[citation][nom]Anomalyx[/nom]I think charging for tethering is kind of ridiculous. ...[/citation]
[citation][nom]jenesuispasbavard[/nom]If I'm already paying a ridiculous $30 for data, why charge me more for tethering? Foolishness I say; I'm off to buy me a Nexus One.[/citation]
I'm not justifying telecom pricing here, but there's a reason they don't want you to just hook-up a PC to your phone, and that's usage. Look at how the iPhone is crippling AT&Ts network. You think the iPhone can download anywhere near the amount of data a PC can? Imagine all those people who might want to run their bit torrents out on the road, using up the 3G to send and receive CONSTANTLY.
If this were a truly fair-value market, phone data plans would be as "cheap" as they are now (compared to land-based internet access), because the intended use is less. Your average phone might use the network to download a song or app, upload a picture, send/receive email, and sometimes stream a low-quality video or radio station. Now, imagine your PC streaming high-def videos from Netflix or Youtube, downloading gigabyte+ torrents or applications, uploading gigabyte+ torrents or videos. Your PC can use a lot more of that network, and the phone companies want to charge you accordingly.
[citation][nom]anamaniac[/nom]Bad telecom companies, bad.Give me a cheap unlimited data and stop bitching already. Isn't the fact that locally it's $85/month for 5GB bad enough already?[/citation]
Here's where my argument completely falls flat though. Telecoms are clearly NOT charging fair prices for their services. My T-Mobile data plan (cheapest out there) is $25/month, and I barely get 3G anywhere (since I don't live in a state with a major metro area). My cable internet from Po-Dunk Regional is 8Mbit and I get that for an unsubsidized $45/mo (i.e. no discount for cable TV).
The two are clearly not comparable, so while I could understand the telecoms argument if my wireless access were $5/mo, I can't feel bad for Verizon and AT&T when they fleece their customers then cry for more.