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Help Is using apps (e.g. Quick Settings) against the ToS or whatever for using wireless hotspot?

WinCamXP

Newbie
I just wanted to know in plain yes/no/maybe (preferably not maybe) format if this violates their policies or anything. I know wireless hotspot is disabled in Settings, however can be accessed over other apps. My sister loves to watch YouTube on her iPod, but you know how car trips go (Mommy, can I have your phone? - No, I'm not Mommy. But she'll probably ask for mine too when I get it within 20 days.). This will save me from that nightmare if I remember the car charger. But could VM get mad about this? I mean, it doesn't make much sense to be mad because I'm sharing the Internet that I paid for with somebody else, basically.
 
I just wanted to know in plain yes/no/maybe (preferably not maybe) format if this violates their policies or anything. I know wireless hotspot is disabled in Settings, however can be accessed over other apps. My sister loves to watch YouTube on her iPod, but you know how car trips go (Mommy, can I have your phone? - No, I'm not Mommy. But she'll probably ask for mine too when I get it within 20 days.). This will save me from that nightmare if I remember the car charger. But could VM get mad about this? I mean, it doesn't make much sense to be mad because I'm sharing the Internet that I paid for with somebody else, basically.

Yes. Using the hotspot without paying for it is theft, and yes, it is against VM terms of service. :(

Think of it like this (probably a bad analogy, but you'll get the point). You ninja sneak into your neighbors window in the middle of the night (it's hot outside and they left the window open!) and plug in all of your electrical items (fridge, tv, etc) because you don't want to pay for your electric bill. Your neighbor won't mind paying a little extra on his bill and he'll be none the wiser, so it's OK.

In reality... hotspot was removed from the menu but for some reason there's a bug/vulnerability where you can use another app to access it. This was not intended by VM and is therefor called an exploit. If you knowingly take advantage of that exploit then you are stealing bandwidth from VM. Not only can they yank your account but they can force you to pay for the bandwidth you illegally used.
 
The carriers give you instructions and software to transfer any file from your phone to you pc. That same file can also be downloaded directly to your pc via tethering. Same file, same network, how can it be stealing?
 
do you work for Virgin Mobile??????

Yes. Using the hotspot without paying for it is theft, and yes, it is against VM terms of service. :(

Think of it like this (probably a bad analogy, but you'll get the point). You ninja sneak into your neighbors window in the middle of the night (it's hot outside and they left the window open!) and plug in all of your electrical items (fridge, tv, etc) because you don't want to pay for your electric bill. Your neighbor won't mind paying a little extra on his bill and he'll be none the wiser, so it's OK.

In reality... hotspot was removed from the menu but for some reason there's a bug/vulnerability where you can use another app to access it. This was not intended by VM and is therefor called an exploit. If you knowingly take advantage of that exploit then you are stealing bandwidth from VM. Not only can they yank your account but they can force you to pay for the bandwidth you illegally used.
 
So you should know a file transfer is file transfer, and doesn't cost anymore when downloaded to the phone or tethered to the pc.
 
So you should know a file transfer is file transfer, and doesn't cost anymore when downloaded to the phone or tethered to the pc.

Still using bandwidth as with anything else. Doesn't matter what type of server is used to transfer it from point a to point b.
 
I can't believe I'm saying it, but I agree with BJ.

The carriers give you instructions and software to transfer any file from your phone to you pc. That same file can also be downloaded directly to your pc via tethering. Same file, same network, how can it be stealing?

In your description you are using your own account and not sharing it with someone else. This is not the issue.

The OP wants to let his sister hook up to VM via his account and let her use the bandwidth (hence my post about bandwidth theft). At this time there is no legal way to hook an iPod up to VM services without purchasing a VM MiFi and paying for their services first. Get the VM MiFi and you can legally hook up several WiFi capable items.
 
NoNameFace is correct.

It is expressly against the terms of use you agreed to abide by when contracting for the service.

It will also result in the end of the $25 plan and you will have many many people mad as heck at you, myself included.

Get the Mifi or get a contract plan with a company that allows it.
 
Thanks guys, gawd. I'm all guilty now, even though I don't even have the darn phone yet. If it's really THAT serious, they should release an update disabling that...even though it's really cool to be able to do that. Darn it.

And not only that, but, raynoldsk, I'd be mad as heck at myself as well because we already have two iPhones in the house, and those things definitely aren't cheap.
 
Did you read the FAQ I posted from VM's site? VM doesn't want to shut anything down. So long as there isn't rampant abuse, they won't change the status quo.
 
Yes, but VM doesn't care unless you start hogging up all of the bandwidth by streaming movies and music from the hotspot. It's people that use there phone for there internet for there entire house that make them have these rules anyway. If you go over 5GB of data they will throttle your speed.
 
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