Got a Blackberry Playbook at Christmas and am quite impressed with it.

I note that it tethers to my Blackberry phone. I have a pay monthly plan with 500 Mb of data.

I rang Orange a few weeks ago and the lady told me that it was OK to use the Playbook to tether to my phone as long as I don't go above the 500 Mb (unlikely as I only am going to be using it occasionally).

However, I have seen a few threads talking about extra tethering costs on Orange and I don't want to go incur extra costs. So have others used their Playbook (or other tablet) without extra cost.

The alternative is to get a Mobile Broadband package at only (£5 a month with a mobile broadband wireless devie)

I too got a Playbook around Christmas and love it.

I use Blackberry Bridge to link to my Blackberry phone rather than tethering, dont think this would incur any extra charges as long as you stay within your plan.

I am sure that if you use the Blackberry Bridge to connect to the blackberry then it uses a Bluetooth connection and wouldn't incur any data charges anyway

But what I am talking about here is if I use the Playbook away from a wifi connection. Yes I can connect the Playbook via bluetooth via Blackberry Bridge but it also can be tethered (again by Bluetooth) to the phone. It works quite fast as well. Not been charged up to now. I just don't suddenly want to be landed with a load of extra data charges....! And how would they know that the phone was using a tethered connection anyhow???

Personally I would ring Orange again, (I believe they do have a way of being able to tell if your phone is used for tethering) if you get the same answer that it is okay as long you don't go over your data then I would ask them to email/text me with this answer.
If it is the case then they shouldnt object to putting it in writing.
Unless its in writing or you have a recording of the call then I wouldn't trust them.

That's what a playbook was designed to do, it's an extension of your phone rather than the convention tethering sort of thing like to laptops, I don't believe that when you use your blackberry bridge it registers as anything other than a blackberry phone to the network.

Rang again today (overseas call centre) Was told that as long as I keep within the 500 Mb limit then I am OK.

Anything over is £4 per Mb!!!! (Ouch!)

I got my PlayBook when released in June and was unsure whether I'd be charged for tethering. Called orange, they weren't 100% sure but thought it was included. Best way to know for sure is to tether and browse a few web sites, log into orange online a few days later and check if you've been charged.

I went over 1Gb once and they didn't charge me a penny. I prefer to tether when ever possible due to the faster connection; this is due to the fact that whilst tethered you aren't using RIM's servers. Of course data access via bridge is perfect for those that would incur charges as it's part of your inclusive data package.

does blackberry bridge come installed on the playbook?? Also if you are out of reach of wifi will you be able to get online with your playbook via the data plan that you have with your blackberry phone??

Yes it does and yes you can use your data plan via your phone but check your tariff details first. Orange have confirmed twice that I can use mine but if I go over 500 Mb then it'll be £3 per Mb (ouch!)

I called Orange a few days ago to ask about tethering from my iphone 4. They said that there was a charge, I can't remember what it was but I then asked if I could have it for free, they said yes and have given me 1GB per month as of next month without me having to start a new contract. Btw I only have a few weeks left on my contract, but have no intention in upgrading for a while as I a happy with the phone I already have. Don't ask, don't get!

If you get your iphone4 to tether with your playbook, let me know the secret

I don't have a Playbook, my point was to ask Orange if they could add a tethering bundle free of charge to the OP's exisiting pay monthly plan. It worked for me. I'm aware this might not work for all customers.