Tethering – Phone as Modem – Yes/No - Apps? - Page 2

cardfan · 02/19/2009, 11:32 PM

I had posted concerns earlier about PAM pricing. Couldn't find it on sprint's site, can't add it online. Hear rumors its not available with Everything plans. Pre requires an Everything plan.

Whatever. They should make it clearer to understand.

mrkalel · 02/20/2009, 10:04 AM

Hey guys, you know the reason that I believe they removed tethering is due to the incompatibility with the Everything type of plans... Let me explain...

I have recently changed over to the Everything Family Data plan, and I was told from multiple reps that Data Tethering is INCOMPATIBLE (I wanted to use my 800w) with either the Simply Every. or Everything Data (Family Versions as well)

So if Sprint is requiring either of those two plans (I believe)... it only makes sense that tethering isn't available

(as long as the info given to me was correct)

Bigchris · 02/20/2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrkalel

Hey guys, you know the reason that I believe they removed tethering is due to the incompatibility with the Everything type of plans... Let me explain...

I have recently changed over to the Everything Family Data plan, and I was told from multiple reps that Data Tethering is INCOMPATIBLE (I wanted to use my 800w) with either the Simply Every., Everything Data (Family Versions as well)

So if Sprint is requiring either of those two plans (I believe)... it only makes sense that tethering isn't available

(as long as the info given to me was correct)

That is correct, when I switched to the Simply Everything Plan when it first came out, I couldn't add the PAM plan. It wasn't compatible anymore. Awhile ago on PhoneNews.Com I read that Sprint was supposedly working on that issue and was going to allow it to be added on, still nothing has changed.

WhoAmI · 02/20/2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syphon

Or maybe they want to charge for the feature. Since their earnings were reported to be low.

How's that for a business model! "We're loosing customers so lets charge the crap out of the customers we still so they get PO'd and leave to!" Yes, great marketing their sprint! I bet they are still scratching their heads trying to figure out why they are loosing customers too! Ha! Why don't they just delay the Pre too so all their competition has a chance to compete with it?!

cardfan · 02/20/2009, 01:04 PM

Here's the thing. Even though tethering isn't supposed to be free, it IS. And has been for years (ignoring hacks) through 3rd party apps.

There's not much to be made here if you're already getting 99 a month for an Everything plan. May as well include tethering and use it to enhance the deal because..well...they'll tether anyways and do it for free.

I wouldn't imagine they have many on the 99 plan. It's expensive. I'm clueless there. But with a limited 6 month shot of having Pre exclusivity, i'd go the extra step (such as including tethering) if i were sprint, to get as many customers as i could on that 99 plan.

Darth Pooh · 02/20/2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cardfan

Here's the thing. Even though tethering isn't supposed to be free, it IS. And has been for years (ignoring hacks) through 3rd party apps.

There's not much to be made here if you're already getting 99 a month for an Everything plan. May as well include tethering and use it to enhance the deal because..well...they'll tether anyways and do it for free.

I wouldn't imagine they have many on the 99 plan. It's expensive. I'm clueless there. But with a limited 6 month shot of having Pre exclusivity, i'd go the extra step (such as including tethering) if i were sprint, to get as many customers as i could on that 99 plan.

Thank you! Hello? PDANet? WMWiFiRouter... It's out there. One time fee's and you have tethering.

WhoAmI · 02/20/2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Pooh

Thank you! Hello? PDANet? WMWiFiRouter... It's out there. One time fee's and you have tethering.

Let's just hope that's true with the Pre. Especially since Palm, so far, doesn't have plans to release a native SDK.

zelgo · 02/27/2009, 07:46 PM

This may have been addressed here before, but I don't remember it.

According to Tekzilla, the Pre will not have tethering ability!! NOOO!!!

Now, how can this compete with the iPhone (which now has tethering ability) with business users?

NachoB · 02/27/2009, 07:49 PM

Remember now?

http://discussion.treocentral.com/pa...g-removed.html

zelgo · 02/27/2009, 07:50 PM

Ahhh...it's all coming back to me.

If tethering is not allowed, does that mean it won't even have the capability with something like pdanet?

NachoB · 02/27/2009, 07:55 PM

Best I can recall from all the "speculation" (without re reading that thread) is that it may still have the ability to tether but Sprint simply removed it from specs so they could push their Simply Everything +Mobile broadband for $150 plan.

Beanis · 02/27/2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NachoB

Best I can recall from all the "speculation" (without re reading that thread) is that it may still have the ability to tether but Sprint simply removed it from specs so they could push their Simply Everything +Mobile broadband for $150 plan.

Not only that, but even if it does not tether at launch, it might still be possible with an app.

Zyphlin · 02/27/2009, 08:23 PM

I'm really hoping what you're saying is correct Nacho.

I know tethering with my Diamond right now over Bluetooth for my acer aspire one is one of the main side uses I have my phone for. I'd hate not having that ability.

Jason Robitaille · 02/28/2009, 12:25 AM

I'm fairly certain there will be tethering.

I looks as if they just removed the tethering mention to properly list the Connector row. It's much easier to do that then add a whole new row and have to adjust background and other possible layout complications.

Plus, Palm's official site still lists bluetooth tethering.

lilmexx323 · 04/28/2009, 09:01 AM

Hey all,

I keep seeing where one place will post a NO PAM for the Pre. And then another place lists PAM will be available to the Pre. I think Palm even lists it as available. But I am really not to concerned with the actual PAM plan. What I have to have is something like USBmodem or PDAnet. What kind of probability to you think there is of these apps showing up for the Pre? This is really a must have for me....

ImmaSlave4U · 04/28/2009, 09:10 AM

I think the Pre itself can be tethered, but Sprint won't be activating Phone-As-Modem plans on the Palm Pre. Not sure how it will all be handled.

Just curious why this is a must-have for you? Seems like an airport card would work better. Tethering sucks battery life and you can't use your phone. Not exactly an ideal way to use the Pre, IMO.

jbg7474 · 04/28/2009, 09:19 AM

Well, we know the hardware supports tethering, at least through Bluetooth. We also know that apps will have access to the data connection and to the Bluetooth hardware. Seems like it should be possible for someone to create an app to make it work. It may require some form of "unlocking" though if Sprint has made Palm disable the capability in some way.

I think Sprint really wants people to have cards for their computers with separate plans. They make a lot more money that way. I'm hopeful that we'll be able to get around that, however.

dtokarz · 04/28/2009, 09:27 AM

What's the speed difference between a dedicated card and tethering a phone? It just sounds like the phone would be much slower, but handy in a pinch.

lilmexx323 · 04/28/2009, 09:37 AM

I use it on an old laptop I have that only need to go online every once in awhile. I have a program that I use on it that has to go online to start it up. I also use this laptop to surf sometimes. A card doesnt pick up in some of the areas I use the laptop, and I dont want to pay a monthly fee on something I use only sometimes. I currently use usbmodem with my centro and I have no speed issues or battery problems, as it also is charging while running. I love to be able to use it if I need it. I also use it on a computer that is in a sound room/ studio to grab things that we find we may need. So I have a lot of uses for the PAM. It is one of the most valueable features on my centro.

I guess that is just me, but I love USBmodem...

Zyphlin · 04/28/2009, 09:41 AM

Not sure. I know I get pretty decent speeds it seems with my Diamond tethered to my Acer Aspire One. Nothing breath taking, but I've never had any issue with any browsing I've attempted to do.