iPhone as CellPhone Modem

Here in the UK at least, on my Vodafone contract that includes data connection.  No special apps available (at least on App Store) or needed.

All you have to do is:

  • Go to iPhone’s [Settings > General > Network > Personal Hotspot] enable that function (default is OFF).
    • Select [WiFi & USB Only]
      • Unless you really want BlueTooth.  I choose instead to keep things simple cable.
    • Connect the iPhone to the computer via its USB cable.
      • On Windows 7 (which is what I have), a dialog opens asking if Private/Public.
        • I chose [Public] since it’s connecting to the internet.  I assume (don’t know for sure) that’s appropriate here.  The safer option in any case.

Background:

  • I assumed this was possible, as it had been with my previous phone, a Nokia N95, to just plug in the phone via USB and get any kind of internet connection via the phone’s cellular (e.g. 3G or Edge or WAP) connectivity.
  • Initial web-searches were daunting.  As far as I can make out, this is what (historically) happened:
    • In 2007/2008 an application called ??? appeared intermittently in the App Store, then finally dissappeared.
    • Other apps then appeared outside the App Store, intended for jailbreak -ed phones.
  • Instructions re the [Personal Hotspot] approach, which worked for me, were found at:

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 5th, 2012 at 18:19 and is filed under iPhone, wireless. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.