No Tethering Option for iPhone 3G [Archive]

MacRumors

Jun 14, 2008, 07:19 PM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

iPhoneAtlas (http://www.iphoneatlas.com/2008/06/13/att-no-iphone-3g-tethering-for-you/) received confirmation from AT&T that there will be no laptop tethering option for the iPhone 3G. With many existing Smartphones, customers can connect their phone to their laptop for use as a 3G modem. This is commonly described as "tethering" and allows individuals to use their phone's 3G connection from their laptop. AT&T will not be supporting a [Phone-as-Modem] plan for the iPhone 3G. The only available data plan for the iPhone will be the new $30 consumer unlimited data and visual voice mail plan and the $45 business data plan. Apple will be launching the iPhone 3G on July 11th.

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2008/06/14/no-tethering-option-for-iphone-3g/)

italiano40

Jun 14, 2008, 07:28 PM

This is a big disappointment
this one of the best options that a smartphone could have and for the iphone 3g not to have it will make it for me not to buy it

clevin

Jun 14, 2008, 07:34 PM

well, no hack available for this?

Anyway, +1 for others, -1 for iPhone.

GenericUsername

Jun 14, 2008, 07:34 PM

This is so significant, I find it strange that AT&T hasn't disclosed this to any other news outlets already.

friekunater

Jun 14, 2008, 07:40 PM

well tethering would be nice but I could care less... I don't even have a laptop and if I did I would have wi-fi nearly all the time.. definitely not a deal-breaker

mashinhead

Jun 14, 2008, 07:44 PM

.Andy

Jun 14, 2008, 07:47 PM

Surely this is no surprise to anyone. Although a nice dream, the provision of unrestricted, unlimited, high-speed, tethered internet via 3G is still a long way off (if ever).

iJon

Jun 14, 2008, 07:53 PM

There are already hackjobs out there that allow you to do this. None of them are convenient but exists none the less.

jon

Me1000

Jun 14, 2008, 07:57 PM

well the ability to tether would have almost made the $10 price increase worth it... :rolleyes:

LVdustin

Jun 14, 2008, 08:09 PM

Metatron

Jun 14, 2008, 08:14 PM

It does not matter is AT&T supports it or not. It will be an available option for anyone that wants it. Apple has tried to stop this by crippling the bluetooth stack for the iphone and only support headsets. But as long as there is WiFi, you will be able to hack it into being a sudo router.

You pay for a service, that service is yours to do with as you please. I bought this much service for MY use and I will use it on myself as I please. Of course all the laws of the land have tried to convience us that even though we own the movie, we can not make a backup to protect or investement. Though we own the song we can not put it on our iPod. Wireless providers sale unlimited service and then cut you off and try to redefine the term unlimited.

Everyday we let people take our rights one clause at a time.

megfilmworks

Jun 14, 2008, 08:24 PM

You pay for a service, that service is yours to do with as you please. I bought this much service for MY use and I will use it on myself as I please. Of course all the laws of the land have tried to convience us that even though we own the movie, we can not make a backup to protect or investement. Though we own the song we can not put it on our iPod. Wireless providers sale unlimited service and then cut you off and try to redefine the term unlimited.

Everyday we let people take our rights one clause at a time.

While I agree with your tethering comments, don't use fuzzy logic and comparisons to buying a tune. (or video)
You NEVER OWN the song that you have downloaded. You own a copy with certain user rights. Period. Only the copyright holder owns the song.
Copyright Law 101.

cloudnine

Jun 14, 2008, 08:27 PM

This is a big disappointment
this one of the best options that a smartphone could have and for the iphone 3g not to have it will make it for me not to buy it

I agree... there's no reason for them not to enable it now, except for the obvious: it doesn't make good business sense to them since they also sell 3G usb modems, and wifi "memberships" at coffee shops, book stores, etc. Ugh.

moose.boy

Jun 14, 2008, 08:44 PM

Has anyone actually tried to use tethering to a smart device ?

I have, on several devices, and it sucks, big time sucks.

Nokias, sony ericssons, windows mobile - all tried connecting to Mac OS, Windoze, Linux, and also Palm OS.

Intermittent ability to connect, lots of resetting needed (on all devices), and just generally an awful experience that can't be relied upon.

That's why i've gone down the route of a huawei dongle for mobile broadband. Got it for 49GBP and i use my 3 (three.co.uk) sim in in which i've got a 1gig surfing for ten quid per month (after initially getting the k850 with which to use as a thethering device and portable e-mail option and finding that the tethering still continued to be awful, and that the phone itself a underpowered, overbloated piece of crap)

Most of the time i only need to check and respond to e-mail while out, or to do a touch of light surfing - this is what the iphone is ideal for. The small amount of users who actually need their mac connected to the internet while out and about will have more success with a dongle like i've mentioned.

bigmc6000

Jun 14, 2008, 08:46 PM

Surely this is no surprise to anyone. Although a nice dream, the provision of unrestricted, unlimited, high-speed, tethered internet via 3G is still a long way off (if ever).

What are you talking about? This option is available on virtually ALL 3G phones. I know a buddy of mine will most certainly not buy an iPhone now because of this. He's got a crappy 3G phone and he tethers it.

And all those times I'm sitting around with my laptop this really annoys me. Hopefully they'll be an app or SOMETHING! This is crappy and is going to kill the crackberry conversion #'s single handedly...

.Andy

Jun 14, 2008, 08:57 PM

What are you talking about? This option is available on virtually ALL 3G phones. I know a buddy of mine will most certainly not buy an iPhone now because of this. He's got a crappy 3G phone and he tethers it.
I stand corrected then. How much does a plan cost and which one's offer unrestricted, unlimited tethering? Are they anywhere near the iPhone tariffs?

As for Australia we're fresh out of luck in having a plan that doesn't include a 'fair use' policy for data downloads and that doesn't shape/charge penalties per MB after a limit. Unless we pay a massive amount.

superleccy

Jun 14, 2008, 09:20 PM

The article says AT&T, but I presume it's the same for O2 and the rest of the world.

Whatever. It sucks, but I'm not surprised.

The network operators feel compelled to offer "unlimited data", but don't want to give customers so much rope that they take the pi$s, crippling their network and cannibalising their landline broadband sales.

Having Apple blocking tethering (BTW it's the first time I've heard it call that) on the iPhone was probably written into the contract between Apple and the networks.

Personally what sucks about this for me is that I won't be able to "tether" my iPhone to my TomTom to download traffic and speed camera updates.

SL

taylorwilsdon

Jun 14, 2008, 09:21 PM

bigmc6000

Jun 14, 2008, 09:25 PM

I stand corrected then. How much does a plan cost and which one's offer unrestricted, unlimited tethering? Are they anywhere near the iPhone tariffs?

As for Australia we're fresh out of luck in having a plan that doesn't include a 'fair use' policy for data downloads and that doesn't shape/charge penalties per MB after a limit. Unless we pay a massive amount.

Here in the states it's exactly the same. You pay $30 for unlimited 3G and get to tether. I know a number of people who do that - that sucks that you guys get shafted - seems like there's a lot of that going around these days... :(

jon snow

Jun 14, 2008, 09:26 PM

I had a Samsung Blackjack and tethered all the time. It worked great. I know have the Blackjack II and it took some more effort to get it to tether but I got it working and it's great. It's not quite as fast as being on a wifi network but pretty close. Even without tethering, I will still get the new iphone. While tethering is important, I think the ability to surf on the iphone will be good enough. Hopefully, someone will find a hack that will work with the iphone.

Tom B.

Jun 14, 2008, 09:30 PM

I hope this is down to AT&T rather than Apple, so other carriers may allow tethering if they want, as 9to5Mac seem to believe O2 will.

The [O2] 3G iPhone WILL allow Bluetooth Tethering for laptops. We asked about Wifi tethering and got a blank stare. We'll take what we can get. They said that this was 99.9 percent certain and "Apple can always change their minds". Since O2 controls the network and costs involved the decision would largely be theirs.

http://9to5mac.com/o2-iphone

jayducharme

Jun 14, 2008, 09:32 PM

definitely not a deal-breaker

Well it probably will be for me. I can't see spending $30 a month for the iPhone's data plan, then have to plunk down another $30 a month for DSL for my home computer. Heck the iPhone plan provides unlimited data. If I'm tethering the iPhone, I can only use a single device at a time. (I won't be surfing the Net with my iPhone and my computer simultaneously.) I don't see what the big deal is. Why not allow it? Or why not give a discount for home data delivery with iPhone plans?

I guess I'll just stick with my Touch unless AT&T can present a more reasonable deal.

rdrr

Jun 14, 2008, 09:36 PM

I am surprised that anyone would think that AT&T would allow this... If you have followed the EVDO discussions you would know that unlimited doesn't mean unlimited. And primarily Verizon, whom btw offers a card for your laptop to use 3G, has suspended accounts of people who they feel are taken advantage of "unlimited".

superleccy

Jun 14, 2008, 09:39 PM

3G iPhone WILL allow Bluetooth Tethering for laptops. We asked about Wifi tethering and got a blank stare. We'll take what we can get. They said that this was 99.9 percent certain and "Apple can always change their minds". Since O2 controls the network and costs involved the decision would largely be theirs.

Wooooooo! :D:D:D:D:D

I hope this is true.

