AT&T removes unlimited plan data caps for iOS and Android owners
https://gizmodo.com/at-t-just-updated-its-top-tier-wireless-plan-with-truly-1847274890

"AT&T announced that its top tier Unlimited Elite plan is getting truly
unlimited data that won't get throttled regardless of how much you use...
with the plan's cost staying the same at $85 per month for a single line...
or $45 per month each for four lines..."

"The uncapped data will apply to both 4G LTE and 5G data"

"Previously, AT&T's Unlimited Elite plan featured a soft cap of 100GB of
data per month, after which a user's data speed was potentially subject to
being throttled depending on their usage and location. "

"mobile hotspot data on the Unlimited Elite plan remains capped, though AT&T
is raising that cap from 30GB to 40GB"

On 7/12/2021 4:32 PM, Robin Goodfellow wrote:
> AT&T removes unlimited plan data caps for iOS and Android owners
> https://gizmodo.com/at-t-just-updated-its-top-tier-wireless-plan-with-truly-1847274890
>
> "AT&T announced that its top tier Unlimited Elite plan is getting truly
> unlimited data that won't get throttled regardless of how much you use...
> with the plan's cost staying the same at $85 per month for a single line...
> or $45 per month each for four lines..."
>
> "The uncapped data will apply to both 4G LTE and 5G data"
>
> "Previously, AT&T's Unlimited Elite plan featured a soft cap of 100GB of
> data per month, after which a user's data speed was potentially subject to
> being throttled depending on their usage and location. "
>
> "mobile hotspot data on the Unlimited Elite plan remains capped, though AT&T
> is raising that cap from 30GB to 40GB"

The previous cap of 100GB is one that few people would ever reach given
the hot spot limit of 30GB. The increase in the hot spot limit to 40GB
is nice, but not enough for home broadband.

On 13/07/2021 01:03, sms wrote:
> On 7/12/2021 4:32 PM, Robin Goodfellow wrote:
>> AT&T removes unlimited plan data caps for iOS and Android owners
>> https://gizmodo.com/at-t-just-updated-its-top-tier-wireless-plan-with-truly-1847274890
>>
>>
>> "AT&T announced that its top tier Unlimited Elite plan is getting truly
>> unlimited data that won't get throttled regardless of how much you use...
>> with the plan's cost staying the same at $85 per month for a single
>> line...
>> or $45 per month each for four lines..."
>>
>> "The uncapped data will apply to both 4G LTE and 5G data"
>>
>> "Previously, AT&T's Unlimited Elite plan featured a soft cap of 100GB of
>> data per month, after which a user's data speed was potentially
>> subject to
>> being throttled depending on their usage and location. "
>>
>> "mobile hotspot data on the Unlimited Elite plan remains capped,
>> though AT&T
>> is raising that cap from 30GB to 40GB"
>
> The previous cap of 100GB is one that few people would ever reach given
> the hot spot limit of 30GB. The increase in the hot spot limit to 40GB
> is nice, but not enough for home broadband.
>

I remember using a app a long time ago that bypassed the tether limit.
Cant remember the name but it worked when one contract I was on would
not allow tethering.

On 7/13/2021 3:49 AM, Dex wrote:
>>> "mobile hotspot data on the Unlimited Elite plan remains capped,
>>> though AT&T
>>> is raising that cap from 30GB to 40GB"
>>
>> The previous cap of 100GB is one that few people would ever reach given
>> the hot spot limit of 30GB. The increase in the hot spot limit to 40GB
>> is nice, but not enough for home broadband.
>>
>
> I remember using a app a long time ago that bypassed the tether limit.
> Cant remember the name but it worked when one contract I was on would
> not allow tethering.

Hotspots might be considered different than tethers by the carriers.

In article <sck6d4$bs2$1@dont-email.me>, knuttle
<keith_nuttle@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Hotspots might be considered different than tethers by the carriers.

they're not

On 7/13/2021 7:02 AM, knuttle wrote:
> On 7/13/2021 3:49 AM, Dex wrote:
>>>> "mobile hotspot data on the Unlimited Elite plan remains capped,
>>>> though AT&T
>>>> is raising that cap from 30GB to 40GB"
>>>
>>> The previous cap of 100GB is one that few people would ever reach given
>>> the hot spot limit of 30GB. The increase in the hot spot limit to 40GB
>>> is nice, but not enough for home broadband.
>>>
>>
>> I remember using a app a long time ago that bypassed the tether limit.
>> Cant remember the name but it worked when one contract I was on would
>> not allow tethering.
>
> Hotspots might be considered different than tethers by the carriers.

