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

Fri Mar 9 13:19:37 UTC 2012

I think this sentence is what trips people (e.g. me) up:

" I would like to use the "HotSpot" feature
to let my phone use itself for Internet access."

Specifically the combination of the term Hotspot and the phrase "phone
use itself for Internet access".  Just to be clear, the phone can use
one of two radios (but not both simultaneously) to get Internet
access: the built in WiFi by connecting to an external Access Point,
or the built in 3G radio to connect to the Cellular network.

If you enable a hotspot capability on the phone, the phone will use 3G
to get to the Internet: period.  Further, the phone will not "connect
to itself" by discovering the onboard/hosted hotspot.  This is what
other devices would discover and connect to in order to connect to the
Internet via your phone.  All Internet traffic in this configuration
(your phone and connected devices) will travel over the 3G Cellular
network.

Now, I'm really curious as to this "Corporate Data" feature.  What is
that exactly?  When I read it, it sounds like some sort of data plan
with a higher monthly data cap, but you've stated you already have an
unlimited data plan.  It just feels like someone is trying to sell you
something you don't need IMHO.

I have an original Motorola Droid.  I've rooted it and installed a ROM
named Simply Stunning (based on Cyanogenmod).  It allows me to
tether/hotspot for free, not that I use it often, but it works.
Furthermore, I used this phone to sync to a Corporate Account.  The
account in question is an MS Exchange server.  The thing about this
was that my company at the time had policies in place for mobile
access/sync to mail servers in order to protect company data.  Thus,
the requirement was for a version of Android that supported the
ability for remote data management.  I believe this showed up in
Android-native as of 2.3 (Gingerbread) as I was eventually alllowed to
sync my mail via the built-in Android Accounts/Sync feature but I do
recall a warning/popup that displayed that said by doing so, I agreed
to allow for remote wipe/management.  Having said that, this Corporate
Account sync feature is native to Android OS and does not require
rooting, custom ROMs, or any additional monthly fee or application(s).

Bottom line, and this is my opinion, people should resist the urge to
use personal phones for company business.  There is a lot of
research/development out there regarding virtualizing personal and
corporate instances of the phone OS on the same device and this is a
step in the right direction.  However, when it boils down to data
privacy and protection, I don't like the thought of my company being
able to remotely access my personal device (a valid policy from a
company perspective).  If the company is willing to pay/reimburse for
data usage on your personal phone plan, they may as well swallow the
whole pill and spring for a phone as well.  Heck, they can probably
get the phone for free.

My $0.02

Ben

On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 7:00 PM, Dan Linder <dan at linder.org> wrote:
> You and Dave are both correct - I would like to use the "HotSpot" feature
> to let my phone use itself for Internet access.  Verizon has a "Data Plan"
> for the phone, and the "HotSpot Data" that is for external devices to use
> the phone WiFi.  The kicker is that the phone can't use the HotSpot data
> (and of course the WiFi isn't allowed to use the phone data).
>
> My issue is that I currently have the "Unlimited Data" for the phone
> (included when I activated last April/May).  My new company has an app that
> I need to use that requires me to add the "Corporate Data" feature (adds
> $15/month - they are paying for that).  But, if I add that feature, the
> "Unlimited Data" feature goes away.  To get back the phone data plan, I
> believe I'll have to add the $30/month 2GB plan.  (company will reimburse
> too).
>
> Really gotta love the cellular industry.
>
> Once I get a possible HW issue resolved, I might investigate LibertyRom...
>
> Dan
>
> On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 11:51, Ben Watson <bwatson1979 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> 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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>    -- from the Satires of Juvenal
> "I do not fear computers, I fear the lack of them."
>    -- Isaac Asimov (Author)
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