Comments on: AT&T to offer iPhone tethering plan?

By: Antz

Antz — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:29:14 +0000

I’t happened! Haha, losers all of you! When you tough it would never happen…It did! Now what? How much will it be? $30.00 a month with perhaps a 5gb limit! I want my pre-paid razr back!

By: K_Warne

K_Warne — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:37:25 +0000

Just got off the phone with a AT&T customer service rep. Asked her 2 questions 1 being.. “When I am outside of 3G coverage will my phone automatically pick up on edge without any additional fee”, the answer was yes. The second question was “Will there be a phone as modem plan for the iphone so I can tether the phone to my laptop” the answer, to my surprise after rummaging through similar forums to this for weeks, was yes. Asked her a second time and yes again. When I asked her the price of the plan in order to do this she said AT&T was not allowed to release this pricing yet. Well as long as she knew what she was talking about I think I’ll through up a smiley face =D.

By: Ypocaramel

Ypocaramel — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:12:09 +0000

I’d have to be pretty desperate to tether by EDGE. Not totally useless, but if getting internet via the cellular system is your concern and you can afford the monthly fees, getting a 3G modem would probably be fine too.

By: the_man

the_man — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:18:17 +0000

By far the worst title ever! Has nothing to do with a service plan!

By: Yo daddeh

Yo daddeh — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:56:26 +0000

Re: Evan Borenstein

Evan is right, AT&T don’t play. But I’m sure whoever chose to leak the internal memorandum wasn’t dumb enough to forward it – surely they just wrote on a piece of paper what the email said. But then why would they include the “suggested scripting” which we never, ever follow?

By: Yo daddeh

Yo daddeh — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:54:19 +0000

That’s a really neat graphic you created for post but the naysayers are correct – I work for AT&T and also received this email; what’s puzzling is that 1) The Boy Genius doesn’t get that this is alluding to connecting the iPhone to iTunes to activate, presumably as an upgrade to the 16 gb. 2) Why the submitted altered the email; the original email did not use the word “tethering”, but simply “connect”, “connecting” and “activating”. Sorry, no tethering for the iPhone anytime soon.

By: Evan Borenstein

Evan Borenstein — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:26:58 +0000

I am an AT&T employee, and I am letting you know that when they say “tethering” in the letter, it means connect the phone to iTunes, not use the phone as a modem. And whichever employee sent you that is royally screwed, AT&T doesn’t mess around.

By: Andrew Davidson

Andrew Davidson — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:17:42 +0000

@Jeff B.

They have powered screwdrivers; they’re pretty nifty.

By: Jeff B.

Jeff B. — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:46:31 +0000

Ah att, when won’t you screw us or make life less difficult?

The last time they make something that doesn’t screw you will be when they make a powered screwdriver.

By: tande

tande — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:39:44 +0000

@Jason

Nah, its talking about activation, not just the act of plugging it in. I get a shinny new iPhone (which is what the memo is really about) and just plug it in I’m just going to have a shiny new iPhone charging off my computer. Now if I wanted to use said shinny new iPhone as a phone I’d have to go through the activation process again. Which as we’ve already seen is the problem people are having. Half of AT&T is telling them that it extends the contract, half tells them it doesn’t.

By: chris

chris — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:28:10 +0000

wow what a non scoop. Do they read things before posting them? Has nothing to do with tethering as a modem.

By: Flack

Flack — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:22:59 +0000

If my MacBook Pro could tether (via Bluetooth) to my iPhone and the EDGE network for $20/month unlimited, I’d probably take it. Here in the Bay area I’ve seen EDGE bursting into 128kbs. Its sucking data through a straw, but when you are on the freeway…. even a straw is better than nothing.

Also, AT&T is beginning to eat T-mobiles hot spot lunch, AT&T is taking over the gazillion Starbucks that currently have wifi. Reportedly free wifi to broadband customers, why not to mobile data customers? Yes I know its two different arms of AT&T, but it would be a competitive advantage that TMobile couldn’t touch.

Flack

By: Brad Rokosz

Brad Rokosz — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:49:05 +0000

the password is: “dock”

By: wayne schulz

wayne schulz — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:45:24 +0000

Is this a joke? You need new informants.

By: Nights on, daytime, lights on, hell yeah I'm frontin' but you love it, though

Nights on, daytime, lights on, hell yeah I'm frontin' but you love it, though — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:44:41 +0000

3g iphone tethered to a macbook air. Your talking 4 hours on the iphone and 3 on the air. And then your phone is dead. Just doesn’t make since for on the go people still. A 3g usb stick is a better idea. Tethering on EDGE is stupid if you have an Iphone.

By: RC

RC — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:25:02 +0000

It just means plugging it in. Not using it as a modem. Unless I am interpreting wrong

By: CB17

CB17 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:22:35 +0000

Yeah sorry BG, but you need to replace all parts that say “tethering” in that notice with “activation” I actually saw this floating around online a few days ago with the exact same text except with the activation part, not tethering

By: sara

sara — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:13:55 +0000

This is definitley concerning activtion. We got it a few days after the 16 gb came out because of some angry customers who didn’t want to re-extend their contacts(understandably).

By: cw

cw — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:05:39 +0000

@brian: I’ll take your comment as proof positive that you aren’t very bright.

I’ve read a similar report that indicated customers who purchased new iPhones and activated them were promoted to accept a new 2-year agreement, even though it wasn’t required, and AT&T was automatically unwinding that change in their system. I’m guessing the “tethering” refers to connecting the iPhone to iTunes for activation, not data network tethering.

By: Runstream

Runstream — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:58:30 +0000

I think what they are calling ‘tethering’ iPod users would call ‘docking’, that’s all

By: brian

brian — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:49:23 +0000

since there is no mention of an increase in price, i’ll take that as proof positive there will be no 3G jesus phone. ever.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:49:22 +0000

Activated isn’t the correct term either.

“Connected via the supplied USB to iPod dock connector cable” is.

Just my $.02

By: tande

tande — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:45:06 +0000

Yep, I’m going to say they are just using the wrong terminology. Should be activated instead of tethered.

Tethered doesn’t even really make sense in this case. Change out activated with tethered and the whole thing is much clearer.

By: shadow

shadow — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:42:26 +0000

tether at EDGE speeds ? Why ? Who would be that desperate with all the 3G out there now. Plus most iPhoners probably could not figure out tethering.

By: Barry

Barry — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:41:04 +0000

Why would anyone want to tether with the EDGE network?

By: 1jaxstate1

1jaxstate1 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:40:54 +0000

Who the hell would tether over Edge anyway?

By: Regt

Regt — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:37:10 +0000

It’s not a tethering plan….It’s to let people know they don’t need to sign a new 2 year contract to upgrade to the 16Gb iphone.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:12:29 +0000

Isn’t this just referring to what happens when an existing customer purchases one of the new 16GB iPhones? I think they mean tethering their contract from the old iPhone to the new one….