O2 has responded to reports that users have been bypassing the forthcoming iPhone tethering charges by stating it will disconnect or charge offenders.
The internet is rife with reports of a site hosting a file for your iPhone that configures the device to act as a modem, using the free data allowance included in the monthly contract.
However, O2 has smartly responded to the news, telling TechRadar that it will come down hard on such users:
"Internet rumours suggest that some customers have modified their iPhone to enable Internet Tethering without the purchase of the Internet Tethering Bolt On. Any use of this particular feature without the purchase of the Bolt on is specifically prohibited under our terms of service.
Disconnection and option
"Under those terms we reserve the right to charge customers making modem use of their iPhone or disconnect them. If customers wish to use the Internet Tethering feature on their iPhone 3G or iPhone 3G S, we recommend taking the Bolt On which is available from Friday 19 June."
We're still waiting to find out exactly how O2 will know the difference between data on the mobile and on a laptop, although simple usage graphs would show a sharp increase in data consumption.
However, whether this is enough for the network to prove tethering wrongdoing is also unclear, so we're still waiting for clarification on the subject.
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Your comments (16) Click to add a new comment
bigjd
August 10th 2009
16. I currently have a windows bassed phone on O2 with unlimited web bolt on. I can use my phone as a modem with out any extra charge. I have been looking at the iphones for a while and was waiting for tethering to be an option. But why would i want to buy a new phone when i am going to have to pay for tethering. Think O2 need to sort themselves out.
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jonsims
August 3rd 2009
15. If I purchase a magnifying glass to actualy be able to view the data I have already paid to access, wirhout going blind, would they try to charges me a monthly fee for that as well? As a consumer this is what I feel would be fair and resonable.
A one time activation fee $20 or less.
If you go over 5 gig per month you pay extra for the extra.
I am already paying for Internet access for my phone. Why should I have to pay even more just because I actully want to read it? I will only use this service about 2 hours a month if that. This is why I purchaced the Iphone in the first place. Dial up, DSL and anything else was to expencive for me to even want it. Limited options in my rural area have kept me in the stone age for years. If the phone company will not come up with an acceptable solution for people like me then it's their loss because I have lived just fine all my life witout it. I am trying to thrust myself into the current century but corperate greed has already left a bad taste in my mouth. Don't try to justify trying to charge me more for a service I am already paying for or I will drop the he thing like a dead skunk.
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mum4d
July 22nd 2009
14. I was using the Tethering hack and as of 20/07/09 my 3G service stopped working. I removed the Tethering profile and 3G is working again!!! So, O2 DO have a way to detect and stop you using the hack
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danlud
June 28th 2009
13. I was wondering if anyone has found out if this truly is free? Or, if O2 have found a way to charge for it with this workaround?
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toekneecee
June 19th 2009
12. Corporate Irony--I wonder if there's an app for that?
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toekneecee
June 19th 2009
11. So, 'tethering' is built-in and not charged separately on other phones according to some of you below. Then on a separate issue, some bright chap from O2 quotes "We feel strongly that there shouldn't be one set of rules for one set of customers, and another set for the others. It's only fair that we have good policies and treat all our customers fairly," said Steve Alder, General Manager of Devices for O2 UK. Absolutely pathetic, but based on my experience of their customer service, at least they're consistent. O2, you're right up there with former paragons of service, NTL.
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brawl
June 19th 2009
10. "I am spitting mad about this, particularly because there is *NO* 'legal' provision for Pay As You Go customers at any price!
It is no business of O2 what I use my data allowance for!" On a more related note... its no business of anyone, but Ofcom and O2 seem to think it is. Way to kill customers O2 you happy smiley failures!
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tyranter
June 18th 2009
9. Funny O2 only come out with this now the iphone has "official" tethering route (they are using to rinse the customers with) built in to the OS. None before (when there was "unofficially" tethering already). Makes a difference now they see it as having money taken out of their pockets as Apple have handed them a bit of a money maker. "Unoffical tethering" as well. Have a word with yourselves O2. Whats the difference between the iphone and the other phones this is freely available on... oh. Its high profile and the big seller so you can make money out of it. Maybe best you make all the other pones peole tether on unoffical as well and cut them off.
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squirgle
June 18th 2009
8. Far as I can tell in the T&Cs there's nothing in there about tethering. It states all usage must be through the phone, which tethering is.
This is going from the terms here: http://o2.co.uk/termsandconditions/iphone
Specifically "The Web Bolt On allows you unlimited use of Telefónica O2 UK Limited's Edge/GPRS/ 3G networks (as applicable to your handset), for personal internet use via your mobile phone. All usage must be for your private, personal and non-commercial purposes. You may not use your SIM Card:
o in, or connected to, any other device including modems;
o to allow the continuous streaming of any audio / video content, enable Voice over Internet (Voip), P2P or file sharing; or
o in such a way that adversely impacts the service to other O2 customers."
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the_italian
June 18th 2009
7. I think I may go down the unofficial route, so I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes.
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jbtaylor
June 18th 2009
6. Strange, I can't see it anywhere in the ToS that it is "specifically prohibited". Do correct me if I'm wrong. It's in the Pay Monthly Terms, but I'm on Pay&Go, and I can't see it anywhere in there. Maybe I'm just being blind...
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craigio
June 18th 2009
5. Quite disappointed by O2 I have a N95 8Gb and tetherings easy enough, whats the difference between using an iPhone and my phone? Strange
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jdryden
June 18th 2009
4. Hmm... I'm wondering how O2 will know the difference between iPhone usage and Laptop usage. Whenever I'm traveling I tweet and surf the web on my iPhone like I would a normal laptop, so I wonder if I will be cut off? If I am then O2 will have a hell of a fight on their hands!
But tbh, I agree with "rossmck". If O2 simply priced the tethering bolt-on then there would be no problems. It's only because the greed f*kers want every bit of spare cash we have during this worldwide recession!
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fergy9901
June 18th 2009
3. How can they honestly charge for such a service, when their other handsets (such as the XDA models) have this built in and is at no extra cost?
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johnhind
June 18th 2009
2. I am spitting mad about this, particularly because there is *NO* 'legal' provision for Pay As You Go customers at any price!
It is no business of O2 what I use my data allowance for!
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rossmck
June 18th 2009
1. If O2 priced the tethering "bolt-on" reasonably then this wouldn't be an issue... but they're charging for data which surely is already included in an "unlimited" tariff.
I know a number of people have already complained to Ofcom about this and they've made it clear if more people complain they may take action.
Are you an affected O2 customer ? Call Ofcom on 0300 123 3333 and tell them you're not happy with this and that you believe this to be an unfair charge :)
Finally, to those of you going down the 'unofficial' tethering route - use a VPN service and keep the traffic low, O2 will not be able to distinguish between that and your iPhone's "own" traffic.
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