Confirmed: iOS 4.3 Personal Hotspot To Be Free On Rogers/Fido With 1GB & Higher Data Plan

By Ex on March 2nd, 2011 87

When Apple released the early betas of iOS 4.3, the Personal Hotspot feature caught the eye of many iPhone owners. We all wondered whether the feature would be available in Canada, and even more importantly, would it be free?

For those that don’t remember, Personal Hotspot is a new feature in iOS 4.3 that enables users to create a local, personal WiFi hotspot using the iPhone 4′s 3G connection in order to connect other WiFi-capable devices to the web.

Apple has also indicated that users can share the connection with up to five devices at once over WiFi, Bluetooth, and USB — with up to three of those connections using Wi-Fi.

If you have a jailbroken iPhone, this functionality will sound familiar if you use MyWi. The main difference here is that Personal Hotspot does not require a jailbreak.

Works In Canada

Early on the iOS 4.3 beta, it was confirmed that Personal Hotspot would work in Canada. Canadians installed the new beta firmware on their iPhone 4 devices and were easily able to create a WiFi hotspot without any fuss. Shortly afterward, Rogers confirmed that the feature would be supported in Canada for Rogers/Fido customers.

The next question was if the feature would be free or would the Canadian carriers charge a fee? Until now, Rogers did not release any specific pricing information.

Works In Canada…For Free!

After the iPad 2 reveal this morning during Apple’s media event, Rogers  confirmed that Personal Hotspot in iOS 4.3 will be available to Rogers/Fido customers who have a 1GB or higher data plan for free.

In other words, Rogers is following their existing tethering policy that requires users to have a 1GB or higher data plan to tether. Anything less than 1GB, and you will be unable to tether or use Personal Hotspot.

…Mobile hotspot on iOS 4.3 will be enabled on the Rogers network and will follow our current tethering policy. This feature will be available at no additional charge for Rogers and Fido customers who subscribe to data plans of 1GB and above.

This is great news for Rogers and Fido customers!

While Telus/Bell/Virgin have not announced anything specific yet, it is safe to say that if Rogers/Fido are offering Personal Hotspot for free based on their existing tethering policy, the former three companies will follow with their respective tethering policies.

What Does This Mean For Me?

In short, this means that if you were so inclined, you could purchase a WiFi-only iPad, for example, and using your iPhone 4 with Personal Hotspot, you can connect your iPad and four other WiFi-capable devices to the web using your existing iPhone 4 data plan!

Of course using such a setup outside of Canada would deliver expensive roaming charges, but within Canada, it’s a perfect fit.

Reports on iPhone news, reviews apps and accessories. Also an armed ninja with an iPhone 4S.

Did you like the post?

Related Posts

Recent Posts

← Older Comments
  • Anonymous

    Well, that basically decided whether to get the 3G version of the iPad or not… going to save my money and get the WiFi-only version and use my 6GB plan on my iPhone to provide non-WiFi bandwidth.

  • Anonymous

    I would actually not want any tethering with that plan. It is suppose to be for very lite usage whenever you don’t have a Wifi connection around.
    If you are using between 500mb-> 1gb data monthly then just get a regular 1gb plan through retentions and have the tethering.

  • Michele

    This feauture will work on Iphone 3G?

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

    No

  • Zac

    I wonder if you can FaceTime, while your iPhone is connected to your personal hotspot. That’d be pretty legit

  • Anonymous

    No. iOS 4.3 will not be available for the 3G

  • Anonymous

    You cannot use FaceTime on the iPhone that is broadcasting the wifi hotspot. But FaceTime will work on the other devices which are connected to that hotspot.

  • Marco

    Strictly is not free…. you all ready paid for it…

  • Modedan

    What is better to use. Personal hotspot or tethering ? I don’t understand.

  • Zoyd

    How do I get the personal hotspot to work? I use a laptop at home and would like to test it out!
    Thanks

  • Zoyd

    How do I get the persoal hotspot to work on my iphone 4? I have a laptop I would like to test this on

  • Anonymous

    Well what do you know……for once Canadians aren’t going to get screwed over this. AT&T is apparently going to charge $20.00 a month for this feature! Sucks to be an American on their network

  • Craig

    Hotspot = multiple devices & over wifi so bigger range.
    Tethering typically one device at a time.
    Unsure, but obviously for USB cable tethering, which is better for battery life.

