No Tethering Option for iPhone 3G

[jamiewiseman]

no tethering, no iphone.

I'm another one who won't get an iphone if there is no tethering. I've wifi at home, but I don't work from an office, I work from my car. The 3G network allows me to browse, check emails, and run my laptop in the car like most do in an office. Guess I'll just have to stick to Nokia (who have supported tethering since the original analogue network was launched), or buy a blackberry. (I also use tomtom and an Ipaq, both of which need a bluetooth mobile phone modem connection.)

Pity.

 

[pavvento]

Who knows, maybe this is how Steve Jobs gets his kicks. See how much money he can make selling a product that he knows is lacking some serious features. Seriously, I love my iPhone, but I think it says a whole lot about the Apple brand and the quality of the things the iPhone does have to overcome all of its flaws. If you put the same specs into any other phone it would be written off as a p.o.s., but not the iPhone. I mean a phone without MMS, Bluetooth audio, cut and paste, GPS, 3G, tethering, video recording and flash wins invention of the year (or gadget of the year whichever it was). Who else could pull that off??

 

[Tosser]

Who knows, maybe this is how Steve Jobs gets his kicks. See how much money he can make selling a product that he knows is lacking some serious features. Seriously, I love my iPhone, but I think it says a whole lot about the Apple brand and the quality of the things the iPhone does have to overcome all of its flaws. If you put the same specs into any other phone it would be written off as a p.o.s., but not the iPhone. I mean a phone without MMS, Bluetooth audio, cut and paste, GPS, 3G, tethering, video recording and flash wins invention of the year (or gadget of the year whichever it was). Who else could pull that off??

Yes, it's called flock mentality - or hype, if you prefer.

 

[mavis]

I mean a phone without MMS, Bluetooth audio, cut and paste, GPS, 3G, tethering, video recording and flash wins invention of the year (or gadget of the year whichever it was). Who else could pull that off??

You're right - I've been using an iPod Touch for the past nine months, along with a Japanese mobile with all of the features you just listed, and I CAN'T WAIT to ditch them both for the iPhone. Leave it to Apple to pull something like that off!

 

[danedane5]

no official way..cough..

 

[2002cbr600f4i]

I have to say, this is a HUGE frustration for me and might keep me from buying an iPhone even though I want one badly...

I currently have an LG CU500 3G phone and a nearly 2 year old LaptopConnect unlimited data plan. I use the HECK out of this plan tethering the phone to the laptop (legally!) Pretty much all day, every day at work, I'm connected, most evenings when I go out for dinner alone, etc.

I find it absolutely RETARDED that a highly capable device like the iPhone doesn't allow tethering, but I can do it just fine on a 2 year old phone...

I'm probably going to see if I can just Xfer my phone # over to the iPhone, get the $30 consumer data plan for it, and keep my old phone JUST for tethering only (no voice) and keep the unlimited data plan on it. Just irks me that I gotta pay now for 2 data plans for 2 devices to do what I currently can do on one. If they can't do that, then I'm going to pitch a fit at the store and make them give me a 3G USB dongle adaptor for the laptop and move the Laptop Connect plan over to that...

Does anyone else get the feeling like the iPhone is being crippled rediculously having this feature and that feature disabled or blocked or not implemented when there are tons of other phones that do this???

I'm not sure if I should be upset with AT&T or Apple or both!

 

[mavis]

I'm not sure if I should be upset with AT&T or Apple or both!

Why would Apple care about this?

 

[kamm]

This is so significant, I find it strange that AT&T hasn't disclosed this to any other news outlets already.

Because they know iut would **** up their sales immediately.

 

[kamm]

Yes, it's called flock mentality - or hype, if you prefer.

Or corruption as there's no way anyone would call "invention of the year" such an underwhelming unit.

 

[Tosser]

Or corruption as there's no way anyone would call "invention of the year" such an underwhelming unit.

Good point. Another reason could be ignorance, intentional or not.


Nah, corruption seems more like it.

Why would Apple care about this?

