iPad to iPhone Tethering? Nope, Not Gonna Happen.


I really want to tether my iPhone.

More than anything, I really want AT&T to flip the switch and support tethering on the iPhone. After all, they promised they would do so by the end of 2009, now here we are, 2 weeks into March 2010, and no tethering. Apparently, I’m not the only one who’s noticed that.

Of course, that’s not a problem in other countries, because some of them have providers that **care** about their customers. Some of them are already using tethering to their advantage, which brings up a legitimate point: will the iPad be able to tether with the iPhone?

Apparently, Jezper Söderlund of Switzerland thought the same thing. According to Apple Insider, he sent off a quick e-mail to Steve Jobs to ask him about the situation. The answer? Well, why don’t you just read the question first.

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

The answer?

No.

Sent from my iPhone

Wow. I think that’s the most gangster answer I’ve ever seen from a CEO, and I’m not exactly sure why. Regardless, this is a bit disappointing. Two data plans is redundant, and it is frustrating. Then again, it’s not surprising, either. Either way, we still don’t have tethering in the US, so it’s a moot point. Disappointing, yes. Shocking, no.


Kokou Adzo

Kokou Adzo is a stalwart in the tech journalism community, has been chronicling the ever-evolving world of Apple products and innovations for over a decade. As a Senior Author at Apple Gazette, Kokou combines a deep passion for technology with an innate ability to translate complex tech jargon into relatable insights for everyday users.

3 Comments

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  1. the title “not gonna happen” is misleading, Steve’s answer was “no – as in “it doesnt”. The question was “Will the (ipad) … support tethering thru my iPhone”.
    I’m not saying its likely that it will ever happen, but to state that it definitely wont, is misleading.

  2. I’ll correct my typo before anyone else does – Steve’s answer was “no” – as in “it doesnt”

  3. “providers that **care** about their customers.”

    Apple is probably a bigger offender than AT&T in the not caring about customer category. I love my Apple products, but the company drives me crazy with their we-know-better-than-you-do attitude.