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iPhone tetherers bypass Optus charge

By Liam Tung, ZDNet.com.au on June 19th, 2009

Topics

iphone, optus, telstra, tethering, vodafone

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Australian iPhone users have started downloading widely available configuration files to activate the device's tethering feature and bypass Optus' planned $10 monthly fee.

Following Optus' announcement yesterday that it would charge iPhone customers $10 per month to use the device as a USB or Bluetooth connected modem, customers have turned to downloading and installing several configuration files that activate the feature without the telco's permission.

Optus said yesterday that customers would need to call its customer service line and pay the monthly fee to have the feature activated. But some technically adept users have already turned to the free alternative.

One configuration file called "Tether me" is available here or here for download. The "Tether me!" authors have made the file available not to bypass Optus' $10 fee but to activate the feature for users on carriers that are yet to confirm whether it will permit its use on their network.

The site offers preconfigured settings for users on 3 Mobile, Vodafone, Optus, Telstra and Virgin, along with US, UK and Saudi Arabia carriers. The authors, however, warn that while the file enables tethering, there is uncertainty whether carriers will be able to detect if the device is being used as a modem. "I assume not, however, I may be wrong. Keep an eye on your bill," they said.

According to Mark Newton, a well-known network engineer at an Australian ISP, it would be unlikely for Optus to be able to tell when an iPhone is being used as a modem compared to when the device is used to access the internet as it normally would.

"There's no way to distinguish traffic. That's why we're seeing these configuration files pop up for all these carriers around the world, which haven't announced whether they would be enabling tethering," Newton told ZDNet.com.au.

For Optus to stop this from working, he said it would more likely fall on Apple to provide a block, since it has control over the device's software.

Vodafone and Telstra have not yet issued official positions on whether they would charge extra for the iPhone's use as a tethered device. However, users on technology blog site Gizmodo have reported activating the feature on the two telcos' networks.

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Talkback

APN

From what I can see, tethering uses a different APN, so it should be pretty trivial for a carrier to see if a phone has switched to tethered mode.

You will probably get bill shock if you do this.

AnonymousAnonymous June 19th, 2009
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Re: APN

The whole point when writing TetherMe was to make sure that I used the same APN as the handset generally uses, rather than the tethering specific APN.

Lincoln StollLincoln Stoll June 19th, 2009
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Tether charge a joke

Why do I have to pay $10 a month when my plan already includes data... I pay for data already - so now I have to pay $10 a month for the privledge to use the data I am already paying for?

Telcos are just awesome!!

AnonymousAnonymous June 20th, 2009
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Time for ACCC to step in

It's time for the ACCC to step in and smack these telcos in the head for this price gouging.

AnonymousAnonymous June 21st, 2009
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@ ACCC to step in

I would not loose any sleep waiting for the ACCC to step in. As there are multiple mobile networks with percieved competition between each network then there is no need for the ACCC to step in.

If however there was a level of collusion between the networks then the ACCC will rightfully step in.

stevesteve June 22nd, 2009
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True but...

I wish there was a law against crippling technology. That way the "freeview" wankers could be disgraced, and this business of "sounds tricky so lets charge for it" can go away.
Pure profiteering needs to be minimised for capitalism to work.

AnonymousAnonymous June 22nd, 2009
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iPhones blow

Ive had my Nokia tethered for years. The carries blow as much as Apple products.

AnonymousAnonymous June 21st, 2009
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