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iOS 4.3 spotlight: Personal Hotspot

by Mike Schramm Mar 9th 2011 at 5:30PM

Perhaps the biggest feature available in the iOS 4.3 update today is the Personal Hotspot -- Verizon iPhone users have had access to the feature before now, but as of iOS 4.3, AT&T users can find the hotspot feature under the Network tab, inside the General Settings app on the iPhone. Note that while Personal Hotspot makes it possible for you to share a network connection with a computer, either over Bluetooth, a USB connection, or now over Wi-Fi, there is an extra charge on AT&T, and your phone will ask you to sign up for that service if you haven't yet.

AT&T calls the service DataPro with Tethering, and it will cost you an extra $45 a month, allowing up to 4 GB of bandwidth, and extra charges beyond that for more. That's not cheap, but if you are often in places where you have to depend on your phone for an internet connection, it could be worth it.

To use the service itself, you just jump into that Settings screen, set up a password, and then connect from your computer as you would any other Wi-Fi network. The hotspot works with up to three connections via Wi-Fi at a time, so you and two friends can access the internet from anywhere, right through your iPhone.



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Perhaps the biggest feature available in the iOS 4.3 update today is the Personal Hotspot -- Verizon iPhone users have had access to...
 

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Andrew Scott

Happy to report that Personal Hotspot works just fine on Optus in Australia with no extra charges (at least on my plan). I tried it this afternoon and my son downloaded a game app to his iPod touch via my iPhone while we were driving.

March 12 2011 at 5:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Leonardo

What a shame. US sounds like the country of service thieves. Not the first time I hear about overcharged services. In most of Europe a 4GB data plan is at most 15€. And for the extra tethering service, now personal hotspot I pay 4€ more. That's half of ATT costs.

March 11 2011 at 7:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kontorhotel

This will most likely kill the Mobile Bizz here in Denmark.. I will sign off all our 7 3G USB modems ASAP. Love this new WIFI stuff

March 10 2011 at 5:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kenandles

All i can say isjailbreak, jailbreak, jailbreak

March 10 2011 at 4:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
oli3@charter.net

So if I am currently on the 200MB plan, this will cost me $30 a month?

March 10 2011 at 2:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ryan

Since I jailbroke my iPhone 4, this option has been available for a much better cost than what ATT has offered, especially for my sporadic usage of MyWi. It works great with my Macbook and with the iPad. If your iPhone is out of warranty already, I see no reason not to JB, and take advantage of some of those third party apps.

March 10 2011 at 9:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jenny

Just an FYI, if your "personal hotspot" doesn't show, your carrier may not allow it in whatever profile they have on your phone. I use Softbank and that feature has been blocked since iOS v3.x.x

March 10 2011 at 3:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sanchez

0. Keep being on your $30 value unlimited 3G internet
1. Jailbreak your iPhone
2. Install Cydia, SSH (+change passes), Terminal
3. Download sources for MyWi 4.0
4. SSH to your phone and SCP MyWi files
5. dpkg them on your iPhone via Terminal
6. Launch MyWi on your iPhone, select USB/WiFi/Bluetooth method and connect your PC/Mac
7. PROFIT!!!

March 09 2011 at 10:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Sanchez's comment
Tony

Is there an untethered jailbreak for 4.2 3GS?

March 09 2011 at 11:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sanchez

greenpois0n maybe

March 10 2011 at 8:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dantemustdie

In other news, I've been able to create a personal hotspot on my jailbroken iPhone for forever.
For free.

Whats the point of unlimited data if you have to pay for tethering? What a joke.

March 09 2011 at 10:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Peter Johnson

Anyone know if this is carrier dependant in Europe?

I cant see an extra option for this in settings/ general/ network. I'm on tesco, which is piggybacked on O2s network.

Peter
Solubleapps.com

March 09 2011 at 10:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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