4 ms·

AT&T iPhone Tethering to Cost $55 Per Month

ghshephard 17y ago
Seems pretty reasonable in comparison - I pay $60/month for my Sprint USB 1xEVDO Dongle for 5 GBytes. Now, if that $55 includes data for the iPhone as well, then I'll be very interested in seeing how ATT's HSUPA network compares to sprints 1xEVDO in the Bay Area - But I'm guessing that would be too good to be true.
TomOfTTB 17y ago
Well, as the commercials say, it is the "Fastest 3G Network in the U.S." that you're paying for (Eye Roll) Seriously though I think this is one practice that people should protest. I have no problem with AT&T charging for the equipment itself but if they advertise "unlimited data" than you should get "unlimited data" regardless of what screen it's on. Don't get me wrong, I see their side of it. If people can tether they'll use more bandwidth which will cost AT&T more. So they want to charge more. I get the business reasons on their side. But last I checked it was still a crime to advertise fradulently and that's what I consider their "unlimited data" plan to be. Just because the Cellular companies have banded together to make this pricing the norm doesn't make it right.
- ghshephard 17y ago
  I think the argument is "Unlimited Data for the iPhone" - not for a laptop connected to it. If that is the case, I wish they would make it explicit.
  - jonhohle 17y ago
    > Furthermore, plans(unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to computer accessories, BLUETOOTH® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose That's not explicit?
    - ghshephard 17y ago
      It is, and I stand corrected. When I went to check the "Data Plan" feature, I saw the following text - which didn't note the no-tethering. I should have drilled down. http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/packages/packages-details.jsp?q_package=sku3790236&_requestid=108919 http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/packages/pack... ---SNIP---- Feature Please note: Data plan for iPhone is required for the life of your iPhone service and cannot be removed in the future. Data Plan for iPhone $30.00/month Data Plan for iPhone includes unlimited data in the U.S. Access rich HTML email and desktop-level web browsing, as well as Visual Voicemail to listen to voicemail messages in any order you choose. Please note: AT&T is Apple's exclusive carrier partner for iPhone in the United States. An eligible data plan for iPhone is required. This data plan covers data usage in the United States and does not cover international data usage and charges. If AT&T determines that you are using an iPhone on your account without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the appropriate monthly fee. ---SNIP----
o_sam_o 17y ago
How do they know your tethering?
- TomOfTTB 17y ago
  I presume the iphone reports it when transmitting but even if that wasn't the case there's plenty of stuff in the ip header (OS, browser type, etc...) to determine if it's a phone or a computer on the other end. Plus PCs in paticular produce a lot of junk that would give it away. Stuff like IGMP calls would only come from a PC.
  - zacharypinter 17y ago
    SSH tunneling could avoid a lot of that, right?
    - stcredzero 17y ago
      What about a SOCKS proxy?
- pieter 17y ago
  With Apple's tools, they use a separate APN for tethering. This is like having another router (you can have another APN for MMS, for instance). All your iPhone traffic gets routed through your normal router, but the tethering traffic gets routed by your iPhone to the tethering APN. AT&T can then see from their side how much data you've put through the normal APN and how much through the tethering APN, and charge you accordingly. This is also how some of the other iPhone carriers charge you per MB, or give you a monthly xGB limit. The tethering hacks you see now just make the iPhone use the 'normal' APN for tethering traffic, which AT&T can't distinguish so easy. They might still be able to do it with deep packet analysis, but that probably costs a lot of money and might not be worth it.
- ciscoriordan 17y ago
  I wonder if people who paid for Netshare when it was available in the App Store will get billed for tethering if AT&T goes after unauthorized tetherers.
djehuty 17y ago
Tethering is free (and currently available, I tried it out) on Optus in Australia. I don't know the situation with the two other Aus iphone carriers.
- jhy 17y ago
  Really? How did you get it to work? When I tried, I got a popup "contact your carrier". The SMH is reporting that it'll be $10/m from 22nd June (http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/optus-iphone-tethering-comes-at-a-price-20090618-cizn.html http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/optus-iphone-teth...), and the Optus FAQ says it will announce the price on that date (http://personal.optus.com.au/web/ocaportal.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=Template_wRHS&FP=/personal/mobile/iphone3G/faqsiphoneossoftware&site=personal http://personal.optus.com.au/web/ocaportal.portal?_nfpb=true...).
  - chrisbolt 17y ago
    Go to http://help.benm.at/au.php http://help.benm.at/au.php on your iPhone.
spoiledtechie 17y ago
You know, I don't have an Iphone. I have an HTC that does ABSOLUTELY everything the IPHONE does for less. I pay $45 a month, which includes unlimited data, sms, and calls. I get tethering for free as well! Its not the Tethering your paying for. Its the Name brand.
- pieter 17y ago
  I guess you might be lucky, but did you check your contract terms? Even if it's possible to tether with your phone, it's often not allowed. In the Netherlands for instance all contracts specify you're not allowed to tether your phone, even if the phone allows it. Basically the only way to (legally) tether is to get an iPhone and pay for the tethering cost (which is unannounced so far). There is a single carrier (KPN) that allows tethering for its prepaid customers, but it's limited to 200MB/month, 128kbit down, and costs you €9,99 / month. Not a very good deal.
- secret 17y ago
  I've been looking for a new plan. What phone/carrier do you have?
  - jamesbritt 17y ago
    I have a G1 from T-mobile (Arizona, USA). I'm pretty sure all G1 plans come with unlimited data; you pay more or less based on text messages and call minutes. I get tethering via the Proxoid app. It does not require being root. It has some downsides: it's not a super-simple one-click thing (not that I care, but some might), and I haven't got it working for https yet. But otherwise it is really good. Made getting stuck at LAX last week less annoying.
    - secret 17y ago
      Thanks. I've been tempted to get the G1. Right now I'm waiting to see if some of the other Android phones come out relatively soon (by the end of summer)- if not, I'll go with the G1.
    - icey 17y ago
hellweaver666 17y ago
I used to tether my laptop to my Sony Ericsson's GPRS connection K750i via Bluetooth - there weren't any monthly fees or other faffing about, I just paid for what I used (I think it was by the Megabyte in those days). Why do they have to make it complicated?