Because it will affect their sales. And that it will poke holes in their hyped image "it just works", when plainly "it doesn't work at all, because we crippled it" – you know, just like disk mode on the iPhone and Touch.

 

[kamm]

BTW friend of mine was seriously debating the new 3G iPhone - he's a long time HTC and Nokia user - but as soon as word got out about this retarded limitation he immediately ditched the whole idea. Of course, he's not stupid to buy into such a ripoff, even if it's cheaper now...

 

[Tosser]

BTW friend of mine was seriously debating the new 3G iPhone - he's a long time HTC and Nokia user - but as soon as word got out about this retarded limitation he immediately ditched the whole idea. Of course, he's not stupid to buy into such a ripoff, even if it's cheaper now...

I agree with his (and your) sentiment.

Then again, I already ditched the idea back when I discovered there was o disk mode on either of them. And now with mobileme, I see why: They want you to pay 99 US$/year if you want to bring something that could just be put on the flash. Sweet deal, huh?

But, just you wait a few minutes, and some tosser (not me ) will go "Well, that feature is useless - on my campus we have wifi", and that sort of fanboyish nonsense.

 

[Ozz.Man]

What a huge disappointment. I was hoping to get rid of my Verizon EVDO when we camp and save the $60 a month. Lets hope theres a reliable hack for this.

 

[mavis]

Because it will affect their sales. And that it will poke holes in their hyped image "it just works", when plainly "it doesn't work at all, because we crippled it" – you know, just like disk mode on the iPhone and Touch.

Umm, it might help if you'd actually read the thread a little before commenting. I was responding to 2002cbr600f4i's post, asking whether he/she should be angry at AT&T or Apple for the lack of tethering. My response, "why would Apple care about this" clearly indicated that (IMO) the blame lies solely with AT&T.

Anyway, I don't know what everyone hopes to accomplish complaining about this here. If you desperately NEED tethering, either Jailbreak your phone and do it that way, or buy a different phone, and be done with it. Not exactly rocket science.

 

[Tosser]

Umm, it might help if you'd actually read the thread a little before commenting. I was responding to 2002cbr600f4i's post, asking whether he/she should be angry at AT&T or Apple for the lack of tethering. My response, "why would Apple care about this" clearly indicated that (IMO) the blame lies solely with AT&T.

I already read the thread. If you meant what you now explain, perhaps there was a lapse in your communication skills …

Anyway, I don't know what everyone hopes to accomplish complaining about this here. If you desperately NEED tethering, either Jailbreak your phone and do it that way, or buy a different phone, and be done with it. Not exactly rocket science.

Ah, yes, when it comes to Apple, people should preferably shut up about the shortcomings and just go buy something else. That way, the fanboys can run around pretending Apple is the Teh God-corp.

It all makes sense now. Thank you

 

[mavis]

I already read the thread. If you meant what you now explain, perhaps there was a lapse in your communication skills …

That must be it.

Ah, yes, when it comes to Apple, people should preferably shut up about the shortcomings and just go buy something else. That way, the fanboys can run around pretending Apple is the Teh God-corp.

It all makes sense now. Thank you

No, I understand that people like to complain. In this case, however, it just seems so pointless because 1) it's not even Apple's fault (blame AT&T!) 2) there are workarounds and 3) no one is forcing you to buy the iPhone in the first place.

 

[Tosser]

Db post

 

[Tosser]

That must be it.

Yes. It's all about being to the point.

No, I understand that people like to complain. In this case, however, it just seems so pointless because 1) it's not even Apple's fault (blame AT&T!) 2) there are workarounds and 3) no one is forcing you to buy the iPhone in the first place.

1) Hmm, so it's just AT&T's fault? How is it then, that it seems it won't be possible anywhere else? And that many other phones can do it? Even with AT&T as well?

Guess it's that "Apple is flawless, it's someone else's fault"-attitude rearing it's ugly head again …

2)One shouldn't have to use work arounds to get a feature like this. And certainly not, if one risks that the workaround will work as "well" as the workaround for the lack of disk mode on the 1st gen iPhone.

