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AT&T will soon provide an official data tethering solution for iPhone users, the carrier has confirmed. Such a solution will basically let an iPhone owner turn the handset into a modem and then connect to a Mac or PC, allowing the computer to access the Internet via the iPhone's AT&T cellular data service. "We're working with Apple on a tethering option for iPhone and we hope to offer it soon," Wes Warnock, a spokesperson for AT&T Mobility, told MacNewsWorld. "Can't provide any details beyond that," he added.
Why does this require AT&T approval? AT&T doesn't own Apple so they shouldn't have any say whether Apple allows the iPhone to tether or not. Several international carriers already allow tethering with their smartphone data plans including those for the iPhone 3G. Also don't let AT&T fool any of those who are AT&T subscribers into believing they are doing something to benefit their customers. They are simply attempting to profit on ideas already developed by other developers some of which don't charge for their tethering apps (ie: PDANet) and will convince their customers they need to pay more for a special tethering data plan even though they advertised the iPhone data plan as unlimited data. At least here in Canada Rogers states exactly how much data is alloted to a specific plan so it's up to the customer to decide which plan would be best for them if they are going to tether. Rogers was also confused as to why Apple pulled Nullrivers NetShare tethering app from the Canadian App Store instead of just blocking the tethering app from the USA App Store which is used by AT&T subscribers. Especially considering that Rogers sells other competitor products such as RIM Blackberry line which allow tethering and are in direct competition with the iPhone 3G. Apple needs to stop the idiotic censorship of useful apps and start letting the global market decide.