SL

EDIT: as for WiFi tethering, I'm not really fussed. 3G is fast, but not really so fast that WiFi is going to give you loads more speed that Bluetooth. Also none of my Nokia WiFi phones can do WiFi tethering either.

billcd

Jun 14, 2008, 09:41 PM

mkrishnan

Jun 14, 2008, 09:44 PM

well, no hack available for this?

There are already hackjobs out there that allow you to do this. None of them are convenient but exists none the less.

This is exactly why I don't understand people saying that the 3G iPhone will basically obviate any interest in unlocking and jailbreaking to install unsanctioned apps and use unsanctioned plans. You can get tethering services if you are willing to pay for them. The iPhone 3G has the appropriate hardware. While it's true that apps like srelay aren't perfect, the 2G Jailbreaked iPhone does have options for tethering. This is a perfect example of something useful that can be done now with the iPhone and will be possible tomorrow with the iPhone 3G because of jailbreaking.

timpoke8

Jun 14, 2008, 10:31 PM

Here in the states it's exactly the same. You pay $30 for unlimited 3G and get to tether. I know a number of people who do that - that sucks that you guys get shafted - seems like there's a lot of that going around these days... :(

That's actually not how it works. You get unlimited 3G for $30 a month, however ONLY for your phone. You then break your user contract and tether anyway. If you use it too much however, AT&T might notice that you're using too much bandwidth for just a phone. At that point they exercise their right to cancel your data plan, you don't notice, and at the end of the month you're paying by the KB.

That's similar to the people who paying for unlimited Media Net ($15-20 a month), when they have a 3G phone with a QWERTY keyboard. A lot of people get away with it, but some get caught for violating their contract.

An actual tethering plan would be $65.

kcroy

Jun 14, 2008, 10:37 PM

i understand that they don't build it in, but i don't understand how they can prevent someone else from doing it, the phone clearly isn't crippled to send and recieve data, tethering would just be a matter of getting the phone and computer to communicate, which they don't have any control over

Great comment! I know absolutely nothing about software development; is it possible someone could create something like this? :rolleyes:

javaGuru

Jun 14, 2008, 10:50 PM

This is exactly why I have an AT&T Tilt as well as my iPhone. :(

jahsavi

Jun 15, 2008, 12:55 AM

jahsavi

Jun 15, 2008, 01:07 AM

I'm not sure if anyone has thought of this but what's stopping you from purchasing a laptop internet card and poping your iPhone 3G sim into it? Would you get internet? (w/ no voice of course lol)

..just thought of this idea today. Or if it's possible "clone your sim" and turn your phone off.. maybe I'm just crazy.

Also want to add:

GT Ultra Express Card ($199-299)
The Option GT Ultra Express provides enhanced mobile broadband performance for quick easy access to email, the internet, and business apps on your laptop while on-the-go. The GT Ultra Express operates seamlessly across AT&T's 3G BroadbandConnect and EDGE networks providing you the perfect combination of performance and coverage. And with quad-band GSM support, you can stay connected whether traveling across town or halfway around the world. Designed to work with newer laptops with slots, it has a convenient flip antenna that will keep you connected wherever business takes you.

Included Features:
Work seamlessly between AT&T's 3G and EDGE networks
Access email, internet and business applications while on-the-go
Global compatibility with the world standard for wireless - GSM
Throughput up to twice as fast as previously available*
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, tri-band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA
Expected HSDPA download speeds of 600 Kbps - 1.4 Mbps*
Expected HSDPA upload speeds of 500-800 Kbps*
Expected EDGE download speeds of 70-135 Kbps*
Flip-up antenna for optimal mobile broadband performance
OS support for Microsoft® Windows 2000, XP, Vista®
Compatible with Apple® Mac® OS X (version 10.4 or later)
Plug-and-play compatibility with AT&T Communication Manager software
Designed to work in newer laptops with ExpressCard slots
* Actual throughput speed varies depending on network

...to me I think this would work! :)

bretm

Jun 15, 2008, 01:51 AM

I can't complain...AT&T is giving us free Wifi in their hotspot areas, So who cares about the tethering. I am excited to walk into starbucks and actually utilize their Wifi instead of bugging my friends for their login information. Never tethered before, and I don't really care in the first place.

Really? I don't know what it's like everywhere else, but here in Atlanta Starbucks is the only place that has the nerve to charge for WiFi. I mean, for cryin out loud all any company has to do is install a $75 biz connection (which they probably already have) and then buy a $50 wireless router and they have free wifi to bring in patrons. To charge for it is ludicrous.

Here everywhere I go it's free wifi, free wifi. Chick fil a, Diggers, McDonalds, every coffee shop, the pizza place, just everywhere seemingly. Gosh, yay thanks for the free AT&T WiFi starbucks. Guess, what? There's nothing to eat there! I'm hungry! :)

stevenz

Jun 15, 2008, 02:53 AM

I use tethering over bluetooth on my old SonyEricsson W900 and it works fine, I only get about 40KB/sec but that's generally fine as long as I don't want to download anything. It seems to be pretty reliable.

Unless Apple actually makes the bluetooth somewhat more than completely useless, which is how it stands at the moment, then it's pretty much a good reason for me not to bother with one. I'd say a lot of it is so they can tie any sort of data transfer down to their little proprietary connector and itunes interface, but being able to just right-click on an image and tell OS X to send it to a bluetooth device is quite handy (I don't use iPhoto as it doesn't do what I want it to).

Perhaps this is why the useful SMS over bluetooth from Address Book was removed from Leopard, as their phone didn't support the function? </conspiracy>

Failing that, here's hoping the usual people can jailbreak the phone so a proxy server can be installed onto it. I'd still like decent bluetooth though. I mean c'mon, something this state of the art with no A2DP/AVRCP!? It's not 2005 anymore.

The iPhone is a nice device, but its functionality is just too crippled relative to a lot of its competition. Apart from the touchscreen even the new one still doesn't do anything that the "old" Nokia N95 can. e.g. _still_ no MMS!?

Obvious argument is that the interface on the N95 is terrible.

Here's hoping the final 2.0 firmware does something useful. If it can be made to function as a network gateway over bluetooth or even wifi, then it's a lot more useful as a business device. Until then, people will just have to carry their Huawei 3G modems or whatever around as well.

bilbo--baggins

Jun 15, 2008, 04:54 AM

I accept that tethering isn't allowed by the fair use terms as a laptop is likely to hog a lot more bandwidth thm an iPhone.

I also wouldn't want to hack my iPhone

However, my MacBook doesn't have an expansion slot, and I always have my iPhone with me. I think the should offer a 1-click solution that allows people to pay extra to use their iPhone as a modem. I used an old Sony Ericsson phone as a modem and it took a bit of investigating to work out how to set it up

If apple provided a simple soluion where people who have paid extra can click a button and switch the service on it would be great

Mind you, the iPhone really does reduce the need to take a laptop for some people. The idea of running presentations by connecting an iPhone to a projector using keynote sounds fantastic.

Tosser

Jun 15, 2008, 05:49 AM

Perhaps this is why the useful SMS over bluetooth from Address Book was removed from Leopard, as their phone didn't support the function? </conspiracy>

Oh, that's what happened!
I bought a new phone the day after I "upgraded" to Leopard, and it didn't work. When I then downgraded to Tiger a while after (and for a month or two), I didn't think to check it, as I assumed it was the phone.

Excellent job, Apple. You're acting like a monopoly, making everyone suffering. :mad:

Mr Smith

Jun 15, 2008, 06:13 AM

Yoursh

Jun 15, 2008, 06:15 AM

I'm not sure if anyone has thought of this but what's stopping you from purchasing a laptop internet card and poping your iPhone 3G sim into it? Would you get internet? (w/ no voice of course lol)

Actually....I'm doing this now with my current iPhone's sim card. I install my iPhone sim card into my old Windows mobile smartphone(unlocked it after transfering my phone # to the iPhone). The old phone is pre-EDGE so it does work but I get a slow 'dialup speed' like connection. Can also make and receive calls on it if I need to.

A 3G model's sim card should be able to use an unlocked or AT&T locked phone with 3G speeds. I don't know if a 3G laptop card would work though. At least for EDGE, the phones connect to AT&T differently then the cards do.(to get technical, the phones connect via 'WAP@CINGULAR' and the cards/pda's connect via 'ISP@CINGULAR') It may work, but I'm not spending $100+ on a card to find out.

I can see the reasons AT&T and Apple don't want tethering. One, they want to sell full on mobile internet service and get the higher price for it. They're only charging $20-$30/month because you are limited on what you can do with the connection on an iPhone. If they offered tethering, you can bet AT&T would charge a lot more for the service. Two, they doen't want people to abuse the access. You know people would try to download large things like torrents if they could. This would bog down the network fairly quickly. Three, I can see Steve Jobs view that the iPhone provides all the functionality you need.

Never the less, I will be upgrading to the 3G iPhone. I will most likely just hunt down a used 3G phone to use like my current setup. For internet the iPhone works fine, but I need a laptop to run non-browser apps like Server Admin and Remote Desktop for remote administration of my Xserve.

Tosser

Jun 15, 2008, 06:19 AM

why would you wifi tether anyway? when you can just get your laptop straight onto wifi?!?!

WiFi-tethering in this context means you use the Wi-Fi-card in your laptop to connect directly to the WiFi in your phone (just like one would use BT-tethering), and then from there go to the internet.

superleccy

Jun 15, 2008, 07:08 AM

who really needs 3g tethering that much? wifi is common as hell now...
what can't the iphone give you that a laptop does in between wifi spots?