Seems pretty reasonable in comparison - I pay $60/month for my Sprint USB 1xEVDO Dongle for 5 GBytes. Now, if that $55 includes data for the iPhone as well, then I'll be very interested in seeing how ATT's HSUPA network compares to sprints 1xEVDO in the Bay Area - But I'm guessing that would be too good to be true.

TomOfTTB 17y ago

Well, as the commercials say, it is the "Fastest 3G Network in the U.S." that you're paying for (Eye Roll) Seriously though I think this is one practice that people should protest. I have no problem with AT&T charging for the equipment itself but if they advertise "unlimited data" than you should get "unlimited data" regardless of what screen it's on. Don't get me wrong, I see their side of it. If people can tether they'll use more bandwidth which will cost AT&T more. So they want to charge more. I get the business reasons on their side. But last I checked it was still a crime to advertise fradulently and that's what I consider their "unlimited data" plan to be. Just because the Cellular companies have banded together to make this pricing the norm doesn't make it right.

ghshephard 17y ago
I think the argument is "Unlimited Data for the iPhone" - not for a laptop connected to it. If that is the case, I wish they would make it explicit.
- jonhohle 17y ago
  > Furthermore, plans(unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to computer accessories, BLUETOOTH® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose That's not explicit?
  - ghshephard 17y ago
    It is, and I stand corrected. When I went to check the "Data Plan" feature, I saw the following text - which didn't note the no-tethering. I should have drilled down. http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/packages/packages-details.jsp?q_package=sku3790236&_requestid=108919 http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/packages/pack... ---SNIP---- Feature Please note: Data plan for iPhone is required for the life of your iPhone service and cannot be removed in the future. Data Plan for iPhone $30.00/month Data Plan for iPhone includes unlimited data in the U.S. Access rich HTML email and desktop-level web browsing, as well as Visual Voicemail to listen to voicemail messages in any order you choose. Please note: AT&T is Apple's exclusive carrier partner for iPhone in the United States. An eligible data plan for iPhone is required. This data plan covers data usage in the United States and does not cover international data usage and charges. If AT&T determines that you are using an iPhone on your account without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the appropriate monthly fee. ---SNIP----

o_sam_o 17y ago

How do they know your tethering?

