Tethering your iPhone

According to Gizmodo, you can now tether your iPhone to your net-b or laptop. This is very interesting because of 2 factors (both of which will take some time to be clearly defined):

1. Will ATT charge for tethering on "unlimited" data plans? - (and if history proves anything - this will be a RESOUNDING "YES!" ATT is not interested in you maximizing your usage at the cost of a very lucrative additional revenue stream - say to the tune of $60/month for data on your laptop with a 3G card, so I can't imagine there won't at the very least be a "tethering fee" attached to this but we have to wait and see).

2. Will this push ATT & other providers to either offer more reasonable data plans, allow tethering or accelerate WiMax deployment? Again, no providers are incented in any way, shape or form to allow you to maximize a service you already pay for at the expense of another service they are getting revenue for today. I tend to believe - much like the explosive growth of netbooks, they may be forced to concede some ground on this. Ideally, they could bundle it into your voice plan, potentially subsidize a net-b or similar device and lock you up for a 2 year agreement therefore making you happy and contractual keeping you as a customer for 2 years at a higher monthly rate than phone/data plan only.

As the economy continues to lanquish, it will become more interesting each quarter as revenue expectations ratchet up on these companies. I will be watching this very closely and keep you posted as this evolves.

Hit me back with your thoughts.

Movie quote:

"I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God**** it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off."