The carriers aren't stupid. Even back in the days of those apps they had
ways, some of them primitive, some advanced, of determining tethering.
But in those days, the data limits were pretty low so the only reason
they cared about tethering was because they wanted to charge an extra
fee just for being able to tether.

For a short time, AT&T offered a $30 unlimited data plan for cars, and
the MiFi (called "Spark") plugged into the vehicle's OBD-II port. But it
only got power from the OBD-II port, it didn't determine if the car was
running. It didn't take long for people to buy a female OBD-II connector
<https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33057320936.html> and supply 12 volts
to the "Spark" from an external power source and have unlimited data at
home for $30 per month. That $30 plan is no longer available of course
<https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/att-unlimited-connected-car-data-plan-no-longer-available-for-harman-spark/>.

In 2019, AT&T offered a $15 unlimited data plan for vehicles with a
built in LTE modem, figuring that it would be a lot more difficult for
people to abuse it. RVs were excluded from the deal
<https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/onstar-promotion-unlimited-att-data-for-15-month/>.

On 7/13/2021 2:49:05 AM, Dex wrote:
>> The previous cap of 100GB is one that few people would ever reach given
>> the hot spot limit of 30GB. The increase in the hot spot limit to 40GB
>> is nice, but not enough for home broadband.
>>
>
> I remember using a app a long time ago that bypassed the tether limit.
> Cant remember the name but it worked when one contract I was on would
> not allow tethering.

Isn't tethering essentially limited to a single computer over a wire?
How could you tether and get more than one computer like a hotspot can?

On 7/13/2021 8:25 AM, Dean Hoffman wrote:
> On 7/13/2021 2:49:05 AM, Dex wrote:
>>> The previous cap of 100GB is one that few people would ever reach given
>>> the hot spot limit of 30GB. The increase in the hot spot limit to 40GB
>>> is nice, but not enough for home broadband.
>>>
>>
>> I remember using a app a long time ago that bypassed the tether limit.
>> Cant remember the name but it worked when one contract I was on would
>> not allow tethering.
>
> Isn't tethering essentially limited to a single computer over a wire?
> How could you tether and get more than one computer like a hotspot can?

I think that "tethering" includes connecting via Wi-Fi or a cable. From
<https://www.4g.co.uk/news/tethering-explained/>: "Tethering is the term
used for broadcasting your phone's mobile signal as a Wi-Fi network,
then hooking a laptop or any other Wi-Fi-enabled device up to it to
connect to the internet. It's sometimes referred to as a mobile hotspot,
personal hotspot, portable hotspot or Wi-Fi hotspot."

On 7/13/2021 6:15:37 PM, sms wrote:
>> Isn't tethering essentially limited to a single computer over a wire?
>> How could you tether and get more than one computer like a hotspot can?
>
> I think that "tethering" includes connecting via Wi-Fi or a cable. From
> <https://www.4g.co.uk/news/tethering-explained/>: "Tethering is the term
> used for broadcasting your phone's mobile signal as a Wi-Fi network,
> then hooking a laptop or any other Wi-Fi-enabled device up to it to
> connect to the internet. It's sometimes referred to as a mobile hotspot,
> personal hotspot, portable hotspot or Wi-Fi hotspot."

On my phone are a lot of settings for "mobile hotspot" "usb tethering" and
"Ethernet tethering" each of which may have different limits & conditions.

There is also "tether by bluetooth", "tether by wi-fi", and "tether by usb"
http://www.android.com/tether

My mobile hotspot defaults to "up to 10 other devices" which uses my phone's
mobile data or Wi-Fi connection to access the internet. The Wi-Fi is
automatically turned off when USB tethering or Mobile Hotspot is active.

There is also "Wi-Fi sharing" which can be turned on as a separate action.
That's a lot of terms and conditions all lumped together within one section.

In article <sckb81$o8b$1@gioia.aioe.org>, Dean Hoffman
<deanhofman@clod.com> wrote:

>
> Isn't tethering essentially limited to a single computer over a wire?

no

> How could you tether and get more than one computer like a hotspot can?

by using a hotspot.

In article <sck7sv$v7c$1@dont-email.me>, sms
<scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

>
> The carriers aren't stupid.

correct.

> Even back in the days of those apps they had
> ways, some of them primitive, some advanced, of determining tethering.

the methods weren't primitive, however, there were ways to bypass the
check, and still are.

