iPhone 3gs OS3.1 tethering on XT Network

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › iPhone 3gs OS3.1 tethering on XT Network

tonymck

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#52552 4-Dec-2009 09:26

Hi - you may be aware that when you update your iPhone via iTunes 9 to OS3.1 you lose the ability to use the phone as a modem for mobile broadband. I did this unwittingly some weeks ago and have been frustrated with the lack of response from either Telecom or Apple on when this would get resolved. I bought the iPhone on a Vodafone plan but was persuaded back to the XT network by Telecom. I also got rid of my T-stick as I had a plan with broadband included for the iPhone and knew I could use it for this purpose. I travel a lot and really need to have mobile broadband so you can imagine how frustrating it became. Fortunately, my Vodafone plan included free broadband for three months so I was swapping out my SIMs to still use the phone for broadband but this has now ended.

So, reluctantly I started looking for ways to get back to tethering with Telecom and was lucky enough to find this site and its instructions for how to do this.
http://www.iclarified.com/entry/comments.php?page=3&enid=5885#commentsanchor

Unfortunately I believe this has involved 'jailbreaking' my phone using the blackra1n software but desperate times mean desperate measures! I have now got tethering back and posted this message via my iPhone. The process was incredibly painless in that I simply installed blackra1n, installed the
sn0w application on my phone and it reset and voila! It may have been that because I had already installed the IPCC file that was posted on Geekzone that I didn't have to change any other settings as that is all I have done. I will post an update after a few days if I have any further problems but am really pleased to be back in the world of mobile broadband via XT as the Vodafone's mobile broadband is sooooo sloooow!

Cheers
Tony

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#279230 4-Dec-2009 10:21

Hi Tony

Vodafone 3G mobile Broadband is not slow please review the Below thread

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=45681

You must be moving out of the Vodafone 3G 2100mhz coverage and moving onto the Vodafone 2G GPRS network as the iphone does not support 900mhz WCDMA

Telecom XT %100 850mhz WCDMA with few 2100mhz WCDMA sites

Vodafone 3G is a mix of 900/2100mhz WCDMA

John

Behodar

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#279234 4-Dec-2009 10:26

tonymck: I ... have been frustrated with the lack of response from either Telecom or Apple on when this would get resolved.

You and me both! I've had a bug report open with Apple for about two months now but they're in no hurry to reply to it...

johnr

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#279236 4-Dec-2009 10:28

Behodar:
tonymck: I ... have been frustrated with the lack of response from either Telecom or Apple on when this would get resolved.

You and me both! I've had a bug report open with Apple for about two months now but they're in no hurry to reply to it...

Its not a bug its working as designed

Behodar

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#279238 4-Dec-2009 10:34

The argument I used in my bug report is that if the phone is sold unlocked and not tied to a carrier, then there shouldn't be any carrier-specific restrictions such as "thou shalt only use tethering with Vodafone".

I don't know whether Apple will accept that argument, but either way I'm still waiting for a reply from them.

tonymck

16 posts

Geek

#279239 4-Dec-2009 10:37

All I know is when I use XT for mobile broadband websites load fast and when I use Vodafone they are slow! Was using Vodafone in Napier y'day and used XT this morning in Hamilton - guess which is faster?

boby55

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#279240 4-Dec-2009 10:44

Wasn't there a speed issue with the iphone and 2100?

Has this been fixed yet or still an issue?

johnr

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#279244 4-Dec-2009 10:47

boby55: Wasn't there a speed issue with the iphone and 2100?

Has this been fixed yet or still an issue?

Long time ago

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

sbiddle

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#279275 4-Dec-2009 11:48

Behodar: The argument I used in my bug report is that if the phone is sold unlocked and not tied to a carrier, then there shouldn't be any carrier-specific restrictions such as "thou shalt only use tethering with Vodafone".

I don't know whether Apple will accept that argument, but either way I'm still waiting for a reply from them.

Apple wouldn't accept that argument.

The tethering restrictions exist because of Apple's business model for the devices. There are large numbers of carriers who charge for tethering or do not offer the service (AT&T) and these carriers have essentially dictated to Apple that they want provisions in the software to stop people from being able to bypass these restrictions.

Apple aren't going to change anything. People just need to accept that by buying an Apple product, even if you're buying it outright, that you're buying a closed product. That's how Apple operate.

taniat

18 posts

Geek

#280350 8-Dec-2009 12:21

What is loaded on the iphones the Apple store is selling right now, OS3.0 or 3.1?

I was just about to buy an iphone for my Telecom plan and tethering was one of my key criteria as I occasionally need to download email files to my laptop when I can't access broadband and I don't want to fork out $100 for a stick as I'm only on prepay data.

My second choice is a Nokia E71. Does it have the same problem?

taniat

18 posts

Geek

#280353 8-Dec-2009 12:29

Am I missing something here ... here is the info on the Apple NZ website that says you can use it for tethering ...

http://www.apple.com/nz/iphone/iphone-3gs/tethering.html

LennonNZ

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#280356 8-Dec-2009 12:33

OS 3.1.2 is the default now with the latest boot firmware which means a tethered jailbreak only (if you jailbreak it you have to run blackra1n each time for it to reboot).

The phone may be sold as Carrier unlocked but certain fucntionality IS carrier unlocked (the tethering) to you could say it still is carrier locked to certain carriers.

So 3.1.2 OTB
blackrain jailbreak
reboot (run blackrta1n again)
install cydia
install "internet tethering" from cydia
install carrier bundle
reboot (run blackra1n again)
and you have a working Iphone on Telecom with Tethering

downside.. if you have to reboot it you need a computer with blackra1n with you!

tonymck

16 posts

Geek

#280366 8-Dec-2009 12:48

Hi LennonNZ - I haven't found this to be the case. I used the carrier bundle when I first got the iphone and before the OS upgrade. Since upgrading I used blackra1n straight from the web and chose the sn0w option rather than cydia and have had it going now since I started this post and no reboot or problems touch wood!

As an aside - has anyone successfully paired an iPhone via bluetooth and then used it for data connection?

LennonNZ

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#280367 8-Dec-2009 12:52

Yes. but if you have a new iphone now with 3.1.2 with latest boot firmware then a tethered jailbreak only works . Also here are big problems with a lot of people with snow as it kills wireless alot of times. sn0w is not needed for NZ Phones anyway as they are "carrier unlocked". Its only needed if you have for example a US Iphone which onyl works with AT&T.

anway if Apple didn't carrier lock their Phones then it would be alot easier.

taniat

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#280375 8-Dec-2009 13:11

So tethering is perfectly legal in NZ and Apple NZ says it is still possible under the new operating system ...http://www.apple.com/nz/iphone/softwareupdate/ I don't think the "Not currently offered in the U.S. and some other countries. See your carrier for availability." covers it given it's the phone and not the carrier that is blocking it!

Maybe this is false advertising Apple????

LennonNZ

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#280377 8-Dec-2009 13:20

it is neither legal or non-legal. Its up to the carrier to the "official" carriers to say yes or no if its allowed. If you are using the iPhone with a non official carrier then that carrier can't turn it on and its off by default with no way of turning it on.

The turning on and off with 3.1.2 for example is based on a carrier file with a cryptographic key inside it which they check for that certain carrier allows it or not based on the SIm card id for that carrier.

If apple (which they won't) make up a carrier bundle with the right key inside it to allow tethering then it will work but apple have not done this for Telecom (as they are not an official carrier)

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