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‘iTether’ unlimited tethering app appears in Apple’s App Store (with video)

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 · 9:41 am · 39 Comments

Tether is an app that allows you to access the Internet on your Mac anywhere there is cellular coverage, through your iPhone.

For the time being, iTether is available in Apple’s iTunes App Store (US$14.99) here.

It even works on extremely archaic devices:

Categories: News

Tags: App Store, iPad, iphone, iTether, MacBook Air, macbook pro

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Comment Feed

39 Comments

Thryll

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 9:45 am · Reply

Interesting use of a question mark behind a statement in the video title.
- Thryll
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 9:47 am · Reply
  
  Or perhaps I punctuated that incorrectly:
  Interesting use of a question mark behind a statement in the video title?
- KSH
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 9:48 am · Reply
  
  How is this different from native tethering? It is obvious that in the US, you’re carrier will detect tethering and warn you must change of plan or they will. I’ll keep unlimited as long as possible.
  - vanfruniken
    
    Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 9:54 am · Reply
    
    I doubt that tethering is so easily detectable. It is just that the equivalent iOS system utility, which appears to be part of the configuration, remains under the control of the carrier, a situation condoned by Apple.
  - Sucker
    
    Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 10:16 am · Reply
    
    No, your carrier will detect your tether when you are using non-standard ports on your connection. For example, you cannot torrent on a iPhone, ergo if you are using the torrent ports on your phone connection then you must be tethering. If you stick to low bandwidth web browsing and email you’re fine.
    - qka
      
      Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 12:06 pm · Reply
      
      Given the limits and costs of mobile Internet, I doubt many would use if for torrents. More likely web browsing, e-mail, and social apps – the same as on the phone.
      
      That said, it will be interesting to see how the troglodyte carriers react.
      - KSH
        
        Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 12:44 pm · Reply
        
        They will check the TLL and see it isn’t 64 like the iPhone. They will know and change your plan. That is already how they do it.
Jumbo

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 9:49 am · Reply

Went directly to the app store to get it and got this message: “iTether could not be downloaded at this time”
WTF!!
Jumbo

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 9:52 am · Reply

Re: my last message, it finished downloading just after I posted the first comment. Please disregard my first message!!
sperryj

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 10:00 am · Reply

HOLD OFF ON BUYING THIS APP!

You can easily buy the app but check the website for the connection software for your Mac first. I made the mistake of buying the app and then going to the website for the connection software download…can’t get it.

Seems very scamy to me.
- Sucker
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 10:12 am · Reply
  
  Downloaded fine for me. Now I can finally unbox my friggin’ iPhone 4S.
AC in WA

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 10:01 am · Reply

Samsung has woke the sleeping giant!
LCK

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 10:18 am · Reply

This may seem a silly question but why buy this app when you can use the “personal hotspot” setting on the iPhone? (Of course, I don’t live in the USA either.) Is this a USA specific need?
- BigBlue
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 10:47 am · Reply
  
  To get tehering on the iphone or to enable the personal hotspot you need to pay the carrier an extra premiem. Apparently this App works around that restriction.
- Jonahan
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 10:48 am · Reply
  
  It costs money for that in the USA.
Joseph

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 10:33 am · Reply

Wikipedia’s entry for ‘Tethering’:

“Many mobile phones are equipped with software to offer tethered Internet access… iOS (only after jailbreak or running iOS 4.3 or higher on iPhone 4 or iPhone 4s without jailbreak) support[s] this”

I imagine this app is aimed at people not within that group.
- althegeo
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 11:08 am · Reply
  
  Tethering on the iPhone 4S with personal hot spot works fine in Canada. The greedy Telcos don’t block it here.
  - mossman
    
    Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 1:53 pm · Reply
    
    Only because we’re already on limited data plans. 6 GB max (and only available during promos), and need at least 1 GB plan to tether.
    
    In the US, where some carriers still have unlimited data, an additional tethering charge was inevitable.
jimg

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 11:06 am · Reply

And how long do we think this will last? Any bets?
dave

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 11:07 am · Reply

Can you tether an iPad and/or iPad2?
- DMac
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 12:36 pm · Reply
  
  I was wondering the same thing. But it seems that, at least the iPhone app, only uses the USB connection and also requires a Mac app or Windows program (always keep the terms separate) to be running in the background. So I don’t think that you can tether anything else.
  
