iPhone Tethering Rumors Get Downright StupidLatest rumor: iPhone tethering, MMS slated for September... 05:17PM Friday Jul 10 2009 by Karl Bodetags: business · bandwidth · wirelessWhile AT&T's delay in implementing iPhone MMS and tethering has been kind of annoying, more annoying perhaps has been the endless flood of phone blog rumors speculating on when those services would actually be ready and how much you'll actually pay. In January, inside "sources" told one blog AT&T tethering for the iPhone was supposed to be $30 on top of existing voice and data plans. Different sources told another that tethering was going to cost just $10 extra. By June, "sources" insisted there'd be a $70 "unlimited" tethering and data plan. Then, those pesky "sources" told AppModo tethering's was coming in July for a whopping $55 per month on top of the existing data plan, something AT&T at the time vehemently denied. Not to be outdone, Appmodo today again repeated the $55 price claim, saying the launch is now slated for September. Again, AT&T is denying this: This article is incorrect. Tethering will not cost $55 and there has been no date publicly announced. We will be sure to provide details on tethering release date and pricing when they become available. As for MMS - it is still slated for late summer. $55 plus existing data and voice charges is a ridiculous price point -- we're guessing Appmodo's source is probably a confused peripheral employee not understanding the memo they're reading, and tethering will be an additional $15-$25 ($30+$25=$55?) with 5GB cap. Since September is technically still late summer, the date could very well be accurate, but who knows. Related:- Cablevision: FiOS? What's FiOS?
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- Mandatory Smartphone Data Plans Seem Hypocritical
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  gigahurtz Premium join:2001-10-20 Palm Coast, FL clubs: | Here's an idea Instead of AT&T denying all these claims, why not just release the correct information and a time frame of when it will be released (instead of "late summer"). I hate AT&T. | |
|  |  Mattie_B
join:2008-05-16
| Re: Here's an idea said by gigahurtz :Instead of AT&T denying all these claims, why not just release the correct information and a time frame of when it will be released (instead of "late summer"). I hate AT&T. That or they could have avoided all the speculation by enabling tethering and MMS when 3.0 launched. Instead we wait for both of them to be enabled and wonder about the pricing.
I thought I heard MMS was slated for 7-18-09 though. I hope what I heard is correct. I'm in an edge area so tethering isn't appealing yet. | |
|  |  |   gigahurtz Premium join:2001-10-20 Palm Coast, FL clubs:
·Earthlink Cable Mo..
·VoicePulse
| Re: Here's an idea said by Mattie_B :said by gigahurtz :Instead of AT&T denying all these claims, why not just release the correct information and a time frame of when it will be released (instead of "late summer"). I hate AT&T. That or they could have avoided all the speculation by enabling tethering and MMS when 3.0 launched. Instead we wait for both of them to be enabled and wonder about the pricing. I thought I heard MMS was slated for 7-18-09 though. I hope what I heard is correct. I'm in an edge area so tethering isn't appealing yet. Great point. This was poorly thought out from the start. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  mlundin
join:2001-03-27 Lawrence, KS | Re: Here's an idea "should" is a funny word. It's funny how so many things "should happen", or "should have happened". | |
|  |  |  |  |   Old Ed
@sbcglobal.net
| Re: Here's an idea said by kfsutops Can you imagine what it will be with tethering? [/BQUOTE :Why would it be any different from any other tether-able phone? In fact, why would it be any more at all? Seems like most of the frivolous web activity would already be taking place on the phone itself rather than booting up a computer to do it. AT&T is doing what any company would (and should) with such a lunatic market such as iPhone owners...milk 'em until they turn to dust. | |
|  |  |  |   spewak Kiss It, Kiss It Real Good Premium join:2001-08-07 Elk Grove, CA | Re: Here's an idea Well how does the old saying go? It isn't rape if one is willing! That pretty much sums up the Apple + Att = fanboys equation! -- The weekend is here, grab a can of beer! | |
|  |   rick25s
join:2003-01-18 Newport, NH
·Verizon VoiceWing
| Wide scale technology deployments are nearly impossible to accurately predict. If they give a date, they will most likely be wrong, and the whiners will whine louder.
