Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: iPhone, MMS, Tethering, Hacks, AT&T | Themes: Smartphones, Business, 3GSM
iPhone workarounds on AT&T are frowned upon.
Despite being the iPhone’s earliest and largest carrier, AT&T is strangely absent in its official support for MMS and tethering – two of the newest features now in the new iPhone OS 3.0 software.
Of course, that didn’t stop the millions of iPhone users from trying to get both of those new features working without the help of AT&T. After all, both of those services work fine on other phones, and even worked on jailbroken iPhones.
It turns out that getting MMS for AT&T is as simple as changing the registered phone type in the user account on wireless.att.com, and then adding an MMS plan.
Getting tethering enabled, however, requires making slight changes to the software loaded onto the iPhone, but the trick is easily performed and tethering works as it should.
While the above workarounds are sure to make the iPhone power user happy, AT&T isn’t so pleased. According to Aaron Krill’s blog, AT&T is stopping the switch to an MMS plan from taking immediate effect. Furthermore, AT&T has instructed employees not to enable MMS for customers who appear to have recently switched from an iPhone, or else face immediate termination.
It remains a mystery why AT&T chose not to be a part of the carrier pool that fully supported the new features in iPhone 3.0 and the iPhone 3G S. It could be that AT&T didn’t have new plans ready to bill customers for the extra features, but that would seem short sighted from a business standpoint given the number of new phones and activations the company will get from the new hardware and software.
What appears to be more likely is that AT&T makes its decision solely based on the iPhone's popularity and how many people seem to want one. Because of the high demand, AT&T appears to be finding out ways to charge as much as possible for every little feature.
Stay tuned for more.
-
Previous News Article
Activision Blizzard Considers... -
Next News Article
P2P File Sharer to Pay RIAA...








I love my new 32gb 3gs upgraded from my 8 gb first gen today. It's everything I thought it would be. Now AT&T needs to step up to the plate here. Their holding this new phone back. Get with it At&t take care of your customers new and old !
I just chatted with my wife, and she has not heard of ATT saying anything to its reps about iphone MMS and threat of termination. I looked at your source for the termination info, and it was a blog...
Or....AT&T is just adjusting current plans. SMS and MMS services are limited by default with any carrier (or at least AT&T and Verizon). Once you go over, say, 200 of them, you get charged. AT&T is probably putting a stop to the MMS switch because, unless paid for, these features aren't free for unlimited use. iPhone plans didn't have this built in. If they don't have something to keep it in check (not to mention a legally written part of the service plan), then iPhone users will have an advantage over non-iPhone customers. AT&T isn't nickle & diming people, they're making everything even across the board. Granted, they should have had enough foresight to take care of this ahead of time due to the 3.0 software's release having been known for months now. I'll give you that one.
But all said, Marcus, write the news. Not speculations and opinions.
They are trying it the Verizon way; charge for every little thing that they can (text, MMS, data). Instead they need to do it the Sprint way; one plan that covers it all. I really want one, but I refuse to pay $89 a month for a the same plan that I can get for $69 a month at Sprint. That's $240 a year in savings. Oh and charging extra for text messaging is really cheap of ATT, that should be part of the iPhone plan.
For tethering got to help.benM.at from your phone. It will guide you through to select your country and carrier. The it lets you download a modified config file that enables a new option under Settings>general>network.
Once enabled your phone appears as a network card to your computer when it is connected by cable. Have not tried the bluetooth yet.
Oh please with the people defending AT&T on this. Paying $30 for a data plan and an extra $20 for unlimited texting. What the fuck is sending a multimedia message? Is that not texting or data? It's a ripoff as it is even if MMS was included. If you pay for data along with that should come unlimited data and sending a text or picture message is DATA. Sprint has it right on this one.
