Saturday, August 30, 2008

AT&T iPhone 3G data tethering plan could be in the works


Apple may just be working on an official solution that would allow iPhone 3G users to use their 3G connection on their laptop or desktop. Apple recently pulled the NetShare application from the AppStore. The iPhone app allowed users to tether their iPhone to their computers, but once AT&T realized they were losing out on potential revenue, the application disappeared from the AppStore.

The app-killing move angered one iPhone 3G customer so much that he wrote Apple-head Steve Jobs an email complaining that a data-tethering option was not available for the iPhone or iPhone 3G. Steve Jobs reportedly wrote back, saying that Apple was working with AT&T to roll out an official iPhone data tethering plan add-on. To be clear, you can tether your jailbroken iPhone to your laptop with a bit of elbow-grease and technical know-how. But, without an official, point-and-click solution, many iPhone users will be left in want of a tethering plan.

The alleged email from Steve Jobs looks to be legit, but hasn’t been confirmed as authentic. Still, the launch of an iPhone tethering plan makes sense. It would allow AT&T to cash in on mobile road warriors with iPhone 3G’s in tow, and would allow Apple to appease the iPhone 3G-toting masses with a tethering option.

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