As far as the cost goes, they are probably still analysing both the cost and network impact. An SMS is tiny and simple, an MMS is bulky, ugly and has a cost per kilobyte. | |
|   insomniac84
join:2002-01-03 Schererville, IN | Why the increase? If there is still a 5gb gap you aren't getting anything for the extra money. There is no reason to pay, use a free work around. | |
|  |   Matt Gone playing Dragon Age Origins Premium join:2003-07-20 Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| Re: Why the increase? said by insomniac84 :If there is still a 5gb gap you aren't getting anything for the extra money. There is no reason to pay, use a free work around. I thought the reason to pay was because you're stealing if they charge for it and you don't? | |
|  |  |  jjeffeory
join:2002-12-04 USA
| Re: Why the increase? said by Matt :said by insomniac84 :If there is still a 5gb gap you aren't getting anything for the extra money. There is no reason to pay, use a free work around. I thought the reason to pay was because you're stealing if they charge for it and you don't? Not necessarily stealing. Sorry. If you're paying for data you should be able to use that data. | |
|  |  |  |  navalpatel
join:2003-07-28 Lubbock, TX
| Re: Why the increase? You're right, you're not stealing - just violating your contract.
»www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-···erms.jsp
Prohibited and Permissible Uses: Except as may otherwise be specifically permitted or prohibited for select data plans, data sessions may be conducted only for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; and (iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, email, and individual productivity applications like customer relationship management, sales force, and field service automation). While most common uses for Intranet browsing, email and intranet access are permitted by your data plan, there are certain uses that cause extreme network capacity issues and interference with the network and are therefore prohibited. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; (ii) as a substitute or backup for private lines, landlines or full-time or dedicated data connections; (iii) "auto-responders," "cancel-bots," or similar automated or manual routines which generate excessive amounts of net traffic, or which disrupt net user groups or email use by others; (iv) "spam" or unsolicited commercial or bulk email (or activities that have the effect of facilitating unsolicited commercial email or unsolicited bulk email); (v) any activity that adversely affects the ability of other people or systems to use either AT&T's wireless services or other parties' Internet-based resources, including "denial of service" (DoS) attacks against another network host or individual user; (vi) accessing, or attempting to access without authority, the accounts of others, or to penetrate, or attempt to penetrate, security measures of AT&T's wireless network or another entity's network or systems; (vii) software or other devices that maintain continuous active Internet connections when a computer's connection would otherwise be idle or any "keep alive" functions, unless they adhere to AT&T's data retry requirements, which may be changed from time to time. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services, redirecting television signals for viewing on Personal Computers, web broadcasting, and/or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition devices is prohibited. Furthermore, plans(unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to computer accessories, BLUETOOTH® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose. Accordingly, AT&T reserves the right to (i) deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited or whose usage adversely impacts its wireless network or service levels or hinders access to its wireless network, including without limitation, after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive usage and (ii) otherwise protect its wireless network from harm, compromised capacity or degradation in performance, which may impact legitimate data flows. You may not send solicitations to AT&T's wireless subscribers without their consent. You may not use the Services other than as intended by AT&T and applicable law. Plans are for individual, non-commercial use only and are not for resale. AT&T may, but is not required to, monitor your compliance, or the compliance of other subscribers, with AT&T's terms, conditions, or policies. | |
|  |  kaila
join:2000-10-11 Lincolnshire, IL clubs: 
| I agree completely. Unless I have a complete misunderstanding of this, iPhone users pay $30mo for ATT network access up to 5gigs usage. So why should they care about the consumption method (tethered or not)? And why can't they just be happy to collect the full $30mo when the vast majority will never come near 5 gigs? Is $6 per GB not enough? -- Jeff Howe Jeff's Blog - »www.jeffhowe.net/Jeffhowe.net/Blog/Blog.html | |
|  |  |  |  |  |   jsz0
join:2008-01-23 Jewett City, CT | Because very few people actually use 5GB on their iPhone on a monthly basis. They don't want to make it easier to reach 5GB. | |
|  |  |  |   TamaraB Question The Current Paradigm Premium join:2000-11-08 Brooklyn NYC
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Why the increase? said by jsz0 :Because very few people actually use 5GB on their iPhone on a monthly basis. They don't want to make it easier to reach 5GB. I don't come close to 5gb. However, what's this 5gb cap? My plan says UNLIMITED.
Data Plan for iPhone . Price ....... Text .. Data ...... Select . $30.00 ...... N/A ...Unlimited .. Current
Data Plan for iPhone
Data Plan for iPhone includes unlimited data in the U.S. Access rich HTML email and desktop-level web browsing, as well as Visual Voicemail to listen to voicemail messages in any order you choose
Nowhere have I found a 5B limit.
