WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

I've been using WMWiFiRouter for a few weeks now, and I noticed today that on my Verizon "My Current Usage" page, it is now showing a listing for "Domestic Mobile Broadband Connect." Although it shows my usage as 0.00, I wonder what has made this appear all of the sudden. On the My Plan page, it doesn't show Mobile Broadband Connect as being activated (at least as far as I can tell). Interestingly, on the data usage page, it is missing any readings for Wednesday or Thursday of this week, even though it has data usage recorded for yesterday. I don't think I've used so much data that it would have prompted any red flags -- I'm well under 400MB in the third week of my monthly billing cycle -- but I'm curious if they're now detecting/charging for WMWiFiRouter use.

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

Quick follow up request to add: Would some WMWiFiRouter users and NON-users check their data usage pages on Verizon to see if they're also getting a new section on Domestic Mobile Broadband Connect usage at the bottom of the page?

Thanks!

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

I'm on Alltel and have been using WMWifiRouter extensively so my girlfriend can use her iTouch on the road (sorry Touch Pro, but you just dont have anything on the iTouch real estate).

I don't see any such charges or signs of charges. Just 81MB of usage with no charge.

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

I appreciate your reply, but I'm really looking for info on what's happening with Verizon. I've never seen any sign of charges for mobile broadband connect before with ICS (or even with WMWiFiRouter) until today, so I'm eager to hear if others are seeing the same things on their Data Usage pages.

Thanks for the response, though!

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

I'll go check & get back to you.

I have three Sprint TP's activated on Verizon & tether my LT.

I also tether my ipod touch daily with WMWifirouter.

~John

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

I just checked my account online & I don't see that listing anywhere.

~John

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

Thanks for checking, John. Are you on a business or personal account? I'm on a personal account, and I'm seeing this on the My Services tab, on the My Current Usage page.

Anyone else seeing this?

I'm wondering if it implies that they can see WMWiFiRouter use. I think I read a post a few weeks ago about a guy seeing charges for this on his bill, but most people (including me) dismissed it at the time.

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

I have had a personal account for years.

I still have the same account, but I get a discount through where I work.

~John

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

I understand your concern man, I suggest you just call them up, chat with them and inquire bout it, wont hurt:mrgreen: you ll be ok. am on Sprint...

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

I'd do that, but the last thing I want to do is draw attention to it if they're not seeing it. Don't want to poke that bear...

I also think it's weird that they haven't posted any data usage at all for two days this week, although they have data for subsequent. As it happens, I didn't use tethering on those two days, but I did have normal push email and light browsing, so I should have *something* showing.

May just dive in and tether for a while to see what comes up over the next few days. Worst case, they'll charge me $30.

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

I for one would just say hey ther ehow are you doing this lovely saturday? could you please tell me when does my contract expires or how do i go about adding a line? and btw , are you running any special on this or that and what is that isht on my account? no big deal, like u said what is the worst case?

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

Make sure you have ICS set to use DATA and not phone as modem!
WMWiFi uses ICS to make the connection.

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

On ICS, Data Network Connect is the only option I have available for Network Connection. Is that what you mean?

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

I'm on Sprint, dunno how Verizon's customer support is, but this is how Sprint went for me.

I noticed I was getting extra charges on my line, but was well within my usage. I figured it was tethering, since I'd exceeded 3gb that month.

I called in, said something to the effect of "Hey, how ya doin? I have a charge on my bill, and I'm not sure what it's for.." the rep said it was for data usage, so then I was pretty sure it was from being caught tethering. I went on to say "Oh, I thought my plan included unlimited data, I don't understand.." and the rep asked how I managed 3gb on my phone alone, I just played dumb and asked if that's alot, then told him my emails fully download rather than cap out at the first few kb, and and asked if that could cause it. He pretty much said "Probably not, but it's possible. You do have unlimited internet on your plan though sir, so I am going to go ahead and credit you for the extra balance." I then asked if I was going to have to call in every month, and here's the best part, he said "No sir! I will make sure that this traffic clears on your account in the future."

That was it. Never got any extra charges since. And for those who might question my ethics, all of it is true. My email's DO fully download, and due to my job, they have alot of attachments. It isn't irregular for me to exceed a gig in email a month, so it likely would have been an issue either way.

Important part is that they never blamed me, accused me, or anything, and they can make it so it doesn't happen anymore. My plan doesn't show PAM on it, so I'm pretty sure they use a bandwidth cap to determine if you tether or not, and he just raised or killed the bandwidth limit.

Anyway, just saying that it doesn't hurt to call and play dumb, even if you're not playing dumb, I wouldn't imagine they'd do anything more than charge you for PAM if they found out for sure.

