AT&T's iPhone Tethering Plan Details?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/11/11/atandts-iphone-tethering-plan-details/)

MacBlogz claims (http://www.macblogz.com/2008/11/11/att-iphone-tethering-plan-specifics-no-unlimited-plan/) to have heard details of the iPhone tethering plan that AT&T is planning to offer. Not surprisingly, the details are nearly identical to the current tethering plans available for other smartphones from AT&T.

• 5GB Data Cap (just like Blackberry users) - AT&T will automatically turn off your tethering connection if you use too much bandwidth. Of note, the 5GB cap might get sliced for all users, not just iPhone users, in order to accommodate all new tethering plan customers (bandwidth demand).
• Expected speeds: GPRS: 30k - dialup speeds / EDGE: 110k - ISDN speeds / 3G: 1000k - slow broadband.
• Will be +$30/month, new iPhone plans may be rolled out with tethering rolled in.

Existing AT&T Smartphone users have similar plans available to them at this time.

Article Link: AT&T's iPhone Tethering Plan Details? (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/11/11/atandts-iphone-tethering-plan-details/)

[Rybold]

I would be willing to pay $5 or $10 per month for an "occasional user" data plan.
And I'm sure millions of other people would be interested in an "occasional user" data plan.
And AT&T needs to take into consideration that we are already paying $30/month for unlimited on our phones. Is a tethered setup going to increase speed/bandwidth? All it is going to do is make AT&T and iPhone more appealing than their competition.

Most of the time, I use the internet at home or at work. If I decide to hook my computer to my phone while I'm sitting in my car or at a restaurant, I'm only going to be using it for a few minutes; not for hours and hours. If someone is going to use it for "hours and hours," then they will simply purchase a larger data plan.
AT&T needs to realize that millions of people are not going to pay $30 for unlimited tethering, but they would pay $5 or $10 for a limited tethering plan. That's an additional millions in revenue every month in addition to the $30 plan.

[Drumjim85]

I would be willing to pay $5 or $10 per month for an "occasional user" data plan.
And I'm sure millions of other people would be interested in an "occasional user" data plan.

but ATT isn't ...

[amac4me]

If AT&T could price this below $30/month I think they'd get more iPhone users to tack on this option. Heck, more people may end up switching to AT&T, buy an iPhone, and then add this option.

[howyoudoin]

Unless they redo their tethering prices on all smartphones then its going to be $30 a month on top of whatever you pay. They don't care that you have unlimited on the iphone just like on any other smartphone plan.

Think its too much in my opinion especially if att is going to limit it to 5gb a month. I would consider paying $10 a month for it but more then that and it becomes "i can live without it" feature

[bmcgrath]

Thats so crap :P

Here in Ireland if you pay 30eur a month for unlimited data on your phone you can just use it as tether as well. AT&T do seem to suck....

[happydude]

to not include this in the already $30 "unlimited" data plan is just plain stupid. i'm definitely not going to pay $60/mo to use data on my phone and data on my computer. there's enough places with free wireless these days that somehow i'll get by . . .

[Dizle]

so these a-holes are still going to make us pay more for tethering? As if $30 a month for a data plan isn't enough already and throw $20 unlimited messaging on top of that. **** them

[lowbatteries]

Now that the smart phone category, thanks to the iPhone, is becoming a more common product, these prices will drop.

Before their potential customers were business users. Now their potential customers are ... everyone. So there will be a lot more price competition in the tethering market I think.

That is, once some other iPhone clones get onto other carriers.

[Digital Skunk]

If AT&T could price this below $30/month I think they'd get more iPhone users to tack on this option. Heck, more people may end up switching to AT&T, buy an iPhone, and then add this option.

I doubt more people will switch to AT&T just to get a service they can get with another carrier, and have a cheaper plan and insurance for their phone. The only reason people are jumping on the AT&T bandwagon is because of the iPhone, other than that AT&T would still be selling crap Nokia phones and over charge for their hyped up network.

Since most consumers, especially iPhone owners, have cash to just throw away on expensive gadgets and plans, I am sure many will pick up the tethering plan and tout it as AT&T and Apple innovation.

p.s. And I will put money on AT&T/Apple not allow bluetooth tethering.

Now that the smart phone category, thanks to the iPhone, is becoming a more common product, these prices will drop.

Before their potential customers were business users. Now their potential customers are ... everyone. So there will be a lot more price competition in the tethering market I think.

That is, once some other iPhone clones get onto other carriers.

Naw, I think prices will go up since most users are already paying more for the iPhone and the AT&T data plans. Most other cell carriers charge you the same, but will give you options like TV, turn by turn GPS and insurance.

As for tethering, it's been a standard on most Palm and Windows mobile phone for 5 years, and it's been around since the inception of the cell phone and the PowerBook 150c. AT&T is just going to charge users more for it.

[Airforcekid]

why can't they make like 200mb free? Would it kill them?

[Kingsly]

I'll stick to PDANet, thanks. :rolleyes:

[plumbingandtech]

I'll stick to PDANet, thanks. :rolleyes:

Hope ATT does not catch you with their new bw profiling software then.
:rolleyes:

[chelsel]

better off swapping your SIM card into a wireless data card as needed. I get 3G speeds on my $20/month iPhone plan using this card, e.g.:

http://www.bandrich.com/products03.aspx?id=1&c=25&lang=3

[severe]

How bout they just throw it in for those of us who have rendered their 3G service virtually useless?

As an early adopter of both the original and 3G iPhone, I'm still extremely peeved that I'm paying an additional $15 for something I very seldom am able to use.

