Tether Launches HTML5-Based iPhone Tethering Solution

[cameronjpu]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B179 Safari/7534.48.3)

This whole thing has nothing to do with Apple but with US carriers, I would think. I'm in Switzerland where my carrier doesn't restrict the way I use my unlimited data plan and to tether, I can simply use the personal hotspot built-in iOS by Apple from my iPhone to surf from my iPad or laptop without the need to buy some 3rd party software or service.

True. When I travel to Switzerland I use a local SIM there and for 4 Euro per day I have unlimited data plus tethering on my 4S with great coverage and pretty good speed.

When I'm back in the US I pay 30 bucks per month for 2GB of lousy coverage and slow data speed. Thanks ATT.

4 euro per day? You realize that's like $150 a month. AT&T would happily give you hotspot for that price.

 

[ChazUK]

I did 311 GB's using tethering last month, I'd be lost without it.

This is an amazing achievement and a fantastic use of HTML5. Very impressed!

 

[Daveoc64]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B179 Safari/7534.48.3)



4 euro per day? You realize that's like $150 a month. AT&T would happily give you hotspot for that price.

I'd assume that rate was a "Pay as you Go" rate designed for people who only need to use data occasionally, but that when they do use it, they'd use it a lot.

 

[Cinemagic]

As much as I despise AT&T, lets be accurate.

As of now they don't "charge you twice" for the same data.

They make tethering available on a 5 GB for $50 plan.

They simply disallow it on any lower plan.

Not charging you twice at all. Simply micromanaging how you use your data, therefor forcing you buy more data, even if you need less, to get access to tethering.

You are correct. But this is a relatively recent change for ATT. When they first allowed tethering, it was a separate plan - which was charging you twice for the same data. They have revamped their data pricing structure (thanks to competition).

 

[Sebct]

I did 311 GB's using tethering last month, I'd be lost without it.
Image

This is an amazing achievement and a fantastic use of HTML5. Very impressed!

WOW! What did you do to use 311Gb?

Seb

 

[BeyondtheTech]

Glad I got the original iTether app, as I hate the idea of manually creating an ad-hoc connection in most other hacks. However, their new app does make it seem less discombobulated, ad it is wireless, compared to their last version which requires a sync cable connection.

Two questions for those who got it:

1. Is there a Mac version of the desktop app?
2. Does the web app work in the background? All the other tethering apps, including iTether and iProxy never implemented that properly.

The only way I see how carriers could prevent this is by blocking it on their DNS servers. We can't change the DNS of the wireless carrier connection (only Wi-Fi) without jailbreaking. A VPN connection could fix that, but that's just yet another workaround for something we really should have natively.

 

[kdarling]

Didn't know HTML5 could access the wireless or create ad hoc connections.

It can't. Apparently it works like this:

1) The user one-time installs a laptop program to proxy packets.

2) Whenever the user wants to connect, they must manually create an ad hoc network on their laptop.

3) The user then launches a web app on the iPhone that opens HTML5 Websockets to the special laptop software and to the Tethering.com servers. The web app acts as a go-between.

4) Packets to/from the laptop are tunneled through the web app on the phone to/from the Tether servers which connect to the Internet. (The yearly payment is to support those servers. If they go away, the app stops working.)

Laptop browser <--> Laptop IP proxy <-wifi-> web app <-3G-> Tether.com server <--> Internet

Of course, a carrier should be able to notice that a phone is talking odd packets to Tether.com, so I wonder how long this can last. I don't think this trick will be covered under network neutrality, as it's just another way of tethering (hence their company name).

What's the difference between Tether-ing and Personal Hotspot?

Tether.com is only for connecting a Mac or PC laptop using their special software, while the phone is running their special web app.

The Personal Hotspot allows any device with WiFi to connect through it to the internet. iPads, iPods, laptops, or whatever. No special software required.

 

[217833]

The note from the reader in France giving his rates and benefits shows what is possible. In the UK, average DSL in homes is 4-6 times faster than ATT provides here as their max.

Exactly what I meant.

Until last January, the three main carriers in France (Orange, SFR and Bouygues) were pretty much between 50 and 90 Euros ($60-$120) / mo for any iPhone plans.

But since Free.fr came on the mobile segment with their 19.99€ ($26), full unlimited, no contract, etc... All others carriers react and start to adjust their prices for similar plans, even thought they first did claim it wasn't possible to any carrier to really propose those prices, etc...

