Maybe it's high-time Apple used some of that excess scratch and leased some bandwidth to deploy their own private-label cell network in the US?
That's still a possible avenue, right?
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AT&T to Eventually Offer Tethering in the U.S.
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That's still a possible avenue, right?
Well unless you signed up for that on June 8th or later, you're outta luck. At least that's the way I read it. And since the 6GB plan has been unavailable for the iPhone since last August...I'm so glad I'm on the 6GB data plan.
MMS and tethering coming from the iPhone is unlike any other handset. We see internet usage sky rocket with the Safari share. I have to suspect AT&T and Apple are very concerned about bringing millions of these devices on-line at once and crashing the 3G infrastructure. They're going to have to bring people in little by little while keeping an eye on things. If 3G were to choke, it would affect the sacred voice calls - unthinkable. They'd revert to EDGE and that would choke and they'd have a far worse PR situation than the criticism they bare now. Patients grasshoppers, this is the iPhone we're talking about, not something that won't get used much. 
Nope. They could lease time on existing networks, but the only path now to bandwidth on wireless is via Verizon and AT&T. In 2011-12 when LTE is commodity Apple will be multi-carrier in the U.S. Until then Apple is married to AT&T and "tethered" to the AT&T rollout of 7.2 late this year and LTE late next year or beyond.
Just be glad you have the best "environment" on a "barely tolerable" network.
This is the "cost" of "bleeding edge technology". Welcome to Steve Jobs' world.
Rocketman
Brought to you by 1999-2000 FED action to KILL the (not true) NASDAQ "bubble", which was actually insider knowledge of future value of the internet as evolved (which the government didn't believe, trust, or allow).
MMS and tethering coming from the iPhone is unlike any other handset. We see internet usage sky rocket with the Safari share. I have to suspect AT&T and Apple are very concerned about bringing millions of these devices on-line at once and crashing the 3G infrastructure. They're going to have to bring people in little by little while keeping an eye on things. If 3G were to choke, it would affect the sacred voice calls - unthinkable. They'd revert to EDGE and that would choke and they'd have a far worse PR situation than the criticism they bare now. Patients grasshoppers, this is the iPhone we're talking about, not something that won't get used much.
I could buy that for tethering but for MMS? MMS is old tech that quite a few people use (I don't and don't plan to so I don't really care personally...but this whole thing just reeks of AT&T sitting on their rear).
As far as the iPhone 3G
Policies in the USA suck because ******* and Wingnut politicians are all for sale to the telcos at the right price. Just donate enough campaign cash and watch the right people get appointed to the FCC to ensure that nothing resembling competition arises in the United States.
At&t Fail!!!!
I'm a small business owner. I've been waiting for tethering.
I've excused Apple's delay with tethering and MMS since the iPhone is a new platform, and I think they have done an amazing job with it. Good things come in time.
We have known about 3.0 for a long time. It has been tested. It will soon be available.
Where has AT&T been? Why are they PURPOSEFULLY not allowing features that Apple has built into this phone.
I have called AT&T to file a complaint.
You should too.
AT&T: 1-888-333-6651
Call and give 'em hell.
Enough angry customers = results.
--Brian
I'm a small business owner. I've been waiting for tethering.
I've excused Apple's delay with tethering and MMS since the iPhone is a new platform, and I think they have done an amazing job with it. Good things come in time.
We have known about 3.0 for a long time. It has been tested. It will soon be available.
Where has AT&T been? Why are they PURPOSEFULLY not allowing features that Apple has built into this phone.
I have called AT&T to file a complaint.
You should too.
AT&T: 1-888-333-6651
Call and give 'em hell.
Enough angry customers = results.
--Brian
Jailbreak....
$70 per month will make jailbreaking soooooo much more common....
If they really charge this, I hope many remember it when the iPhone gets unlocked.
I remembered it, when Verizon was my only landline option, and I had the WORST service possible (much, much worse than AT&T. Verizon was fine for mobile, where they had competition, though.) But I don't think I'd go back to Verizon easily, because of those memories.
$70 per month will make jailbreaking soooooo much more common....
If they really charge this, I hope many remember it when the iPhone gets unlocked.
I remembered it, when Verizon was my only landline option, and I had the WORST service possible (much, much worse than AT&T. Verizon was fine for mobile, where they had competition, though.) But I don't think I'd go back to Verizon easily, because of those memories.
Well, I'm sure I speak for millions of US iPhone AT&T customers when I say: Pooh.
The reason why AT&T and Verizon "suck" is they are required by federal regulation to service essentially everyone. So they have to serve the lowest revenue people poorly and the rest of us only badly. Without government regulation we would be serviced according to revenue.
Unlike the post office it would cost 5-10x as much to mail to Hawai'i and Alaska.
So which would you choose as the "network manager", the current dilema, or the dilema where 60% of the currently "badly" serviced population is not serviced at all?
Worse or worser?
Rocketman
ATT had a low of $18 a share in 10-08 and a market cap of $1.2B right this second. So why doesn't Apple buy ATT?
Verizon had a low of $25 a share in 10-08 and a market cap of $83B right this second. So why doesn't Apple buy ATT not VZ?
Unlike the post office it would cost 5-10x as much to mail to Hawai'i and Alaska.
So which would you choose as the "network manager", the current dilema, or the dilema where 60% of the currently "badly" serviced population is not serviced at all?
Worse or worser?
Rocketman
ATT had a low of $18 a share in 10-08 and a market cap of $1.2B right this second. So why doesn't Apple buy ATT?
Verizon had a low of $25 a share in 10-08 and a market cap of $83B right this second. So why doesn't Apple buy ATT not VZ?
It is $60.00 a month with AT&T to add tethering to a Blackberry with a 5GB cap. So I wouldn't expect anything less with the iPhone. I'm just tired of carrying an iPhone and a 3G card when I'm on the road.
The ball is entirely in AT&T's court now. I'll wait to see what they do.
Here is a link to the AT&T Page http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-ph...t1510007&LOSGId=&catName=BlackBerry®+Services
The ball is entirely in AT&T's court now. I'll wait to see what they do.
Here is a link to the AT&T Page http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-ph...t1510007&LOSGId=&catName=BlackBerry®+Services
Been using PDA net 1.3X for over a year now. It is GREAT-and FREE.
Yeah so its a violation of my terms-SUE ME. I mean, I never even use 1 GB of data per month. So its not like I am downloading warez with it.
If I am in a hotel that charges for Internet-well-they don't get my money. And AT$T won't either for a tethering plan.
JB-Consider it-there are 2 or 3 absolute KILLER applications that make it worth it. Personalization of your springboard is just icing on the cake
AT&T sucks so unbelievably bad I can hardly believe it.
Those greedy, nickel and diming basterds LOVE to stick it to iPhone users. I'll bet every single last one of those money-grubbing executives gets a nice fat bonus at the end of the year, despite the recession. They overcharge for shoddy service, shoddy support, and what will probably amount to shoddy tethering ability.
40 dollars?!?!??!!?!?!?!? Quite frankly I'd rather stare at a blank screen than give those morons more of my hard-earned cash.
I, for one, am going to start writing their customer (dis)service department on a regular basis to complain about all the nickel and diming. Who's with me?
Yep.
The CEO needed a new jet and a new penthouse in New York for his new mistress. She costs twice as much as the earlier one...
Like the ipod saved Apple, the iPhone has saved AT&T and we are getting the shaft but that's capitalism in America. In a real socialist country, this would be all included.
Because of how inefficient AT&T is run.
They have layers of layers on top of layers. They screw up billing constantly, they have such an old and extensive physical plant that they are just trying to keep it up rather than replace it like they should.
It would be cheaper for Apple to start over from scratch than for them to buy AT&T. Imagine the carnage too after the Apple axe falls on the multiple layers at AT&T. The company would be lean and mean and the employees that would be left would be shell shocked... Imagine seeing the light of reason and gratitude for the first time in your career there...
i was hopeing when they were kinda dissing ATT and moving on, that it was a hint that later on they would announe a Verizon etc, iPhone. cause the country where the most iPhones were sold, somehow does not get MMS, tethering right away...Lame. Bring on the Verizon iPhone.
Tethering for money is like paying the hooker twice....and a pretty substandard hooker at that
Not to mention, you're the one getting screwed...
http://www.salon.com/tech/giga_om/t...twork_may_not_help_your_old_iphone/index.html
The gist: 3G iPhones probably won't work on the new AT&T 7.2 network. Tethering 'will be offered at a later daye' and MMS will be offered 'this summer'.
Yadda yadda yadda... From AT&T: "We got you by the short hairs and well, we're the only iPhone game in town."
The gist: 3G iPhones probably won't work on the new AT&T 7.2 network. Tethering 'will be offered at a later daye' and MMS will be offered 'this summer'.
Yadda yadda yadda... From AT&T: "We got you by the short hairs and well, we're the only iPhone game in town."
Chance for Palm Pre and Jailbreaking
I hope more and more people JB their iPhone3G/S. Even though Apple ripped Palm during the keynote, the Pre could easily capitalize on AT&Ts suckyness.
I mean, LOL. No MMS or Tethering for the iPhone 3G S in the US? Why even buy it then...
Even if they switch to Verizon the a**hole-ripping of customers will continue. In all seriousness, AT&T has to run a business so $10 of that $70 tether plan goes to buying the souls of politicians.
I hope more and more people JB their iPhone3G/S. Even though Apple ripped Palm during the keynote, the Pre could easily capitalize on AT&Ts suckyness.
I mean, LOL. No MMS or Tethering for the iPhone 3G S in the US? Why even buy it then...
Even if they switch to Verizon the a**hole-ripping of customers will continue. In all seriousness, AT&T has to run a business so $10 of that $70 tether plan goes to buying the souls of politicians.
a lot of people bought the iphone 3g/2g when there isnt MMS or tethering then. its not like iphone closest competitor, plam pre, has tethering.
I have been using a first gen iPhone waiting for this for 18 months and I got so fed up today I just switched to Verizon. Most people I know use Verizon anyways and the only reason I was on AT&T was for the iPhone. Just not worth it anymore. Good job AT&T!
