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Apple and AT&T Discussing Official Tethering Option for iPhone?

Tethering for more $. I'm so sick of AT&T. I already can't use this 3G nonsense that I'm paying for because of them, It takes like 15 min's to actually get a downloaded app to be completely usable on the iphone; it doesn't download and start right away. Now I'm supposed to pay for what my phone already does for free right? This is ridiculous. The iphone 3G is garbage, it has so many problems, I wish I hadn't wrecked my original iphone. :(:mad:
 
iPave said:
Luckily here in Finland we don't have to pay extra for tethering:p
Click to expand...

Unfortunately here, greed seems to take precedence. We need some change I guess . . . Uhh . . Obama is that you lol? Ok just jokin' lol.
 
Ultimatetone said:
With the $30.00 tethering option currently offered at AT&T (for certain smartphones they offer, not iPhone),
AT&T allows you to use/not use the tethering on a 'month-to-month' basis, even with a contract in place.

Granted, I am not sure what the user needs to do before the next month's bill is generated
to let AT&T know you won't be using tethering next month (or until further notice), but it can be done.

On the other hand, AT&T (just for comparison) offers a 3G aircard type service, but it requires a 2 year contract,
is $60.00 a month, and does not carry the 'month-to-month' option, as I explained above.
Click to expand...

Does AT&T 'allow' a legit tethering option when using GOPhone (prepaid)?
Anyone know if there is an AT&T-Branded, GOPhone-capable(prepaid), phone model that can provide tethering (via a cable, not Bluetooth)?


Ultimatetone
 
They need to talk about unlocking it, or lowering the price of the plans and improving coverage area for 3G.

Tethering is about fifth in line of all the other things they have to work out.
 
3G Tethering More Money

Well considering that the 3G network is NOT what it says it is where I am and is down more than being up , I'd have to stick with Netshare for what little time I do tether. This 3G is outdated and Verizon will have 4G by end of 2009 or early 2010 but they also charge for tethering and I believe its 30 dollars a month also.

Greed has gotten the best of these companies and others alike. TMO in germany is awesome, here in the states there so limited .

Still waiting on Googles Android and see where that goes. I know one thing for sure is I will not update iTunes, or the iPhone anymore because of all the senseless problems Apple seems to be having, Kinda feel like I am back on the DARK SIDE at times
 
AT&T offers a family plan with a $9.95 per device fee. That includes a separate phone number and concurrent usage.

It seems right I should be able to add "devices" with separate access for $9.95 per month with concurrent use or "tether" to an existing device on a shared data line for free.

So if I tether my iBook to my iPhone, that should be free. If I have a 3G/EDGE device for my iBook and also have a primary phone and data plan already, that should be $9.95.

Especially if the various devices are for the same person. How many devices can you actually use concurrently? Especially from the SAME cell tower.

Samples:
iPhone
iBook
iMac
Media Center

It sucks when the broadband goes down, your device no longer even has a modem installed and you have no backup plan. 3G would be that modem alternative.

Rocketman
 
iPave said:
Luckily here in Finland we don't have to pay extra for tethering:p
Click to expand...

Yeah but the sheeple here in the states can be taken for all they are worth.:(
Monopolies are a way of doing business here, we've paid for all their infrastructure and we keep paying.
AtT needs a class action lawsuit to wake them up.
I won't pay the extra $15 per month that att wants for the new phone, which they charge whether you have 3g or not, why would I pay $30 for something I can do without att?
Maybe Netshare will launch a lawsuit?
 
paulyras said:
With the AT&T network being apparently strained already, can you imagine if tons of additional people start tethering. I hate to be the turd in the punchbowl, but if they don't do some serious network tweaking and upgrading, the thing might grind to a complete halt...
Click to expand...

The problem is not just AT&T's 3G network, but the iPhone 3G 2.0.0 and 2.0.1 firmware. It has been shown that the 2.0.2 firmware fixes this and as more people update their iPhone 3Gs to this firmware, the network service improves. So AT&T can require 2.0.2 or later for the tethering app to function and that will ensure everyone tethering is using the proper, non-impacting firmware. Though they do appear to need to improve the total bandwidth their 3G network can provide.
 