It's not the first time Free.fr is doing that. Few years ago, they've been the first ones to propose the TriplePlay Home plan (DSL 20 Mbits / TV and Phone) for less than 30 Euros ($40). Few years later, absolutely ALL carriers are matching this price with even more services: 200 or 300 TV Channels, Unlimited Phone call to 80 Destinations in the world, Free Router with Blu-Ray drive, DVR features, etc... Now they're even coming with FTTH (Fiber To The Home) 100/50 Mbits for the same price (19.99€/mo).

The philosophy of Free's CEO is that for him, it's "all about data". He thinks and believes carrier should be "Data Transporter" regardless what is on the Data: Voice, Video, TV, etc... In a Digital world, that's pretty smart I'd say.

As long AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile will keep matching their prices to protect their own market, prices won't change much in future. But as soon, someone will start to propose something more attractive for the end-user, then they will definitely be able to change and adjust (even quickly) their pricing...

For instance, Thanks Apple for iMessage... now SMS plan are just irrelevant. Can you believe we were still paying $0.1/SMS not too long ago?

Do we call more than 3, 4 or even 10 hours a month? Most of us not... some yes. But it's not the question... It's just good to know you don't have to worry about that. It's like if we were back to the dial-up era with 5 hours of Internet a month...

In a near future, we're gonna just have a single monthly payment with full unlimited for anything (call, voice, video, TV, or any internet services we can imagine of). I have hard time to believe I'm gonna pay again big bucks for my iPhone plan when I'll be back in the US.

And how can you justify to not have Facetime over 4G/LTE network for instance? It's not a question of technical difficulties... It's just a question of business.

Spid

 

[macguy360]

It can't. Apparently it works like this:

1) The user one-time installs a laptop program to proxy packets.

2) Whenever the user wants to connect, they must manually create an ad hoc network on their laptop.

3) The user then launches a web app on the iPhone that opens HTML5 Websockets to the special laptop software and to the Tethering.com servers. The web app acts as a go-between.

4) Packets to/from the laptop are tunneled through the web app on the phone to/from the Tether servers which connect to the Internet. (The yearly payment is to support those servers. If they go away, the app stops working.)

Laptop browser <--> Laptop IP proxy <--> web app <--> Tether.com server <--> Internet

Of course, a carrier should be able to notice that a phone is talking odd packets to Tether.com, so I wonder how long this can last. I don't think this trick will be covered under network neutrality, as it's just another way of tethering (hence their company name).



Tether.com is only for connecting a Mac or PC laptop, while the phone is running their special web app.

The Personal Hotspot allows any device with WiFi to connect through it to the internet. iPads, iPods, laptops, other phones, or whatever.

Do you think it is safer just to jailbreak the iPhone and download PDAnet since they have guaranteed their tethering can't be identified?

 

[JAT]

Could car makers change the Fuel fill on a car to only allow the more expensive fuels and get kickbacks from Exxon. I hope they are not reading this.

You've never heard of "Mercedes", I take it?

 

[ChazUK]

WOW! What did you do to use 311Gb?

Seb

We ditched our landline broadband (maximum speed 1.5 meg) and we're now using 3G for our internet access all the time. We get on average between 6 and 10 meg over 3g and we're no longer paying for landline broadband access.

Our plan is totally unlimited too with tethering included.

 

[Menneisyys2]

No I'm afraid it is Apple who wants these restrictions in data plans. Why? i dont know but here in Finland the situation is that one year ago Apple refused to accept ELISA operator from its store and only allowed 2 major Operators which used Data limits per month.

I use Elisa Prepaid 3G mobile as my main internet connection trough a 3G-Modem Router and my data usage is about 30-40 gigs per month. No extra charge for tethering either. Costs about 20 euros per month, speed about 5mbit down/up both..

I have only one SIM card so when I get out of home, I put the SIM from my 3G-modem to my (android) phone and wi-fi tether the connection for my PowerBook

I just had to register here and comment on this data throttling/tethering thing because things just sound so weird to me how you guys do things in US...

Maybe you have lots of Wi-Fi networks available then? We dont have those at all...

http://www.digitoday.fi/data/2011/03/25/elisa-kieltaytyi-ipadin-datakatosta/20114242/66

Thats the link to news that Elisa 3G operator refused to put data limits for the iPad and it was Apple who wanted these data limits. Yeah I know that you dont read finnish but I know that here are some Finnish moderators who can confirm that I'm speaking the truth!
)

Indeed xinu is telling the truth.

 

[Scoticus]

HTML 5 new tether as a wifi hotspot

Has anyone tried to use this new HTML 5 based tether to make a wifi hotspot. The USB version was useful when it was attached to my MBA, I cold make a wifi wireless network and the then whole family can share the wifi. It looks that this system makes you create an ad hoc network which prevent other iOS devices to share the connection. Any one played with this?

