Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Rumors, Wireless, iPhone
AT&T iPhone customers: tethering is coming, for a price
Citing an exclusive source from within AT&T, appmodo reports that "tethering support is coming later this summer" is AT&T-speak for "tethering support is coming at the end of July."It won't be coming cheaply, however; appmodo's source says a tethering option will cost AT&T customers a whopping $55 a month.
While this is cheaper than the $70 rumor that's been making the rounds, it still strikes me as ridiculous that AT&T is charging additional money for this option in the first place. Considering their "unlimited" data plan is reportedly only unlimited until you reach 5 GB or so in any given month, it seems preposterous for AT&T to charge their customers an extra fee to use the iPhone to access the internet via tethering. But, since AT&T's wrangling caused Skype to be restricted to WiFi only and SlingPlayer Mobile to be almost totally crippled compared to the same software on different models of smartphones running on AT&T's network, perhaps this shouldn't come as a surprise.
With all the negative press AT&T has been getting over the past week, I have to wonder: what do they have against the iPhone?
Editor's Note: As many of our commenters have pointed out, several other sites have posted instructions and a hacked carrier file to allow tethering on AT&T-activated iPhones immediately; some have linked to an application that allows one-click tethering. We encourage anyone who is trying one of these procedures to be cautious in your network usage, as you may rapidly run afoul of your contract terms with your carrier.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Aaron Brown said 10:04AM on 6-18-2009
I wonder if they have a way to know if someone is tethering via a hack. Setting up tethering is insanely easy right now.
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Josh said 10:20AM on 6-18-2009
I hope not cause I just tried it and it works pretty well!
Cristiana said 10:37AM on 6-18-2009
If you only do very light usage, then they tend to not notice. However, if you start to use massive amounts of data, then they will investigate your account. But, as with everything your mileage may vary.
PSM said 10:06AM on 6-18-2009
Does this mean $55 total for the data plan? If so, that's still cheaper than a lot of other tethering plans ($25 extra). Of course free or dirt-cheap would be preferred!
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caseyschultheis said 7:55PM on 6-18-2009
AT&T sucks! Well, they all kind of suck but having a great device that is crippled by the provider is very lame.
I mean so many things you buy these days you can change/adapt to the way you like it with no issue.
Now-a-days the only thing keeping the world from moving forward is shitty companies like this!
This is crazy!
At the base plan
iPhone $199
39.99/month for 450 minutes
$30.00/month for data
$20.00/ month for Unlimited Text Messaging
My bill for one iPhone is $90. Then plus tax and other un-explainable changes.
Now add $55.00 to that.
The cheapest plan to use the whole futures of the iPhone is $160 a month?
The iPhone is becoming a small used car payment? WTF.
Dan said 8:32PM on 6-18-2009
If it does cost $55.00 more Then I would suggest not doing it.
From Verizon you can get a credit card size device call a MiFi™2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot that sets up a wifi hotspot that 5 devices can connect to that costs about the same.
I was hoping to be able to do it without another bill and more money but I guess it is MiFi™2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot for me.
akcpe said 10:12AM on 6-18-2009
I'm assuming they mean an ADDITIONAL $55 on top of the $40 data plan seeing as how its an additional $30/month for blackberry users. ($30 data + $30 tethering)
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Cycomachead said 10:58AM on 6-18-2009
That article is "clear as mud!"
It really is hard to know. Most cell phone companies do charge $15-$30 to add tethering to a data plan. It's very possible it's a $25 option. That's not cheap, but under current circumstance, reasonable, though the nature of the whole thing is still unreasonable.
9600baud said 10:12AM on 6-18-2009
who can blame them? milk the cow while its still alive. and then some.
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laurion said 11:54AM on 6-18-2009
But don't kill the cow while milking it. Herd health is important.
LifeStar said 10:14AM on 6-18-2009
It's probably $55 IN ADDITION to the regular data plan fee. AT&T must have a bitter-taste in their mouths ever since they've signed this deal with Apple. Sure, it instantly gave them millions of customers and lots of revenue, but it also brought in a bright spot light on how weak their infrastructure is.
Think about it, if it wasn't for the iPhone, AT&T's need to implement their 3G network and additional network expansion would not have happened as most cell customers are just "I need a phone for making calls to mom." in their roster.
Remember how they've been talking with Apple to extend their 5-yr contract to a 6th year? If they don't get their act together, they know that they'll lose a lot of iPhone users in droves once another carrier in the US gets the phone.
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eMax said 12:16PM on 6-18-2009
not a chance, who the hell is going to pay 55 for any TETHERING ADD ON.
its more then regular home internet service..
its going to be 30 for iphone data and 25 for tethering which equals 55
which is totally way too much
Josh said 10:14AM on 6-18-2009
Charge more for providing no additional service... yeah, that makes total sense... if your a cell phone company...
I have gov't regulation of private companies, but even I'm almost hoping from some stepping in at some point...
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edmalloy said 11:35AM on 6-18-2009
What do expect from a company that only know how to shoot itself in the foot.
It's current upgrade policy is a case in point: instead of keeping all of the initial 3G subscribers in the fold by EXTENDING their commitment for two years to get a subsidized iPhone 3GS, they are letting them upgrade with only a TOTAL commitment of two years for only $200.00 extra.
In two years, I'm sure that there will be another iPhone carrier and these subscribers with leave in droves. ... and get lower tethering fees too.
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Joseph said 12:17PM on 6-18-2009
I don't think upgrading works how you think it will. put the numbers together and you will see what it costs ATT and what they charge. It makes fiscal sense.
The only option that could make sense is for them to buy back the 3G and resell them as refurb, apple willing. Like a car dealer.
markusgusgus said 10:14AM on 6-18-2009
GOD I HATE AT&T
Fucking pigs.
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Cav said 12:11PM on 6-18-2009
@markusgusgus Could not have said it better myself. Between the MMS and the tethering issues, I can't wait to drop ATT and run to the next carrier that gets the iPhone. One can only hope that Apple, a company built on outstanding customer service, will put ATT in their place while negotiating the next contract.
oliver hart said 2:25PM on 6-18-2009
1 word
T-Mobile
I tether all the time via PDAnet and tmobile doesnt give a rats arse. $5.99 for unlimited data is so sweet even if it is 2.5G.
they also provided me with mms settings so when the dev team releases the 3.0 ultrasn0w, ill have everything. it is just so sweet.
Chris said 10:16AM on 6-18-2009
This is complete bull sh*t. If AT&T wants any positive press at ALL out of this whole MMS, tethering mess they should at least allow you to include tethering in the price of the unlimited data plan. I dont even care if they charge me for going over the 5GB cap, i mean you are a complete tool if you try to download via torrent, or watch hours of hulu and youtube content while tethering, but it would be nice to be able to go to a park with your damn laptap and view basic internet content via tethering without having to pay 55 friggin dollars. I guess i'll just continue to read TUAW and Engadget articles on my 3.5" screen whilst sitting by the river on a park bench. DAMN YOU AT&T!! ; )
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Pecos Bill said 6:24PM on 6-18-2009
Ironically, for web browsing the same amount of data is going to flow to the display whether it's an iPhone or a tethered computer. One big exception: I can and do block ads because I'm extremely sensitive to all that annoying animation. So, I'd have less traffic on my computer than iPhone.
I set up the tethering (quite easy) though I don't plan to use it for fear of contract infringement.