WiFi isn't "as common as hell" driving up the M1 in my car! Not that I've noticed, anyway. :p

And my TomTom won't accept a USB or Express card dongle.

SL

r3dko

Jun 15, 2008, 07:56 AM

Before the charger port in my Blackberry 8800 broke, I used to use Bluetooth tethering all the time. I don't have internet hookup in our summer home in the mountains, as broadband wasn't around until just recently. The only options were check my mail on the phone, or drive an hour to the nearest Starbucks. Tethering took some time and research, but I finally was able to achieve solid connections, even while driving. I would be behind the wheel, and my wife would be in the passenger's seat updated the photos in our blog, or letting someone know that we'll be gone for the next two weeks.

All in all, I am disappointed that the obvious "smartphone" potential of the iPhone is being ignored. Don't get me wrong-- I love the phone, but it is still not as practical for business as even an older "crackberry". 3g and MobileMe will be wonderful, but are still behind the tech curve when it comes to true mobile office application.

As much as I travel, it would be nice having a phone that would allow me to do Everything that I needed to do, so that I didn't have to lug around a laptop. With all of the restrictions that I've been seeing, however, I don't see that occurring for at least a couple more years. The technology is there -- but the cell companies and Apple are too busy trying to protect their own interests to realize the potential.

Forget the typical home user plans. Why not make an iPhone-specific Enterprise-grade plan that will allow tethering, bluetooth communication, MMS over IP, and many of the other things we have been looking for. Even better -- why not make a bluetooth camera that can be used for video conferencing? The potential is tremendous, but it is all going to go to waste if no one makes use of it.

donstenk

Jun 15, 2008, 08:15 AM

Has anyone actually tried to use tethering to a smart device ?

I regularly use my Nokia E61i as a bluetooth modem on a MacBook. I get a reliable 3G or Edge connection that is fine for web, mail and IM. Skype works well, even receiving video - not sending, the upstream is too limited.

I guess it depends on your mobile and your network coverage. Italy, where I live, has excellent 3G coverage.

It makes for great backup connectivity and is useful when working out of office for a few days.

Tosser

Jun 15, 2008, 08:39 AM

I regularly use my Nokia E61i as a bluetooth modem on a MacBook. I get a reliable 3G or Edge connection that is fine for web, mail and IM. Skype works well, even receiving video - not sending, the upstream is too limited.

I guess it depends on your mobile and your network coverage. Italy, where I live, has excellent 3G coverage.

It makes for great backup connectivity and is useful when working out of office for a few days.

I used a smartphone until I realised I didn't really like it* (or needed that particular solution). I then purchased a "3G-stick" to connect to the network. I use that solution to upload audio-pieces, edit the web and so on.

*what's nice about having the connectivity as a "stick" instead of using the phone is that I can use my phone for interviews and so on, and only having to worry about talk time.

To me, that's the perfect solution.

Xavier

Jun 15, 2008, 10:27 AM

Just one more reason (if it is something a jailbreak could accomplish) to jailbreak

JeffDM

Jun 15, 2008, 10:42 AM

You pay for a service, that service is yours to do with as you please. I bought this much service for MY use and I will use it on myself as I please. ... Wireless providers sale unlimited service and then cut you off and try to redefine the term unlimited.

They provide "unlimited use", but only for specific devices and uses, because how much data a person typically uses changes based on the device in question. This is why different kinds of devices get different rates. Using it as a notebook modem is likely to pull down several times the data that a smartphone would.

Everyday we let people take our rights one clause at a time.

That melodrama doesn't work on my in this situation. If you signed the contract knowing that you will break its terms for this reason only shows is that you're a dishonest person.

Having Apple blocking tethering (BTW it's the first time I've heard it call that)

I've never seen it called any other way.

JeffDM

Jun 15, 2008, 10:47 AM

why would you wifi tether anyway? when you can just get your laptop straight onto wifi?!?!

What they mean is connect the computer to the phone using WiFi. The phone connects to the internet using Edge / 3G, not WiFi.

Surely the whole point of the iphone is internet in your pocket? you are complaining about it not being able to get your laptop online when its a super capable device itself?
who really needs 3g tethering that much? wifi is common as hell now...
what can't the iphone give you that a laptop does in between wifi spots?

iPhone isn't the ideal device for every computer task. It can't even do a lot of basic things that notebooks can, and there's the matter of screen size and app availability.

Accessible WiFi isn't necessarily that common.

i understand that they don't build it in, but i don't understand how they can prevent someone else from doing it, the phone clearly isn't crippled to send and recieve data, tethering would just be a matter of getting the phone and computer to communicate, which they don't have any control over

They can't prevent, but they can make it difficult. Making it difficult is enough to minimize the impact.

Tosser

Jun 15, 2008, 10:49 AM

iPhone isn't the ideal device for every computer task. It can't even do a lot of basic things that notebooks can […]

Copy/paste comes to mind, lol

1Zach1

Jun 15, 2008, 11:05 AM

The article says there will be no plan for IPhone tethering right? It does not say the IPhone won't be able to tether. Call me optimistic, but maybe a little of that isn't a bad thing.

buccsmf1

Jun 15, 2008, 11:09 AM

why would you wifi tether anyway? when you can just get your laptop straight onto wifi?!?!
Surely the whole point of the iphone is internet in your pocket? you are complaining about it not being able to get your laptop online when its a super capable device itself?
who really needs 3g tethering that much? wifi is common as hell now...
what can't the iphone give you that a laptop does in between wifi spots?

um maybe if you live in a major us city it isnt a problem but for the vast majority of americans FREE public wi-fi is virtually non-existent. tell me, where, in a town of 70k, can you find free wi-fi other than starbucks? :rolleyes:

bigmc6000

Jun 15, 2008, 11:23 AM

That's actually not how it works. You get unlimited 3G for $30 a month, however ONLY for your phone. You then break your user contract and tether anyway. If you use it too much however, AT&T might notice that you're using too much bandwidth for just a phone. At that point they exercise their right to cancel your data plan, you don't notice, and at the end of the month you're paying by the KB.

That's similar to the people who paying for unlimited Media Net ($15-20 a month), when they have a 3G phone with a QWERTY keyboard. A lot of people get away with it, but some get caught for violating their contract.

An actual tethering plan would be $65.

Well the overwhelming majority of people who tether don't use it as their sole internet connection - it's for when they are on the road and want to use their laptop. If you just want to use it as your primary internet you just buy the card for your computer. At least that's how all the people I know use it and none of them had to hack their phone to do it.

MojoWill

Jun 15, 2008, 11:31 AM

The iPhone does support it it is only AT&T that aren't supporting it on their network. O2 in the UK will allow it.

as for the practical use of tethering it is great i have sucessfully used via bluetooth an N95 and LG Viewty for a while to connect my MBP to the net and can skype FTP evn play world of warcraft!

moniker

Jun 15, 2008, 12:30 PM

Surely this is no surprise to anyone. Although a nice dream, the provision of unrestricted, unlimited, high-speed, tethered internet via 3G is still a long way off (if ever).

It depends on where you live. I find it disturbing that Apple listens very carefully to AT&T and implement the restrictions that they ask for for all operators, while many operators may not have such a problem with data-intensive mobile apps (as an example) that AT&T has. One of my two current mobile operators has two data plans; one 1 GB transfer limit and one unlimited that is really unlimited (no "fair use" clauses in the fine print) and the speed is currently at 7.2 Mbps to be increased to 14.4 Mbps by the end of the year.

They also actively flog 3G USB modem dongles as a competitive alternative to ADSL broadband. They have a music store and download service that operates on 3G and even a music streaming service on 3G.

I'm sure their network would cope with the occasional use of a tethered iPhone.

moniker

Jun 15, 2008, 12:33 PM

moniker

Jun 15, 2008, 12:35 PM

Has anyone actually tried to use tethering to a smart device ?

I have, on several devices, and it sucks, big time sucks.

It doesn't suck as bad if you connect over USB rather than BT, tho. It's great to have for the occasional use but it drains the phone batteries very quickly.

spaceballl

Jun 15, 2008, 01:10 PM

I was going to not be a part of the hack installs anymore - but i'm hoping someone hacks a tethering program now - this is so lame.

twoodcc

Jun 15, 2008, 01:21 PM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

not a dealbreaker for me, but I'd still love to see this available

nagromme

Jun 15, 2008, 01:35 PM

You would think, if Apple added the feature, AT&T would love to sell it to you.

Unfortunately, even if they did, tethering is outside my price range. I'd rarely need it since the phone itself has web and email. I'd often LIKE it... if it were free!

randomrazor

Jun 15, 2008, 01:53 PM

well the ability to tether would have almost made the $10 price increase worth it... :rolleyes:

I can't agree more!!!

jahsavi

Jun 15, 2008, 02:22 PM

I can't believe people are not reading my other post..

Purchase a used/refurbished usb or express internet card for your macbook or pro. Pop your sim out and put it in the internet card.. or if your really smart copy your sim card.

I've talked to a few people and they all said this would work. You pay for 3G.. doesn't matter what the card is in. As long as the 3G service is paid for on that sim.

I'll be purchasing the USB card for my macbook and the new iphone 3G. :)

chadaw

Jun 15, 2008, 03:15 PM

Wow, would that work or would that breech some fine print in At&t?

To me alot of the posters are selling themself short. Even if they don't need to tether, they should see the principle involved. We should be able to use the data connection however we want. (Well except for illegal matters.)

