Filed under: iPhone
No tethering for iPhone 3G
Over at iPhone Atlas they're reporting that AT&T is not planning to offer a tethering option for the forthcoming iPhone 3G. Right now AT&T does offer the option for many of their 3G phones, which allows you to use the phone as a cellular modem on a laptop as part of a $65/month data plan. According to an AT&T spokesman, however, no such Phone-As-Modem plan will be offered for the iPhone 3G.I certainly would have been interested in tethering, especially since the 3G iPhone will allow you to receive calls while transferring data. Given that AT&T is basically eliminating the iPhone's special status vis-a-vis their other smartphones, bringing it into line with the BlackBerry and WM data plans, it's a shame that they're not willing to offer parity on the tethering side. How many of you would be willing to pay extra for 3G tethering on the iPhone?
Get a WordPress.com Blog
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Jeff Heusser said 9:14AM on 6-14-2008
Would love a tether option... was hoping.
Reply
Pork Rind said 12:55PM on 6-14-2008
Data _is_ data. The difference is in the _volume_ of data. A tethered laptop will use a whole bunch more data than an iPhone. The plans are priced based on intended use and average volumes. It's always been that way with AT&T/Cingular, but they have had little luck policing it in the past.
sam said 10:11PM on 6-14-2008
That's right - they don't have much luck policing it. I tether my AT&T Tilt all day long - I have 3G - and I pay $15/mo for it.
They do have built in limits to how much data you can transfer before they either call you and ask you to upgrade your plan, or just cancel your data.
Since I have never hit those limits, then I would say it's a safe bet that I am within the "expected usage" for the $15 unlimited data plan.
The amount of usage argument is retarded anyway. Even the simplest phones with the smallest screens still allow you to stream television - and that's going to use up a bunch of data.
Not Korn JonathanD said 9:14AM on 6-14-2008
Extra? NO. It should be able to do it out of the box. What's the difference bits over the air to the phone or bits over the air through the phone to my lappy. Simply wrong.
Reply
Tom said 10:24AM on 6-14-2008
Yes, extra. The iPhone data plan is $35/mo. The phones that come with tethering options have $65/mo plans. Thus, if you paid for a $65/mo tethering-ok data plan, that would be fine. But if you're not paying for the plan that allows tethering, saving $30/mo, you shouldn't get tethering. Is it that hard?
Jonathan Davis said 11:04AM on 6-14-2008
The point is data is data, it shouldn't cost more to use a phone feature. it's like buying a phone with a camera and getting charged to take pictures with it.
Mathias said 9:21AM on 6-14-2008
So it's up to the carriers to decide then? Can I still keep my hopes up of getting it in Sweden?
Reply
Tony said 2:30PM on 6-14-2008
There was a rumour O2 were allowing this... however I've not seen any indication from those that have the 2.0 beta firmware that it's available.
It's a shame because every other phone does it, and it means I'll still have to carry two phones around with me.
Dan said 9:23AM on 6-14-2008
I was hoping for a tethering option as well - but wanted to see what true speeds would be like in my chicago area. Too bad - would have paid more if it worked well, get rid of my ISP once and for all.
Reply
john said 9:23AM on 6-14-2008
I'll just go to another iPhone carrier who will supply me with this feature. That's the power of a competitive marketplace. (Oh, wait... Grrr.....)
Reply
zerock said 9:24AM on 6-14-2008
I would pay extra.. i would cancel my sprint usb modem in a heartbeat
Reply
w00t said 9:24AM on 6-14-2008
Let them have no option, it makes it easier not to get charged extra for transferring the same data when I add the tethering support myself ;)
Reply
Wyman said 7:26PM on 6-14-2008
How would you do this? Is this process available to learn s/wh on the internet? If so, where? Thanks.
w00t said 7:39PM on 6-14-2008
Wyman: a quick Google reveals many guides:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=xx-bork&client=safari&rls=en-gb&q=tether+iPhone&btnG=Seerch
TomWBrowning said 9:27AM on 6-14-2008
Given the number of countries that have (or will have) the iPhone now, and the fact that it's been on sale in a handful more than the states for a while already, perhaps you should append "on AT&T" to stories such as this?
9to5mac (a not entirely reliable source of rumours, admittedly) has said that they have got word that O2 WILL be allowing tethering in the UK. Who knows.
Reply
Tony said 2:45PM on 6-14-2008
Sure they'll allow tethering.. but if the phone won't do it then there's not a lot you can do.
It'll just be their standard data contract - do what you like except VOIP, P2P, Video, etc. If someone manages to write a tethering app then O2 won't have any particular objections to you using it.
Alex Brooks said 9:29AM on 6-14-2008
I don't think it is carrier related at all. Apple clearly had a major lockdown on the Bluetooth on the iPhone and hasn't built-in a tethering option, or A2DP.
Reply
Ken Allen said 9:35AM on 6-14-2008
Just put tinyproxy on it and share connections through airport. Ad Hoc network kills bluetooth speed. Tethering works for me on my iPhone.
Reply
Maria said 9:41AM on 6-14-2008
This is the dealbreaker for me on an iPhone. My Treo does this and these days is absolutely required as I travel on and off the grid. While I might be convinced to switch back to AT&T, I could not use a phone without dial up networking.
Reply
Tuxsn1 said 10:22PM on 6-18-2008
Diddo.... I was waiting for this new version of the iphone.
Seeing that Apple intentionally has crippled it, smacks of Microsoft's marketing tactics.
If you are a road warrior, this is not just a "nice to have" feature, for me it is as important as having Exchange support. Without both, it falls short of being useable in my business environment.