We received a lot of questions and conflicting reports about whether or not the new iOS 4.3 personal hotspot feature would work on iPhone 3GS and the answer -- from a software standpoint as of beta 2 -- is... kinda.
Personal hotspot replaces tethering in the iOS 4.3 Settings system and while iPhone 3GS does indeed show the new Personal Hotspot feature it doesn't show the Wi-Fi option available on iPhone 4. Yup, Bluetooth and USB are the only options, same as were previously available under Tethering.
Now whether or not Apple adds the feature in for iPhone 3GS users when iOS 4.3 goes into general release, and whether individual carriers like AT&T choose to implement it or not we don't know. But as of now, there is Personal Hotspot, just no Wi-Fi, and that means 1 device only, not 5.
For more see our iOS 4.3 walkthrough.
UPDATE: Per comments below, no Wi-Fi option for iPhone 3GS under iOS 4.3 beta 2.
Reader comments
UPDATED: iOS 4.3 features: personal hotspot on iPhone 3GS
I can not find personal hotspot on my 3gs iphone, can any one let me know how to find it?
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I hope my iPhone 3GS will be my last apple device. Buying my Samsung Galaxy S II next week. All those policies, restrictions... too bad, they really have a nice and fluid user interface, but not so good as to make all problems bearable.
Sounds like a marketing thingy Apple have got going... get the 4 and get WiFi tethering. It's surely possible for them to make this available for the 3GS IMHO
Anybody can help me, I used iPhone 4, 4.3.2, but I can't find Personal hotspot in setting-network, I need it, please help me, and please send me email (hann_Lina@yahoo.com) thz
Anybody can help me, I used iPhone 4, 4.3.2, but I can't find Personal hotspot in setting-network, I need it, please help me, thz
I just upgraded to 4.3.1 on my 3GS but for some reason there is no Hot Spot option in the settings seection(?)
Does is only show this option if you have an iphone 4?
I have an officially unlocked 3GS. I've been able to connect both my MacBook and my iPad to my 3GS via Bluetooth simultaneously. Hence creating a hotspot over Bluetooth. It worked just fine!
Remember how everyone used to complain about Microsoft screwing the customer?
Boy, didn't Apple learn from that and now screws all it's customers!
Silicon-Surfer, almost everything you said is right... There is just one thing I do not quite agree on... You speak of the 3GS' hardware not supporting the Wi-Fi hotspot feature, so my question is: How come it has been working on for OVER A YEAR in a jailbroken 3gs and even an IPHONE 3G via MyWi? If it were not harware-capable, then that program would not work AT ALL..., but IT WORKS WONDERS. Where did you come up with the idea of the 3GS not having the right hardware to support the feature? If a jailbroken phone can make it work, then I just cannot get into my head that Apple itself cannot find a solution to something that would make the 3GS the heck of a lot more valuable and usable. I am an Apple lover myself, but that does not prevent me from critising them for things I do not like whatsoever... Besides, if the 3GS were not harware capable, they would have explained why and even proved it, would they not? Let's face it, Apple wants people to renew their phones so they will make a killing for the umpteenth time!!
I just bought an iPad 3G just before the iOS 4.3 betas came out. I know it was stupid not to wait for the iPad 2, but I am impatient and as soon as I had the money I ran to the store to get one. I am just writing to wonder why wouldn't apple give the iPad the personal hotspot feature it has the cell radio, wifi, and more than enough battery power. I guess I will have to jail break my new toy as soon as iOS 4.3 is offical. Btw I love the battery on this thing 6 hour power outage and I never lost my connection to the digital world
The wireless hardware in the iPhone 3GS is almost certainly unable to support the wireless hotspot feature, that's why it's Bluetooth/USB only. The hardware in the iPhone 4 does, so that's why it gets this feature. It's called personal hotspot on the 3GS, just for consistency with the iPhone 4 menus.
