iOS 4.3 not only brought WiFi tethering to Apple devices, but it also brought the spotlight onto the carriers offering tethering services. In particular, the fact that Vodafone’s Infinite plans don’t include tethering in the bundled data.
As Gus over at Lifehacker points out, Voda’s terms and conditions for their Infinite plans spell out that the plan’s included data does not include tethering, and that data used via tethering is charged at $0.25 per MB. There is no such condition on Voda’s regular cap plans though.
The bottom line is that, should you foresee the need to tether your smartphone – whether it be an iPhone, an Android or even a Windows Phone 7 device, avoid Vodafone’s Infinite plans.
Mr Snail
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 11:23 AMWhy would you tether on Voda anyway? Might as well use dial up if possible. Probably faster.
Stew
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 11:49 AM+1
For the past few months, iPhone 3GS on Voda in Bris is… infuriating.
Dave
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 11:24 AMHow do they know if you are tethering?
Francis
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 11:57 AMGood point! Wouldn’t it just see the internet connection coming from a node (i.e. phone tethered or not)
Tristan Scott
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 1:10 PMI’m guessing that tethering in the iPhone is set up to use a different APN (access point name), which will allow them to see exactly how much data is used in tethering vs directly from the phone.
Dennis Schafer
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 7:07 PMthat is a good question, the APN is set by the handset. unless when acting as a hotspot the Iphone connects on a different APN!
The Gremlin
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 2:03 PMThey do. In the US, they have to pay for any type of tethering. Aussies win one for a change.
Ganesh
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 11:51 AMHere’s a tip,
Avoid Vodafone altogether!
Seriously, it doesn’t matter what your data allowance is, data on your phone hardly works anyhow so tethering is pretty pointless.
Sean
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 1:35 PMSerious?
Been running my iPad from iPhone since iOS4.3 was released without an issue what so ever. I use this functioning to run my works networks through Citrix and its slowish – but running systems remotely generally is!
Simon Reidy
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 12:32 PMNot that I’d advise anyone to go with the shittiest network in Australia, but you can avoid this limitation by jailbreaking your phone and using MyWi (it masks the fact that it’s tethered so they have no way of knowing).
Sandra K
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 3:53 PMCrazy.
Vodafone (or any carrier, for that matter) delivers only one thing… digital data… zeros and ones.
What I do with my digital zeros and ones is my business. If I want to send them to my laptop, so be it.
Carriers and network providers should not be allowed to dictate how you use your data.
Namarrgon
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 4:20 PMUnlimited-data plans are *exactly* why US carriers charge extra for tethering, so it’s no surprise to see Vodafone doing the same for their Infinite plan.
The big advantage of per-MB charges is that not only do carriers not care how you use your data, but they’re positively keen for you to use as much as you can afford.
Steve Tran
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 4:29 PMAs a Voda IP4 customer, I can never recommend their service. Worst, choppiest, slow-as-molasses downstream.
Ru
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 4:46 PMWhy are you people still with Vodafone? Make a complaint to the TIO (http://www.tio.com.au/) and a week later, vodafone will release you from contract. Everyone I know has ditched vodafone. I’d rather be with Telstra (aint that saying something!)
JM
Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 11:50 PMI did this last weekend and by Friday I was released from my contract. DO IT PEOPLE! Can’t wait to switch to Telstra
Tahn Costelloe
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 6:45 PMThis article was brought to us by Telstra. :)
James
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 8:41 PMThats true guys… have seen so many issues with Vodafone is annoying as hell… don’t see why ppl are still getting plans from them when they cant get any service to make calls or use data. Its sad to say that Telstra has the best network for both data and voice.. Seems like Telstra has won me over.. Have also experienced one of the best services provided by a Telstra dealer FoneZone Garden city.
Julian Page
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 8:58 PMAs a former Vodafone customer of 10 years I would not recommend that anyone use them for 3G data because their network is so slow as to be virtually unusable. I’ve switched to Telstra and the difference is night and day.
Alex
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 9:29 AMHey guys.
Ditched the jailbreak on my iPhone 4 and MyWi (which was brilliant btw) to go with the 4.3 tethering option and works treat with my iPad.
I am with Vodafone and the data speeds for me are fine. Surfing, emailing and downloading apps all happen fast.
I am at a loss as to all the Vodafone bashing.
Yes, out of town I occasionally don’t have 3G service and there are some dead spots around town… meh!
Sill rather pay $30 less per month and wait half a second more for the Facebook page to load…
And many friends who have switched to Telstra/Optus… wait for it… STILL have deadspots, dropouts and delayed SMS/voicemails…
As said above, this thread brought to you by Telstra!
Emily
Friday, March 18, 2011 at 10:04 AMI’m with Alex on this one. No idea what everyone is crying about. My experience with Vodafone so far has been great. No dropped calls, no delayed sms, perhaps slightly slower data speed in some cases, but it certainly isn’t the end of the world.
I switched from 3 because I couldn’t get coverage in my house (despite being in their 3G area). I only hope the merge doesn’t cause that to happen again.