Apple iPhone MMS Delayed, Coming Sept, Tethering $55 Extra

By on Jul 9, 2009 at 11:40 am

iPhone Tethering with AT&TEXCLUSIVE: We originally brought you the story last month stating MMS and tethering would be coming in July. AT&T responded directly to our story and stated it would be delayed. Well those stories are true as MMS and tethering are now coming in September. The controversy over tethering pricing remains the same. Tethering for iPhone will cost $55 on top of the current iPhone data plans.

MMS will be included with the current text messaging plans.

There you have it folks.

Update: 3:46 PM PST: Our source is from an undisclosed reputable AT&T employee.

Update: 9/23/09 at 3:51 PM PST: AT&T Announces MMS will be available Friday September 25th.

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Filed: Hardware • iPhone • News • Updates • Utilities
  • chris

    I saw the Facebook post by AT&T, responding to Appmodo's claims… <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ATT?v=app_7146470109” target=”_blank”>http://www.facebook.com/ATT?v=app_7146470109 "There are a lot of reports out there, but wanted you guys to know that rumors of $55 tethering plan on top of an unlimited data plan are false. We’ll have more news to share when the iPhone tethering option is closer to launch." If what you say is true, then they are making themselves out to be a bunch of liars… of course it's now July and September is a few months away and they have plenty of time to change their minds. $55/mo just for tethering (on top of their already ridiculous rates) is appalling.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/dukenetworks chris

    I saw the Facebook post by AT&T… http://www.facebook.com/ATT?v=app_7146470109 "There are a lot of reports out there, but wanted you guys to know that rumors of $55 tethering plan on top of an unlimited data plan are false. We’ll have more news to share when the iPhone tethering option is closer to launch." If what you say is true, then they are making themselves out to be a bunch of liars… of course it's now July and September is a few months away and they have plenty of time to change their minds. $55/mo just for tethering (on top of their already ridiculous rates) is appalling.

  • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/dukenetworks chris
  • http://softwaremaven.innerbrane.com Travis Jensen

    Jailbreak it, then use it as a SOCKS proxy and get web tethering for free. However, I’d be more inclined to believe it is $55 total ($25 more).

  • SlappyJoe

    Where have you been ? This $55/month was been debunked by AT&T the day it was falsely reported (Mid June). In this day and age, you (Jason) really need to be far more current with your information…

    • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/themediaguy Jason

      Our source has brought this information to us once again and we stand by it, regardless of what PR information AT&T has posted on their Facebook page- honestly, is that a real way to issue a statement?

  • http://geekfun.com eas

    Given that AT&T charges users of other smartphones $60 for smartphone data+tethering or a stand-alone 3G modem, $55+$30 for the iPhone data plan seems ridiculous, unless it comes with a much higher transfer cap. If it is an additional $55 then anyone sane will be looking at just getting a 3G modem and data plan for $60/month from a number of carriers.

  • Chris Wanja
  • Chris Wanja

    AT&T has responded to your posts, which I made on their Facebook page. Check it out here: http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=8576093908&…

  • Marc M

    AT&T by the 'sensitive parts' over there. Here in Hong Kong my telco (3 HK) messaged me before the release of 3.0 to register for MMS (at no extra cost). If someone like AT&T tried that here, there'd be people with burning torches converging on their offices. I mean, really? MMS is a big deal? Tethering is a big deal? Sheesh!

  • awatte00

    I think you (appmodo) need to get ur facts together before posting stuff at least then you will get it right hopefully. You have caused a lot of problems by posting this, more complaints and whining. Were you just trying to be a trend on twitter? Please read AT&T reply to ur false post http://www.facebook.com/ATT?v=app_7146470109

  • awatte00

    I think you (appmodo) need to get ur facts together before posting stuff at least then you will get it right hopefully. You have caused a lot of problems by posting this, more complaints and whining. Were you just trying to be a trend on twitter? Please read AT&T reply to ur false post http://www.facebook.com/ATT?v=app_7146470109

  • awatte00

    Hopefully you wont take my post the wrong way as I wasn't trying to discredit you (appmodo) as i do really enjoy ur site and follow it daily

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/dukenetworks chris

      Just sounds as though there are conflicting reports within the AT&T empire. One employee tells Appmodo one thing, while their PR dept says another. Who to believe…

  • Sarah

    Agreed. Facebook is a ridiculous way to issue a statement for any real company. While it's okay (and even good) to "join the convo" on social networks, that doesn't mean you get to be lazy and avoid normal media relations/formalities. Instead, you should have posted a statement on the AT&T site, and contacted this reporter with a spokesperson who could directly answer questions and be held responsible. As it stands, who do I believe more, the reporter, or the giant corporation hiding behind a some intern on Facebook?

