Related
Man I really hate T-Mobile's tech support. I called them to ask a simple question:
If I cancel my Total Internet Package which is just 20$ more on by phone bill that I don't really need to be spending, will I be charged for using the WIFI on my phone when I am at home?
I have Comcast cable internet at home and can pick up the router's signal with my MDA even with the sim card out and browse the internet.
They turned around and told me that I would be charged per Kb if I canceled my Total Internet Package and then used my WIFI to pick up my home internet service.
By the way this was T-Mobile's Windows Mobile Department that told me this...
-------------------------------------------
Ok now I have 2 questions for all of you.
Is what T-mobile told me true?
Is there a cheaper way to get unlimited GPRS internet than T-Mobile's $19.99 Total Internet package?
The only time I use my GPRS is to update WeatherPanel and when I am using the OZ Instant Messenger. All other time I spend on the internet is with WIFI turned on and GPRS turned off.
Please, all help will be greatly appreciated and well received.
Thanks in advance, your friendly neighborhood computer geek, Dan.
Well I hope I can help answer your question somewhat.
I do not pay for the GPRS service through Tmobile, I try not to use it at all. If I pull data through it then I am charged. But if i use a wifi hotspot then Tmobile will not charge me. In truth they should have no way of telling if and when I use a WiFi connection. The reason the rep told you this was really a twisting of the truth. He can probably get away with telling you this because it will cut your access to Tmobile HotSpots which you get access to with the data plan. Sneaky sneaky bastards, you should post this little tale on http://consumerist.com/ .
To answer the second if Tmobile is your carrier then NO I dont believe you can get GPRS data from another carrier. Unless your phone is sim unlocked and you choose to use another carrier to get your data through, but this will need you to switch sims out. Either way your gonna pay for it. I would hold out till 1-2 quarter of 2008 Tmobile will start its HSDPA role out, providing upwards of 3Mbps for data. Of course you will need a phone capable of HSDPA, but such is life.
If I am uninformed of another method maybe someone here will be so kind as to enlighten us.
ritalin said:
Well I hope I can help answer your question somewhat.
I do not pay for the GPRS service through Tmobile, I try not to use it at all. If I pull data through it then I am charged. But if i use a wifi hotspot then Tmobile will not charge me. In truth they should have no way of telling if and when I use a WiFi connection. The reason the rep told you this was really a twisting of the truth. He can probably get away with telling you this because it will cut your access to Tmobile HotSpots which you get access to with the data plan. Sneaky sneaky bastards, you should post this little tale on http://consumerist.com/ .
To answer the second if Tmobile is your carrier then NO I dont believe you can get GPRS data from another carrier. Unless your phone is sim unlocked and you choose to use another carrier to get your data through, but this will need you to switch sims out. Either way your gonna pay for it. I would hold out till 1-2 quarter of 2008 Tmobile will start its HSDPA role out, providing upwards of 3Mbps for data. Of course you will need a phone capable of HSDPA, but such is life.
If I am uninformed of another method maybe someone here will be so kind as to enlighten us.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I figured T-Mobile was full of S**T... I know I can access the internet via WIFI even without a sim card in the device. I only use it at home or in hospitals anyway. Like I said though, the GPRS for me, is just for WeatherPanel. That's why I am trying to find a cheaper way...
Thank you for your help though. Not the answer I was hoping for but very grateful non the less.
Dan.
You won't get charged for using wifi. If weather panel is all you really use GPRS for then go to the 5.99 plan. That's what I use and have no problem using weather panel or even browsing the web. The other day I even streamed video over it, although GPRS is way too slow to be any use for that but I wanted to see if it worked. The only apps that I know of that do have problems are mostly IM apps since they have most of the ports that those programs use blocked on the 5.99 plan.
Just realized that you said that you use OZ IM, I'm not sure if that will work or not, I can't seem to get it to work with WM6.
