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HTC Sensation 4G Ice Cream Sandwich Update Has a Catch

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Tomorrow, T-Mobile will roll out Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for the HTC Sensation 4G. However, there might not be too much celebrating as T-Mobile has confirmed that this update will effectively end the free tethering that many users have enjoyed for quite some time.

In a statement to PCMag, the carrier confirmed the bad news that we saw appear with the Sensation 4G’s Android 4.0 announcement yesterday.

T-Mobile will, beginning tomorrow, start enforcing the $14.99 per month tethering plan that has only loosely enforced before.

HTC Sensation 4G Ice Cream Sandwich Update Comes with a CatchWhat this means is that those who wish to download and upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich are also going to have to start paying for tethering. It’s unclear right now whether the carrier will enforce the monthly charge upon those who decide to stay put on Android 2.3 Gingerbread but from the carrier’s language, it doesn’t appear likely.

The upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich itself is free.

The HTC Amaze 4G upgrade which was also announced yesterday did not contain any language pertaining to the new hotspot policy. That’s not because it won’t be subjected to it. In fact, it appears that HTC Amaze 4G owners have been dealing with blocked hotspot support for quite some time.

Clearly, this is a pretty tough trade-off for HTC Sensation 4G owners, especially those who have been waiting to get their hands on Android 4.0.

The Android 4.0 update will become available to HTC Sensation 4G owners starting tomorrow wherein they should be able to pull the new software through the settings on the device.

As for HTC Amaze 4G, T-Mobile has only said that the update will be rolling out in the ‘coming weeks.’

21 Comments

21 Comments

  1. Fred Beiderbecke

    05/15/2012 at 10:44 am

    I want to make sure I understand this. Even if I have no interest in tethering, I have to pay the tethering to get ICS? That hardly makes the upgrade free.

    • the_joey

      05/15/2012 at 11:25 am

      No I think its gonna be set up like Verizon, where if you choose to use the service of tethering you will have to pay the $14.99 a month ontop of your bill for the service.

      • Fred Beiderbecke

        05/15/2012 at 11:39 am

        Thanks, that is what I thought but depending on how it is worded at different places it seems you have to get the tethering if you want ICS.

  2. T. Riches

    05/15/2012 at 11:41 am

    When I signed up a year ago the free tethering is the reason I chose T-Mobile. I can’t wait for my contract to be up now so I can jump ship. I may even sell my phone to pay for the early disconnect.

    • dsub

      05/15/2012 at 7:26 pm

      Jump ship to who? T Mobile was the only carrier that offered it for free. Even without it being free T Mobile is stil FAR less expensive than any other carrier with the new value plans. I pay $80 a month for unlimited everything Plus tethering.

      It should also be mentioned that if you have the 5gb data plan as opposed to the 2gb, then the tethering if included for free.

  3. adam bertagnolli

    05/15/2012 at 12:57 pm

    I just called and spoke with an agent. She said if you don’t tether then you wouldn’t be charged. I should have recorded the conversation since tmobile associates dony know a single thing. I hate tmobile and can’t wait to get out of my contract

    • Kure

      05/15/2012 at 5:15 pm

      I wouldn’t be so quick to jump ship or seek the need to record the conversation.

      Having owned both the Amaze and the Sensation (to replace an iPhone 3GS) I found the experience of both phones so miserable that I went and got a Nokia N9 which is the bomb… and works as a tethered WiFi Hotspot for no charge. As pointed out above, with the Amaze there was a $14.99/month charge (probably b/c of it’s enhanced data transfer rates) and with the Sensation it was “free” as long as you didn’t offer to pay and didn’t abuse it, they let you use your phone as a WiFi hotspot. That was the one feature of the Sensation that worked well but with the N9 I get the same/similar WiFi Hotspot functionality. If you don’t use the WiFi hotspot you won’t incur a charge. If you do use it with the Amaze (or the Sensation on ICS) your computer will see a screen instructing you to sign up for tethering for $14.99 month.

      Tethering on T-Mo is an a la carte feature – pay for it as long as you use it and drop it when you don’t need it. It’s not that bad and T-Mo’s service has really improved (coverage and voice quality). Yes, their customer service often stinks but it’s certainly better than my past experiences with AT&T and Verizon. YMMV. Hope this helps clarify and ease your mind a bit.

      • Bill

        05/16/2012 at 9:20 am

        Really so, you are advertising a windows phone…go away

  4. Simona

    05/15/2012 at 9:39 pm

    Ok I don’t use hotspot at all but I want the update do I now have to get hotspots to update.

