Internet Tethering on iPhone

[sundeshbalraj]

Hi have iPhone 3GS running iOS4 and according to the manual I should be able to use the phone to connect to the Internet i.e. use it as a modem aka tethering.

I cannot find the settings on the iPhone as per the manual so I think Vodacom is not allowing it.

Called the call centre - they don't even know about this function.

Went to iStore at VodaWorld and technician said that this is not available in iOS4 which I thought was rubbish.

Anybody using this function currently and if so please let me know how.

 

[SlinkyMike]

Search the iphone tips/tricks/apps thread on this forum. That and plenty other questions you might have are covered there.

 

[Synaesthesia]

The option to enable tethering is unfortunately buried in iOS 4's settings. You need to go into general settings, then network and then Internet tethering. You also need to either have Bluetooth enabled or be connected via USB to the computer you wish to tether.

 

[SpiderGear]

I had the same problem. The internet tethering toggle only appeared after switching to the Iphone APN.

 

[sundeshbalraj]

The option to enable tethering is unfortunately buried in iOS 4's settings. You need to go into general settings, then network and then Internet tethering. You also need to either have Bluetooth enabled or be connected via USB to the computer you wish to tether.

FOUND IT - many thanks

So the "support technician" at the Vodaworld iStore is an idiot

 

[sundeshbalraj]

The option to enable tethering is unfortunately buried in iOS 4's settings. You need to go into general settings, then network and then Internet tethering. You also need to either have Bluetooth enabled or be connected via USB to the computer you wish to tether.

FOUND IT - many thanks

So the "support technician" at the Vodaworld iStore is an idiot

 

[Synaesthesia]

FOUND IT - many thanks

So the "support technician" at the Vodaworld iStore is an idiot

Yes.

 

[hammell]

Most people who work at the iStore are idiots. If they don't know how something works, they say it's not supported... Morons...

 

[shaunbridgens]

i agree hammell ..... try the guys from digicape they excellent .....very friendly and helpfull ....

 

[ScrnScrm]

Internet tethering only works if you are provisioned on the iphone.vodacom.za APN. You can call 155 and they will add you to it for free - you dont need to be on an iPhone package. Usage on the iphone APN comes from the same bundle as the Internet APN. Once you are provisioned, you will need to go to Settings -> General -> Network -> Mobile Data Network, scroll to the bottom of the screen, and tap "Reset Settings". Important bit : you must restart your phone for the settings to take effect. Normally, I then go back to the same screen and change the "MMS Max Message Size" setting from 307200 to 1307200 and restart the phone again. This fixes the problem with large MMSes not going through. Once all done, go to Settings -> General -> Network -> Internet Tethering and slide to ON when you need it.

In summary - internet tethering does not work on the internet APN unless you have jailbroken or have a custom config file. Its there complements of AT&T in the USA that are restricting their phones from tethering because of the unlimited data bundles (that they have subsequently done away with).
Ciao

 

[DuckieZA]

In case ScrnScrm's post confuses anyone ...

Tethering DOES work in South Africa. As long as you are using Vodacom settings (via an Over The Air settings file) and you (obviously) have some sort of data plan on your cell package, you should not have any issues. You may need to call them to enable you to use the iphone APN (some people have told me it wasn't necessary).

Jailbreaking is not required for tethering in SA. It is required in the US, where iphones are all network locked and AT&T does not allow tethering.

 

[OomD]

Internet Tethering in SA...

You can indeed tether on MTN as well, by configuring standard APN "internet" and leaving the password and username blank. Works for me!

 

[boydan]

just one other small thing...you need to have iTunes installed

 

[Synaesthesia]

Yep. Usually you would though, since you own an iPhone.

 

[DuckieZA]

just one other small thing...you need to have iTunes installed

I'm not sure I understand that. Why do you need iTunes?

 

[Synaesthesia]

It connects to your PC via iTunes, I'm not exactly sure how. Of course if you jailbreak, you can create a wifi hotspot with your iPhone too.

 

[DuckieZA]

It connects to your PC via iTunes, I'm not exactly sure how. Of course if you jailbreak, you can create a wifi hotspot with your iPhone too.

Nope, tethering does not require iTunes to be running. I just tested now on both USB and Bluetooth, without iTunes, and it works fine.

Note, this is on a Mac. Not sure how it works with Windows, but I can't see it being different.

 

[Synaesthesia]

Well Macs have iTunes installed unless you actually deleted it. I think it has to be installed.

 

[DuckieZA]

Well Macs have iTunes installed unless you actually deleted it. I think it has to be installed.

Might be needed for the drivers which are installed at the same time as/with iTunes (the iPhone creates a network connection which might need drivers), so yes, perhaps installed. But your comment (It connects to your PC via iTunes) is not the case during use, as far as I can see.

 

[Synaesthesia]

Might be needed for the drivers which are installed at the same time as/with iTunes (the iPhone creates a network connection which might need drivers), so yes, perhaps installed. But your comment (It connects to your PC via iTunes) is not the case during use, as far as I can see.

Yeah that's really what I meant to say, I just oversimplified it!