Hi,

I'm currently with Tesco mobile but, after getting the new iPad yesterday, I've noticed that I cannot tether the iPad as the option is not there. Now I know that when I was on virgin mobile not long ago, the option was definitely there.

Reading up on it, it looks as though Tesco blocks this service and there are no plans to introduce it.

This has had me looking at the 3 network. I've been with them before. Speeds were good in my area, as was signal. The customer service just took a bit to be desired!

I've noticed they have a £15 tarrif (obviously I'd cut my sim down as I have a microsim cutter, what's up with networks charging a couple of quid extra a month for the privilege of a smaller sim?)

This tarrif includes all you can eat data but specifically says in the small print that tethering is not allowed and is only allowed on the one plan.
Now I just wanted to know whether anyone on these plans can verify if the tethering option is available on an iPhone4 and whether it works? I'd only be using it in extremely rare cases so its just nice to know that I have the option to do it if I need to.

Thanks

I suspect one of two things will happen

1. The tethering option will be locked down much like it is for you on Tesco or
2. When you attempt to browse you will be directed to a web page saying tethering is not permitted

If your tesco signal is ok you may want to look at O2 who do allow tethering with their data bolt ons and would be ok for occasional use. Only downside is no all you can eat data and it is unlikely you will get as many minutes as 3 would offer

Someone will be along shortly to sing giffgaff's virtues in a bid to spam their affiliate link to get a free fiver and in spite of their major outage yesterday

My father has the £15 a month 3 deal and he can tether his phone to his laptop. It says you can't, but it works perfectly well and the speeds are pretty decent.

You cannot tether on the All you can eat data plans (Apart from One plan). You will just get redirected to a page saying you need to buy a tethering plan.

You can tether for short periods (browsing and email) on the AYCD package but if you start downloading big files then you will be cut off.

I can't verify the getting cut off part (thankfully!), and I'm not on an iPhone, but my S2 has a three PAYG sim in it and I can tether it no problem. I only use it very occasionally and the amount of data I use is usually small, so as long as you don't take the mickey it should be fine.

Unless they have something special in place for the iPhone, of course...

I don’t know how much you download but if you are thinking about the 3 network I recommend using one of their 12GB, 12 month expiry PAYG sims.

I brought one from the 3 site last August and have only used 4GB so far, so it will last the year out for me and I would say that’s a bargain, £54 for a whole years mobile BB.

The price of the sims keep changing from week to week, I assume due to demand or the lack of it so you have to keep visiting their site and wait for the best deal as when I last checked the prices there it was £74 that said I used to buy the 3 month expiry sims on EBay with no problems and over on that site last week the 12GB, 12 month sims were going for £38.

There is no problem of tethering with these sims as they are sold for mobile internet and are one of the same that you would get if you brought a Mifi from 3 on PAYG.

You will of course have to cut these sims.

You can't tether unless you're on the one plan.

I recommend the 12 month data sim as well.

Funny that as i had my AYCD tethered last night and last week and im not on the One plan.

If you are on a plan where Tethering isn't permitted then you usually get redirected to a page like this:

https://twitter.com/#!/c00k1e181992/...490048/photo/1

its against the T&C. People either get redirected to that page ^ straight off, or get away with it at first, then get redirected to that page.

But tbh if you only tether now and then and in small amounts three won't cut you off.

Funnily enough I've just been into a Three shop to try and get to the bottom of this. I have been looking at the SIM 600 1 month 1GB plan for my iPhone. Now, on their website all the "all you can eat" plans (apart from the One Plan) explicitly say no tethering, so I assumed that the other plans allow tethering. I went into the shop to buy a micro sim with the SIM 600 plan (£17 rolling one month) only to be told you can only tether that plan by buying the bolt on (or whatever Three call them) for £5 as well. He made a phone call somewhere to confirm this as well and I suspect he's probably right. Given how much more you get for another £3 on the One Plan it seemed a no brainer to go for that instead which is what I've done.

If people just follow the terms of the contract they agreed to there won't be a problem.

O2 include tethering in all their data bolt ons. as do Orange, well mine includes tethering on Orange

if your jb on the iphone just use mywi and then 3 dont have a clue if your tethering or not

If you use a lot of data and they investigate they can still tell you know. It just won't trigger the automatic page.

If lots of people abuse / cheat then the networks are likely to stop these plans for everybody and go back to set limits. Why not pay for what you want to use or just abide by the agreement you accepted.

Or just stay on tesco, jailbreak and use mi-wi cos then it will allow tethering and again they wont know, plus u will have to stay within the limit so it wont hammer the network

Vodafone includes tethering on all sim only tariffs as well

T-mobile do as well, I upgraded last year and got a deal of them of £20 a month free phone, unlimited text unlimited calls, unlimited internet and tethered laptop from day one with no probs at all.

i have a £15, 15 Gb pm plan on my Galaxy Tab which I use for tethering. works quite well too, however, it isnt a phone plan and I get charged for calls on it.

None sense I have the 3 AYC £15 per month on payg and I tether to iPad reasonably frequently without issue