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AT&T exec confirms iPhone tethering on the way

by Robert Palmer Nov 6th 2008 at 5:17PM

How's this for a telephone game: Technologizer's Harry McCracken reports that AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph De La Vega told Michael Arrington that the iPhone will be allowed to work as a tethered wireless modem for notebooks. It will be available "soon." Allegedly.

Our own Mike Schramm noted possible correspondence from Steve Jobs himself in late August suggesting that talks were already underway with AT&T.

We all know it's technically doable. Both NetShare and iModem take care of tethering quite nicely. The sticky wicket is getting AT&T's permission: the strain could be too much for the telco's 3G network to bear.

At this point, we don't know if AT&T's plans to allow tethering include any rate increases or bandwidth caps. Got any theories? Let us know by leaving a comment.



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How's this for a telephone game: Technologizer's Harry McCracken reports that AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph De La Vega told Michael Arrington...
 

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Kevin

You're insane if you think tethering will be free. AT&T charges an extra $30 a month for tethering for the Blackberry (this is on top of data fees). At the least it will be an extra $15 a month, most likely $30.

November 10 2008 at 9:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Imagine Engine

I don't know why Apple needs to check with AT&T before allowing tethering on the iPhone. After all several other international carriers are licensed to sell the iPhone 3G and don't have such restrictions on tethering with their iPhone 3G data plans. For example Rogers in Canada allows tethering on all their Smartphone data plans, including the iPhone 3G. It's one of the reasons I decided to jailbreak my iPhone 3G after Apple chose to censor apps such as NetShare. PDANet works great and it's free.

November 08 2008 at 3:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Imagine Engine's comment
Jesse

It is important people understand that AT&T has the right and the ability to back-bill people who tethered their iPhones. Last week when I asked AT&T about tethering they told me they could not say when it would be available.

When I asked about those who jail-broke their phones and performed tethering, he told me that AT&T was quite capable of identifying those who had done this and AT&T would be soon billing those customers for their data usage based on a per-kb charge.

It's my understanding that those who jail-broke and tethered will be in for some serious sticker-shock from a data bill.

November 10 2008 at 9:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
TuxToaster

I'd love to be able to do this, but I don't want to pay upwards of $60/mo extra on my cell bill to do it.... especially if they try to make it a contract obligation instead of an option that can be added or removed at any time.

I'm still seriously considering a dedicated broadband service instead so that I don't need to tie my phone into whatever computer is using the connection. Plus that way I don't have to worry about not being able to use both at the same time.

November 07 2008 at 2:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to TuxToaster's comment
Jesse

Michael,

I have a Sierra Wireless Air Card and if I am going to be traveling alot I just call AT&T and have them turn it on, then tell them to turn it off before the next billing cycle. Now, at $69.99 per month, and a one-month minimum, it is an expensive charge, but at least I can have it when I want and don't need to renew any contracts.

November 10 2008 at 9:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jesse

Okay, so what? The question is "how much"?

November 07 2008 at 9:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jesse's comment
dandaman

Or even just "how?"

November 09 2008 at 3:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
vandil

Considering we could do this before measures were taken to stop us, I'm sure AT&T has found some horrid way to "monetize" such connections in the future, such as:

1. Add tethering as a "second line" for only $9.99!

2. Introducing the new REALLY UNLIMITED Data Plan, only $10 more per month......with a limit of 1GB...

November 07 2008 at 9:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jesse

When the iPhone 3G first arrived AT&T was offering a tethering plan for $45 per month, unlimited. But the offer was retracted the same day.

Now, one can purchase unlimited 3G wireless card service for a laptop for the monthly fee of $69.

It stands to reason the monthly fee would be between $45 and $69.

November 07 2008 at 9:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mike

For God's sake please use Bluetooth instead of a cable!!!

November 06 2008 at 11:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
4 replies to mike's comment
SHANE

AT&T giving away tethering at no additional charge? Yeah, and the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny are real too. They will suck every penny they can out of anyone willing to pay. I got caught up in the hype and got the iPhone 3G but after 3 months it is just another phone. I guess when I realized that I am paying twice as much for service with fewer minutes than I had with T-Mobile the fog lifted. I will be cutting ties with AT&T next month and going back to T-Mobile where the prices are fair and the customer service reps treat you with a little value and respect.

November 06 2008 at 10:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to SHANE's comment
David Robison

Weird, my AT&T bill is less than my old T-Mo bill. Perhaps it's b/c I'm on a family plan with one iPhone. When my husband gets his at Xmas, I think the bill will end up being the same as the old T-Mo one.

As for the phone itself, I've had mine for about 5 months and still thinks it's waaaay better than the Dash I had and way better than any other phone I've worked with (I've done a fair amount of mobile app design).

It's not perfect but it's much better than the rest.

November 07 2008 at 2:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jim Pritchett

Im work for AT&T. We have been trained on it. It is coming. Soon!

November 06 2008 at 10:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
PSM

PDAnet is pretty much perfect. It's much less hassle than any other method currently available. If the legit way was stupidly easy I might consider it if it wasn't ridiculously expensive, but you can't get that much more easy than PDAnet.

November 06 2008 at 8:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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