> But in those days, the data limits were pretty low so the only reason
> they cared about tethering was because they wanted to charge an extra
> fee just for being able to tether.

no, it's because tethering typically uses a *lot* more data than just a
phone, so they capped it to limit abuse.

what they don't want are people who buy an unlimited data plan and use
it as their main internet service provider.

> For a short time, AT&T offered a $30 unlimited data plan for cars,

for a long time, at&t offered unlimited plans for phones and tablets.

when the iphone was released in 2007, at&t offered an unlimited data
option.

when the ipad was released in 2010, at&t offered two plans, $15/month
for 200 mb and $30/month for unlimited.

within weeks after the ipad came out, they decided to end the unlimited
option, which *really* angered users, however, they grandfathered in
anyone who had already signed up. that lasted until 2017, when they
forced anyone with a grandfathered plan to choose a new plan.

from 2010:
<https://money.cnn.com/2010/06/02/technology/att_iphone_ipad/index.htm>
Previously, AT&T charged a $30-per-month flat fee for unlimited
data for both the iPhone and the iPad, as well as their other smart
phones. AT&T will continue to offer a $15-a-month 250 MB plan
for iPad users. The new pricing schemes will begin June 7.

Dean Hoffman <deanhofman@clod.com> wrote:
> On 7/13/2021 2:49:05 AM, Dex wrote:
> >> The previous cap of 100GB is one that few people would ever reach given
> >> the hot spot limit of 30GB. The increase in the hot spot limit to 40GB
> >> is nice, but not enough for home broadband.
> >
> > I remember using a app a long time ago that bypassed the tether limit.
> > Cant remember the name but it worked when one contract I was on would
> > not allow tethering.
>
> Isn't tethering essentially limited to a single computer over a wire?

In normal parlance, it indeed is. The terms 'mobile hotspot'/personal
hotspot' are normally used instead of 'Wi-Fi tethering' [1].

For example my phone lists:

Mobile Hotspot
Bluetooth tethering
USB tethering
Ethernet tethering

So the first choice is named 'Mobile Hotspot', not 'Wi-Fi tethering'.

> How could you tether and get more than one computer like a hotspot can?

By using 'Wi-Fi tethering', which *is* a 'hotspot'! :-)

[1] 'Tethering'
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tethering>

On 7/13/2021 11:07 AM, Frank Slootweg wrote:
> Dean Hoffman <deanhofman@clod.com> wrote:
>> On 7/13/2021 2:49:05 AM, Dex wrote:
>>>> The previous cap of 100GB is one that few people would ever reach given
>>>> the hot spot limit of 30GB. The increase in the hot spot limit to 40GB
>>>> is nice, but not enough for home broadband.
>>>
>>> I remember using a app a long time ago that bypassed the tether limit.
>>> Cant remember the name but it worked when one contract I was on would
>>> not allow tethering.
>>
>> Isn't tethering essentially limited to a single computer over a wire?
>
> In normal parlance, it indeed is. The terms 'mobile hotspot'/personal
> hotspot' are normally used instead of 'Wi-Fi tethering' [1].

Whatever, the carrier considers connection by cable or by Wi-Fi as
tethering and hotspot. Obviously they don't want someone on an unlimited
data plan setting things up as a replacement for broadband internet.
Except of course if they're selling it to you with an LTE or 5G modem,
<https://www.telecompetitor.com/verizon-to-take-on-att-cable-with-5g-home-internet-expansion/>.

Verizon has been running around my city putting up mmWave 5G cells, much
to the chagrin of some homeowners, to sell what they're calling
"wireless broadband" and compete against Comcast and AT&T, both of which
are selling gigabit internet over fiber.

On 7/13/2021 8:07:44 PM, Frank Slootweg wrote:
> Mobile Hotspot
> Bluetooth tethering
> USB tethering
> Ethernet tethering

I think some of the information in this discussion might be wrong because
some of the sharing mechanisms are only for a single computer while others
are up to 10 on my phone.

My phone help says "Use USB tethering to share your device's mobile network
connection with a single computer via a USB cable" where it doesn't mention
that you can share the Wi-Fi network that way. Just the mobile network.

That phone help says "When you connect your device to a computer via as USB
cable, you can either share your mobile network connection by tethering or
you can share files. You can do both [at the same time]."

In addition to Mobile Hotspot, Bluetooth tethering, USB tethering
& Ethernet tethering there is a separate Wi-Fi sharing setting on my phone.

