[masraum]

Originally Posted by greglepore

This is interesting, and I've seen the same from other providers, or higher streaming limits. My concern is that the "streaming" means streaming video to a smartphone or pad-otherwise its just data-how does the carrier distinguish when its going to a modem-ie not thru an app native to the smart device.

I don't know the exact mechanism, but I can guess. They probably have a list of the IPs and/or DNS addresses for all of the major streaming services, and allow unlimited data from those addresses. That's probably why when T-mobile first started their unlimited streaming, it was for a selected list of providers and they had a caveat that said something like "we are adding more streaming providers in the future."

Netflix probably has a pretty fixed list of load balanced IPs or DNS names, same goes for Hulu or anyone else that streams. There are also devices that watch for specific protocols or signatures for common streams. They could be using that instead. I think it would be easier to just allow all Netflix.com addresses, but like I said, I don't know the exact mechanism.