You will not be charged per kilobyte, whoever told you that was either new or retarded. The only difference you will see is that your instant messaging will go thru text messages instead of wifi, charging you per message, to log in, to log out, etc. That's due to the way the OZ instant messaging is written. The 5.99 has been working for a lot of people, but it was a glitch in the system that is slowly being fixed market by market, so don't get upset if it doesn't work for you or if it suddenly stops working, as it was never meant to work. If you connect thru wifi, you won't pay anything as it's your connection thru wifi to your phone's wifi, and the T-Mobile network is nowhere in the mix. Again, the Instant Messaging will be billed as text messages.
johnny12times said:
You will not be charged per kilobyte, whoever told you that was either new or retarded. The only difference you will see is that your instant messaging will go thru text messages instead of wifi, charging you per message, to log in, to log out, etc. That's due to the way the OZ instant messaging is written. The 5.99 has been working for a lot of people, but it was a glitch in the system that is slowly being fixed market by market, so don't get upset if it doesn't work for you or if it suddenly stops working, as it was never meant to work. If you connect thru wifi, you won't pay anything as it's your connection thru wifi to your phone's wifi, and the T-Mobile network is nowhere in the mix. Again, the Instant Messaging will be billed as text messages.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is really good to know. Can you tell me or direct me to a thread that explains the real difference between the 5.99 plan and the 19.99 Total Internet Package?
i don't know about the question you had, but I've had the other extreme as far as Tmo's customer support/tech support... always been great to me. Even after 2 refurbs.
Whoever told you that you'd be charged using Wi-Fi was either full of it or was ASSUMING you would then be accessing T-Mo services...why would you? Just use whatever service you use from home.
I use my MDA with Wi-Fi in my house ALL the time and it has NOTHING to do with T-Mobile. It's not EDGE/GPRS--it's a totally different technology, just like hooking your wireless laptop up to your home router.
Furthermore, you can use the Wi-Fi with T-Mobile Hot Spots if you have that subscription with ANY Wi-Fi computer you have--no reason to have more than one Hot Spot account--many hotels now have it, not just Starbucks.
T-Mobile NOW forces you to pay for Hot Spots with Internet Service as a bundle but they are different technologies.
The Internet Service is EDGE/GPRS and that is a CELLULAR service and is programmed into your SIM chip. I use that too. My MDA can hook into eMail and web sites without a Wi-Fi connection via the cell modem. But it's not nearly as fast.
I actually have 2 SIM chips with this service--I got one for my old IPAQ6315, but that's in the MDA. The one in the MDA is in my notebook computer--it has a Cingular Sony Ericsson cellular modem that I got the unlock code for, and put the chip from the MDA in there--I ALSO can use my notebook with EDGE/GPRS, or Wi-Fi (or even RJ45) connections.
I have the eMail for my regular eMail routed to my MDA--no messing with another address. So it's working a lot like a Blackberry as well.
Finally, you asked if there's a cheaper alternative: There is. It's called "T-Zones" and it's T-Mo's WAP service, for $6 or $7/month. It gives you the limited access you get on cell phones, and you already have it with the fancier internet access--click on T-Zones and you'll see it.
Generally, with T-Mo, service is a waste of time till you get to Level 2. But if you get to Level 3, then you get the techs that really know their business. The PDA support can be similar. But you got to jump through a lot of hoops to reach that level and that can take 30-45 minutes on the phone. Be persistent.
dharvey4651 said:
That is really good to know. Can you tell me or direct me to a thread that explains the real difference between the 5.99 plan and the 19.99 Total Internet Package?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the 19.99 plan gives you your actual connection to the GPRS/EDGE(and in 4 test markets 3G! T-Mobile bought a whole lot of 3g network up recently.) network (internet2.voicestream.com), by connecting thru this route you are given access to the ports required to get to full websites, as well as email servers, etc.
the 5.99 plan is your basic wap access, t-zones and other wap sites. It's what is used by motorola's, samsungs, basic phones. Gives you access to your account information from T-Mobile's wap sites (but not on an mda running less than wm6 and having had the tzones applett installed), accuweather's website, and other wap websites. By connecting thru the wap APN, you are directed thru a filter that doesn't allow you full access to normal websites.
Now, T-Mobile has a glitch in their system where every now and then you get 5.99 internet and your number isn't put into the filter, so the ports that were supposed to be closed off to you never were, and you can browse and email just as if you had the 19.99 feature. The only problem? They know of the glitch and are closing it market by market, which has been taking the better part of 7 months now, but it's not that far from being finished.
