Verizon Wireless Data: "Prohibited and Permitted Uses"

  

After examining AT&T (see "AT&T Wireless Data: "Prohibited and Permissible Uses" - here) let's look at Verizon Wireless terms. The original text (the bold typeface is in the original text) in quoted below (full document - here).

There are some major differences between the two carriers (although it looks like the same lawyer wrote both), biggest being the inclusion of VoIP in the permitted uses by Verizon (maybe it was added after the Skype partnership - but there is no limit to the type of VoIP).

Verizon also does not like the kind of software that "maintain continuous active Internet connections when a computer's connection would otherwise be idle", again with no further explanation or example.

P2P File sharing? Not mentioned - unlike AT&T that says "downloading movies using P2P file sharing services, redirecting television signals for viewing on Personal Computers, ... is prohibited"

To the naked-eye, Verizon is open and allows more "freedom" - subject to your service plan, which is volume ("quota") based ($40 for 250MB or $60 for 5GB ; extra MB is $0.10 or $0.05, respectively). Be carful - and remember to "assess and monitor your own data usage during a particular billing period .. by accessing My Verizon online, or by contacting Customer Service"



" .. Data Plans and Features: Permitted Uses. You can use our Data Plans and Features for accessing the Internet and for such uses as: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) e-mail;(iii) intranet access (including accessing corporate intranets, e-mail and individual productivity applications made available by your company);(iv) uploading, downloading and streaming of audio, video and games; and (v) voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

Data Plans and Features: Prohibited Uses. You may not use our Data Plans and Feature for illegal purposes or purposes that infringe upon others' intellectual property rights, or in a manner that interferes with other users' service, that violates trade and economic sanctions and prohibitions as promulgated by the Departments of Commerce, Treasury or any other U.S. government agency, that interferes with network's ability to fairly allocate capacity among users, or that otherwise degrades service quality for other users. Examples of prohibited usage include: (i)server devices or host computer applications that are broadcast to multiple servers or recipients such that they could enable "bots" or similar routines (as set forth in more detail (ii) below) or otherwise denigrate network capacity or functionality; (ii)"auto-responders," "cancel-bots," or similar automated or manual routines that generate amounts of net traffic that could disrupt net user groups or e-mail use by others; (iii) generating "spam" or unsolicited commercial or bulk e-mail (or activities that facilitate the dissemination of such e-mail);(iv) any activity that adversely affects the ability of other people or systems to use either Verizon Wireless' services or the Internet-based resources of others, including the generation of dissemination of viruses, malware, or "denial of service" attacks;(v) accessing or attempting to access without authority, the information, accounts or devices of others, or to penetrate, or attempt to penetrate, Verizon Wireless' or another entity's network or systems; or (vi) running software or other devices that maintain continuous active Internet connections when a computer's connection would otherwise be idle or any "keep alive" functions, unless they adhere to Verizon Wireless' requirements for such usage, which may be changed from time to time.

Customers who do not have dedicated Mobile Broadband devices cannot tether other devices to laptops or personal computers for use as wireless modems unless they subscribe to Mobile Broadband Connect.