[ruinfx]

NEWS FLASH: $30/month is standard for smartphone tethering plans on AT&T.

stop crying.

[ashawley]

NEWS FLASH: $30/month is standard for smartphone tethering plans on AT&T.

stop crying.

NEWS FLASH: My 2 year old Treo650 on Sprint had unlimited tethering as part of its all you can eat data plan.

It's called competition AT&T. Read up on it.

[mohicanspap]

I hope ATT doesn't charge me if I use the Cydia version of tethering. Does anyone else here use iPhonemodem from Cydia?

[Digital Skunk]

NEWS FLASH: My 2 year old Treo650 on Sprint had unlimited tethering as part of its all you can eat data plan.

It's called competition AT&T. Read up on it.

The sad part is that they have read up quite well.

Everyone wants an iPhone, no matter how much limitations it may have. And since it HAS to come with AT&T service most people suck it up and the overpriced data plan. Now, AT&T can charge whatever they want to for features other phone get for free or dirt cheap, but people will pay it so they can keep their iPhones and actually make good use of them.

I just hope no one claims it's something standard that ALL cell companies have been charging because simply put, AT&T is ripping it's customers off with the possibility of this.

[Alphakline]

Oh boy oh boy... I'm glad I snagged Netshare while it was available! :cool:

[ruinfx]

NEWS FLASH: My 2 year old Treo650 on Sprint had unlimited tethering as part of its all you can eat data plan.

It's called competition AT&T. Read up on it.

congrats? do you really think people will give up their iphones because you can get some crap treo on sprint with cheaper tethering? at&t can do whatever they want with the iphone.

[Rocketman]

Chat Information Thank you for your patience! An AT&T sales representative will be with you shortly.

Chat Information You are now chatting with Calisan, an AT&T sales representative.

RM: I am shopping for a plan for an iPhone for 3 phones. Unlimited talk and data and if available tethering to a PC for "occasional use".

Calisan: Welcome to AT&T online Sales support. How may I assist you with placing your order today?

Calisan: The new 3G iPhone is now available to purchase in local AT&T retail stores. With a two year agreement, the price of an 8GB iPhone is $199; the 16GB is priced at $299. Unlimited iPhone 3G data plans for consumers are $30 a month, in addition to any of our voice plans starting as low as $39.99 a month. At this time there is no time frame for iPhone 3G to be available for purchase online.

Calisan: http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/specials/iPhone.jsp

RM: What type of cable tethers a smartphone to a PC? USB? Ethernet?

Calisan: The phone will come with a cord to tether the device.

RM: The iPhone currently does not.

Calisan: The iPhone does not have the ability to tether.

RM: ATT announced the feature pending iPhone 2.2 release. My question is does tethering on "a smart phone" cost extra or is it included in "unlimited data"?

Calisan: You can get the PDA + Tethering plan for $60 and that includes data.

RM: Is there a discount on 2+ phones or is it flat?

Calisan: That is a flat rate, the iPhone does not have any discounts.

RM: bye

Rocketman

[winterspan]

I know this is standard for tethering from AT&T/Verizon, but what a RIP-OFF! I hate American cell phones companies!!!!!!!!!!!!
I remember back in the day buying one of the first camera phones on Sprint and using a USB cable to tether it to a 12" PB and using CDMA 1xRTT (basically dialup speed) data. There was NO extra costs at all -- just the standard unlimited data plan and off you go!

They are charging $30 extra per month ON TOP of a $30/month data plan just to use THE VERY SAME 5GB OF DATA! That's right people! This is NOT 5GB of iPhone data PLUS 5GB of "tethering" data, it all comes from the same allowance!

[unixphone]

I hope ATT doesn't charge me if I use the Cydia version of tethering. Does anyone else here use iPhonemodem from Cydia?

I do, and it is great.
http://www.iphonemodem.de/en/index.html

[ruinfx]

I know this is standard for tethering from AT&T/Verizon, but what a RIP-OFF! I hate American cell phones companies!!!!!!!!!!!!
I remember back in the day buying one of the first camera phones on Sprint and using a USB cable to tether it to a 12" PB and using CDMA 1xRTT (basically dialup speed) data. There was NO extra costs at all -- just the standard unlimited data plan and off you go!

They are charging $30 extra per month ON TOP of a $30/month data plan just to use THE VERY SAME 5GB OF DATA! That's right people! This is NOT 5GB of iPhone data PLUS 5GB of "tethering" data, it all comes from the same allowance!

thats what happens when you buy a carrier controlled phone. i have a $15/month medianet unlimited plan that i tether with because my phone does not have crippled bluetooth or a proprietary cable.

you have to deal with it or buy unlocked and unbranded.

[Mr. Giver '94]

Heeeeelllllll No!!! I'm not signing up to pay another $30 for something I'll rarely use. If they do lump it in with the other iPhone plan, they had better not make us pay extra. I'll be fine if it adds 5 dollars but not 30.

[Rybold]

to not include this in the already $30 "unlimited" data plan is just plain stupid. i'm definitely not going to pay $60/mo to use data on my phone and data on my computer. there's enough places with free wireless these days that somehow i'll get by . . .

SIXTY BUCKS A MONTH ?????? #@%*! :eek:
and that's only for data! add on voice plan and text, and you're OVER $100 !

w t f ?

okay, seriously, how many people do you really think will sign up for this when they can just get WiFi for free ?

[Rybold]

Now that the smart phone category, thanks to the iPhone, is becoming a more common product, these prices will drop.

