[ragingclue]

Originally Posted by escobar929

I havent seen anything official saying tethering will be free, everything I've read has said it its still unknown what Verizon plans to do. Cause as has been already said, it would kill some of their other business models

It would be financial suicide to offer unlimited tethering / MiFi for free. I'd expect at least an additional monthly fee for unlimited tethering, separate from the regular data plan. Seems like a dicey proposition though, not capping the limit at some point.... I guess that's one advantage of it being non-LTE (from their perspective of course).

[OC Guy]

http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/11/ver...sonal-hotspot/
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...and_voice.html

[Chewy734]

Originally Posted by OC 335i

http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/11/ver...sonal-hotspot/
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...and_voice.html

Yeah, but that doesn't mean it'll be free. I suspect that AT&T will offer the same sort of hotspot feature soon as well. They have a tiered pricing approach when it comes to tethering and data.

[escobar929]

Originally Posted by OC 335i

http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/11/ver...sonal-hotspot/
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...and_voice.html

Originally Posted by TechCrunch

And while there is no word on pricing yet (neither Apple nor Verizon would budge or slip-up when asked repeatedly — but note the “Additional usage charges may apply.”), we were able to see it in action in the demo room following today’s event.

as stated in the link you provided

[Chewy734]

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tu...e-announcement

[JayKay335i]

I think if they really gave a shit they'd have given an incentive for AT&T users to switch over. They said no to the phone when it first came out. Their product announcement was bogus. At the end of the day it still doesn't make my list of want until at least LTE and the next version.

[persian54]

the fact that you cannot be on the internet while talking on the phone is a deal breaker for me..

I surf the net when I'm on my phone all the time

be it google maps, looking for info in an email, or being bored while on the phone with a girl and wanting to do something more interesting..

if verizon can do talk + surf, I'll switch

[Chewy734]

Originally Posted by JayKay335i

I think if they really gave a shit they'd have given an incentive for AT&T users to switch over. They said no to the phone when it first came out. Their product announcement was bogus. At the end of the day it still doesn't make my list of want until at least LTE and the next version.

When have they ever given incentive to switch to them? They didn't say no to the iPhone when it first came out, they were just too bone headed to give concessions to stubborn Stevo. I'll agree their product announcement was kinda meh, but all the pertinent media was there to cover it.

[JayKay335i]

Yeah, every geek website thats been jerking off to the thought of a verizon iphone.

We shall see how it goes. Apparently spring is in the search for a 4g 21mbs radioset for an upcoming phone.

[scollins]

Originally Posted by persian54

the fact that you cannot be on the internet while talking on the phone is a deal breaker for me..

I surf the net when I'm on my phone all the time

be it google maps, looking for info in an email, or being bored while on the phone with a girl and wanting to do something more interesting..

if verizon can do talk + surf, I'll switch

This brings up another question I've got: If you can't talk and surf the web at the same time on the VZ iPhone, does that also mean that the "personal hotspot" is also not available when you are using the phone? That would be a HUGE problem in my opinion, and severly detracts from the coolness of the personal hotspot.

You are browsing the web on your iPad/laptop/netbook using your VZ iPhone as a hotspot, but then need to take/make a call, what happens? Ooops, can't do both! So do people still think that being able to do voice and data at the same time would be a little used feature? I think it would be used quite a bit if available personally...

I'm an ATT iPhone user, but I really like the idea of the "personal hotspot", so I'd consider switching to VZW just for that. But only if it works while talking on the phone too. If I can't use it as a hotspot to feed my laptop while talking on the phone (think business conference call....), then it is pretty useless.

I opted for the non-3G iPad because I don't want to pay for home broadband ($45/mo), iPhone data ($60/mo, 2 iPhones in the house) and iPad data ($25/mo). I'm not interested in paying $130 for internet access!! I feel I'm already paying way too much as it is ($105/mo.) So the iPad is less useful when I'm out of range of a WiFi service.

Even if ATT did offer the personal hotspot option, I'd have to change from my current grandfathered $30/mo unlimited plan to a $45/mo 2GB tethering plan. And if I'm using it as a hotspot, I'm sure to blast through 2GB quite a bit faster than my current usage.

[JayKay335i]

^^

The hotspot disconnects when you receive a call

[ScaredOnce]

So then the Cisco WebEx app is useless, right? As I wouldn't be able to start a conference call then initiate a WebEx?

[JayKay335i]

Originally Posted by ScaredOnce

So then the Cisco WebEx app is useless, right? As I wouldn't be able to start a conference call then initiate a WebEx?

In theory it would depend on whether the call uses data or voice. Programs like facetalk use data for video and voice I believe.

[ScaredOnce]

Originally Posted by JayKay335i

In theory it would depend on whether the call uses data or voice. Programs like facetalk use data for video and voice I believe.

Ahh... Thanks. Then it's a no-go. You have to first start the call with the normal phone application then start the WebEx.

That sucks. I've hosted a lot of WebExs while on the road from my iPhones. Just had to designate someone else as the presenter once it starts. Damn

[escobar929]

Originally Posted by scollins

I'm an ATT iPhone user, but I really like the idea of the "personal hotspot", so I'd consider switching to VZW just for that. But only if it works while talking on the phone too. If I can't use it as a hotspot to feed my laptop while talking on the phone (think business conference call....), then it is pretty useless.

