Another kick in the teeth -- no tethering between iPad and iPhone?

[fpnc]

AppleInsider has a report from AT&T stating that tethering will not work between an iPad and iPhone (over either Bluetooth or USB/Dock). Thus, if the iPhone won't work as a WiFi hotspot then you may not be able to use the iPhone's 3G data plan to provide mobile service to an iPad.

AT&T is pointing their finger at Apple, but this could be a real blow to all those iPhone users who were considering using their iPhone to provide 3G network access to their new iPads. Frankly, I was considering doing that since I don't use anything near 2GB/month and if I could tether my iPad to my iPhone I could just pay the extra $20 tethering fee rather than pay $25 extra to get the 3G plan for my iPad 3G (and, I could also tether to my MacBook which would be another advantage to the $20 tethering plan on the iPhone). Of course, those with the WiFi-only version of the iPad (and an iPhone) may really be getting a kick in the teeth.

 

[MikhailT]

AppleInsider has a report from AT&T stating that tethering will not work between an iPad and iPhone (over either Bluetooth or USB/Dock). Thus, if the iPhone won't work as a WiFi hotspot then you may not be able to use the iPhone's 3G data plan to provide mobile service to an iPad.

AT&T is pointing their finger at Apple, but this could be a real blow to all those iPhone users who were considering using their iPhone to provide 3G network access to their new iPads. Frankly, I was considering doing that since I don't use anything near 2GB/month and if I could tether my iPad to my iPhone I could just pay the extra $20 tethering fee rather than pay $25 extra to get the 3G plan for my iPad 3G (and, I could also tether to my MacBook which would be another advantage to the $20 tethering plan on the iPhone). Of course, those with the WiFi-only version of the iPad (and an iPhone) may really be getting a kick in the teeth.

Just wait till WWDC. Jobs is likely to explain everything there.

As for ATT, they are right about how iPad don't have the code for the USB/Bluetooth tethering. It is likely possible Apple could release an update to support it. This could be the reason why we haven't seen any new firmware update to fix the WiFi issues on the iPads, Apple wants the WWDC first before doing so, to prevent the information about tethering support leaked.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Steve Jobs was asked in an email if tethering the iPad to the iPhone would be possible. His answer; "No".

 

[JodyK]

I believe once you jailbreak it you can!

 

[MikhailT]

Steve Jobs was asked in an email if tethering the iPad to the iPhone would be possible. His answer; "No".

Which was in the past. Steve Jobs also said unlimited 3G usage for the iPads but as we just saw, things can change.

 

[fpnc]

Just wait till WWDC. Jobs is likely to explain everything there...

True, something might be announced at WWDC but why did AT&T even comment on this limitation so close to next Monday when Steve Jobs gives his keynote at WWDC. I mean, the AT&T tethering plans don't even begin until June 7, so if tethering between the iPad and iPhone is announced at WWDC on June 8 there would be no reason for AT&T to come out today and say it won't work. The only likely possibility is that iPad to iPhone tethering won't work until iPhone OS 4 is released later this year.

 

[MikhailT]

True, something might be announced at WWDC but why did AT&T even comment on this limitation so close to next Monday when Steve Jobs gives his keynote at WWDC. I mean, the AT&T tethering plans don't even begin until June 7, so if tethering between the iPad and iPhone is announced at WWDC on June 8 there would be no reason for AT&T to come out today and say it won't work. The only likely possibility is that iPad to iPhone tethering won't work until iPhone OS 4 is released later this year.

Because ATT didn't have a choice? They were getting calls about this and somebody asked this specifically and ATT pointed at Apple for this. What exactly did you expect ATT to say? "No comment" would've just add more confusion and more outrage at ATT instead of Apple.

ATT said that the iPad/iPhone isn't possible because of Apple, not because of ATT. Its up to Apple to enable this feature in iPad to support iPhone tethering.

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...ays_no_tethering_between_ipad_and_iphone.html

In order to use iPhone tethering from a Mac or PC, the computer must be able to connect to the iPhone via USB or Bluetooth, and must support a network connection over that interface.

