Tuesday, April 26, 2011

AT&T Cracking Down on Tethering Using MyWi

It is in many ways understandable that some consumers think they ought to be able to use applications that allow a standard mobile device with a data plan to be used as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot. It perhaps also is understandable that any mobile service provider wants to protect a new line of business providing that feature as a separate revenue driver.

AT&T most recently appears to be notifying users that they cannot use MyWi, an application that can allow the iPhone to be used as a mobile hotspot when the device is jailbroken.

The same sort of conflict arose years ago when many users argued they should be allowed to use the broadband connections that already had paid for to use VoIP apps. Over time, these things tend to get resolved in ways that are not fully the "best" for either users or providers, but they do tend to get settled.

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