Personal Hotspot works on iPhone 3GS but ..

Confirmed. And *****!

So what's the point of having the "Personal Hotspot" feature in the 3GS?
Before the upgrade, we were able "Tether" via Bluetooth and USB anyways...I feel like there is a dummy button on the 3GS, which does nothing.

Might as well call it the "HOO AHH" button with the ON/OFF switch.

Apple, is this your way of hinting at the 3GS owners to go and buy the iPhone4?

They've done away with the term "Tethering" and are using WiFi Hotspot to define all forms of connection. Nothing has changed with the 3Gs, it can still "tether" with one computer via USB or BT but it cannot broadcast a WiFi signal to connect to up to 5 devices, that is only on the iPhone 4.

I was hoping the the 3GS would have the "real" WiFi Hotspot feature fully enabled because I am contemplating on getting the iPad2 in the future.

I would like the option of getting just the WiFi model for of the iPad2, but now it seems I may need to get the iPad WiFi with 3G. The extra cost associated may just dash my hopes for getting the iPad2.

Hi mitch,

You mean to say, iPhone 3GS "tethering" is now enabled for iPad? I'm thinking of getting an iPad WiFi only but I don't know if my iPhone 3GS can share its unlimited data connection to the WiFi iPad. Bluetooth connection is fine with me but I wan't to make sure it's now enabled for the 3GS.

that's great! i'm fine with that. data transfer via bluetooth may not be as fast as via wifi, but who cares? my data provider isn't lightning fast in the first place. 🙂

iPad 2 WiFi, it is! thanks for the help.

Are the following scenario(s) possible:

1) 3GS with Data plan to share out via Bluetooth "hotspot" to iPad2.
2) 3GS connected to bluetooth headset with A2DP watching Podcast.
3) 3GS able to accept incoming telephone call and answer using bluetooth headset.

- Can I do 1&2 simultaniously?
- Can I do 1&3 simultaniously?

I have already tried 2 laptops connected to my 3GS via bluetooth. So i assume you can do 1, and combinations 1&2 and 1&3. Needs validation though (don't have bluetooth headset atm, you can try with yours though).

Personal hotspot enables up to 3 bluetooth devices to connect to the internet.

So, let me get this right... instead of buying an iPad with 3G with the added cost of an additional SIM card I can now use Bluetooth to tether a wifi only version to my current iPhone 3GS and then wifi to tether to my new iPhone when my contract allows me to upgrade later this year. Yes?

And I just answered my own question using a 4th gen iPod.

First I tried doing a simple Bluetooth pairing between the iPhone 3GS and the iPod, this didn't work. Turn on Personal Hotspot though and the devices pair straight away, the Personal Hotspot icon replaces the Wifi icon on the iPod and you're away!

Thank you Apple! Instead of spending all that money on a 3G enabled iPad and a SIM card that I may never use, instead I can get the bigger Wifi-only version and just pay my carrier the £5 per month tethering charge if I really need to use it!

epot wrote:
You mean to say, iPhone 3GS "tethering" is now enabled for iPad? I'm thinking of getting an iPad WiFi only but I don't know if my iPhone 3GS can share its unlimited data connection to the WiFi iPad. Bluetooth connection is fine with me but I wan't to make sure it's now enabled for the 3GS.

yes, I can confirm this works with iPhone 3GS and iOS 4.3

Note: for this to work, the iPad must also be updated to iOS 4.3
with iPad and 4.2, you can't pair over BT to the iPhone, but after updating the iPad it works.

Just did a Hotspot Bluetooth test:
- 3GS Hotspot enabled.
- Jawbone Icon (Bluetooth headset) connected.
- Notebook/Laptop (Bluetooth connected to iPhone 3GS).

- Listening to music on headset.
- Surfing the web on Notebook.

Results:
Music on headset stutters when downloading content/surfing on the notebook.

Does anyone know whether this will work on the Rogers network in Canada?