Almost all programs you have installed on the mda that are third party will default to what ever internet connection is available, however, the OZ instant messaging program from the MDA and almost all other T-Mobile PDA's is written specifically to use the SMS (short message system) as the next backup if you aren't connected thru the internet2.voicestream.com, or blackberry.net apn if you are using a blackberry, so if you are connected thru wifi, then you will be charged text for each message.
Hope this helps, if not, let me know.
Johnny
Hey folks,
First up I know this is against my T'n'C's but we're talking hypothetically here ;-) oh yes and the fact that I was originally sold this contract for connecting my laptop and PSP to the internet even although it's expressly against my T'n'Cs so I don't feel wrong about doing it.
I'm trying to connect my laptop and PSP to the internet via my Vario II (aka Hermes) from t-mobile. Several concerns crop up
1. since i'm not on the pro package I'm not allowed to do this. Ergo t-mobile must not know I'm using a laptop.
How do they detect it?
I suspect VPN on the phone might get round it...although I've had difficulty configuring it.
Would opening a VPN from the laptop after connection decieve t-mobile?
As regards browsing I assume they're just taking the browser information that the laptop's browser gives them. I suppose you can spoof that somehow?
Lastly for the psp I simply want to stream media from my desktop to my psp when I'm on the move using 'pimpstreamer' - I doubt this protocol will be too noticable.
To effect this connection though I'd need to perform the 'wifi AP' hack I've seen talked about on the wiki....
Problem is I can't seem to find Internet Connection Sharing under programs....Is this something that can be tweaked to be invisable under the registry like the GPS module in the settings section?
Thanks again for your help folks!
If you have the unlimited data plan (only $20 a month), simply turn on Internet Sharing via your phone and select "Modem Link" or whatever it's called. Plug in and voila. The PSP, not so sure.
I have a T-Mobile contract also. You shouldnt worry too much. Even if they can detect it, they dont particularly care so long as you dont go over the 1GB fair usage limit. I connect my laptop all the time and have been doing so for the past year and a half. I even went as far as buying a datacard and using that and still no complaints.
Once, I downloaded 4GB of data via my contract when my internet connection at home went down. Not even a peep. Now I only use my phone for basic usage and connect whenever I cant find a free WIFI but I still use it.
In case youre wondering I have Flext 30 with Web n Walk but I only pay 18.75 GBP per month.
Dont worry and enjoy!
There's an awesome program in the development section that actually allows you to turn your hermes into a wifi hotspot. it connects to the internet through the phone's connection, then shares that connection over wifi. It works perfectly for me, although I rarely really need to use it. Very hand; I wish I could remember what it's called. Search "Wifi Sharing" in the development thread and you should find it.
Randvegeta said:
In case youre wondering I have Flext 30 with Web n Walk but I only pay 18.75 GBP per month.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OT: WHAT!? How did you do that! I've got Flext 30 with WnW and I pay 32.50! And that is with a £5 discount!
Its against T-Mobile rules to use Internet Connection Sharing?
I got it because I signed up as a Curry's Employee and got a permanent lifetime discount of 50% off.
Yes it is againt their terms of service but as I said.. really doesnt matter.. just dont do anything that would make you jump out. Dont use more traffic than you should. Dont use it for VOIP and dont stream music/video to/from it.
I know what you are talking about because I also use it on my Hermes. It's called WMWifiRouter.
I do it all the time and I've never gotten in any trouble for it. Then again, T-Mo EDGE is usually too slow for me to want to use it on my laptop anyways.
I just use it when there is no WiFi available --- the edge is a bit slow, but still VERY usable. Never had an issue either.
I'm looking into that WMWifiRouter, looks cool as hell.
Thanks to everyone for their advice!
That program looks amazing...The website is currently down however...
Any chance someone could email a copy of the program to me at
verylastninja at yahoo dot co dot uk ? It sounds like exactly what I'm needing.
Also the cached page from google says I need ICS installed. 'Windows\IntShrui.exe' - I've checked and there's no such executable in my windows folder.
Does anyone know where I can get my hands on this exe? I'm about to try googling but am worried about getting the wrong version
Your sim works in a datacard? that's cool. How much do those things cost? Never even thought of trying it
Lastly I should say I'm running Microsoft Windows Mobile Version 5.0 (OS5.1.195 (build 14955.2.3.0).
