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Blocked dataplan access at work

Discussion in 'GENERAL Wireless Discussion' started by Cell_Life, Sep 7, 2010.

  1. Cell_Life

    Cell_Life New Member

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    I have a friend who reports that her work blocks her from using her iPhone to access Facebook at work.
    She confirmed with me that it she is not using wi-fi to access it, but instead her 3G with AT&T.
    She said she had been able to up until last week when they changed some software they are using.

    There are a few things about this that concern me:

    1. I have never heard of companies having the ability to block web pages on an individual's personal phone if they aren't accessing the site through wi-fi on their proxy server. Is this a new standard that the industry in general has implemented?

    2. That they are blocking her personal cell phone data plan access to begin with. Given she shouldn't be surfing Facebook on company time, but because both the phone and the plan both don't belong to the company, legally do they have a right to do this? If she were on her lunch break she should have the right to use her own personal cell phone and browse Facebook as long as it is not being done using company resources.

    Just wanted to find out what other folks thought about this.
     
    #1 Cell_Life, Sep 7, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  2. Analog man

    Analog man Member
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    the company must have there own personal cell tower they put restrictions on or something, alltho i doubt it, check again to see if its not on wifi for sure. try a phone that has internet but no wifi.
     
    #2 Analog man, Sep 7, 2010
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  3. RadioRaiders

    RadioRaiders RF Black-Belt
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    Cell_Life, what you are saying is happening to your friend is pretty much impossible. If she is accessing AT&T's network (2G or 3G, not wifi) on her personal cell phone, there is no way the company she works for can limit her access to any apps, websites, etc. It's technically nearly impossible (to block a specific user on a specific cell of a specific application :googlyeye), and even if it was possible technically, from the legal standpoint I'd say again that it's impossible, since companies can't control private peoples communciation devices.

    All due respect, but check with your friend again, I think she must be mistaking something...

    Who changed what software?
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
    #3 RadioRaiders, Sep 8, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  4. AnthroMatt

    AnthroMatt Big Meanie
    Super Moderator Junior Member Senior Member

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    Correct. AFAIK, there is no way to selectively filter sites on a network not owned by your company. Meaning there is no way her work could block AT&T users from accessing certain sites. If her phone doesn't work at all anymore then either AT&T has a tower issue in the area or (highly unlikely) her employer is jamming the cell signal, which is very illegal.

    I suspect she is either using WiFi without realizing it or that FB or AT&T was just having issues that particular day.
     
    #4 AnthroMatt, Sep 10, 2010
  5. Cell_Life

    Cell_Life New Member

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    Thanks for the input all. I find it impossible also that they are able to do that, but she swears to me up and down that it is not her Wifi. Will have her check again.
     
    #5 Cell_Life, Sep 16, 2010
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