Hi all, I use an AT&T iPhone 4, and I pay 20 per month extra for the "privilege" of Tethering it to my laptop for Internet access. This works great and the speed is good in 3G areas. The discovery today is that my wife can surf on the tethered PC, while I surf on the iPhone itself at the same time. The iPhone won't work yet with a cradlepoint router, so this is a good sution for getting two people online at the same time. - Matt
bjoyce said
09:55 AM Jan 20, 2011
Doesn't the tethering come with a 2GB limit per month? We could use that up in a week or two.
3Gstore_Matt said
02:15 PM Jan 20, 2011
Bjoyce - New contracts come with a 2GB or 250MB plan option. Existing customers can keep their unlimited status, which I choose to keep when I upgrade to the iPhone 4 :)
To MCPHelps7 I wouldn't anticipate on Cradlepoint ever releasing a firmware or offering support for the iPhone. We do have the Nexaira BC2 which does support iPhone tethering* (with official tether through AT&T)
Thanks for the info on the router. I may try that if I need to support more devices. I am indeed on the 2 gb per month plan, but I stay under that pretty easily as long as I don't download videos music etc. I can read web pages forever it seems without coming close to the limit.
djpotts55 said
11:15 PM Feb 28, 2011
If you jailbreak your I-Phone and then use the free PdaNet for IPhone, you will then have unlimited monthly access on AT&T, and/or now using an IPhone on Verizon. I have a few friends and relatives that do this and it works great for them. As long as you can get internet on your IPhone, you do not have to pay anything extra for tething your phone and no data limits. Just another option you might want to consider.
We are getting new phones today - the Droid X - so excited! Read this article last week and it sounds like something to try . . . Would love to hear from others about their take on this . . .
How to Use Your Android Phone as a Modem; No Rooting RequiredIt’s absurd that so many companies charge you to use the data connection on the phone you’re already paying for. There is no difference in bandwidth usage if you stream Pandora to your phone or to your laptop, for example.
Fortunately we have a solution for you. It’s not free-as-in-beer but it only costs $16 which, over the first year of use alone, will save you $344. Let’s get started!
What You’ll Need
In order to tether your phone to your laptop as a data modem, without having to root your device, you’ll need the following things on hand:
Your Android phone
Your laptop, netbook, or desktop computer you wish to tether
and comes with a free trial. You can keep using it indefinitely but after the trial ends you will no longer be able to visit secure web sites. If you’re just using the tether for goofing off on your break at work then you may never need to upgrade. For checking your email, banking web sites, shopping, and other secure applications however it is more than worth it to upgrade your license.
Note: Although we’re using an Android device and a Windows machine for this tutorial PdaNet is available for a diverse array of devices. You can get the mobile component of PdaNet for Android phones, iPhones, BlackBerries, Windows Mobile phones, and even the Palm OS. The desktop component is available for both Windows and Mac OS X. The following setup steps should easily translate across the various combinations of mobile and desktop components.
I'd say this new system is going to ruin the experience for customers using 3rd party apps on Verizon's network :(
BruceandTrisha said
06:24 AM Mar 2, 2011
(Matt, thanks for pointing us to such great information - I really appreciate it.)
OK, any other Droid users out there? We got ours last night . . . and let's just say I wish my 19 year old was here to teach me how to get started more quickly. This is a high learning curve for me . . .
I always thought it was amazing how many changes my Dad had seen in his lifetime (1921-2007). But, then, I look at what I've seen in 55 years and realize where we've come with technology is just as amazing. Wow . . . kids born these days come with the inate ability to just use adapt and use this stuff!
Anyway, I will be spending spare time today trying to orient myself to this smartphone and learn some maneuvering with the apps.
Howard said
09:38 AM Mar 2, 2011
BruceandTrisha,
Using the PdaNet app without having another dedicated Mobile Broadband Device is technically a violation of Verizon's terms and conditions.
I wrote about this back when we got our Droid 2 and were contemplating PdaNet.
"Under Verizon's Mobile Broadband Terms & Conditions, you can find this statement:
"Customers who do not have dedicated Mobile Broadband devices cannot tether other devices to laptops or personal computers for use as wireless modems unless they subscribe to Mobile Broadband Connect."
So, if you use pda.net (or easy tether), that use can be considered a violation of the terms and conditions buried in your agreement with Verizon. It's a civil breach of contract, not criminally "illegal" as many like to say. However, I still haven't personally heard of anyone that has been reprimanded, hauled into court, or terminated as a result of breaching this clause."
