I've been tethering using an HTC Wildfire for around a year and an iPhone 4 for the last month (with no problems or extra charges to my regular contract amount, as I have the unlimited Internet booster).
However, 2 days ago, when connecting, I got directed to the t-mobile mobile broadband page, with its options for payment, and no way of accessing any other web pages. On calling 150, I was told that a chargeable booster is required for tethering--an extra £5.11 a month. I've actually called a few times, trying to wangle my way around the extra payment, and been told different things. One said this is a new change, another that it's to do with the iPhone 4 and someone else that tethering can only be done with the booster and if I've been doing it without paying, I've been very lucky!
I'm wondering if it is the iPhone that's responsible, as I've read there are Apple software issues preventing tethering.. plus my dad's Android still works fine. But the phone has a Personal Hotspot function so not really sure. I guess I need to get hold of a micro-SIM adaptor and put it in an Android phone to see if it's the iPhone or not..
Has anyone else had this problem?
Any advice greatly appreciated!
It's always been against the contract, but rarely enforced unless it's very obvious.
It may well be more obvious with the iPhone, not sure, I wouldn't be surprised if it flags it up in the data packets directly - with most phones they'd have to look at the data itself to work out.
Really you're just lucky that on discovering it, they haven't enforced the contract terms which is that you pay some ludicrous amount for data that is for (unauthorized) tethering, something like 5 quid a megabyte last I saw.
Tethering has always been against the T's & C's of most of the internet boosters that T-Mobile has offered.
Since iOS 4.3 IIRC they are actually able to enforce it since you can't edit the APN settings on the device.
I believe there is a WiFi hotspot app on iOS that can be used which circumvents the issue, but not sure if you need to jailbreak to use it or not.
Thanks guys. I've been lucky it seems, although probably would have continued to be if I hadn't changed to the iPhone 🙁
Oh well, just have to pay the extra..