3)see my previous post.

 

[mavis]

Yes. It's all about being to the point.

As opposed to what? Or maybe you call a six word post 'rambling'? ... And here I thought I was being concise.

1) Hmm, so it's just AT&T's fault? How is then, that it seems it won't be possible anywhere else? And that many other phones can do it. Even with AT&T as well? Guess it's that "Apple is flawless, it's someone else's fault"-attitude rearing it's ugly head again.

Let's see - why would I possibly think this is AT&T's choice? I don't know, maybe the fact that O2 in the UK is going to allow tethering with the same phone?

2)One shouldn't have to use work arounds to get a feature like this.

Well, if the carrier doesn't allow it, your choices are to either use a workaround, buy another phone, or simply shut up and deal with it. Not exactly rocket science.

 

[Tosser]

As opposed to what? Or maybe you call a six word post 'rambling'? ... And here I thought I was being concise.

Yes, people tend to think a lot of things.

Let's see - why would I possibly think this is AT&T's choice? I don't know, maybe the fact that O2 in the UK is going to allow tethering with the same phone ... ?

Ah, well, that changes everything. I guess Apple signing an exclusive with AT&T meant that AT&T was the only party having a say in these matters with Apple being their lapdog.

Well, if the carrier doesn't allow it, your choices are to either use a workaround, buy another phone, or simply shut up and deal with it. Not exactly rocket science.

Yes, but you're suggesting people should agree to go around these decisions without saying a word about it.
Let me repeat – no, on second thought: Just read the previous few post about excuses and fanboy-attitude.

 

[mavis]

-snip-

You're entitled to complain about AT&T's decision all you want, of course. I don't think it'll do much good - but if it makes you feel better then knock yourself out. And be sure to throw some blame Apple's way too, just for good measure!

 

[Tosser]

You're entitled to complain about AT&T's decision all you want, of course. I don't think it'll do much good - but if it makes you feel better then knock yourself out. And be sure to throw some blame Apple's way too, just for good measure!

Don't worry. Unlike some, I don't believe that the best way to get the word out there is to stay silent and suck up to big corporations.

Btw, how's it going with that MMS I send you?

Oh, wait …

 

[mavis]

Don't worry. Unlike some, I don't believe that the best way to get the word out there is to stay silent and suck up to big corporations.

You're right, of course. Incessant whining at MacRumors ought to do the trick!

Btw, how's it going with that MMS I send you?

Sorry, it would be difficult for you to send me an MMS as I've never bothered giving out that address, since it changes with every carrier name change and merger, not to mention when I switch carriers altogether. Now if only my phone had a real email client like the iPhone, so that I could check the mail account I've used for the past six years ...

 

[Tosser]

You're right, of course. Incessant whining at MacRumors ought to do the trick!

At least people read these forums and become aware of the numerous shortcomings.

Sorry, it would be difficult for you to send me an MMS as I've never bothered giving out that address, since it changes with every carrier name change and merger, not to mention when I switch carriers altogether.

Erm, are you sure you know what MMS is? You just need the phone number to a person in order to send an MMS.

Now if only my phone had a real email client like the iPhone, so that I could check the mail account I've used for the past six years ...

Ah, yes, being able to check one's mail on a small hand-held device. What a novel idea!

 

[mavis]

Erm, are you sure you know what MMS is? You just need the phone number to a person in order to send an MMS.

Oh, well then I guess that's something I absolutely won't miss, then - where I live, sending MMS to a phone number only works when the person you're sending to is using the same carrier - if you send to someone on a different carrier's network, you have to know their phone's email address (which kind of defeats the purpose, I think) ...

Ah, yes, being able to check one's mail on a small hand-held device. What a novel idea!

You've obviously never tried accessing email on an iPhone or iPod Touch. I've been doing it for the past seven months (I've probably sent 95% of my email from my Touch since last November) and it's a lot easier than you seem to think. Actual experience with a product would probably make it easier to offer meaningful (and accurate) observations. Just a thought.