Before their potential customers were business users. Now their potential customers are ... everyone. So there will be a lot more price competition in the tethering market I think.

That is, once some other iPhone clones get onto other carriers.

That's the way all other markets in the world work, EXCEPT for cell phones and cable television.

When I bought my first cell phone, back in 1999, my voice plan was $29.99 per month for more minutes than I could use. (comparable to today's $39.99 plans). It had the unlimited night and weekends just like we have today. They didn't have data plans back then. Text messaging didn't exist yet. $29.99 per month, and the taxes and regulatory fees were about one dollar total. My bill was thirty dollars and change. Few people had cell phones back then. It was still a luxury item. My iPhone is about my fifth or sixth cell phone since then. I've slowly watched my monthly bill creep up. Even before I bought my iPhone, the monthly bill for my RAZR was about $55. The minimum plan they would sell me was $39.99 (even though I only needed a $29.99 plan with unlimited nights and weekends), and I had $5 for text msgs, and then taxes were about $7 dollars now (up from $1 eight years ago). It's ridiculous! They just keep raising the prices!

[spazzcat]

This is deal for us that have an att data card and an iPhone. I will save $30 a month...

[ruinfx]

SIXTY BUCKS A MONTH ?????? #@%*! :eek:
and that's only for data! add on voice plan and text, and you're OVER $100 !

w t f ?

okay, seriously, how many people do you really think will sign up for this when they can just get WiFi for free ?

do you not understand that this is the way it currently works with other smartphones on at&t? if you look on at&t's site you will see that for a phone like the blackjack 2 the pda personal + tethering plan is $60/month, and the same with the rest of the 3G pda/smartphones.

wake up, this is how at&t prices their unlimited 3G data plans with tethering. im just going to assume that all the whining being done in this thread is ignorance because the other option is a disturbing sense of entitlement.

[spazzcat]

do you not understand that this is the way it currently works with other smartphones on at&t? if you look on at&t's site you will see that for a phone like the blackjack 2 the pda personal + tethering plan is $60/month, and the same with the rest of the 3G pda/smartphones.

wake up, this is how at&t prices their unlimited 3G data plans with tethering. im just going to assume that all the whining being done in this thread is ignorance because the other option is a disturbing sense of entitlement.

It is also $60 a month for a laptop card, and they are capped at 5G a month.

[cookiemacbook]

I can not believe AT&T is going to charge another $30.00 a month for tethering and limit us to 5 Meg. $10.00 more is fair!! Don't limit us! ;)

[aristobrat]

SIXTY BUCKS A MONTH ?????? #@%*! :eek:
and that's only for data! add on voice plan and text, and you're OVER $100 !

w t f ?

okay, seriously, how many people do you really think will sign up for this when they can just get WiFi for free ?
Um, where I work, we have over 300 people signed up for $60 data plans on Verizon (that's $45 for BlackBerry data + $15 to tether).

For people that pay to tether, $60 is the going rate for AT&T and Verizon.

And FWIW, if you do serious traveling, free WiFi is hard to find on a regular basis. Crap, even if you fly 2x-3x a week, you'd save money with the extra $30 to AT&T to tether than to pay for WiFi day-passes in the airports.

[odinsride]

I'm just not interested at this price.

[guzhogi]

I agree, $30/month on top of the $30/month data plus whatever your voice plan is, you're talking $100/month at least. And just in case you've been living under a rock the last few months, the world's economy- not that great right now. Sure, tethering would be nice, but I just can't afford it. Plus, I don't know how much I'd use it. I have a 1st gen iPhone on a pay-as-you-go plan, $30/month for voice, and I have over $200 saved up. That's how much I use it.

[sangosimo]

or I could just tether my phone anyway (iphone modem ftw)...how would AT&T be able to tell by the traffic?

[jayducharme]

how would AT&T be able to tell by the traffic?

During casual use they probably couldn't. If I tried to do a system software update, though, AT&T would probably take notice.

I agree with many other people: data is data. If it's truly an "unlimited" plan from AT&T then I shouldn't have to pay extra for a different "flavor" of data. Currently I have a Verizon DSL service at home that's $40 a month. AT&T's tethering plan, while probably not giving me the best speed, would save me $10 a month. However, my wife and daughter use the computer too. So when they wanted to connect I'd have to give them my iPhone.

Once the UHF frequency band is set up for wireless connectivity, the whole game is going to change. Until then, AT&T has us over a barrel -- if we want to keep our iPhones (and not violate our contracts). I keep kicking myself that I didn't grab NetShare.... :(

[christian_k]

(..)
Until then, AT&T has us over a barrel -- if we want to keep our iPhones (and not violate our contracts). I keep kicking myself that I didn't grab NetShare.... :(

Can't you simply get your mobile data service somewhere else?

For example, I use a USB 3G Stick from Fonic in Germany. It is "pay as you go", just 2,50 Euro for each day it is used.
(If you use over 1 GB in one day, speed will be limited to 56k for the rest of the day, but 1GB is much for a single day). The stick is very handy, works
well with the Mac and was cheap (88 Eur unlocked).

If you only use it a few times a month (like I do) this is a good offer.

Are there no offers like this in the US?

Christian

[lftrghtparadigm]

do you not understand that this is the way it currently works with other smartphones on at&t? if you look on at&t's site you will see that for a phone like the blackjack 2 the pda personal + tethering plan is $60/month, and the same with the rest of the 3G pda/smartphones.

wake up, this is how at&t prices their unlimited 3G data plans with tethering. im just going to assume that all the whining being done in this thread is ignorance because the other option is a disturbing sense of entitlement.

