I think its disgusting. I think how I use the data included shouldn't be up for discussion, unless I exceed fair use.

What do you think?

If you get X amount of data per month then there should be no aditional charge, or restriction on how you use it.
if you get true unlimited internet then it should be restrictied in some way ( ie 500mb/1GB of tethering per month after that tethering is blocked unless you pay )

I agree. It would be like giving someone 500 potatoes, but stipulating that they must never make mash with them as that would allow you more for your money...

I'd agree with the above. If your data is capped to x amount per month, it should be up to you how you use that amount.

However if you have 'unlimited' internet, it seems reasonable that tethering is not allowed.

Do vodafone charge for tethering?

Any business is "allowed" to charge whatever it wants for its products and services,provided it is transparent and within terms of contract. A corner shop is "allowed" to charge £60 for a Mars Bar if it wants: but you'd be stupid to pay it,instead of going next door and get it for 60p. Moreover the shop would be stupid to do so, people would avoid doing business with it.

Similarly, a mobile company is "allowed" to charge £100 for a text, or a million for an iPhone,or a seperate/additional charge for tethering. It's their decision if they want to lose your business to the firm next door, and they may well choose that they can afford to lose the small number of people who use 50-100 gb a month downloading movies.

The problem is data doesn't really make the networks money. At the moment calls and SMS are subsiding data users. If you had to pay your fair amount for the amount of data then you'd pay a lot more, however due to competition they subsidise data to get phone customers / contracts.

I think it's fair if they give unlimited data to say it's handset browsing only, just like all you can eat in a restaurant might include certain foods only.

You sound like you are making a point we have all missed. We are all aware they are currently "allowed to".

The point/discussion was, should they be allowed to.

And also, fair use in the terms and conditions and can be enforced whether the data is used on phone or client of the phone.

And also where did you get 50 - 100gb from??!

Nobody gets away with that much, even on the most generous tarrifs. On most networks the unlimited doesnt mean unlimited data.

T-Mobile for example charges £10 extra and allows 1.5gb max.

And its pretty silly to assume that anyone having issue with being charged for tethering is downloading huge amounts like 50 - 100gb.

That cant be right.

Three do a mobile broadband sim only option for putting in an ipad. £15 for 10GB a month on a 30day contract. Why would they do deals like that if it didnt make them money?

I disagree anyway. I think mobile operators too often use the fact its "mobile" to sting users with high prices, when in fact it should be cheaper than wired. If I can get unlimited on BT Broadband, why cant I get similar on a mobile network?

I've used 40GB on Three and know another guy who uses around 80GB per month on Three as well. We both have not had any letters from Three saying to stop. In fact i know loads of people who break the 20GB+ barrier on Three every month. I get around 12mbps download speed so thats why its convenient to use it for streaming videos / downloading and thats why i use so much.

But yeh, i agree. There should be tethering limits for truly unlimited plans if the network can't support that much data through tethering (which it can't)

Allow tethering on capped plans like o2 do.

I believe in limits, but not the tethering fee.

Question, if they are offering 10gb for £15 on the sim only deal, what kind of plan are you on to get 80gb+ ?!

The one plan with unlimited tethering.
T-Mobile have their own version (full monty) as well.

I'm on the OnePLan on 3 and there is no charge for tethering, it allowed free of charge.

3 wanted me to take out a new contract with unlimited internet, he kept stressing the fact that it was unlimited and I could download as much as I wanted. At the moment I have 500mb a month and when on holiday I do tether and never had any problems from 3.
Dave

T-Mobile and Three both offer unlimited data with unlimited tethering

Orange also offers unlimited data, but without tethering.

Damn. I work for vodafone via a recruitment agency (I've just started) I wasn't aware of tethering charges and actually used my phone as a thethering point the other day to update a customers phone as the tech guy was on lunch, my bill still looks normal but if I see a rise ill have to talk to my manager

There certainly are unlimited data tariffs.My experience of posters on these boards tells me there are people on unlimited data tarrifs replacing their home broadband with tethered phones (also conversations with my customers and colleagues-I work for T-Mobile). They are happy to sacrifice speed in order to be able to download a HD movie off a torrent site overnight.

I think yes in case of unlimited internet and no in case of limited.

I think tethering should be free as you already pay for the data regardless of how you use it. I mean you wouldn't buy a bottle of water in a cafe and pay extra for a glass, would you?

If it's an unlimited tariff then yes, they should be allowed to charge extra because otherwise people will try it on. If it's a set amount of data then no, there's really no reason for it.

No. They allow you to use your monthly data allowance how you like.

It's the stupid policy of offering "unlimited" then trying to restrict the volume by limiting the type of usage I object to. What next, an unlimited tariff with premium to watch streaming HD video?

They've never charged me for it.

Just seems a bit excessive to charge.

Should they be allowed to charge? Of course they should - would be a waste of government time to ban it.

Not that I think companies should try and restrict it....I think you should be able to use the data as you wish.