Oh please with the people defending AT&T on this. Paying $30 for a data plan and an extra $20 for unlimited texting. What the fuck is sending a multimedia message? Is that not texting or data? It's a ripoff as it is even if MMS was included. If you pay for data along with that should come unlimited data and sending a text or picture message is DATA. Sprint has it right on this one.
tayb is dead on the money here. Break down what an MMS is: text + data. AT&T are really screwing this one up..or just taking a cue from Apple's formula (make customers feel special by telling them their cool the overcharge for little features).
Oh please with the people defending AT&T on this. Paying $30 for a data plan and an extra $20 for unlimited texting. What the fuck is sending a multimedia message? Is that not texting or data? It's a ripoff as it is even if MMS was included. If you pay for data along with that should come unlimited data and sending a text or picture message is DATA. Sprint has it right on this one.
If you're gonna rip on AT&T for not including SMS or MMS with unlimited data plans, look at Verizon. Just as guilty. I agree wholeheartedly that if you pay for unlimited data, that SMS and MMS should be included. But obviously, a lot of people here that bash AT&T for their "outrageous iPhone plans" don't have a Blackberry or know someone who does. Guess what? Same f-ing story.
lol AT&T is quickly turning into Sprint. I wonder how much further AT&T can get their foot up our asses. No matter how much it costs or doesn't cost, no matter what Verizon does or doesn't do with their plans (lol why even bring up Verizon, nobody with an iPhone cares about Verizon) the fact it is taking this long to get MMS setup on the iPhone is an absolute joke.
Welcome to 2009 AT&T. Glad you could join us?
Reading these comments, "Wow" was my first thought.
Does anyone even use AT&T, or even know what services they offer?
They have a messaging BUNDLE. My family has unlimited MESSAGING for $20 a month. Messaging for AT&T includes: Text (SMS), Multimedia messages (MMS), and also Instant Messages if your phone has AIM, MSN, or even Yahoo installed. Data plans don't matter with regard to AT&Ts messaging bundle.
I think that AT&T withholding MMS specifically from the iphone is ridiculous. It should be treated the same as when you purchase the messaging service for every other phone.
AT&T isn't necessarily withholding - Just delaying. I figure it has to do with billing/contracts problems. Problems that should have already been solved but I'm pretty sure it's not just AT&T saying "too bad". A lot of people don't realize that a lot of this debacle could be Apple's fault. They may be doing things the "Apple Way" which may not gel well with AT&T. Miscommunication. Contract disagreements. Apple (along with its fanboys) feels it can do no wrong and, in turn, do whatever it wants because of it's God-like Status. Kinda like the George Lucas of the tech world.
They may be doing things the "Apple Way" which may not gel well with AT&T. Miscommunication. Contract disagreements. Apple (along with its fanboys) feels it can do no wrong and, in turn, do whatever it wants because of it's God-like Status. Kinda like the George Lucas of the tech world.
So insightful!!! Thanks for making me understand why I don't care whether I have MMS or not. I thought it's that I just don't care because I hardly even use SMS, but no it's the god like status of ATT after all.
Hmm is it wrong what ATT is doing? YES
Do I really care right now since this feature just became available on my phone about 3 days ago? No not really, I have patients and lived without the feature just fine.
Do you need to get out of your parents basement and get a broader view of the world so that you don't focus on how badly apple and ATT is treating everyone even though you dont use an iphone? YES, very much so.
Go fight your own battles... I dunno what's worse apple fanboys, or or the exact opposite; those that devote their lives to proving why people shouldn't like something. Who cares, both are lame.
AT&T isn't necessarily withholding - Just delaying. I figure it has to do with billing/contracts problems. Problems that should have already been solved but I'm pretty sure it's not just AT&T saying "too bad". A lot of people don't realize that a lot of this debacle could be Apple's fault. They may be doing things the "Apple Way" which may not gel well with AT&T. Miscommunication. Contract disagreements. Apple (along with its fanboys) feels it can do no wrong and, in turn, do whatever it wants because of it's God-like Status. Kinda like the George Lucas of the tech world.
