AT&T: Tethering requires ‘fine tuning to our systems, networks’
By Ronald O Carlson
Were you hoping Apple’s exclusive wireless partner would relent and allow the iPhone to be used as a modem on its 3G network? Unfortunately, Ma Bell is still afraid, and fearful enough to say so publicly, that their network won’t be able to stand the strain of data hog iPhone users double dipping to surf the web on their laptops.
Yesterday, I snarked that “the mere idea” of millions of iPhone owners using their handsets as modems might enough to bring down the wireless carrier’s network. Today, the company has confirmed exactly that.
Quoting an unnamed AT&T wonk, Wall Street Journal reports that modem tethering won’t officially be coming to the iPhone this week or next. Yes, this news comes nearly a year after the company’s mobile chief, Ralph de la Vega, said the service would was just around the corner.
“Whenever we offer new features, we want to offer the best possible customer experience,” said the source. “For tethering, we need to do some additional fine tuning to our systems and networks so that we do deliver a great experience.”
Hmm, that’s an interesting statement coming from a company whose New York and San Francisco customers are known to experience 30 percent dropped call rates. It’s the kind of bizarre worldview the makers of instant coffee — i.e. ‘the full-bodied, richly aromatic flavor of 100 percent Colombian beans’ — try to push on Java junkies.
Am I too big?
Well, at least the company’s kind of, sort of being honest about their network problems in a bass-ackwards, “we never said that” sort of way.
Thereupon, will AT&T offer iPhone tethering before the end of the decade? Although that gives them about 14 months to “fine tune,” I’m not gonna start holding my breath…
What’s your take?
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October 8th, 2009
apple should quickly get a phone to work with verizon.
October 12th, 2009
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October 13th, 2009
hey, I’d be happy if AT&T could upgrade their network so that my iPhone would work in my house