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Developers produce hack for tethering iPhone 3Gs

updated 04:20 pm EDT, Mon July 21, 2008

iPhone 3G tethering hack


Several groups of developers have produced a method for tethering an iPhone 3G as a modem, a new guide illustrates. Carriers such as AT&T do not normally allow tethering on iPhones, for fear of even heavier cellular traffic; the guide suggests, however, that there is a workaround in cases where tethering is absolutely necessary. People must first, for instance, jailbreak their 3Gs, a process which can take "two or more hours" in some cases. At this stage people must then install 3Proxy and Terminal through an app called Cydia.

The key phase then involves creating an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network on a computer, and having the iPhone join. By attempting to visit a webpage through the iPhone's version of Safari, the connection will be forced into 3G mode, letting users configure a desktop browser like Firefox to use the phone as a network proxy.

Cre.ations.net warns that tethering is not only against contract policy, risking high penalty fees, but that it also consumes more battery power than normal web browsing. It is recommended that people plug their 3G in, or else use a portable battery charger.


by MacNN Staff

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 iPhone, AT&T, hacks, iPhone 3G

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Comments

  1. WiseWeasel

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 1999

    -6
    07/21, 04:54pm | report spam | Reply |

    Woot

    Congrats to the community for stepping up to the plate with this critical feature that Apple has inexplicably omitted for all this time. Just goes to demonstrate the advantage of NOT having Apple as a gatekeeper for the iPhone platform, rather than its users.

  1. dagamer34

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2007

    +1
    07/21, 05:03pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    How will AT&T know?

    Since everyone knows there's a soft cap on data of 5GB with AT&T, does anyone know if AT&T can figure out you're tethering when you're not supposed to be if all you are doing is surfing the web?

    I think I'll wait this one out before i get charged up the wazoo.

  1. Guest

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 1999

    +3
    07/21, 06:09pm | report spam | Reply |

    Idiot

    Apparently WiseWeasel isn't so wise. The lack of tethering has nothing to do with Apple and everything to do with AT&T. It's the carrier that can't cope with all the bandwidth used if everyone was tethering through their iPhones.

    With other phones, the tethering option costs extra. But then again, there aren't near as many people tethering with other phones as their would be with iPhones.

  1. WiseWeasel

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 1999

    +1
    07/21, 07:45pm | report spam | Reply |

    Crystal Ball

    Without access to Guest's crystal ball, it's difficult to determine whether the problem is coming from Apple or AT&T's end. The fact that AT&T offers the option for other phones indicates that they are at least open to the possibility of such a feature. The fact that this feature is available for other handsets on AT&T's network, but not for the iPhone, is indicative of a hold up with this particular handset manufacturer, not the carrier.

    MacNN readers apparently don't appreciate people saying anything negative about Apple, even when they are clearly in the wrong, but you're not doing anyone any favors by apologizing for Apple's behavior, or dismissing the complaints surrounding their products. Some of us love our iPhones, but would like to encourage Apple to (gasp) make them BETTER... Apple could at least communicate what the hold-up is to their customers, if in fact it is a problem with the carrier. Being able to use your cell phone as a modem for your computer is such a common feature, in particular with so-called smart phones, that this is a glaring omission on Apple's part.

    Personally, I wouldn't pay an extra $30 a month for this feature (what, are you freaking kidding me, AT&T?), and so I don't ultimately care too much if official support is added if it means adding that fee to your monthly bill, but for those users who WOULD need this feature, it's disappointing that it's still completely missing in action, with zero announcements about planned support or what the problem is. Until then, bravo to those who have made the effort to circumvent this serious limitation in the iPhone's capabilities.

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