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AT&T 'evaluating' support for iOS Personal Hotspot, no plans yet
Although you'd think AT&T would be all over the Verizon iPhone's new personal hotspot feature if only just to keep feature parity with its biggest competitor, the carrier is taking a more measured approach -- an AT&T spokesperson just told us that they're "evaluating the feature, but have no plans to announce at this time." Given that the iOS 4.3 beta just brought hotspot support to the GSM iPhone, we're guessing that the holdup is more tactical than technical -- Verizon still hasn't announced its iPhone data plan pricing or hotspot tax, and we're assuming AT&T's just waiting for some numbers before announcing support sometime around, say, February 10th. We'll see. P.S.- We're also thinking it would be sweet it AT&T supported WiFi hotspot with 3G iPad and its contract-free data plans, but we're just wishing one wish at a time here.
Mobile Hotspot function rumored to come to all carriers with iOS 4.3
Boy Genius Report (BGR) suggests this morning that the personal hotspot feature described at yesterday's Verizon announcement will be a part of iOS 4.3 and will work on iPhones of all stripes (pending carrier support and approval, of course). Citing "sources," BGR says that users will be able to connect up to five devices over Wi-Fi to the iPhone's cellular connection, just as Verizon customers will be able to do. If their sources are correct, we could see this as early as March. Meanwhile, both iPhoneclub.nl (Google translation) and iPhoneHellas (Google translation) have suggested the same thing. Redmond Pie also chimes in with confirmation from a trusted source, posting a similar set of screenshots. It's that "pending carrier support" line that caught our attention. AT&T is said to be "evaluating" the feature as a possibility. Take that as you will, noting that worldwide support for iPhone tethering was firmly in place long before AT&T actually enabled the feature -- and it came with a newly shrunken data plan.
iPhone Personal Hotspot feature headed to all iPhones in iOS 4.3?
So, by now you've had a chance to digest the fact that Verizon's getting the iPhone, right? A standout from yesterday's news is of course the iPhone Personal Hotspot feature that those lucky red devils are being treated to. Hopefully the rest of us won't have to remain envious for to long, though -- BGR says its sources have confirmed that that feature is headed to all iPhones once iOS 4.3 lands. The word is the OS version with this shiny treat will be 8F5148B with a baseband version of 04.08.00. Of course, your carrier is likely going to have to be on board, a-la tethering support, but once that dust settles not only will you be able to tether your device, but your friends will be able to join in -- and rack up your data usage, too. So sit back, relax, and all will be revealed if and when this bridges the gap between rumor and reality.
Clearwire's 4G iSpot brings wireless broadband to Apple mobile devices (updated)
Check it out, Clearwire has decided to do up an Apple-centric version of its Spot 4G hotspot, so it's quite naturally fashioned it in the shape of a Magic Mouse and stuck an i prefix to the front of the device. Really, there's nothing new or Apple-exclusive that we can see here -- up to eight devices can hook up to this portable 4G emitter via WiFi and the only (see update) authentication required is a password. So yes, like a lot of products before it, the iSpot has done the ignoble thing of associating itself with iPhones, iPads and iPod touches just because those devices are considered the cool kids of the digital playground today. Then again, Clearwire might decide to be difficult and refuse to sell you one of those excellent-sounding $25 (pre-tax) a month 4G broadband packages that go with the iSpot if you don't have an i-something else in tow. If you're fancying this curvy little accessory for your mobile gear, it costs $99, but can be had for $29 on sale from Clear today, ahead of an August 10 launch at major retailers. Update: We followed up with Clearwire regarding authenticating with the iSpot. We're told that "the device is configured to filter based on MAC address which allows it to ID the Apple mobile devices," which explicitly means iPhones, iPads and iPod touches only.
Switched On: MiFi pushes 3G past the router limits
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. In a commercial featuring 30 Rock actress and producer Tina Fey and director Martin Scorsese, the former Saturday Night Live head writer uses her credit card to gain entrance to an airline lounge. The notion of a faceless slice serving as an access pass would also apply to Novatel Wireless's MiFi, the simply named 3G personal hotspot that will support up to five users simultaneously connecting to a 3G network when it is offered through operators next year.MiFi is not the first product to enable a small group to bridge WiFi products to the wireless WAN. One early entrant, Junxion, was acquired by Novatel Wireless competitor Sierra Wireless. And Cradlepoint has created a battery-powered device sold at Best Buy that, like the Junxion device, relies on a laptop card to create its WAN connection. That's not true, though, of the MiFi, which integrates an HSPA or EVDO radio along with the battery that can provide over four hours of Internet access to devices such as a PC, iPod touch, Zune, Nintendo DS or Sony PSP. In fact, without apologies to Right Said Fred, the MiFi may be "too sexy for my LAN" -- particularly for a product that can work silently in a backpack as it serves its nodes. A thicker frame could provide all-day access, but perhaps such lengthy sessions will generally take place where there is access to an outlet; the device continues to perform normally if it is drawing juice from a PC's USB port. But the MiFi is not simply a dumb dispenser of digits.
