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Just say NO to tethering!

By Gerard Lagana Tue, Mar 9, 2010 @ 10:04 AM

Steve Jobs Says No to Tethering Photo Just say NO to tethering!People have been emailing Steve Jobs for quite some time now.  The subjects would range from my MacBook can’t be repaired to the latest email from a Swedish Apple customer inquiring about tethering the iPad with his iPhone.

MacLife reports that Jezper Söderlund, from Sweden had emailed Steve Jobs inquiring about tethering.  The email went something like this, with Steve Jobs’ response to follow:

“I’ll keep it short.

I’m Jezper from Sweden, a long time Apple fan, currently about to replace the very last computer at home with a brand spanking new iMac i7. I’m also awaiting the release of the iPad. However, I have one question:

Will the wifi-only version somehow support tethering thru my iPhone?

Two devices, based on the same OS, with already built-in technology to share one data plan suggests a secondary contract could possibly be redundant.

From the look of your keynote, where the iPad sits well between my MacBook Pro and my iPhone, I was hoping the three of them could interact as seamless as possible.

All the best,
Jezper Söderlund

And Jobs’ response:

No.
Sent from my iPhone”

Well, Steve was pretty direct and to the point about this.  I’m reminded of an article from Silicon Alley Insider, in which an Apple applications developer was sent an email from Apple’s legal department.  They told them that they needed to remove the word iPod in the name of their application.  The developer in a plea to keep the name emailed Steve Jobs directly, and this was his response

“Change your apps name. Not that big of a deal.

Steve
Sent from my iPhone”

As you can see Steve Jobs is no stranger to the one liners.  Yes, Steve owns the company, however, it’s probably not in his best interest to go against what Apple’s lawyers had already deemed copyright infringement.

With that being said, Steve is not that cold hearted when it comes to the pleas of an Apple Customer that has felt that he/she’s been done wrong by Apple.  There have been several times that irate customer’s have emailed Steve Jobs, and asked to have their Apple computers replaced, because it has a defect that can’t be repaired or replaced under AppleCare.  I had a neighbor eleven years ago that did this very thing, and he received a brand new laptop from Apple.

So, the real question that is on all of our minds, including mine is; is Steve Jobs being a curmudgeon, or are his hands tied because of the cell phone carriers restrictions?  I can’t speak for cell carriers in Sweden, because they probably allow tethering.  However, here in the United States, AT&T still will not allow tethering.  Be it that they are not ready for the network constraints, or whatever fairy tale AT&T has made up to hide the fact that their network would really suffer from tethering with the iPhone.  I would like to know your opinion on this whole issue with tethering.  Leave a comment below in our comments section.

Photo Credit : iPad

Article Via MacLife

  • http://macgasm.net Josh Schnell

    I’m hell bent on figuring out a way to tether the iPad despite Apple claiming it won’t be supported. I’m sure all it would take is an iPhone acting as a WAP, and if I recall correctly there’s a bunch of apps on Cydia that can do that already.

    • http://www.macgasm.net/author/gerard Gerard Lagana

      I would love tooso that with my iPhone, but I haven’t been really big on jailbreaking my iPhone. Maybe this is what willake me change my mind. Because AT&T doesn’t seem to Benin a hurry to open up tethering to it’s iPhone customers.

  • http://timelady.com/blog/ timelady

    In Australia, tethering my unlocked (not jailbroken) iphone is a doddle – most carriers have data plans, they dont care how the data is used, as long as you get addicted and want more;) So unlocked is optional, just ensure a data plan (I have 2gb for less than U$10)

    • http://www.macgasm.net/author/gerard/ Gerard Lagana

      Here in the United States AT&T offers an unlimited data plan for $30.00 US. However, their 3G network is hit so hard from iPhone customers, that’s why I feel they haven’t opened up tethering to us.

  • jordan

    get a bb. macs kick ass but iphone has so many limitations, tethering being only one of many. I tether my bb to my mbp 15 any time I want via bluetooth and at&t never notices, although I NEVER use it enough, never stream music and video so as not to attract attention.

    • http://www.macgasm.net/author/gerard/ Gerard Lagana

      That’s why AT&T won’t allow tethering for iPhone customers, because it will just kill their network. With all the current data usage putting a drag on the 3G network, it would expand exponentially with tethering.

  • Joe

    If people want longer responses from Apple, they should email Woz, he’s pretty verbose.

    I don’t think Steve Jobs’ hands are tied by AT&T. I think it’s a business decision Apple made because they could get more money or better terms from AT&T with no tethering.

    When my internet at home was down, I wished I could tether my computer to my iPhone so I could get some work done…

    • http://www.macgasm.net/author/gerard/ Gerard Lagana

      The iPhone 3GS is capable of tethering. When Apple announced the iPhone 3GS they said that every carrier will offer tethering at launch except for AT&T. It was almost a jab at AT&T for not having tethering at launch. First, AT&T said that they would have tethering by the end of the summer. Then they said by the end of the year. Now they’re not sure when they’ll have it available. AT&T really needs to improve their network infrastructure if they want to continue to be the exclusive provider of the iPhone.