
 
inexplicable said:
Alright, alright, no need to argue.

But thanks for the info!

I suspected it was free because when I enabled it the app gave no notification that it may cost extra or anything like that.
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I was told when I purchased my Thunderbolt from Verizon that HotSpot was free until May 15th.

After the blackout, when 4G and 3G went down, the next day, I read that Verizon was extending the free Wifi Hotspot feature for Thunderbolt, but it didnt' say until when.

Being they have another 4G phone, which was supposed to be released but was delayed due to the outage, it kind of makes sense that they'd extend it, to allow new Droid Charge owners to try out HotSpot for free, as well.
 
It's not illegal unless strictly stated in law. and its not...

Eating ice cream upside down with your eyes closed is not illegal, but there are no sources that say it isn't. So does that mean it could be illegal? No... because in law you can only assume what is stated and nothing more.
 
Wanderlusterer said:
Really? So you want someone to provide burden of proof on a concept that you can do alone just by typing, "tethering" into Google, and seeing what the results are? You are so much the better person for not proving otherwise.

Tell you what, I'll give you $500.00 U.S.D. if you can cite 3 independent, reliable sources, stating it's illegal to tether your phone to your computer through a service provider you pay for your phone service.

Just so we're clear, here are a few examples of the term, "illegal":

Illegal | Define Illegal at Dictionary.com (the first term/definition as an adjective)

illegal - Wiktionary (again, the first term/definition given as an adjective)

Illegal - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary (for the third time, same as the first two times)

To reiterate my point; dm33 was exact in the statement made in the original post.
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Ok your wikidicionary site the second definition is not permitted by the rules. The tos is basically Verizon's rules to be on their service. So yes you even gave me the link but there's your proof that breaking their rules in their contract is indeed illegal to do. Should I give you my contact inconsiderate you can send my $500?:p
 
Dark Jedi said:
Ok your wikidicionary site the second definition is not permitted by the rules. The tos is basically Verizon's rules to be on their service. So yes you even gave me the link but there's your proof that breaking their rules in their contract is indeed illegal to do. Should I give you my contact inconsiderate you can send my $500?:p
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Breaking a contract is not 'illegal'
Homeland security is not going to come for you if you tether.
 
I think the point is that breaking a legal contract is punishable in a court if a suit is brought and the person is found guilty. To me, if it is punishable by law, then it is illegal. Just my opinion.
 
dguy said:
Wow. There is a difference between the rules a company makes and law. Please learn that.
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Please learn the guy said its not illegal to tethering a phone. So the definition of illegal states not permitted by the rules. Plus if you break a contract you can be sued.

I guess a QB can't be called for an illegal fwd. pass because he isn't breaking the law. So your definition its a legal pass? :rolleyes:
 
My thing is this. Say I tether my phone now in an emergency situation for a few days. Then never tether again. Since I did it once will they just automatically start billing me for tethering monthly cause they deem that since I did it once I need tethering?
 
bamaredwingsfan said:
My thing is this. Say I tether my phone now in an emergency situation for a few days. Then never tether again. Since I did it once will they just automatically start billing me for tethering monthly cause they deem that since I did it once I need tethering?
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So far I don't think that they have any proof of android phones tethering being tracked, so they probably can't tell if you are tethering anyway. However even if they could, I doubt they would go after one time users or occasional users who don't abuse data. The important thing for verizon should be the people who use tons of data tethering who are hurting the network for others.
 
bamaredwingsfan said:
My thing is this. Say I tether my phone now in an emergency situation for a few days. Then never tether again. Since I did it once will they just automatically start billing me for tethering monthly cause they deem that since I did it once I need tethering?
Click to expand...

If you're doing it through the Mobile Hotspot? As I understand it at the moment, it's free until the 15th (or date it's been extended to, if so). From what I was told (Not giving sources here), the understanding is that after the date expires, it will automatically be turned off, at which point you would have to call CS or stop in a store (or I assume self-provision again), in order to continue with it.

I know they've gone that way with a few things (the VZ Nav free for a month this month, for example). That way, people aren't suddenly starting to get billed after the trial.

That said, that's regarding free trial periods of apps and services. NORMALLY, if you self-provision a feature, and don't call or go cancel, it'll continue to be billed until you do so.
 
I ordered my Thinderbolt last night. I was told it ended May 15th, and I would have to call and cancel or they would start billing me for the service.

Tony
 
Rommel1 said:
I ordered my Thinderbolt last night. I was told it ended May 15th, and I would have to call and cancel or they would start billing me for the service.

Tony
Click to expand...


If you do have to call and cancel there are going to be a lot of angry VZW customers when they receive their June bill. I was never told if I didn't call to cancel I'd be charged, nor did any of the other 10 TB owners I know
 
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