Q: Why is there no app for tethering

Than I think the answer is obvious: go buy a Samsung. They're good phones.

Because there is no need for tethering. It is only IOS "feature", every other system will share internet if you have it on phone, regadless of any "tethering". I am writing this on computer connected via windows mobile prepaid without tethering. Iphone won't connect me, but Widows or Android without problem.

I have talked with my Verizon rep. I was told that I could change to plan a that would give free teathering. Or I could keep my old plan which is still unlimited but i would have to pay for the teather to be turned on. But I could use a 3rd party app free of charge. So verizion says I can use a 3rd party app.. But apple will not put one on itunes. So I am aloud to use a 3rd party app but good luck finding one.

There is no such thing as a 3rd party app that can enable tethering.  By the way, congratulations on reviving a thread that's been dead for almost a year.

Why thank you! my CPR class has paid off.  Well I guess i just mean an app in general.  Truthfully I am only using Verisons wording. "Verizon maintains that it did not block its customers from using third-party tethering applications."

That's like saying that the National Horse Racing Federation has no rules against running a Unicorn in the Kentucky Derby...

Old thread, but it just isn't true that Apple doesn't have the ability to determine this. Apple is choosing to not allow tethering apps. It is hard to imagine any justification beyond trying to appease carriers for favorable treatment.

Tethering is not just a carrier service any more than streaming video is just a carrier service. It is service that uses your data plan that carriers try to make money off of. In fact, tethering is a feature of a phone and its operating system, and all that 3rd party apps are used for is configuring the phone to perform a feature that is already available based on the hardware. Based on Verizon's 2012 settlement with the FCC, Verizon explicitly says that they allow third party tethering apps as it is our legal right to tether if we are on a metered plan.

Apple voluntarily chooses to not allow tethering apps in their app store. It may be that carriers promote iPhones more as long as Apple plays this game. This hurts users as they have a legal right to tether to a phone on a metered plan, but Verizon has no obligation to facilitate this by providing an app and Apple doesn't want to allow 3rd party apps. It is Apple's right to not help us tether, but it is a disturbing choice.

I have been considering purchasing an iPhone 6 Plus since I have games I bought for my iPad (XCOM, Baldur's Gate, Avernum) that would be fun to play on my phone, but it looks like Apple's not allowing the completely legal tethering apps means I would either have to jailbreak the phone to get such an app from Cydia or pay $20 a month to use the Verizon feature. Keep in mind that the $20 does not buy the right to tether -- you already have that if you are on a metered plan! It merely gives you a few more gigs of data per month, and enables the built-in Verizon dependent method of tethering through your phone. Read the agreement with the FCC from 2012.

I was also at a Verizon store since my upgrade this month will change my plan from unlimited data (with no right to tether) to a 6gb/month plan at the same price. They also said I could pay $20 more for 8gb/month + tethering. I replied that my understanding is that if I am using a metered plan, I have the right to tether even without paying the $20. The salesperson said, 'yes, you are allowed to tether with that plan'.

So if you have a metered plan on an iPhone and are unable to tether to your phone, there is only 1 party to blame -- Apple. I know there is a very manual workaround using shell scripting, but until Apple has a more customer focused policy on this, there is no guarantee that the manual workaround will continue to work long term if Apple deems that making carriers happy is the smarter move. I will probably follow up with the Apple store regarding whether the built in wireless tethering functionality depends upon the Verizon tethering service (that they provide along with extra data for $20/month), or whether it will work so long as my plan is eligible (any metered plan according to the FCC).

I do not blame Apple for being cutthroat. They know that they have to a great degree a captured market in those who have invested in a lot of apps and they know that most consumers don't realize that they have the right to tether, even without paying an extra $20. If playing nice with carriers means carriers promote their phones more, it seems a smart move. The only way that changes is if enough people complain. Unfortunately, people only realize there was a problem when the problem is gone, kind of like how many didn't realize that the iOS Google Maps was missing the turn-by-turn navigation instructions that were already in Android until they got turn by turn navigation.

There ARE 3rd party apps that enable tethering. Look at Cydia. There are multiple such apps that enable tethering, which the FCC (and Verizon, for one) have declared is your legal right an is allowed under any metered plan.

While the hardware and drivers are already on the phone for tethering, there is configuration that must be done for it to work. Verizon will not configure this for you unless you pay them $20/month, which will also get you additional data. The $20 is NOT what gives you the right to tether. It ONLY gets you more data, and configures your phone. If Apple allowed tethering apps on their store, you could get the phone configured without paying $20/month and tether without violating the terms of your plan!

