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Why Teather?

R

Raegor

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 4, 2010
86
0
Based on the ATT prices I'm wondering why anyone would choose to teather with their iphone... Yea saving $5 but still...

If you teather you're paying $25 + $20 for iphone data and only have 2 gig a month to share among the two devices.

If you don't you're paying $25 iphone + $25 ipad but you have 2 gigs on each device.

I don't know what ATT is thinking. Yea if you have other wifi devices that might be the only reason but you're still limited to 2 gig a month so thats lame.
 
If thinking iPad / iPhone would make more sense to not tether.

$25 + $20 = 2GB

or

$25 + $25 = 4GB

No matter which way you look at it 2GB is not impressive though
 
I, for one am getting the Wifi iPad, so when 4G phones start to roll out, i'll have a superfast connection wherever i want it ;) I won't want to be stuck with 3G..sadly it's not the s@%#
 
Screwball said:
I, for one am getting the Wifi iPad, so when 4G phones start to roll out, i'll have a superfast connection wherever i want it ;) I won't want to be stuck with 3G..sadly it's not the s@%#
Click to expand...

Exactly why I got the wifi version. I have debating lately on getting the evo, too bad sprints charging 30 bucks a month. Sheeesh but I know it can be rooted to tether for free.
 
Screwball said:
I, for one am getting the Wifi iPad, so when 4G phones start to roll out, i'll have a superfast connection wherever i want it ;) I won't want to be stuck with 3G..sadly it's not the s@%#
Click to expand...

...and with a 3G unit, you get that functionality at that time as well, only you can use 3G now when you need to.

The problem with the tethering debate is that there are two common use cases that aren't easy to differentiate in plans: Opportunistic Tethering, and Contingency Tethering. Opportunistic use is continuous, with no regard for the inherent limitations of a wireless utility. It becomes a home or office internet substitute, and leads to excessive use. Contingency use is for places between home and office without WiFi, or when traveling.

Contingency tethering should not be charged a $20 premium per month... $5 might be reasonable, but it really should be free.

Opportunistic tethering is quite damaging to the telco if the service is considered unlimited. It is unrealistic to think that this type of use should be free, even if you are within the 2GB limit, because you will saturate your connection when you do use it.
 
aaarrrgggh said:
...and with a 3G unit, you get that functionality at that time as well, only you can use 3G now when you need to.

The problem with the tethering debate is that there are two common use cases that aren't easy to differentiate in plans: Opportunistic Tethering, and Contingency Tethering. Opportunistic use is continuous, with no regard for the inherent limitations of a wireless utility. It becomes a home or office internet substitute, and leads to excessive use. Contingency use is for places between home and office without WiFi, or when traveling.

Contingency tethering should not be charged a $20 premium per month... $5 might be reasonable, but it really should be free.

Opportunistic tethering is quite damaging to the telco if the service is considered unlimited. It is unrealistic to think that this type of use should be free, even if you are within the 2GB limit, because you will saturate your connection when you do use it.
Click to expand...

.....ummm. Ya :confused:
 
Raegor said:
Based on the ATT prices I'm wondering why anyone would choose to teather with their iphone... Yea saving $5 but still...
Click to expand...
Your argument is only valid for users who purchased the more expensive 3G version of the iPad. If you have the WiFi-only version it makes perfect sense to tether. Besides that, AT&T is claiming that something like 95% of their users consume less than 2GB per month (65% consume less than 200MB), so those users could tethering and potentially save up to $60 per year in fees to AT&T.
 
fpnc said:
Your argument is only valid for users who purchased the more expensive 3G version of the iPad. If you have the WiFi-only version it makes perfect sense to tether. Besides that, AT&T is claiming that something like 95% of their users consume less than 2GB per month (65% consume less than 200MB), so those users could tethering and potentially save up to $60 per year in fees to AT&T.
Click to expand...

That's what was missing. Since most of us are wifi iPad users, tethering makes perfect sense if you want to use it somewhere without a wifi connection.
 
Hmmm, Why tether.

My iPad Wifi + T-Mobile G1 phone + T-Mobile Unlimited data for $34.95 = better price (T-Mobile does not charge extra to tether your phone).
 
Because I already have a wifi ipad and have had one before the 3G came out, thats why.
 
Screwball said:
I, for one am getting the Wifi iPad, so when 4G phones start to roll out, i'll have a superfast connection wherever i want it ;) I won't want to be stuck with 3G..sadly it's not the s@%#
Click to expand...

By superfast 4G connection I assume you mean you live in a market where Sprint has (or will be soon) rolled out their 4G network???? The iPhone "4G" isn't 4G in connection speed, but 4th generation. Even if it is 4G network, like Sprint's 4G phone, it would be ahead of the times. Most markets haven't seen a 4G network. Didn't Sprint say it will take them until 2012 to get to the top 100 markets with 4G coverage?

OP: One reason to tether (and not go with iPad 3G service) IF tethering was ever allowed between iPhone and iPad would be if you also want to tether your iphone at times to a different device, say, a laptop.
 
regardless....miwi is garbage...it kills your phones battery so quick...i have tried on several phones.

thats hardly a solution to 3g.....
 
Treebark said:
By superfast 4G connection I assume you mean you live in a market where Sprint has (or will be soon) rolled out their 4G network???? The iPhone "4G" isn't 4G in connection speed, but 4th generation. Even if it is 4G network, like Sprint's 4G phone, it would be ahead of the times. Most markets haven't seen a 4G network. Didn't Sprint say it will take them until 2012 to get to the top 100 markets with 4G coverage?

OP: One reason to tether (and not go with iPad 3G service) IF tethering was ever allowed between iPhone and iPad would be if you also want to tether your iphone at times to a different device, say, a laptop.
Click to expand...

Mate, notice the absence of "i" before phone! I never said i wanted to use iPhone for this purpose, and indeed i don't intend to! BTW I live in Europe where there are already 4G networks in testing stages, and in a few countries 4G is already available to customers! And the results are amazing..so thank you no 3G iPad for me..although i'm still going to tether from my current E series Nokia to my Wi-Fi only iPad if the ocassion calls for it! ;)
 
MacModMachine said:
regardless....miwi is garbage...it kills your phones battery so quick...i have tried on several phones.

thats hardly a solution to 3g.....
Click to expand...

To each their own. It does hurt battery life if you use it for prolonged periods of time but for the short bursts of time I generally need 3G on my iPad, it's a perfect solution--saves me $360/yr (at current data prices, of course ;)). And yes I'd need the larger data plan because even with periodic usage via MyWi, used about 600 MB last month.
 
tbayrgs said:
To each their own. It does hurt battery life if you use it for prolonged periods of time but for the short bursts of time I generally need 3G on my iPad, it's a perfect solution--saves me $360/yr (at current data prices, of course ;)). And yes I'd need the larger data plan because even with periodic usage via MyWi, used about 600 MB last month.
Click to expand...

I enjoy those who purchased 3G iPads getting up in arms about tethering. "it runs down the battery!" Haha. Awesome.
 
Tethering is fantastic. Just started doing it recently, and now I'm glad I didn't get the 3G iPad and pay an extra $30 or whatever a month for iPad data.
 
Again: With AT&T's $20 tethering add-on, you DO NOT get to tether your iPad. This works only with desktops/laptops. Tethering an iPad to your iPhone's cell radio connection requires the use of jailbreak utilities, such as MyWi.
 
JAILBREAK JAILBREAK JAILBREAK JAILBREAK

HOW MANY TIMES DOES ONE HAVE TO SAY IT!!!!!!!!


ITs like a bad reapting line of code.................................Guys come on!!!
 
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