  Now, I don’t know if you are tethering your phone to your Mac and sharing your Mac internet access that you can extend the tether to devices via the Mac. You would still need a Mac running, but MAYBE then the iPad could piggyback on. Hmmm…
Temerity

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 11:19 am · Reply

History is repeating itself? I managed to purchase NullRiver’s NetShare app before Apple pulled it shortly after it’s debut.

MDN reported on it back in 2008:
Nullriver: Apple bans Netshare iPhone tethering app from App Store
http://macdailynews.com/2008/09/15/nullriver_apple_bans_netshare_iphone_tethering_app_from_app_store/
- dslarsen
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 12:24 pm · Reply
  
  I just tried searching the store for iTether, and it looks like it’s already gone!
  
  Search of the store for iTether comes up “No Matches”
- Mac Daddy
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 1:54 pm · Reply
  
  Yeah, I had NetShare too. It was very handy for a long time. iOS updates eventually broke it (there weren’t going to be updates to NetShare, obviously). But it was great.
  - The Other Steve
    
    Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 3:59 pm · Reply
    
    Try it again. NetShare was broken for a time, but with the current IOS, it’s working again!
Predrag

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 11:29 am · Reply

This is silly. iOS has had tethering built in for years. If your particular carrier requires a fee, you’ll just have to pay the fee and it will work.

And if you want to cheat your carrier out of that fee, it is fairly easy for them to find out about this (the moment you launch your web browser on a tethered computer, it will identify itself as a desktop browser, rather than mobile). Many carriers will gently remind those who tether without paying that they shouldn’t do that.
- KSH
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 11:39 am · Reply
  
  Incorrect, many iOS browsers in the app store imitate various desktop browsers. I use atomic web browser and it can act as desktop safari. It is rumored they use TTL.
- surfslasher
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 11:45 am · Reply
  
  @Predrag… sounds like your paycheck is tied to buying tethering from the carriers in the US.
  
  If you think the carriers charge of an arm and leg for a limited amount of data transfer is justified then you are right but a great deal of folks who know the carriers are tipping their clients off have a different view on this.
  
  I like your honesty and loyalty but it would be better if it is directed towards the consumer rather than a corporation. Here is a silly reminder: The corporation is not human and needs numbers as fuel. It is only obvious that the corporate greed will create unwanted business behavior and mostly anti-consumer results.
  - GM
    
    Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 12:55 pm · Reply
    
    Well said surf, but remember who the biggest of all corporations is ; Apple. You don’t really think that they are any different than any other corporation do you? They make great stuff. But they have one thing in common with all other corporations, They are in business to make money. It’s not evil. Nor is it evil for all other corporations to make money. Apple charges as much (whatever the consumer will pay) as they can for their products. That’s not “a silly reminder”. You are aware of the corporate world. Just remember that your view of that world must include all corporations. Otherwise you view the world through rose colored glasses. Apple is the world’s largest corporation. They make consumer communication and entertainment products. They do not make products that defend your country, that you can drive, that you can fly, that will save your life or even cook your food. They make great shit that’s fun. So please keep things in their proper perspective. Apple, they are out to make money and have made billions. Good, that’s their job. But never be so naive that you think that Apple is your best friend. That’s not their job. If you need a friend, get a dog.
    - surfslasher
      
      Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 1:29 pm · Reply
      
      @GM… I don’t deny that is a corporation… but I just cannot make the conversion so complex that it would not make sense. The subject was about the article and the fact that the providers are pushing the prices and forcing people to pay and now there is a developer who has come up with a way to shake the system.
      My view of the “word” includes all corporations but I don’t treat them the same way if they show respect for their clients rather than for Wall Street… that is where you and I defer… Work is work and those who do it deserve merit and they will recognized. However, AT&T and a few others have not delivered what they needed to and are charging an arm and leg to do that.
      Apple is not my friend… you are funny to think that either a corporation or a slave pet like a dog will be a friend to you or me. I have friends and that is not what I am looking for from a company to provide. I don’t care about a company until I am part of it. The company should have a mission to help and should deserve a merit for the work done. Stocks and wall street or in general prophets or middle men deserve no merit.
      PS: If you have a dog you have a slave… it is just not a human slave.
      - GM
        
        Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 6:51 pm · Reply
        
        Wow! A slave? Hmmmmmmmmm. Sounds rather 60′s but hey, you’re probably a vegan too. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. No, I don’t think my dog would consider himself a slave. But he might take a bite out of your ass if you insulted his intelligence with a faaaaaaar out comment like that. You see, he’s a carnivore.
        We differ we don’t defer. Corporations are charging. I’m not sure how you come up with “pushing the prices”? It’s called a business. You charge for services. It’s that simple. Why aren’t you complaining about Apple charging huge prices for their products? You do realize that they have the highest margins in the industry don’t you? How the hell do you think they accumulated all that cash? Huh? Where is your criticism? Huh? Sounds like you are picking and choosing. You must complain the most about Apple’s pricing or you are a complete phony!
        “And they will recognized”. What?
        “but I just cannot make the conversion” Do you mean comparison?
        “rather than Wall Street” What? You hate Wall Street? Why?
        It’s simply part of the economy!
        AT&T has not delivered? Are you nuts?
        “and should deserve a merit” How do you deserve a merit?
        “stocks and Wall Street or in general prophets or middle men
        deserve no merit” What? Merit again? Stocks and Wall Street
        are things so they cannot earn “merit”. Prophets? Middle men?
        They are just people doing a job. No different than everybody
        but you. I’m going to guess that you don’t work? I’m also
        going to guess that by what I could decipher, you haven’t
        much of an education. So Skippy, you sound like a poorly
        educated, disgruntled unemployed Wall Street protester. You
        Probably live in your parent’s basement. Keep complaining
        Skippy, maybe you can redistribute the wealth. Now that will
        make you happy won’t it Skippy?
  - Predrag
    
    Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 2:08 pm · Reply
    
    Where on earth did you get that I agree with the tethering charges??? My point is, if the contract you signed with the carrier requires you to sign up for a separate add-on plan in order to tether, then you’re in violation of that contract if you tether without paying. There are many carriers around the world where tethering is a non-issue. They give you a data package and you do what you wish with it — stream pandora, video skype all day, tether your laptop, as long as you’re within your package, they don’t care.
    
    Then there’s AT&T…
    
    I belong in a group of consumers who don’t believe tethering makes meaningful difference in data consumption, compared to ordinary smartphone use. For that reason, it is just a convenience fee, and as such, it is a highway robbery.
Lindsay

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 12:03 pm · Reply

I have to say that although I pay an arm and a leg for my service in Canada, the one thing I don’t pay for is tethering…if I did that would cost another arm and I don’t think I could use my nose to type on my phone
JB Tipton

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 12:23 pm · Reply

Opp too late, y’all. Apple’s pulled it

http://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/29/itether-app-pulled-from-app-store/
- DMac
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 12:39 pm · Reply
  
  I KNEW I should’ve spent the $15 bucks!! It’s just that when I’m traveling, I am more likely to lug my iPad around and leave my MBP behind. But still………..
- surfslasher
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 1:31 pm · Reply
  
  Damn you Apple! WTF! change that agreement you have with FCC and AT&T.
Robert

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 1:19 pm · Reply

Anyone able to get the binaries downloaded (dmg & exe)?

I am able to download the dmg, but get an error that the disk image cannot be recognized. The exe will not download at all.
Jim

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 1:30 pm · Reply

I’m downloading the dmg file now. Very slow. Connection is 0.1 KB/Sec – suspect it is the server output speed. At this rate it will be a few hours till I know if the disk image will expanded/opened. Was able to download the iphone app earlier today, so 50% there. Trying to be optimistic…
- ArchiDAD
  
  Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 2:17 pm · Reply
  
  …patience payed off for me!
  
  Took a while and many download restarts after “Timeouts”. Finally got the mac version downloaded, installed, and running great on my iMac. I was getting disk image error messages till I realized that the download was “Timed-Out” and therefore stopped. All it took was to restart the download process and it picked up from where it was stopped. Eventually it fully downloaded and… happy camper — for now!