Tethering has always been one of my hopes. I am a freelance web designer and sometimes do work away from the home or wifi connection. Thankfully, I can go to Corner Bakery or now Starbucks to use their wifi, but honestly it would be nice to us the phone tethering.

Think about this:

I already spend $30 bucks a month through AT&T for fast Dsl. If I get the Iphone, I will be spending $30-45 bucks a month for unlimited data. And if I purchased something like Verizon's usb modem then thats another $30+ a month. Come on. Sheesh. Give us freaking Tethering as most of us already have high broadband costs already. And if not for the principle think about this? Since alot of people on here said they won't even use it, those that will use it won't eat too terrible much more data.

It should be seen as the classic buffet. You have those that won't hardly eat much and those that will eat a ton, but they balance it out. Come on At&t give use the buffet, you already charging outrageous for it.

I can't believe people are not reading my other post..

Purchase a used/refurbished usb or express internet card for your macbook or pro. Pop your sim out and put it in the internet card.. or if your really smart copy your sim card.

I've talked to a few people and they all said this would work. You pay for 3G.. doesn't matter what the card is in. As long as the 3G service is paid for on that sim.

I'll be purchasing the USB card for my macbook and the new iphone 3G. :)

Van Wildonher

Jun 15, 2008, 04:09 PM

Like other people have been saying, there isn't free wifi everywhere in the world. Tethering is good for them, plus the iPhone isn't even great for web browsing. Sure it get's the job done, and it is better than the rest but it's still no laptop.

question fear

Jun 15, 2008, 05:21 PM

No AT&T phones technically allow tethering without paying an additional $40...

This is not news at all. It will be hacked in days just like every Windows Mobile phone and Blackberry... Stop sensationalizing everything iphone, people.

Newsflash - the iphone might make calls!

I've got a Treo 750 with an AT&T Unlimited Dataplan. I can tether via bluetooth to my MacBookPro with no problems. We're on EDGE here so I only use it when I really need to get an email or something, but other than that, it works great every time........

I think they are really making another big mistake if there is no way to get Internet access via their bluetooth, usb or wifi connections.

AFAIK ATT does allow it for regular phones and smartphones as long as it isn't abused. They'll let you tether, but if you pull down several gb a month they might get testy.

For people who consistently need an always-on laptop connection, that's what HSDPA and EV-DO pc cards are designed for, and tethering is for the occasional "let me just grab this while I'm waiting for the train" type use.

Stike

Jun 15, 2008, 06:06 PM

Its simple as that: No tethering for iPhone, no iPhone for me.

*hugs my phone that supports it* ;)

kjs862

Jun 15, 2008, 06:12 PM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

I think if Apple wants to be taken seriously in the business market they should work on making tethering an option.

Some_Big_Spoon

Jun 15, 2008, 06:45 PM

Tosser

Jun 15, 2008, 07:25 PM

you have to think that if anyone could make tethering work, and make the experience great, it would be Apple. I'd expect 3g laptop to come out from them in 12 months or less. That way, you have to buy 2 devices, and 2 plans. Everyone wins! (but you)

Haha, indeed.

Now, that 3G laptop won't be just any laptop. It will be called "Airpro", or for them café latte drinking people: "Prair(e)".
It will feature a 2GB harddisk, because as Steve said at the Stevenote, "The future is online-storage!"
Therefore Apple introduces a new service targeted at pros with a price of a measly 400 US$/year.
The idea is that, as Steve said at the Stevenote, "Why use precious hard disk space on your computer when you can store and use - not only your documents - but also all your apps* online?"

The new pro service which features an astounding 2GB (yes, you heard right) of storage you can store all of your apps, write you report, yes, even edit your audio and video**/***/****
The online servic will be called MobileYou, or as it will be known among the consumers: F...You.

*Apps to purchased through the new App-store in iTunes.
** 3G service depending. Unlimited, with a maximum of 500MB download/month.
*** Apps only to be use online.
****All content created using these applications cannot be used commercially, unless Apple agrees to such matters in writing, and the customer have paid a license fee for each commercial use and/or session (size of which is to be determined).

P.S. "praire" in french: Hard shell clam.

ThunderSkunk

Jun 15, 2008, 08:13 PM

Way to add to the suck-level, AT&T. Provide 3g, but keep it slow, and now attempt to retard the data usage to boot.

This is not hundred dollar a month service.

Apple's got a great potential product, held back by a handful of issues they refuse to address, and about the crappiest service provider in the nation.

Looking forward to the competition catching up, and lighting the fire under Apples ass, both to add the glaring omissions to the OS, and to demand a better companion service from their providers. Market share isn't forever.

ThunderSkunk

Jun 15, 2008, 08:25 PM

I was going to not be a part of the hack installs anymore - but i'm hoping someone hacks a tethering program now - this is so lame.

They did. Once you've jailbroken, you can tether to your hearts content.

Sort of. As with everything on this thing, there's a catch.

It's based on your local wireless lan. You need to set up your phone and your computer on a wireless network with a router, & then enable internut sharing. They apparently can't run it ad hoc.

Not very practical when you're out in the field and you don't have a router handy. The iPhone is still the one phone that does everything halfway.

But it sure looks pretty.

jahsavi

Jun 15, 2008, 11:09 PM

Wow, would that work or would that breech some fine print in At&t?

To me alot of the posters are selling themself short. Even if they don't need to tether, they should see the principle involved. We should be able to use the data connection however we want. (Well except for illegal matters.)

Tethering has always been one of my hopes. I am a freelance web designer and sometimes do work away from the home or wifi connection. Thankfully, I can go to Corner Bakery or now Starbucks to use their wifi, but honestly it would be nice to us the phone tethering.

Think about this:

I already spend $30 bucks a month through AT&T for fast Dsl. If I get the Iphone, I will be spending $30-45 bucks a month for unlimited data. And if I purchased something like Verizon's usb modem then thats another $30+ a month. Come on. Sheesh. Give us freaking Tethering as most of us already have high broadband costs already. And if not for the principle think about this? Since alot of people on here said they won't even use it, those that will use it won't eat too terrible much more data.

It should be seen as the classic buffet. You have those that won't hardly eat much and those that will eat a ton, but they balance it out. Come on At&t give use the buffet, you already charging outrageous for it.

Well of course I want to stay legal and I recommend that everyone does. I still need to research a little more. I would say that putting your sim in a internet card would be o.k. but duplicating it would not.

ThunderSkunk

Jun 16, 2008, 11:49 AM

Well of course I want to stay legal and I recommend that everyone does. I still need to research a little more. I would say that putting your sim in a internet card would be o.k. but duplicating it would not.

Oh no, there's nothing illegal about it, but there's a little bit in there that says if they see your account downloading more data than whatever they deem average, they can decide to bill you for it, at whatever rate they decide.

So downloading a hundred torrents is probably not what you want to do. Downloading your email or using Apollo is the same amount of data that'd be going to your phone anyway.

"Unlimited" doesn't really mean unlimited.

gnasher729

Jun 16, 2008, 11:57 AM

I stand corrected then. How much does a plan cost and which one's offer unrestricted, unlimited tethering? Are they anywhere near the iPhone tariffs?

Why would you insist on "unrestricted, unlimited" tethering?

The data plan that you get with your iPhone is priced based on the expectation how much data an average iPhone user would download every month. The amount of data that I would download on a phone for phone use is much much less that what I would download in an average month on my computer. Tethering is needed for the times when I'm away from home.

In the UK, you can buy USB sticks that are basically a phone-tethering unit to plug into your laptop, with prices from £10 for 1GB, I think £20 for 3 GB and £35 for 7 GB, valid for one month. I think that is quite reasonable for its purpose, and having that as an option for the iPhone would be nice. There is no need to download a Linux distribution (5 GB), seven different versions of the iPhone SDK (> 1 GB each), or HD movies (>> 1 GB each) using your mobile phone, you can do that at home. But being able to do web browsing on my MacBook _anywhere_, that would be useful.

iJon

Jun 16, 2008, 12:23 PM

Why would you insist on "unrestricted, unlimited" tethering?

The data plan that you get with your iPhone is priced based on the expectation how much data an average iPhone user would download every month. The amount of data that I would download on a phone for phone use is much much less that what I would download in an average month on my computer. Tethering is needed for the times when I'm away from home.

In the UK, you can buy USB sticks that are basically a phone-tethering unit to plug into your laptop, with prices from £10 for 1GB, I think £20 for 3 GB and £35 for 7 GB, valid for one month. I think that is quite reasonable for its purpose, and having that as an option for the iPhone would be nice. There is no need to download a Linux distribution (5 GB), seven different versions of the iPhone SDK (> 1 GB each), or HD movies (>> 1 GB each) using your mobile phone, you can do that at home. But being able to do web browsing on my MacBook _anywhere_, that would be useful.

Look, it's very simple. People are complaining about it because you can tether on other phones that are offered by cell companies worldwide. I used to do it with my Sony Ericsson. My friend does it with his BlackBerry.

ATT can handle the bandwidth, they just want people to pay another monthly fee for an Expresscard or USB dongle to get online.

jon

savar

Jun 16, 2008, 12:48 PM

Has anyone actually tried to use tethering to a smart device ?

I have, on several devices, and it sucks, big time sucks.