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/dukenetworks chris

      Well said, Sarah. I guess we'll all find out the answer in Sept now.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/chartier chartier

      Facebook wasn't the only place this statement went up. It was a press release which just happened to get syndicated to Facebook since—surprise—it has over 200 million monthly active users. Ever wonder how many user visit AT&T's press area?

    • Robert C. McGill

      I'd put money down that releasing the information on Facebook reached many more customers than a Press Release on the pretty obscure newsroom section of their website would have ever reached.

      • Fuma

        many more customers or are their target customers? they ported on facebook and twitter because we are those customers, i don’t trust the people that stand to make money from me. they only make as much money as you let them, besides it should be a free feature.

  • http://www.cribq.com Alex N

    Personally, I'd be pretty happy with $55. I pay $70 to Sprint right now.

    • Robert C. McGill

      @alex: Jason is claiming $55 /on top/ of the existing data plan, which is just ludicrous and pretty unbelievable. So far he's been unable to substantiate anything he's claimed (ie. if the source is an AT&T employee, a 3rd party reseller, or a bum on the street). He's given his readers 0 reason to believe anything he's claiming, especially in the face of a pretty straightforth public denial by the company. There are three possibilties: 1. Jason's "anonymous source" is lying to him and he has taken the bait hook line and sinker (possible, given the unknown nature of this individual) 2. Jason is purposefully lying himself to get page views (unknown, I don't know jason nor have I ever read anything else by this website.) 3. AT&T is lying in the most public of ways, something that's almost criminal, negligent, and at the very least, morally dubious. The likelyhood of the PR department of a billion dollar company to blatantly lie on this scale over such a public issue not once, but twice on the exact same issue is extremely *unlikely*.

  • Alexis N. Mueller

    From a marketing standpoint, what is going on here is probably a simple anchoring leak. Step 1: Wait for the inevitable semi-credible rumor (to leak) about an unreasonably high price. Step 2: Respond to the unreasonably high number by categorically denying the rumor. Step 3: Keep (leaking and) denying slightly lower numbers. Step 4: Release the product at an only marginally unreasonable price that seems acceptable only based on the anchor bias compared to the original unreasonable price. Step 5: Profit. Step 6: Use the hype for the next product to overshadow the grumbling from the last product. Step 7: Repeat steps 1-6. -A.

  • http://www.cribq.com Alex N

    @Robert – I know that. I pay $70 for mobile broadband (because I need it), plus $30 for iPhone data. I'd certainly be happier paying $85 total for data. That's well within the market price, and mobile broadband is indeed a competitive market. Why do iPhone owners think their entitled to everything they want at the price they name? You get an incredible device at a highly subsidized price, and then whine when you don't get your free compass upgrade. Now you want unlimited broadband on your laptop and phone for $30 a month. You can't even get that on a land-line. People are probably going to complain when they get shut down for tethering their iPhone to their wifi router and giving unlimited broadband to the neighborhood for their $30. $30 per month for tethering would be a great steal, but you're not entitled to it.

    • Robert C. McGill

      I think they're just expecting data+tethering to be on par with what AT&T charges for their other smartphone data+tethering plans (Blackberry) which is around $60, not $85+.

  • http://appmodo.com jason

    Our information comes from a reputable source from within AT&T. I have confidence that the information tip is factual an is not a lie or an attempt for site hits, etc.

  • John

    I do not believe you.

  • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/chartier chartier

    No source, and AT&T already stated that $55 is wrong. Plus: September 25 is technically the last day of summer. AT&T has stated since the beginning that MMS is coming "late summer." Complete bullshit.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/dukenetworks chris

      Guess we'll all find out soon enough who was right, eh? Watch AT&T make it $54.99 just to prove Appmodo wrong LOL

    • Erika

      Technically, the final day of summer is 22 September, buddy. So it's the "late summer" part that's bullshit.

  • Tom Fryman

    data tethering would have to be VERY fast and very reliable to get $360 from me each year. This is a good one to take a wait and see approach on. Too bad its so pricey.

  • GuardianAli

    Everyone is concentrating and talking about the tethering. what about the MMS? I cant believe its 2009, i have a ‘state of the art’ smartphone i pay a ridiculous amount to not only buy but pay for the service..and i cant get MMS. At the very least there should be a discount on our service plan till MMS is enabled. And once it is then go back to normal price. Stupid that a crappy clamshell flip phone can have mms on its small screen and i cant.

    • Justin

      Nuff said. It’s more then ludicrous and it makes NO sense. And if you think about it too much it’s enough to make one a little mad.

  • http://jayjennings.com Jay Jennings

    Alex – Why should I have to pay ANY extra for tethering? Bits are bits so why should AT&T care if the data stops at my iPhone screen or goes on to my laptop? As long as I don’t cross the 5gb per month cap on the data plan, they shouldn’t care at all. Jay Jennings

  • SlappyJoe

    We are moving from Verizon (Treo) to AT&T (iPhone) 45 units…Our local AT&T Rep told us tethering will be available at the end of the summer for $15 on top of ANY existing iPhone plan….this is the SAME price as BlackBerry tethering….and I DO believe him….

