frontpagelaidbackinNC posted Jan 05, 2025 03:41 AM
Item 1 of 3
Item 1 of 3
frontpagelaidbackinNC posted Jan 05, 2025 03:41 AM
12-Month Infimobile Prepaid Unlimited 2,500 Talk Min/2,500 Text + 5GB Data/Month
+ Free Shipping$75
$180
58% offInfimobile
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Like the $99/yr for 10G plan, which is a much better deal (about $2 more per month)
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I can't speak for Infimobile or this plan in particular, but I have never had an issue using my unlocked (both SIM and bootloader, but on stock firmware) Pixel phones as a hotspot on plans that (supposedly) did not include it. My experience - presented as such, not as a universal truth - is a fact, not an opinion.
I don't see how the carrier could know I'm using my data as a hotspot unless my phone asks permission to do so, and I don't know why my SIM-unlocked phone would ask permission in the first place. Perhaps it's because the bootloader is unlocked, I don't know.
ETA: I decided to look it up because I've never bothered to. Outside of carrier-branded devices - because the firmware is managed by them - the answer as to if and how a carrier can tell you're using a hotspot is...murky.
More recent discussions on the matter seem to agree that carriers use the change in TTL for hotspot data as a marker - eg. if your phone starts with a TTL of 64 and you're using the hotspot, it would decrease to 63 - but the same thing happens when you use a VPN. That makes it a somewhat arbitrary and unscientific method for the carrier to use, though I'm sure it doesn't stop them from doing it since there are plenty of anecdotes on the internet complaining that their carrier penalized them for using a VPN.
All I can say for sure is that I have never run up against an issue using hotspot (or VPN) with my unlocked phones. Hotspot add-on fees are a blatant cash grab and no one should support a carrier that requires them.
I don't think we really know what's going to happen a year out since Infimobile seemed to appear on the scene just last Spring, so we don't have any experince with their annual renewal practices.
But, I bought their 6 month unlimited/5 GB for $20 plan last May and in November I was able to renew or buy (whatever you want to call it) their 10 GB $99 plan for the same SIM, even though it's advertised as being for new customers. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased about that. Of course the 6 months for $20 was no longer being offered.
If your phone is SIM unlocked, I don't see how they'd even know you were using the hotspot functionality.
Edit: Editing to say the screenshot is what I get without paying the extra $5 for the hotspot. Just tried it to see if would work anyway (without paying). I haven't used the hotspot at all on infimobile since im on wifi 99% of the time. If you pay the extra $5 fee to unlock the hotspot you should have no problems using it.
ETA: I decided to look it up because I've never bothered to. Outside of carrier-branded devices - because the firmware is managed by them - the answer as to if and how a carrier can tell you're using a hotspot is...murky.
More recent discussions on the matter seem to agree that carriers use the change in TTL for hotspot data as a marker - eg. if your phone starts with a TTL of 64 and you're using the hotspot, it would decrease to 63 - but the same thing happens when you use a VPN. That makes it a somewhat arbitrary and unscientific method for the carrier to use, though I'm sure it doesn't stop them from doing it since there are plenty of anecdotes on the internet complaining that their carrier penalized them for using a VPN.
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Numbers ported smoothly. Data and calls were working immediately.
I have used hotspot consistently since my Pixel 3, though, and never once had an issue. Of the MVNOs I've used since then, I've had Visible, Mint, Red Pocket (VZW and TMO networks), Lyca, Boost, Infimobile, and Spectrum. Maybe more, I don't remember. It's a fact that I've used hotspot with each and every one, never paid separately for it, and never had a problem on my Pixel phones. I will say that until I moved to Spectrum (my current carrier, since it's free with my internet service) none of them have been "unlimited" plans and they've all used physical SIMs.
I guess I feel bad for everyone who has to give into the money grab. If it's so easy for the carrier to keep people from using hotspot, I guess I'm just lucky.
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