    • Kure

      05/16/2012 at 5:54 am

      If you don’t use hotspot then it’s a moot point. If you ever decide to use your phone as a hotspot and then try to navigate, you’ll be redirected to a page asking you to upgrade your plan $14.99/month.

  5. gregorio arcia

    05/15/2012 at 11:07 pm

    i went to a tmobile store and talked to the rep about this. he told me alot of people dont understand it too much because they dont word it too well. you can get the update and IF u do use the hotspot feature, then you will have to get the service. if you dont use the feature, you can still get the update and still not have to pay. he also told me that if you already have the 5G plan, you can get the wifi hotspot for free on a promo they are having for $35 for both.

  6. Bids

    05/16/2012 at 6:45 am

    Wanted to know if I update …will I able to use wifi hotspot or not.

    As I have unlocked my HTC Sensation 4G (TMobile) and using some other network outside US.

    Can you any one help on this?

  7. HTC 4G

    05/19/2012 at 8:27 am

    Bids, If You Updated To Ice Cream Sandwich Then You Will Not Able To Use Your WiFi Hotspot On Your Sensation 4G Unless You pay T-Mobile $ 14.99 Per Month. I Wish I Would Never Updated My Sensation 4G Cuz I Cann’t Use My WiFi Hotspot Anymore Without Payin Them $ 14.99. Good Luck.

  8. waldog75

    05/24/2012 at 10:11 am

    I have always been redirected to a site to pay for tethering. So it shouldn’t be any difference?

  9. Sensation4G-Unlocked-ICS

    05/31/2012 at 9:26 am

    I have a unlocked sensation 4G with ICS 4.0, and currently using the phone in non T-Mobile GSM network.

    In network option,

    if “GSM/WCDMA- Auto” is selected, my 4G(shows 4G, but connected to 3G)WiFi hotspot works just fine, am able to tether devices.

    if “GSM” is selected, my 2G(shows 2G, but connected to 3G)WiFi hotspot works just fine, am able to tether devices, but in lower 2G speed.

    if “WCDMA” is selected, my 4G(shows 4G, but connected to 3G)WiFi hotspot works, but not connecting to inernet, am NOT able to tether devices.

    So in a nutshell, Non-T mobile GSM networks unlocked ICS 4.0 should allow hotspot, not sure if carrier has configured anything at their end(as tmobile can offer it free for 5GB data plans)

    • New2tech

      05/31/2012 at 9:44 am

      How do I select those options (GSM/WCDMA, GSM, WCDMA)?

  10. oncelovedmyhtc:(

    06/12/2012 at 7:50 pm

    I really am disappointed in this ICS update. I cannot use my phone as I once did, you have to do a master reset, lost partial data because it didn’t transfer right, even with the aid of a T-mobile rep. I have freezing issues and had to do 3 hours customer service calls with Tmobile and then 45 minutes with a HTC rep that said well, that’s just the way the ICS update is. When I said I wanted to go back to gingerbread, they told me it would be 3 weeks before I’d get my phone back. Now I’m having T-Mobile send me a replacement phone with GB on it, LUCKILY I was still in my 12 month manufacture warranty so they are replacing my phone.

    ICE CREAM SANDWICH IS A BUNCH OF BULL CRAP ON THE SENSATION!

  11. TonyDownunder

    06/28/2012 at 2:16 pm

    Oh my god, you Americans are really getting ripped off aren’t you! $59/m on my sensation, everything included, including 2.5GB data. And I’m with what is widly considered here in Australia, as the most expensive carrier, Telstra. (Because they have the best coverage and fastest speeds)
    And as for paying extra for tethering, OMG lol, Thats just stupid. Asked some of my colegues. They were amazed that anyone would put up with it. Is it true that you also pay to accept incomming calls?

    Who would pay extra to use a feature enabled by the hardware of the phone!You really should do something about it. Your getting ripped off.

  12. jaguar7444

    07/04/2012 at 9:37 pm

    Thanks for the info. I just bought a HTC Sensation off of a friend. I guess I won’t be updating to ICS. GB is fine for me. My last phone was Froyo updated to GB. Updating sometimes messes stuff up anyway.

  13. bryan

    09/21/2012 at 7:25 pm

    You can get a wifi teather app for free and not pay $14.99 a month. Also if you are on a classic plan teathering is still free.

  14. Pissed off

    09/25/2012 at 9:01 pm

    TMOBILE ALTOGETHER IS HORRIBLE. THE PHONES, CUSTOMER SERVICE DONT KNOW A THING!

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