This is the one feature that I require in order to move from a razr to an iPhone.
In two years of paying for unlimited internet access on my AT&T razr, I think I've loaded less than ten webpages with it on my Macbook Pro, but I have to have it for "emergency" internet access.
they allow it on their laptop connect plans....but that plan is also $60/mo.. (I understand, bandwidth costs money)
My question is if someone is willing to pay the $60/mo (same price as a laptop card)
Can the iPhone then be used to tether?
I just want to know if the capability is within the device, like it is on so many other phones.
I'm tethering a Samsung A707 regular phone with both USB or Bluetooth because my 8525 bit the dust, hence my interest in the iPhone.
In my experiences ATT doesn't care what the device is, as long as the data is being paid for.
My reason is I don't want to pay over $90/mo for a data plan for my phone, and then another for my laptop. (Of course the carriers see this as more money to be made)
The iPhone—in both original and 3G forms—as currently announced, does not have the required Bluetooth profiles to support tethering, including DUN, or Dial Up Networking.
Unless and until Apple decides to embed such capabilities at the hardware or firmware level, and modifies the OS to allows calls to it, the Bluetooth radio in your device will be severely limited in comparative terms.
It is difficult to know how other carriers would approach this issue, but it is reasonably clear that at&t's fledgling 3G network is quite likely to have performance issues under the load presented by iPhones alone, let alone the additional load present when an attached device is used. You are not likely to see tethering available via the iPhone in the US in the foreseeable future.
There is no indication that the new iphone will have this bluetooth protocol. I highly doubt that it will as it is also in direct violation of the data plan that is required with the iphone.
As others have pointed out, the exclusive data plan in the USA does not allow tethering but the issue is that iPhone will soon be available from other carriers in other countries and that is where the ability to tether will be important.
These discussions are one of the few sources of information for people trying to find out if they can tether the new iPhone so I hope this post lasts longer than others that have been deleted by Apple on the basis that they are "feature requests".
Sorry, but Apple intentionally crippled the iPhone's Bluetooth capabilities to prevent tethering. The only way I know of is to jailbreak the iPhone to add more Bluetooth functionality. So by this point you would have:
A) Broken your EULA with Apple by modifying the software
and
B) Broken your contract with AT&T by tethering an unlimited data plan
It would be very interesting to know what the situation is with tethering in the UK where O2 is the exclusive network partner. Totally relate to the point others have made about bandwidth usage. Would be interesting to know if this also applies to WiFi hotspots (ie can O2 subscription be used with another device)....
Reality is that all of the networks will hope to sell their own datacards / USB dongles (however iPhone customers are already paying a premium and may very well choose to go with another carrier rather than give more money to AT&T / O2 etc as a matter of principle).
Ive been using my 8525 since it came out to share the internet with my laptop. I want the new IPhone but if apple is not going to allow this like all the WM6 PDA's then I will need to stay with a WM6 phone. It will be sad if the new IPhone cannot do this. I have been doing this with other phones for a long time.
Which is why at&t provides for DUN connections with virtually every other device they sell or give away, when coupled with an applicable data plan. A brilliant analysis on your part.