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November 6, 2008 12:00 AM PST

AT&T Tethering Coming Soon; Really

Posted by Ben Wilson

We've extensively covered drama surround tethering on the iPhone (here, here and here). This time we are writing with a more positive tone -- it looks like AT&T, along with Apple, will finally bring a Phone-as-Modem (PAM) tethering plan to your iPhone soon.

This week AT&T Wireless CEO Ralph de la Vega indicated that tethering is coming to the iPhone 3G "soon." He spoke about this deveopment at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco while being interviewed by TechCrunch's Michael Arrington.

AT&T already offers tethering plans for other phones, including certain RIM Blackberry phones, but not for the iPhone, even though Apple's device can support tethering. The cost of the extant tethering service is $60 monthly, and the plan includes what is already offered by the current iPhone data plans. Its not known whether the iPhone will get the same terms of service.

Regardless De La Vega indicated that both AT&T and Apple are working together to bring tethering to the iPhone 3G.

Jailbreakers have been using tethering for almost as long as we can remember. The tethering method on jailbroken iPhones as evolved from being a manual process to one that can be accomplished via elegant apps such as iModem.

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 5 comments
by yogmiester November 7, 2008 5:06 AM PST
Its a shame they charge so much for INTERNET on Ur cell phone! When at home u can pay for DSL or CABLE for 30-60 dollars. This is used probably ten times more then Ur cell's INTERNET. So as in the IPHONE Ur already paying 30 dollars for INTERNET that should include Tethering! If u have a jail broken phone u can already get a program to do it! PdaNet So why every one trying to rod us poor suckers of technology
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by Donald1425 November 7, 2008 8:25 AM PST
When I had T-Mobile my Dash device could share the Internet connection without any additional cost, I dumped T-Mobile because of the iPhone. AT&T does not offer a superior customer service experience and unfortunately I wanted the iPhone so I have to put up with crappy customer service. If AT&T plans to charge more for tethering that is ridiculous - I'll be ready to jailbreak and use iModem or whatever else works. Tethering should be part of the plan I already pay for.
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by ilndboi November 8, 2008 8:55 AM PST
I was really hoping that if AT&T was going to bring teathering to the iPhone that they would at least add it into the plan that many already have?.unfortunately AT&T has a way of disappointing their customers. I agree with Donald1425, I think I will return to the jailbreaking scene. Thanks DEV TEAM!!!
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by stoneage November 8, 2008 11:06 AM PST
ditto
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by johnandrade November 12, 2008 5:57 PM PST
I am trying to figure out the criteria Apple uses to allow certain apps on the US iTunes App store but not on the Canadian and certain other stores. For example, the last time i checked Pandora was not available in Canada.
Stranger still is the issue of applications which allow tethering. Rogers Wireless, the GSM phone operator in Canada, allows tethering on all its 3G phones but Canadian iPhone users cannot take advantage of this policy because tethering apps are prohibited on account of AT&T's policy.
Excuse me Mr Jobs, but in case its slipped your attention Canada is a sovereign country and AT&T policies don't apply here...so what gives?
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