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

[kmiahali]

If Verizon allows unlimited data, Apple will most likely put in Facetime over 3G in iOS 4.3 or iOS 5. Mossberg and Jobs talked about the possibility of another carrier and that happened, so why not Facetime over 3G? I definetely see this as a feature in future iOS updates.

 

[ckd]

I hope the generic "Carrier" settings file allows hotspot use; it seems likely, since it allows tethering on my factory-unlocked (and not jailbroken) 3GS on T-Mobile with 4.2.1 and "Carrier 9.0".

 

[Kobekes]

Despite current Carrier support, there is no more tethering on the iPhone 3G with iOS 4...

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2657841

(these 3G's were sold until june 2010 and lost the function a few months later)

 

[pesos]

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

Wha??????? My girlfriend's droid incredible was working on "1x" in a whole lot of areas of New York last week... Whachootalkinboutwillis?

 

[azentropy]

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

Would make sense, but Data is Data, but yet AT&T charges you how you want to use your data. I pay for 2gb, I should be able to use it however I want.

 

[atomoboy]

How odd

Isn't it odd that Verizon is going to sell iPhone? I mean isn't this the same iPhone that Verizon CSRs have been bashing in their stores for years?

I mean, Verizon reps weren't just trying to mislead customers when they said "iPhone sucked" and that the phones they offered were "far better"?

 

[smileyborg]

This would be FANTASTIC. I would love to use some of my 2GB of iPhone data with a WiFi iPad!

 

[David Ormesher]

I think this was mentioned…but if you've got the wifi hotspot live and you get a phone call, won't that knock it off with the current network?

 

[NoExpectations]

Isn't it odd that Verizon is going to sell iPhone? I mean isn't this the same iPhone that Verizon CSRs have been bashing in their stores for years?

I mean, Verizon reps weren't just trying to mislead customers when they said "iPhone sucked" and that the phones they offered were "far better"?

Yeah, first they bash it, now they cripple it and try and sell it to us!

 

[dwd3885]

Guys, stop being naive, You're going to have to pay extra for this feature.

 

[TheBigApple2006]

Any idea on when 4.3 will be out and do you think that the feature shall appear on factory unlocked European iPhone 4s?

 

[Moyank24]

I really hope at the end of AT&T's "evaluation" period, they make the right decision and give us the mobile hotspot.

Competition is the best thing that could happen to those of us that are sticking with AT&T.

 

[dagamer34]

Wha??????? My girlfriend's droid incredible was working on "1x" in a whole lot of areas of New York last week... Whachootalkinboutwillis?

Hm... 1x then? Every Verizon phone I've seen has always been on 3G unless there was reason for there to be otherwise... I could be wrong (I probably am).

 

[weespeed]

Hm... 1x then? Every Verizon phone I've seen has always been on 3G unless there was reason for there to be otherwise... I could be wrong (I probably am).

In spotty coverage it says 1x.

 

[pesos]

Hm... 1x then? Every Verizon phone I've seen has always been on 3G unless there was reason for there to be otherwise... I could be wrong (I probably am).

Uh, unless things have drastically changed since my verizon days, EV=3g and 1x=2g when it comes to verizon phones.

 

[dwd3885]

Hm... 1x then? Every Verizon phone I've seen has always been on 3G unless there was reason for there to be otherwise... I could be wrong (I probably am).

Yea 1X. My home is blanketed with 1X coverage.

 

[rjohnstone]

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...

In all fairness, not including MMS on the iPhone was Apple's decision, not AT&T's.

 

[paradox00]

Guys, stop being naive, You're going to have to pay extra for this feature.

No it would be naive to pay for this feature. If they do charge for it, jailbreak. Don't pay for something that the carriers have no right to charge for.

 

[dwd3885]

No it would be naive to pay for this feature. If they do charge for it, jailbreak. Don't pay for something that the carriers have no right to charge for.

i mean, i agree with you 100%. But

 

[nunes013]

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

yup, and att got rid of unlimited because most didnt use that much data but now will these devices being able to do a lot more like wifi hotspot 2 gb goes through like nothing

 

[kavlo26]

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

Yeah. I mean, we are paying for it. I have the stupid 2GB plan so I have some limitations there. But the fact is, I paid for the 2GB and I would like to use it by tethering, wifi or bluetooth. It's like buying a can of soda and drinking it. But if you pour it into a glass first, you have to pay extra. It's still my drink!

 

[letsgetham]

So this is "one of the major new features announced today"?

What was another one?

I'll make the standard joke so nobody else has to...

You will finally be able to make a phone call! LOLOLOLOL

 

[Le Big Mac]

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

Sure it does. You may not be able to use it to download prOn to your laptop 24/7, but there are plenty of instances when it may be useful for some modest, short-term tethering.

Is there a way for a mobile operator to determine whether data traffic is coming from tethered devices? What if AT&T allowed tethering for free but only up to a certain cap on monthly data?

 

[dagamer34]

In all fairness, not including MMS on the iPhone was Apple's decision, not AT&T's.

Almost, except for the fact that for some silly reason it took AT&T 3 months to support MMS after iPhone OS 3.0 came out. That's all them.

 

[0815]

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

At least that's what they say ... even if they do, the evaluation might take a long time. Remember how long it took for AT&T to enable MMS while the rest of the world was enjoying it for a long time before AT&T gave in ....

Those are the things that I don't like about AT&T. I don't have any dropped calls or other problems (so no reason to switch) - but they are full of empty promises and things take forever to be implemented while the other carriers are much faster implementing stuff.