I'm very curious how you access via a datacard as well.
Ah.... Sony GC79/GC89 is built for tmobile!
Although I guess you couldn't use your phone if your sim is in the datacard. Any workarounds to use both at the same time with same service plan, he he?
T-Mo charges $49.99 for unlimited internet, wow... but only $19.99 if it's unlimited on a phone, could consider adding a new "phone" to your account with unlimited internet and just pop the sim in the datacard and go.
Suppose there's not really a lot of difference between using your phone as a modem and using a datacard mind you. So unless they're pretty cheap I'd probably be best sticking with the varioII
Anyone know about the ICS bit? I've seen people reffer to it before. (I gave my windows mobile version etc on my earlier post btw) at first I thought it would be like the GPS settings in control pannel - hidden by some registry entry by t-mobile (and I can think why they would want to).
However that file reffered too Windows\IntShrui.exe
also what's AKU3? Sorry for being such a clueless n00b on this but I've got a little bit of a steep learning curve here!
Pretty pretty please?
Ok found ICSinstall.cab on here and installed it, soft reset, and attempted to install the latest version of the WMWifiRouter program (which I finally succeeded in sourcing!).
However I get a message telling me cryptically that it 'cannot be installed' after attempting install. I wonder if this is related to ICS...
I now have the InShrUI.exe file in /windows/ *but* attempting to run it gives:
'The file 'IntShrUI' cannot be opened. Either it is not signed with a trusted certificate or one of it's components cannot be found. You might need to reinstall or restore this file.'
I reinstalled it over itself (i.e. ran the cab again) same error.
:-/
Was this the right file? I seem to remember it was dated 11th January 2008??
Thanks again for hte help folks!
Here's the deal: I'm a big fan of prepaid pay-as-you-go contract-less cell phone service. I currently use a T-Mobile ToGo SIM in a Sansung Omnia, and for voice, it works great. Unfortunately, ToGo doesn't currently have a data option. Since I'm in range of a WiFi network 99% of the time, up til now, data hasn't been a problem. However, on a recent trip it would have been nice to occasional check e-mail and browse a web page when no WiFi network was available. So I'm thinking of making a change.
As far as I know AT&T offers the only prepaid plan with data in the US: GoPhone with MEdia Net. Also, since the unlocked HTC Diamond offered through Best Buy happens to support the AT&T 3G bands, I'm thinking of trading my Omnia for a Diamond. (Note: 3G isn't a requirement, I'd be more than happy with Edge speeds.)
My data requirements of MEdia Net are modest. First, I must be able to access my pop3 mail server through MEdia Net, preferably using the Mobile Outlook e-mail client. Last, I need to occasionally browse an arbitrary web page like Google Maps, preferably using the Diamond's default Opera web browser. As you might have guessed, I have no interest in the Internet "services" touted at the AT&T web site.
Searching this forum and AT&T's web site gives the impression all this may be possible, but I'm not convinced. I don't want to call AT&T sales because I doubt they'll give me the information I need.
Please help; any information or even opinion will be appreciated!
Go Phone with Tilt
I have only had a pocket PC for a couple of weeks, but have spent a lot of time reading and testing. Whatever you can do with a Diamond, should be the same with a Tilt. The Diamond is only a faster device and costs more money.
Here is what I am able to do: I put the Sim from my obsolete LG AT&T phone in the Tilt that I bought used on Ebay for $200. My Sim has funds from a $25. per 90 day Go Phone account. With the Tilt's WiFi I access the internet free. With the built-in GPS and google maps, I can track and locate my position. However as google maps requires a continuous internet connection, it keeps saying the connection is lost as I drive around, closing that window when it pops up, keeps things going. I am testing other software that doesn't require a constant connection. But you didn't indicate any interest in GPS.
The voice phone and text messaging works fine. It makes a really nice pocket computer, does everything and when connected to the desk top computer you can easily manipulate files. I bought a double capacity battery for it and it runs everything all day with power left over.
What I can not do is receive instant messages. I never used that service before anyway. If you want internet anywhere, AT&T wants $30. per month for the data plan (media net) and if you want navigation anywhere, that is another $10. per month. I think I understood them to say that these features and not available with a Go Phone plan, but you can ask. A store told me it was and telephone support mentioned it wasn't.