The phone help says USB tethering works with Windows & Linux but not others.

For "Mobile Hotspot" to work, the phone help says you must have the
"Smartphone Mobile Hotspot service" added to your payment plan. Mine has a
"Maximum Connections" of setting from 1 to 10.

The phone help also says "Wi-Fi is turned off when USB tethering or Mobile
Hotspot is active."

That indicates some of the information in this discussion is not correct.

On 2021-07-14, Dean Hoffman <deanhofman@clod.com> wrote:
> On 7/13/2021 8:07:44 PM, Frank Slootweg wrote:
>> Mobile Hotspot
>> Bluetooth tethering
>> USB tethering
>> Ethernet tethering
>
> I think

Look at Arlen breaking out the "Dean Hoffman" nym from the archives.
Dude's desperate for attention.

--
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my ravenous SPAM filter.
I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

JR

Am 13.07.21 um 17:25 schrieb Dean Hoffman:
> On 7/13/2021 2:49:05 AM, Dex wrote:
>> I remember using a app a long time ago that bypassed the tether limit.
>> Cant remember the name but it worked when one contract I was on would
>> not allow tethering.
>
> Isn't tethering essentially limited to a single computer over a wire?
> How could you tether and get more than one computer like a hotspot can?

Wikipedia:

Tethering, or phone-as-modem (PAM), is the sharing of a mobile device's
Internet connection with other connected computers. Connection of a
mobile device with other devices can be done over wireless LAN (Wi-Fi),
over Bluetooth or by physical connection using a cable, for example
through USB.

If tethering is done over WLAN, the feature may be branded as a personal
hotspot or mobile hotspot, which allows the device to serve as a
portable router. Mobile hotspots may be protected by a PIN or
password.[1] The Internet-connected mobile device can act as a portable
wireless access point and router for devices connected to it.

Am 14.07.21 um 03:42 schrieb Dean Hoffman:
> On 7/13/2021 8:07:44 PM, Frank Slootweg wrote:
>> Mobile Hotspot
>> Bluetooth tethering
>> USB tethering
>> Ethernet tethering
>
> I think some of the information in this discussion might be wrong because
> some of the sharing mechanisms are only for a single computer while others
> are up to 10 on my phone.

Simply said: Tethering is simply sharing an internet connection.
Irrespective of the device and the technology used to offer this connection.

On 7/16/2021 11:13 PM, Joerg Lorenz wrote:

<snio>

> The Internet-connected mobile device can act as a portable
> wireless access point and router for devices connected to it.

This is why unlimited data is for the phone only, not for tethered
devices (whether wired or wireless). Someone could use a phone as a
broadband modem and easily use hundreds of gigabytes, or even multiple
terabytes of data per month.

Some carriers also detect when you're streaming video and limit the
resolution or lower the data rate. Using a VPN can bypass these limits
but there's no point in doing so unless you're tethering and watching on
a larger screen, in which case you'd reach your tethering data limit
pretty quickly.

If you want to stream video from the phone's data connection you're
better off connecting the phone's HDMI port directly to the television
since that isn't tethering. Some streaming services, like Netflix, use
HDCP to prevent this unless you have an HDCP compliant television or use
additional hardware.

On 2021-07-17 02:13, Joerg Lorenz wrote:

> Tethering, or phone-as-modem (PAM), is the sharing of a mobile device's
> Internet connection with other connected computers.

Prior to AT&T getting the iPhone, carriers generally did not
differentiate between normal and "tethered" use. It was AT&T who
required Apple to introduce differentiation and its systems then started
to treat normal vs tethered differently. Other carriers followed suit.

AT&T initially have overwhelmed uplinks from its towers who had never
seen such data use, so it needed ways to dissuade use of data.
Tethering in the past ended up using far more data than a tiny phone
with a WAP browser. (though with the iPhone, the difference started to
diminish since iPhone started to use more and more data).

And once HSPA+ arrived with speeds that beat landline DSL, the carriers
have to add as many disincentives for the cellular service to be used as
a landline replacement for iNternet. (such as lower data speeds on the
tethered connection (which often uses different APN to differentiate the
service).

The USA is less familiar with this because it was late in adopting GSM
so there was less time between GPRS and tethering becoming available and
the time the iPhone arrived causing AT&T a lot of capacity problems.

In other countries, tethering was available unrestricted for quite a bit
fo time before iPhone arrived and carrers started to restrict it
"because they could".

