tethering

Why is AT&T delaying rollout of iPhone tethering, MMS?

Updated at 4:09 p.m. PDT with a link to a Boy Genius report and a clarification on when AT&T expects MMS and tethering service to be ready.

iPhone users across the U.S. were disappointed Monday to learn that AT&T, the only operator in the country offering the iPhone, won't immediately support a couple of key new features in Apple's new 3.0 operating system that will be available starting next week. But AT&T says these features are coming.

On Monday, Apple announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco that it plans to finally add data tethering to the iPhone, which will turn the device into a wireless modem to connect laptops to 3G networks. It also announced that the new 3.0 version of the iPhone operating system will support multimedia messaging messaging.

These features have topped iPhone users' wish lists since the phone was launched two years ago. But millions of iPhone users in the U.S. will have to wait a little bit longer. That said, AT&T says the features are coming soon. … Read more

The 404 302: Where Wilson is walking on sunshine

Justin calls Wilson out for being happy with his life, so they decide to name the show after the popular '80s song Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves. Meanwhile, Justin hates his life because New York City ruined his evening. Stay tuned for that story on today's The 404.

Jeff talks about a dangerous e-mail chain letter about entering your PIN number in reverse to call the police during a robbery. Too bad, it ain't true. You might just get stabbed in the stomach if you try this one. Speaking of your health, you can help stop the spread of the flu this year with Twitter. We also suggest not licking the subway poles, but hey--to each his own.

Also, Apple quietly introduces data tethering to the iPhone OS 3.0. Apparently, it takes a little minor hacking, but you'll be able to tether your iPhone 3G to your computer over USB. Bluetooth support is a few more hacks away. Hopefully, you don't take down the entire AT&T network when you BitTorrent the latest "Battlestar Galactica" over your iPhone 3G connection.

Microsoft releases the latest version of Internet Explorer 8 for download. The tech community gives a collective yawn (except for IT managers), while we get creeped out by a Japanese robot model.

Finally, our tagline contest is coming to an end, and before we decide on an official winner, we'd like you to chime in by taking our poll. Click here or look up and to your left. Jonathan Coulton had to reschedule but will make his appearance in the coming weeks, so hold onto your horses. Be sure to support our very own Natali Del Conte's Smackdown for Charity!

EPISODE 302 Download today's podcast |  Subscribe in iTunes |  Subscribe in RSS… Read more

The 404 226: Where Jason Howell is directly responsible for the content of The 404

Jason Howell, Buzz Out Loud producer and podcast guru, joins the show today, so you can complain to him about anything we say that offends you. As per our m.o., we bring out the worst in Jason, taking him for a tour of the magical land of NSFW. In today's headlines, McDonald's sales are up despite the economic crisis while they serve up Japanese burgers in a "no logo" storefront. Also, the iPhone wants to charge you for tethering, Turkey sues Christopher Nolan and, as always, tons of calls from the public.

Dan the Mantern here. Something you might have missed on the show today: The 404 got a big shout-out from everyone's hyper-liberal political blog, The Huffington Post. Justin, no surprise, was searching the site for mentions of the podcast on Twitter and happened to come across a Huffington Post tweet plugging the show. We severely doubt that Arianna herself tunes in, but we would appreciate if the phantom Twitter-er/404 fan would identify him or herself! As I'm writing this post, the Twitter search function is down, so no jpeg proving this claim, but I swear, I saw it with my own two eyes!

EPISODE 226 Download today's podcast … Read more

Mobigrip leashes replace fold-up calculator as No. 1 corporate giveaway

Technology might be the only medium where smaller is always better, but it's starting to get ridiculous. I'm worried that my next cell phone is going to be the size of a sunflower seed. There's got to be a point where we finally decide that things need to start getting bigger, and Mobigrip thinks that now is as good a time as any.

Mobigrips, also known as "device leashes," aren't exactly at the forefront of tech innovation; it's essentially a circular hunk of plastic with adhesive on the back and a lanyard attached … Read more

AT&T confirms tethering coming to iPhone in 2009

AT&T Mobility chief Ralph de la Vega confirmed on Thursday that iPhone 3G users will be able to use their phones as wireless modems at some point next year.

De la Vega made the comments during a conversation with TechCrunch's Michael Arrington at the Web 2.0 Summit on Thursday. "Tethering" an iPhone to a laptop, and using the iPhone's mobile data connection to get online, is a service that iPhone users have wanted for some time but that AT&T was reluctant to provide, perhaps because it feared that a huge influx of traffic … Read more

AT&T Tethering Coming Soon; Really

We've extensively covered drama surround tethering on the iPhone (here, here and here). This time we are writing with a more positive tone -- it looks like AT&T, along with Apple, will finally bring a Phone-as-Modem (PAM) tethering plan to your iPhone soon.

This week AT&T Wireless CEO Ralph de la Vega indicated that tethering is coming to the iPhone 3G "soon." He spoke about this deveopment at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco while being interviewed by TechCrunch's Michael Arrington.

AT&T already offers tethering plans for other … Read more

iModem Offers iPhone Tethering Via USB

iModem, one of the few for-purchase applications left that requires an iPhone to be jailbroken, allows users to tether their phones (use them as cellular data modems) via USB cables on Windows systems. Most tethering solutions thus far have required the use of a WiFi connection, requiring sometimes difficult setup.

A new release of iModem claims to do away with the need for proxy settings--a hallmark of tethering solutions--and also purports enhanced stability.

The tool requires Windows 2000, XP, Vista 32/64 bit and is priced at $10.

Apple previously removed NetShare, an originally approved tethering application, from the iPhone … Read more

Tethering coming soon to iPhone 3G?

Apple CEO Steve Jobs seems very responsive to customer e-mail these days.

Gizmodo has obtained another e-mail supposedly sent from Jobs' iPhone, claiming that Apple and AT&T want to officially bring "tethering" to the iPhone 3G.

Lots of other carriers and handset makers offer ways to wirelessly hook your laptop up to your smartphone, and use the data connection of the phone to get on the Internet. But Apple and AT&T scuttled one early iPhone application called NetShare that was designed to do just that.

One Gizmodo reader claims to have asked Jobs why … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 779: Ok A moo

Here at Buzz Out Loud, we are shamelessly attempting to launch a meme, based on the awesome Twitter ramblings of a guy stoned off his gourd at the dentist. Quick, somebody make a Café Press shirt! Also, today's show is rant-central, between the news that They can take our laptops for as long as They want for no reason, Apple's killing of a short-lived iPhone-tethering app, and the U.S. Congress' mandate that our nation's schools prop up our dying music industry. Good times. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 779

Judge rules Sprint’s … Read more