Actually, I tether to my dumb device all the time. I have a motorola flip phone that allows bluetooth tethering. I think it's great for things like SSH (remote shell) where I want quick access to something on a server. It's much easier to do on a laptop than it would be on an iphone screen, but the bandwidth is negligible compared to what the iphone is downloading from the web.

Of course, neither my phone nor my provider (Verizon) supports this option officially, but I made it work anyway :) Hopefully there are similar workarounds for the iphone. There's no way for AT&T to tell if traffic is tunneled through the iphone or not. As long as you're doing low bandwidth stuff, why would they even care?

sunfast

Jun 16, 2008, 03:26 PM

Disappointing but hardly unexpected. It would be awesome if it was allowed though, maybe one day...

wildmilne

Jun 16, 2008, 03:31 PM

As others mentioned, totally lame but not surprising...apple sold their soul to AT&T on this one...if only they could have come out with an unlocked, uncrippled phone to be used on any network...even for the premium $

Dontdothat317

Jun 16, 2008, 04:29 PM

For heavy broadband use via a laptop, I'm just going to wait for a WiFi station. But if I decide to get the Iphone over the Tilt, it will definately get hacked but I would only tether when absolutely necessary (IE, not the unlimited freedom you would have accessing 3G from just th Iphone) like when I'm on the road or camping somewhere I have reception or on the beach.

Its a real bummer and the fact that the Iphone has to be hacked to enable a feature that EVERY OTHER 3G PHONE HAS, kind of irks me, although it really doesn't matter in the long run.

jamiewiseman

Jun 16, 2008, 05:19 PM

I'm another one who won't get an iphone if there is no tethering. I've wifi at home, but I don't work from an office, I work from my car. The 3G network allows me to browse, check emails, and run my laptop in the car like most do in an office. Guess I'll just have to stick to Nokia (who have supported tethering since the original analogue network was launched), or buy a blackberry. (I also use tomtom and an Ipaq, both of which need a bluetooth mobile phone modem connection.)

Pity.

pavvento

Jun 18, 2008, 04:47 AM

Who knows, maybe this is how Steve Jobs gets his kicks. See how much money he can make selling a product that he knows is lacking some serious features. Seriously, I love my iPhone, but I think it says a whole lot about the Apple brand and the quality of the things the iPhone does have to overcome all of its flaws. If you put the same specs into any other phone it would be written off as a p.o.s., but not the iPhone. I mean a phone without MMS, Bluetooth audio, cut and paste, GPS, 3G, tethering, video recording and flash wins invention of the year (or gadget of the year whichever it was). Who else could pull that off??

Tosser

Jun 18, 2008, 05:00 AM

mavis

Jun 18, 2008, 05:56 AM

I mean a phone without MMS, Bluetooth audio, cut and paste, GPS, 3G, tethering, video recording and flash wins invention of the year (or gadget of the year whichever it was). Who else could pull that off??You're right - I've been using an iPod Touch for the past nine months, along with a Japanese mobile with all of the features you just listed, and I CAN'T WAIT to ditch them both for the iPhone. Leave it to Apple to pull something like that off! :D

danedane5

Jun 18, 2008, 05:59 AM

no official way..cough..

2002cbr600f4i

Jun 21, 2008, 07:47 PM

I have to say, this is a HUGE frustration for me and might keep me from buying an iPhone even though I want one badly...

I currently have an LG CU500 3G phone and a nearly 2 year old LaptopConnect unlimited data plan. I use the HECK out of this plan tethering the phone to the laptop (legally!) Pretty much all day, every day at work, I'm connected, most evenings when I go out for dinner alone, etc.

I find it absolutely RETARDED that a highly capable device like the iPhone doesn't allow tethering, but I can do it just fine on a 2 year old phone...

I'm probably going to see if I can just Xfer my phone # over to the iPhone, get the $30 consumer data plan for it, and keep my old phone JUST for tethering only (no voice) and keep the unlimited data plan on it. Just irks me that I gotta pay now for 2 data plans for 2 devices to do what I currently can do on one. If they can't do that, then I'm going to pitch a fit at the store and make them give me a 3G USB dongle adaptor for the laptop and move the Laptop Connect plan over to that...

Does anyone else get the feeling like the iPhone is being crippled rediculously having this feature and that feature disabled or blocked or not implemented when there are tons of other phones that do this???

I'm not sure if I should be upset with AT&T or Apple or both!

mavis

Jun 21, 2008, 08:12 PM

I'm not sure if I should be upset with AT&T or Apple or both!Why would Apple care about this?

kamm

Jun 22, 2008, 04:05 AM

This is so significant, I find it strange that AT&T hasn't disclosed this to any other news outlets already.

Because they know iut would **** up their sales immediately.

kamm

Jun 22, 2008, 04:07 AM

Yes, it's called flock mentality - or hype, if you prefer.

Or corruption as there's no way anyone would call "invention of the year" such an underwhelming unit. :rolleyes:

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 04:09 AM

Or corruption as there's no way anyone would call "invention of the year" such an underwhelming unit. :rolleyes:

Good point. Another reason could be ignorance, intentional or not.

Nah, corruption seems more like it.

Why would Apple care about this?

Because it will affect their sales. And that it will poke holes in their hyped image "it just works", when plainly "it doesn't work at all, because we crippled it" – you know, just like disk mode on the iPhone and Touch.

kamm

Jun 22, 2008, 04:09 AM

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 04:18 AM

BTW friend of mine was seriously debating the new 3G iPhone - he's a long time HTC and Nokia user - but as soon as word got out about this retarded limitation he immediately ditched the whole idea. Of course, he's not stupid to buy into such a ripoff, even if it's cheaper now...

I agree with his (and your) sentiment.

Then again, I already ditched the idea back when I discovered there was o disk mode on either of them. And now with mobileme, I see why: They want you to pay 99 US$/year if you want to bring something that could just be put on the flash. Sweet deal, huh?

But, just you wait a few minutes, and some tosser (not me ;)) will go "Well, that feature is useless - on my campus we have wifi", and that sort of fanboyish nonsense.

Ozz.Man

Jun 22, 2008, 06:48 AM

What a huge disappointment. I was hoping to get rid of my Verizon EVDO when we camp and save the $60 a month. Lets hope theres a reliable hack for this.

mavis

Jun 22, 2008, 07:44 AM

Because it will affect their sales. And that it will poke holes in their hyped image "it just works", when plainly "it doesn't work at all, because we crippled it" – you know, just like disk mode on the iPhone and Touch.Umm, it might help if you'd actually read the thread a little before commenting. I was responding to 2002cbr600f4i's post, asking whether he/she should be angry at AT&T or Apple for the lack of tethering. My response, "why would Apple care about this" clearly indicated that (IMO) the blame lies solely with AT&T. ;)

Anyway, I don't know what everyone hopes to accomplish complaining about this here. If you desperately NEED tethering, either Jailbreak your phone and do it that way, or buy a different phone, and be done with it. Not exactly rocket science.

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 07:51 AM

Umm, it might help if you'd actually read the thread a little before commenting. I was responding to 2002cbr600f4i's post, asking whether he/she should be angry at AT&T or Apple for the lack of tethering. My response, "why would Apple care about this" clearly indicated that (IMO) the blame lies solely with AT&T. ;)

I already read the thread. If you meant what you now explain, perhaps there was a lapse in your communication skills …

Anyway, I don't know what everyone hopes to accomplish complaining about this here. If you desperately NEED tethering, either Jailbreak your phone and do it that way, or buy a different phone, and be done with it. Not exactly rocket science.

Ah, yes, when it comes to Apple, people should preferably shut up about the shortcomings and just go buy something else. That way, the fanboys can run around pretending Apple is the Teh God-corp.

It all makes sense now. Thank you :D

mavis

Jun 22, 2008, 08:02 AM

I already read the thread. If you meant what you now explain, perhaps there was a lapse in your communication skills …That must be it.
Ah, yes, when it comes to Apple, people should preferably shut up about the shortcomings and just go buy something else. That way, the fanboys can run around pretending Apple is the Teh God-corp.

It all makes sense now. Thank you :DNo, I understand that people like to complain. In this case, however, it just seems so pointless because 1) it's not even Apple's fault (blame AT&T!) 2) there are workarounds and 3) no one is forcing you to buy the iPhone in the first place.

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 08:09 AM

That must be it.
Yes. It's all about being to the point.

No, I understand that people like to complain. In this case, however, it just seems so pointless because 1) it's not even Apple's fault (blame AT&T!) 2) there are workarounds and 3) no one is forcing you to buy the iPhone in the first place.

1) Hmm, so it's just AT&T's fault? How is it then, that it seems it won't be possible anywhere else? And that many other phones can do it? Even with AT&T as well?

Guess it's that "Apple is flawless, it's someone else's fault"-attitude rearing it's ugly head again …

2)One shouldn't have to use work arounds to get a feature like this. And certainly not, if one risks that the workaround will work as "well" as the workaround for the lack of disk mode on the 1st gen iPhone.

3)see my previous post.

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 08:09 AM

Db post

mavis

Jun 22, 2008, 08:19 AM

Yes. It's all about being to the point.As opposed to what? Or maybe you call a six word post 'rambling'? ... And here I thought I was being concise. :rolleyes:

1) Hmm, so it's just AT&T's fault? How is then, that it seems it won't be possible anywhere else? And that many other phones can do it. Even with AT&T as well? Guess it's that "Apple is flawless, it's someone else's fault"-attitude rearing it's ugly head again.
Let's see - why would I possibly think this is AT&T's choice? I don't know, maybe the fact that O2 in the UK is going to allow tethering (http://9to5mac.com/o2-iphone) with the same phone? ;)

2)One shouldn't have to use work arounds to get a feature like this. Well, if the carrier doesn't allow it, your choices are to either use a workaround, buy another phone, or simply shut up and deal with it. Not exactly rocket science.

