Tethering: Turning off USB but leaving on Bluetooth

I don't believe there is a setting to turn USB access off with the iPhone - for tethering or otherwise.

I don't believe tethering with a computer accesses/shares the iPhone's wi-fi connection when there is an available wi-fi network that the iPhone is connected to under any circumstances.

I would love it if someone has a solution to this as well. I would like to be able to tether while I am on the train etc over bluetooth, but at home when I am charging off my laptop I'd rather not use my mobile data.

Unless of course the tethering is only using the wifi connection that is on the iPhone?

Thethering does not use the iPhone's wi-fi connection.

Allan Sampson wrote:
Thethering does not use the iPhone's wi-fi connection.

Actually it does. And I belive when you first turn tethering on and you have a USB disconnected it will prompt a HUD asking you if you want bluetooth on and USB disabled.

No it does not.

Allan Sampson wrote:
No it does not.

Then how was I able to get to the Internet on a my MacBook while tethered to an iPhone that was using wifi?

The word "tethering" applies to using a cell phone that has internet access via a cellular network as the modem for a computer to use the cell phone's internet access via the cellular network for the computer's internet access. The tethering connection for the computer can be done via a USB connection with the iPhone, or via bluetooth. Any laptop purchased in the last 3 years or even the last 5 years - even cheap heavy brick PC plastic laptops include a wireless card, including your MacBook. Why on earth would you want to use your iPhone's wi-fi connection for internet access with a MacBook that includes a wireless card?

You were not via wi-fi, not unless you are using a hacked iPhone.

I didn't say it was practical, I said it was possibe. It doesn't take a hacked phone either to use wifi, whichever network the phone is using is the same network the device tethered to will be using. Now imagine you're in starbucks and your phone auto connects to wifi are you really going to trun it back to 3G so you can tether in what you think is the " proper" way, or stay with the faster connection?

From page 42 of the iPhone's User Guide under Using iPhone as a Modem.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/iPhone_UserGuide.pdf

You can use iPhone 3G or later as a modem to connect, or tether, your computer to the Internet. You can connect iPhone to your computer using the Dock Connector to USB cable, or via Bluetooth.
Note: Additional fees may apply. Contact your carrier for more information.
*Tethering works over the cellular data network; _you can’t share a Wi-Fi connection to the Internet._ If you have a 3G connection, you can make and receive phone calls while tethering.*

NOTE: To use iPhone as a modem with a Mac computer, it must be running Mac OS X version 10.5.7 or later

so I guess when your using 10.5.7 the iPhone will work as a modem hence the ability to use wifi.

Wrong.

To use the iPhone as a modem via the cellular data or internet network ONLY requires a Mac running 10.5.7 or later.

*Tethering works over the cellular data network; _you can’t share a Wi-Fi connection to the Internet._ If you have a 3G connection, you can make and receive phone calls while tethering.*

Which part of this are you failing to understand?

You can use iPhone 3G or later as a modem to connect, or tether, your computer to the Internet.

Let me simplify this for you:

3G: Mac or PC

3G or Wifi: Mac OS X 10.5.7

You can tether an iPhone with any Mac OS X but you can only use it as a modem with 10.5.7.

Is this clear enough for you? Do I need to post a picture showing an iPhone tethering on wifi?
If the iPhone couldn't tether via wifi I wouldn't be able to, but I can so it does.

You can use iPhone 3G or later as a modem to connect, or tether, your computer to the Internet.

Via the carrier's cellular data or internet network only.

If you have a wireless router at home, your wireless router is not serving as a modem for your internet connection. Your wireless router is connected to a modem, with the modem providing internet access for the wireless router and wireless network, which more than one computer or device can connect to for internet access via the wireless network.

To use the iPhone as a modem via the cellular data or internet network ONLY requires a Mac running 10.5.7 or later. The modem part is using the iPhone's cellular data or internet connection as a modem for the computer.

Copied from the OP's post.

Until I synced up, and the USB tethering kicked in, and instead of downloading things via my WiFi I was downloading via my iPhone's 3G connection. Ouch!

If you have wi-fi access turn on with your iPhone and you are connected to an available wi-fi network when tethering with a computer, the iPhone's wi-fi access is not turned off or disabled. Just because it isn't turned off or disabled does not mean you are tethering the computer with the iPhone's wi-fi connection.

_Tethering works over the cellular data network;_ *you can’t share a Wi-Fi connection to the Internet.* If you have a 3G connection, you can make and receive phone calls while tethering.

I guess the information provided via Apple's User Guide is wrong.