LG VX-8000
Phone as modem on EV-DO (NA-MOU)
Been doing this with a laptop for a couple of years now, first with a LG 4400 then V710 via bluetooth and just got it working on the 8000 (342 Kbps according to Cnet bandwidth meter, not too shabby). It charges against plan airtime and nights and weekends are free. But, I was just lurking over on Howard Forums (do a search on "teather" to find the posts) and it seems there is much confusion over whether Verizon will start billing us teatherers. One guy received a $90 bill for 6 mb of data. There was also a suggestion that it's only being done to those with pda phones who teather to a laptop. Also a suggestion that this was a loophole created when WAP browsing and GIN were introduced but that Verizon is cracking down on it. I see NA add...
(continues)
(continues)
...
So you need "NA"(national access) on your plan and you're not in enemy territory?
...
That's what I'm thinking. And what I was told a couple of years ago when I first discovered this. When I switched to the 710 it didn't work at first, 611 tech support could't help me and there was much hesitation, "let me put you on hold", "uh, that's not supported", etc. Tried it again the next day and it worked and never got a data bill. But, someone at HoFo posted a copy of what he said was the Vcast service agreement (of course I didn't mine) and it specifically said you couldn't do this. I guess if I get a bill for it, I'll know for sure.
...
I tried to subscribe to NationalAccess when I activated the phone and was told I COULDN'T with this phone - that VCAST and NationalAccess conflict in the billing system (i.e. that they are mutually exclusive, and the billing system would not accept both on the same device).
However, I was also told that if this worked technically, it looked to the support rep like a loophole in the system - that this is a prohibited use of the phone, but that VCAST subscribers are never billed for data usage, so that if you use it this way and subscribe to VCAST, you won't be billed additionally, even for airtime. He warned me to keep my usage reasonable, or they might notice and either shut off my access or send me a huge bill.
Pretty obnoxious that...
(continues)
However, I was also told that if this worked technically, it looked to the support rep like a loophole in the system - that this is a prohibited use of the phone, but that VCAST subscribers are never billed for data usage, so that if you use it this way and subscribe to VCAST, you won't be billed additionally, even for airtime. He warned me to keep my usage reasonable, or they might notice and either shut off my access or send me a huge bill.
Pretty obnoxious that...
(continues)
...
What do they consider "reasonable" usage. What kind of MB numbers would jump out at them?
What numbers do VCAST users use? Say I surfed the net for 1/2 hour or so, maybe 3 times/wk, what kind of comparison are we talking about?
What numbers do VCAST users use? Say I surfed the net for 1/2 hour or so, maybe 3 times/wk, what kind of comparison are we talking about?
...
One more thing, I used the Mobile Office kit for the VX7000 to get the cable and USB drivers but didn't install the VZAccess software (heard there were some problems) and just set up connection manually. I noticed the setup program for VZAccess gives you the option for broadband access so this has to be "officially" supported, right?
...
Will Verizon even sell you a data plan to go with this phone? When you select the VX-8000 phone on their web site, then go to select a calling plan, the data plans aren't presented as options.
...
I don't know. I've never had a data plan and have always been able to connect with only airtime minutes being used.
...
there's a lot of questions floating around on this, so let me take a guess at what's going on. note - I don't work for Vz or have any specific information, just am familiar with the technologies involved and am making a GUESS. In order for V to give you the best performance of GIN, Pix, etc. they set your service up to use the 1x (or DO) network for data applications (that's why you see the NA-MOU on your bill. The network is obviously logging your data session and this is how they calculate the number of minutes to bill you for. They run that log file through the same process that bills your voice calls. I'm guessing that the logs only show them that the data session took place - they can't tell how or why you were using the data network. ...
(continues)
(continues)
...
