∞ Jobs says iPad won't support tethering to the iPhone

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Apple CEO Steve Jobs answered a customer question on Friday, making it quite clear that the iPad will not support tethering to the iPhone.

A Swedish Mac user emailed Jobs directly to ask whether or not he could tether a Wi-Fi only iPad to his iPhone to provide an Internet connection, according to 9 to 5 Mac. Not one to waste words, Jobs simply replied, “No.”

On some jailbroken iPhones it is possible to create a Wi-Fi network, allowing other devices to connect and use the 3G data plan. This option isn’t available unless the phone is jailbroken.

Tethering is something that users have been hounding AT&T for, but the company has failed to deliver. A possible reason is that AT&T is worried about tethering bringing its network down.

AT&T’s network has been brought down in major cities around the U.S. before, so it is a reasonable assumption.


  • http://twitter.com/dssstrkl @dssstrkl

    I just wanted to point out that you can only tether an iPhone that's been jailbroken and unlocked, which requires the phone to run a hacked baseband firmware. I'm jailbroken, but I won't unlock because messing with the baseband is what causes all those bricked iphones at upgrade time.

    • http://www.facebook.com/mwickens Mark Wickens

      “you can only tether an iPhone that's been jailbroken and unlocked”

      Perhaps in the US. Not so elsewhere. Rogers in Canada, for example, supports it.

      • Eurisko

        He is referring to tethering to an iPad, which Rogers in Canada, does not support.

  • No Name this time

    There is an app available via cydia that allows the iphone to share its 3G connection via wi-fi. It essentially turns the iphone into a wi-fi access point. While it is good in a pinch, its not really a viable option for long term usage as it sucks power like crazy and if used frequently, it would probably come to the attention of AT&T who might take action.

  • Lucas

    forget the network, this is about money. ATT wants that extra data line fee they can grab for your laptop, ipad etc. and a lot of other companies probably feel the same even if they don't actively block it.

    at this point i'm considering not getting the next iphone. I'm waiting until I can see the ipad and play with it. but i'm seriously considering cutting my iphone service, getting a basic phone and getting the small wifi/3g ipad. i might not even worry about the 3g part at all and just stick with wifi. i got the iphone for checking email etc but the bigger screen would be awesome. and since I carry a knapsack around, tucking the ipad in it won't be an issue. plus since it's no contract if t-mobile steps up and supports a microsim I could even switch (something I can't do without voiding my warranty on my iphone at the moment). I can pass my phone on to someone and maybe make a little money since it is a 3g.

  • http://twitter.com/vamsmack @vamsmack

    I can tether my iPhone here in Australia and yet it isn't a huge deal but I will be picking up the iPad WiFi version instead of the 3G version but that is more to do with the fact I already pay for a data plan for my iPhone which is my primary mobile device, my iPad isn't the device that I will commute day to day with so I don't need a wireless connection for it and anywhere I travel more than 40 minutes away will have WiFi. I guess that it is easy to say this from the point of view of someone who has this capability but really it isn't a game changer.

    Tethering is made out to be this amazing thing, I have the access to it and have used it a handful of times, sure it may have bigger applications to other people but to fixate on this or focus on the lack of tethering of the iPhone to the iPad as this being a detractor to the iPad is a minor stumbling block at best considering the huge amount of WiFi hotspots even here in Australia means if I do want to go and sit down somewhere I can still check my emails on something bigger than my iPhone.

    • Omar

      Can u pls tell me how to adjust the settings on the iPad to accept iPhone Internet tethering ?