AT&T's iPhone Tethering Plan Details?

[MacRumors]

MacBlogz claims 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?

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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....

[contractcooker]

Originally Posted by 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

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.

[Digital Skunk]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[plumbingandtech]

Originally Posted by Kingsly

I'll stick to PDANet, thanks.

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

[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.a...=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]

Originally Posted by ruinfx

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?

[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.

Originally Posted by ruinfx

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

stop crying.

[Kingsly]

Originally Posted by plumbingandtech

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

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.

[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-pho...als/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!

[ruinfx]

Originally Posted by 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!

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.

[spazzcat]

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

[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?

[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.