Want to Enable Tethering with iOS4? First Give Up Unlimited Plan

I had no idea this was even possible on a 3G. I just tried it.

I understand your adversion to moving away from the unlimited data plan, but I also feel that the limited plans seem to be reasonable.

I just used the data calculator app on AT&T’s website and check all three of our iPhones over the past six months (all are on unlimited plans today). I found that my son’s phone used the most data, but only peaked at ~780MB looking at the last six months.

So, I have 3 ihpones on unlimited $30/month data plans that all could easily be on $25/month Data Pro 2GB plans, actually saving me $15/month.

The information I can not find is if the tethering is part of the 2GB plan, or do you buy the Data Pro plan *then* add the tethering for a total of $25+$20=$45.

Macmoo,

I’m glad you found the article useful and were able to replicate it on your 3G.

Macmoo,

I’m glad you found the article useful and were able to replicate it on your 3G.

Macmoo,

I’m glad you found the article useful and were able to replicate it on your 3G.

Macmoo,

I’m glad you found the article useful and were able to replicate it on your 3G.

I agree, I myself don’t seem to use a heck of whole lot of data, but I understand that the Netflix App for the iPhone will enable users to watch movies on the go…that could easily kill a lot of data and not to mention the data you can use in one online session while tethered to the iPhone with your laptop…that’s where I’m really coming from with regards to my statement. Thanks for sharing the feedback and your experience.

I agree, I myself don’t seem to use a heck of whole lot of data, but I understand that the Netflix App for the iPhone will enable users to watch movies on the go…that could easily kill a lot of data and not to mention the data you can use in one online session while tethered to the iPhone with your laptop…that’s where I’m really coming from with regards to my statement. Thanks for sharing the feedback and your experience.

I agree, I myself don’t seem to use a heck of whole lot of data, but I understand that the Netflix App for the iPhone will enable users to watch movies on the go…that could easily kill a lot of data and not to mention the data you can use in one online session while tethered to the iPhone with your laptop…that’s where I’m really coming from with regards to my statement. Thanks for sharing the feedback and your experience.

I agree, I myself don’t seem to use a heck of whole lot of data, but I understand that the Netflix App for the iPhone will enable users to watch movies on the go…that could easily kill a lot of data and not to mention the data you can use in one online session while tethered to the iPhone with your laptop…that’s where I’m really coming from with regards to my statement. Thanks for sharing the feedback and your experience.

See, this is what I don’t understand. AT&T wants me to give up my unlimited data plan to enable tethering. With my current iphone unlimited data plan, I average about 2 gigs a month (I watch lots of streaming video working graveyard)

So, now, if I want to tether my phone to my laptop, I have to get rid of my unlimited data plan, AND pay an additional fee. And, then I get limited to 2 gigs a month.

Is this because my data usage will go down when I’m using a full browser? Does AT&T really think that this is going to benefit their customers? Really?

Jonny,

I think they are considering everyone when looking at this situation, I don’t like it because I can exceed the 2GB in a given month, especially now that Netflix will be running on the iPhone…but for a lot of folks they don’t use the nearly enough data to warrant an unlimited plan so AT&T is actually making it cheaper for a lot of folks that don’t use a whole lot of data. At least that’s their argument. The days of unlimited wireless data are slowly going away, eventually though with 4G and expanded Wi-Fi coverage, hopefully it wont matter.

Jonny,

I think they are considering everyone when looking at this situation, I don’t like it because I can exceed the 2GB in a given month, especially now that Netflix will be running on the iPhone…but for a lot of folks they don’t use the nearly enough data to warrant an unlimited plan so AT&T is actually making it cheaper for a lot of folks that don’t use a whole lot of data. At least that’s their argument. The days of unlimited wireless data are slowly going away, eventually though with 4G and expanded Wi-Fi coverage, hopefully it wont matter.

Jonny,

I think they are considering everyone when looking at this situation, I don’t like it because I can exceed the 2GB in a given month, especially now that Netflix will be running on the iPhone…but for a lot of folks they don’t use the nearly enough data to warrant an unlimited plan so AT&T is actually making it cheaper for a lot of folks that don’t use a whole lot of data. At least that’s their argument. The days of unlimited wireless data are slowly going away, eventually though with 4G and expanded Wi-Fi coverage, hopefully it wont matter.

Jonny,

I think they are considering everyone when looking at this situation, I don’t like it because I can exceed the 2GB in a given month, especially now that Netflix will be running on the iPhone…but for a lot of folks they don’t use the nearly enough data to warrant an unlimited plan so AT&T is actually making it cheaper for a lot of folks that don’t use a whole lot of data. At least that’s their argument. The days of unlimited wireless data are slowly going away, eventually though with 4G and expanded Wi-Fi coverage, hopefully it wont matter.