Are you serious? LOL wow.

Everyone who cares is fully aware of what ATT charges for the blackberry +tethering.

The "whining" you refer to is the legitimate complaint that it's absolute extortion to charge $60/month for 3G speed usage, with or without restrictions. 3G on the iPhone is appropriate at $30 a month. Twice that is not appropriate, regardless of the "privilege" to tether to a pc.

Very few iPhone users are going to need tethering to the extreme ( I would consider a 5gb transfer pretty serious tethering action), and those who do need it badly have already figured it out and use it daily. Are they going to switch from free to another $30/mon just to be nice to ATT? Nope. This is just an ATT money making scam. Period. A few wealthy morons will buy it just so they can feel that they are getting the most possible, even if they never use it.

[kingtj]

I remember not long ago at all, people were on here screaming and complaining that AT&T should give the iPhone the same tethering option they give other phones on their network. Sounds like now, they're doing this, and everybody's upset they don't get a "better deal".

Will I pay $30 a month for this? Nope... But I also realize AT&T did just invest heavily in becoming the largest provider of wi-fi access points in public places in the USA. Considering they're offering use of those for free to all AT&T subscribers on iPhones - it sounds like that's a pretty reasonable alternative.

I'd rather be on wi-fi any day than some tethered cellular data network.


NEWS FLASH: $30/month is standard for smartphone tethering plans on AT&T.

stop crying.

[pyramid6]

My guess is that they don't want most people to buy it. So they price it at a price that will make it worth while to them, and keep demand low.

If you don't like it, don't pay for it. You don't have to own an iPhone and you don't have to use AT&T.

For some of us it is worth it.

[twoodcc]

i don't think it would be worth $30 a month for that, at least not for me. especially with the 5GB cap

[brendanryder]

hummm $30 a month or Jailbreak+pdaNET......

if they want this to work i think they need to at least cut the price in half. 30$ is alot of cash per month to use something that can be done for free, with ease.

[marco114]

Who wants to start a class action law suit for false advertising? It says clearly in ads that it is an unlimited data plan.

Nowhere on their pricing page does it say it's limited to 5GB:
http://www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/iPhone3G/?wtLinkName=iPhone3GforBusiness&wtLinkLoc=BDY

[azentropy]

Yeah $30 a month is WAY to steep on top of the data plan I'm already paying for. I only would use the service a handful of times a year, definitely not worth the $360+ it would cost. For now I'll just keep PDANet for my very occasional use.

I'd much prefer ATT come out with their own application and charge a flat fee for it so we can use the Data Plan we already have for our iPhone! I'd gladly pay say $50 for a PDANet type application that was Apple sanitized and purchased through the App Store so I didn't have to jailbrake.

[contractcooker]

OK. I understand that some people need to do work on their mobile devices and that data plans are expensive but to charge $30 addition just to use that same data in a different way is ABSURD. **** ATT and all the mobile providers they are being greedy bastards. Also, since when is bait and switch an acceptable tactic. Why is it called unlimited if it is in fact limited? Someone should start a class action against these false advertising claims.

[contractcooker]

My guess is that they don't want most people to buy it. So they price it at a price that will make it worth while to them, and keep demand low.

If you don't like it, don't pay for it. You don't have to own an iPhone and you don't have to use AT&T.

For some of us it is worth it.

I don't understand people like you. It's like you WANT ATT to **** all of us over... How is it in any way OK to charge $30.00 for this service. It's completely INSANE. You can do it for free already with PDAnet not to mention the fact that it should have been included from the beginning. If you pay for a service you should be able to use it any way you want. I can't believe that there are actually people out there defending the big corporations. Please just think about what you're saying. Corporations are out there to make money, we all know this. They want to do well for their investors. BUT, they also should think long term. In no way is charging $30 for tethering a viable long term strategy. The first company that gives it away for free will gain a TON of customers. It's inevitable.

OK sorry for the slightly personal attack. I just don't understand why you would defend the telco's practices even if it's worth it to you. It's still wrong.

[ucfgrad93]

Wow, $30 a month? Sorry, but that is way to expensive and I will not be signing up for this.

[contractcooker]

Wow, $30 a month? Sorry, but that is way to expensive and I will not be signing up for this.

LOL..... This post really got my anger up as you may be able to tell from my frequent posts. I have a nice "unlimited" data plan for my iphone for $7.00 per month. I use that with PDAnet for data tethering. Sure I don't get screaming fast speeds... I wish I could get 3G but I save approx. 80% over AT&Ts 3G plan. The best way to fight this is to not give in. I almost want to switch to att just so I can NOT pay for this and start torrenting over PDAnet. lol that would be fun.

EDIT: Forgot to mention I have $7 data plan from t-mobile.

[contractcooker]

Unless they redo their tethering prices on all smartphones then its going to be $30 a month on top of whatever you pay. They don't care that you have unlimited on the iphone just like on any other smartphone plan.

Think its too much in my opinion especially if att is going to limit it to 5gb a month. I would consider paying $10 a month for it but more then that and it becomes "i can live without it" feature

More to the point.... for more than $0.00 per month it becomes "I can still get it for free and say screw you to AT&T." Anyone reading this post who has an iPhone and wants this all you need to do is Jailbreak your phone. It is extremely easy and SAFE (you cannot damage your phone). You then download PDAnet... and bingo you have free data tethering.