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 08:25 AM

As opposed to what? Or maybe you call a six word post 'rambling'? ... And here I thought I was being concise. :rolleyes:

Yes, people tend to think a lot of things.

Let's see - why would I possibly think this is AT&T's choice? I don't know, maybe the fact that O2 in the UK is going to allow tethering (http://9to5mac.com/o2-iphone) with the same phone ... ?
Ah, well, that changes everything. I guess Apple signing an exclusive with AT&T meant that AT&T was the only party having a say in these matters with Apple being their lapdog. :eek:

Well, if the carrier doesn't allow it, your choices are to either use a workaround, buy another phone, or simply shut up and deal with it. Not exactly rocket science.

Yes, but you're suggesting people should agree to go around these decisions without saying a word about it.
Let me repeat – no, on second thought: Just read the previous few post about excuses and fanboy-attitude.

mavis

Jun 22, 2008, 08:42 AM

-snip-You're entitled to complain about AT&T's decision all you want, of course. I don't think it'll do much good - but if it makes you feel better then knock yourself out. And be sure to throw some blame Apple's way too, just for good measure! ;)

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 08:48 AM

You're entitled to complain about AT&T's decision all you want, of course. I don't think it'll do much good - but if it makes you feel better then knock yourself out. And be sure to throw some blame Apple's way too, just for good measure! ;)

Don't worry. Unlike some, I don't believe that the best way to get the word out there is to stay silent and suck up to big corporations.

Btw, how's it going with that MMS I send you?

Oh, wait …

mavis

Jun 22, 2008, 08:58 AM

Don't worry. Unlike some, I don't believe that the best way to get the word out there is to stay silent and suck up to big corporations.You're right, of course. Incessant whining at MacRumors ought to do the trick! ;)

Btw, how's it going with that MMS I send you?Sorry, it would be difficult for you to send me an MMS as I've never bothered giving out that address, since it changes with every carrier name change and merger, not to mention when I switch carriers altogether. Now if only my phone had a real email client like the iPhone, so that I could check the mail account I've used for the past six years ... :(

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 09:17 AM

You're right, of course. Incessant whining at MacRumors ought to do the trick! ;)
At least people read these forums and become aware of the numerous shortcomings.

Sorry, it would be difficult for you to send me an MMS as I've never bothered giving out that address, since it changes with every carrier name change and merger, not to mention when I switch carriers altogether.

Erm, are you sure you know what MMS is? You just need the phone number to a person in order to send an MMS.

Now if only my phone had a real email client like the iPhone, so that I could check the mail account I've used for the past six years ... :(
Ah, yes, being able to check one's mail on a small hand-held device. What a novel idea! :p

mavis

Jun 22, 2008, 10:05 AM

Erm, are you sure you know what MMS is? You just need the phone number to a person in order to send an MMS.Oh, well then I guess that's something I absolutely won't miss, then - where I live, sending MMS to a phone number only works when the person you're sending to is using the same carrier - if you send to someone on a different carrier's network, you have to know their phone's email address (which kind of defeats the purpose, I think) ... ;)

Ah, yes, being able to check one's mail on a small hand-held device. What a novel idea! :pYou've obviously never tried accessing email on an iPhone or iPod Touch. I've been doing it for the past seven months (I've probably sent 95% of my email from my Touch since last November) and it's a lot easier than you seem to think. Actual experience with a product would probably make it easier to offer meaningful (and accurate) observations. Just a thought.

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 10:09 AM

Oh, well then I guess that's something I absolutely won't miss, then - where I live, sending MMS to a phone number only works when the person you're sending to is using the same carrier - if you send to someone on a different carrier's network, you have to know their phone's email address (which kind of defeats the purpose, I think) ... ;)

It certainly does. However, in most of the developed world, you simply choose whether you want to send a standard sms or an MMS. That's it.

You've obviously never tried accessing email on an iPhone or iPod Touch. I've been doing it for the past seven months (I've probably sent 95% of my email from my Touch since last November) and it's a lot easier than you seem to think. Actual experience with a product would probably make it easier to offer meaningful (and accurate) observations. Just a thought.

Er, I think you mistook my sarcasm for something else. I actually _don't_ think there's anything new in sending a mail from a small handheld device, so you going on about me lacking "actual experience" is rather moot and, frankly, quite entertaining.

I thought the sarcasm dripping from the sentence would speak for itself.

mavis

Jun 22, 2008, 10:16 AM

Er, I think you mistook my sarcasm for something else. I actually _don't_ think there's anything new in sending a mail from a small handheld device, so you going on about me lacking "actual experience" is rather moot and, frankly, quite entertaining.

I thought the sarcasm dripping from the sentence would speak for itself.You're right, I did misunderstand what you had said. It's just that the iPhone will be the first phone I've ever owned with a real email client. I guess living in Japan and buying the latest and greatest handsets for the past six years has taken it's toll. I am SO looking forward to not having to mess with poorly implemented MMS anymore! :D

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 10:25 AM

You're right, I did misunderstand. It's just that the iPhone will be the first phone I've ever owned with a real email client. I guess living in Japan and buying the latest and greatest handsets for the past six years has taken it's toll. I am SO looking forward to not having to mess with poorly implemented MMS anymore! :D

Ah, yes, it's poorly implemented to simply receive that picture or video in the MMS.

The way the iPhone works is much, much better: Giving you a link a long code, getting you to online, type the code in, and then you get to watch.
And you not being able to send an MMS, resulting in you needing to know the carrier of the one you're sending to, so you can_mail_ them at phonenumber@carrier.co.jp! That is such a big improvement! :rolleyes:

But anyways, when it comes to MMS, apparently Japan _is_ ass-backwards.

mavis

Jun 22, 2008, 10:30 AM

Ah, yes, it's poorly implemented to simply receive that picture or video in the MMS. The way the iPhone works is much, much better: Giving you a link a long code, getting you to online, type the code in, and then you get to watch.What are you talking about? What long code??? I can view images sent from a mobile to my email address just fine in the Mail app on my iPod. :confused:
And you not being able to send an MMS, resulting in you needing to know the carrier of the one you're sending to, so you can_mail_ them at phonenumber@carrier.co.jp! That is such a big improvement! :rolleyes:Umm, you could just hit REPLY. That's what I do and it's worked out great all these years. ;)
But anyways, when it comes to MMS, apparently Japan _is_ ass-backwards.No arguments there. Which is why I can't wait to have a phone that can actually handle real email.

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 10:37 AM

What are you talking about? What long code??? I can view images sent from a mobile to my email address just fine in the Mail app on my iPod. :confused:

Okay, look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia_Messaging_Service

We're talking MMS, not email. It's send from phone A to phone B over the cell network, JUST like an SMS.
This way (unless, apparently if you live in japan) you only need the blokes phone numbert to send it to him.
If you're on the receiver side, you do _nothing_, it just comes in, JUST like an sms.

Umm, you could just hit REPLY. That's what I do and it's worked out great all these years. ;)

Again, we're NOT talking e-mail. Sigh!

Go look up "MMS iPhone". You have to WORK AROUND the lack of this feature. You can't even receive one, but get to type in a code. Oh, and since you can't copy/paste on the iPhone, you literally have to type that long code.

No arguments there. Which is why I can't wait to have a phone that can actually handle real email.
Sheesh! You _still_ don't get it, do you? :p

mavis

Jun 22, 2008, 10:46 AM

Again, we're NOT talking e-mail. Sigh!Neither am I. On my phone I can send an "MMS" to either a phone number (same carrier only) or an email address, mobile or otherwise. There is no distinction. Therefore, there is no workaround for me - in fact, quite the opposite. I can now send messages from my phone the same as I've been able to for years, except now I can send and receive using my regular email account, rather than having to use the email/MMS from my carrier. I couldn't be happier!

Go look up "MMS iPhone". You have to WORK AROUND the lack of this feature.No, I think you mean you would have to work around that feature. I certainly won't have to (see above) ... ;)

Sheesh! You _still_ don't get it, do you? :pOh, I get it - this is all highly inconvenient for you and many others. But for some of us, the iPhone is a HUGE improvement over what we've been forced to deal with for so long. Do you understand that??

2002cbr600f4i

Jun 22, 2008, 11:04 AM

I guess my frustration stems from, if it really is AT&T controlling this, why do they exclude the iPhone from doing things that nearly every other phone they sell being able to do:

1) tethering - been doing it for nearly 2 years... Just had to pay for the data plan that allowed it (could have just done it with the media connect plan that was only a data plan for the phone, but would have to worry about getting caught, so I paid for the full Laptop Connect plan...), I mean, if they're worried about lost revenue, just provide a "Laptop Connect/Tethering" plan for the iPhone for more $$$ and be done with it.

2) MMS - show me a phone sold in the last 5 years by AT&T that CAN'T do this?

3) Exchange vCards via Bluetooth - Again, nearly all modern phones can do this.. Why the heck would you exclude the iPhone from doing it?

Now, maybe #2 and #3 are Apple's fault? Maybe they're trying to take too much of "it's a pocket computer, not just a phone" approach and trying to take a very PC/Mac Computer approach to the problem and forcing users to use Computer type processes (email) for those things... But it's still JUST A PHONE!