Both my iPhone 3G and iPhone 4G have tethering enabled with IOS4 without the tether plan.

Here’s how I did it.

1. Starting with 3.1.2 on my iPhone 3G, I used blackrain rc3 to jailbreak and unlock it
2. I then installed the tether hack by going to http://m.peacefulinsanity.com/Tether.mobileconfig from Safari on the iPhone and installed the profile and rebooted. At this point, the 3G running 3.1.2 already has tether capability.

3. Performed a backup in itunes
4. I then upgraded to ios4.0
5. I then used Redsn0w 0.9.5 to jailbreak it
6. I then used ultrasn0w to unlock it.
7. I then did a restore from iTunes and after the restore, tethering was enabled on IOS4 on my iPhone 3G.

I also just picked up my iPhone 4G and although there’s no jailbreak for it yet, by doing a restore on it from a backup of my 3G running IOS4 that is jailbroken and unlocked and with tethering enabled, my iPhone 4G also now has tethering enabled.

I just got off the phone with ATT. I am also paying unlimited data plan for $30 a month, but if I switch to 2GB + tethering it would be $45.00. So I would be paying more money for less data.
I was able to have tethering on my iPhone with the OS 3.0 w/o having to jailbreak it. But with the updated the OS to 3.1 it was not possible anymore. I held on to 3.0 as long as I could but now that I upgraded to iOS 4 there seems to be no other option but to downgrade the data plan.
If anyone find a solution for this problem w/o jailbraking the phone, please post it here.

To IPHONE FANBOY, Apple haven’t released an iPhone 4G yet! What you have is an iPhone 4 with HSDPA/HSUPA capability, which is unofficially 3.5G.

@iPhone fanboy
Same thing happened to me. My tethering is already enabled and I have the unlimited data plan on my iphone 4. Does this mean I cant get charged with tethering like in 3.0? If so thats great! lol

@crusty boarder Is that a good or bad? Mine works just fine and I have yet to be charged extra via 3.0 so….. But are you saying the way iphone fanboy and I have it has a 3.5GB cap or are you saying something else?

I did exactly what you did. Works great on my 3G running 4.0, but it does not work on my iPhone 4 (hd). So, not sure why it works for you and not for me.

Thanks anyway.

Jorge,

I understand that there are ways to downgrade to iOS3, but I think the issue revolves around the actual firmware on the phone that cannot be reverted. Hope this helps.

Jorge,

I understand that there are ways to downgrade to iOS3, but I think the issue revolves around the actual firmware on the phone that cannot be reverted. Hope this helps.

Jorge,

I understand that there are ways to downgrade to iOS3, but I think the issue revolves around the actual firmware on the phone that cannot be reverted. Hope this helps.

Jorge,

I understand that there are ways to downgrade to iOS3, but I think the issue revolves around the actual firmware on the phone that cannot be reverted. Hope this helps.

Uknowme,

How did you manage to get unlimited data and the iPhone 4? When you upgraded to the iPhone 4, they forced customers to the new data plans…any insight would be appreciated.

Uknowme,

How did you manage to get unlimited data and the iPhone 4? When you upgraded to the iPhone 4, they forced customers to the new data plans…any insight would be appreciated.

Uknowme,

How did you manage to get unlimited data and the iPhone 4? When you upgraded to the iPhone 4, they forced customers to the new data plans…any insight would be appreciated.

Uknowme,

How did you manage to get unlimited data and the iPhone 4? When you upgraded to the iPhone 4, they forced customers to the new data plans…any insight would be appreciated.

ML,

Where are you encountering the problem? Did you have service when it was trying to activate the service?

ML,

Where are you encountering the problem? Did you have service when it was trying to activate the service?

ML,

Where are you encountering the problem? Did you have service when it was trying to activate the service?

ML,

Where are you encountering the problem? Did you have service when it was trying to activate the service?