LOL I love venting my frustrations on the internet. It's almost as good as an intense work out. I feel so much better now.

SUCK IT ATT and Comcast you both are horrible horrible companies who attempt to rape your customers at every opportunity. I just love using encrypted BitTorrent connections so that you can no longer throttle my lovely "illegal" downloads. ARRRR.... it's great to be a pirate.

[ruinfx]

Are you serious? LOL wow.

Everyone who cares is fully aware of what ATT charges for the blackberry +tethering.

The "whining" you refer to is the legitimate complaint that it's absolute extortion to charge $60/month for 3G speed usage, with or without restrictions. 3G on the iPhone is appropriate at $30 a month. Twice that is not appropriate, regardless of the "privilege" to tether to a pc.

Very few iPhone users are going to need tethering to the extreme ( I would consider a 5gb transfer pretty serious tethering action), and those who do need it badly have already figured it out and use it daily. Are they going to switch from free to another $30/mon just to be nice to ATT? Nope. This is just an ATT money making scam. Period. A few wealthy morons will buy it just so they can feel that they are getting the most possible, even if they never use it.

yea its a scam. :rolleyes: the same scam that verizon is running too. those bastards. im glad everyone is getting so worked up about this now when these prices have been in place for years.

it must be just those "wealthy morons" buying it right? or maybe its people that dont want to violate their contracts with at&t? you act like at&t is asking for an extra $30/month and not giving you anything in return. they are giving you the option to connect your phone to your pc and use more bandwidth. the more bandwidth at&t expects you will be using, the more you will have to pay. what a novel idea. cant afford it? too bad.

just because you figured out a way to tether and use more bandwidth without paying for it now, does not entitle you to special treatment in the future. the only scammer here is you, not at&t, and i hope they start cracking down and apple disables all tethering apps so you freeloaders dont destroy the 3G network that we all share. whoops, i shouldnt expect you to care about the other people using the network, my mistake.

[aristobrat]

OK. I understand that some people need to do work on their mobile devices and that data plans are expensive but to charge $30 addition just to use that same data in a different way is ABSURD.
I think that you're being naive to believe that people using a tethered connection won't use any more data on their laptop than if they were on their iPhone.

Maybe some people will be like that, but from what I've seen from having to support about 300 coworkers with tethering, when they tether, they're using their laptop just like they were at their home/office. This means they'll do their software updates, download new software, update their iTunes podcasts, send emails with 10MB PowerPoint attachments, etc. All things you can't do on the iPhone.

Also, since when is bait and switch an acceptable tactic. Why is it called unlimited if it is in fact limited? Someone should start a class action against these false advertising claims.
Where did you see anything that said the $30/month iPhone data plan is limited?

[Kingsly]

Hope ATT does not catch you with their new bw profiling software then.
:rolleyes:

PDANet works as a proxy, so AT&T sees an iPhone using data, not a computer. Plus, as extra safety, I set my Safari user agent to 'Mobile Safari 1.1.3 - iPhone' when tethered.
And I don't go downloading huge files or anything. Just surfing. ;)

[pyramid6]

OK sorry for the slightly personal attack.
Then next time don't.

[Rybold]

do you not understand that this is the way it currently works with other smartphones on at&t? if you look on at&t's site you will see that for a phone like the blackjack 2 the pda personal + tethering plan is $60/month, and the same with the rest of the 3G pda/smartphones.

wake up, this is how at&t prices their unlimited 3G data plans with tethering. im just going to assume that all the whining being done in this thread is ignorance because the other option is a disturbing sense of entitlement.

Apparently you work in AT&T's Accounts Receivable department.

Here's the bottom line: From a "Market" perspective, only a very small percentage of people are going to pay $60/month, but a MUCH, MUCH larger percentage of people would we willing to add tethering if it was only $10 or $15 more. AT&T created that $30 plan for the other smart phones several years ago, when "data" was a brand new novelty and the technology was very expensive to AT&T. Today, with MILLIONS of smart phones on their network, the "data" technology is no longer a brand new novelty item. They need to lower the tethering fee for everyone and get the MILLIONS signed up that refuse to pay the $30 novelty price.

[aristobrat]

Apparently you work in AT&T's Accounts Receivable department.

Here's the bottom line: From a "Market" perspective, only a very small percentage of people are going to pay $60/month, but a MUCH, MUCH larger percentage of people would we willing to add tethering if it was only $10 or $15 more. AT&T created that $30 plan for the other smart phones several years ago, when "data" was a brand new novelty and the technology was very expensive to AT&T. Today, with MILLIONS of smart phones on their network, the "data" technology is no longer a brand new novelty item. They need to lower the tethering fee for everyone and get the MILLIONS signed up that refuse to pay the $30 novelty price.
Here's the bottom line, Rybold. From a "network performance" perspective, AT&T can only afford for a very small percentage of its customers to tether.

I don't think you'll find many people who will disagree that AT&T's current 3G network performance can be sub-par. You say that "data" technology is no longer a brand new novelty, but it's pretty obvious that AT&T is struggling with 3G data technology, so it might was well be a novelty.

Letting a few million iPhone users tether (which is what would happen if it only cost $10-$15 month more to do that) would KILL their 3G network performance.

Once they're able to handle the traffic, then I think they should lower the price and let more people on. But right now, it'd really piss me off if they did cheap tethering and we all paid the price with an even crappier 3G experience that what some of us are currently getting today.

[ruinfx]

Apparently you work in AT&T's Accounts Receivable department.

