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0 pointscortesoft5y ago0 comments

Yes, it is the networks that demand extra payment for tethering. That is still a thing in the US; you have to pay extra for a plan that includes tethering.

0 comments

usr11065y ago

Surprising from a European perspective. I have used tethering since before phones had a HTTP/HTML browser (~ 2001, remember WAP?). The question has always been do you have packet data or not, what is your bandwidth and volume. Nothing else is the operator's business.

vladvasiliu5y ago

Not really. They still separate on-device use from modem use. At least Bouygues Telecom in France does.

See my other comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25243710

usr11065y ago

hors modem, you are right. So France is different. I'm 100% sure that has never existed in Finland (well, the most common packages are unlimited anyway) and 90% sure it's not common in Germany either (they use throttling after you reach the limit)

So technically, how do they differentiate the traffic?

1 more reply

bonzini5y ago

Tethering and hotspot traffic is still marked with a different APN type ("dun").

usr11065y ago

Does APN type go out over the network?

I thought that's an Android internal thing to decide which of several APNs to use.

Also the first 2 references that Google returns say dun is obsolete and not in use with today's devices. I believe that belongs to the ATD *99# era

(Havent't worked in the field for 10+ years, could be wrong.)

1 more reply

rileymat25y ago

The networks demand it, but Apple provided them the ability to demand it.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

usr11065y ago

vladvasiliu5y ago

Not really. They still separate on-device use from modem use. At least Bouygues Telecom in France does.

See my other comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25243710

usr11065y ago

So technically, how do they differentiate the traffic?

1 more reply

bonzini5y ago

Tethering and hotspot traffic is still marked with a different APN type ("dun").

usr11065y ago

Does APN type go out over the network?

I thought that's an Android internal thing to decide which of several APNs to use.

Also the first 2 references that Google returns say dun is obsolete and not in use with today's devices. I believe that belongs to the ATD *99# era

(Havent't worked in the field for 10+ years, could be wrong.)

1 more reply

rileymat25y ago

The networks demand it, but Apple provided them the ability to demand it.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse