AT&T iPhone Tethering Still Not Available; Class Action Suit in the Works? [AT&T iPhone Tethering Promise Never Came Through; Are Lawyers Getting Ready for Class Action Lawsuit?]

Posted on TFTS by Chris Smith on Sunday, 7. March 2010 under: Mobile/Cell Phones

Remember back when AT&T promised to offer iPhone tethering support? It happened right before the dinosaurs disappeared (18 June 2009) but the carrier failed to come through for its iPhone customers. What’s weird is that no class action lawsuit has been filed yet against AT&T for failing to deliver tethering support as previously promise. Should we assume that such an action is in the works? Are lawyers preparing to hit AT&T hard for this whole lack of tethering problem?

ATT iPhone tethering

Other carriers support data tethering for their customers as long as they are willing to pay an extra fee for the extra service. AT&T also happens to allow tethering for non-iPhone handsets which is not really fair, is it?

That also means that iPhone users should, in theory, get a new LaptopConnect Card and a DataConnect plan in order to have access to AT&T’s 3G network. Or maybe this is exactly AT&T’s problem. Although it did promise to officially support iPhone tethering in the “future”, AT&T is also aware that its 3G network might not be able to take the extra traffic coming from laptops and netbooks using an iPhone tethered connection.

If that’s the case why did AT&T even promise supporting this must-have feature? Well yes, you got it, to drive up iPhone sales even more, not that people weren’t buying Apple’s handset like crazy already.

So with that in mind we won’t be surprised to see AT&T hit with a class action suit in the near future. We don’t have any news regarding such a lawsuit being filed yet but I have a feeling that there are already plenty of AT&T unhappy untethering iPhone customers willing to support such an initiative.

The fact that the Wi-Fi iPad will not support iPhone tethering will only remind people that AT&T doesn’t offer iPhone tethering anyway so such an iPad feature would be unavailable to them for multiple reasons.

So what do you have to say about AT&T and its iPhone tethering plans? Would you fight AT&T in order to get iPhone tethering?

Source

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Stephan Hollis
I would definitely support a class action law suite. I wouldn’t use tethering very much, but it would be nice to have as a backup. I think that it is unfair that other AT&T customers can use it by paying extra. I will never get an air card, so why not let me get what I deserve and make some more money in the process. There was all the stink over mms bringing down their network, but of course that didn’t happen. Wifi is an option in some places, but even then they tend to be just ok. In other words GIVE US TETHERING!!!!!!!
Timothy Johnson
I would support a class action lawsuit against AT&T. They think that their exclusivity on the iPhone gives them the right to charge us high fees and no delivery on promised features. What if I were 6 months late paying my bill? Shouldn’t that be just understood? After all I PROMISED I would pay it.
Tera
Might as well move to Europe! No games about tethering and eeryone does it… Not only would I support a class action suit but I feel I have the righ to sue AT&T for false promises and then offering an unlimited plan to those people who are not even under contract for less money than what we contracted, pay. This is an easy, obvious case of greed and apple looks bad for thier continued contract with AT&T. How is tethering on the iPhone any different than any other smart phone on the network??
James Unger
I would be supportive of a class action lawsuit tword AT&T. I think this is a bunch of bull!
Andy
Yeah, I paid a extra to get the new 3GS Iphone because I wanted the extra bells and whistles that were being promised when it came out last summer. I feel like there was a certain amount of fraud on the part of AT&T. They implied that MMS and tethering would be coming “soon.” I believed what they said and bought the upgrade. Implying functions to get my money but not supplying that function is fraud. I would want in on that suit. I also do not think it is fair to have an “unlimited” data plan, but not allowed to tether that data like most other’s plans. I know I like the Iphone, but I feel deceived by the carrier. I do plan on dumping my iphone, getting a much cheaper phone and phone plan and using a Ipad to do the “browsing” I currently do on my iphone. If I get a phone that tethers I will be ahead.
Beverly
So why does the iPhone manual have instructions for tethering, since all US iPhones are with AT&T? Is it for carriers in other countries?

