[olug] [OT] Verizon data plans...

[Ben Watson]

If you want to surf the web from your phone without using 3G, then you
simply connect your phone to a wireless access point (e.g. wifi router
at your house, free wifi at businesses, etc.).  This is completely
free and does not require a WiFi Hotspot capability or any additional
software/apps.  That is, the ability for the phone to connect to a
WiFi access point is supported by the underlying hardware/OS by
default.

On the other hand, if you want to share your 3G connection to other
devices (like a laptop), then you would need a WiFi Hotspot capability
on the phone.  This allows those "other devices" to discover your
phone much like they would discover a WiFi access point.  In effect,
your phone becomes a WiFi access point.  Most providers charge extra
for this, but some custom ROMs have been able to get around it.  YMMV.

Ben

On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 10:55 AM, Dave Rowe <dave at roweware.com> wrote:
> I also have a DroidX - do you mean you want to activate the WiFi
> Hotspot, and have the phones WiFi connect to itself?  That seems,
> different - but I imagine it wouldn't be possible since it'd be using
> the same WiFi radio?  Maybe I'm misunderstanding.
>
> Another option, is using Cyanogenmod, or an alternate ROM.  It really
> isn't scary and if you're rooted already any warranty is technically
> voided.  I'm currently on the LibertyRom which has menu access for
> activating itself as a Wifi Hotspot.
>
> On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 10:50 AM, Dan Linder <dan at linder.org> wrote:
>> Does anyone know if I activate the "WiFi HotSpot" feature through Verizon,
>> can I setup the phone to use it's own hotspot to surf rather than using 3G
>> directly?  Or is that not possible to be it's own hotspot?  (I'm thinking
>> not, but maybe there's an app to fix that).
>>
>> For what it's worth, I have a DroidX (rooted), but all of the HotSpot apps
>> I've found get pulled into the Verizon page and don't work.  And I'm really
>> tired of the "Phone Data != Corporate Data != HotSpot Data" mentality...
>>
>> I'm less than a year into my contract, so switching carriers isn't an
>> option.
>>
>> Thanks in advance!
>>
>> Dan
>>
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