While the iPad includes Bluetooth hardware, it is not yet known if it will support a network uplink connection over Bluetooth (known as a "Wireless iAP"). The iPhone OS does not currently enable this as a feature so it is doubtful the iPad will, particularly given Jobs flat out "no" answer to tethering. Bluetooth support in iPhone OS devices is also limited in many other respects.

Being able to access an iAP within the iPhone OS (a "reverse tether") would allow iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users to connect to and share an iPhone or computer's Internet access via Bluetooth, rather than only over a mobile EDGE/3G network or over WiFi hotspot. That's not currently possible.

The iPhone OS also offers no support for "reverse tethering" over USB, shutting down the other avenue for connecting an iPad to an iPhone with tethering enabled. The iPhone OS also does not support acting as a gateway to share its mobile Internet access over WiFi to other computers, even though iPhone OS devices can all access any WiFi hotspot.

Apple has made no comments about the iPad's ability to tether its 3G access (allowing a computer to share the iPad's mobile access data plan), likely because it is not intended to do so. The data plan on the iPad is priced so much lower than most general purpose 3G dongle plans that it appears clear that AT&T does not expect users to be sharing it for general use from other computers.

 

[Blorzoga]

AppleInsider has a report from AT&T stating that tethering will not work between an iPad and iPhone (over either Bluetooth or USB/Dock). Thus, if the iPhone won't work as a WiFi hotspot then you may not be able to use the iPhone's 3G data plan to provide mobile service to an iPad.

AT&T is pointing their finger at Apple, but this could be a real blow to all those iPhone users who were considering using their iPhone to provide 3G network access to their new iPads. Frankly, I was considering doing that since I don't use anything near 2GB/month and if I could tether my iPad to my iPhone I could just pay the extra $20 tethering fee rather than pay $25 extra to get the 3G plan for my iPad 3G (and, I could also tether to my MacBook which would be another advantage to the $20 tethering plan on the iPhone). Of course, those with the WiFi-only version of the iPad (and an iPhone) may really be getting a kick in the teeth.

Do you really think apple is that stupid that they would come out with a 3G iPad and then make it obsolete by allowing the wifi to tether and provide 3G data? C'mon, this is apple, they're very smart

 

[pondie84]

This was already known. In every country where iPhone tethering is officially available you cannot tether it to the iPad. What made you think it'd be different for the US?

 

[MikhailT]

Do you really think apple is that stupid that they would come out with a 3G iPad and then make it obsolete by allowing the wifi to tether and provide 3G data? C'mon, this is apple, they're very smart

Do you think Apple wants people to buy other products with the bluetooth capability to work with iPhone instead? A sale is a sale to them.

 

[MikhailT]

This was already known. In every country where iPhone tethering is officially available you cannot tether it to the iPad. What made you think it'd be different for the US?

The question is, is it because of OS limitation and will Apple release an update to fix this? The bluetooth profile is there but its not enabled by default.

 

[pondie84]

The question is, is it because of OS limitation and will Apple release an update to fix this? The bluetooth profile is there but its not enabled by default.

Nobody knows. At this stage I'd be surprised if they release an OS update to 'fix' this.

Given that it's left to the service provider to charge additionally to use tethering or not I'd imagine the service providers will pressure Apple to not allow the iPhone to tether to the iPad free of charge.

 

[fpnc]

Because ATT didn't have a choice? They were getting calls about this and somebody asked this specifically and ATT pointed at Apple for this. What exactly did you expect ATT to say? "No comment" would've just add more confusion and more outrage at ATT instead of Apple...

Except that if the situation changes on Monday with some announcement at WWDC then the comment from AT&T today will just add to the confusion. It would have been much better to just say that AT&T's tethering plan contained no device-specific restrictions and that customers should contact Apple if they had any questions about tethering support on the iPad. After all, the iPad isn't an AT&T device.

Apparently, this is what AT&T is now saying -- the limitation is "not a matter of AT&T policy" and they are making no further comments other than to recommend that customers contact Apple for further information. So, the initial concerns may have simply been caused by a rather awkward initial statement coming out of AT&T's customer support.

 

[Karnivore]

Sure it's possible.

This post was brought to you by MiWi.

