AT&T iPhone Personal Hotspot

It is $45/mo for 4GB. We have never used more than 2gb but are carsful not to download apps etc. works great. Two iPads

I think you are asking "why buy a wifi device if the phone hotspot does the same thing?" The answer is that some folks like to leave the rig (with their cellphone) and leave a wifi device at the rig for such things as IP cameras, remote temp. sensors, etc. If you don't have one of these devices then the phone hotspot is adequate. BTW, if you go over the 4g plan it is $10.00 per gig after. No other penalties.

Isn't that called tethering and not allowed by most providers?

We use the ATT HTC One Android with the personal Hotspot. ATT has several options for using wifi on their system. The HTC One Hotspot is only one authorized option plan.

5g for $50, which is less than my older USB card. I use the Hotspot for 2 pc's, a kindle and an HTC Desire Android Phone. If we upload pictures, at times we can exceed the 5g by 1g or 2g on rare occasions. As we fulltime, the extra $10 for 1g, is still less than the former usb card charge.

Usually we are able to use local wifi at times to offset the ATT data plan.

Been using the personal hotspot for about a year and a half. No need to go back to another device. It works good even with a one bar signal.

tvman44 wrote:
Isn't that called tethering and not allowed by most providers?

We use the ATT HTC One Android with the personal Hotspot. ATT has several options for using wifi on their system. The HTC One Hotspot is only one of their authorized option plans.

Mikesr wrote:
I do not see why people would buy an AT&T device and pay monthly for service for MIFI, this seems to be the same.

When you buy an iPhone, you have to buy a data plan which is expensive compared to what a 3rd party vendor like Millenicom can offer.

Millenicom's MiFi Hotspot gives you 20 GB/month for $70. You won't find that kind of deal buying direct from Verizon or AT&T.

Also, if you switch from 3G to 4G, you'll probably start using more, even much more, bandwidth because 4G can be VERY fast.

tvman44 wrote:
Isn't that called tethering and not allowed by most providers?

With a 4G iPhone it's built in. You just turn it on.

TechWriter wrote:

tvman44 wrote:
Isn't that called tethering and not allowed by most providers?

With a 4G iPhone it's built in. You just turn it on.

Tethering is available on my 3GS iPhone except since I'm on ATT the option is NOT available unless I signup for an additional plan totally separate from a data plan. I find this appalling. While I can understand not allowing tethering on an older unlimited plan, if I signup for a set amount data plan it's my business how I use it.

TechWriter wrote:

tvman44 wrote:
Isn't that called tethering and not allowed by most providers?

With a 4G iPhone it's built in. You just turn it on.

Correct... But it is an extra fee and when you activate it.. you get charged...


another option is an app like PDANet....

We have a shared plan. Unlimited text and talk with 4GB shared data on 3 iPhones. The plan is 70 per month and then each iPhone cost 40 per month per phone. Yes it sounds expensive but it's really not for the amount of service we are getting. From what I'am reading we are to going to be charged more just for turning on the personal hot spot feature. I also understand the overage charge if we exceeded the 4GB per month. AT&T has a very nice data usage calculator on their website. Downloading music and streaming video are the highest usage. It looks like with our plan we can surf the web for 300 hours per month plus email. Social media usage is even less unless you are posting pictures. Seems like we will be fine and happy campers now that we have dependable Internet service.