For mobile phone owners with an HTC Sensation, the upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich is bittersweet.
T-Mobile, the exclusive service provider of the Sensation, has announced that as soon as users get the latest version of Android, also known as version 4.0, they will no longer be able to tether the Internet connection.
In other words, to use the HTC Sensation as a mobile hotspot, users will now have to fork over $14.95 per month, T-Mobile’s charge for WiFi hotspot access.
The confusion comes in the fact that T-Mobile always listed this fee in its service agreements, but for some reason it allowed users to access the feature for free on some of its devices.
Apparently, though, that will end as the carrier starts doling out the Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades, apparently.
“T-Mobile began offering a Smartphone Mobile Hotspot plan in November 2010. However, due to technical limitations with software, customers were not being charged for the feature on select T-Mobile products,” a T-Mobile rep was quoted as saying by PC Magazine.
“Customers who choose to upgrade their HTC Sensation 4G to the optional Android 4.0 (ICS) software update will be required to sign up for the $14.99 Smartphone Mobile Hotspot plan,” the rep continued.
The HTC Amaze 4G will likely be the next T-Mobile phone to get Android 4.0. Some users have already reported that the free WiFi tethering option has already been disabled on that phone.
