Tesco mobile 4G and iPhone Tethering

PhilGQ · 9 Mar 2014 at 11:27

I was looking at getting an iPhone 5s or 5c from the Apple shop and a separate 30 day SIM contract.

The 3 main carries either don’t offer 30 day or have unlimited mins and texts (which I don’t need) and charge a stupid monthly fee. Most of the virtual networks don’t have 4G. The exception seems to be Tesco who offer 750 mins and 5000 tests with 2GB data for £12.50pm.

However, I discovered on that the iPhone is not supported for tethering (Android and WP8 are). Digging about suggests this has something to do with no agreement with Apple. What I don’t understand is what has it got to with Apple, the Phone itself has the functionality to tether so surely it is just transparent from the networks perspective as to where the data comes from.

All I can think is that Tesco and Apple have negotiated some sort of deal and Tesco iPhones have a custom firmware which disables the functionality. If so then surely buying a phone outright with full functionality would work. Unless the network is somehow able to detect it and remotely disable the functionality.

Anyone have any ideas on this (or know if there is another reason why this wouldn’t work)?

Minstadave · 9 Mar 2014 at 11:30

Tethering doesn't work even buying the phone from Apple.

I've had 3 iPhones on Tesco, even with a 5s direct from Apple tethering is disabled.

Glaucus · 9 Mar 2014 at 11:31

To tether on iPhone, it has to be a registered telecoms company. Giffgaff, Tesco and all the other resellers are not registered and so the option is locked out. So no it won't work at all.

Nothing to do with any deals between apple and Tesco.

PhilGQ · 9 Mar 2014 at 11:32

Minstadave said:
Tethering doesn't work even buying the phone from Apple.

Thanks, saves me wasting my money and idea why?

Glaucus · 9 Mar 2014 at 11:36

PhilGQ said:
Thanks, saves me wasting my money and idea why?

Because of apples tight controls. They require a carrier profile to enable the settings. Any reseller like Tesco/giffgaff etc, can not submit a carrier profile to apple.
So unless you jail break its not going to happen.

PhilGQ · 9 Mar 2014 at 11:37

Glaucus said:
To tether on iPhone, it has to be a registered telecoms company. Giffgaff, Tesco and all the other resellers are not registered and so the option is locked out. So no it won't work at all.

Seems a bit of an arbitrary limitation. I really only wanted to tether a tablet to it so I can use it on the train. I guess that means buying a 4G tablet and a separate SIM card for it (I assume that will work?).

Glaucus · 9 Mar 2014 at 11:40

Yep, but sim cards for tablets are usually expensive. If you use a phone sim, then they may well block the sim for breaking t&c.
Either don't go apple, or look at proper carriers. Like the one plan on three. as that's a proper carrier I assume it should work fine.

Any reason you want apple? Nexus/Samsung or Nokia would be cheaper and without such limitations.

PhilGQ · 9 Mar 2014 at 11:49

Glaucus said:
Yep, but sim cards for tablets are usually expensive. If you use a phone sim, then they may well block the sim for breaking t&c.
Either don't go apple, or look at proper carriers. Like the one plan on three. as that's a proper carrier I assume it should work fine.

Well that's a drag.

I just looked at the 30 day 3 contracts 1GB data limit and then £100/GB

Glaucus · 9 Mar 2014 at 11:50

PhilGQ said:
Well that's a drag.

I just looked at the 30 day 3 contracts 1GB data limit and then £100/GB

What are you looking at. As that isn't right at all.

One plan 30day contract, £23 2000 minutes, 5000 texts, unlimited data & tethering.

PhilGQ · 9 Mar 2014 at 11:56

Sorry I was looking at: Essential Internet SIM 600 1 month.

you said: One Plan, found it now. Its nearly twice the price but then if it offers everything!

PhilGQ · 9 Mar 2014 at 12:10

Glaucus said:
Any reason you want apple? Nexus/Samsung or Nokia would be cheaper and without such limitations.

My experience of Android is not that great, (although it was a cheap phone a long time ago. I feel its either too tied into Google services on the Nexus side or two much of Mongrel OS with the partner customisations.

I was very close to buying into WP8 six months ago (I know you are a fan) but having played with the phones I never really felt I liked them enough to buy.

Have thought about a Jolla but that seems a bit of wild card.

Fourstar · 9 Mar 2014 at 15:16

Glaucus said:
What are you looking at. As that isn't right at all.

One plan 30day contract, £23 2000 minutes, 5000 texts, unlimited data & tethering.

Three is reportedly bringing in a 2GB/month tethering limit for all new One Plan contracts from tomorrow. Existing contracts will be unaffected though that could change in the future.

PhilGQ · 9 Mar 2014 at 17:55

Fourstar said:
Three is reportedly bringing in a 2GB/month tethering limit for all new One Plan contracts from tomorrow. Existing contracts will be unaffected though that could change in the future.

I think I would much rather have a know limit rather an wooly unlimited+fair usage. Shame all the main provider plans seem to have pointless amounts of talk time inflating the tariff costs.

AMDPower · 9 Mar 2014 at 18:40

Three is reportedly bringing in a 2GB/month tethering limit for all new One Plan contracts from tomorrow. Existing contracts will be unaffected though that could change in the future.

so if I bought this today there will be no problem with unlimited data? such a shame really.

Fourstar · 9 Mar 2014 at 20:48

AMDPower said:
so if I bought this today there will be no problem with unlimited data? such a shame really.

I would assume so. You'd have to read the t&cs when ordering. The article I read said it was supposed to come in on 3rd Match but was postponed for a week. It may not come into force tomorrow. The reported reason is to stop people using it as home broadband and congesting their shiny new 4G network.

Mobile data will still be unlimited.