Connect with us

Hardware

AT&T Shuts Out US iPhone Users on Tethering for iPhone 3.0 at Launch

Published

on

Uh, Oh. It looks like that tethering feature for the new iPhone 3.0 firmware will be really cool. If you’re not an AT&T user. During the keynote, Apple announced that tethering will be supported by 22 carriers globally. No mention of AT&T on the slide.   Apple also announced MMS would be available later this summer via AT&T. Maybe things will change once AT&T realizes they’re behind the rest of the world.

If this is true, call it a big FAIL on AT&T’s part.

wwdc2009-482

11 Comments

11 Comments

  1. Tim

    06/08/2009 at 12:11 pm

    I don’t imagine this helps AT&T renew their exclusivity contract with Apple.

  2. Sierra Modro

    06/08/2009 at 12:12 pm

    It is definitely a big fail. The reaction in the room was unmistakable. With the hint in a later slide that T-Mobile will be supporting tethering, it sounds like AT&T may be getting some competition.

  3. Gregg Hillmar

    06/08/2009 at 1:07 pm

    BIG FAIL is right- we can only hope that this is the end of the exclusive contract…

  4. Ron

    06/08/2009 at 2:48 pm

    This is a huge disappointment. Huge. AT&T has publicly stated for nearly two years that tethering is imminent. I am so angry about this. I cannot wait to move twelve mobile lines to the new carrier, that surely will support tethering. Adios AT&T. You suck!

  5. SEOsean

    06/08/2009 at 2:51 pm

    AT&T to release tethering option today (6/8/09), or so a rep tells me: https://www.seosean.com/blog/iphone-att-to-release-tethering-option-today

  6. Ronald

    06/08/2009 at 3:15 pm

    This is ludicrous. They have been talking about offering tethering for iphone in one way or another for nearly two years.

    The fact they have not made an announcement makes me think they are waiting to see how things will shake out with their exclusive contract with AT&T (follow the money) . . . in the meantime customer’s get screwed.

    AT&T Mobility President and CEO Ralph De La Vega CEO publicly stated on November 8, 2008, tethering for iPhone was coming “soon”. The question is, what does AT&T define as “soon”? Soon to me means a few weeks, maybe a couple months max. But one year? Gimme a break. They are duping all of us.

  7. Charles

    06/08/2009 at 3:21 pm

    Up until now I’ve never considered jailbraking but if AT&T won’t allow me to tether anytime soon, I might take the plunge or get a Verizon Mi-Fi.

  8. tim

    06/08/2009 at 3:42 pm

    No renew with att.I will cancel my contract.

  9. GoodThings2Life

    06/08/2009 at 4:24 pm

    Apparently, they do plan on offering it … eventually … but Gizmodo is reporting that it is rumored to be $70/month for unlimited data.

    https://i.gizmodo.com/5283562/att-mms-delay-may-be-due-to-opt+out-codes-70-tethering-plan-in-works

  10. alex

    06/08/2009 at 5:54 pm

    The strange thing is that my AT&T Tilt has had tethering ever since it was released a couple of years ago. Or, maybe I just don’t understand how these things work!

  11. JimAtLaw

    06/09/2009 at 11:02 am

    The iPhone and AT&T are fine for occasional mobile internet use, and all but worthless as a phone.

    – The speakerphone is unusably quiet, e.g., for use in a car when it is legally required in many U.S. states;
    – It lacks support for MMS messaging, which most other phones have had for years and years now, and STILL doesn’t have it with the release of the 3rd generation of the phone (and don’t tell me that the OS theoretically supports it now – if it’s not offered to the end user, it’s not offered); and most importantly
    – Reception goes back and forth from 5 bars to 1 or even 0 without moving regularly and drops calls constantly in places with 4 or 5 bar (intermittent) coverage.

    I will be giving my iPhone to my wife for use as a web tablet and getting a real phone momentarily.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.