[PCWorld]

Post your comments for iTether: iPhone Tethering With No Monthly Fee (While It Lasts) here

[jnmayes]

I have used Tether for Blackberry. It works reliably - just at "dial-up" like speeds. (well, maybe a little faster than that) I suspect the slower consumption keeps it off the carriers' radar. Getting an iPhone 4S soon so might try out Tether again if it doesn't get yanked. With Apple appearing to be so discerning with regard to the app store, I suspect they are within their rights to offer the app.

[AdibKozlow]

Just installed the Mac version and tested it. it works nicely, especially with ipsec vpn. I like it, but i think i would only use it when wifi isn't available which isn't often, but it is nice to have this app as a back up

[canman4pm]

Tethering is free with Rogers in Canada

[canman4pm]

Tethering is free on Rogers in Canada...

[KLanD]

Tethering fees are ridiculous. It costs the carrier nothing.

[crosswordbob]

KLanD, on 29 November 2011 - 10:12 AM, said:

Tethering fees are ridiculous. It costs the carrier nothing.

100% agreed. With the emphasis on greed.

[WallyDuke]

I'm curious how this app got into the app store in the first place. Sometimes I find Apple's app store approval decisions a bit puzzling, there seems to be a lack of consistency, almost as if they scrutinize some apps and rush others through.

[MrPeteH]

KLanD, on 29 November 2011 - 10:12 AM, said:

Tethering fees are ridiculous. It costs the carrier nothing.

Whatever gave you that idea? You can't imagine that data transfers to a PC might be a bit more intense than to a smart phone?

"Free" tethering uses up humongous amounts of bandwidth. Bandwidth is not free.

[crosswordbob]

MrPeteH, on 23 March 2012 - 07:07 PM, said:

KLanD, on 29 November 2011 - 10:12 AM, said:

Tethering fees are ridiculous. It costs the carrier nothing.

Whatever gave you that idea? You can't imagine that data transfers to a PC might be a bit more intense than to a smart phone?

"Free" tethering uses up humongous amounts of bandwidth. Bandwidth is not free.

Of course bandwidth is not free. But it is already paid for regardless what devices it ends up on. Or do we pay for 1GB/month on the understanding that we mustn't—you know—actually use it?

[MrPeteH]

crosswordbob, on 23 March 2012 - 07:30 PM, said:

Of course bandwidth is not free. But it is already paid for regardless what devices it ends up on. Or do we pay for 1GB/month on the understanding that we mustn't—you know—actually use it?

The challenge is in how much data a phone uses.

People who only use their phone for data use far less bandwidth than those who tether. While some carriers have a given limit of N GB/month, they don't expect everyone to use all of it. That's the maximum, not the expected amount.

If everyone tethered, the average GB/mo used would radically increase, and everyone would need to pay more.

Personally, I am ok with what Sprint has done: I can turn the WiFi Hotspot feature on and off at will. It's only $1 a day while enabled, for unlimited use. Much cheaper than any paid hotspot subscription, and it's built into my phone. I turn it on whenever I need it. No fuss, no muss.

[KLanD]

MrPeteH, on 23 March 2012 - 07:07 PM, said:

KLanD, on 29 November 2011 - 10:12 AM, said:

Tethering fees are ridiculous. It costs the carrier nothing.

Whatever gave you that idea? You can't imagine that data transfers to a PC might be a bit more intense than to a smart phone?

"Free" tethering uses up humongous amounts of bandwidth. Bandwidth is not free.

Last time I checked, it's the consumer that pays for the bandwidth they use.

[KLanD]

MrPeteH, on 24 March 2012 - 04:36 AM, said:

crosswordbob, on 23 March 2012 - 07:30 PM, said:

Of course bandwidth is not free. But it is already paid for regardless what devices it ends up on. Or do we pay for 1GB/month on the understanding that we mustn't—you know—actually use it?

The challenge is in how much data a phone uses.

People who only use their phone for data use far less bandwidth than those who tether. While some carriers have a given limit of N GB/month, they don't expect everyone to use all of it. That's the maximum, not the expected amount.

If everyone tethered, the average GB/mo used would radically increase, and everyone would need to pay more.

Personally, I am ok with what Sprint has done: I can turn the WiFi Hotspot feature on and off at will. It's only $1 a day while enabled, for unlimited use. Much cheaper than any paid hotspot subscription, and it's built into my phone. I turn it on whenever I need it. No fuss, no muss.

Meanwhile that 1$/day could be paying for all the extra bandwidth you'd be using if tethering was free.

BTW, paying for tethering is (as far as I know) a US thing. I don't pay for it and neither do my 4s colleagues.

[crosswordbob]

MrPeteH, on 24 March 2012 - 04:36 AM, said:

People who only use their phone for data use far less bandwidth than those who tether. While some carriers have a given limit of N GB/month, they don't expect everyone to use all of it. That's the maximum, not the expected amount.

Then why am I paying for that amount? Im mean honestly, if I bought a chicken to roast, I wouldn't expect to be charged more were I to make soup with the leftovers.

[crosswordbob]

KLanD, on 24 March 2012 - 11:28 AM, said:

BTW, paying for tethering is (as far as I know) a US thing. I don't pay for it and neither do my 4s colleagues.

My (UK) carrier charges £7.5/month to enable tethering, though that comes bundled with an extra half-gig allowance, so I'm not too unhappy with what I've got, but I object to the principle of paying for a company to remove a purely artificial restriction.

[KLanD]

crosswordbob, on 24 March 2012 - 12:49 PM, said:

KLanD, on 24 March 2012 - 11:28 AM, said:

BTW, paying for tethering is (as far as I know) a US thing. I don't pay for it and neither do my 4s colleagues.

My (UK) carrier charges £7.5/month to enable tethering, though that comes bundled with an extra half-gig allowance, so I'm not too unhappy with what I've got, but I object to the principle of paying for a company to remove a purely artificial restriction.

Wow.. that's a lot of money for basically nothing.

[crosswordbob]

KLanD, on 24 March 2012 - 03:08 PM, said:

crosswordbob, on 24 March 2012 - 12:49 PM, said:

KLanD, on 24 March 2012 - 11:28 AM, said:

BTW, paying for tethering is (as far as I know) a US thing. I don't pay for it and neither do my 4s colleagues.

My (UK) carrier charges £7.5/month to enable tethering, though that comes bundled with an extra half-gig allowance, so I'm not too unhappy with what I've got, but I object to the principle of paying for a company to remove a purely artificial restriction.

Wow.. that's a lot of money for basically nothing.

The grand irony being that I rarely use it, but can't afford not to have it for those occasions that I do.