02/13/2008, 8:05pm, EST
Wednesday, February 13thAT&T to enable iPhone tethering? [U]
AT&T will reportedly offer an iPhone tethering plan to users, according to an informant for The Boy Genius Report. The alleged tethering plan is mentioned in what appears to be a message meant for customer service representatives or technicians. The report claims that iPhone customers will be required to sign a new two-year contract, but the date will roll back to the original purchase date within 48 hours, echoing issues that surfaced from users upgrading to the 16GB iPhone.
Tethering -- the use of a mobile phone as a primary internet device for a computer -- is an oft-requested feature, but is not currently part of the iPhone agreement. Users who tether their iPhone must still pay for data usage, even though unlimited on-device browsing is included.
Under the alleged plan iPhone users would hear a script from AT&T customer service representatives:
"Mr/Mrs. Customer, I want to make you aware of an issue you will notice when tethering your new iPhone," the script reads. "The tethering process requires you to accept a new two-year agreement; however, I want to ensure you that AT&T is aware of this and that your agreement will not be extended. AT&T will reset your agreement date back to the date of your original iPhone activation or upgrade."
It continues, "this will be done within 48 hours of you completing the tethering process on your new iPhone; there is absolutely no action required by you to correct this. We apologize for any inconvenience."
Update: It is potential that AT&T uses the term "tethering" when referring to being bound in a contract, although a clarifying statement has yet to be issued.
Filed under: iPhone, industry, Apple
Other story tags: AT&T, tethering
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The lack of tethering was one of my dealbreakers that kept me from getting an iPhone.
Does the iPhone support Bluetooth PAN? The phone I did get, an S-E K550i, has it, and it rocks.
Sorry.
http://www.hackszine.com/blog/archive/2007/07/iphone_tether_enable_edge_wire.html