Opinion: Google, Tethering and Carrier Pressure
The report
The story described Google working with Verizon so that anyone buying a Verizon phone would have to pay an extra fee to tether, which the author described as paying for data twice. Tethering means sharing the phone’s data connection with another device. Apps that bypassed the fee were to be removed.
The author’s concerns
- Dictating how people use a device they have already paid for is a bad practice.
- More worrying is Google bending to carrier pressure.
- Canadian carriers might try the same thing.
The Nexus One comparison
The author traced Google’s closeness with carriers back to when it stopped selling the Nexus One directly. Selling to consumers and letting them choose a carrier, the author argued, put the customer first, and that model was quashed.
Custom ROMs are not a guarantee
The author only buys phones that run Cyanogen, which gives more freedom. Even so, there were documented cases of carriers monitoring tethering and charging for it, so a custom ROM would not guarantee protection.
Frequently asked questions
What is tethering?
Using your phone's data connection to get another device, such as a laptop, online.
Did this happen in Canada?
The post asked how long it would take. It does not say it had happened.
Is this the current situation?
No. It reflects one writer's view at the time and is kept as a historical record.