Damage control: AT&T denies $55 tethering charge rumor

or you could ditch retarded AT&T and get unlimited tethering and MMS for free with T-mobile, now. :D it's pretty nice, let me tell ya.

New rumor:
AT&T is going to steal us $40 per month more for tethering. Stop AT&T!!!!!!
Loop until we get it for free. ;)

Tethering is over-rated considering the low price and form factor for a USB UMTS modem - particulary if you factor in the battery drain and increased hassle. Tethering is not a premium offering and it is not a convenience offering. So starting out with $55 price is stupid.

The right way to do it is to offer it for free and charge a $10 fee for an additional SIM and USB UMTS modem.

Failure to align their cost structure to the value they deliver will only encourage the take up of iPhone alternatives and I would count the combo of mobile+netbook as the strongest one.

You think it's bad over there, here in the UK O2 are charging $50 for 10GB tethering and $25 for 3GB, that's on top of the monthly $60 minimum tarrif.

Lucky Canadians is all I can say...

now I read that Rogers page and I was completely amazed on the deals this company gives...

now I am not sure as to what the actual cost of using their network is?

but it seems that they have a better reality on what is right to do the consumer.

but we all know that AT&T is not like that at all...they suck balls...oh well

better luck next time

Rogers in Canada has made it FREE to tether - most people who purchased near launch have a 6GB limit and that includes tethering. Anyone with a data plan of greater then 1GB can tether at no extra charge.

If Rogers can do the "right thing" .... then ATT could and should follow suit.

http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wireless-products/iphone_faqs#OS

This is just my opinion, but a reasonable plan from AT&T would be the following:

1. Up to 5g is included with your current plan. No additional charge.
2. For every 1GB or portion of 1GB over 5GB, you are charged $10.
3. Unlimited (really unlimited) data plan for heavy users, $55.

If a customer consistently uses more than 5GB additional each month, it's a no-brainer to pay for the unlimited plan. If not, paying per GB would be cheaper. And for those who will use it rarely or not at all, no additional charges apply.

ATT = The reason I am not getting a new iphone today.

Waiting to see what they do with tethering. I will live with the original iphone a little longer. Works great and is cheaper data plan. A reasonable unlimited plan will have me hooked on 3Gs, but I am a bit skeptical about ATT offering an unlimited plan for a modest add-on fee.

Honestly, I've heard so many AT&T reps blame the iPhone for their network problems when Blackberry customers gripe about dropped calls that I can't see them letting everyone who has an iPhone start tethering if they want to for free.

That said, wouldn't it be the ultimate face-saver for them if they WERE somehow able to roll out tethering for free? Maybe they'd allow tethering but put some setting in the carrier file so as to limit it to like 60% of the available bandwidth...

Hey, here's a thought: maybe if unfounded rumors weren't reported as if they were foregone conclusions in the first place, there wouldn't even be a need to deny them?

I don't have a problem with you folks reporting rumors, but spinning and editorializing on what might or might not happen only ends up making you look like fools.