I opted for the non-3G iPad because I don't want to pay for home broadband ($45/mo), iPhone data ($60/mo, 2 iPhones in the house) and iPad data ($25/mo). I'm not interested in paying $130 for internet access!! I feel I'm already paying way too much as it is ($105/mo.) So the iPad is less useful when I'm out of range of a WiFi service.

Even if ATT did offer the personal hotspot option, I'd have to change from my current grandfathered $30/mo unlimited plan to a $45/mo 2GB tethering plan. And if I'm using it as a hotspot, I'm sure to blast through 2GB quite a bit faster than my current usage.

Apple is adding personal hotspots in 4.3, it has already been confirmed in the beta that was just released. So whether AT&T wants it or not, the jailbreak community will find a way to activate it (not like there is not already ways). But its always easier to use the built-in features

specially since the usb/bluetooth option they have now is beyond bogus

[scollins]

Originally Posted by JayKay335i

^^

The hotspot disconnects when you receive a call

I thought so. In that respect then, it really is an issue for VZW users, because that seems like a really cool, but fatally flawed, feature.

Originally Posted by escobar929

Apple is adding personal hotspots in 4.3, it has already been confirmed in the beta that was just released. So whether AT&T wants it or not, the jailbreak community will find a way to activate it (not like there is not already ways). But its always easier to use the built-in features

specially since the usb/bluetooth option they have now is beyond bogus

Excellent! I've been reluctant to JB my 3GS, only because I didn't want to run the risk of 'bricking it. But now that I've had it for almost 2 years, and I've got an available upgrade (just in case), I'll probably take the JB leap soon.

Can jailbreaking get around the tethering issue? I'd really rather not change out of my current data plan if I don't have to. Might have to Google up on that.....

[scollins]

Looks like Verizon is sticking it to their customers right before iPhone launch too!

http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/t...7732/?cid=1260

SmartMoney: Hello iPhone, Goodbye Upgrades

You'd have to be living in a cave to have missed the big Tuesday news that the iPhone is finally coming to Verizon. But what the company didn't announce yesterday may turn out to be more important to subscribers: A change in the company's upgrade policies that will make phones more expensive for current and future Verizon customers.

[JayKay335i]

Originally Posted by scollins

Looks like Verizon is sticking it to their customers right before iPhone launch too!

http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/t...7732/?cid=1260

They are ditching cheap incentives for new customers and getting rid of the 2 year upgrade plan with easy upgrades after about a year.

I bet if you are a current long term customer you can work with them and keep your current upgrade policy.

[CollinsE90]

Its called a grandfather plan, most will keep it

[scollins]

Originally Posted by JayKay335i

They are ditching cheap incentives for new customers and getting rid of the 2 year upgrade plan with easy upgrades after about a year.

I bet if you are a current long term customer you can work with them and keep your current upgrade policy.

From the article, if you are a new customer coming to Verizon for the iPhone, you will not get a chance to do the "New Every Two" plan. See below for existing customers...

Originally Posted by CollinsE90

Its called a grandfather plan, most will keep it

No grandfathering! It says that if you are a current customer, you will get ONE more upgrade credit, then that will be it, no more. So if you are a current VZW customer and coming up on your 2 year credit, you could use it for the iPhone (or any phone for that matter). BUT, after you use that credit, you will not receive it again. The plan is terminated.

This isn't just about iPhones, it impacts all phones and VZW customers.

[JayKay335i]

Originally Posted by scollins

From the article, if you are a new customer coming to Verizon for the iPhone, you will not get a chance to do the "New Every Two" plan. See below for existing customers...



No grandfathering! It says that if you are a current customer, you will get ONE more upgrade credit, then that will be it, no more. So if you are a current VZW customer and coming up on your 2 year credit, you could use it for the iPhone (or any phone for that matter). BUT, after you use that credit, you will not receive it again. The plan is terminated.

This isn't just about iPhones, it impacts all phones and VZW customers.

Sure its what the article says. But most large corporations make exceptions. If I say AT&T will give me sweet upgrades they'll give them to you to keep them as a customer. Just like cable. Call them up and say your neighbor has that new cable internet and phone package and you feel like your getting ripped off. They'll give you free shit. Its cheaper to keep existing customers than to get new customers.

[escobar929]

Originally Posted by scollins

Excellent! I've been reluctant to JB my 3GS, only because I didn't want to run the risk of 'bricking it. But now that I've had it for almost 2 years, and I've got an available upgrade (just in case), I'll probably take the JB leap soon.

Can jailbreaking get around the tethering issue? I'd really rather not change out of my current data plan if I don't have to. Might have to Google up on that.....

currently there are multiple way to enable tethering, from as simple as using an app, to doing it by commands on terminal.

Originally Posted by JayKay335i

Sure its what the article says. But most large corporations make exceptions. If I say AT&T will give me sweet upgrades they'll give them to you to keep them as a customer. Just like cable. Call them up and say your neighbor has that new cable internet and phone package and you feel like your getting ripped off. They'll give you free shit. Its cheaper to keep existing customers than to get new customers.

exactly, big companies are easy to sway since they wanna steal you away from the competitor or keep you from them