AT&T Moves to Stop Illicit iPhone Tethering

AT&T will begin to crack down on customers who jailbreak their iPhones to tether unauthorized services, and according to published reports this could happen as early as August 11. 

The carrier plans to target a small percentage of its customers, including those with grandfathered-in unlimited plans, who tether without paying the necessary fee. Though the August 11 deadline was not confirmed by AT&T, customers guilty of these sly maneuvers should tread carefully for the carrier will add the 4GB tethering-approved plan automatically to a consumer’s bill if the user is found tethering illicitly. 

The minimum tethering plan, 2GB of smatphone data and 2GB of tethering data, would cost an extra $15 per month. However, it appears those customers with grandfathered-in unlimited data plans have the most to lose if caught, for they will be unable to switch back to their original contract, as it no longer exists. 

AT&T claims to have contacted customers partaking in such activities earlier this year via letters, e-mails and text messages, but this will be the company’s most serious move to stop unauthorized tethering yet. According to the notifications, customers will have three options:  stop tethering and keep their current plan, proactively move to the required tethering plan, or do nothing and AT&T will add the plan to their bill. 

Source: 9 to 5 Mac