Verizon iPhone to include 5-device Wi-Fi Personal Hotspot, exclude Verizon bloatware
As part of the announcement today, it was revealed that the Verizon iPhone would indeed have mobile hotspot service (called Personal Hotspot), allowing you to connect up to 5 other devices to the Verizon iPhone 4's EVDO 3G network -- just like a MiFi.
This functionality hasn't been available in iOS before (outside Jailbreak) so it's a competitive advantaged over AT&T -- for now. That also means it will probably require a new version of iOS to offer the interface for it, so we getting iOS 4.2.2, iOS 4.3?
Update: iOS 4.2.5 currently, iOS 4.3 rumored to be coming soon for all iPhone models
Meanwhile, we're happy to see that Verizon hasn't added any of their typical "extras" in the form of app stores, VCast, Verizon Navigator, silly games, and the like. Whether by choice or by the strong arm of Apple, the Verizon iPhone is 100% Apple.
UPDATE: Mobile Host Spot will be an app and pre-installed, but the other Verizon apps will be hosted in the App Store and entirely optional: [Thanks Trevor]
iPhone will have the 3G Mobile Hotspot app pre-installed, and it will also have other popular apps available in the market such as VZ Navigator, and V CAST Media Manager.
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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Is it free or will VZW charge for it?
That's not enough to get me to leave AT&T, especially since AT&T is fantastic in my area and they'll probably offer the same thing now that their network won't be as strained.
Yes, pricing details please! If it's included, it's a no-brainer to switch to Verizon.
Not going to lie sparked my interest, then learned that all connection drops when you get a phone call!!! What is the point than?! Seriously if I am using it for a business there is no way I could say to the client, hold on your call interrupted your email download ill call you back later ... unprofessional ... wish I could switch but this no data + Voice is killing me ... that said if they iron it out with the LTE iPhone i'll be right over
http://engt.co/dLaI9G
Engaget reports it will be through a preinstalled mobile hotspot app, similar to how Droids work. Whether or not that required underlying iOS changes, I have no idea.
(Cue the usual litany of complaints about Verizon preinstalled apps.)
It is in the settings menu -- I stand corrected.
(And good!)
On Verizon website:
iPhone will have the 3G Mobile Hotspot app pre-installed, and it will also have other popular apps available in the market such as VZ Navigator, and V CAST Media Manager.
http://support.vzw.com/faqs/iphone/iphone_faq.html
Question 8 under "iPhone and iTunes"
Perhaps the Mobile Hotspot feature is the tradeoff Verizon/Apple made for CDMA iPhones that cannot access 3G data while on a call.
It would be nice if that feature will automatically create a mesh network and pool the data for all nearby iOS devices, regardless if you've authenticated them or not. After all, if it's unlimited, it could be a way for any CDMA iPhone to get data while on a call because they're borrowing it from another nearby CDMA iPhone user.
Of course, if all CDMA iPhone users are on a call at the same time, then no one gets data.
Just an idea. Apple probably took MyWi through the spin-cycle and made it their own. Hopefully with better battery life, though.
This will be a welcomed feature with me as long it doesn't raise my monthly bill.
"it’s a competitive advantaged over AT&T" And i find this hard to believe. Because if apple would do it to the iphone on one network they would do it to the other network. They wouldn't leave the AT&T iphone out and leave all the AT&T iphone customers unhappy about it.
Apple has shown it is perfectly willing to enable carrier-specific functionality (or, more accurately, disable features by carrier), if the carrier request is. MMS? Tethering. These were possible on the iPhone for almost a year before ATT iPhones had them. If there were underlying iOS changes for Verizon's mobile hotspot app, I would bet Apple structured them in such a way that other carriers could create a similar app, should they be ready and willing. The only surprise is that this is in a separate VZW-branded app and not some Apple utility or network preferences page.
As you can see here: http://www.engadget.com/photos/verizon-iphone-4-even-more-looks/#3774430 it's not 4.2.2 nor 4.3 it's 4.2.5!
correction
Bloatware is alive and well in the form of VZW Navigator and VCast Media Manager.
@art.it's not bloatware because it is available in the app store. It doesn't come pre-installed.
I think AT&T need to respond to this because it seems like this would allow users with both an iPhone and an iPad to share a data plan.
I didn't even think if that. Your absolutely right!
I won't get one unless it can do simultaneous voice and data, and 4G.
I wonder if Mobile Hot Spot is a Verizon exclusive for the next 6 months until iOS 5 drops (as part of their deal with Verizon), or if other carriers will get it in an iOS 4.2.5 update come February? (Not that AT&T is likely to allow Mobile HotSpot for another year or more, cf: MMS, Tethering.)
Where are you now @Chip lmao
why would it require underlying OS changes? the canadian iPhone already offers this functionality out-of-the-box. (no I don't know pricing details..)
It offers tethering out of the box, not wireless hotspot functionality.
GOD THANK YOU! If there is one thing I hate, it's somebody's software on my devices. FIRST PARTY ONLY! Second party can defer to a marketplace or an app store! Bloatware is just not beautiful, not Apple. THANK YOU!
From the engadget photos, Personal Hotspot appears to be a setting, not an app...so it would seem like it's a universal part of 4.2.5...provided the carriers allow it and Apple releases it to the general public.
I don't see why Apple would allow Verizon iPhones to exclusively have 4.2.5 after the grand unification of iOS recently, so I'm imagining we're all getting 4.2.5. The question is more around whether AT&T needs (or wants) to update firmware like in the case of MMS and Tethering...
AT&T had better bring us a wifi hotspots app. That's the only thing I want that V will have over A.
Yeah, the Personal Hotspot isn't an "app" per se, it's included in the iPhone settings. No verizon crap apps will be installed by default. 100% grade-A, unfragmented Apple.
So I'm thinking of getting the Iphone on Verizon. The no simultaneous voice and data thing has me concerned as it seems ATT users of the iPhone think it's very important. So here's a question for you techies - While on a voice call, can you simultaneously use data via Wifi or Bluetooth so that you can work around the no voice and data thing via the CDMA??? Thanks!
Thanks @Johnny. The one thing I do now that I'm concerned about is I like to listen to music from the web on my windows phone (Don't et me started). If I get the Verizon iPhone I wonder what will happen if I get a call while listening - Lose connection completely and have to restart or if it will auto restart after the call in which case that's fine. Also, If I'm on a call and want to check the weather, for example, I hope the wifi/bluetooth data would allow that so I don't have to hangup, check wx and then call back. Just one thing that maybe current iPhone users are used to.
@Kiwi Its not too much of a big deal unless your constantly on the phone. Here where I'm at, we don't even have 3G yet so I cant talk on the phone, and use the internet because I am limited to edge network. If I had my choice, I would much rather have the free wifi tethering.
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