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Help with tethering laptop and cell phone

suzanne

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
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I have a Windows 8 Smart Phone and a Windows 8 Laptop. My services are thru AT&T.

I have unlimited text and data on my smart phone for $50.00 per month plus another $29.95 for my cell talk minutes plan. I also have fast speed DSL for my home internet service bundled with my land line phone.

I took my smart phone and laptop to AT&T Company store to tether my laptop to my phone for when I'm traveling. Was told that in order to tether the two, I would have to unbundle my services on my phone. Instead of my unlimited text and data plan for $50.00 per month I would have to pay $50.00 for 5 GIGS of data plus $20.00 for my unlimited texting and the $29,95 for my talk minutes. Total would be $99.95 per month plus taxes and fees. Told them NO! why would I give up unlimited data and texting for $50.00 month to get 5 GIGS of data for $50.00. I felt like the entire process was a waste of my time not to mention being very frustrating. So how do you all tether your laptops or tablets to your phone without the huge costs for doing so?

Suzanne
 
I have a Windows 8 Smart Phone and a Windows 8 Laptop. My services are thru AT&T.

I have unlimited text and data on my smart phone for $50.00 per month plus another $29.95 for my cell talk minutes plan. I also have fast speed DSL for my home internet service bundled with my land line phone.

I took my smart phone and laptop to AT&T Company store to tether my laptop to my phone for when I'm traveling. Was told that in order to tether the two, I would have to unbundle my services on my phone. Instead of my unlimited text and data plan for $50.00 per month I would have to pay $50.00 for 5 GIGS of data plus $20.00 for my unlimited texting and the $29,95 for my talk minutes. Total would be $99.95 per month plus taxes and fees. Told them NO! why would I give up unlimited data and texting for $50.00 month to get 5 GIGS of data for $50.00. I felt like the entire process was a waste of my time not to mention being very frustrating. So how do you all tether your laptops or tablets to your phone without the huge costs for doing so?

Suzanne

You can try an app to make this happen.
Easy Tether is one that works really good. It's $10.
 
I know that AT&T discontinued their unlimited plans, but if you keep what you have, you are grandfathered. Any changes and the plans max out at 5GB. We find that 5GB serves our needs while we travel with 2-4 devices tethered. If you go over the 5GB, it's $10 per 1GB above it. (same rate as the 5GB for $50) We've come close, but haven't gone over.
 
I don't know about iphone, I have Droid. But I use FoxFi and PdaNet, some of these have a small fee, and my phone is tethered to my laptop. I use a small cable to join the two, my son says I should be able to do it wirelessly, but I'm not techie enough to figure it out.
 
To get you away from the old unlimited data plans that did not include tethering for free, the newer shared data plans do include tethering for free. I dumped my unlimited data plan 2-3 years ago in favor of the family shared data plan with tethering included. I have 12gb of data shared over 5 devices and overall it's cheaper then if I kept the unlimited data plans for each individual device. If I go over, which we rarely do, it just costs an extra $10/gb. However, if I know I'm going to go over I can change my plan on the fly and increase the shared data plan in 2gb increments for an extra $10.
 
I've been tethering my Droid with PdaNet for years and it works great. Occasionally I've used PdaNet to turn the phone into a wireless hotspot. Performance is better if it's tethered, and the hotspot option requires you to set a password for your phone. :shrug:

To get a new phone subsidy from Verizon you have to give up your unlimited data plan for a 2 GB/month plan. :annoyed: I hope I don't need a new phone for a long time.
 
Thanks Tuggers for your help. I am checking into the sites you all recommended. I'm not the most tech savvy person but am willing to give it a try. I will let you know how I do.

Suzanne
 
I've been tethering my Droid with PdaNet for years and it works great. Occasionally I've used PdaNet to turn the phone into a wireless hotspot. Performance is better if it's tethered, and the hotspot option requires you to set a password for your phone. :shrug:

To get a new phone subsidy from Verizon you have to give up your unlimited data plan for a 2 GB/month plan. :annoyed: I hope I don't need a new phone for a long time.

You can always pay out of pocket for the new phone. Depends on how long you keep a phone whether this is a smart move or not $$ wise.

I ended up paying full price for my Galaxy S4, so I wouldn't lose our unlimited data plan. I really don't need that much data, but it is the principle of the thing. I refuse to give it up. ;)
 
I agree Cindi it's the principle of the thing. Between home phone, DSL internet service and cell phone minutes, text and data I feel like I shouldn't have to pay more to get less.

Suzanne





You can always pay out of pocket for the new phone. Depends on how long you keep a phone whether this is a smart move or not $$ wise.

I ended up paying full price for my Galaxy S4, so I wouldn't lose our unlimited data plan. I really don't need that much data, but it is the principle of the thing. I refuse to give it up. ;)
 
I've been tethering my Droid with PdaNet for years and it works great. Occasionally I've used PdaNet to turn the phone into a wireless hotspot. Performance is better if it's tethered, and the hotspot option requires you to set a password for your phone. :shrug:

To get a new phone subsidy from Verizon you have to give up your unlimited data plan for a 2 GB/month plan. :annoyed: I hope I don't need a new phone for a long time.

Or buy your phone without the subsidy. After looking at the cost of the subsidized phone, plus the ridiculous $35 fee (for no known reason - like the DVC exchange penalty) and the deals you can get guaranteed new phones for I decided to pass on the subsidy and stay month to month (can cancel anytime) and bring my own new S4. In the end the difference in cost between the $299 subsidized phone (plus the other fees), the loss of my unlimited data that didn't occur and the lack of being bound to a 2 year contract the extra $196 upfront cost of the new phone (including a nice Otter Box case, extra cable & 2 year full warranty that alone represents the $196 difference at Verizon rates)) on the web made much more sense than just buying again from Verizon. I think I'll buy my phones outright from now on and forget the subsidy.
 
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