So i found a hack for O2 internet tething already, which basically allows you to bypass the O2 message that directs you to their site and just turn on tethering... i have tested this and it just works!
TONGALO HOLDS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM FOLLOWING ANY TUTORIALS OR USING FILES DOWNLOADED FROM THIS SITE
Just Follow these simple setep:
- You must ensure your iPone is running iPhone OS 3.0 as internet tethering is not available before this release, so download and install it!
- Download the O2_UK.mobileconfig file from here.
- Send the file to an email account on your iPone 3.0
- Open the email and click the file.
- Click the install button to install the file.
- Click the replace button to replace the existing profile installed on your iPhone.
- Go to Settings>>General>>Network on your iPhone and click the Internet Tethering button.
- Click the Internet Tethering button, and select the method by which you want to tether your computer to your iPhone, your options are bluetooth and USB, bear in mind that using bluetooth will drain your iPhone and Laptop battery quicker, while using USB will charge your phone.
- Connect your iPone to your computer if using the USB cable, on vista the network is automatically detected, all you have to do is select the network location.
Hey presto it's that simple, just remember that your current allowance is unlimited but there is a fair use policy in place, so don't go downloading large files, or streaming video over it. Normal browsing such as that carried out on your iPhone and downloading pics, receiving email is OK though ;)
You can also download the O2_UK.mobileconfig straigt to your phone and run it from there, just navigate to this page from your iPhone running OS 3.0 and click the link.
There has been a lot of discussion over the past few days over the legality of the hack with regards to the O2 terms and conditions, in that they do not state that you can use your phone in tethering mode, which would mean that they would be able to recover any fees relating to the service? My understanding of the terms and conditions is that it would have to specifically state that you cannot use it in tethering mode without using a bolt on, and since when i bought my phone there was no such statement how can it be against them.
The other frustrating point here is that internet tethering is not a new thing, it has been available on most phones for years, and the fact that O2 are trying to capitalise further on an already expensive phone/tarrif is beyond me, and the cheek of it is that you are already paying for ulimited browsing over 3g which should cover tethered intenet browsing. I think O2 are just trying to jump on the 3G wireless broadband bandwagon with this one.
We have now found a tethering hack config file for AT&T which can be downloaded here.