A
twenty-year-old iPhone developer (and student) living in Ireland has
thrown caution to the wind by releasing screenshots confirming USB
tethering functionality with iPhone OS 3.0 beta. USB tethering allows a
cell phone to be used as a modem tethered to a computer for
establishing internet connection. The feature was mentioned by Scott
Forstall, Apple's Senior VP of iPhone Software at the iPhone 3.0 beta
preview on Tuesday.
Steve Troughton-Smith activated the iPhone-as-modem feature's by accident while tinkering with the iPhone 3.0 software beta on Wednesday quickly announcing his discovery on Twitter. He posted screenshots to TwitPic as proof claiming; "Not quite sure how I enabled tethering!"
A tethering connection in iPhone OS 3.0 is expected work via USB and Bluetooth, but carriers will have to decide whether to take on the excessive network burden and allow access. AT&T currently charges an additional monthly fee for their tethering service outside the US.
It seems that Troughton-Smith, anxious to share his tethering find may have also unwittingly challenged Apple's resolve to enforce their confidentiality agreement governing the use of pre-release software. The language Apple uses is definitely not ambiguous.
"Pre–release software is Apple confidential information. Your unauthorized distribution of pre–release software or disclosure of information relating to pre–release software (including the posting of screen shots) may subject you to both civil and criminal liability and result in immediate termination of your iPhone Developer Program Membership." Thanks to Darrell for the tip.
Steve Troughton-Smith has released five iPhone applications which include SameGame, Nuker, Speed and Lights Off. His latest is an iPhone Twitter application called Chalk announced as 'coming soon' on his website. Since Steve's screenshots have already been posted on dozens of wildly popular Apple news sites, it would be impossible to force that genie back into the bottle if Apple decides to take exception. With an official iPhone 3.0 release still months away, iPhone developers may want to be a tad more protective of Apple's privacy policy. Or not!
I've wanted this feature for such a long time (and don't really want to jailbreak my iphone!). I just hope o2 don't decide to charge extra for it.
Posted by: Ian C | March 23, 2009 at 04:55 AM