Bob -- "If we believe absurdities, we shall commit atrocities." -- Voltaire
| |
|  |   mk
@twi.com | When I tried tethering with my Iphone 3G yesterday, it got disconnected abruptly. clicking on tethering button gave message "...Contact AT&T.." | |
|  |   Telco_Tech
join:2009-05-18 Toledo, OH
| said by insomniac84 :If there is still a 5gb gap you aren't getting anything for the extra money. There is no reason to pay, use a free work around. If you're using AT&T's shoddy / overpriced services, then you're pissing away money anyway. The only provider out there (aside from MetroPCS and the like) which gives any value for the money is Sprint. Can you imagine AT&T offering an "unlimited everything" plan for only $99 a month?
I wish more people would wake up and see that AT&T is an awful company.
- Tate
-- IP is the future... down with TDM! | |
|  |  |   cameronsfx
join:2009-01-08 Pensacola, FL
·Cox HSI
·magicjack.com
·Verizon Wireless B..
·AT&T DSL Service
| Re: Why the increase? said by Telco_Tech :said by insomniac84 :If there is still a 5gb gap you aren't getting anything for the extra money. There is no reason to pay, use a free work around. If you're using AT&T's shoddy / overpriced services, then you're pissing away money anyway. The only provider out there (aside from MetroPCS and the like) which gives any value for the money is Sprint. Can you imagine AT&T offering an "unlimited everything" plan for only $99 a month? I wish more people would wake up and see that AT&T is an awful company. - Tate They are all too drunk on the iPhone craze. Only an idiot pays $599 for a phone/MP3 player with a 16 gb HD.
I'm a Mac.
I'm a PC.
I see you upgraded, PC.
Yes, nice new 1 TB HD from Western Digital.
I have an iPhone with 16MB.
Reminds me, the amount of my new RAM is 16 gigs.
Thought Windows could only use 4 gigs of RAM.
Yeah, but the new Windows can use up to 16 gigs. Check out my new 72 inch widescreen monitor.
Wow!
Nice 2 gig video card.
I can imagine.
Huh? Your iPhone being attached caused the computer to say, "No HD found."
It doesn't have one.
Get with the times, Mac.
Ding-Ding!
Apple | |
|  |  |  |   jsz0
join:2008-01-23 Jewett City, CT | Re: Why the increase? ^^Apple doesn't sell a $600 16GB iPhone. | |
|  |  |  |  |  Metatron2008
join:2008-09-02 Stockbridge, GA | Re: Why the increase? New windows?
You mean 64 bit windows? That isn't new. It simply allows more then 4 gigs of ram. And 4 gigs of ram as a limitation is the same for any type of 32 bit os. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  DarkLogix
join:2008-10-23 Baytown, TX
·Comcast Workplace
·Comcast
| Re: Why the increase? Please stop spreading the FUD ever since the Pentium pro introduced PAE 36bit memory addressing has been available to 32bit CPU's
and with this a max of upto 64GB ram (load up a windows datacenter server 32bit with 64GB ram) it can use it all but microsoft messed up on the consumer OS and set it to not be able to really use PAE fully
and 64 bit Memory addressing allows for up to 16petaBytes 2^64=18446744073709551616 /1024/1024/1024/1024/1024=16PB
but again microsoft has put limits on us | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |   dib22
join:2002-01-27 Kansas City, MO
1 edit | said by Telco_Tech : The only provider out there (aside from MetroPCS and the like) which gives any value for the money is Sprint. Can you imagine AT&T offering an "unlimited everything" plan for only $99 a month? actually sprints simply everything doesn't include tethering...
that costs $149.99 a month for a 5 gig limit on the tethering 
Its called Simply Everything with Mobile Broadband... so they are charging 49.99/mo for 5 gigs of tether just like the other 2.
