Posted on June 20, 2009 - by Dr. Div

How to share your iPhone’s Internet Connection with your Mac/PC

Warning: This feature does not work on iPhone OS 3.1. However, if you have already upgraded to OS 3.1. BenM website provides a video that shows how to downgrade your phone to 3.0.

Thanks to the new “Tethering” feature of the new iPhone 3.0 OS, since its release on June 17th, now you can share your 3G internet connection with your computer. A software developed by BenM.at does the job within seconds.

Here is what you do:

1. Update your iPhone OS to version 3.0 from iTunes.
2. Open this link on your safari browser on your iPhone: http://help.benm.at/help.php
3. Click “download” on the mobileconfigs button and select your country and carrier. (USA / AT&T for example)
4. After the installation is complete, restart your iphone.
5. Go the to settings > general settings > network > Internet tethering > “ON”
6. As you connect to your computer via usb or bluetooth, a new network connection (en4) appears on your network connections.
7. Click “Connect to network” and there you have it!

Setting the network on a Mac via Bluetooth:

I find this very useful as bluetooth is cable-free and best option for the on-the-go mac users.

1. First thing you have to do is make sure your iPhone is paired to your macbook.
2. Click on the bluetooth icon on your status bar.
3. Click on the paired iPhone on the list and select “Connect to Network”
4. Note that on your iPhone you’ll see a blue bar that reads “Internet Tethering”.
5. You should be online now. Enjoy!

How is the Speed?
I was quite impressed with the tethered internet speed. I was even able to have a video chat on Skype with a decent frame rate. As I did an internet speed test on the tethered connection, I found out that iPhone’s 3G (via Bluetooth) got a higher rank than 56K Dialup. Wow!

Here are the bandwith test results:(via CNET Bandwith Meter)

Important Note: According to Apple website, although tethering is a new feature offered on the OS 3 for both 3G and 3GS, it is yet to be supported in the US due to carrier restrictions. However, from personal experience there doesn’t seem to be any extra charges with AT&T.