Sprint makes it clear: Internet tethering will never be allowed on Everything plans

Fri, Oct 30, 2009 | by Robert Nelson

Sure, there are apps available for Android that will allow you to share your phones Internet connection with other devices such as your netbook or notebook, one that comes to mind is PdaNet.

That said, those of you, like myself who are using a Hero on the Sprint network will never be officially allowed to tether — despite having an Everything plan. This news comes courtesy of Sprint executive David Owens who was quoted as stating;

“No tethering for phones that require Everything plans (such as all smartphones) from here on out.”

This quote came by way of a virtual chat that was recently offered on the Sprint website. Nothing really to say here, other than it looks like Sprint would rather you pick up a second device and second plan in the form of a 3G modem (such as the MiFi).

Of course, there was also a mention that Sprint was “considering an Android phone with a built-in MiFi-type router.”

[via GearLog]

internet tethering, sprint, tether, tethering

16 Comments For This Post

David Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 2:16 pm

I wonder if this means that they're going to take steps to prevent rooting and installation of tethering apps. I currently use my G1 as a wireless router, and it works great. Not sure what T-Mo's official line is on this.

AndrewKam Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 2:20 pm

I doubt there's anything they can do. modders are just as intelligent/creative as the people building these phones. no matter how hard you try to keep them out, they will find a way to crack security solutions. the only thing Sprint could do is block excessive use if someone goes crazy on torrent sites or downloads 2 gigs of music in a day.

Wade Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 5:07 pm

Not sure how they would prevent you from using an app like PdaNet though.

dave Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 7:22 pm

Of course it has to be like this. The data that goes to your laptop is fundamentally different from the data that goes to your smartphone. Everybody knows this.

So why would you be surprised that you need to buy a completely separate device and sign up for service for your laptop?

Charles Vestal Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 7:50 pm

dave, I can't tell if that's sarcasm or ignorance a work. Data going to your smartphone and data going to your laptop are exactly the same, ones and zeros. You may pull down more to your laptop, but that doesn't mean the delivery mechanism is any different.

daveadams Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 5:51 pm

Interesting. I don’t have an Everything plan, just an older data plan, but tethering works just fine for me on my Treo 700p.

Phoenixman1975 Says:
November 1st, 2009 at 1:34 pm

Ok here’s a question for you and I hope to get an answer soon before continuing to use my g1 as a tethered modem through PDAnet.

Today on, 11/01/2009, I installed the app from PDAnet to use my g1 as a modem. I used it for a couple of hours and it was mediocre. I stopped using after a couple hours of use , however, because of paranoia that tmobile could charge for extra data being used for tethering on a lap top as they do not support tethering on the g1. Is this at all true that they could charge extra and if so how much would they charge for data being used for tethering?

Of note to the above, is that I have an unlimited internet plan through tmobile of where I’m paying $34.99 (this includes unlimited text messages). If someone could get back to me asap regarding this it would be much appreciated.

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December 2nd, 2009 at 8:24 am

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Foster Escalante Says:
December 20th, 2009 at 8:12 pm

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Lewis Says:
January 6th, 2010 at 3:45 pm

hello. I’am french so i don’t understand all the sentences but in french i can say “yep ! votre blog est tres cool” I hope thath frensh people become like you !

Olivia Reilly Says:
January 24th, 2010 at 4:35 am

Worthwhile website and useful posting. I love piano a lot. I have marked it to revisit later. Imagination is more important than knowledge-Einstein

markman007 Says:
January 25th, 2010 at 4:47 am

I have to point out that IMHO it is wrong to abridge an Albert Einstein quote so much that you're falsely quoting him. The way Olivia has quoted him implies that he said something that he never said or was ever quoted as saying just that, which he did not. I'm sorry this may not be the place or topic but she has grossly posted a lie.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” -Albert Einstein

Find Markets and Niches Says:
January 26th, 2010 at 6:49 am

Greetings, great information! Appreciated.Thanks and regards from Italy!

1tethered Says:
January 29th, 2010 at 5:00 pm

Could be that Sprint is saying they are not gonna take a side, They might be stepping to the left and letting the free access ocure,, Basically just not partolling that border,, pardon the teledemex pun

WE CAN HOPE

cellbroke Says:
February 5th, 2010 at 7:43 pm

I can't believe Sprint won't let you tether. I know it will tax their network but if you do some basic math you can see that sprint is making a killing off of us. (Actually all the companies do) Make the networks better! Where does all the money go when you pay your bill?? Seriously! Sprint alone has over 40 million customers paying their monthly bill. They all offer over inflated pricing and seem to offer very little for that. If they let you tether your device it will cost THEM money because of the increased data transfer. The LEAST they can do is let people tether their phone. My two cents anyway.