att does unlimited everything for 119.99 (and with tether it would hit... yes... 149.99)
verizon does unlimited everything for like 129 (and with tether they hit the 159 mark)
it would be nice to see a company that is not a contract laden gimmicky slick sales machine mobile provider... cause lets face it the top 4 are just that... but alas the airwaves are too expensive for just anyone to get in and try (thank you fcc). | |
|  |  |  |   w0g o.O
join:2001-08-30 Portland, OR clubs:
·Clearwire Wireless
| Re: Why the increase? Simply Everything with Mobile Broadband includes a separate PC card for your data usage, it's a combination package of Simply Everything and discounted Broadband card package.. -- Opera is now free! Highly recommended if you're still using IE or Firefox. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |   cr
@comcast.net
| Tethering/MMS This is the 1 reason why when the iPhone goes to other carriers i will be jumping from the AT&T ship. Why they cant even allow mms to work when the new 3gs launched is crazy especially when they had the iPhone 1st before the rest of the world and the world wide carriers are getting ahead of them in features that come with the iPhone. It just WOW's me that tethering and MMS works on other smart phones on the AT&T network and they can get there network right for the iPhone. Things like that are whats going to make them lose alot of iPhone/family share users once its open to other cell networks. | |
|  hottboiinnc ME
join:2003-10-15 Cleveland, OH | MMS on the OLD ATT Didn't the old ATT Wireless have MMS? It was called MediaNet? or is that a different service i'm thinking of? | |
|  |   Qumahlin Never Enough Time Premium,MVM join:2001-10-05 united state
| Re: MMS on the OLD ATT said by hottboiinnc :Didn't the old ATT Wireless have MMS? It was called MediaNet? or is that a different service i'm thinking of? ATT has MMS, they just don't have it for the iPhone. The iPhone just added "real" MMS support to its features and ATT has not added the appropriate package to users accounts as of yet for them to begin using it. -- Forum Posts:7500 | |
|  |  |   ifarrell
join:2000-08-10 Willow Spring, NC | Re: MMS on the OLD ATT I'm sorry but it's not like AT&T didn't know this was coming. That's a piss poor excuse and you know it. AT&T are a huge joke. Mobile Phone Services in the U.S. are a huge joke. | |
|  |  |   HappyBunny Hi. Cram It. Premium join:2001-06-23 Long Beach, CA | The ironic thing is that MMS works on an unlocked iPhone on TMobile  | |
|  keyboard5684
join:2001-08-01 Youngsville, PA
·Teliax VOIP
·WestPAnet Inc.
·WestPAnet Inc. CA..
| Umm, you can tether anyway? I am not sure why this thread is here? I have a friend with the new Iphone 3GS, have seen the 3G and they both tethered just fine with an easily findable "hack". In fact, as long as you have the latest Itunes it works fine (tethering).
I do not have ATT, but am starting to hate all cell carriers all together. It seems like the "cheapest" plan always ends up costing the same as the more expenses plans in the end, somehow. They stuff so much crap in there it is impossible to have a cell bill that is reasonable.
I say a revolution is upon us. Lets all just pick a day, cancel our cell phones for 1 month, and see who wins in the end. Go on "cell" strike because us as consumers are tired of just taking it in the rear because the only other option is to not have mobility.
OMG, the thought of not having a cell phone is kind of freeing to me in a way... Remember the good old days when we had to wait to get to the office or home to check our messages. And even then we did not have to call them back, we could sit down and relax first. I wish we never had cell phones, really. | |
|  |  fiberguy My views are my own. Premium join:2005-05-20
| Re: Umm, you can tether anyway? said by keyboard5684 :I say a revolution is upon us. Lets all just pick a day, cancel our cell phones for 1 month, and see who wins in the end. Go on "cell" strike because us as consumers are tired of just taking it in the rear because the only other option is to not have mobility. While I agree with you and think it would be a great idea, in theory, I'd have to disagree with you for once simple reason.
If everyone canceled their service today for 30 days, the real winners would be the providers, not the consumer. May/most people are in contracts with about a $200 cancellation fee. If everyone were to cancel, that would give an INCREDIBLE boost to the wireless industry.. not to mention, you'd never affect 'em being that a few hundred million people would never get into the call centers in 30 days alone to cancel service.  | |
|   Qumahlin Never Enough Time Premium,MVM join:2001-10-05 united state
| You can already tether You can already tether on the iPhone on AT&T without unlocking and without paying any additional fees. How long it will remain this way is anyones guess.
go to help.benm.at on your iPhone and follow the instructions.
This also does not require jailbreaking your phone. -- Forum Posts:7500 | |
|   Happy tether
@sbcglobal.net | Therther Yup I'm doing thethering and I'm happy bout it | |
|  dan1431
join:2007-05-10 Boca Raton, FL | tethering My guess is that at&t Mobility is going to offer another plan beyond the iPHONE plan which includes tethering.
This plan will probably be named something like: iPHONE plus tethering and will cost $60.00 a month.
Dan | |
|  |  Headtalk
join:2001-08-17 | Re: tethering ATT is waiting untill they build out there network this summer. At this time tethering would bring there 3G network down to a crawl. In some citys their current EDGE is faster than 3G.