 

[James L]

In Canada we've been able to tether our iPhones over bluetooth to our Macs for a long time now... at no extra charge.

So, I can use my iPhone's 6GB/month plan over bluetooth to provide internet service to my MBP... but I can't do the same with my iPad.

Silly.

 

[MikhailT]

Nobody knows. At this stage I'd be surprised if they release an OS update to 'fix' this.

Given that it's left to the service provider to charge additionally to use tethering or not I'd imagine the service providers will pressure Apple to not allow the iPhone to tether to the iPad free of charge.

Why not?
First, the tethering support is based on the carrier settings file, it's unique to each service provider. So, that's moot.

Second, the service providers can't do anything about the WiFI iPads, what does it matter to them? The sales of iPads 3G do not benefit them any more than any other 3g enabled laptops crap. They get money from the iPhone's tethering plan, which is probably going to be the same cost as iPad 3G's data cost. So why would they pressure Apple to do anything?

 

[Gleemen]

Oh how a JB iPhone can make things so easy.

 

[James L]

Sure it's possible.

This post was brought to you by MiWi.

Yes... MiWi and rapid battery drain.

It is silly to have to jailbreak your phone and purchase a Cydia app to do something that the iPhone is more than capable of (tethering via BT to the iPad).

 

[fpnc]

Nobody knows. At this stage I'd be surprised if they release an OS update to 'fix' this.

Given that it's left to the service provider to charge additionally to use tethering or not I'd imagine the service providers will pressure Apple to not allow the iPhone to tether to the iPad free of charge.

Since you have to pay extra to AT&T to even enable tethering how would that fit in your suggestion that "the service providers will pressure Apple to not allow the iPhone to tether to the iPad free of charge." You'd be paying for it already, it won't be "free of charge."

 

[MikhailT]

Yes... MiWi and rapid battery drain.

It is silly to have to jailbreak your phone and purchase a Cydia app to do something that the iPhone is more than capable of (tethering via BT to the iPad).

iPhone isn't the problem here.

It's the iPad. It doesn't have the settings to enable tethering via BT.

 

[pondie84]

Since you have to pay extra to AT&T to even enable tethering how would that fit in your suggestion that "the service providers will pressure Apple to not allow the iPhone to tether to the iPad free of charge." You'd be paying for it already, it won't be "free of charge."

The carriers want to be making money from you via an iPad 3G and an iPhone 3G. The best way to do this is by limiting your access to tethering across devices where possible.

We'll see though. I may be surprised and Apple may allow the bluetooth iPad tethering. I wouldn't be holding my breath...

 

[fpnc]

Well, we now know something for sure, Apple will have to address this issue on Monday one way or another. If Apple gives no answer on Monday then this new iPhone/iPad tethering plan from AT&T will be the laughingstock of the industry.

 

[MikhailT]

The carriers want to be making money from you via an iPad 3G and an iPhone 3G. The best way to do this is by limiting your access to tethering across devices where possible.

We'll see though. I may be surprised and Apple may allow the bluetooth iPad tethering. I wouldn't be holding my breath...

That's understandable if we're talking about an unlimited plan.

This is a bandwidth capped plan, it doesn't matter what device you use, 2GB is the max before you start hitting the overage fees. I am pretty sure the carriers would love to allow the iPad tethering since it'll promote higher bandwidth usage and consume the bandwidth fast enough that the users will have to start paying more overcharge fees.

 

[fpnc]

The carriers want to be making money from you via an iPad 3G and an iPhone 3G. The best way to do this is by limiting your access to tethering across devices where possible...

I think that is highly unlikely since you will already be paying for the mere "privilege" of tethering with no additional allowance for data.

 

[err404]

I'm not sure how this news. These methods for tethering have been in place for a year, but who knows, maybe the iPhone HD will have some surprises left for us. I would expect that if wifi tethering is included in OS4.0, it would only be supported with the new hardware.
MyWi is ok, but it's a cheap imitation of what WiFi support should be. An access point should be infrustructure, not ad-hoc. Also it should have a stronger transmit antena and consume less power and support WPA2 encryption. Updates to the wifi chipset in the new iphone could help address all of these through hardware support.