Google allows such apps on their store and installing the apps is explicitly allowed by Verizon according to their representatives (and according to their settlement with the FCC). In fact, Verizon claims that communications with Google asking them to remove such apps 2 years ago were done mistakenly and was not their official policy. I'm not sure I buy that, but the current policy is clear.

I have no problem with Apple blocking tethering for those under unlimited data plans since it is the carrier's right to block that and Apple could provide that service to them. But if Apple makes it harder for you to tether while you are on a metered plan, they are choosing to please the carrier by means of crippling your phone.

It is sad that this is also a problem on Android, but no to the same extent. The tethering apps often stop working when new versions of Android come out, but the apps usually get updated to re-enable tethering. There are also some annoying side effects of using the apps as even Android gets more locked down, though no where near as locked down as iOS. Interesting, certain apps may work for a phone on one carrier, but not for the same phone with the same OS on another carrier (e.g., FoxFi and Galaxy S3 running 4.4).

djmo wrote:

 

Old thread, but it just isn't true that Apple doesn't have the ability to determine this. Apple is choosing to not allow tethering apps. It is hard to imagine any justification beyond trying to appease carriers for favorable treatment.

Whatever the reason, your issue is with Apple and your provider. No one here can help you resolve this.

Submit your feedback directly to Apple using the appropriate link on the Feedback page:

http://www.apple.com/feedback

I actually have a question and I'm not sure that is the place for it.

I am currently on Verizon unlimited data, but will upgrade this month and get switched to a metered plan. If I am on a metered plan, will tethering work on a vanilla iPhone 6+? As has been established in this thread, Verizon states that it is okay for people to tether if they have a metered plan. Will the iPhone 6+ allow it, or will they only enable tethering if I pay $20 more dollars to Verizon? I don't actually know what will happen in this case. If the phone is already set up to properly allow tethering, there is no problem. If not, it seems my only option would be to jailbreak and to use a 3rd party app.

If tethering would work, there is a pretty good change I buy a 6+ to leverage my software bought for my iPad. If not, I don't see myself dealing with jailbreaking, especially when OS updates cause problems for jailbreaking.

I could figure out what link to use to ask this directly to Apple.

I guess anyone with a Verizon metered plan who doesn't pay for extra money for Verizon to enable tethering on the phone can answer the question. This is 100% a question for Apple and not Verizon since Verizon's policy is clear and public - pay them and they will enable tethering on you phone, iOS or Android. Don't pay them, and you can go ahead and use 3rd party apps to enable tethering. Since Apple does not allow such 3rd party apps, I'm hoping there is a chance that they do it themselves for the sake of their customers, though I don't expect that to be the case. Does wireless tethering to your phone work for any of you iPhone 6+ users on Verizon who do not pay for Verizon to enable their tethering on the phone?

The Verizon More Everything plans include the use of the personal hotspot feature on any phone sold on Verizon.

That is not the question, Meg. Why would I change my plan when it is ALREADY eligible for tethering? Why would I pay more to get a feature that Verizon already allows me to use? are you saying that Apple does not support setting up wireless hotspots without me giving more money to the carrier? Wireless hotspot is a phone feature, not a carrier feature. Any locking down of this feature is due to agreement with carriers, not due to any need for support or permission from carriers.

SO the question is what means Apple provides for me to get tethering working on the phone without jailbreaking. For example, Google allows apps on Google Play (and Verizon has clearly stated that users have the right to use those apps). I know that there are shell scripts that can be manually run on iPhones to get tethering working, but these seems awkward and like a lot of work. Is jailbreaking the only option on iOS?

i'll also repeat my question--it there anyone here with a metered Verizon plan for whom wireless hotspot is not working on their iPhone running iOS 8? That would likely mean that if I move to an iPhone, I would not be able to turn on tethering for my metered plan With an iOS device. Suggest to pay Verizon more money to do something they already allow me to do is not answering my question.

it is possible that no apps are available because Apple does not want to give that level of control to apps. Whole I can understand that security choice, one would hope that Apple would provide a means for its customers to get the most that they are legally entitled to out of their data plan. If that is not the case, then so be it. I have done quite a bit of searching for answers but I have not found explicit full answers, though the answers seem complete enough to make it seem that if you want tethering, you should probably avoid IPhones on Verizon for many plans.

Questions about what Verizon will or will not charge you and what the most cost effective plan they can offer you are questions best directed to Verizon.