Will Netflix App blur the line between tethering and not?

[mooretime]

.....regarding data usage?

Also, some people are saying HDMI out works with the Netflix App.

It's official: since yesterday Sprint will be unable to go after users by looking at Data Usage alone if they are using a lot of data.

Everyone's response will just be "I'm using the Netflix app...plugged into my TV"

I'm not too technical...but if Sprint doesn't want people to tether....they'll have to resort to digging deeper than just "how much data people use"

Additionally.... 4G data usage does not show up on the bill. Only 3G.
I don't even know if they keep track of how much data you use with 4G.

 

[TheEngineer]

Sprint is only concerned with 3G use. If they do clamp down on tethering, they will first focus on the highest datavusrs (AKA Data Hogs). They then will check the sites you visit, whether you are trying to access multiple sites concurrently, the browser agent, and other usage patterns to determine if they THINK you are tethering. If they do, they would contact you with sort of warning. If it continues, they could cancel your service with 30 days notice per the contract.

This is what they COULD do, not necessarily what they WILL do. Who knows? At this pointbwith them pushing "Unlimited" and mocking the competition for throttling, Sprint would not want the bad PR. But time will see them eventually kicking abusers off or implementing tiers/caps/throttling.

 

[mooretime]

thank you

 

[RiverOfIce]

You do not need to do anything to find out if someone is tethered. It takes a javascript on sprints server to tell that you are tethered. Pretty easy.

http://www.danasoft.com/vipersig.jpg

If you are tethered it will show you using your pc, not your phone. All of the major carriers have the same type of javascript that allows them to tell whenever you are tethered. It is pretty easy.

 

[TheEngineer]

You do not need to do anything to find out if someone is tethered. It takes a javascript on sprints server to tell that you are tethered. Pretty easy.

http://www.danasoft.com/vipersig.jpg

If you are tethered it will show you using your pc, not your phone. All of the major carriers have the same type of javascript that allows them to tell whenever you are tethered. It is pretty easy.

You can spoof many of these settings as well as disable Javascript. However, I agree with you that it is very easy to detect and takes some knowledge on the part of the user to block or spoof the results.

The carriers will also need to implement proxy servers to do this and I know Sprint at least does not have one except for feature phones. I suspect by the end of the year all of them will be running all port 80 traffic through a proxy.

 

[RiverOfIce]

You can spoof many of these settings as well as disable Javascript. However, I agree with you that it is very easy to detect and takes some knowledge on the part of the user to block or spoof the results.

The carriers will also need to implement proxy servers to do this and I know Sprint at least does not have one except for feature phones. I suspect by the end of the year all of them will be running all port 80 traffic through a proxy.

Not really, it can be packet scanned on the way out. Very easy. They also have to keep track of the ip's your phone contacts, legally. When you phone asks checks in with microsoft, updates its antivirus, and the dozen other programs that will not work on android. It is a simple data base search for those specific address to find those that are tethered, they are required to store those ip.

For example.
239.255.xxx.xxx
74.125.xxx.xxx

Are huge signals you are tethered to a pc. Only a pc could really use the above ip addresses, you phone has zero reason to connect, but your pc will every time you boot.