AT&T is notifying customers who tether their smartphones to laptops or other devices for data use, that they have to pay for tethering or stop doing it. They will be automatically charged for a tethering plan if they continue tethering, starting March 27.
AT&T spokesman Seth Bloom confirmed the story, "We've just begun sending letters, emails and text messages to a small number of smartphone customers who use their devices for tethering but aren't on our required tethering plan," he said. "Our goal here is fairness for all of our customers."
Emails from AT&T warn that users will automatically be enrolled
in the $45 a month Data Pro for Smartphone 4GB plan if the customer
does not contact AT&T by March 27. If users discontinue tethering,
no changes to their current plan will be required. Many suspect that the
smartphones being used for unauthorized tethering are Jailbroken
iPhones and rooted Android phones.
The DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering plan costs $45 per month (which
gives you 4GB in total, combining both your smartphone data plan for $25
and the tethering feature, $20). It costs $10 per each additional GB
thereafter, added automatically as needed. Mobile Hotspot capabilities
are included for compatible smartphones.