Having banned from its App Store an application that turned an iPhone 3G into a wireless modem, is Apple ready to enable just such an application itself?
That’s the rumor based on an e-mail response allegedly from Apple CEO Steve Jobs to an inquiring user. The questioner forwarded the response to the Gizmodo blog, which posted the question and Jobs’ purported response.
The question: Why, since AT&T offers a plan by which users can pay an extra $30 to tether their laptops to their BlackBerry, don’t Apple and AT&T offer a similar plan for iPhone 3G users?
The response: “We agree, and are discussing it with ATT.” The message is signed “Steve” and includes the familiar tag, “Sent from my iPhone.”
E-Mail Legit?
Gizmodo thinks the response is “legitimate-looking,” but concedes “that ‘Sent from my iPhone’ kicker either makes this e-mail completely legitimate or illegitimate.” On the other hand, Wired News engaged in a little grammatical sleuthing, noting that a message, purportedly from Jobs, posted on the MacRumors site contained a similar construction.
“We are working on some bugs which affect around two percent of the iPhones shipped, and hope to have a software update soon,” the message read. Wired points out that both messages incorrectly use a comma before the “and.” (A comma is appropriate to separate independent clauses; in both cases the phrases after the comma are dependent clauses.)
“I don’t mean to draw a conclusion based on this nitpicky observation, but I just thought it’d be interesting to point out,” Wired writer Brian Chen pointed out.
AT&T Terms of Service
Any tethering application would require a change to AT&T’s terms of service. Those terms state: “Furthermore, plans (unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to-computer accessories, Bluetooth or any other wireless technology) to personal computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose.”
Software company Nullriver had released an application for tethering a laptop to an iPhone 3G, but it was banned from the App Store by Apple. The application was initially approved but then pulled for “technical review,” according to a note Nullriver CEO Adam Dann received from Apple.
It now appears that Apple pulled the application after AT&T complained, blogged Jason O’Grady on ZDNet. “This new iPhone tethering rumor confirms that Apple pulled NetShare from the App Store at the behest of AT&T who [sic] is trying to protect a huge potential revenue stream,” O’Grady said.
He added this request of Jobs: “Don’t insult us by requiring the stupid, proprietary and expensive dock cable to tether. Tethering should be available via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.”