Filed under: OS, Wireless, How-tos, iPhone
Inside iPhone 3.0: Tethering
While I trashed Vodafone NZ's pricing in a previous post, in at least one way it's far ahead of U.S. telco giant AT&T: internet tethering using the iPhone is already possible over Vodafone's network without resorting to lengthy, kludgy, and unsupported hacks. Who knows how long tethering will stay supported here, or how long it will take before Vodafone remembers to charge extra for it, but for now, tethering is go in the Southern Hemisphere.
Tethering works over both USB and Bluetooth. Using USB to tether simply requires enabling internet tethering in the iPhone's settings, then plugging the iPhone into an available USB port on your computer. The Mac will automatically recognize the tethered iPhone, and your connection will be up and running.
Bluetooth tethering obviously requires enabling Bluetooth on both your iPhone and computer, and then selecting "Connect to Network" from the Bluetooth drop-down menu. Once again, the rest of the setup is automatic -- it really doesn't get much simpler than this.
The speed of the internet connection appears to be comparable to the iPhone's standard mobile speed using USB, but Bluetooth was only about half as fast. I didn't remain tethered for long for fear of gulping down my meager monthly data cap, but for the time I used it, tethering worked with no issues whatsoever.
For my money, having tethering available in little ol' New Zealand long before the U.S. will have it puts AT&T in an even less flattering light -- while AT&T has far more users spread over a much larger area than Vodafone NZ, AT&T also has more towers and more money to pour into their infrastructure.
Any other international iPhone users managed to get tethering working on their networks? Sound off in the comments, and be sure to let us know what network you're on.
Read on for a pictorial guide to enabling tethering over Bluetooth.
Step One: Enable Bluetooth and tethering in the iPhone's settings
Step Two: Connect to the iPhone over Bluetooth
There is no step three
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Paul Mensah said 8:33PM on 6-17-2009
Has AT&T launched MMS on iphones running 3.0 yet? and does anyone know if the GM that leaked a weak ago is the same as todays?
Reply
Icello said 10:19PM on 6-17-2009
No.
The GM seed from last week is the developer version, but as far as I can see is essentially the same thing... Although if you have it update to the consumer 3.0 in the next few days.
punkassjim said 1:02AM on 6-18-2009
I have the GM, and when I tell iTunes to look for updates, it tells me I'm up-to-date. Also, reports around the web today that the build number is exactly the same.
Drakhul said 8:23AM on 6-18-2009
I did a restore yesterday just in case, and although everyone is saying it's the same, my phone seems to be happier now.
Daniel Seripap said 8:35PM on 6-17-2009
no, ATT is not tether capable. Nor does MMS works. GM seed is the EXACT SAME version as the official 3.0
Reply
dTondro said 8:37PM on 6-17-2009
Be a good commenter, use the "reply" function to keep conversations connected...
Paul Mensah said 8:38PM on 6-17-2009
Thanks ... so when MMS is launched will there be another software update? since there is currently no option for it or a button in the SMS app to add media to a text so I know its a backend issue but the software has to be updated too right?
blachole said 8:40PM on 6-17-2009
No, AT&T will release a carrier file update that will allow the changes for MMS and tether to take effect.
dTondro said 8:42PM on 6-17-2009
I think it is tied to the Carrier ID number... One of the hacks I read about on Engadget said that if you are set to AT&T 4.0 then the functions don't appear. But jailbroken phones could change that to AT&T 5.0 and the appropriate functions and setting magically arrived. So I think it could be as simple as an over the air update to the Carrier ID (found under Settings -> About)
Michael Jones said 8:44PM on 6-17-2009
MMS and tethering are enabled through a carrier update that is received and installed by iTunes while you are syncing your phone.
Paul Mensah said 8:53PM on 6-17-2009
I really appreciate the response ... you guys are really helpful...I have two more questions:
1. Will there be a bump up in monthly pricing for MMS & Tethering?
2. Is the carrier update out now? or coming soon?
dmbman91 said 8:58PM on 6-17-2009
AT&T Tethering does work!! i am using it now.
for macs:
http://www.myappleguide.com/blogs/iphone-world/2280/how-tether-iphone-3g-over-att
Paul Mensah said 9:02PM on 6-17-2009
Is this a hack or the real deal from AT&T?
C said 2:29AM on 6-18-2009
yes u can get MMS and Tethering... right now too.
blachole said 8:37PM on 6-17-2009
I have MMS and tethering working on my iPhone 3.0. I was able to hack the ipcc carrier file and figured out the integer to change in order to enable it all. I got MMS working though by putting my SIM in my old razr for a few hours and getting the lock removed on my account. Once I was able to send MMS on the razr, I popped it back into my iPhone and was able to send MMS no issues.
Reply
dTondro said 8:44PM on 6-17-2009
how'd you get the lock removed?
blachole said 8:46PM on 6-17-2009
I'm typing up a whole how to right now and will be posting it along with my modified carrier file in a few mins.
pardthemonster said 8:44PM on 6-17-2009
AT&T has not yet enabled MMS, they have said later this summer. I don't know about the GM ever getting leaked last week unless you're referring to using a pirated copy, but yes the GM is the same as this one (7A341).
Reply
ipodrulz said 9:12PM on 6-17-2009
The GM was leaked last week. I'v been using it since then.
Andre said 8:57PM on 6-17-2009
Works great on Rogers in Canada, and it was incredibly easy to set up. About 2Mb/s downloads on USB, a little slower on Bluetooth.
Reply