As soon as Apple released the iPhone OS 3.0 to developers, and new functions has been capturing a lot of attention: Internet Tethering. This function is quite simple: it turns your iPhone into a 3G modem, so you can browse the web from your computer via your iPhone.
Of course carriers will not allow such usage for free as it uses 3G bandwidth on their network. Well, you could argue that having an iPhone-bundled data subscription plan should give you the right to use the internet tethering function as part of your plan. Well, no; it is considered as "data', but it is not the same "data". Some users quickly developed hacks to bypass restrictions applied by carriers. It is relatively simple, however it is not clean and carriers can track your "illegal" data consumption via internet tethering.
In most EU countries unlimited data is often "limited" to 1 GB data transfer per month. Carriers are now offering option for using internet tethering on their network, either with a define volume of data per month, or as an "unlimited" format, limited to 2 GB/month. The reason behind such policies is the heavy bandwidth consumption linked to the number of iPhone in use, the delay for MMS support in USA by AT&T is a clear example of the limits of mobile internet devices when the hardware of the network is deployed accordingly to the number of mobile terminals. So, as it becomes a rare feature it automatically becomes more expensive than the usual standard options. This is the strategy followed by carriers, instead of simply limiting the internet speed available via the internet tethering function, while remaining a free service. Most carriers are now set in EU to charge around 20-25 Euro for an "unlimited" internet tethering option to be added to the usual 35-55 Euro/month for the standard "unlimited" subscription plans.
