iPhone Tethering and MMS Hacks Surface

[MacRumors]

Many AT&T iPhone customers have been disappointed by the carrier's lack of support for both Internet tethering and MMS at launch for iPhone OS 3.0. A pair of new reports today highlight a couple of iPhone hacks for enabling tethering and/or MMS without requiring jailbreaking. Readers should note, however, that such hacks violate the terms of service for many carriers and should therefore proceed at their own risk.

The first hack, brought to our attention by Engadget, activates tethering by modifying a user's carrier settings file. The hack utilizes specific carrier settings files from a wide range of carriers around the globe, opening up the method to a large number of users.

Essentially, you use your iPhone to browse to a site that you've never heard of (help.benm.at), download a file that promises to reconfigure your local carrier profile, and then switch on tethering as you would had you tithed a monthly tethering fee to your carrier. We've confirmed that it works on T-Mobile NL and on O2 UK. There's obvious risk here so be careful and backup your iPhone first before giving this a shot. And don't go nuts either -- remember, your unlimited data plan likely contains a "fair use" clause and you can bet that carriers won't be happy to see their bandwidth diminish without compensation.

Carrier settings files for all carriers (not just AT&T) are also available through iPhone-notes.de. Some users have reported that the hack disables MMS and visual voicemail on their carriers, so users should be aware of the possible trade-off.

Gizmodo offers up a second hack that can enable both tethering and MMS.

Our first method comes from Giz reader Aaron Krill, who has posted a comprehensive guide -- a sort of super-powered update to our old 3.0 tethering hack -- to enabling both tethering and MMS specifically on AT&T. It's not the simplest procedure, but it's approachable, and doesn't require jailbreaking like before. The gist:

- Enable IPCC updates on iTunes 8.2
- Update IPCC files
- Spoof AT&T's website into thinking you have an other phone

The MMS portion of the hack requires another non-Apple phone running on AT&T's network, swapping the iPhone's SIM card into the non-Apple phone, and changing messaging plans.

You should proceed with caution with any of these potential changes as they are unofficial and unsupported.

Article Link: iPhone Tethering and MMS Hacks Surface

[brownieguy19]

I really hope AT&T wakes up and understands;

We () will WIN.

[noTe on iPhone]

AT&T getting pwned, haha. I wonder when they'll do something to all of the customers doing this.

[wilycoder]

haha SUCK IT AT&T!!!

[Snide]

Enjoy it while you can, folks - 'cause there's no way this will last very long.

As for me, I'll be using PdaNet again soon enough.

[Romanesq]

The AT&T Deathstar has already shut others down.

You will be logged, billed and pwned.

Thank you for using AT&T.

[cryonicjim]

anybody know if it works on non-3g iphones?

[brownieguy19]

Originally Posted by Snide

Front page of MacRumors = doom for cool hacks

Enjoy it while you can, folks - 'cause there's no way this will last very long.

Alas the fate of ThinkSecret.

[amac4me]

It's only a matter of time before AT&T takes action.

[Xavier]

Just another reason why I hate cellular companies but must comply because I need a cell phone. Thats why I went with Verizon, which I believe is the lesser of two evils.

[Rodimus Prime]

Originally Posted by noTe on iPhone

AT&T getting pwned, haha. I wonder when they'll do something to all of the customers doing this.

Oh they will and they rightful should. Tethering uses a lot more data than just the iPhone.

As for picking it up. it is not that hard when they start watching the usage or how often the data is requested. Every person they catch will make it easier for them to catch more.

People want something for nothing. As for cost the best argument I have is look to what those data cards cost to us a month. Then the tethering seems to fall more in line.

[duke49er]

Dude, I'm dying to try this, but seems to me there's huge potential for disaster. I'm not brave enough to take one for the team.

Guess I'll just wait like a loser.

SUCK IT AT&T!!

[NinjaHERO]

It would be really nice if Tethering was just something AT&T offered as part of our already unlimited data plan. But since they won't, bring on the hacks.

[mike105]

I'm wondering when this thread and articles will be removed haha ... I downloaded all the necessary files and created PDFs just in case

[Farani]

Originally Posted by Rodimus Prime

Oh they will and they rightful should. Tethering uses a lot more data than just the iPhone.

As for picking it up. it is not that hard when they start watching the usage or how often the data is requested. Every person they catch will make it easier for them to catch more.

People want something for nothing. As for cost the best argument I have is look to what those data cards cost to us a month. Then the tethering seems to fall more in line.

Except that people have been tethering for a long, long time now with pdaNet and other programs available to jailbroken phones via cydia. And what has happened? Nothing.

[BornAgainMac]

I wonder who at AT&T got fired for making the company look bad again this year. Every year AT&T has some major issue.

[ghostface147]

I waited two years for MMS support, what's a couple of more months? I don't need tethering, my company supplies me a mobile broadband card.

[wilycoder]

Originally Posted by Rodimus Prime

Tethering uses a lot more data than just the iPhone.

[citation needed]

[ajrandall]

I'm curious how 'block-able' this loophole is - here's to hoping that AT&T can't do anything about it and simply has to deal with us.

[optophobia]

Originally Posted by Snide

Enjoy it while you can, folks - 'cause there's no way this will last very long.

As for me, I'll be using PdaNet again soon enough.

Agreed. The fact that Mac Rumors has posted this on the front page is pretty much ASKING for AT&T to correct it.

Way to ruin it sooner than it was going to be anyway Mac rumors....

[yaroldb]

Originally Posted by cryonicjim

anybody know if it works on non-3g iphones?

I did it on my 2g Iphone. No dice. I did it with my wifes 3g and it worked great. Even the speeds were not so bad. I can't wait to try it tomorrow with my new 3gs

[jav6454]

Lol, Front page, AT&T will soon take matters into their hands

[Ampidire]

I used both in Beta with no ill effects and have been using Tethering via jailbreak for quite some time also, I use it rarely, maybe once a month so I'm not too worried, MMS though, it's enabled by my plan and my whole family will have iPhones so unless they put an opt-out code in the family messaging plan we use, then I'll be fine :P

It's nice having all the features I'm supposed to have.

[Ori]

Anyone tried the first option on o2? Any side affects?

[Snide]

Originally Posted by cryonicjim

anybody know if it works on non-3g iphones?

Most definitely not. Believe me, I've tried (I have a iPhone 2G).