Activate and Enable iPhone as Internet Tethering Wireless Modem Without Hack or Jailbreak
Apple has built Internet tethering capability to iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S in its newest iPhone OS software 3.0. Internet tethering allows iPhone owners to use iPhone as wireless modem or dongle device to connect the PC or notebook computer to Internet for surfing and browsing. However, for commercial purpose, Internet tethering is disabled or blocked by default, as most mobile network carriers or operators want to charge extra fee for Internet tethering privilege, although existing service plans already allow certain limited bandwidth or even unlimited amount of data downloads.
Instead of paying excessive amount of money (most in the high 10s) in addition to the already-overpriced iPhone plan price, there was a fews hacks to enable Internet tethering on jailbroken iPhone previously. With built-in support for Internet gateway tethering in iPhone with the release of iPhone OS software 3.0, there is a very simple hack for iPhone OS 3.0 upgrader to enable Internet tethering, without paying anything extra or subscription fee to the mobile operator, and without jailbreak or unlock.
How to Activate and Enable Free Internet Tethering on iPhone 3.0
- Run Safari mobile web browser on the iPhone.
- Optional: If you want to generate your own mobileconfig with custom APN, username and password with Mobileconfig Generator, visit http://help.benm.at/help.php.
In most case, just visit the next link directly, as the configuration files for most mobile carriers around the world have been prepared. If you’re following this link, click on Mobileconfigs.
- Visit the following Mobileconfigs website:
http://help.benm.at/tethering.php
Alternative: http://www.iphone-notes.de/mobileconfig/
- Select your country.
- Select your mobile service provider.
- Tap Install to install new profile.
- Select Install Now to download and install new profile.
- On iPhone interface, go to Settings -> General -> Network -> Internet Tethering.
- Set Internet Tethering to On.
- If prompted that Bluetooth is off, select Turn on Bluetooth or USB Only according to your preference.
- Internet tethering is enabled, connect iPhone to PC computer via USB or Bluetooth to start connecting to Internet though iPhone as tethered Internet gateway modem, with typical mobile broadband connection speed, normally up to around 1.4 Mbps. Meanwhile, iPhone will glow blue too.
Note: Tethering computer through USB to iPhone to access Internet is much easier. Normally, Windows or Mac system will automatically recognize the tethered iPhone, and create require network connection to take advantage of the shared Internet access via iPhone. For Bluetooth connection, other than usual pairing, user also has to select “Connect to Network” from the Bluetooth device option in order to access the Internet from desktop or notebook/laptop computer via tethered iPhone.
Actually, the hack can be performed manually by iPhone owner himself or herself. The profile download link above provides easiest and most convenient way to activate and enable Internet Tethering without hassle though. BenM.at is gathering all these publicly available information such as APN (access point name) and password for the iPhone for many network across the world, and create a XML based profile by using Apple’s iPhone Configuration Utility. The hosted iPhone tethering configuration profiles is pushed to the handsets of iPhone users who download the profile, and instant activates the tethering system free of charge.
After downloading and installing the new Internet tethering enabled profile, some users may report MMS and/or VVM (Visual Voicemail) problem, where MMS or Visual Voicemail stops working. To fix the MMS and VVM not working after enabling Internet tethering error, go to Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings. After the short reset, iPhone should be able to be used for MMS, Voicemail and Internet tethering.
Related Articles
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Entries (RSS)
July 22nd, 2009 09:43
after installing and using the tether i have noticed that my data plan usage has changed from “phone” to media.net. I think If i can see the difference showing up on my bill, that at&t will also see these changes. anyone else notice this?
July 21st, 2009 01:10
THIS DEFINITELY, ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY WORKS!!! I have a 3G and initially it didn’t work because I didn’t have itunes on my laptop. After installing itunes it worked and detected it right away. If anything be sure to always unplug and replug the usb cable, that helped me a few times. And no my phone is not hacked in any way, all original.
July 19th, 2009 10:50
Hey, i have that same issue… No Cellular data tab… What should i do?
July 18th, 2009 08:48
I have iphone 3g with 3.0 firmware, but i dont have the cellular data network tab. Can anyone help me?
July 18th, 2009 06:11
Thanks alot. It worked for me in the first go.
Is there any way i can find out, that i am not being charged for the data access.
Cheers.