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

The weird thing is that I haven't used a lot of data or even more than I do in a typical month. I've used less than 300MB total, so there's nothing that should have prompted any attention. Something strange is going on. In the data usage detail breakdown, it now shows something like 3KB from yesterday and nothing else before 7/13. In other words, days and usage are disappearing from my account. I've seen data use numbers go up and down before with no explanation, but I don't think I've ever seen entire days disappear. Makes me wonder if they're examining packets or something.

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

Hi all, I am going to reply to this with the hope of not being flamed, but something tells me I will be nevertheless. One of my fiance's cousins is a long time supervisor at VZ and I posed a very similar question to her. As it turns out there is a field in your account record that can be set to a data cap (usually 50MB or 5GB), however that is rarely what causes the red flag to go up for closer scrutinization of any account. What triggers the red flag is usually one or more of several characteristics that they find unlikely to occur if data is used only on the device. I don't recall the entire laundry list but some of the included items are use of an incoming port, outgoing ports other then the normal 25, 110, 143, 80, 443, etc, packets sent to certain destination address (online gaming, file sharing, etc), file transmissions that are unusually large, data link speeds that are more consistant with USB/Bluetooth, etc. I don't remember everything but there are lots of fingerprints of tethering, irregardless of how it is masked on the device. She told me that as a general rule the first time a customer call in and denies it they readily remove the charges but any subsequent billing cycle that displays similar activity will result in a hard fast per kilobyte charge.
hth
Frank

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

i just noticed that on my account too, i was tethering with my phone, then i bought wmwifirouter and used that for an hour today but no charges yet?

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

You might want to check back tomorrow or the next day to see if it shows then. My data reports are generally 24-48 hours delayed. (Oddly, I'm still missing a few days of data from this month.)

Also, I've done a little more research and found that everyone's account will be showing this breakout for Mobile Domestic Broadband Connect. Apparently, this is designed so people with the VZW service on their BBs (or whatever) can track their tethering usage.

I'm not sure if this has any ramifications for WMWiFiRouter users, though.

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

Definitely not flameworthy in my book!

I've heard people say that the carriers can spot tethering through:
1. Packet type
2. Port use
3. Data patterns
4. Random analysis
5. Other mysterious methods

I've also heard that:
1. They can't tell if you're tethering using ICS and USB
2. They can tell if you're using ICS and USB
3. They can't tell if you use ICS with certain reg edits
4. They can't spot ICS, but can spot WMWiFiRouter
5. They can't spot WMWiFiRouter, but can spot ICS
6. They can't spot any of it
7. They can spot all of it and don't care, unless you use a lot of data
8. They can spot it and will start charging you
9. They can spot all of it if you've installed VZW App Zone on your phone
10. All other variations of the above

Then there's the whole school of thought that WMWiFiRouter (or PDANet, etc.) aren't actually tethering, so they're perfectly acceptable with no problems or charges.

Personally, I have no idea what's actually true, other than the fact that if there's a way to charge customers for something, Verizon will do it.

I do have to wonder, though, if they're now breaking out data use for Mobile Broadband Connect subscribers if they're watching and reassessing all of this.

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

Hey just wanted to update this thread. Two months on, I haven't seen any separate charges under Mobile Broadband Connect, so I think WMWiFiRouter is still fine with Verizon.

I read on Verizon's user forums that they added this separate breakdown to everyone's account, but it only applies to those using their broadband connect service.

Also, props this week to WMWiFiRouter. My Comcast Internet connection was down for 24 hours, but I was able to work at home (and keep working) thanks to being able to connect my desktop to my TP via USB. The speed was OK -- definitely not as fast as broadband -- but perfectly acceptable. I love "SlyFi."

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

I've heard of an iPhone and an iPod Touch but what's an iTouch?

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

iTouch myWiener :D

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

You Sir, are one crazy mofo....lol:mrgreen: good1.

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

AT&T and Sprint must REALLY be better than Verizon, because you guys have way too much time free time... ;-)

Meanwhile, back at the thread...anyone else with different/other experiences as far as tethering charges?

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

ive never had any problems..im with sprint...in the month of july i used over 13gb of data...no one said anything..no wierd charges...i'd get rid of verizon =cD

Re: WMWiFiRouter triggering charges?
 

Actually, I think I'm grandfathered into Verizon's plan that would let me go over 5GB, but they would (might?) slow me down if I do. I've never actually tested it -- I think 2GB is about the most I've ever used in a month. That could change fast with tethering, though.

The other day I was cleaning out some stuff and I came across an old cable that Verizon sold me for a phone I had around 1999-2000. It was specifically for tethering -- no extra charges. Ironic.