Our recent vacation was much enhanced by the ability to tether our laptop to the internet via our iPhone. We had done this last summer, using a hack that some young Austrian guy had developed to allow tethering, despite AT&T's official prohibition on the practice. But Apple soon pushed out a software update that disabled that nifty workaround. Apparently, Apple's bedmate, AT&T, was afraid that all that tethering would lead to a crushing load on its already overtaxed network.
Several weeks ago, AT&T gave in and started allowing iPhone tethering, but only for customers who were willing to forgo the unlimited data feature of the original iPhone service plan. Instead of the original $30 a month for unlimited data, they'd have to agree to pay $25 a month for 2 Gig of data, plus another $20 a month if they wanted to tether. That extra $20 sounded awfully lame to us, but in our household it worked out, because the Mrs. needs only a 200 Meg plan, without tethering, which AT&T sells for $15 a month. In the end, we broke even ($45 + $15 instead of 2 × $30), but now we get to tether on our phone, which we couldn't do a month ago.
The internet service isn't too much slower than the "high-speed" hard-wire version you pay Comcast for at the house, and we had no trouble connecting anywhere we went back east. No more $8 to Boingo for an hour at the airport, or $14 to some thief for a day in the hotel. It's pretty slick.
We can use those savings for all sorts of things -- like paying the parking ticket we got at the boardwalk.
Comments (11)
You could also jailbreak your iPhone and get tethering for free and ditch iTunes for apps.
Doh... hopefully that last comment was a joke, Jack... if you're serious be prepared for hell... If you call At&T they'll claim apple hardware issues, while Apple will invaribly try to blame AT&T somehow...and both will blame you while they're at it.
Wish I could offer better solutions, but unless you've had much better luck than I in the past, you're in for a bunch of pain and misery.
Jack, if you brick the phone, take it to Apple and they will fix it. You may have to pay money, but depending on how you describe the problem they may just reload it for you.
So far, very few people truly end up unable to use their phones or are unable to recover them completely.
Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
Mercedes Eguren, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Lorelle, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2011
Purple Moon, Merlot 2011
Purple Moon, Chardonnnay 2011
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Opula Red Blend 2010
Liberte, Pinot Noir 2010
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Red Blend 2010
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King Estate, Pinot Noir 2011
Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010
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14 Hands, Hot to Trot White Blend
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Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir 2009
Lello, Douro Tinto 2009
Quinson Fils, Cotes de Provence Rose 2011
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Buenas Ondas, Syrah Rose 2010
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Conundrum 2012
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Atalaya do Mar, Godello 2010
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Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2009
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Revelation, Chardonnay, Pays d'Oc 2010
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Monte Alto, Tinto Reserva 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2009
Espiral, Vinho Rose
Vin-Koru, Pinot Gris 2011
14 Hands, Hot to Trot Red 2009
Rodney Strong, Cabernet, Sonoma 2009
Abacela, Vintner's Blend #11
Portuga, White 2010
La Bourgeoisie, Red 2009
Januik, Red 2009
Three Rivers, River's Red 2008
Kirkland, Alexander Valley Merlot 2008
Muga, Rioja Rose 2010
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
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Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
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Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
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Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
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Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
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Kathryn Lance - Pandora's Genes
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Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
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Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
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Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
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Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
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Anthony Holden - Big Deal
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Jeff Noon - Vurt
Road Work
Miles run year to date: 21
At this date last year: 52
Total run in 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (11)
You could also jailbreak your iPhone and get tethering for free and ditch iTunes for apps.
Posted by Stefan | July 28, 2010 3:10 PM
Yeah, I could. But it's not worth the enormous hassle.
Posted by Jack Bog | July 28, 2010 3:13 PM
And two thumbs up for the ugly awful phone-pole mounted cell towers that made it possible! =)
Haha, couldn't help myself.
Glad you enjoyed your vacation.
Posted by Dan Barton | July 28, 2010 3:29 PM
Where I was using tethering, the politicians are smart enough not to let them put those things right next to houses.
Posted by Jack Bog | July 28, 2010 4:17 PM
Its not a hassle. Simply download the software to your PC, connect the iPhone and run the install.
Posted by Stefan | July 28, 2010 5:03 PM
Where do I call when I discovered I've bricked my phone?
Posted by Jack Bog | July 28, 2010 5:30 PM
Doh... hopefully that last comment was a joke, Jack... if you're serious be prepared for hell... If you call At&T they'll claim apple hardware issues, while Apple will invaribly try to blame AT&T somehow...and both will blame you while they're at it.
Wish I could offer better solutions, but unless you've had much better luck than I in the past, you're in for a bunch of pain and misery.
Good luck!
Posted by Dan Barton | July 28, 2010 5:58 PM
I haven't actually bricked it -- but I probably would if I took up the reader's suggestion to try to jailbreak it.
The iPhone is working great for me. It's the best gadget I have ever owned, by far.
Posted by Jack Bog | July 28, 2010 6:02 PM
Jack.... I cannot believe you used smart as an adjective for any politician... I will chalk that up to vacation hangover.... ;-)
Posted by LucsAdvo | July 28, 2010 6:09 PM
Jack, if you brick the phone, take it to Apple and they will fix it. You may have to pay money, but depending on how you describe the problem they may just reload it for you.
So far, very few people truly end up unable to use their phones or are unable to recover them completely.
Posted by Stefan | July 29, 2010 10:38 AM
And another new use has just been reported.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/29/AR2010072901614.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Oregonians will doubtless be among its top income stream.
Posted by Max | July 29, 2010 4:10 PM