I can't understand people who bitch about the 3GS being obsoleted by the iPhone 4 and not being able to get these new features. Your 3GS does everything it did when you bought it, and Apple have even added extra features (AirPlay, Wallpaper, Printing etc) since you bought it, which you got for free as a bonus. In the IT world there is always a new generation of a product 'just around the corner', but that doesn't mean your iPhone is any less useful, or lacks any features that it had when you were very happy to buy it...
Silicon-Surfer, almost everything you said is right… There is just one thing I do not quite agree on… You speak of the 3GS’ hardware not supporting the Wi-Fi hotspot feature, so my question is: How come it has been working on for OVER A YEAR in a jailbroken 3gs and even an IPHONE 3G via MyWi? If it were not harware-capable, then that program would not work AT ALL…, but IT WORKS WONDERS. Where did you come up with the idea of the 3GS not having the right hardware to support the feature? If a jailbroken phone can make it work, then I just cannot get into my head that Apple itself cannot find a solution to something that would make the 3GS the heck of a lot more valuable and usable. I am an Apple lover myself, but that does not prevent me from critising them for things I do not like whatsoever… Besides, if the 3GS were not harware capable, they would have explained why and even proved it, would they not? Let’s face it, Apple wants people to renew their phones so they will make a killing for the umpteenth time!!
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Looks like Apple wants 3GS user to jailbreak to get WIFI hotspot feature....
Not much of a hotspot, now is it?
I find this disappointing. I have a iPhone 3GS, which I purchased on launch. It's disappointing that I'm 'stuck' with a phone due to the 2 year contract and can't update till later and Apple is making my phone more and more obsolete. Why should I purchase a new iPhone 4 when that'll probably be made obsolete in a years time and I'll be 'stuck' with it..
That's business folks. They'll probably say it'd kill the battery, which I imagine it will on the iPhone 4 too.
lol, yet another example of apple screwing the user
This is pretty stupid if true, it's not a "personal hotspot" if not being brodcasted over wifi and it seems this is strictly only for a laptop/PC. Good old Apple, screwing over the previous generation....
Isn't the photo of a 3GS?
One word MyWi
I currently use MyWi, but only because I have too. Too often it doesn't work the way I'd like, and I ahte having a jailbroken iPhone. An official hotspot feature would presumably work much better and more efficiently. I'd gladly pay for it, despite having used MyWi for the last 7 or 8 months.
Hotspot != Bluetooth.
Hotspot !=USB.
Hotspot = WiFi.
That's just what the article said.
And where's the blue status bar at the top?
2GB is 2GB regardless of how I use it. Why all the effort to screw the customer. I think I pay more than a fair price for your inadequate services AT&T
I agree, I have unlimited data and having hotspot free would be great. I can't see that happening though.
I lime the idea of hotspot to use for my iPad but I'm bout willing to spend an arm and leg for the feature. Here's to hoping it is reasonably priced when available.
And by 'reasonably priced' you mean free, right?
Free would be good but I think I would pay $10 a month. No more than that.
Frankly, don't tell AT&T this, but if they chose to support that feature too, I'd willingly pay $20-$40 per month. That's a lot, to be sure, but that's how much I've come to rely on that feature through the MyWi jailbreak app.
But I desparately want to "re-virginize" my phone. I'm sick of the irritations that come with having a jailbroken phone. It's less stable and less efficient, not to mention the HUGE lags now between a new version of iOS and a released untethered jailbreak. The only reason I jailbroke was to get MyWi. If there is an official hotspot feature, I'd get rid of my jailbreak in a heartbeat, even at a somewhat ridiculous cost.
Hi, I don't know what happened to my Iphone. The thing is I've just successfully installed IOS 4.3 beta 2 (version 8F5153d), why I can't find any personal hotspot menu? Is there restrictions for using such feature?
Currently, I'm in Indonesia using local carrier. Is this local carrier is prohibited to use personal hotspot in IOS beta 2?
Which iPhone are you using?
Cool..wonder what the monthly charge would be..be awesome if it was free but this is the real world