Mac News Network View: Standard | Headlines | Categorized | Slim
Mac News Network
Mac News iPod News Reviews Forums
Apple Stock Quote: 205.88 ( +5.96 )
 



RSS/XML Feeds | More



Desktop Headlines
Verizon's Droid tethering plans to match iPhone's
Friday, November 6, 2009 @ 5:20pm

Verizon late Thursday confirmed that it would add tethering to the Motorola Droid but clarified its plans. Contradicting a prior statement, it now says tethering when ready will cost $30 in addition to the phone's existing voice and data plans. It will also have a 5GB bandwidth cap before overage fees begin, though the tethering rate will be separate from the Droid's regular data.

The rate is comparable to that for AT&T, which also charges $30 and institutes a 5GB cap. A handful of users that subscribe to the National E-mail plan, which omits web access, will pay the previously stated $15 but will be rare given the Droid's heavy emphasis on the web and online apps.

The news negates a possible advantage of the Droid over the iPhone and is compounded by Verizon's timeframe for tethering, which now only has the feature being available sometime in 2010. AT&T has alluded to a similar indefinite timeframe for the iPhone. Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney explains the delay in a similar manner to AT&T's iPhone delays and explains that tethering is being tested separately from regular mobile data, although data congestion is not considered a potential risk.

"It is not uncommon for us to introduce the phone and continue to test the service and offer it later," Raney says.

Comments on this Article
Print Friendly Version
Email to a Friend
Add MacNN to Your RSS Feeds
Buy from the Apple Store


Related Stories:

Today's MacNN Stories:
  • Airfoil Speakers Touch update restores product graphics - 4:40 PM EST
  • Creative intros 3rd-gen Vado HD with better video - 4:25 PM EST
  • Samsung STORY gets 2TB version, eSATA - 4:20 PM EST
  • New iPhone ads highlight Verizon's network drawbacks - 3:55 PM EST
  • Google Maps Nav hits Android 1.6 ahead of iPhone - 3:50 PM EST
  • Ableton Max for Live designs custom add-ons - 3:40 PM EST
  • AT&T offers up short-term data passes - 3:10 PM EST
  • Intouch shows IT7150 wireless Internet photo frame - 2:25 PM EST
  • Malicious worm targets jailbroken iPhones - 1:45 PM EST
  • Schiller responds to App Store approval criticisms - 1:30 PM EST
  • Early Core i9 tests show up to 50% boost - 1:25 PM EST
  • PC shipments to climb 2.8 percent this year - 12:20 PM EST
  • Apple Black Friday deals leak online - 11:50 AM EST
  • iPhone now 50% of all smartphone traffic worldwide - 11:10 AM EST
  • Best Buy cuts Mac prices ahead of Black Friday - 10:55 AM EST
  • Korean iPhone launches Nov. 28th; prices revealed - 10:20 AM EST
  • Data Robotics rolls 5-bay Drobo S, DroboElite - 9:40 AM EST
  • Apple hints at November 27th online sales special - 9:00 AM EST
  • Dell phone in China; iPhone retailers intimidated? - 8:30 AM EST
  • London Apple Store leads UK retail, triples Harrods' profits - 1:30 AM EST

    Today's iPodNN Stories:
  • Nintendo intros paid video service for Wii in Japan - 4:40 PM EST
  • Spotify app launches for Symbian phones - 4:35 PM EST
  • TomTom discounts two budget GPS units for Black Friday - 11:15 AM EST
  • LG outs first netbook in the US, adds AT&T 3G - 10:15 AM EST
  • Samsung Omnia II official for Verizon Dec. 2 - 10:00 AM EST
  • Reader reaction
    Found 4 comments
    Actually 267910
    It's BETTER than the iPhone's NON-EXISTANT tethering plan. AT&T you suck!
    Comment posted by: cmoney
    Read the article... 267913
    Verizon doesn’t offer tethering for the Motorola Droid either. “... sometime in 2010”...
    Comment posted by: cvbcvb
    Matched non-existance 267930
    That's the power of competition for ya.
    Comment posted by: malax
    Bah 267955
    Both of these are ridiculously expensive for consumer plans. Personally, I would not use tethering nearly enough to justify $30 per month, but it would certainly be nice to have on occasion. I guess I'll keep using these jailbroken tools to do tethering for free when needed. Screw you AT&T and Verizon for bending us over and raping us with these ridiculous prices.
    Comment posted by: WiseWeasel
    Your Comments
    In order to post comments, you must be a registered member of the MacNN Forums and logged in. Please login with your MacNN Forums username and password.

    MacNN Forums Login:

    MacNN Forums Password:

    Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

     
    Contact Us: News Tips | About/Advertising | Feedback

    XML | RSS | Slim | Avantgo | Mobile/PDAs | Headlines | JavaScript Feed
    Desktop Headlines
    | Search | Archives-

    Buy from The Apple Store, iTunes.com, Amazon.com,
    Buy.com, TechDepot, OfficeDepot, Computers4Sure, or donate.

    Copyright ©1995-2005 MacNN (Mac News Network). All rights reserved. Privacy Policy