Also, anyone know what, Exactly, the difference is between the consumer and the business data plans for the iPhone? $30 vs $45 adds up. I'm just wondering if there's additional capabilities or something with the business plan...

I REALLY want the iPhone so I can have 100% sync with my iCal, Address Book an such (My current phone is a NIGHTMARE to keep sync'ed). I might even be able to forego hauling around the laptop all the time if the iPhone is capable enough. That's really the only advantages in my mind. That and the MUCH nicer interface than most mobiles. I HATE TXT msging on most phones.

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 11:12 AM

Neither am I. On my phone I can send an "MMS" to either a phone number (same carrier only) or an email address, mobile or otherwise. There is no distinction. Therefore, there is no workaround for me - in fact, quite the opposite. I can now send messages from my phone the same as I've been able to for years, except now I can send and receive using my regular email account, rather than having to use the email/MMS from my carrier. I couldn't be happier!

You know, I can send a picture to an email as well.
The problem is, if I send you and MMS as it's supposed to be (as in not needing anything but a person's cell phone number (i.e. not needing to know their email, nor carrier)), and you're on an iPhone, you will have to do as I have explained ad nauseum. Puhlease do a search and get the basics right. You have had numerous opportunities by now. You should be able to get it straight by now.

No, I think you mean you would have to work around that feature. I certainly won't have to (see above) ... ;)

[shakes head in disbelief] No, I don't, that's my whole point. Of course, if people only send you mails, and you groomed your friends and each and everyone that _might_ send you a picture, then you won't have to work around anything. But the fact is, if you're send an MMS to your phonenumber (i.e. an MMS, NOT an email), you will have to do as I have explained now for the umpteenth time.

Oh, I get it - this is all highly inconvenient for you and many others. But for some of us, the iPhone is a HUGE improvement over what we've been forced to deal with for so long. Do you understand that??
Please read the link I provided.
The fact is: The iPhone is NOT capable of either sending, NOR receiving MMS. Yes, it can receive and send EMAILS, but that is NOT the same. And if people have send you an actual MMS, (NOT email), then you will HAVE to use the workaround I explained.

And, no, _I_ won't have that problem, as both my phone and my PDA are capable of sending MMS's and emails and browse the web. There's nothing new in that. Oh, and they copy/paste too, not to mention have disk mode and both are capable of tethering (not that I need tethering, as I use a dongle for that on my MBP.

So much for "having had the latest and greatest handsets for six years" if you have problems fathoming even the basics. :eek:

.Andy

Jun 22, 2008, 11:14 AM

I think I'm going to opt for the white iPhone. I want the 16gig and it will be a little different from what most people will have. What colour are you going to get tosser?

netdog

Jun 22, 2008, 11:21 AM

I am loving O2 more and more.

Their initial £35 offering was pretty cr@p, but now with 600 minutes, 600 SMS, and 3G complete with laptop tethering, this is looking more and more like a great deal.

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 11:22 AM

I think I'm going to opt for the white iPhone. I want the 16gig and it will be a little different from what most people will have. What colour are you going to get tosser?

Hmm, methinks I'm going for "transparant", as in the emperor's clothes. You know, and go buy something made from real cloth, with real pockets, buttons and zippers. :cool:

.Andy

Jun 22, 2008, 11:28 AM

Hmm, methinks I'm going for "transparant", as in the emperor's clothes.
I think the invisible shield will be a good choice for you. I've got one for my touch and you can hardly see it! I'm not sure when they'll be available but the pre-order is up on the invisible shield webpage. Well worth the money :).

You know, and go buy something made from real cloth, with real pockets, buttons and zippers.
I don't like added bits to my phone. My girlfriend has a little panda bear hanging off the antenna but I like the streamlined phone. I guess you can buy whatever suits you and everyone is different in their tastes.

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 11:33 AM

I think the invisible shield will be a good choice for you. I've got one for my touch and you can hardly see it! I'm not sure when they'll be available but the pre-order is up on the invisible shield webpage. Well worth the money :).

Depends. I prefer products that actually give me the features I want and need, and only after that, does it matter what brand it is. As it is, I'm not buying an iPhone (nor a touch) because of the numerous shortcomings, and secondly because Apple's QC have taken a tumble. I'm not buying any products that is in the category "just one more useless thing" (i.e. I'd still have to carry what I carry now because of lack of features, thus both of those would just be toys: Useless).

You're right though: You think I could get away with buying the invisible shield only? People wouldn't know nothing was in there, would they? I could simply go "Nope, sorry, the iPhone/touch" doesn't do that" every time someone asked - it's not as if people would be surprised by now.

I don't like added bits to my phone. My girlfriend has a little panda bear hanging off the antenna but I like the streamlined phone. I guess you can buy whatever suits you and everyone is different in their tastes.

I know. Bifurcation is utter useless and get's in the way when bicycling. I think I'll go for wearing a sarong instead. "Keeping it simple" I call it. Although some people prefer to call it "crippled", I insist it's "keeping it simple" :p

anmoldagreat

Jun 22, 2008, 11:42 AM

mavis

Jun 22, 2008, 04:57 PM

-lengthy spiel about MMS-I'm sorry, but what you're describing sounds even more worthless than the 'Japanese MMS' I've used for the past six years. At least here in Japan, where what you describe only works with people using the same carrier as yourself, MMS sounds fairly worthless. :rolleyes:

I'll take real email any day of the week.

jamesarm97

Jun 22, 2008, 05:04 PM

Go look up "MMS iPhone". You have to WORK AROUND the lack of this feature. You can't even receive one, but get to type in a code. Oh, and since you can't copy/paste on the iPhone, you literally have to type that long code.

While we are on MMS and copy / paste. They send the link viewmymessage.com along with the code and password, why can't they just sent the whole thing as a link you can just touch and pull up in safari and have it do the login for you?

Tosser

Jun 22, 2008, 05:21 PM

I'm sorry, but what you're describing sounds even more worthless than the 'Japanese MMS' I've used for the past six years. At least here in Japan, where what you describe only works with people using the same carrier as yourself, MMS sounds fairly worthless. :rolleyes:

I'll take real email any day of the week.

Hmm, the only "lenghty spiel about MMS" I'm describing is how ridiculously one has to go about it on the iPhone. And apparently it works ridiculously in japan as well, for god knows what reason. Who would have thougth.
But seriously, you seem to be arguing that Apple should shoot for the lowest common denominator, because that lowest denominator won't be able to do anything with anything more advanced and thought-through.

Also, by having actual MMS-capability, one doesn't have to forego mail. It's not an either/or, it's a "both/and".

While we are on MMS and copy / paste. They send the link viewmymessage.com along with the code and password, why can't they just sent the whole thing as a link you can just touch and pull up in safari and have it do the login for you?

Yup, it's hardly a "neat" solution.

mavis

Jun 22, 2008, 06:42 PM

But seriously, you seem to be arguing that Apple should shoot for the lowest common denominator, because that lowest denominator won't be able to do anything with anything more advanced and thought-through.No, I think you've completely misunderstood. I'm just amused that people are getting their panties in a twist over the lack of feature like MMS. But, that's just my opinion. ;)

2002cbr600f4i

Jun 23, 2008, 12:09 AM

No, I think you've completely misunderstood. I'm just amused that people are getting their panties in a twist over the lack of feature like MMS. But, that's just my opinion. ;)

Eh... It all depends... Some people use the heck out of MMS... Several friends of mine send me TXT and MMS messages almost daily (much to my annoyance since they KNOW my cell plan makes me pay $0.20 PER MMS...) It just depends. Everyone's usage model is different... I RARELY send MMS messages... But I'd also hate to not have that capability the one time I DO want to send it... And it's annoying that such a common feature found on nearly every other phone doesn't exist on the iPhone.

Sure I could just send it as an email attachment, but I can't always do that to friends for them to receive on their non-iPhone cells, can I? They're expecting to get it as an MMS.

mavis

Jun 23, 2008, 02:09 AM

And it's annoying that such a common feature found on nearly every other phone doesn't exist on the iPhone.Actually, what I find annoying is that more phones don't support email (POP/IMAP) which has been around a lot longer than MMS! ;)

But to each his own. I understand what you guys are saying, and I realize that if I lived in a country where such a crippled messaging system was popular, I'd probably want it on the iPhone too. :)

Tosser

Jun 23, 2008, 07:13 AM

No, I think you've completely misunderstood.

Sure, I "completely misunderstood" when you claim the MMS solution (i.e. non-existant) is a great and elegant solution :rolleyes:

I'm just amused that people are getting their panties in a twist over the lack of feature like MMS. But, that's just my opinion. ;)

What a cop-out. I guess one has to come up with something like that, after having shown oneself to not even know the difference between MMS and email.

Yes, we* are amused.

Actually, what I find annoying is that more phones don't support email (POP/IMAP) which has been around a lot longer than MMS! ;)

Er, didn't you claim to have had the "latest and greatest phones for the last six years"?

