From a logical perspective, I do not see wireless tethering as theft of service. However, Verizon can write their policies to bend reality / make more money as they choose. And we users can continue to break their ridiculous rules to obtain our fair use of what we already paid for as we choose.
I pay $30 /mo for data as part of my plan. That data is mine, I paid for it. So, I'm entitled to use the data I paid for in full, in whichever manner I choose. Whether I use my 4GB via the bionic or via tethering should not matter b/c I paid for that 4GB of data.
Verizon charging extra for something you already paid for is akin to: A company selling a customer a spoon. The customer pays for the spoon and now owns it, however the company tells you that you are only allowed to use the spoon for soup. If you want to use the spoon, you own / paid for already, for eating anything other than soup, you have to pay an extra fee. It's absolutely ridiculous, and illustrates the depth of Verizon's greed. Viva la wifi tethering app!
Actually, read the TOS and EULAs of a
lot of current software and you'll see the same sort of thing.
1) You're only allowed to use the software in the manner prescribed on a single computer - any use of the software beyond that single computer shall constitute a violation of this agreement and you may be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law where applicable.
2) The data you're buying from VZW is for a
phone - not for whatever. Most sites were offering mobile-only content to devices that are mobile, so that the data flow would be much lower than a traditional site with lots of flash animation, etc. as opposed to people connecting laptops, desktops, etc. to their mobile phone. The average app, for example, for a mobile phone is probably 1-2 MB (discounting games) whereas the average sized app for a Windows computer is probably 10 times that. If you do the math, then it makes sense that they try to restrict this.
3) Mobile data is not water - it is not a commodity you can hog and use when and where you want, storing it in plastic jugs in the fridge. You get it on a per use basis.
One quick note comparing this to not paying for paid Apps is comparing apples and oranges. I have paid for my Data. I should be able to use what I pay for..... without having to pay for it again. Thats Ridiculous.
Now lets use that Apps unpaid convo for a moment. I pay for an app that is a word processor. Well then the maker of the app sees that many people are using the app to write Novels like Harry Potter and are making money. Well then the app maker comes along and says oh yeah NOW were going to charge you extra for writing novels with our app. So Cough it up.
Would that be right? Of course not you already paid for the app. Its DOUBLE DIPPING.
And we all know Double Dipping is bad.
Ok so heres the real Brass Tax I am probably not going to change your minds or the owners minds. So there is really no point in going forward with this topic anymore.
However. Everyone has been very respectful to me and you have listened. I want to give you a big thank you for that.
I guess were just going to have to agree to disagree and move on.
Thank you so much for your time and professional courtesy. I hope that I have shown you the same.
Best Regards
Swc2001
This site is for information purposes first and foremost. The censorship as you (and I) see it is a decision that the powers that be did not come to lightly - but, in the end, in order to keeps the business legit, was come to all the same.
As for the folks here being respectful, you have to take a little credit yourself - you never got belligerent in your rant(s) - that helped a
lot.
I truly do agree with you and your points, but I do feel someone should play devil's advocate here. The data you pay for is intended for the device you purchase from them. So you're paying for data on your Bionic, but not the data for the laptop or tablet you're tethering to. That's the type of wording that'll protect their cause.
I like to compare it to the internet service we have at home (especially as it's not all that different). We pay for internet, and then we use a router to give WiFi to all of our many any varied enabled devices. We pay one flat fee for this. This is why I don't believe rooting can be considered illegal and I'm assuming why the judicial system agrees. It's the company's policy to do charge for what they wish, but it's our right to do what we see fit with our devices that we own and pay for.
Thing is, I'd be be worried to bring the above point up to the powers that be. We might start getting charged by internet providers WiFi fees. lol Truth is, that'll never happen. There's too much cheap advertising, capitalism needs us to have the internet readily available.
A lot of companies tell their customers that they can purchase the home networking service from them at a premium to have it set up right - it's rare to hear a CSR tell you you can do it yourself for free....
And your analogy for using WiFi to distribute broadband throughout a dwelling does not match up with justifying rooting a device - did you mean to tie it to tethering instead of rooting?
