DailyTech - AT&T says "No Tether for You" to iPhone Users

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Blog: Gadgets AT&T says "No Tether for You" to iPhone Users
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - October 8, 2009 10:28 AM

18 comment(s) - last by Chaser.. on Oct 15 at 8:27 AM

VoIP raised hopes for tethering that were killed by AT&T

Those holding out hope that AT&T's move to allow VoIP applications to operate on its 3G network might mean tethering would be coming soon for the iPhone will be sad to hear the latest news from AT&T. Subscribers still can't “officially” use the iPhone for tethering to a notebook and AT&T has announced no plans to support the feature.

Tethering allows users to connect a notebook or netbook and use the iPhone as a modem to provide data connectivity. However, that feature has been blocked since Apple added it to the iPhone in America.

AT&T still maintains that before it offers a new feature, it must be sure that it will offer a good user experience. An AT&T spokesperson said, "Whenever we offer new features, we want to offer the best possible customer experience. For tethering, we need to do some additional fine tuning to our systems and networks so that we do deliver a great experience."

Presumably that fine tuning includes things like improving the 30% dropped call rate in NYC and making 3G service more readily accessible across its network. AT&T's Ralph de la Vega, head of AT&T's wireless unit, had previously said tethering could come to the iPhone this year.

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in plain speak

By kattanna on 10/8/2009 11:38:40 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
Whenever we offer new features, we want to offer the best possible customer experience. For tethering, we need to do some additional fine tuning to our systems and networks so that we do deliver a great experience."

in plain speak..

HOLY SHIT.. the iphones are beating the snot out of our networks now.. and you want to use it as a modem as well.. then no one would be able to make calls..

RE: in plain speak

By Manch on 10/8/2009 12:44:30 PM , Rating: 5

More like:

We're going ot hold out on opening the tethering option because we need to come up with a business model where you'll be happy to pay more.

Oh wait, these are Apple sheeple and they'll do whatever Steve tells them to do.

ATT: Hey, Steve! Buddy!......

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RE: in plain speak

By xti on 10/12/2009 4:52:55 PM , Rating: 1

did a mac beat you up when you were a kid?

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RE: in plain speak

By Manch on 10/13/2009 3:41:34 PM , Rating: 2

Yes it was horrible. A gang of mac's jumped me as I was walking down the street with my PC. Taunting my 2 button mouse, calling it a mutant and a freak. They mocked my PC's programming and bragged about how much better they were. They kept screaming PC LOVER! over and over and over. I still have nightmares about it. They didn't have hate crime laws back then, so the mac got off with a misdemeanor.

Despite that traumatic event, and the bickering of some family members about that damn dirty mac book, I don't believe they're all bad. I've learned to coexist with PC's and MAC's, but only because the MAC was free and I didnt have to pay a single overpriced dollar for it.

Lighten up dude.

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RE: in plain speak

By QueBert on 10/13/2009 6:26:55 PM , Rating: 3

AT&T's network already sucks, it's not a dollar thing here at all, if they opened up tethering their network would be done for. They can only expand their network so much and so fast. Apple would love to offer a $20 tethering account add-on. But their network just can't handle the extra usage. It's a lose/lose for them.

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RE: in plain speak

By Chaser on 10/15/2009 8:13:08 AM , Rating: 2

Says the kettle to the pot.

Most people that buy iPhones, sorry to say it folks the mainstream consumers, don't use their advanced technology skills to split apart the hairs of every model phone so they can walk past the Apple store in the mall with a smirk on their faces.

In other words for most iPhone owners they aren't standing out the Apple store protesting for tethering. Most don't even know what it is or even care. Seriously, guys, move on. Get some sleep at night. Go back to your basement tech caves and find a new driver for you Linux distro or something.

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RE: in plain speak

By Hieyeck on 10/8/2009 1:42:53 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
then no one would make calls and pay for heniously priced plans..

Fixed.