Here's the bottom line: From a "Market" perspective, only a very small percentage of people are going to pay $60/month, but a MUCH, MUCH larger percentage of people would we willing to add tethering if it was only $10 or $15 more. AT&T created that $30 plan for the other smart phones several years ago, when "data" was a brand new novelty and the technology was very expensive to AT&T. Today, with MILLIONS of smart phones on their network, the "data" technology is no longer a brand new novelty item. They need to lower the tethering fee for everyone and get the MILLIONS signed up that refuse to pay the $30 novelty price.

i think you are vastly overstating how many people would actually take advantage of tethering. to me it seems like tethering is a substitute for data cards, you use your phone instead. when you compare a plan with a data card with a plan with a smartphone and a tethering plan, the tethering plan is cheaper which is a benefit for customers.

besides the fact that i dont think at&ts network could even support MILLIONS of customers tethering. we are not at the point where there can be tethering for everyone, so its more for people that want it as a luxury or need it for business at this point.

[hihater]

Doesn't it cost the same for blackberries, I mean why should anyone expect it for free? :rolleyes:

[Ysean]

I don't understand people like you. It's like you WANT ATT to **** all of us over... How is it in any way OK to charge $30.00 for this service. It's completely INSANE. You can do it for free already with PDAnet not to mention the fact that it should have been included from the beginning. If you pay for a service you should be able to use it any way you want. I can't believe that there are actually people out there defending the big corporations. Please just think about what you're saying. Corporations are out there to make money, we all know this. They want to do well for their investors. BUT, they also should think long term. In no way is charging $30 for tethering a viable long term strategy. The first company that gives it away for free will gain a TON of customers. It's inevitable.

OK sorry for the slightly personal attack. I just don't understand why you would defend the telco's practices even if it's worth it to you. It's still wrong.

Do ANY of "you people" have any clue about the infrastructure requirements to offer 3G speeds to the masses? The costs, the equipment needs, the spectrum requirements. Radio waves aren't like wires. You can't easily increase capacity in the same space. There are all sorts of problems related to spectrum & how radio waves behave. The truth is that *NO* network could hope to handle heavy 3G usage by a large section of its user base. The financial & technical requirements tend to increase significantly.

Saying that... I don't agree with paying extra for tethering. I do however believe that data limits are required & overages should be charged for. It's just a matter of how much the charge should be.

Not to mention AT&T's 3G footprint is a joke compared to Verizon/Sprint's.

[aristobrat]

so its more for people that want it as a luxury or need it for business at this point.
IMO, it's precisely for business.

As good as the iPhone has become from a business perspective, its inability to properly tether has been a deal-breaker for many business folks looking to switch from a WinMo or BB device (from which they could properly getheter with).

[hihater]

congrats? do you really think people will give up their iphones because you can get some crap treo on sprint with cheaper tethering? at&t can do whatever they want with the iphone.Well said dude, not everybody is going to get tethering, not everybody needs it and it's not being forced upon you. I mean treo, do they still make those phones anymore? :rolleyes:

[ALT-255]

Thanks, but no Thanks! I will keep my sprint mobile broadband card. get way better speeds then ATT ever gave me on there service, be it Tethered or there 3G laptop card. Yea, I pay more but I know it works and works 100% of the time with no speed issues.

[MugsyMD]

Hey, I would love to have an iphone - but the cost is ridiculous - and tethering to cost even more - ugh!!! Hence, why I keep a Mogul, and tether wirelessly with WMWiFiRouter - folks this is fast, and it WORKS!!! And, cost = ZERO! (okay except for the $20 I paid for the WMWiFiRouter program). And, I can sync to my Macbook pro using Missing Sync (awesome program and it works great - even let's me put ANY Program on my Mogul I want - the iPhone doesn't let you do that - if only Apple would realize that they make great products - but DON'T restrict their use!

[Cheffy Dave]

Oh boy oh boy... I'm glad I snagged Netshare while it was available! :cool:

I grabbed it to, but have yet to use it., not much need, that said can't AT&T see Netshare in use, and charge you anyway:confused:?

[Digital Skunk]

Not to mention AT&T's 3G footprint is a joke compared to Verizon/Sprint's.

Agreed! AT&T's false advertising about the largest 3G network is a joke in itself. Not to mention the Apple employees who try to tell people that garbage. I respect AT&T for offering service in some of the dark parts of the US. But their coverage for 3G speeds is laughable when you consider they have the best tech device on the market.

I wouldn't complain that much, I just wouldn't pay for it. Anyone that does and can't find a 3G signal is crazy.

This is why Apple should have just went with a different carrier/not dealt with AT&T at least.

[aristobrat]

AT&T claimed that they were the largest 3G network? I've only heard them say that they were the fastest 3G network.

[Digital Skunk]

AT&T claimed that they were the largest 3G network? I've only heard them say that they were the fastest 3G network.

Come to think of it I think they have said both.

[ruinfx]

AT&T claimed that they were the largest 3G network? I've only heard them say that they were the fastest 3G network.

yup. at&t = claims they are the fastest. verizon = claims they are the most reliable.

[aristobrat]

Come to think of it I think they have said both.
Weird. I can't find anything if I google for that. Maybe it was in a commercial?

[Digital Skunk]

Weird. I can't find anything if I google for that. Maybe it was in a commercial?

Naw, I was just mistaken.

Although, Verizon still has the largest, and Sprint still has the fastest (because no one is using it).

[ruinfx]

Naw, I was just mistaken.

Although, Verizon still has the largest, and Sprint still has the fastest (because no one is using it).

actually at&t is the fastest.