Ron Says:
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:03 pm

To the tethering G1 user, it shouldn’t cost any extra. The keyword in your plan is unlimited, so whether or not you are using your unlimited data on your phone, or you are tethering it to your laptop, I doubt there Is anything in your contract saying transference of the unlimited data will cost extra.

This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.

David Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I wonder if this means that they're going to take steps to prevent rooting and installation of tethering apps. I currently use my G1 as a wireless router, and it works great. Not sure what T-Mo's official line is on this.
AndrewKam Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I doubt there's anything they can do. modders are just as intelligent/creative as the people building these phones. no matter how hard you try to keep them out, they will find a way to crack security solutions. the only thing Sprint could do is block excessive use if someone goes crazy on torrent sites or downloads 2 gigs of music in a day.
Wade Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Not sure how they would prevent you from using an app like PdaNet though.
dave Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Of course it has to be like this. The data that goes to your laptop is fundamentally different from the data that goes to your smartphone. Everybody knows this.

So why would you be surprised that you need to buy a completely separate device and sign up for service for your laptop?
Charles Vestal Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
dave, I can't tell if that's sarcasm or ignorance a work. Data going to your smartphone and data going to your laptop are exactly the same, ones and zeros. You may pull down more to your laptop, but that doesn't mean the delivery mechanism is any different.
daveadams Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Interesting. I don’t have an Everything plan, just an older data plan, but tethering works just fine for me on my Treo 700p.
Phoenixman1975 Says:
November 1st, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Ok here’s a question for you and I hope to get an answer soon before continuing to use my g1 as a tethered modem through PDAnet.

Today on, 11/01/2009, I installed the app from PDAnet to use my g1 as a modem. I used it for a couple of hours and it was mediocre. I stopped using after a couple hours of use , however, because of paranoia that tmobile could charge for extra data being used for tethering on a lap top as they do not support tethering on the g1. Is this at all true that they could charge extra and if so how much would they charge for data being used for tethering?

Of note to the above, is that I have an unlimited internet plan through tmobile of where I’m paying $34.99 (this includes unlimited text messages). If someone could get back to me asap regarding this it would be much appreciated.
Free One Way Links Says:
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:24 am
Valuable info for anybody who needs one way backlinks for no charge. Anybody want free backlinks for their blog? I thought I might share some great info I discovered recently. Free backlinks for your blog. I have been using this for my blogs and it absolutely works super! Click my name to see what I mean. Not selling anything, it’s totally free and it works.
Foster Escalante Says:
December 20th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
There is a heavy and mixed lies about the assumption of Giggle deleting your web-site if your caught. However, if your cautious and are making absolute sure that your backlink service is including rss linking capabilities to the purchase. Then, to buy backlinks becomes theoretically one of the best SEO technique you can count on.
Lewis Says:
January 6th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
hello. I’am french so i don’t understand all the sentences but in french i can say “yep ! votre blog est tres cool” I hope thath frensh people become like you !
Olivia Reilly Says:
January 24th, 2010 at 4:35 am
Worthwhile website and useful posting. I love piano a lot. I have marked it to revisit later. Imagination is more important than knowledge-Einstein
markman007 Says:
January 25th, 2010 at 4:47 am
I have to point out that IMHO it is wrong to abridge an Albert Einstein quote so much that you're falsely quoting him. The way Olivia has quoted him implies that he said something that he never said or was ever quoted as saying just that, which he did not. I'm sorry this may not be the place or topic but she has grossly posted a lie.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” -Albert Einstein
Find Markets and Niches Says:
January 26th, 2010 at 6:49 am
Greetings, great information! Appreciated.Thanks and regards from Italy!
1tethered Says:
January 29th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Could be that Sprint is saying they are not gonna take a side, They might be stepping to the left and letting the free access ocure,, Basically just not partolling that border,, pardon the teledemex pun

WE CAN HOPE
cellbroke Says:
February 5th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
I can't believe Sprint won't let you tether. I know it will tax their network but if you do some basic math you can see that sprint is making a killing off of us. (Actually all the companies do) Make the networks better! Where does all the money go when you pay your bill?? Seriously! Sprint alone has over 40 million customers paying their monthly bill. They all offer over inflated pricing and seem to offer very little for that. If they let you tether your device it will cost THEM money because of the increased data transfer. The LEAST they can do is let people tether their phone. My two cents anyway.
Ron Says:
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:03 pm
To the tethering G1 user, it shouldn’t cost any extra. The keyword in your plan is unlimited, so whether or not you are using your unlimited data on your phone, or you are tethering it to your laptop, I doubt there Is anything in your contract saying transference of the unlimited data will cost extra.