In article <u%III.16876$tL2.7039@fx43.iad>, JF Mezei
<jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> wrote:

>
> Prior to AT&T getting the iPhone, carriers generally did not
> differentiate between normal and "tethered" use.

yes they did.

> It was AT&T who
> required Apple to introduce differentiation and its systems then started
> to treat normal vs tethered differently. Other carriers followed suit.

nope.

In message <u%III.16876$tL2.7039@fx43.iad> JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> wrote:
> On 2021-07-17 02:13, Joerg Lorenz wrote:

>> Tethering, or phone-as-modem (PAM), is the sharing of a mobile device's
>> Internet connection with other connected computers.

> Prior to AT&T getting the iPhone, carriers generally did not
> differentiate between normal and "tethered" use. It was AT&T who
> required Apple to introduce differentiation and its systems then started
> to treat normal vs tethered differently. Other carriers followed suit.

This is not only totally wrong, but also totally idiotic. The mechanism
for seeing if you are tethered is a root part of TCP/IP and uses the TTL
that shows the NATed devices with a TTL 1 greater than the device
itself.

--
It was sad music. But it waved its sadness like a battle flag. It
said the universe had done all it could, but you were still
alive.

In article <slrnsf6t1g.1tl4.g.kreme@m1mini.local>, Lewis
<g.kreme@kreme.dont-email.me> wrote:

>
> > Prior to AT&T getting the iPhone, carriers generally did not
> > differentiate between normal and "tethered" use. It was AT&T who
> > required Apple to introduce differentiation and its systems then started
> > to treat normal vs tethered differently. Other carriers followed suit.
>
> This is not only totally wrong, but also totally idiotic. The mechanism
> for seeing if you are tethered is a root part of TCP/IP and uses the TTL
> that shows the NATed devices with a TTL 1 greater than the device
> itself.

the usual method is a different apn or another flag whose name i can't
recall, which could be changed on some phones if the msl was known.

Am 17.07.21 um 16:08 schrieb sms:
> On 7/16/2021 11:13 PM, Joerg Lorenz wrote:
>
> <snio>
>
>> The Internet-connected mobile device can act as a portable
>> wireless access point and router for devices connected to it.
>
> This is why unlimited data is for the phone only, not for tethered
> devices (whether wired or wireless). Someone could use a phone as a
> broadband modem and easily use hundreds of gigabytes, or even multiple
> terabytes of data per month.

That is a completely different issue and therefore OT. A contract
forbidding tethering is worthless.

--
De gustibus non est disputandum

Am 18.07.21 um 00:40 schrieb JF Mezei:
> The USA is less familiar with this because it was late in adopting GSM
> so there was less time between GPRS and tethering becoming available and
> the time the iPhone arrived causing AT&T a lot of capacity problems.

The USA lags Europe still by years as far as the productive usage of
public mobile networks is concerned.

> In other countries, tethering was available unrestricted for quite a bit
> fo time before iPhone arrived and carrers started to restrict it
> "because they could".

No carrier in Europe is limiting or forbidding the use of tethering.
This cannot be changed anymore. The loss of market share would be
economically lethal. After the use of a certain amount of data the speed
is throttled to prevent "unfair use".

In message <170720212046339370%nospam@nospam.invalid> nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> wrote:
> In article <slrnsf6t1g.1tl4.g.kreme@m1mini.local>, Lewis
> <g.kreme@kreme.dont-email.me> wrote:

>>
>> > Prior to AT&T getting the iPhone, carriers generally did not
>> > differentiate between normal and "tethered" use. It was AT&T who
>> > required Apple to introduce differentiation and its systems then started
>> > to treat normal vs tethered differently. Other carriers followed suit.
>>
>> This is not only totally wrong, but also totally idiotic. The mechanism
>> for seeing if you are tethered is a root part of TCP/IP and uses the TTL
>> that shows the NATed devices with a TTL 1 greater than the device
>> itself.

> the usual method is a different apn or another flag whose name i can't
> recall, which could be changed on some phones if the msl was known.

For data that was within the cell network, but for Internet use it's the
TTL.

In fact, you can hack certain cellular routers to set the TTL for all
connected devices to the same, thus getting unlimited data without the
cellular provide knowing you are tethering.

I have not doe this myself as I have no need for it, but I know someone
who does for their frequent road-trip vacations that last a few months
at a time.

--
"Are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
"Umm.. I think so Bigbrainy-fishface-stovepipe-wiggleroom-Arlene, but
if you get a long little doggy wouldn't you just call it a
Dachshund?"