Tethering on VM
 

What's the big deal and why don't Virgin mobile of other providers allow it ?

Our Sky internet has been down for a few days due to a fault at the exchange so my 2 sons and I have used our mobile phones as modems to access the internet on our pc's,laptops and tablets ,one of my sons has received a text message from VM stating his service will be discontinued if he continues to tether ,we don't need to now as the line has been repaired but what is the problem ?

Re: Tethering on VM
 

You may find this thread useful:

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1790721

Re: Tethering on VM
 

you can get around it by using a user agent switcher on chrome

Re: Tethering on VM
 

T-mobile are happy for users to tether. They even provide instructions. The only limit is in the fair use policy.

Re: Tethering on VM
 

i just don't know why providers object:shrug:

Re: Tethering on VM
 

Maybe because some will get a better upload from there tethered phone than there broadband. They would then hit the torrents :LOL:

Re: Tethering on VM
 

funny you should mention that ;)

Re: Tethering on VM
 

Because they offer unlimited internet deals and hardly any providers allow unlimited tethering on unlimited data packages.

Re: Tethering on VM
 

See what i mean :D

Re: Tethering on VM
 

No one does anymore

Re: Tethering on VM
 

Bandwidth is more scarce and expensive on mobile networks. A single user caning a cell can put a big dent in its capacity.

Re: Tethering on VM
 

Still doesn't make sense to me ,i could stream a film on my phone or i could still do it on my phone but connect it to a laptop and watch the film on a bigger screen ,same data allowance is used so why the hassle?

Re: Tethering on VM
 

People who tether use more data, simples

Re: Tethering on VM
 

Tesco & O2 allow tethering

Re: Tethering on VM
 

While it is true, you are only using what you pay for, bear in mind that it costs them a lot of money for you to use the data so while they can't stop you using what you pay for, they aren't going to make it easier for you to use more data.

In fact, consumer ISPs base their business models on the assumption that most of the time, most of their users will not be using what they pay for. Truly unlimited internet costs a lot more than we, as consumers, pay for our unlimited internet plans.

Tethering is one thing that gets disabled simply because no matter what speed your internet connection and how much data your plan allows you to download, it will be a lot easier to download a lot of data on a laptop or PC than it is on a mobile phone or tablet. For example, if you do a fresh install of Windows or OSX, you will download around 1 gig of updates to get it up to data. Combine that with the fact that they can disable tethering and should a customer complain, they can legitimately argue that they are offering the service they advertise.

Re: Tethering on VM
 

Vodafone allow tethering..but then I'm paying for the data so I can use up my allowance as I see fit.

Re: Tethering on VM
 

Same with EE, but even with tethering I find it difficult to get anywhere near my 10GB limit

Re: Tethering on VM
 

Same here ,i also find the 3g is far better than my crappy 6mg connection from sky/BT,and as Maggie said i pay for the data so i should be allowed to use it how i see fit

Re: Tethering on VM
 

Unfortunately that is untrue. You are allowed to use any service according to the Ts&Cs of that service. If they say that you cannot use tethering then you cannot use tethering.

Re: Tethering on VM
 

oh i know that but it's one of T&C's that doesn't make any sense to me

Re: Tethering on VM
 

Whether or not it makes any sense, you are stuck with it and if tethering is what you want to do, you will have to go elsewhere.

Re: Tethering on VM
 

T-Mobile still does but only on certain handset contracts.

---------- Post added at 23:15 ---------- Previous post was at 23:14 ----------

Except it won't be the same data allowance, your laptop can (and probably will) stream at a higher quality. It can also play back video your phone is incapable of. You can also download larger files, as it has more storage space, etc.

Re: Tethering on VM
 

Three do as well.

(I think) what MartyH was reffering to, was connecting the phone to a laptop by using a cable.

So it's still the phone that's using the data allowance, but it's transferring it to the laptop screen via an HDMI out.

Re: Tethering on VM
 

nearly ;) i'm talking about using the phone as a modem connected to my laptop via a usb

Re: Tethering on VM
 

The bottom line is they want you to use as little bandwidth as possible and with tethering you will use more in the long run.

The Three contract i'm on has always had unlimited data and unlimited tethering. They do some traffic shaping during work hours to things like torrents although I still got 3 to 4Mbps (3G) when I torrented during those hours.

Tethered (wireless) a lot when I moved as it took a month to get a new net connection installed. Must have done 50GB that month between all the devices (wired devices had their gateway set to a wireless device that tethered to the phone) and in all honesty, if it wasn't for gaming occasionally, I could probably do without having a fixed line internet as it's so fast and stable. Usually don't even hit 1 or 2GB. Nice to have the option to use it as a backup though.

I assume the same Three contracts still work the same for new customers.

Re: Tethering on VM
 

Does anyone know what will happen to my service if I tether? I am on a 30-day sim only unlimited data tariff. I know I can do it as I have just tried it and it worked, but what will VM do if I continue to use it?

Re: Tethering on VM
 

If they detect you doing it then they will block you from doing it in the future.

Re: Tethering on VM
 

I was away on holiday in a property that did not have Wi-Fi and I was able to tether 1.4GB of data. Not bothered if they block my from tethering as I can't see me needing to do it again any time soon.