I've been using the iPhone OS 3.0 since it was released in beta 1. My friend works at AT&T and switched me from an iPhone messaging plan to a regular messaging plan and voila MMS was working a couple of minutes afterwords. That is literally all that it took to get MMS working. You cannot tell me AT&T can't figure out how to do this despite Apple letting them know back at CES in January (or whenever it was).
Oh please with the people defending AT&T on this. Paying $30 for a data plan and an extra $20 for unlimited texting. What the fuck is sending a multimedia message? Is that not texting or data? It's a ripoff as it is even if MMS was included. If you pay for data along with that should come unlimited data and sending a text or picture message is DATA. Sprint has it right on this one.
So much failure on ATT, tayb you've hit it right on the money
iphone is nothing but garbage.
Yep, I said it.
Thank god I dont have any Apple garbage in my house. hurrrarrrraaayy !
oh yea AT&T is garbage too.
IM so glad i live in Australia...
These "AT&T" clown seems to have monopalised iphones in america.
Cant say i know much about them except that everyone says how they keep screwing over iphone users.
It makes me sick to think what you guys put up with!
In AUSTRALIA you can get and iphone and full features on a dirt cheap plan from ANY carrier....
MMS / tethering...if your phone can do it then it just works with what ever network your on here.
I can't wait until other carriers start carrying the iPhone. Not that I would rush out and buy one, but I'm sick of AT&T holding it back. I actually considered one for a while, and I love my iPod touch. Amazing, responsive, durable device. Best in class, BY FAR.
Won't touch AT&T with a 1000 foot pole. I'm sad that my local Best Buy doesn't carry the iPhone, but ecstatic that we don't have to work with the j-donkeys at AT&T. I'll pass.
See my problem is that I am paying for 200 MMS a month that I am not getting and now my phone actually supports the feature. I personally don't really care and have never used an mms ever. I might send 20 texts in one month and pretty much just email everyone.
Leagle tethering will cost an arm and a leg and isn't going to be worth the hassle but I understand why people are upset. Isn't it like 65 bucks a month for tethering with at&t on a blackberry.
I personally feel like the new ihone is still the best thing out on the market even without mms but I still only give it an 82 out of a 100.
And I would be with at&t anyway as people can say what they want but in actuality it really equals verizon and the two are better than anything else. Granted you have to go with the network that supports you and your location the best but phones have been network dependent for a while.
So insightful!!!Do I really care right now since this feature just became available on my phone about 3 days ago? No not really, I have patients and lived without the feature just fine.
I love the "get out of your parents' basement" comments. So original. So intelligent. Speaking of intelligent comebacks, perhaps you should get out of your own parents' basement and get to school. "Patients"? Oh, so you're a doctor then? Nevermind.
I want a convergence device. Phone, camera, email, web, and an API that lets apps communicate with other devices/controls/data sources/whatever. Right now that's the iPhone. I even saw something that will let the iPhone collect data from heart rate monitors & cycling computers, pair it up with GPS data, and let you upload it to perfomance tracking software. Show me another phone that does that!
Unfortunatly I refuse to buy one becaues I don't like the AT&T plans. The only thing more disapointing than iPhone being exclusive to AT&T is waiting for an Android phone with simliar capabilities on another network.
I choose no phone over settling for a crappy contract or a second rate phone. And by no phone I mean using my work Blackberry for my voice and data needs.
Since I'm not defending nor attacking either side (though I am playing Devil's Advocate to bring out the tools), I totally agree that I wish other carriers carried the iPhone. It would ultimately make plans a lot more competitive all-around and, thus, make people happy. At the very least it would shut some people up. That, and making "unlimited data" plans just that.
lol AT&T is quickly turning into Sprint. I wonder how much further AT&T can get their foot up our asses. No matter how much it costs or doesn't cost, no matter what Verizon does or doesn't do with their plans (lol why even bring up Verizon, nobody with an iPhone cares about Verizon) the fact it is taking this long to get MMS setup on the iPhone is an absolute joke.Welcome to 2009 AT&T. Glad you could join us?
