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Using your mobile as a modem?


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Old 28-01-2010, 19:31
BustedCat
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I was messing around with my laptop bluetooth and phone and discovered that I could browse the internet on my laptop using the 3.5G network and I was surprised at how fast it was, I could watch youtube with no problem. Question is, are you supposed to be able to do this and does it cost anything extra? I checked my data allowance and it took about 5MB off and I think my credit was the same.
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Old 28-01-2010, 20:37
prking
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I first used a phone as a modem in 2004. As to whether its allowed, that would depend on your tariff.
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Old 28-01-2010, 20:46
Fatboyfun
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It's called "Tethering" and some networks on certain tariffs charge you the earth for it.
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Old 29-01-2010, 00:02
carguy143
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It's called "Tethering" and some networks on certain tariffs charge you the earth for it.
I would like to know exactly how they can tell whether a data signal is being used for browsing mobile internet using a mobile phone, or "proper" internet, connected through a mobile phone.

I know some phone networks are keen to modify their phone firmware so that tethering is disabled. T mobile charge for tethering to a laptop or pc if you have a mobile with them according to something i saw on their website.

I am on orange uk, and i use my phone as a modem for my laptop all the time and have NEVER been charged anything extra at all.
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Old 29-01-2010, 05:50
sotek
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I know some phone networks are keen to modify their phone firmware so that tethering is disabled. T mobile charge for tethering to a laptop or pc if you have a mobile with them according to something i saw on their website.
I have an 'unlimited' data package with T-Mobile and my small print (and I assume this applies to everyone else) specifically states that I cannot tether my phone to a computer.
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Old 29-01-2010, 08:57
colinp
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i have a htc hd2 which has a built in hot spot for connecting to , ive been using it on tmobile and its not uses anything other than my normal data allowence
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Old 29-01-2010, 18:35
Bang Bang Boom
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im on 3 and tether mine sometimes, mainly when im coming to the end of my month and want to max out my 1gb, im paying for it so im goin to max it out.

what im thinking is, the 3 dongles have a sim card in them, the same kind of sim i have in my mobile, so surely thats the same as me linking my mobile up?
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Old 30-01-2010, 07:15
MGS4SnakeRulez
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I use mine it doesnt cost anything extra just uses my free allowance. Its slow though.
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Old 30-01-2010, 13:20
bigtunes
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I tethered my Hero last night and have just checked my account online and there aren't any charges showing just the usual data usage.

On T Mobile Flext 40, just looked at the T&C's and as sotek pointed out it does say that you can't use your phone as a modem.

Question is how would they know? If they have added something to their build that won't work as I'm using a custom ROM...
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Old 30-01-2010, 13:29
TheBigM
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They can tell simply by the traffic your connection is passing through. E.g. browsers report data to websites when surfing "browser headers" - it says things like which browser you are using, which OS you are using etc.
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