body: I recently purchased an unlocked Android phone (Motorola G7) and when I try to enable a WiFi hotspot I get the message "Your current rate plan does not support this feature".
  
  
  I've seen various reports of people getting this message in error.
  
  
  Aside from that issue, I am wondering why Google (the authors of Android) and/or Motorola (the makers of my phone) even care about the fine print in my carrier's plan. They sold me a device which is capable of forwarding packets from other devices. If my service provider wants to market a form of [price discrimination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_discrimination) based on selectively allowing or disallowing packet forwarding, why would my phone retailer or architect even be interested in cooperating?
  
  
  It would seem analogous to an apartment manager who takes issue with my sharing WiFi, or some other non-transferable good such as airplane tickets, with a neighbor. Or what if Android tried to prevent me from getting student discounts or food stamps when I am not eligible? I don't see what is gained by the third party even taking an interest in these cases. Is Google acting out of a legal obligation here? Are they doing something illegal?
  
  
  
title: Why does Android care if my carrier doesn't want me to create a WiFi hotspot?