So much for that claim. :rolleyes:

*It's the royal we.

mavis

Jun 23, 2008, 07:32 AM

-snip-Welcome back, it was getting lonely in here. As much fun as it is to listen to your incessant whining, perhaps this isn't the place to discuss MMS on the iPhone (seeing as how this is a thread about the lack of tethering) ... Perhaps you can start a new thread about the lack of MMS, or even better, join the discussion in one of the numerous threads already discussing that topic. Just a thought. ;)

Tosser

Jun 23, 2008, 07:41 AM

Welcome back, it was getting lonely in here. As much fun as it is to listen to your incessant whining, perhaps this isn't the place to discuss MMS on the iPhone (seeing as how this is a thread about the lack of tethering) ... Perhaps you can start a new thread about the lack of MMS, or even better, join the discussion in one of the numerous threads already discussing that topic. Just a thought. ;)

Great. Yet another cop-out, since you have no arguments whatsoeever.

I especially like your fanboyish "incessant whining". It's really befitting you.

It's funny though – take a look here:

http://forums.macrumors.com/search.php?searchid=11120982

It's your profile. Looks like you're more than willing to discuss MMS (even if you can't tell the difference between that and email). Only when you're outed as ignorant to what MMS really is, you go "we're discusing tethering here, not MMS".
Well, you're way too late for that, mavie
But anyway, why do you insist on playing a fanboy, continueing to pretend that no phone before the iPhone had email? And choose to do that in a thread about tethering? How about you took your own medicine?

clevin

Jun 23, 2008, 07:49 AM

we need to accept the legality behind popular items, most of those items, they are popular for some good reasons.

This type of "i don't need it so its fine" argument is really make no sense and is absolutely meaningless in the whole picture.

"Think different" shouldn't be transformed into "think absurd"

Rybold

Jun 23, 2008, 07:56 AM

What are you talking about? This option is available on virtually ALL 3G phones. I know a buddy of mine will most certainly not buy an iPhone now because of this. He's got a crappy 3G phone and he tethers it.

And all those times I'm sitting around with my laptop this really annoys me. Hopefully they'll be an app or SOMETHING! This is crappy and is going to kill the crackberry conversion #'s single handedly...

Same here. I have a small 11.1 inch Sony laptop that I carry around with me just about everywhere and I use my blackberry as a modem. I have internet access everywhere. When I stray from urban areas, the speed of the connection is terrible, but hey, I'm normally in urban areas and it works great.

This is a big disappointment that the iPhone will not do what the blackberry has already been doing for years. This is sad. I sure hope someone releases an app/hack/update to solve this.

mavis

Jun 23, 2008, 08:01 AM

Btw, how's it going with that MMS I send you?Oh wow, look who brought MMS into a discussion about tethering. Big surprise. ;)

Tosser

Jun 23, 2008, 08:12 AM

Oh wow, look who brought MMS into a discussion about tethering. Big surprise. ;)

Hmm, I never claimed you were the one mentioning MMS first.
Secondly, it was a small part of a comment to a comment of yours, where you stated that there would always be workarounds for the shortcomings on the iPhone.

Anyway, I made it clear you were more than willing to discuss it, even though you had no clue it was different from email - email being a favourite topic of yours in this thread.
Again: I never claimed you brought mms into this discussion. I stated you were more than willing to discuss it, and even more willing to discuss email. And this in a thread about tethering. By extention you ought to take your own medicine and go somewhere else to make a thread about it.

Do yourself a favour: Stop with the strawmen - it's fast becoming embarrassing to watch.

mavis

Jun 23, 2008, 08:22 AM

... more offtopic drivel ...Tell you what. I'm going to let you have the last word in this "discussion" because, quite frankly, you're boring me (not to mention anyone else who happened to stumble upon this unfortunate thread) ... Knock yourself out, champ! :D

Tosser

Jun 23, 2008, 08:31 AM

Tell you what. I'm going to let you have the last word in this "discussion" because, quite frankly, you're boring me (not to mention anyone else who happened to stumble upon this unfortunate thread) ... Knock yourself out, champ! :D

I'm glad you take my advice and swallow your own medicine, Sonny.

I mean, you go off, defending all the shortcomings of the phone, goes on to claim you have been using "the latest and greatest handsets for six years", all the while claiming that other phones are not capable of email, not understanding the difference between MMS and email, and generally just being a fanboy uttering all sorts of nonsense about mail, and now you pretend you haven't done so, nor have you been talking utter "off-topic" crap in this thread. :rolleyes:

It's no wonder you're now withdrawing from the discussion, seeing how you have no leg to stand on. It doesn't matter if you pretend to be a big boy – everyone can see you're the driveler in this context. Well, unless you go back and delete all your nonsense and unfounded fanboyish claims.

kjw988

Jun 23, 2008, 10:57 AM

2002cbr600f4i

Jun 23, 2008, 12:08 PM

Just got off the phone with a AT&T customer service rep. Asked her 2 questions 1 being.. “When I am outside of 3G coverage will my phone automatically pick up on edge without any additional fee”, the answer was yes. The second question was “Will there be a phone as modem plan for the iphone so I can tether the phone to my laptop” the answer, to my surprise after rummaging through similar forums to this for weeks, was yes. Asked her a second time and yes again. When I asked her the price of the plan in order to do this she said AT&T was not allowed to release this pricing yet. :D

INTERESTING! I got a flat "no" when I did the online chat with a sales rep, but then she didn't seem to bright to begin with....

I'd say, wait and see what they end up doing, and be prepared for a LOT of confusion on this subject on release day... And then, plan on having a lot of fighting with customer service/accounting when you get your bill... From what I've seen of AT&T the left hand RARELY has a clue what the right hand is doing and what you'll be told by one rep won't be true when you speak to another...

I live in Atlanta, home of Bellsouth/Cingular prior to te AT&T buyout, and a know many people who were Bellsouth/Cing before and after the buyout... They consistently give the same story - The Bellsouth/Cing people "get it" the AT&T folk "are idiots, are beurocrats and it takes 10 of them and 3 hour long conference calls to get something done that I used to just pick up the phone and talk to 1 person who would handle it all"

clevin

Jun 23, 2008, 12:18 PM

i found its hard to take an ATT rep's words for real, yes or no, better just wait and truth will come out soon.

Rybold

Jun 26, 2008, 03:08 AM

Just got off the phone with a AT&T customer service rep. Asked her 2 questions 1 being.. “When I am outside of 3G coverage will my phone automatically pick up on edge without any additional fee”, the answer was yes. The second question was “Will there be a phone as modem plan for the iphone so I can tether the phone to my laptop” the answer, to my surprise after rummaging through similar forums to this for weeks, was yes. Asked her a second time and yes again. When I asked her the price of the plan in order to do this she said AT&T was not allowed to release this pricing yet. :D

I doubt she knew what she was talking about. Normally, when I talk to customer service on the phone, I take what they say with a grain of salt. Based on experience, I have found that they know less about the product than the customer does. They have a book/protocol that they read, but when you start asking them questions beyond their protocol, their answers come with hesitation/uncertainty in their voices. How many times have they had to put you on hold while they go and ask their supervisor a question? Sometimes the supervisor doesn't even know.

I have read a lot of news articles, the Apple website, the AT&T website, and other supplemental material, and I recall reading in several places that tethering will not be a feature built into the iPhone.

The problem with this is that Apple wants to win over Blackberry users, but one feature that a lot of businesses love about the Blackberry is that users can tether their laptops and use the phone as a modem. Steve Jobs, you should have thought about this one. Or maybe, it was AT&T's decision. But AT&T could just charge a premium for it, like they do with Blackberries. Hmmmm. I wonder if there will be a software update that will allow tethering, or I wonder if some hacker will release a fix that 99% of all iPhone users download. This should be interesting.

Amerrican

Jun 28, 2008, 12:48 AM

why would you tether anyway? when you can just get your laptop straight onto wifi?!?!

Tethering is getting to be less of an issue in the US, but is very important for those of us living/working overseas.

In Australia for example, Intercontinental Hotels (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza) routinely charge $27/DAY for wifi access in the hotels! With absurdly low download limits, as well.

Being able to tether allows road warriors to bypass these ripoff hotel systems.

Rybold

Jun 29, 2008, 07:21 AM

Tethering is getting to be less of an issue in the US, but is very important for those of us living/working overseas.

In Australia for example, Intercontinental Hotels (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza) routinely charge $27/DAY for wifi access in the hotels! With absurdly low download limits, as well.

Being able to tether allows road warriors to bypass these ripoff hotel systems.

Here in the U.S., about half of hotels have free WiFi and about half charge. I'm not sure which direction we are headed though. A lot of hotels advertise "free WiFi" to attract customers, like most non-hotel businesses do. A lot of restaurants advertise "free WiFi" to attract customers, but some lame restaurants have started charging for an "access code." Stupid! I don't go to those businesses. I only go to businesses that offer the free WiFi. What's absolutely absurd is that I can drive through a residential neighborhood in my car and find hundreds of WiFi connections (free), but if I drive around the corner, some restaurant wants to charge me. At my own house, I have two WiFi systems - one that is secure for my computers, and one that is unsecure so that my neighbors and other people can use it. I have not had any problems with bandwidth yet. If it slows down, then I will limit access, but so far I have not had any problems.

JeffDM

Jun 29, 2008, 08:39 AM

What's absolutely absurd is that I can drive through a residential neighborhood in my car and find hundreds of WiFi connections (free), but if I drive around the corner, some restaurant wants to charge me.

Why not just park in the residential neighborhood then?

At my own house, I have two WiFi systems - one that is secure for my computers, and one that is unsecure so that my neighbors and other people can use it. I have not had any problems with bandwidth yet. If it slows down, then I will limit access, but so far I have not had any problems.

That doesn't mean there aren't other valid concerns.