[funnyent]

Thats so stupid. Why does AT&T care how much we use if we are paying $30 a month! Im already pay $20 for data and $30 for texting, couldn't they just give us so many tethering minutes each month? Like 200 a month that comes with your data plan?:confused: And we can upgrade from there. :)

[funnyent]

I grabbed it to, but have yet to use it., not much need, that said can't AT&T see Netshare in use, and charge you anyway:confused:?

Yeah. AT&T will see where the data is coming from on your phone, and then you'll get an unpleasant surprise on your next bill.

[OriginalMacRat]

When I bought my first cell phone, back in 1999, my voice plan was $29.99 per month for more minutes than I could use. (comparable to today's $39.99 plans). It had the unlimited night and weekends just like we have today. They didn't have data plans back then. Text messaging didn't exist yet. $29.99 per month, and the taxes and regulatory fees were about one dollar total. My bill was thirty dollars and change. Few people had cell phones back then. It was still a luxury item. My iPhone is about my fifth or sixth cell phone since then. I've slowly watched my monthly bill creep up. Even before I bought my iPhone, the monthly bill for my RAZR was about $55. The minimum plan they would sell me was $39.99 (even though I only needed a $29.99 plan with unlimited nights and weekends), and I had $5 for text msgs, and then taxes were about $7 dollars now (up from $1 eight years ago). It's ridiculous! They just keep raising the prices!

T-Mobile, Individual Basic plan with ulimited weekends (not nights) $29.99

[aristobrat]

T-Mobile, Individual Basic plan with ulimited weekends (not nights) $29.99
.. and it actually comes with long-distance and roaming included, something you rarely found back in the plans from 1999 ...

[supmango]

The sad part is that they have read up quite well.

Everyone wants an iPhone, no matter how much limitations it may have. And since it HAS to come with AT&T service most people suck it up and the overpriced data plan. Now, AT&T can charge whatever they want to for features other phone get for free or dirt cheap, but people will pay it so they can keep their iPhones and actually make good use of them.

I just hope no one claims it's something standard that ALL cell companies have been charging because simply put, AT&T is ripping it's customers off with the possibility of this.

I am more concerned with the network speed. If it is received well, which it sounds like it might be, we may all be paying for edge speeds on 3G before it is all said and done. All I have to say is that as soon as Apple puts the iPhone on another network, I am moving; regardless of the early term fee. I am sick of ATT and will gladly give them the finger on the way out.

[hnsmusic]

The 5GB cap is a line of legal poo-poo that will rarely get enforced. Its only there to protect the wireless carrier legally when dealing with bandwidth hogs. Were talking the really big hogs. I go over the 5GB cap every month. Downloading files or even playing Warcraft, Ive never gotten a phone call or a letter. My tethering has never been turned off. Im a Blackberry user. Dont let the bandwidth cap scare you.

[supmango]

Yeah. AT&T will see where the data is coming from on your phone, and then you'll get an unpleasant surprise on your next bill.

And how do you suppose they will know this? Does anyone really think that ATT cares that much about the few individuals who purchased the Netshare application. They are a well oiled and greedy machine, but they don't really care that much about the few of us who were fortunate enough to have purchased Netshare before it was pulled.

[supmango]

This is probably the only time I will ever say this, but I think ATT might actually have a legitimate reason for charging the additional 30 a month for tethering. Think about the strain on the already insufficient network. If they make a 10 or 15 dollar plan, even if it is capped on data usage, peak usage times will completely bog everything down. 30 dollars is enough to be just out of reach for the average consumer, and when its not anymore, they will have tons of money to continue expanding their network (and line their pockets as well). I agree, it is still ridiculous that ATTs 3G network would be as pitiful as it is (in comparison to the rest of the world), but considering this fact alone it makes sense to be a little exclusive in the tethering option.

[Rybold]

Naw, I was just mistaken.

Although, Verizon still has the largest, and Sprint still has the fastest (because no one is using it).

Sprint is in hot water. They've been losing subscribers in droves and their stock price is down 87% for the past twelve months. Just this month, it fell from $10 per share down to close at $1.95 per share today. On Nov.10, they reported earnings and said that for the most recent quarter, their revenue was down 12% and they lost 1.3 million subscribers for that quarter alone. I don't own stock in Sprint, but I do own stock in AT&T, so I keep an eye on the other wireless companies.

AT&T: iPhone and BB Bold exclusive
Verizon: BB Storm exclusive
T-Mobile: G-phone exclusive
Sprint: the Instinct.

[Rybold]

From a "network performance" perspective, AT&T can only afford for a very small percentage of its customers to tether.

Letting a few million iPhone users tether (which is what would happen if it only cost $10-$15 month more to do that) would KILL their 3G network performance.

i think you are vastly overstating how many people would actually take advantage of tethering.

besides the fact that i dont think at&ts network could even support MILLIONS of customers tethering.

That's why there would be limited data plans. Just like text messaging, you buy a plan depending on how much data you want. Right now, "MILLIONS" of iPhone users surf the web and watch Youtube videos on their iPhones every day. That's a LOT of data already! All the tethering would be doing is displaying the web pages on their laptop instead of their iPhone browser. The 3G connection is the same speed. All it does is display the web pages on the computer instead of the phone. Right now, you have to wait for a webpage to download onto your iPhone. If you laptop is tethered, you still have to wait that same amount of time. It's the same thing; it's just displayed on your laptop instead of on your iPhone.

[rasmasyean]

Damn that looks expensive.

