One fewer reason to jailbreak.
The ability for a phone to create a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot to share its 3G connection is a pretty cool feature. Google rolled that out for its Android 2.2 Froyo software last year, and for users of carriers that support it, it's been a great way to get online without having to stop at an internet café.
Currently, iPhone users who want to do the same thing have to resort to jailbreaking and then paying for an unofficial $20 application. At the Verizon iPhone 4 announcement on Tuesday, it was revealed that the carrier would allow for tethering access for up to five wireless devices – which is inline with the MiFi devices sold in the U.S.
The Boy Genius Report says that this Wi-Fi hotspot feature won't be exclusive to just Verizon, but rather will be a part of iOS 4.3 whenever it's ready. Like tethering access, it'll be carrier dependent. But if true, this will mean that the Apple device will finally get an officially support feature that's been possible in hardware since the very first iPhone.
Everything else falls under that.
And yes I owned an iphone for 6 months. Most annoying junk ever. Nice device, but too restrictive.
They waited for the end of the unlimited data plans. This is sound business, the apple way!
Dude, wi-fi tehering means your iphone will become a "router" for your other wi-fi devices, using the 3G mobile data as internet provider. You will still use data over the 3G connection, so yes, ATT will not change the terms for that. You will have to pay for it. Same goes for any other mobile network.
Dude, I know what wifi tethering is. I don't think you understand my question.
For instance, right now I have to pay $25/month for data. To get wired tethering with my iphone, I would have to pay like an extra $15/month on top of the $25. I'm asking whether or not ATT will have an extra "wifi-tethering" charge, just like they have an extra wired tethering charge.
It would be nice to wifi tethering without having to pay anything extra on top of the data plan.
considering the kind of greedy corporate pigs ATT are, I'd say it's safe to assume that they're going to attempt to squeeze every last penny that they can out of you.
Compare this to your plans. Samsung Galaxy S, $59 cap with $550 of calls a month, $0 upfront for the phone, 2 year contract, Unlimited text, Unlimited voicemail, 2gb data a month and that's HSDPA as well. No one pays for data plans here.
sigh.
that will be true
I love it....People automatically bash Apple for everything....It has always been ATT stopping the wifi hotspot on the Iphone...I have had my ATT reps tell me that
Not to mention that many other phones have had this built-in for years.