That's why I LOVE Sprint... Simply Everything Unlimted plan... slam Sprint ALL you want. No one can match Sprint's plan.. keep your iPhone on that pathetic 3g... AT&T's plan are the worst by bar of any majot carrier.
I love the "get out of your parents' basement" comments. So original. So intelligent. Speaking of intelligent comebacks, perhaps you should get out of your own parents' basement and get to school. "Patients"? Oh, so you're a doctor then? Nevermind.
Wow thanks again, I love how your helping me improve myself. First you help me understand my complex relationship with ATT, and now you correct my spelling of patience. Seriously though, thank you your very insightful.
Wireless Plan Providers turning off cell phone features that's unheard of
. If they can't charge you for a feature what good is it for them?
Tried using MMS on my Palm Treo 755p through Sprint. No biggie to me. I prefer to send files including pics and video just through my email I have setup on the phone.
Once again, a lower standard of journalism. I have no qualms with the idea behind this article. My problem comes when you state that AT&T "appears to be finding out ways to charge as much as possible for every little feature." While I agree, this is strictly conjecture and speculation, and although the opinion can certainly be substantiated to a degree, it is not within itself a verifiable absolute fact, although it is reported as such. This is another sign of bad journalism, and I'm not satisfied with Tom's Hardware lowering its standards. Usually, it's best to keep the news feed entirely separate from opinion columns, though a combination of information and opinion is alright as long as there is a clear distinction within the article. By that I mean you must explain that it appears to YOU, the writer of the article, that AT&T is trying to find ways to screw over its customers for as much money as possible. This is far different from a situation in which, for example, a news reporter is covering a robbery and citing something which is near certain and a verifiable fact, like "it appears the door has been broken down", rather than "it appears that the man was simply in a panic for assistance", which would be conjecture instead. Come on, guys, it's not that hard.
If you're gonna rip on AT&T for not including SMS or MMS with unlimited data plans, look at Verizon. Just as guilty. I agree wholeheartedly that if you pay for unlimited data, that SMS and MMS should be included. But obviously, a lot of people here that bash AT&T for their "outrageous iPhone plans" don't have a Blackberry or know someone who does. Guess what? Same f-ing story.
That is because this article is about iPones, AT&T and MMS. When an article is written about Verizon and Blackberry I'll be sure to rip on them. Oh yeah, I'll really rip on Verizon. Just because one companies service sucks equally does not mean you cannot complain about yours. I guess if my freedom of speech is taken I cannot say anything because people in North Korea don't have this freedom as well.
lol AT&T is quickly turning into Sprint. I wonder how much further AT&T can get their foot up our asses. No matter how much it costs or doesn't cost, no matter what Verizon does or doesn't do with their plans (lol why even bring up Verizon, nobody with an iPhone cares about Verizon) the fact it is taking this long to get MMS setup on the iPhone is an absolute joke.Welcome to 2009 AT&T. Glad you could join us?
I always have had MMS on my UT Starcom GTX 75
The SMS plans include MMS. So people with the SMS plans and iPhones will automatically get MMS.
What's $10 or $20 a month, when you have the money for an iphone. It's like buying a Ferrari and then complaining because you have to use premium gas. Pretty lame, just buy it and get it over with.
It's not just $10 or $20 a month; it's the pricing of requisite features a la carte that ends up pushing your monthly bill into the realm of a small car payment. I don't expect AT&T to just give their services away, but when the entire data plan costs $30, another $15 to send text messages is over the top. A subsidized iPhone is comparable in cost to most cell phones through major wireless carriers now and I justify mine because I don't have cable or internet at home. I'm a graduate student and need to check e-mails from my students and advisor regularly, so my phone is great for that and a million other reasons. But the text fees put my bill over $100 a month. The aggressive pricing makes me consider jailbreaking my phone when a more customer-friendly plan would ensure that I remain a satisfied subscriber and vocal spokesperson for years to come.