I send an email to ATT CEO, Mr. Stephenson complaining about giving up unlimited data on the iPhone4 in order to get tethering. I got a call from his assistant and she told me that mine was the first complain they receive from customers regarding this issue. I
I did tell her that there were several websites discussing this issue and many ATT customers were upset about giving up their unlimited data plan in exchange for tethering.
My recommendation is start writing to the CEO and complain. Perhaps if many customer do so, they will reverse their policiy.
If anyone wants ATT CEO email address here they are:
rs2982@att.com
randall.stephenson@att.com

Jorge,

Thanks for following up. I’ve started a thread at MacRumors about this and also emailed Mr. Stephenson. Thanks for the heads up.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=957471

Jorge,

Thanks for following up. I’ve started a thread at MacRumors about this and also emailed Mr. Stephenson. Thanks for the heads up.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=957471

Jorge,

Thanks for following up. I’ve started a thread at MacRumors about this and also emailed Mr. Stephenson. Thanks for the heads up.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=957471

Jorge,

Thanks for following up. I’ve started a thread at MacRumors about this and also emailed Mr. Stephenson. Thanks for the heads up.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=957471

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Luis Garza. Luis Garza said: RT @ErnestoCU: @garzaluis “Tethering en iOS4″ http://ow.ly/27eMr – http://ow.ly/27eNq ? talvez te sirva.. [...]

Dang. I have been thinking of jumping the iPhone ship lately, and starting up with a Droid. Their app base has moved along significantly, to a point where I can do all that I care to on that platform. The first thing that made me think of moving was being tired of the lack of a physical keyboard. It’s slick and aesthetically pleasing, but practically frustrating. That fact alone has been making me think about switching. The contempt that both ATT and Apple show towards their customers is nearly too much. Do they really think they know better than us? Locking parts of the device for too long, and locking down service options both make my blood boil. The next droid phone is supposed to be able to create a wifi hotspot. Tethering be damned. It’s getting close to time for me to take my toys walk away. Time to check and see if they’re also planning to gouge their customers and make a choice.

DH,

Thanks for posting…I too get frustrated at times with Apple, but at the end of the day I think it’s a great product and I have quite a bit of money invested in the Apps/platform so moving for me would be impractical, specially since I am very accustomed to the interface and how the apps I use work. As for AT&T’s crappy policies as of late, well that’s something that I think we are going to see industry wide…there’s simply no way that carriers can handle all of the traffic on their networks, the unlimited data plans will soon be a pipe dream. By the way, the phone that allows hotspot creation is the EVO4G and it’s on Sprint. If you’re looking for other iPhone alternatives, check out this graphic I created comparing popular smartphones.

http://www.gilsmethod.com/infographic-8-iphone-4-alternatives

DH,

Thanks for posting…I too get frustrated at times with Apple, but at the end of the day I think it’s a great product and I have quite a bit of money invested in the Apps/platform so moving for me would be impractical, specially since I am very accustomed to the interface and how the apps I use work. As for AT&T’s crappy policies as of late, well that’s something that I think we are going to see industry wide…there’s simply no way that carriers can handle all of the traffic on their networks, the unlimited data plans will soon be a pipe dream. By the way, the phone that allows hotspot creation is the EVO4G and it’s on Sprint. If you’re looking for other iPhone alternatives, check out this graphic I created comparing popular smartphones.

http://www.gilsmethod.com/infographic-8-iphone-4-alternatives

DH,

Thanks for posting…I too get frustrated at times with Apple, but at the end of the day I think it’s a great product and I have quite a bit of money invested in the Apps/platform so moving for me would be impractical, specially since I am very accustomed to the interface and how the apps I use work. As for AT&T’s crappy policies as of late, well that’s something that I think we are going to see industry wide…there’s simply no way that carriers can handle all of the traffic on their networks, the unlimited data plans will soon be a pipe dream. By the way, the phone that allows hotspot creation is the EVO4G and it’s on Sprint. If you’re looking for other iPhone alternatives, check out this graphic I created comparing popular smartphones.

http://www.gilsmethod.com/infographic-8-iphone-4-alternatives

DH,

Thanks for posting…I too get frustrated at times with Apple, but at the end of the day I think it’s a great product and I have quite a bit of money invested in the Apps/platform so moving for me would be impractical, specially since I am very accustomed to the interface and how the apps I use work. As for AT&T’s crappy policies as of late, well that’s something that I think we are going to see industry wide…there’s simply no way that carriers can handle all of the traffic on their networks, the unlimited data plans will soon be a pipe dream. By the way, the phone that allows hotspot creation is the EVO4G and it’s on Sprint. If you’re looking for other iPhone alternatives, check out this graphic I created comparing popular smartphones.

http://www.gilsmethod.com/infographic-8-iphone-4-alternatives

Hi, I just upgraded to the iPhone 4 and got grandfathered into the unlimited data plan….I don’t want to switch and loose my unlimited…is there another way to tether my phone?

You can jailbreak the iPhone, but I don’t recommend it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_jailbreaking