AT&T Still Won't Commit to iPhone Tethering Date

It's still a foot shooter because if you have an iPhone there is a good chance you will eventually get a MacBook or even the big iMac PC.

I think you are confused on what tethering is...every other Smartphone OS (Android, BB, Symbian, WinMo, PalmOS, and WebOS) can be tethered via Bluetooth, USB, or Wifi to act as a modem or Wifi hotspot to connect other internet capable devised to the cell providers 3G network. The ipad cannot tether (I'm sure there is or will be a method via Jailbraking), the 3G version will just be able to connect to At&ts 3G network but will not be able to then share that connection with other devices like say the Mobile Hotspot app found on the Pre or what will be available on the Evo allowing you to connect up to 8 devices at once.

I'm not confused. The "rumor" is that Apple would rather you buy an iPad w/ 3G and use that AND have an iPhone too. I am well versed that every other smartphone ATT sells can be teathered. This is a way Apple can sell multiple devices. I'm not knocking the practice cause it obviously works, but just passing on something a little birdie told me.

That is exacly what they want you to do as well as have a Mac Book Pro too for when you need to work. Problem being if there is no Wifi the Mac Book can become not as useful which is where tething with either the ipad or iphone would be a nice addition.

You just throw me off when you said "If there was an issue with teathering then why is the iPad allowed to connect" as I still don't get what you were trying to say there.

I just don't understand why none of the Apple devices can tether since,like you said, every other at&t smartphone can. If every other smartphone can then the problem is Apple and not At&t unless I'm missing something...

I meant that why was the iPad allowed on the 3G if the traffic and network were strained. Wouldn't the iPad do about the same as the teathering in data. Again, there are more iPhones that could be used for data, but the iPad sales show that it could happen.

SellPhones82 said:

I just don't understand why none of the Apple devices can tether since,like you said, every other at&t smartphone can. If every other smartphone can then the problem is Apple and not At&t unless I'm missing something...

I read this somewhere (can't remember source)that the iPhone compared to other smartphones uses a lot more bandwidth, so allowing it to be used for tethering is going to require massive overhauling of the network, which AT&T isn't finished with yet.

Give it time and all of these "network overload" and "fewest dropped calls" forums will be done. You cant expect everything at one time, thats where the term "working on it" comes from. Be patient and stop crying about ATT, if you dont like it SWITCH CARRIERS! BLAH BLAH BLAH. Get a real hobbie instead of constantly judging cell phone carriers, if you want the iPhone then you're gonna have to deal with it for now. I'd like to see you build a cell phone company from the ground up, and if you do and it's successful, i'll join. Just let me know when you do... Thanks for reading and have a nice day. 😛