-G | |
|  majortom1029
join:2006-10-19 Lindenhurst, NY | really? Is it really worth it to teather with all the wireless access points around? | |
|  |   Rob In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA Premium join:2001-08-25 Kendall, FL
·Comcast
| Re: really? said by majortom1029 :Is it really worth it to teather with all the wireless access points around? Yea, in the car. | |
|  |   cypherstream Looking forward to the future of things. Premium,MVM join:2004-12-02 Reading, PA clubs:
| Yeah, I stayed in a Motel and their wireless internet took you to a landing page where you have to sign up for a username and password for access. The catch? $4.99 / hr or $19.99 for 3 days.
the benm site and IPhone tethering saved the day. AT&T can't tell anyway, as long as you don't do ridiculous downloads, Bit Torrent, etc... I used it for simple web browsing (e-mail, facebook, etc...) Could I do all that on the IPhone? Sure, but late at night before bed it's just easier to navigate around on a laptop.
The only way they might ever tell is if they do intrusive deep packet inspection and read browser headers. But then again even jailbroken IPhones have alternate browsers available. The traffic is pretty indistinguishable from IPhone traffic, or else they would also be alienating jailbroken phones. So just keep it to light surfing. | |
|   podstolom
@kanren.net
| Tethering will be a big yawner anyway The funny thing is, once it's implemented and users see whatever it costs, they will decline the option anyway. On other AT&T smartphones it's $30 over the data plan cost, Sprint's tethering option is totally hit-and-miss depending on which plan you get, and verizon charges either $15 or $30 depending on your plan's base cost ($45 or $30) making a total of $60 either way. Totollay usurous. iPhone can use pdaNet that synchs the phone to the computer over the wap gateway. One time charge for the software. No extra carrier charges. A jail-broken violation of TOS? Most definitely I'm sure.
T-Mo doesn't charge extra for tethering they told me, which is interesting since most European carrier include tethering as part of the basic data plan tariff. Basically they don't care where the data goes, as long as you are paying for the pipe.
Since the Feds are investigatng ATT & VZW for SMS and other excessive pricing policies, they should intervene on this rediculous tethering cash cow as well. Most people are just smart enough not to bite this guilded fish hook. | |
|  |   Wizeguy
join:2008-08-23 Safety Harbor, FL
| Re: Tethering will be a big yawner anyway "Since the Feds are investigatng ATT & VZW for SMS and other excessive pricing policies,"
Sorry I don't see the FCC doing much here. Sure they will blow a lot of wind with testamony and hearings. In the end they will still be able to charge you anything they want becuse they can. The FCC is like the SEC good at catching the little guy but when it comes to Madoff they go blind in one eye and can't see out of the other. | |
|   FastiBook
join:2003-01-08 Newtown, PA
·Verizon FIOS
| How about.... How about proper bluetooth functionality? I know it's likely crippled by apple till mms/tethering is ready, however, i also want to be able to BT photos and contacts & other stuff like map info to people......
- A -- LETS GO METS! | |
|   lucky644 Premium join:2002-02-04 | Rogers This makes me happy (at least for now) that Tethering is enabled and is free currently with my provider, Rogers... -- ~~Desu | |
|  Chaldo
join:2008-03-18 West Bloomfield, MI | Nothing is free in america... Ever heard that saying before?? I'm sure you have.. and if you haven't where the hell have you been? | |
|   tiger72 SexaT duorP Premium join:2001-03-28 Saint Louis, MO clubs:
·T-Mobile US
·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | iPhone blog strikes again! Come on Karl -
we're guessing Appmodo's source is probably a confused peripheral employee not understanding the memo they're reading, and tethering will be an additional $15-$25 ($30+$25=$55?) with 5GB cap So let me get this straight. You're posting complaining about ATT pricing rumors, while then going on to do so yourself?
If you want an iPhone blog, just start one. -- "What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning." -United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara | |
|  flyingjoey
join:2005-11-07 Jersey City, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Verizon FIOS
| To Tether or Not to Tether! Do we really need to be "that" connected all the time.
I've been tethering on sprint since 2003, first with the A800 and now a days with the Mogul.
As nice as it is to have that as an option, how often am I really using this. Everywhere you go you can get connected, so the bigger question is... To Tether or Not to Tether? is an extra $20-$50 a month worth for something you'll use once or twice a month?
I have the $15 (minus 27% off) a month data plan from sprint, which I've had since the PPC6700 came out. To make a long story short, the last time I tether was about 3 weeks ago, and it was because I was at an airport in PR and they wanted like 10 bucks to use the freaken internet for like the 45 mins I was sitting there waiting for my flight. Did I really need to be connected... NOT really... Was it nice to be able to do this... Yes!
This is one of the reasons I haven't let go of my Sprint phone, 2 lines for 80 a month for 800 mins, a nickle a minute if I go over and data & texting included for 80 bucks, you can't beat that.
The most basic iphone is more than 80 a month.
There is no reason on earth why data should be as expensive as they've made it be. | |
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