I have my phone configured to never use media net. One forum user made some tests and ran up a bill for a couple hundred dollars real fast with a pre-pay plan. Go Phone or AT&T? I don't recall.
I plan to use the pre-paid MEDia Net sparingly. By some accounts, it's over 100 times more expensive than some equivalent European plans. If someone was using pre-paid like they might use a contract plan, I'm not surprised they'd run up a big bill.
Any way, I'm going to try this since it's costs next to nothing to get a GoPhone SIM with a few minutes; enough to download an e-mail and browse a few web pages if everything goes right.
Hey all,
I have a few quick questions, i have been using search but i havn't found my answers yet. I was wondering if there is a .cab for a barcode reader app like on android. Also is does anyone know if t-mobile USA has a fair use limit such as 5gb for data (i know verizon does). Also i'm having trouble connecting to anything online with my phone after updating to TMOUSA's new rom today.
check out omarket for a barcode reader, i use i-nigma, it does the job.
Tmo usa will definately have a "fair use" policy on data usage, it'l be in your contract or their site, the last time I checked in the UK it was only 1gb. They say everythings bigger in America though.......
Cant help you with your rom problem im afraid......
tmobilehas has disabled internet sharing capability.
try wmwifirouterapp you gotta pay but it'll work
sherlockpwnz said:
tmobilehas has disabled internet sharing capability.
try wmwifirouterapp you gotta pay but it'll work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you mean that they didn't include an app for it? I've been using it since the HD2 came out (and before that I used it on my HD) and it works just fine. Pretty much all custom roms have it cooked in, but you can always just download and install wifirouter cab.
As for the limit, I believe it was 5gigs and has been changed to 10gigs (pretty sure it's one or the other). If you go over, I believe they just throttle you down but they don't cut you off and there's no overage charge.
no there is an internet sharing app tmobile is doing away with it. i bought my phone back in march and it had an internet sharing shortcut and worked up until this new update. it blocks communication to their network when the phone recognizes the phone is connected via usb
I'm not a fan of the WIFI app, i think WMWIFIROUTER is much better. It seems that the Wifi app on winmo just piggybacks on my wifi network at home and extends the range. I noticed that it still has the same hostname under "status" on my pc.
As of tonight I have been getting an sms from t-mo U.S. everytime i start up the wifi sharing. This is the message "Free T-Mobile Msg: Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi Sharing access has been blocked. Please add a Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi......."
I never used it much so its not the end of the world, nor am I here to discuss wether or not it is. I am more interested in simply understanding how it is that they determine I was using the data on my laptop as opposed to my phone. Im sure others have discussed how this could be done in the past but I specifically curious how T-MO US detects this.
Because your phone turns into a NAT router and a major carrier's proxy server is not exactly monitored by one fat slob in a basement.
The moment you open the browser on your laptop you give the game away. Each request for a web page carries information on the browser you are using. If the browser is non-mobile then they know you are tethered.
You say you never used it much but I spoke at length with an AT&T tech regarding tethering and he told me that they don't actively look for non-mobile browsers but rather they look at the data usage. Mobile browsers tend to request the mobile friendly pages with less data so large chunks of data trigger a flag.
I have been with T-MOUS tech for the better part of the day, apparently my apps that are not working are being recognized as tethering activity by the network. No one at TMO at this point understands why but they can tell that certain applications that access data are triggering the tethering notification, rendering them unable to gain network access. I have had trouble getting F.IM last.fm, internet explorer (at times) yet opera browser and slacker radio work just fine. To prove to T-MO it wasn't my device we initially tested all this again on other SIM Cards and all was well. It sounds to me like they are blocking internet 80 but they assure me that is not the way they prevent tethering. They said that the new system for blocking tethering went up in the last few days at the same time they cut our throttling pt from 10gig to 5gig. I am the first to have this problem or anything similar according to tech. I must add they have been very kind and understanding, they believe me when I tell them I know something and they don't make me hard reset the device or replace battery when I told them I already did that myself. ATT never believed me and always made me repeat myself and processes.
I'm not entirely sure but I think most of the major providers just changed to the "unlimited" plan that is limited as standard so changing provider might not be a good option.
