AT&T’s fails to deliver iPhone tethering by year’s end
Another New Year has come and gone, and AT&T still hasn’t delivered on their promise to allow iPhone users and their “unlimited” data plans to use their smartphones as modems. Yes, of course, you can hack your iPhone to use tethering, but that also opens you up to some really scary malware.
In article that enumerates AT&T’s numerous failures of the last year and then some, Wired reminds us that Ma Bell has once again failed to deliver iPhone tether, something that iPhone users in other countries have been enjoying for months already.
And, yes, AT&T did promise tethering in 2009 and, with that year come and gone, they’ve once again failed to deliver.
Now, Ma Bell has a whole other year ahead to procrastinate, fritter and waste away. Will they ever offer tethering or, as seems likely, will AT&T iPhone subscribers still be lamenting the lack of this service next at this time, as well…
What’s your take?
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January 3rd, 2010
Well you can understand why they don’t have tethering. They are already freaking out with the bandwidth the iPhone alone is using. Let alone allowing all of those users to also have their computers on their network.
January 3rd, 2010
Tethering worked great with AT&T on my Windows Mobile phone with the same 3G service. The problem is, the iPhone is far too easy and efficient and enjoyable to use (unlike all three of my Windows Mobile phones), so people actually use the bandwidth with the iPhone.
I understand AT&T is slammed due to popularity of the iPhone, but I am very annoyed that they have broken a commitment on this.
This is a major inconvenience, especially when traveling, to be sitting there with a phone that has Internet access and a laptop outside of Wi-Fi range that cannot access the Internet to send a simple piece of email.
It’s especially frustrating since I have been chasing this functionality for well over a decade. The solution is to open up the iPhone to other service providers who can share the load.
Personally, I cannot wait to switch away from AT&T as soon as that option is available. That’ll help free up some bandwidth for everyone else who remains.
January 5th, 2010
I am really upset at ATT for not allowing tethering. We are already paying for Iphone internet use.
My ATT contract expires in a couple of years, by if by then
ATT does not allow FREE tethering, I will not only move to another carrier after having been with ATT for 7 years, but will also look at another smart phone, if Apple continues to give the distribution eexclusive to ATT.
January 5th, 2010
AT&T in general has been intolerable. I could understand delaying tethering IF they were doing anything to fix their other issues beyond blaming their paying customers.
What other issues?
- Dropped calls
- Amazingly slow internet connection
- Voice mail alerts that arrive DAYS after the voice mail was left.
As of now, when my contract is up, I’m gone. Never to return. Either I will move my iPhone over to T-Mobile, or I will (more likely) get an Android.
February 1st, 2010
I think with the introduction of the iPad 3G they’ll allow iPhone 3G users to tether the device without having to pay an additional fee. That’s my wishful guess! I just can’t see having both devices on AT&T and having to pay two different rates. Apple would have to be fools to allow their sales of the iPad 3G to be hobbled in such a way!
May 10th, 2010
Verizon is now giving away 3G tethering through its Mobile Hotspot service free with the purchase of a webOS phone. Instead of $40 monthly, without any additional fee you can now use the phone’s 3G data on up to five devices. There’s a 5 GB cap on data with the 3G Mobile Hotspot, but you get that 5 GB for free now. I tried it – fantastic! ATT – please wake up!
June 7th, 2010
I too have been waiting for tethering. I previously had a Palm Treo and it worked extremely well for that – PDA Net. I’ve hacked my iPhone a couple of times, but when you upgrade everything the hack goes away. Tethering worked fine with the hack and I loved the performance and functionality.
I have three laptops and use all three as a scientist. I bought the iPhone so I could tether it. Supposedly, when iPhone OS 4 is released on June 21, 2010, AT&T will be ready for tethering since they’re saying it’s the OS and not their network that is causing the problem.
The phone was bought on my birthday in August. I will wait until then for tethering and if not available ‘good bye’ AT&T. I’ll chock it up to experience and find another phone and service provider that actually has tethering available.