Many, many people are using the PdaNet app without a problem since enforcement of the above clause doesn't seem to be a priority at this point. We use PdaNet too, but we have a separate "dedicated Mobile Broadband device" (Pantech Modem/aircard), so my interpretation is that we meet the exception to the rule.
PdaNet is easy and works well, just be aware of the contractual issue (and "extraordinary" usage as pointed out by Matt).
I haven't seen any solid information about whether the cellular companies can see or monitor usage via PdaNet, but I'm sure they will try to prevent it or charge for it sometime in the future. Until then, reasonable internet usage via tethering with PdaNet or something similar is a pretty good deal ($30/month for unlimited vs. $50/month for 5GB limit) .... if you choose to ignore that little contract clause.
BruceandTrisha said
10:13 AM Mar 2, 2011
Howard - thanks for taking the time to send us more info on this . . . I'm thinkin we should just go with the way it's designed to work and not try to figure out a way around it. It's the technology age - we just have to abide and keep up best we can!
I need a private coach to help me become proficient with my Droid. I want it NOW - not have to go thru the hands on, trial and error process of learning all I can do with this now!
To MCPHelps7 I wouldn't anticipate on Cradlepoint ever releasing a firmware or offering support for the iPhone. We do have the Nexaira BC2 which does support iPhone tethering* (with official tether through AT&T)
We have had users successfully get it working through other means preserving unlimited status although we can't officially support it - Using BC2 router with iPhone while keeping unlimited internet
http://junefabrics.com/iphone/index.php
How to Use Your Android Phone as a Modem; No Rooting RequiredIt’s absurd that so many companies charge you to use the data connection on the phone you’re already paying for. There is no difference in bandwidth usage if you stream Pandora to your phone or to your laptop, for example.
Fortunately we have a solution for you. It’s not free-as-in-beer but it only costs $16 which, over the first year of use alone, will save you $344. Let’s get started!
What You’ll Need
In order to tether your phone to your laptop as a data modem, without having to root your device, you’ll need the following things on hand:
PdaNet costs $15.95http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/44304/how-to-use-your-android-phone-as-a-modem-no-rooting-required/
and comes with a free trial. You can keep using it indefinitely but after the trial ends you will no longer be able to visit secure web sites. If you’re just using the tether for goofing off on your break at work then you may never need to upgrade. For checking your email, banking web sites, shopping, and other secure applications however it is more than worth it to upgrade your license.
Note: Although we’re using an Android device and a Windows machine for this tutorial PdaNet is available for a diverse array of devices. You can get the mobile component of PdaNet for Android phones, iPhones, BlackBerries, Windows Mobile phones, and even the Palm OS. The desktop component is available for both Windows and Mac OS X. The following setup steps should easily translate across the various combinations of mobile and desktop components.
Full article at: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/44304/how-to-use-your-android-phone-as-a-modem-no-rooting-required/
Be careful as Verizon has implemented a new network management system - Verizon Wireless Network Management System
I'd say this new system is going to ruin the experience for customers using 3rd party apps on Verizon's network :(
Using the PdaNet app without having another dedicated Mobile Broadband Device is technically a violation of Verizon's terms and conditions.
I wrote about this back when we got our Droid 2 and were contemplating PdaNet.
"Under Verizon's Mobile Broadband Terms & Conditions, you can find this statement:
"Customers who do not have dedicated Mobile Broadband devices cannot tether other devices to laptops or personal computers for use as wireless modems unless they subscribe to Mobile Broadband Connect."
So, if you use pda.net (or easy tether), that use can be considered a violation of the terms and conditions buried in your agreement with Verizon. It's a civil breach of contract, not criminally "illegal" as many like to say. However, I still haven't personally heard of anyone that has been reprimanded, hauled into court, or terminated as a result of breaching this clause."
Many, many people are using the PdaNet app without a problem since enforcement of the above clause doesn't seem to be a priority at this point. We use PdaNet too, but we have a separate "dedicated Mobile Broadband device" (Pantech Modem/aircard), so my interpretation is that we meet the exception to the rule.
PdaNet is easy and works well, just be aware of the contractual issue (and "extraordinary" usage as pointed out by Matt).
I haven't seen any solid information about whether the cellular companies can see or monitor usage via PdaNet, but I'm sure they will try to prevent it or charge for it sometime in the future. Until then, reasonable internet usage via tethering with PdaNet or something similar is a pretty good deal ($30/month for unlimited vs. $50/month for 5GB limit) .... if you choose to ignore that little contract clause.