Jailbreak hotspot-ers: AT&T is moving you to a tiered data plan involuntarily

We’ve gotten word from some readers that AT&T is moving forward and removing unlimited plans for users who jailbreak iPhones to tether or hotspot off of AT&T’s unlimited data plans (for those grandfathered):

I was just informed that as of Thursday August 11th 2011, if you use MyWi or any tethering on the phone or using the phone as a modem, AT&T will automatically change ur unlimited plan to a 2Gb tethering plan for 45 dollars without the customers consent. This is for those who received emails or texts about the use of tethering without an AT&T tethering plan.
An AT&T spokesperson has confirmed this, but not August 11th as a hard cutoff date, saying:

Earlier this year, we began sending letters, emails, and text messages to a small number of smartphone customers who use their devices for tethering but aren’t on our required tethering plan. Our goal here is fairness for all of our customers. (This impacts a only small percentage of our smartphone customer base.)

The letters outline three choices:

1) Stop tethering and keep their current plan (including grandfathered unlimited plan)

2) Proactively call AT&T or visit our stores and move to the required tethering plan

3) Do nothing and we’ll go ahead and add the tethering plan on their behalf — after the dated noted in their customer notification

Is this fair of AT&T? Well, it is certainly fair that people pay for the data that they are using and unlimited tethering turns your iPhone into a data sucking monster. AT&T’s service to others is obviously affected, so they have to do something about it and this seems like a reasonable solution. The obvious retort is that some may have purchased their unlimited plans back when unlimited really meant unlimited, jailbroken or not.

The matter doesn’t appear up for debate however. MiWi users: get your free data this week and hope AT&T doesn’t decide to move you over early.

Also: Is the additional $20 for the tethering option fair on top of the already tiered data? Much less so.

*thanks 9to5mac*

Send us a story or tip @ TipsForLimerain.com@gmail.com and follow our pages for the latest limera1n, rubyra1n, and all tech stories, follow us on Twitter at @iphonepixelpost or @limerain_com
And like our Facebook page www.iPodSets.com
- Posted using my iPhone 4

Personal Hotspot Sends GPS Data to Wi-Fi iPad?

Apple's new Personal Hotspot feature reportedly feeds GPS data to wi-fi iPad devices that are tethered to it, according to TabletMonsters.

Apple’s Wi-Fi only iOS devices have had location awareness for years via Wi-Fi location service that rely on identifying MAC addresses of nearby hotspots, and comparing those against a database of where those routers are located.

The location I’m getting on my Wi-Fi only iPad is most certainly not this. It is clear I am being fed GPS information from the phone, at what appears to be an interval of once a minute or so between refreshes (likely they didn’t do real time updating so as to go easy on the phone’s battery).

Although, one minute intervals isn't that often. It might be enough to sway some customers' purchasing decision towards the Wi-Fi iPad model instead of the 3G.

The feature can be seen demonstrated it the video below.




*thanks iclarified*

Our new Forum is now open here or on the top tabs marks Forums, please register and post..

For the latest limera1n, rubyra1n, and all tech stories, follow us on Twitter at
@iphonepixelpost or @limerain_com
www.iPodSets.com
- Posted using my iPhone 4

iOS 4.3 Will Bring Personal Hotspot to GSM iPhones?

An upcoming release of iOS 4.3 will reportedly bring the Personal Hotspot feature to GSM iPhones.

The new mobile hotspot feature that ships with the Verizon iPhone lets your phone create a wireless network and share its Internet connection with up to five devices.

Currently the Verizon iPhone is running iOS 4.2.5; however, both iPhoneHellas and iPhoneclub.nl report that the feature will come to existing iPhones via an iOS 4.3 update.

The iPhone 4 CDMA, such as information from the American media, comes with iOS 4.2.5 but according to reliable information, the feature will be added to "our" iPhone 4 in the upcoming iOS 4.3. [iPhoneHellas]

We received this information from a reliable source within the local telecommunications industry, our 100% correct information previously unannounced firmware versions provided. Bij de volgende grote iOS-update (4.3) komt de functie beschikbaar, op voorwaarde dat je operator tethering ondersteunt. At the next major update IOS (4.3), the feature, provided that your operator supports tethering. [iPhoneclub.nl]

No word yet on when this update may become available...




*thanks iclarified*

Our new Forum is now open here or on the top tabs marks Forums, please register and post..

For the latest limera1n, rubyra1n, and all tech stories, follow us on Twitter at
@iphonepixelpost or @limerain_com
www.iPodSets.com
- Posted using my iPhone 4

Verizon iPhone Runs iOS 4.2.5 With Personal Hotspot Built Into Settings.app

An Engadget hands-on with the Verizon iPhone reveals that it runs iOS 4.2.5 and has Personal Hotspot built right into the Settings app.

It's unclear if the Personal Hotspot feature will be a Verizon exclusive. Apple writes, "iPhone 4 on Verizon Wireless will also include new Personal Hotspot capabilities allowing customers to use iPhone 4 to connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices."

Hopefully existing iPhone customers will also receive the iOS 4.2.5 update which enables this feature.









*thanks iclarified*

Our new Forum is now open here or on the top tabs marks Forums, please register and post..

For the latest limera1n, rubyra1n, and all tech stories, follow us on Twitter at
@iphonepixelpost or @limerain_com
www.iPodSets.com
- Posted using my iPhone 4