$30/mo is way to expensive for the 6 times i might use it per year. isn't the plan "unlimited" data? if they charge for tethering, they'll have to change the language of the contract, wouldn't they?
 
No this $30 addon with the smartphone data plan, not an additional $30 on top of the existing plan—that's how it is with existing smartphones, so I would assume it's the same idea for the iPhone?
 
Please let this be true and out soon. I would love to cancel my current mobile broadband service that I have with another provider.
 
mtor82 said:
wow i can't afford ANOTHER $30/month why should i pay more if i already have an UNLIMITED data plan???:confused:
Click to expand...

Unlimited data is for the phone, which they know won't take up as much bandwidth as a computer (there WILL be a couple people out of the millions that decide to download 1 GB things with tethering...stupid...but there will be). If you think about it, it's the same as getting an unlimited data plan for your phone, then getting an unlimited data plan for your computer...the difference? You don't have to buy another SIM card.

I dislike tethering because while it's nice...it kills the network...on iPhone 3G launch day, the network was slowed (albeit part of the 2.0 power algorithm...but still...)
 
Glad I got netshare when I could...

ANOTHER $30?!? WTF-It would sure appear that AT&T's goal in life is to bleed as much money from us as possible.

I got Netshare installed (wink), AND I got boss preferences installed and the "Kill Switch" is turned off :D Glad I did it when I was able...
 
It's not Steve-Steve knows punctuation and grammmar

[QUOTE=We agree, and are discussing it with ATT.

Steve

you never put a comma before the word and...

Steve is to well read and educated to write this way.
We know how meticulous he his - This is an eHead's mistake.
 
Cool. Steve seems to be responding to a lot of emails now, doesn't he?

It's hard to tell whether this is because more customers are unhappy, or more fanboys are making it up.
 
An EXTRA 30 a month to tether a laptop to an existing internet connection? Thats freaking insane. :mad:
 
Reason to upgrade

If they offered a tethering option I would probably upgrade my iPhone. At this point, I see little reason to upgrade to 3G. I've used a AT&T 3G data card, but was unimpressed with it's performance and stability. I returned it, hoping a tethering option would eventually become available.

An iPhone tethering capability would be an ideal companion to the MacBook Air. I'm surprised Apple didn't more aggressively push for this before launching the new iPhone and extending AT&Ts contract. It should have been included at no extra cost for 3G buyers.
 
mobi said:
I would rather not Jailbreak my iPhone just to get a copy of Netshare up and running, however an additional $30 tethering plan is out of the question.
Click to expand...

I feel the same way... Unfortunately it looks like that's the route we are going to have to take.

30 extra dollars a month is lulz.
 
Highway robbery (literally)

I've got a big problem with double-dipping on data transfer fees. Okay sure in theory tethering would lead to more use of bandwidth. If that's true then they should lower the cost of the basic data plan to $9.95 or $4.95. Aside from that, what if you don't live in a 3G area but still want to tether to get your e-mail on your laptop? IMHO, being forced to revert to 2.5G should be pro-rated.
 
paulyras said:
With the AT&T network being apparently strained already, can you imagine if tons of additional people start tethering. I hate to be the turd in the punchbowl, but if they don't do some serious network tweaking and upgrading, the thing might grind to a complete halt...
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Doesn't $30 a month strike you as more of a punishment than a fee?

I think AT&T agrees with you and is trying to keep people from tethering. If they wanted your money, they'd charge less. $30 will keep most away, which is exactly what they want.

It's funny how people are complaining that it's too expensive. I'm pretty sure that's the point!
 
Of course, it would be nice if AT&T gave iPhone users a break and included tethering into their unlimited EDGE/3G data plan, meaning no additional cost. But of course this is AT&T we're talking about. ;)

Still it would be nice to have the option. :D
 
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