VZW disabling tethering apps from market

[Rumps]

All the carriers are getting their ducks in a row. Someone is going to get slammed sooner or later.

Kinda contradicting yourself here. I thought you said it was "irondclad"?

Yet with the same tired breath, you're saying all the carriers are getting their ducks in a row.

Well, which is it?

 

[Xander Crews]

They can go after you for tethering 2 megs or 100 gigs. Will they go after the light tethers probably not. But I think we may see some changes coming real soon to possibly deal with this.

Well, they CAN do whatever they want.
But whether they will go after light tetherers...I dunno. I doubt it...unless it's an automated system.
If it's something they have to manually add to your bill, then no...they won't go after light users. Doesn't seem cost prohibitive.

Maybe wishful thinking on my part...we'll see I guess.

 

[Graymayre]

This latrine has no urinals. People go in and get stuck, but eventually leave when they realize that for all their urge, the effort is pointless.

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using DroidForums

 

[rebaf]

hold me, im scared.

 

[kodiak799]

Kinda contradicting yourself here. I thought you said it was "irondclad"?

Yet with the same tired breath, you're saying all the carriers are getting their ducks in a row.

No, there's no contradiction. Getting their ducks in a row to make a case clear, easy and concise says nothing more than just that. Has more to do with public perception of going after the little guy and removing any doubt that they were clear and transparent on the matter (which goes more to damages then whether they had an ironclad case).

It is already CLEARLY stealing. Getting the ducks in a row is more about showing people are WILLFULLY stealing. Bad PR to go after some poor fool for thousands of dollars who downloaded an app from the market and (like many people) is simply ignorant (and lacking in common sense) of what his contract terms are. Not that different from how RIAA went after the heavy sharers moreso than downloaders.

 

[lpulle]

They blocked me from using PDnet so I signed on for $20 month

 

[kodiak799]

They blocked me from using PDnet so I signed on for $20 month

How did they block you? I hadn't heard they had actually blocked anyone, only remove apps from the market.

Also, did you try Bluetooth DUN?

 

[pc747]

That was not to scare anyone. I just think they realize that their tethering plans are a mess and that was why they didnt care about people using 3rd part tethering apps. Its just getting out of hand with people abusing the network so they have to get control of it.

 

[pc747]

They blocked me from using PDnet so I signed on for $20 month

droid 2 running gingerbread is blocked, flash a froyo rom and you will be fine for now.

 

[npro1464]

So, did I miss something, are they charging people? Because I'm about to spend a weekend away where there is no internet connection. I was hoping to tether my ipad to wireless tether (still have it on my phone), should I avoid this?

Sent from my Droid using DroidForums

 

[pc747]

They cant detect wireless tether especially for the motorola droid. They can suspect if you are using a large amount of data.


I, nor droid forums, is not responsible for someone getting a bill from vzw for unauthorized tethering.

 

[rebaf]

I suppose its possible to tell by the browser youre using. Like I said before, check out easy tethers web site about strings or whatever.
But im not freaking out as I don't use a lot of data.
Id go on vacation and do your thing without sweating it. Just my opinion.

From phone.

 

[sb1831]

They already covered themselves in the TOS - black & white, it's ironclad. And there's a pretty consistent track record and precedent of courts ruling in favor of business with regards to devices and software that enable the stealing of goods and services.

You're referring to the music and movie industry. And yes, you're correct in that matter, although it took a while for the pirating market to take a big blow. However, it's still going strong.

As for tethering? It's an unknown how this will play out because there hasn't been a lawsuit submitted by any carrier to a consumer for illegal tethering. If verizon knows who is doing it RIGHT NOW, then why isn't anyone getting charged for the usage? Perhaps its because their TOS isn't so ironclad afterall. Or, they can't legally track what apps people are using without breaking privacy laws.

Trust me, there is a loophole.

Ever think that perhaps those carriers are building evidence against the parties that are illegally tethering? The RIAA sued over 15000 people for downloading/sharing in some cases less than 10 tracks. That's not even a full CD. You think a cellular provider REALLY isn't going to notice 20+GB going to one individual multiple months in a row?

Less than 100 of the 15000+ cases with the RIAA went to court. That was in an instance where people in most cases really DIDN'T know it was illegal. All others settled for a couple thousand a piece or the cases were dropped.

With tethering, I'd wager to say, regardless of the amount they do tether, >80% of the people that do KNOW that it's against their TOS. Could just be piling up names and cases at the moment for all we know.

 

[rebaf]

They already covered themselves in the TOS - black & white, it's ironclad. And there's a pretty consistent track record and precedent of courts ruling in favor of business with regards to devices and software that enable the stealing of goods and services.

You're referring to the music and movie industry. And yes, you're correct in that matter, although it took a while for the pirating market to take a big blow. However, it's still going strong.

As for tethering? It's an unknown how this will play out because there hasn't been a lawsuit submitted by any carrier to a consumer for illegal tethering. If verizon knows who is doing it RIGHT NOW, then why isn't anyone getting charged for the usage? Perhaps its because their TOS isn't so ironclad afterall. Or, they can't legally track what apps people are using without breaking privacy laws.

Trust me, there is a loophole.

Ever think that perhaps those carriers are building evidence against the parties that are illegally tethering? The RIAA sued over 15000 people for downloading/sharing in some cases less than 10 tracks. That's not even a full CD. You think a cellular provider REALLY isn't going to notice 20+GB going to one individual multiple months in a row?

Less than 100 of the 15000+ cases with the RIAA went to court. That was in an instance where people in most cases really DIDN'T know it was illegal. All others settled for a couple thousand a piece or the cases were dropped.

With tethering, I'd wager to say, regardless of the amount they do tether, >80% of the people that do KNOW that it's against their TOS. Could just be piling up names and cases at the moment for all we know.

I hope so, then I won't have to listen to anymore "the sky is falling, you're going to jail you theif" crap anymore....lol....

From phone.

 

[music life]

so if you dont use a ton of data then chances are they cant get you for using the tether app?