TomOfTTB 17y ago
I presume the iphone reports it when transmitting but even if that wasn't the case there's plenty of stuff in the ip header (OS, browser type, etc...) to determine if it's a phone or a computer on the other end. Plus PCs in paticular produce a lot of junk that would give it away. Stuff like IGMP calls would only come from a PC.
- zacharypinter 17y ago
  SSH tunneling could avoid a lot of that, right?
  - stcredzero 17y ago
    What about a SOCKS proxy?
pieter 17y ago
With Apple's tools, they use a separate APN for tethering. This is like having another router (you can have another APN for MMS, for instance). All your iPhone traffic gets routed through your normal router, but the tethering traffic gets routed by your iPhone to the tethering APN. AT&T can then see from their side how much data you've put through the normal APN and how much through the tethering APN, and charge you accordingly. This is also how some of the other iPhone carriers charge you per MB, or give you a monthly xGB limit. The tethering hacks you see now just make the iPhone use the 'normal' APN for tethering traffic, which AT&T can't distinguish so easy. They might still be able to do it with deep packet analysis, but that probably costs a lot of money and might not be worth it.
ciscoriordan 17y ago
I wonder if people who paid for Netshare when it was available in the App Store will get billed for tethering if AT&T goes after unauthorized tetherers.

djehuty 17y ago

Tethering is free (and currently available, I tried it out) on Optus in Australia. I don't know the situation with the two other Aus iphone carriers.

jhy 17y ago
Really? How did you get it to work? When I tried, I got a popup "contact your carrier". The SMH is reporting that it'll be $10/m from 22nd June (http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/optus-iphone-tethering-comes-at-a-price-20090618-cizn.html http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/optus-iphone-teth...), and the Optus FAQ says it will announce the price on that date (http://personal.optus.com.au/web/ocaportal.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=Template_wRHS&FP=/personal/mobile/iphone3G/faqsiphoneossoftware&site=personal http://personal.optus.com.au/web/ocaportal.portal?_nfpb=true...).
- chrisbolt 17y ago
  Go to http://help.benm.at/au.php http://help.benm.at/au.php on your iPhone.

spoiledtechie 17y ago

You know, I don't have an Iphone. I have an HTC that does ABSOLUTELY everything the IPHONE does for less. I pay $45 a month, which includes unlimited data, sms, and calls. I get tethering for free as well! Its not the Tethering your paying for. Its the Name brand.

pieter 17y ago
I guess you might be lucky, but did you check your contract terms? Even if it's possible to tether with your phone, it's often not allowed. In the Netherlands for instance all contracts specify you're not allowed to tether your phone, even if the phone allows it. Basically the only way to (legally) tether is to get an iPhone and pay for the tethering cost (which is unannounced so far). There is a single carrier (KPN) that allows tethering for its prepaid customers, but it's limited to 200MB/month, 128kbit down, and costs you €9,99 / month. Not a very good deal.
secret 17y ago
I've been looking for a new plan. What phone/carrier do you have?
- jamesbritt 17y ago
  I have a G1 from T-mobile (Arizona, USA). I'm pretty sure all G1 plans come with unlimited data; you pay more or less based on text messages and call minutes. I get tethering via the Proxoid app. It does not require being root. It has some downsides: it's not a super-simple one-click thing (not that I care, but some might), and I haven't got it working for https yet. But otherwise it is really good. Made getting stuck at LAX last week less annoying.
  - secret 17y ago
    Thanks. I've been tempted to get the G1. Right now I'm waiting to see if some of the other Android phones come out relatively soon (by the end of summer)- if not, I'll go with the G1.
  - icey 17y ago

hellweaver666 17y ago

I used to tether my laptop to my Sony Ericsson's GPRS connection K750i via Bluetooth - there weren't any monthly fees or other faffing about, I just paid for what I used (I think it was by the Megabyte in those days). Why do they have to make it complicated?