iOS 4.3 to Bring Mobile Hotspots to GSM iPhones, Pending Carrier Support?

[MacRumors]

One of the major new features offered with the Verizon iPhone 4 announced today is support for turning the device into a personal hotspot allowing up to five Wi-Fi devices to share the iPhone's cellular data connection. Personal hotspot support comes built directly into the operating system of the Verizon iPhone 4, which is running a new iOS 4.2.5.

According to both iPhoneclub.nl [Google translation] and iPhoneHellas [Google translation], Apple will be bringing the same personal hotspot support to current GSM iPhones with a forthcoming iOS 4.3 update.

The catch is that the functionality is also subject to the approval of individual carriers, requiring them to be onboard for allowing their customers to access the feature. For its part, AT&T has said that it is "evaluating" the hotspot feature and that it has "no plans to announce today".

Despite support for somewhat-similar Internet tethering via USB and Bluetooth included in iPhone OS 3.0 released in mid-2009 and with a number of international carriers moving quickly to support the feature, AT&T waited an entire year as it cited concerns over network performance before finally supporting the feature with the release of iOS 4.0.

Article Link: iOS 4.3 to Bring Mobile Hotspots to GSM iPhones, Pending Carrier Support?

 

[derek1984]

I will gladly give AT&T $40 instead of $30/month of unlimited data if they offer this.

 

[bushido]

so whats the actual difference to tethering which ive been using for the last 2 years?

 

[iamerrorrrr]

it would be awesome if AT&T would allow to use this feature without the extra cost, but I must be dreaming. lol

 

[jbdeen]

mid-2009 and with a number of international carriers moving quickly to support the feature, AT&T waited an entire year as it cited concerns over network performance before finally supporting the feature with the release of iOS 4.0.


Very soon they are not going to have to worry about "network performance". Feb 10th to be exact.

 

[Gulo]

AT&T "evaluating"? I'm not switching to Verizon, but yay for competition!

 

[jhiner]

I will gladly give AT&T $40 instead of $30/month of unlimited data if they offer this.

Doubt they offer that option. More likely: change to the $25 option, then add another $20 just like tethering, maybe even another $20 for hotspot.

 

[levitynyc]

I just jailbreak when I know I'm going to need to tether and revert back when I know won't. Pretty simple actually.

Why pay more to use data that I already bought?

 

[paradox00]

Apple should just include it and give carriers no option to monitor its use or disable it. It they don't like it, they don't have to sell the iPhone.

How you use the your data shouldn't impact how much you pay. The only thing that should matter is how much you use. Carriers should not be able to charge for a service that that the phone, not the carrier, provides.

 

[UnseenLlama]

so whats the actual difference to tethering which ive been using for the last 2 years?

Tethering thru Bluetooth/USB allows for only one device. The Personal Hotspot would allow for multiple.

 

[azentropy]

so whats the actual difference to tethering which ive been using for the last 2 years?

You can't tether to many devices, such as an iPad.

 

[dagamer34]

Doesn't matter. I'll get the jailbreak and tether away!!

 

[ToroidalZeus]

wifi tethering also uses substantially more juice resulting in poorer battery life

 

[Consultant]

Too bad, similar AOL dialup, Verizon hotspot will drop your connection whenever you get a phone call.

You can't tether to many devices, such as an iPad.

I use a $2 bluetooth tether enabler app for wifi iPad, available in Cydia.

 

[powermackrb]

The Verizon iPhone shows 3G in the picture. I wonder what I shows when not in a 3G coverage area? What is the Verizon equivalent of being on Edge?

 

[dagamer34]

Holy crap, who knew there were AT&T fanboys?

 

[OriginalMacRat]

Doesn't matter. I'll get the jailbreak and tether away!!

Or buy a factory unlocked iPhone.

Not an option in North America. Which is why the iPhone 3GS I am using on T-Mobile was purchased in the Hong Kong Apple store.

 

[vincenz]

Yeh don't hold your breath... Just another chance to charge extra for it. If it even becomes available.

 

[Freecity88]

If AT&T does not offer unlimited data plan, it's not very useful to have Mobile Hotspots.

 

[valexa]

can you say ... Competition ... god bless

 

[goobot]

i cant see att not allowing this, tethering is tethering. it doesnt matter if it is through wifi, bluetooth, or usb.

 

[dagamer34]

The Verizon iPhone shows 3G in the picture. I wonder what I shows when not in a 3G coverage area? What is the Verizon equivalent of being on Edge?

Verizon's entire network is "3G" or more specifically EVDO Rev. A since June 2007. It won't show anything else.

 

[Saberon]

Or buy a factory unlocked iPhone.

Not an option in North America.

North America includes Canada where you can buy an unlocked 3GS/4

 

[NoExpectations]

I'm sure that the feature is free (Verizon and AT&T), but look for both to charge for the data.

 

[dagamer34]

i cant see att not allowing this, tethering is tethering. it doesnt matter if it is through wifi, bluetooth, or usb.

Using the logical argument with AT&T means they should have offered tethering in 2009 instead of 2010 when every other carrier in the world offered it. And heck, if you are already paying $25 for 2GB of data, should it matter how you use it whether it's on your iPhone or your laptop? Or why MMS didn't come out on the iPhone until Sept. 2009 when phones in 2002 could do it?

AT&T and logic do NOT go together...