Tethering? No Way Says AT&T

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.iphonealley.com/current/att-says-network-isnt-ready-for-iphone-tethering?' target='_blank'>http://www.iphonealley.com/current/...hone-tethering?</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"With AT&amp;T reversing their stance of not allowing VoIP applications to be used on their data network, many had begun hoping that they may also change their minds about not supporting tethering in the United States."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1255056040.usr105634.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Keep hoping because AT&amp;T says they can't support tethering. Rather, their network can't support it. According to AT&amp;T,&nbsp;<em>"Whenever we offer new features, we want to offer the best possible customer experience. For tethering, we need to do some additional fine tuning to our systems and networks so that we do deliver a great experience."</em></p><p>No word on when this will happen, but a previous spokesman mentioned sometime this year. I personally doubt that, what are your thoughts?</p><p><em></em></p>

[ptyork]

The implications in this article are far worse, IMO. No wonder they'll be allowing VOIP. With data caps, hard or soft, you'll likely not be able to use it for more than the occasional, short chat. Doubtless we'll see streaming video from Sling allowed soon, as well, equally useless with small caps.

http://blogs.computerworld.com/14886/at_t_ceo_has_ominous_words_for_iphone_users_during_ctia

I guess pigs aren't flying around the chilly Hades skies, after all. AT&T is digging it's own grave quickly. As soon as iPhone exclusivity ends (if not before), I think they'll be wishing they had Sprint's customer defection rates.

[The Yaz]

To be fair, I'm sure their reluctance has more to do with the fear that the increased data load (and customer tech support) would have on their network. Try to account for the tethering bandwith usage on top of the limited 3G coverage they already are dealing with and you have a customer nightmare either way.

My wife has tethered with her Treo on Sprint and I've been impressed with the ease and speed that was offered. When I pointed that out to one of my co-workers who has an iPhone, they commented "Of course it works great, she's probably one of a hundred people still using their network!"

I'm sure they will release it eventually. Knowing their luck, it'll be a month after they lose the exclusive deal with Apple and by then it'll be too little, too late.

Steve

[Sven Johannsen]

Not sure I actually get their assertions/reluctance. My wife has an AT&T data card for her laptop. The little USB goober has a SIM and a phone number. I would propose it uses the self same network and technology that any of my data capable phones, both iPhone and WinMo, use. It just doesn't make voice calls. It's plan just costs as much as an iPhone's with the voice. So do they really think that providing iPhone users with the ability to tether (which I already 'can' do with my WinMo phone) is going to so dramatically increase the number of folks actually doing it, it will be a disaster? They could just up the fee if you elect to tether. That would deter the adoption and still allow them to claim the capability.

I really don't get it. I have internet access on my phones because they are convenient to use, pretty much instant on and off, and realatively quick since I gravitate to the mobile versions of sites. largely due to resolution and screen real estate. Getting out the laptop is cumbersome and awkward unless I am sitting somewhere. Then getting it fired up and connected to the net via a tethered phone, wired or BT, is prone to challenges. Beyond that with a laptop I will tend towards the full deal sites, slowing down the experience because they are built assuming broadband connections. Much easier to sit somewhere that has free WiFi if I am going to spend any substantial time on the Web.

[karen]

At least here in Canada they are allowing tethering including in our regular iPhone data plan until December.

ATT allows tethering for certain other phones, but those using that feature must pay extra. I believe it is $60 month -- don't know if that is on top of the regular phone data plan or inclusive.

My prediction is that Rogers here in Canada will start charging $30-100 a month extra for tethering. Probably on the higher side of that range.

It is kinda funny that ATT claims that iPhone tethering will kill their network when laptop cards, which put much greater demands on the network are already chewing up bandwidth.

It will be interesting to see how the changing market, both in Canada and US, responds to increased competition and need for these features over the next 3-4 months.

[doogald]

It is kinda funny that ATT claims that iPhone tethering will kill their network when laptop cards, which put much greater demands on the network are already chewing up bandwidth.


You'd think that, but I read a story yesterday that said that it was actually smartphones that were hammering cell towers far more than laptop cards, even though laptop users download more data.

See http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2009/10/smartphones-suck-8x-more-cellular-capacity-than-laptops.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

[karen]

That certainly is interesting.

I'm guessing that this is 1) due to a poorly designed architecture for "signaling" as well as 2) a reflection of the fact that laptop users still aren't using their laptops & tethering enough :p

Seriously, this does seem to point out, then, that adding tethering won't do as much harm as selling 100k more iPhones. In fact, if it converts data usage from the back and forth of smart phone usage to a stable, data-intensive by signaling-limiting method, then ATT will come out ahead by allowing tethering.