Optus has finally announced its plans for iPhone tethering, and they’re not pretty: if you want to use your iPhone running the 3.0 OS as a modem, you’ll have to pay an extra $9.99 a month for the privilege.
The $9.99 fee — which will become available from June 22, according to an Optus press release — doesn’t get you any extra data, but does let you draw on your existing allowance. A 2GB bundle costs $24.99, and a 6GB bundle is $44.99. Excess data is $0.35 per megabyte. It would seem likely the bundles only last 30 days, but there’s no way of knowing yet — Optus has announced the pricing but isn’t going to reveal the terms and conditions until the service goes live.
Online reports suggest that iPhone users on Virgin have been able to tether, despite Virgin using the Optus network, so it would seem to be a decision based on carrier profit rather than technical requirements. One thing’s clear though: if tethering is an important feature for you, literally any other carrier is going to be better value.
Kelsey Brookes
June 19, 2009 at 9:52 AM
This is likely to drive people to jailbreak. I’ve avoided jailbreaking until now, as I believe that app developers should be rewarded for their efforts. Jailbreaking the iPhone makes it very easy to get everything for free. How long does moral resolve hold out when there’s no impediment to temptation?
Report PermalinkArthur Lowe
June 19, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Has anyone considered a class action against Optus – breach of contract – I’m sure a good lawyer will make their life a misery.
Report PermalinkAngus Kidman
June 19, 2009 at 10:45 AM
I think is a pretty shocking move, but I doubt there’s anything in the standard contract with Optus that says it must provide features for free just because they’re available in the basic OS used in a phone it sells. (And the first meeting with a lawyer would possibly cost more than switching providers and ditching your old phone.)
Report Permalinkpushka
June 19, 2009 at 11:22 AM
I think that when all these iPhone contracts end, you are going to lose a lot of customers, and arn’t going to get as many iPhone3GS customers..
Why should people pay for… nothing?
And also, there are methods of hacking the iPhone system so that you can access tethering for free
(though I am not going to do anything unlawful – I’ll just suffer)
over 24 months, a plan could be worth $2000 for one user, but you are going to risk a customer of this value for $240 ?
I am definitely not going to pay $9.99 for tethering.
Report PermalinkKelsey Brookes
June 19, 2009 at 12:12 PM
There’s a twitter hashtag just started on this. #tethertax
Report PermalinkAdam
June 19, 2009 at 12:33 PM
I’ve been able to use every single phone I’ve owned for the last 5 years as a modem. Just plug it in, boot up the phones PC software and hit “connect”. This is a fricken scam, most likely an agreement made betweeen Apple and major carriers worldwide to make more money.
I agree – Telstra’s network is blazingly fast and stable, but their prices are almost highway robbery themselves. I’m paying $30 a month for 300 meg, which includes uploads.
Report PermalinkDen Policarpio
June 19, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Absolute crap. A real slap in the face to loyal customers. I’ve already paid for my data. Let me use it!
Report Permalinkkieran
June 19, 2009 at 3:49 PM
As per the virgin iphone whirlpool thread – http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1223571&p=2
I can confirm that I am on virgin and internet tethering on the iphone 3g with 3.0 OS is working great.
People have been having trouble getting it working, with an optus error of some sort. All i can say is. I updated itunes (8.2) and updated to iphone 3.0 then synced whilst online and I was all good.
Report PermalinkRobert Markoski
June 22, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Argh, I really don’t want to but it looks like I will be going to Telstra for the iPhone 3Gs. At least when I pay for the service I get what I paid for.
Report Permalinkluke
July 1, 2009 at 8:51 AM
I have been with optus for years (8+) and backed them, they have been great. But the last year they seemed to have started getting sneeky, underhanded and greedy. Their 3G is almost useless due to congestion or something and I’ve had enough!
Report PermalinkJake
September 10, 2009 at 9:25 PM
I have been able to tether my iPhone to optus with the 3.0 update due to a little carrier settings update.
It replaces the optus carrier settings on the phone, with a slightly modified one and allows tethering. (WITHOUT a jailbreak).
The only downside is whenever i Plug the iPhone into iTunes, iTunes asks if i would like to update my carrier settings, which i Obviously click no.
The process does not (AFAIK) breach any terms and conditions or warranty.
Report Permalinkmary
April 2, 2011 at 9:05 PM
does anyone at optus in the department where decision regarding charging for tethering even read these, do they remember how the original optus management got telstra customers in the first place THEY OFFERED GREAT DEALS you traitors, lOOK AT THE WAY U RIP PRE PAID CUSTOMERS OFF you should be ashamed of yourselves
Report Permalinksigned uextemely pissed off