 

[ironpony]

So the manufacturer gives control of the tethering to the carriers in hopes the carriers will make more money to pay for well...

What is the term for controlling an industry like this?

 

[darbus69]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B176 Safari/7534.48.3)

It can't. Apparently it works like this:

1) The user one-time installs a laptop program to proxy packets.

2) Whenever the user wants to connect, they must manually create an ad hoc network on their laptop.

3) The user then launches a web app on the iPhone that opens HTML5 Websockets to the special laptop software and to the Tethering.com servers. The web app acts as a go-between.

4) Packets to/from the laptop are tunneled through the web app on the phone to/from the Tether servers which connect to the Internet. (The yearly payment is to support those servers. If they go away, the app stops working.)

Laptop browser <--> Laptop IP proxy <--> web app <--> Tether.com server <--> Internet

Of course, a carrier should be able to notice that a phone is talking odd packets to Tether.com, so I wonder how long this can last. I don't think this trick will be covered under network neutrality, as it's just another way of tethering (hence their company name).



Tether.com is only for connecting a Mac or PC laptop, while the phone is running their special web app.

The Personal Hotspot allows any device with WiFi to connect through it to the internet. iPads, iPods, laptops, other phones, or whatever.

Do you think it is safer just to jailbreak the iPhone and download PDAnet since they have guaranteed their tethering can't be identified?

NEVER JAILBROKEN, NEVER WILL - all my iOS devices have worked perfectly from day one, do not have any of the issues that forum poster's whine about and I plan to keep it that way. Why do you people believe that tethering is a right? When you purchase cellular service it is specific to your device, not your entire household of devices, so do not whine about it, just take your money where it fits your desired usage and hope that the choices you make influence carriers to be more competitive. And, if you happen to be a consumer who pirates others intellectual property, SHAME, SHAME on you, you are part of the reason corporate America (as greedy as they are) tries to dig into your pockets as often as that can-you get what you deserve thieves.

 

[SamuelW]

ATT Contract 2 yr or no for Tethering

Trying to get some clarity. Does the 5GB/$50 mo plan which ATT requires for tethering option require the 2 year contract UNLIKE the other ATT plans which are only month to month on iPad?
Thanks

 

[eric_n_dfw]

Trying to get some clarity. Does the 5GB/$50 mo plan which ATT requires for tethering option require the 2 year contract UNLIKE the other ATT plans which are only month to month on iPad?
Thanks

No - I upgraded from the old unlimited plan to the 4gb+tethering one about 9 months ago and my contract period did not change. The 2 year clock only gets reset if you buy a new device at discount.

 

[Tinmania]

And now my WiFi only iPad purchase has been justified!

The fact that this post got so many up votes is rather disturbing.

I honestly thought this place was smarter than that. Oh well...




Michael

 

[vartanarsen]

People....just Jailbreak and nstall TetherMe!!!!!

- uses native iOS hotspot
- 1 time fee of $10
- no complicated web-ad hoc, or whatevers....



Dont pay these people $30 a year!!!!

 

[Tinmania]

Being a developer, you can do pretty much whatever you want with your device. Since you can write apps for yourself that don't need to be approved by Apple (up to 99 devices). The problem is that you need to know how to code and pay $99 a year… :/

While you do need to be in the developer program you don't need to know how to code to simply build an already coded app (iProxy).



Michael

 

[sik08amg]

People....just Jailbreak and nstall TetherMe!!!!!

- uses native iOS hotspot
- 1 time fee of $10
- no complicated web-ad hoc, or whatevers....



Dont pay these people $30 a year!!!!

Or MyWi... I think I paid $20 one time fee. What about if your friend wants to hook up to the hotspot? Oh wait you have to download this file which is available on the internet that can't be accessed without the wifi.... Jailbreak AND MyWi is where it's at. I love being a long time Verizon customer with unlimited data plan.

 

[vartanarsen]

Or MyWi... I think I paid $20 one time fee. What about if your friend wants to hook up to the hotspot? Oh wait you have to download this file which is available on the internet that can't be accessed without the wifi.... Jailbreak AND MyWi is where it's at. I love being a long time Verizon customer with unlimited data plan.

I prefer TetherMe because it uses Native iOS Hotspot....anyone can connect to you very easily.

 

[kdarling]

Do you think it is safer just to jailbreak the iPhone and download PDAnet since they have guaranteed their tethering can't be identified?

