Phone as Modem suddenly outlawed????

[mconk]

You don't need tetherberry to tether ... In my experience at least, its just as fast via bluetooth.

Originally Posted by ahyougotme

New to the forum so i'll make this short.

Am traveling to New Orleans with my girlfriend and really just wanted to bring her netbook so I could get some work done while i'm there (hopefully). Talked to Sprint agent yesterday on the web and she said though i have unlimited data and the blackberry package, it would cost me another 15/mo to add "phone as modem" to my plan. plus they cap you at 5gb in network and 300mb roaming! what a crock. So i tried to get the SSV and it wouldn't even see my 8330m. Dont feel like buying tetherberry just for a week so i dunno, what you guys think? any way I can "test" the PAM feature. Honestly considering replacing my ISP with this if it works well (live in 4g neighborhood )

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[jessieats]

i dont know maby when the sprint system updates and cuts u off from pam and u call the techs to fix it they dont have to cos ur not paying for it and on any SEP it cant and wont be added now as a talk plan u can add it but hey I a great idea get a data card.

[mystic205]

Conjecture..

If you are going to make statements like this, you should at least back it up by posting the link, facts or evidenciary language from sprint that says so..

Originally Posted by XxXjacobXxX

I have the everything 450 plan and ALL blackberry users ON SPRINT has UNLIMITED phone as modem so they r giving u the run around

[10schick]

This is absolutely nuts! If unlimited data is included in a customer's paid plan, why can't he/she use it as a modem on their laptop? Like hooking up another monitor to a computer? It seems a bit ridiculous to be required to pay for a service you're already paying for just because of technicality. What will they, all carriers, think of next? Charge for every picture you take on your phone because while your phone has a camera, it doesn't mean that you have the right to use it?

I've been with Sprint for more than 10 years and started out with them when they were probably the most expensive service out there because of their beyond exceptional customer service. With the price wars over the last few years, I don't believe it exists anymore at Sprint or any other carrier for that matter and Verizon never had it from my experience. It seems these days sales folks sell to anyone and everyone and say anything to close the deal. Maybe it's because of inadequate training or unrealistic internal pressure, but it's pretty sad when their customer has to teach their CSRs about their plans and services. I keep copies of all my chat sessions and noone knows what they're doing or saying.

[axxman]

on page 47 of the BB curve sprint user manual, it clearly explains how to set up phone as modem. I have been using it since may 08, I have exceeded 5gb limit many times, never had a problem, I download itunes movies, check email. never been called by the boogie man for using too much data.

if you call customer service and ask, all they know is the 15 dollar tethering option, which is not an option on the SEP. they don't know. search this site, there was an incredibly long thread on this subject last year.

What typically happens is someone tries to get it working, but it doesn't work, so he/she calls customer service... first mistake..... and they say oh, you need to have tethering. 15 bucks a month, but then they try to add it to SEP and they cant. cuz it is Simply Everything, but since they cant, they make up an excuse, usually "blackberry doesn't support tethering" or "tethering is no longer offered" and send you on your way.

Discouraged, the person then starts hunting on the internet and finds crackberry.com, and posts a question like "Has teathering suddenly been outlawed?"
then another person will answer, you have to pay for tethering.
and another will say, I have tethering working fine.

repeat cycle.


on a lighter note, I cannot wait to get the tour so I can tether at Rev.A speed.

[mconk]

Nice post! Very well said!

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[curve-20]

YEAH!!!...

well.....I'm tethering w/ my curve 8330 using Sprint's very own free downloadable, Sprint SmartView for Windows!.. I'm < 30 days new to BB and the Everything Data 450 plan...

I followed the directions from the manual as mentioned on pg 47.

Only difference from the instructions on pg 47 I experienced was on Step 4. After I launched SmartView, it automatically went into 'Initializing...' to establish the connection vs. clicking 'Go' (not sure if that is due to the profile set on automatic vs manual or not).

Thanks to those that shared valuable feedback on your success in getting tethering to work. It 1. pointed me in the correct direction, and 2. let me know that I didnt need to buy tetherberry..!

I'll continue to monitor for charges from data usage, etc...

I'm good...for now at least..

woo whooo...

[10schick]

Originally Posted by axxman

on page 47 of the BB curve sprint user manual, it clearly explains how to set up phone as modem.

I'd like take advantage of this feature, but I'm afraid to get hit with a surprise on my next bill as pages 69-70 of their manual also states 'If your Services include web or data access, you also can't use your Device as a modem for computers or other equipment, unless we identify the Service or Devicde you have selected specifically intended for that purpose (for example, with "phone as modem" plans, connection card plans, wireless router plans, etc).' Curiously, has anyone else on the SEP been charged for this out of the blue?

[mconk]

You have nothing to worry about. In the event you're hit with an outrageous bill, I will personally guarantee you pro-Bono legal counsel, and they WILL win...if you take word for it's face value, then you can trust me...most ppl don't take "word" for it's ever decreasing face value tho...sad.

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[10schick]

Originally Posted by mconk

You have nothing to worry about. In the event you're hit with an outrageous bill, I will personally guarantee you pro-Bono legal counsel, and they WILL win...if you take word for it's face value, then you can trust me...most ppl don't take "word" for it's ever decreasing face value tho...sad.

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Yesterday, I read a thread here regarding non-subscribing tetherers who were hit with bills in the thousands with the highest one month charges in the $3,500 range. As angry as it makes me to have a phone with capabilities I can't use and an unlimited data plan I can't fully utilize, it's a little too risky for me. For those rebel tetherers who are able to slide under the radar, be free and tether on.

[ahyougotme]

ok my 2 cents...

I read this a while ago and wondered if i could tether without paying sprint the ridiculous amount when they tell me i have unlimited data, but if i upgrade 15/mo. then i can use their "free" software and have a 5gb/300mb cap on my tethering. Yes, I online chatted with a rep and they said while roaming they would cap me at 300mb of data. Sounds ridiculous when most people tether when there is no other option aka ROAMING. so I scavenged around the forums and google and found when i went to blackberry's website they have modem and usb drivers you can download. So I did and reinstalled my Desktop Manager Software to make sure it integrated. Once I knew my comp recognized the Com Port as a standard modem via control panel, I made a dial-up network. Its really easy. No user/password. Dial #777 and you're surfing the web. I tried using sprints software before hand and it totally wouldn't even try to connect, just some hardware error.

I know sprint needs to make money. I understand its expensive to run satellites and towers and yadda yadda. Do your customers a favor, and include this tethering on the blackberry plan. Dont claim unlimited data then say, oh, wait, there is this cap when you're roaming and this cap when you arent. Its not honest.

Rant Finished.

BTW - I haven't been using the tether as my main modem, just wanted to see if it was sprints issue or blackberry's. Dont think i will be hit with a bill surfing 4 or so web sites but who knows. Unlimited data right?

[mconk]

U nailed it to a T bud...good post!

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