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Apple and AT&T Discussing Official Tethering Option for iPhone?

Thursday August 28, 2008 8:11 pm PDT by Arnold Kim
Gizmodo reports on an alleged email Steve Jobs sent to one of their readers. The email was in response to a complaint that AT&T is not offering a tethering option for the iPhone, even though it is offered on other smartphones as a $30/month add-on. The response acknowledged Apple and AT&T were discussing the option:

We agree, and are discussing it with ATT.

Steve

'Tethering' allows users to connect their laptops to the internet by using their mobile phone as the internet connection. The lack of a tethering option for the iPhone was highlighted recently due to the enormous interest in Nullriver's Netshare application which was temporarily available through the App Store.

As mentioned above, AT&T does offer an official tethering option for many of its smartphones as an additional $30/month charge.
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Schizoid
45 months ago
I agree, and we're discussing it with AT&T and ATT and also AT-AT

Steve

Sent from something
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Rondue
45 months ago
30 dollar Add-on..... LMAO! I
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bytethese
45 months ago



Gizmodo reports on an alleged email Steve Jobs sent to one of their readers. The email was in response to a complaint that AT&T is not offering a tethering option for the iPhone, even though it is offered on other smartphones as a $30/month add-on. The response acknowledged Apple and AT&T were discussing the option:'Tethering' allows users to connect their laptops to the internet by using their mobile phone as the internet connection. The lack of a tethering option for the iPhone was highlighted recently due to the enormous interest in Nullriver's Netshare application which was temporarily available through the App Store.

As mentioned above, AT&T does offer an official tethering option for many of its smartphones as an additional $30/month charge.

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Hmm, now that I did upgrade to a 3G, I wonder if should have purchased Netshare. Regardless, I'd be interested to see how much a sanctioned iPhone tethering plan would go for. Further, would it be a simple SOCKS proxy or will it allow for all network connections to flow through the iPhone?
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bytethese
45 months ago

30 dollar Add-on..... LMAO! I

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KindredMAC
45 months ago

Yeah, I ballsack T-Mobile too. The service with them on my Blackberry is awful. :)


OMG! Thank you! I needed a laugh this morning. It even caused me to call others over to my office to read it!

But back on topic: I'm not sure I think $30/month is a good option, at least for me. I would only need the tethering option 4 weeks a year total. Wonder if they could offer a "lite" version of the charge?

Damn! Knew I should have picked up NetShare!!!!!!!!
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DaLurker
45 months ago
About time, in Canada the Rogers data plan allows for tethering so I would like to see an official tethering option, preferably through iTunes and via USB.
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odinsride
45 months ago
An additional $30?? With my old Cingular 8125 I could tether free of charge. I'm not interested in tethering for $30 extra per month..may as well subscribe to a decent 3g air card service.
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xraydoc
45 months ago
I picked up Netshare right before it was pulled (for the second, final time) but haven't actually tried it out yet. I'd love a simple tethering option, but $30 seems kinda steep, doesn't it? Unless it removes the data caps on the "unlimited" iPhone data plan...
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Full of Win
45 months ago
10.00$ per month, no more.

I'm sending this using Netshare, and would like to have that tinge of worry they will send me some huge bill
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paulyras
45 months ago
With the AT&T network being apparently strained already, can you imagine if tons of additional people start tethering. I hate to be the turd in the punchbowl, but if they don't do some serious network tweaking and upgrading, the thing might grind to a complete halt...

BTW- I second the ballsacking of T-Mobile. Love them or hate them, AT&T is night and day better the tMo.
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