Either way breaks your contract, if you're found out. As the Tether.com Terms of Service states:

Allocation of Risk. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU MAY INCUR ADDITIONAL CARRIER COSTS, AND THAT YOUR PLAN MAY BE TERMINATED BY YOUR CARRIER FOR VIOLATION OF YOUR CARRIER’S FAIR USE POLICY OR TERMS OF SERVICE.

(bold emphasis mine)

Personally, I bet they know this product will have a limited lifespan before carriers figure out how to block it. Seems like Tether is just making sure they get to keep your money if it does get blocked. Maybe it won't be. Who knows.

 

[The Economist]

Exactly what I meant.

Until last January, the three main carriers in France (Orange, SFR and Bouygues) were pretty much between 50 and 90 Euros ($60-$120) / mo for any iPhone plans.

But since Free.fr came on the mobile segment with their 19.99€ ($26), full unlimited, no contract, etc... All others carriers react and start to adjust their prices for similar plans, even thought they first did claim it wasn't possible to any carrier to really propose those prices, etc...

It's not the first time Free.fr is doing that. Few years ago, they've been the first ones to propose the TriplePlay Home plan (DSL 20 Mbits / TV and Phone) for less than 30 Euros ($40). Few years later, absolutely ALL carriers are matching this price with even more services: 200 or 300 TV Channels, Unlimited Phone call to 80 Destinations in the world, Free Router with Blu-Ray drive, DVR features, etc... Now they're even coming with FTTH (Fiber To The Home) 100/50 Mbits for the same price (19.99€/mo).

The philosophy of Free's CEO is that for him, it's "all about data". He thinks and believes carrier should be "Data Transporter" regardless what is on the Data: Voice, Video, TV, etc... In a Digital world, that's pretty smart I'd say.

As long AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile will keep matching their prices to protect their own market, prices won't change much in future. But as soon, someone will start to propose something more attractive for the end-user, then they will definitely be able to change and adjust (even quickly) their pricing...

For instance, Thanks Apple for iMessage... now SMS plan are just irrelevant. Can you believe we were still paying $0.1/SMS not too long ago?

Do we call more than 3, 4 or even 10 hours a month? Most of us not... some yes. But it's not the question... It's just good to know you don't have to worry about that. It's like if we were back to the dial-up era with 5 hours of Internet a month...

In a near future, we're gonna just have a single monthly payment with full unlimited for anything (call, voice, video, TV, or any internet services we can imagine of). I have hard time to believe I'm gonna pay again big bucks for my iPhone plan when I'll be back in the US.

And how can you justify to not have Facetime over 4G/LTE network for instance? It's not a question of technical difficulties... It's just a question of business.

Spid

Yes. Free.fr is a prime example of what happens when a company isn't a complete mother******. Wasn't Free.fr financially helped by the government to override the oligopolies? Things like this don't happen in other parts of the world (i.e. the USA) because these large companies fill the pockets of politicians.

I really wish Free.fr aggressively expanded through the Americas.

 

[Tinmania]

Has anyone tried to use this new HTML 5 based tether to make a wifi hotspot. The USB version was useful when it was attached to my MBA, I cold make a wifi wireless network and the then whole family can share the wifi. It looks that this system makes you create an ad hoc network which prevent other iOS devices to share the connection. Any one played with this?

I did/do likewise with the original iTether iOS app--and Mac companion app. But that of course was easy since the internet data was coming over USB (the companion app works like a USB modem).

The new (and certainly not "improved") iTether is a bit more convoluted and of course needs to use the WiFi on the MBA. You can in theory, however, share the connection via Bluetooth to an iOS device or pc/mac with bluetooth. I suppose you could also get really crazy and share the connection via Ethernet and connect that to a router (using the MBA's USB ethernet accessory).

But honestly I don't see the new iTether being useful for anyone who got the original iTether iOS app.

For one thing the Mac companion app for the new iTether reportedly writes over the existing Tether app that is used with the original iTether app. That to me is horrible behavior--and no easy uninstall too.

Then there is the fact that the new iTether, if it works as I believe it does, will be slower than the original iTether. The new iTether needs to funnel all Internet access through iTether's servers then back down to the iPhone, and then finally back to the laptop. The old iTether essentially acted like its own server: it didn't need third-party server support.

Finally, if they are going to trash our existing Mac companion app that only works with the Tether app we already purchased from the app store they should at least give us some credit towards the new service.

While I am on a roll a little love for those of us who bought the iOS app might be nice. Maybe a free month or three of the new service (only IF it does not trash our existing companion app).



Michael