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Comment by nivla | Hacker News Reader

I have had great experience being on T-mobile for about 5 years. Their customer service is exceptional and they also allow you to unlock your phone after 3 months.

However there are a couple of things that do irritate me:

[1] They sniff the header of every web-request looking for desktop browser string. If found they sent you a warning text threatening to cut off your service. It sucks especially when you move to a new home with no immediate internet service and want to tether for a few days.

[2] Non-existent domains redirect to a page with ads (Similar to OpenDNS). Sucks on a mobile since you have to wait for it to load to find out while adding to your data usage.

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I've been using T-mobile for about 5 years as well and have been tethering for about 3 years with no issue. I just have a regular data plan. No hotspot option or anything.

I wonder why this isn't happening to everyone?

Interesting, din't know it was uncommon. Could they be targeting certain areas, maybe the ones with high data usage? It happened to me when I moved to NYC and found myself stuck in an apt with no internet for the first few days.

I had the same thing happen when I moved, after I racked up around 800MB of data on my tethering (easier than you think). I didn't get a text, but I'd get redirected to an "upgrade now!" page. I spoofed my user agent on my laptop for the next couple days (because, shit, I'm paying for it, I'm going to use it), and had to do the same when I tethered for about a month or it'd redirect me. Since then, nothing.

I've noticed that it redirects when I use a largish amount of data (100mb?) with a desktop useragent. It redirects me to the "upgrade now" page for the rest of the month.

I have a Galaxy Nexus on T-Mobile which I occasionally use to tether my laptop and I have never gotten a warning like that. I have the unlimited voice/data/text plan but don't pay for tethering (which stock Android supports natively of course).

Last I checked, their unlimited data plan came with 2 gigs to tether with. Maybe that's what you got?

Is the browser sniffing still an issue? What sort of plan are you on? T-Mobile changed some things last month (http://www.tmonews.com/2013/04/t-mobile-will-begin-bundling-...). You may be able to shift to a plan that includes (limited) tethering at no real cost.

The default includes only 500MB of "high speed" tethered data, but you can add higher amounts.

I had my contract renewed back in Jan and it din't include any tethering option. So I guess I am stuck for the next 1 1/2 years. However its great to see the new bundling option being offered. It really comes in handy when you are on the move or on vacation.

When I inquired the rep about how accounts that would still be under their contract plans -- what they told me was you'll still have locked to contract for full-term of the contract, however, adjusting rate plan / service (probably with some limitation -- like reducing lines) won't affect your remaining contract -- so you may want to check to see if there's any way you can make adjustments without any consequences.

Awesome! Will give that a try. Thanks :)

You can generally change rate plans within t-mobile, as long as you keep all your lines of service that are under contract.

If your offer included promotional discounts on the monthly rates, you will lose those discounts.

Wow, that's pretty evil. I wonder what would happen if a reasonably popular ios app started using a desktop-like User-Agent in communications to its server!

I tether all the time and have never gotten any flak (monthly4g plan). Also, have never seen an ad on a 404. Odd.

I'm on one of their pre-paid plans with a Nexus 4. I don't see any DNS hijacking and tether occasionally without issue.

I'm in the Midwest and the coverage is good in urban areas (HSPA+ and good voice). Voice at best in rural areas though.

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