There has been several people that have been saying that they are receiving notices from AT&T regarding tethering. The users have been using MyWi for tethering, and are grandfathered into AT&T’s old unlimited iPhone data plan. For one users the notices began with a simple text message: “AT&T Free Msg: Did you know tethering your Smartphone to a computer requires a tethering plan? Pls call 888-860-6789 for details or visit att.com/dataplans.” AT&T then followed up with this message via email: Dear [Customer], We’ve noticed your service plan may need updating. Many AT&T customers use their smartphones as a broadband connection for other devices, like laptops, netbooks or other smartphones– a practice commonly known as tethering. Tethering can be an efficient way for our customers to enjoy the benefits of AT&T’s mobile broadband network and use more than one device to stay in touch with important people and information. To take advantage of this feature, we require that in addition to a data plan, you also have a tethering plan. Our records show that you use this capability, but are not subscribed to our tethering plan. If you would like to continue tethering, please log intoyour account online at Cell Phones and Cell Phone Plans – Wireless from AT&T, or call usat 1-888-860-6789 Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. CSTor Saturday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. CST, by March 27, 2011to sign up for DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering.Here are details on the plan: DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering• $45 per month(this gives you 4GB in total, combining both your smartphone data plan for $25 and the tethering feature, $20)• $10 per each additional GB thereafter, added automatically as needed• Mobile Hotspot capabilities are included for compatible Smartphones If we don’t hear from you, we’ll plan to automatically enroll you into DataPro 4GB afterMarch 27, 2011. The new plan – whether you sign up on your own or we automatically enroll you – will replace your current smartphone data plan, including if you are on an unlimited data plan. If you discontinue tethering, no changes to your current plan will be required. It’s easy to track your usage throughout the month so there are no bill surprises. For example, we send you free text messages when you reach 65, 90, and 100 percent of your plan’s threshold. If you would like to monitor your account more closely, go towww.att.com/dataplans to learn about other ways to track your data usage. As a reminder, our smartphone data plans also include unlimited usage of Wi-Fi at no additional charge. AT&T smartphone customers can use Wi-Fi at home or on-the-go at any one of our more than 23,000 U.S. hotspots already included in your data plan. Thank you for bringing your account up to date. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve your mobile broadband needs. Sincerely, AT&T This is the first we have heard about users receiving messages regarding MyWi tethering from AT&T. One speculation as to how AT&T may know about tethering is the iOS 4.3 update, which allows the iPhone to be used as a personal hotspot. It is possible that maybe AT&T can now track data usage specifically to the device that’s being tethered, regardless of whether it is done through the personal hotspot feature in iOS 4.3 or via MyWi. Did any of you receive this message or one similar to it? Let us know if you have by dropping us a comment in the section below! We will keep everyone posted if we hear anything more about this issue. You can stay tuned by following us on Twitter and/or subscribing to our RSS feed. Authors:

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