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RE: in plain speak

By Master Kenobi

(blog) on 10/9/2009 1:04:00 AM , Rating: 5

Realistically though the data demands of your average iPhone are somewhere in the neighborhood of 5x that of any other phone. Adding tethering on an already over-capacity network will cause more outages and given that iPhones are required to have unlimited data plans, it would cause considerable problems with zero new revenue to offset the added burdeon on an already aging cell network. Perhaps once AT&T switches to the planned 4G LTE technology in 2010 and beyond we can see improvements in this area, but for now don't bet on it happening on the 3G side.

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RE: in plain speak

By tjr508 on 10/9/2009 2:36:17 PM , Rating: 4

Reasonable post? On DT? Regarding ATT or Apple or BOTH?

-10

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RE: in plain speak

By Chaser on 10/15/2009 8:27:43 AM , Rating: 2

WoW! If a PS3 comment could slip out unassailed it could be a grand slam.

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There's an app for that...

By Fox5 on 10/8/2009 3:57:01 PM , Rating: 2

I installed an app on my friend's iphone that allows tethering. His iphone isn't jail-broken either, so I'm not sure what the app is doing and why Apple hasn't blocked it. It only gets around 50kb/s though, so either ATT's network is pretty slow, or its using some kind of proxy server.

RE: There's an app for that...

By amanojaku on 10/9/2009 12:08:01 AM , Rating: 2

AT&T contract draft

General rules of conduct
1. You don't talk about tethering
2. You don't talk about tethering
[Don't touch MY profits, damnit!]
3. When AT&T says stop, or becomes congested, even if you have full bars, the transfer is over
[We're not ready for 3D UHF]
4. Only two apps to a phone
["Pay Your Bill Deluxe!" & "Extend Your Contract: Platinum Edition!!!"]
5. One app at a time
[Multi-task what?]
6. No pleather cases or crystal jobs
[Warranty arggggggggghhhhhh?!?!?!?!]
7. The taxes go on as long as they have to
[hee heeeeeee!!!]
8. If this is your first phone at AT&T you have to stay for two years
[We should probably amend that to all phone purchases, no?]
9. No phone is available except for the highest selling
[It doesn't have to be the best, just the most profitable!]
10. the support will always be free
[They won't know anything and can't transfer you, but they can offer renewals and new services!!!]

Customers have the following rights
1. You don't ask questions about poor service
2. You don't ask questions about 300-page bills
3. No excuses for late payments
4. No lies about "broken" phones
5. You have to trust the marketing

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RE: There's an app for that...

By Blessedman on 10/11/2009 7:24:05 PM , Rating: 2

you really forgot the most important and I highly recommend anyone still with AT&T to ask if they prorate their bills. My contract ended on the 15th and their billing cycle started on the 12th. When I canceled my contract with them on the 15th they told me they didn't prorate and that I would have to pay for another month. SCAM!

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Tethering on any Iphone 3G/3GS is very simple.

By corduroygt on 10/9/2009 6:11:45 PM , Rating: 2

Open Safari on your iphone
Go to http://help.benm.at
Choose your carrier and country
It will generate a carrier settings file, choose to install it.
Voila, now you can enable tethering.

RE: Tethering on any Iphone 3G/3GS is very simple.

By hiscross on 10/10/2009 2:07:36 PM , Rating: 2

Well, no. It only works on 3G 3.0 Not 3.1 or later. Here is he correct url: http://help.benm.at/help.php

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NYC isn't the only place.

By storm96441 on 10/12/2009 2:25:59 PM , Rating: 2

I'm down in Fort Lauderdale, and I drop calls like it's no ones business. NYC isn't the only place where there is 30percent dropped calls. SOFLA gets no love either :(

Uh....right.

By frobizzle on 10/14/2009 9:38:49 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
"Whenever we offer new features, we want to offer the best possible customer experience."

So that means that folks in NYC can expect an improvement in percentage of dropped calls from 30% to 29%?

hahahahaa

By icanhascpu on 10/15/2009 8:19:06 AM , Rating: 1

And I say to ATT: "EAT A BOWL OF COCK YOU GREEDY FUCKS"

-Posted on my computer using my iPhones' internet connection

"Google fired a shot heard 'round the world, and now a second American company has answered the call to defend the rights of the Chinese people." -- Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.)