Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterB  Well, I've got a BB simply everything plan, and I'm replying to this post on my laptop that is teathered to my BB. So, obviously whoever told you this wouldn't work is wrong... |
This particular "Catch 22" has been discussed in prior threads.
As has been discussed in prior threads on this subject, the issue is NOT whether a BB on a Simply Everything plan (or the Everything Data Family Share plans) has the actual physical ability to be used to tether a laptop or desktop PC (aka, phone-as-modem) - the physical capacity is there. You can use Smartview or set up your BB with as dial-up network (DUN) and be tethering - regardless of whether you actually pay for PAM or not.
The issue has been (and, is still) whether tethering a BB under a Simply Everything plan (or the Everything Data Family Share plan) is (a) an available add-on option; (b) if not an available add-on option, whether *actually* tethering without the "add-on" option is a violation of Sprint's terms of service (TOS); and (c) whether, if a customer violates the TOS what will (or could) happen to that customer.
With regard to (a), no, officially it's not an available "add-on" option. It's doesn't appear as such on Sprint's website and as reported here on numerous prior occasions by reports of discussions with Sprint's CSRs.
With regard to (b), yes - technically actually tethering/PAM without a PAM plan is a violation of Sprint's TOS for those on Simply Everything (and Everything Data Family Share plans).
With regard to (c), apparently not much at all
will happen. Countless people have reported tethering without the (unavailable) PAM "add-on" . . . including me . . . without being charged for it (after-the-fact) by Sprint.
Of course, it is
possible , in theory, that Sprint could do something against those of us who tether without a PAM. Namely, charge us (after we've used the data) for the "extra" unauthorized use. That means you might open your bill one month to a big surprise. Or, it's possible, Sprint could drop you as a customer.
Tips to keep that possibility from happening include NOT abusing tethering (staying well under 5GB per month) .
I think what's "stupid" on Sprint's part is this: that it apparently doesn't have the technical capacity (or the business will) to prevent users who do NOT have a separate "add-on" PAM plan from actually tethering. If you can't or won't STOP people from using your network in an unauthorized manner . . . you might as well try to collect *some* money from them by making it an available "add-on" option.
Sprint's Simply Everything Plan cannot do phone-as-modem 
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