  • chessah

    Sat July 18th 1pm CST: I just spoke with AT&T Business Customer Service. They confirmed my question about MMS starting tomorrow Sunday July 19th. I had read this date on Apples site during my 3.0 update. It has since been removed. In addition, I called a friend who works at AT&T Tech Support in Houston and she also confirms that July 19th is the MMS roll out date. It appears as though this may be for Texas only, as an advanced Beta test. IF this happens tomorrow, i'll post again with an update. As with SlappyJoe, I too was informed the teathering fee would be an additional $15 on a business account.

  • Jason

    Thank you for the tip Chessah! Please keep us informed.

  • http://cwanja.com Chris Wanja

    I’d like the confirm that in Texas, Houston does my have MMS and even the view my message website sucks and can not even view messages from iPhone. AT&T is just pissing me off more and more.

  • http://cwanja.com Chris Wanja

    Apologize, does not have MMS…my bad for the typo.

  • David

    It's the 24th now… update?

  • http://buddymarks.com/bookmarksrss.php?id=plrproducts93475 Affiliate Profits Club

    Never really looked at the information like that before. Thanks!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/chessah chessah

    Sorry for the delay folks. I got hospitalized unexpectedly. I DID get MMS on July 19th, but for only 10 mins. Even the icon changed on the application. But then NADA! I spoke with ATT again today, who still insist MMS is in trials (advanced Beta) in Texas only and sunscribers chosen at random. I was asked for feedback, to which I laughed and asked them to hook me up for longer than 10 minutes and I can answer the question. . I may get another chance and if so, will post here. Cheers!

  • Larry G

    I would want to tether to my Macbook maybe 3-4 times a month, and I would not increase my bandwidth usage by much either – it would mostly be if my wife needs to log into her work via CITRIX when we are not at home. There is NO way I would pay an additional $55 on top of the $30 I already pay for data. I might be willing to pay another $20-30, but as it is the AT&T phone service sucks so badly that I am just waiting for Verizon to get the iPhone so I can dump ATT.

  • Bruce Wayne

    I find it funny that we have this phone that was supposed to blow all the other phones out of the water and here we are with a phone that can make fart noises and order pizzas. and something as simple as MMS is so dificult that $50-$70 phones that are supposed to be inferior to the iPhone have more going on with video and MMS. I thnk its dumb that iPhone users didnt get the option to have a video camera with hte 3.0 update. I just want to see my iPhone be the super device it was promised to be!

  • Knight

    I think that they could get away with making our Data plan $40 instead of $30, but include teathering. But that would make too much sense lol

  • nunya

    all i can say is just jailbreak………. my iphone is now capable of mms and tethering without adding programs. im just stuck trying to get it to send the mms. i know i can change my features and get the mms but i want to know the difference between iphone plan and regular unlimited data plan …….. they both cost the same only one come with mms

  • Just my $0.02

    AT&T is actively blocking MMS from the iPhone currently. I have it enabled on my iphone and if I swap the sim into another phone and then back into my iphone I can send/receive about 5 MMS messages before it is blocked again. I also have internet tethering working on my iphone and have not received additional charges from AT&T because of it. BTW-Both of these work WITHOUT jailbreaking.

  • guest

    I'm so excited to hear we are FINALLY geting MMS…I have had trouble trusting AT&T (because of some bad past experience) so I really hope they keep their word this time, without any shady stuff

  • Sweet Jones

    My iPhone alrady teathers!

  • Bryan

    MMS will be available in September after Apple announce September 8th conference OS 3.1

  • megan

    I asked AT&T directly if tethering would cost extra and they said if you pay for unlimited data, no.

  • http://www.yongyivalves.com safety valve

    I find this article very good, so I know a lot of things, to further its understanding of

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    I have an apple i pod. It's great to use. The video recording is great and the best part of this i-pod is the sound clarity while recording.

  • http://www.cygnismedia.com/mobile-phone-application/iphone-application.html iPhone Application Development

    finally this issue solved in oct 2009 now there is more issues in apple store as well

  • http://www.callingcards4you.com/att_calling_cards.html at&t calling cards

    AT&T already stated that $55 is wrong. Facebook is a ridiculous way to issue a statement for any real company. While it’s okay (and even good) to “join the convo” on social networks, that doesn’t mean you get to be lazy and avoid normal media relations/formalities. Instead, you should have posted a statement on the AT&T site, and contacted this reporter with a spokesperson who could directly answer questions and be held responsible.

  • Richfinerty

    McGill what evidence are you basing this on? You seem to want to believe what you want to believe and YOU cant provide any evidence to back yourself up. Keep in real