So far I think this is the best "tethering" out there.
http://global.wmwifirouter.com/consumer/

The phone companies don't even know you (and your friends) are using it so it just looks like you might be watching a lot of youtube sites on your phone. :p

[supmango]

That's why there would be limited data plans. Just like text messaging, you buy a plan depending on how much data you want. Right now, "MILLIONS" of iPhone users surf the web and watch Youtube videos on their iPhones every day. That's a LOT of data already! All the tethering would be doing is displaying the web pages on their laptop instead of their iPhone browser. The 3G connection is the same speed. All it does is display the web pages on the computer instead of the phone. Right now, you have to wait for a webpage to download onto your iPhone. If you laptop is tethered, you still have to wait that same amount of time. It's the same thing; it's just displayed on your laptop instead of on your iPhone.

Your argument makes sense, except think about all of the background services that the average PC has that regularly try to access the internet if possible. Especially spyware and adware. Unfortunately, there are just too many windows based laptops out there with poor or inadequate protection against these kinds of threats for me to believe that there will not be a noticeable strain on the network. Even that aside, if the tethering program is not written well (and considering some of the other issues people other than me have reported with the iPhone software), it still has the potential to put undue strain on the network. As the consumer, we may never know what actually causes a network to slow down, but the potential for this to be a culprit is pretty high.

[aristobrat]

And how do you suppose they will know this? Does anyone really think that ATT cares that much about the few individuals who purchased the Netshare application.
AT&T has busted people tethering on the cheaper data plans before, so it appears that they have some way of "knowing this". If you're really interested in the details, you can search around over on the AT&T forums on HowardForums.com

All the tethering would be doing is displaying the web pages on their laptop instead of their iPhone browser. The 3G connection is the same speed. All it does is display the web pages on the computer instead of the phone.
It's not the same thing at all.

If I put you at a tethered laptop and let you use it like you normally would, you'd use way, way more data than you would during the same time spent with an iPhone.

Look at YouTube. The experience on a laptop is totally difference than the optimized one for the iPhone. First off, the iPhone will only show you videos compressed with h.264. Second off, the iPhone snags all of the info about the featured videos, most popular videos, etc via a tiny XML file, not the huge web page you see when you visit with your laptop.

And then take the laptop itself. Virtually every Windows box out there is set to automatically download updates, which means while you're in YouTube, your OS can be downloading patches in the background.

The iPhone, from what I've seen, doesn't do data in the background. If you're downloading new emails and then switch to Safari, the email program stops/pauses. Your laptop's not going to do that.

There's soooo much more that a laptop can do with data that's not allowed on the iPhone, like downloading music, updating programs, sending emails with large attachments, having multiple tabs in your browser simultaneously downloading pages, and even bittorrenting/p2p.

Even if tethering was only somehow limited to webpages, the fact that the computer is going to download all of those stupid flash ads on most popular pages (that the iPhone ignores) puts it as using my data than the iPhone.

[Scottsdale]

I would love this as I currently pay $60 per month for a 3G Express Card for My MBP. However, I could use my iPhone for $30 and could use my MacBook too.

But, I will bet the $200 cancellation fee for my 3G service still applies even though I have an iPhone and this is the logical move because of $30 is less than $60 plus all of the line taxes. And, I guess with 9 months remaining before I cancel without the fee, nine times $30 = $270. So, I save $70 if I get the option to tether before my next invoice. Gets dicey after that...

EDIT - Oh yes, I pay $60 + $11 tax for the AT&T 3G Data Service using its own phone line which results in high taxes the $30 tethering plan would not include.

[rasmasyean]

At this point I think tethering is still just a novelty. Most business users who are "road warriors" just use a plug in USB thing. They have to use their phones as well and it's not that great when you have to switch around and then have enough power left to talk and stuff.

As for "millions" of users using "internet data transfers", doesn't voice use a lot of "data" too. Bandwidth usage wise, it should be actually free texting and pay more for voice. But they just know that everyone loves to talk so they will capture your business over the competitor via that avenue.

[mescalito]

so these a-holes are still going to make us pay more for tethering? As if $30 a month for a data plan isn't enough already and throw $20 unlimited messaging on top of that. **** them

No ****** man.

I'm sticking with PdaNet.

I'm inside Atlanta and get 1.5 Mbps.

[Digital Skunk]

Sprint is in hot water. They've been losing subscribers in droves and their stock price is down 87% for the past twelve months. Just this month, it fell from $10 per share down to close at $1.95 per share today. On Nov.10, they reported earnings and said that for the most recent quarter, their revenue was down 12% and they lost 1.3 million subscribers for that quarter alone. I don't own stock in Sprint, but I do own stock in AT&T, so I keep an eye on the other wireless companies.

AT&T: iPhone and BB Bold exclusive
Verizon: BB Storm exclusive
T-Mobile: G-phone exclusive
Sprint: the Instinct.

Yes, but it's still the fastest network, then Verizon with the larger, then AT&T somewhere in third.

And the reviews of the G-Phone are sounding a lot like the Instinct's, it's just not that great. Although, it is made by HTC which IMHO makes the best handsets save for the OS they put on it.

[qwerter]

I can't wait for the iPhone to open up to other carriers. A little competition would be nice. Until then, no iPhone for me.

[bruinsrme]

ok maybe I am missing something.
In the US we sign up for the iphone plan with data that comes with unlimited data.
ATT will allow us to connect to the same internet that we are already paying for for an additional $30 but will cap the monthly usage at 5Gb.
Guess I will take my chances with the other alternatives. :confused: