iOS 4.3 Personal Hotspot Wi-Fi Sharing Limited to Three Devices in Many Countries?

[ranReloaded]

Off topic, but I think I found a bug in the forums system.

Right now, it says there's 5 pages to this thread. I am browsing page 4. If I tap either the "5" or the ">"(next) in the navigation, it brings me back to page 4. It happenend to me once or twice before, I remember. Must be a php/MySQL bug...

EDIT: Ironically, this very post inaugurated page 5.

 

[flynz4]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

Seriously, who cares? I can't imagine sharing a 3G connection with even 3 devices... Let alone 5.

I currently use a Verizon MiFi and I am absolutely not going to JB my iPhone (BTDT). I have used 5 connections on my MiFi at once, but I almost never "actively use" them at the same time. A typical scenario is as follows:

I often work from my beach condo... and there is no way to get broadband internet access. When we arrive, I set up my mobile office, and my personal gear.

1) Lenovo X201 (work computer)
2) 11.6" MBA (personal laptop)
3) 13.3" MBA (wife's laptop)
4) 32 GB iPad (wife's iPad)
5) 64 GB iPad (my iPad)

Personally, I am only ever using one of my 3 devices (X201, MBA, iPad) at any given time... and likewise my wife is using only one of hers (MBA, iPad) simultaneously. Of course more bandwidth is always better... however, it is useful to keep all of the devices connected, synchronizing mail, or whatever is needed. Mostly they are idle... but they are still staying in sync.

I can still accomplish the same thing using USB and BT tethering in conjunction with WiFi hotspot usage... but is is a less elegant solution.

I just checked my bandwidth. My iPhone has never gone over 1GB in any month. I typically use about 350 MB of MiFi BW per day, but I generally use it fewer than 6 days/month... so I have never gone over 2GB in a month.

Hence... I am currently paying $30 iPhone + $60 MiFi or $90/month. My new bill will be $45/month. It is worth it for me to switch.

/Jim

 

[notabadname]

I don't care so much about the number of devices limit. I just think that if my tethered data use, combined, doesn't exceed the amount of data I have paid for on my iPhone, I shouldn't have to pay a tether fee. How does it change anything whether it is my iPhone, or my tethered laptop that uses less than my phone plan limit? The data is of course really coming through the phone. How does this impact the network to a greater degree than if I had only used the same 2GB of data without a tether? I should be charged for my data, but not for whether I choose to use the same amount of data on my laptop.

 

[Mazenat]

So well we see hotspot for the iPad? Or only for the iPhone?

 

[Macinposh]

Agreed. Three devices is two too many for a 3G connection.

Wtf?

Few days ago there were 5 people sitting in a small log cabin in norway, using mates Android phone as a hotspot. For me,as a iPhone user, it felt faster than my normal 3G connection in my homecountry..
Didnt hear anyone else complain either.

When travelling abroad,the hotspots come worth their weight in gold when you dont have to pay for all the roaming charges (and you have a local).

 

[Hastings101]

Glad I replaced my iPhone 3G with a Samsung Focus in January. After that iOS 4.0 update fun I can safely say the 3G will be the last iPhone I will ever buy

 

[Azzin]

I'm sure you guys know this already but in the UK, 3's new "One" Plan offers not only truly unlimited data (they call it "All You Can Eat"), but also they allow you to tether.

Can I use my iPhone on Three for tethering?

Yes, you could use your iPhone for tethering if you're on The One Plan. But if you're not on The One Plan, we'd suggest that you buy one of our Mobile Internet Add-ons by going to My3.

http://blog.three.co.uk/2010/12/15/new-all-you-can-eat-data-on-the-one-plan/

http://ask3.three.co.uk/srvs/cgi-bi...e=obj(1883),varset_username=Mobile:mobileUser

I'm currently on a Vodafone SIM Only 12 month contract that expires in a few months and I'll be moving to the One Plan as soon as I can give notice.

 

[Brucewl]

Hummm, there is not lightsopt for iPod Touch in ios 4.3

 

[Zimmy68]

Hummm, there is not lightsopt for iPod Touch in ios 4.3

Say what again???

Lightsopt?

 

[adib]

Use your laptop for sharing

If you really need to be a "portable pico ISP", what's stopping you from using your laptop's Internet connection sharing to break the 3 (or 5) device limit?