AT&T will begin revoking unlimited data plans for iPhone users who jailbreak their phone and use it as a mobile hotspot without paying extra.
9to5 Mac received a tip from an iPhone user who was told he would be moved to a 2 GB data plan if he did not stop tethering for free or start paying the extra $20.
We just reached out to AT&T and a rep told us there's no solid date for when AT&T will begin revoking the unlimited data plans. The timing depends on when AT&T first notified the user about the change.
We also got the same statement from AT&T about the policy that 9to5 Mac did. Here's what it says:
Earlier this year, we began 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. Our goal here is fairness for all of our customers. (This impacts a only small percentage of our smartphone customer base.)
The letters outline three choices:
1) Stop tethering and keep their current plan (including grandfathered unlimited plan)
2) Proactively call AT&T or visit our stores and move to the required tethering plan
3) Do nothing and we'll go ahead and add the tethering plan on their behalf -- after the dated noted in their customer notification
If you're a jailbreaker with an unlimited plan, we suggest playing it safe and stop using your free tethering app as soon as you receive a notification from AT&T. AT&T no longer offers unlimited plans, and this could cause you to lose it for good.
On the other hand, this may not matter to you, as AT&T will begin throttling data speeds for those on unlimited plans who use the most data. That policy begins October 1.