There have to be a bazillion unprotected WAP's near where ever you are...
I've experienced the same in the last 2 days. Now, when I do try to tether, it routes me to a T-Mobile site offering their tethering option for 15 bucks.
Tried the hotspot about an hour ago. so far so good
I was sharing with my zune hd, not a laptop, so that might make a difference. logged into msn messenger and sent some messages, used the FB app, and dl a song. so far no nasty-gram texts from T-mo. I'll let you know if one comes later.
Airborne Aircrew said:
The moment you open the browser on your laptop you give the game away. Each request for a web page carries information on the browser you are using. If the browser is non-mobile then they know you are tethered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's a bit of a broad method. i have opera set to present the FireFox useragent, to bypass mobile sites, are you saying i wouldn't be allowed to do this on t mo us? surely that's illegal? i mean its not like you have to hack opera to make it do it, its a user setting.
what if you wrote your own browser? surely they can't be allowed topresume you are tethering on such flimsy evidence.it would be a bit like doing you for downloading music just because you have some speakers and a computer.
the easy way to test of course is to set your pc useragent to opera.
samsamuel said:
that's a bit of a broad method. i have opera set to present the FireFox useragent, to bypass mobile sites, are you saying i wouldn't be allowed to do this on t mo us? surely that's illegal? i mean its not like you have to hack opera to make it do it, its a user setting.
what if you wrote your own browser? surely they can't be allowed topresume you are tethering on such flimsy evidence.it would be a bit like doing you for downloading music just because you have some speakers and a computer.
the easy way to test of course is to set your pc useragent to opera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
barring online privacy acts and what-have-you, they could easily read your header and determine that the client/laptop/tethering device does not contain mobile protocol and with reasonable doubt that traffic is getting moved fairly quickly (amount of data relay, TTL, etc) on a "mobile" device, they'll flag the activity. Changing user-agent isn't a problem when they have other concrete methods to track you by.
Like airborne aircrew said, the OP must've sent a huge amount of traffic when he's tethering. That's like saying I only tether once a month, but when I do, I download 4GB torrent...
Its not when I use my PC browser because the message comes as soon as I launch the wi-fi sharing app. If I USB tether then I get a message on my desktop browser.
I called t-mo us
Now apparently my threshold is 5g a month instead of the 10g when I signed up. Also since this tether block several apps can't get online via 3g on my HD2 such as F.IM Facebook instant messenger. (This all stinks because the reason I went to T-MO U.S. is because they never removed usb tether from winmo, and they had the threshold for speed throttling at 10 gigs. Now they have lowered my throttle to 5 gigs and expect me to pay an additional 15 to access those same 5 gigs with my laptop.)
Im not trying to start a debate on their policies or anything just after all that my HD2 itself can't access that value raped service with some apps.
***I added the Wi-Fi Internet sharing app to the phone my self. This is why its so puzzling that they message me as soon as I launch the app.
hecatombercm said:
Now they have lowered my throttle to 5 gigs and expect me to pay an additional 15 to access those same 5 gigs with my laptop.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll need to do some digging on local state laws but down under if you've signed a term contract the carrier can only upgrade your plan (e.g. 10G to 15G) not downgrade your service until the contract expires. With tactics like that I'd be looking at another carrier and port your phone number across.
visser said:
You'll need to do some digging on local state laws but down under if you've signed a term contract the carrier can only upgrade your plan (e.g. 10G to 15G) not downgrade your service until the contract expires. With tactics like that I'd be looking at another carrier and port your phone number across.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep same here - in my T&C it said that if they change your plan and give you less, you have the right to get out of it there and then.
Very interesting cause the customer service rep admits that I had a 10g throttle point that is now 5g and also admits that the sales rep would have told me I'm allowed to use the built in tethering app modestly. This was my first attempt to tether in several months, and the one time I reached the 10g throttle point I didn't own a laptop so it was all done through the handset. I imagine I'll easily hit the new throttle point now even if I never utilize tethering. Heres and interesting thread over on the t-mo us forums. Someone talks a little bit about how T-Mo determines someone is tethering. http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/myTouch-4G/tethering/m-p/551487/highlight/false#M5025