    Enjoy !

  • Craig

    Hotspot = multiple devices & over wifi so bigger range.
    Tethering typically one device at a time.
    Unsure, but obviously for USB cable tethering, which is better for battery life.

    Enjoy !

  • twowheeledsmurf

    I downloaded 4.3 for my 3GS and Personal Hotspot appeared in ‘Settings’. I turned off wi-fi on the phone, disconnected my laptop from the net and connected the iphone to the laptop. It recognized the iPhone and I was now surfing on the laptop via the iphone. I wouldn’t be downloading movies with it but it’s nice to know it’s an option. So… it DOES work with the 3GS…

  • Langis

    Will the reverse be true, if I use my iPod Touch will I be able to connect to the internet using Personal Hotspot offered through my iPad 3G with a 5GB data plan?

  • Sorianoacura

    Go to settings>general>network >personal hotspot turn it on.. Enjoy!!

  • Cdubb80

    you are tethering via USB or bluetooth, not “Wifi hotspot”

  • http://twitter.com/Asherek Sri

    Incorrect, the iPad can most definitely piggy back off the iPhone’s GPS.

    http://ca.gizmodo.com/5782674/wi+fi-ipad-2-gains-gps-powers-when-tethered-to-iphone

  • Pingback: Rogers: Personal Hotspot Free with 1GB+ Data Plans • Web Geek Haven

  • Nofkinggood

    AWWWWSOME

  • Nofkinggood

    I have a friend with the 3gs w/4.3 and no luck. There is no “personal hotspot” showing in the settings.

  • Lalakitigasin

    This is the best!!!! Goodbye cydia!! no more jailbreaking

  • Seminar2010

     Can I have use it on my Ipad too?

  • Tkw451

    Will hotspot work for Rogers pay as you go customers on a prepaid data add on?

  • Tkw451

    Will hotspot work for Rogers pay as you go customers on a prepaid data add on?

  • Tkw451

    Will hotspot work for Rogers pay as you go customers on a prepaid data add on?

  • ingenious

    other then the iphone doesn’t support the communication bandwidth that the smaller companies use.

  • ingenious

    other then the iphone doesn’t support the communication bandwidth that the smaller companies use.

  • ingenious

    other then the iphone doesn’t support the communication bandwidth that the smaller companies use.

  • ingenious

    other then the iphone doesn’t support the communication bandwidth that the smaller companies use.

  • Jay

    Does seem to only be pseudo-support. I have 4.3.5 on Rogers, 3GS. I see the personal hotspot in place of tethering, but the instructions remain the same, regarding using Bluetooth or USB tethering, and I don’t see it as wifi.

    I was hoping for this as i’d like to tether my ps3 when working out of town.

    I will not jailbreak this, unless I keep it after I upgrade to iPhone 4 soon, and then it’s a moot point.

  • Jay

    Does seem to only be pseudo-support. I have 4.3.5 on Rogers, 3GS. I see the personal hotspot in place of tethering, but the instructions remain the same, regarding using Bluetooth or USB tethering, and I don’t see it as wifi.

    I was hoping for this as i’d like to tether my ps3 when working out of town.

    I will not jailbreak this, unless I keep it after I upgrade to iPhone 4 soon, and then it’s a moot point.

  • Crandog

    Yes they very much do. Rogers are the biggest scamming pricks out there. More expensive than everyone else and half the coverage. I count the days till my
    Contract is up as they want my first born child to get out early. I don’t see what gives them the right to make you buy a pricier package to use apples built in options. I cannot understand it.

  • Crandog

    Yes they very much do. Rogers are the biggest scamming pricks out there. More expensive than everyone else and half the coverage. I count the days till my
    Contract is up as they want my first born child to get out early. I don’t see what gives them the right to make you buy a pricier package to use apples built in options. I cannot understand it.

  • Abc

    Promise ;-)

  • Metrotub

    When using my Iphone as a hotspot for my laptop and I leave it on, but am not active on the laptop is it draining the data plan?  IE when I travel and leave it on, have my laptop idle and my magicjack plugged in … is it using data?

← Older Comments