July 14th, 2009 09:06
I’ve done it and it works out great! I have the option to use both USB, and direct connection. First, like the instructions says, after installing make sure you turn off your device. Note, you do have to put in some additional settings for your cellular network if you are on T-Mobie, but if you are on AT&T, you should be fine. The trick is the connection with the computer. You have to set up the connection for either, dial-up or bluetooth, if your computer supports it. Go to your control panel on your PC, select Network and Internet Connections, Set up or change internet connection,select add, any device that has an internet connection will appare. With Bluetooth, you have to search for your device an setup your internet connection from there. I hope this works for you, because I am using my iphone an my internet source now. Therfore, I Know it works.
July 13th, 2009 11:59
I did it just like the site says. I get the following:
1) I cannot go on internet at all without being connected to WIFI;
2) Don’t get the “internet tethering” message at top screen;
3) Tried to hook up via USB. Nothing happened.
Steve.pipenger@gmail.com is my email. Looking at eden 1169 and his statement about itunes. Do you mean have iTunes open on laptop with phone hooked to laptop?
July 13th, 2009 07:15
i think the additional charges part is just a warning for those who dont have an unlimited plan(a generic warning message from att) probably just a general tethering message.
July 11th, 2009 11:49
It says additional charges may apply. How will that fall into at??
July 10th, 2009 14:19
Sweeeeeeet! only thing is i cant seem to get it to work without the USB and run via bluetooth, despite having done the step by step process.
July 10th, 2009 10:37
I have 2g 3.0 iphone i try all that step it did not work. On the NETWORK screen i didn’t see ENABLE 3G or ENTERNET TETHERING on my iphone screen. I don’t know if 2g 3.0 iphone should have intenet.
July 10th, 2009 08:29
i have the iphone 3G with the 3.0 OS. after step 7 i went to Settings > General > Network. I dont immediately get a switch to turn on Tethering, what i do get is a choice to Set Up Internet Tethering. When i click that option it tells me exactly this : “To enable tethering on this account, contact AT&T”.
at this point i dont know what to do. help pleasee.
July 10th, 2009 01:50
Will this work on the origional iPhone?
July 8th, 2009 05:30
Installed this and works perfectly, i have a regular 3g iphone with updated software. My phone is stock and not hacked in any way, and as far as ATT not wanting us to do this i got the instructions on how to tether from Itunes. It didnt mess up anything on the phone at all.
July 6th, 2009 23:16
After downloading and installing the new Internet tethering enabled profile, some users may report MMS and/or VVM (Visual Voicemail) problem, where MMS or Visual Voicemail stops working
I examined the ipcc and mobileconfig files and they both have the following lines:
apn
wap.cingular
type-mask
-2
username
That’s the reason why VVM may stop working. Also the reason why some settings in the files for mms doesnt show up after installing the files.
Basically, those above lines say that the apn: wap.cingular is for data, mms, and vvm apns. But vvm apn isn’t wap.cingular but supposed to be acds.voicemail. Manually changing the VVM apn in setings>general>network>cellular data network to acds,voicemail will allow visual voicemail to work correctly but that cause the tethering option to disappear, especially on a reboot or respring.
Best thing is to use the correct type-masks.
July 5th, 2009 21:20
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Got 2 Luv technology!!!!!!
July 4th, 2009 09:01
I also have an unlocked and jailbroken 2g iPhone. I have not tried this hack yet and would like to hear from anyone with an identical phone jf they have had any luck getting it to work.
July 3rd, 2009 21:29
IS THIS FREE???????
July 2nd, 2009 16:43
Brian, I get the same thing. the tethering tab is missing (from DATA ROAMING goes directly to VPN) It doesn’t look like in the picture above. Maybe it doesn’t work with 2g version of the iPhone…
July 2nd, 2009 11:12
Is this 100% free? I am going on vacation to a resort with no wifi and I plan on using this the whole time, but I want to be sure that I’m not going to have a $300 phone bill. I have unlimited data on AT&T.
July 1st, 2009 11:04
this article and others related fail to mention that you have to have itunes, lates and greates version, installed and initially open. If you don’t do this tethering is not recognized. Well, this was my experience anyway. I was following the above mentioned directions gleaned from another article and this one too and “wondered” if it would work if I had itunes open and low and behold it did. just my 2 cents and that’s not worth much these days…
June 30th, 2009 09:04
i have a 2g iphone with 3.0 update unlocked and jailbroken on us tmobile, i installed the profile and the profile shows up uinder settings, but when i go to settings general network, there is no tab to enable tethering on and off. where is it or how do i get it?
June 29th, 2009 15:43
Can’t AT&T detect if you are using it? Would tethering be free if it were already activated by them? I just don’t understand how it works without them charging you extra.
June 29th, 2009 13:57
I installed the tethering hack, and turned it on, but don’t know where to go from there. How do I install iPhone as wireless modem on my pc?
June 28th, 2009 23:01
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