Why Tethering an iPhone 3G to a Laptop Doesn't Make Sense
There's been a lot of discussion on Mac-related websites about whether the iPhone 3G should support tethering to a laptop or desktop computer. For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, Wikipedia defines tethering as follows:
Tethering in cellular wireless is the connection of a non-mobile device (e.g. desktop computer, notebook computer, laptop computer), to a mobile device (e.g. cell phone) PDA like Palm Treo, Motorola Q, BlackBerry or Air Card for the purpose of wireless Internet access by the non-mobile "tethered" device.
Several phones already on sale on the AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint networks already support tethering. The unlimited data plan rates charged by the carriers for devices that support tethering are significantly higher than the proposed data plan rate for the iPhone 3G. As a result, some people who are planning to buy an iPhone 3G say that they will pay a higher data plan rate if they are allowed to tether their new iPhone to a laptop.
I don't think iPhone 3G owners would be happy with the performance of their iPhones if tethering were allowed. The reason is that tethering would consume a great deal more of the iPhone's power than most people realize.
I've made several trips from Trenton, NJ to New York Penn Station on the New Jersey Transit Northeast Corridor rail line over the past month. Each time I arrive in Manhattan, I am surprised that the battery level on my iPhone is low. The reason is that there are dead spots on the AT&T network that overlap the Northeast Corridor right of way, and the iPhone boosts its signal to stay connected when in those areas.
Imagine what would happen if you combine that with trying to maintain a constant 3G data connection and a constant Bluetooth connection to a laptop over a 75 to 90 minute trip. The battery will be substantially depleted by the time you step off the train.
Most of the 3G phones that support tethering also have replaceable batteries. The big reason why is that these handsets consume a lot more power than they would if they were sitting in your pocket, or even if you use it constantly on a voice call.
At this point in the development of battery technology, the form factor that Apple has chosen is the biggest single impediment to tethering the iPhone 3G to any other device.
Comments
My razr actually charges from the laptop while tethered, what's the problem then?
Posted by: RAZR user | July 1, 2008 4:00 PM
Just charge your phone from your laptop while you're tethering--problem solved. The reason why AT&T isn't supporting tethering is because they don't want the extra strain on their network and the iPhone is a monopoly for them so they don't have to compete with anyone.
Posted by: PocketPC User | July 10, 2008 3:55 PM
"I don't think iPhone 3G owners would be happy with the performance of their iPhones if tethering were allowed"
What an arrogant statement! Why not just give IPhone owners the option and they can decide. I think most people who use 3G phones know the issues involved (I.E. battery life.)
Posted by: Tom | July 10, 2008 9:03 PM
What is the problem to tether the iPhone with USB cable (not Bluetooth connection) ?
Posted by: Anonymous | July 15, 2008 10:10 PM
My thoughts exactly! No problem with tethering.
Posted by: Steven | July 17, 2008 9:20 AM
Tom:
Sorry you think my statement is arrogant. The reviews that came out around iPhone 3G launch time are supporting me on the battery life issue:
Although it's possible to charge an iPhone 3G by connecting it to the laptop by USB, this is not a great solution for people traveling on trains and buses because it simply shifts the battery life issues from the iPhone to the laptop. In the example I used, traveling the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor, people visiting New York City for business don't generally have easy access to a wall outlet when they get into Manhattan.
If you are traveling in and out of Manhattan and need to use both your laptop and your iPhone 3G during the trip, you need to economize with both devices. Otherwise one or the other will be running out of power on the way home. There are lots of other travel scenarios like this.
Regarding your comment that "most people who use 3G phones know the issues involved (I.E. battery life)", I can't believe this is the case. I stood in line to purchase an iPhone 3G on Friday at the Apple Store in King-of-Prussia, PA. I would estimate that 10 to 20 percent of the people in line were veteran users of high-end technology. I could tell this because they already had an iPhone or they brought their laptop with them in line.
A much larger group in the line was buying their first smartphone. I talked to a few of them. They were really excited to be buying an iPhone and cited the low upfront price of the iPhone 3G as being the tipping point for them.
In my opinion, this is not the profile of a person who knows that 3G services will consume power at an accelerated rate.
Posted by: Dave Aiello
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July 19, 2008 9:11 PM
This is a response to the question: "What is the problem to tether the iPhone with USB cable (not Bluetooth connection)?"
Both the iPhone and the iPhone 3G communicate with iTunes on the Mac or PC. The only way that any iPhone can communicate with another application is if it's first jailbroken, which means that the iPhone firmware is hacked to permit functions that Apple doesn't intend the phone to have.
Posted by: Dave Aiello
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July 19, 2008 9:18 PM