Chris Smith
:) Can’t but smile on your remark there Beverly. I think you discovered the secret! :D

Pissed off AT&T/iPhone Customer
I have been nothing but happy with the iPhone, and nothing but pissed off with the AT&T service. I would support the law suit wholeheartedly. Empty promises lead me into purchasing an iPhone over 1 year ago… had I known how long I would’ve had to wait for a reliable network (both voice and data) I certainly would not have switched from Verizon. I hope AT&T goes out of business from the mass exodus when Verizon finally picks up the iPhone in the not-near-enough future.
PBradz
What’s with the Palm phones being able to share access with 5 devices but no iPhone tethering?
Put my name on that class action too!!
Steve
I too purchased the Iphone 3GS under false advertisement of being able to tether. Sign me up for the class action.
br8thw8
Where do I sign!
kdog
Count me in!!!!! In fact, I have about a dozen in our office that would probably join in…
This is ATT false promising just because they can.. ETHICS???? who needs em..
lildigit1
Besides not sticking to their promises, they should be sued for the data plan requirement. Soon we will have Directv telling us that it is a requirement to upgrade to HD service if you have a HD TV. I should be able to select whatever service I want for whatever device I want. This is a free country the last time I checked. This will lead to other companies making profits off of service requirements if this is allowed to stand.
Ryan
Yes! Please let’s sue this company. They don’t think/care about there customers at all. I promise everyone once the iPhone is placed on different carriers in the USA, AT&T will see a HUGE drop in subscribers.
Thomas
In response to the last comment: all major US mobile carriers now require data plans for smartphones, sorry. Regarding a thethering lawsuit it’s a complete waste of time. If one is completely hell-bent on tethering one may do so with a simple” jailbreak,” not that I would do this. I find that it really is no big deal to drive a couple of blocks to use free wifi. What few realize is that those phone plans that allow tethering are limited data plans. Current AT&T offerings for smartphones stand at 30 dollars unlimited or sixty dollars with tethering and a 5 GB limit. Go ahead, pay double your data cost for less access once it is offered, I’m sure you guys are chomping at the bit. What was that saying again about the fool and his money…?
Angela Winslow
Add me to the list. We live in rural Va and told 2 years ago that we would have 3g in a “few months”. Our town is between richmond and lynchburg, with two colleges and we still don’t have any service that is faster than the phone line. It works great if we good out of town, so we can us it fast twice a year. HA! An attorney reading this let’s talk over lunch.
Charles
Thomas,
I am currently interviewing attorneys in preparation of suing AT&T for false advertising. You sure seem like an AT&T apologist, so please pass on that AT&T will finally get their due.
If you would like to join me, send an email to atandttethering@gmail.com.
They advertised that tethering would be available late last summer. That was false advertising, and is going to cost AT&T millions.
Gregory Gannon
AT&T phone AND data service is the pitts (for want of a better word) I bought a 3g and had nothing but problems. Two months later I purchased the 3GS thinking that it would be better…WRONG!
Screw Apple AND AT&T.
I bought the HTC EVO with SPRINT service and have NEVER been happier. Can’t wait to get my hands on the 3500mAh Extended battery.
PS: The EVO WORK’s in Elevators.
Carlos Castro
sing me in. no more fake promises and lies from att now there trying too clean the mess they made catching costumers with there promises of unlimited internet. forcing us to pay tethering plans they don’t have when they sell us the first generation iPhone. if they have been charging me for unlimited internet use and there its and app that give some use for that “unlimited” word i going to use it. (att its just a bad chess player they doesn’t plan five moves ahead )
Ecarreroc
Die!!!! AT&T DIE!!!!!!!!
Ecarreroc
Ilimited plan means infinite use for the same agreed price on contract!!!! So , why you blood sucking CEOs want to charge more for thetering or change a contract agreement , just to prevent over use?? WHY? I just have received an e- mail treatening me to do so by 1 sept 2011. To end my ilimited plan, regardless of a agreed contract!