iTether App Offers Internet Tethering On Your iPhone for One Time Fee - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iTether App Offers Internet Tethering On Your iPhone for One Time Fee

mzlTether.com has somehow gotten App Store approval for their iPhone companion application "iTether". The $14.99 App Store app allows users to share their iPhone's internet connection with their Mac or PC computer over USB.

Tether is an application that allows your Mac and PC to take advantage of your smartphone's data plan, providing you access to the Internet on your laptop anywhere there is cellular coverage from your smartphone.

Tether is easy to install, easy to use, works practically anywhere, and is very cost-effective.

To download the PC software visit:
http://tether.com/i/Tether-iPhone.exe

To download the Mac software visit:
http://tether.com/i/Tether-iPhone.dmg

Tether offers companion applications for the Mac and PC. Mac version shown here:

tether
Running both apps on your iPhone and your Mac allows your Mac to use your iPhone's internet connection over a USB cable (no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth support). Apple has traditionally not allowed such applications to become available on the App Store due to agreements with carriers.

Back in 2008, Apple briefly approved another tethering app called Netshare but quickly pulled it from the App Store. Instead, users have been expected to pay additional fees to U.S. carriers such as AT&T and Verizon who offer tethering as an add-on service for $20/month. The approval of iTether may have been inadvertent by Apple again and could be pulled at any time. It is presently available in the App Store for $14.99. As in the case of Netshare, if Apple does pull the app from the App Store, it should continue to work for those who bought it.

Tether offers a similar app for both BlackBerry and Android platforms and has been reviewed in the NYTimes and Entrepreneur.com.

We should note that excessive unauthorized tethering has previously resulted in warnings from AT&T to users about their usage. In many of these examples, however, the unauthorized use was dramatic and on unlimited plans. Still, it is good to be aware of that possibility. [App Store Link]

[via 9to5Mac]

Update: Tether's website is presently down due to the traffic, which means you can't download the Mac/PC apps and it also appears the iOS app verifies with Tether.com on each run, so it won't work while the main website is down.

Update 2: Tether claims "We were very clear with Apple what our app did. They asked us a bunch of questions and then approved us." So it may not be getting pulled.

Popular Stories

M5 MacBook Pro

RIP, MacBook Ultra

Monday October 19, 2026 9:37 am PDT by
Apple today sent out invites for an experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, and the "Pro and tell" tagline on the invitation likely means that the rumored MacBook models with touch-enabled OLED displays will stick with MacBook Pro branding instead of the once-rumored "MacBook Ultra" name. The long-rumored "iPhone Ultra" ended up being named iPhone Duo, so speculation that Apple...
iPhone Duo Trio

Here's What Apple's Apps Look Like on the iPhone Duo

Tuesday October 20, 2026 11:12 am PDT by
With just three days to go until the iPhone Duo is released, Apple is getting ready for the launch. Behind the scenes, the App Store now has screenshots of Apple's built-in apps running on the Duo. We've seen some apps in marketing materials, but images of the ones we haven't seen give us an idea of what it will be like using the iPhone Duo day to day. Many apps are shown in landscape...
apple pro tell logo

Apple Announcing New Products Next Week: 'Pro and Tell'

Monday October 19, 2026 9:05 am PDT by
Apple's Greg Joswiak today hinted at new product announcements coming next week, sharing a social media post that says "Can't wait to pro and tell next week." Rumors suggest Apple is planning to debut the new MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen display, an M6 entry-level MacBook Pro, an M6 iMac, an iPad mini with an OLED display. Can't wait to pro and tell next week....

Top Rated Comments

194 months ago
Hands up if you are outside North America and still laughing at the idiocy of having to buy permission to use other devices through your cell data plan.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
soco Avatar
194 months ago
It works and I'm scared.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sukanas Avatar
194 months ago
its moments like these im glad i signed up for twitter..
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
194 months ago
I'm a little concerned that I dropped $15 on an app so easily.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
194 months ago
I can verify that this app does work. Don't hesitate people! This is Netshare all over again. MOVE MOVE MOVE!

I'm posting this using my iPhone's data connection. Only issue so far is that if I close the app on my iPhone and reopen it, I have to restart the app on the Mac side. Otherwise it works like a dream!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
194 months ago
This story and thread is very funny and intertaining to follow as a longtime Android user who's been able to wireless tether my crappy little overclocked $120 LG Optimus V smartphone rooted and custom rom'ed with Gingerbread bumblebee 2.2.3. I've never once had to pay a single extra dime to tether - being that my cheap but highly useful Android phones data plan is unlimited via Virgin Mobile. I pay 27.50 a month an unlimited 3g data plan with 300 anytime minutes (which I never fully use each month). My totally contract-free, pay as you go Android phone can operate at speeds that at leat approach the performance of a iPhone 3G, and even a 4G when I overclock the phones CPU to by up to 60%. The phone also has the neat little ability to side-load all of my potential content - bypassing any official iTunes- like gauntlet to install my apps, music, movies, or whatever other content I choose via the phones memory expanding 32GB micro SD card. I also can swap out the battery anytime I need to for a freshly charged new one at will.
This last September while vacationing for several weeks in a remote seaside resort, I was able to exclusively use my LG Optimus V as my sole WiFi hotspot - providing enough bandwidth for myself and another friend visiting me for the last week of my visit. We were both quite able to very comfortably surf the web, email, text, do some light downloading --- also uploading to my dropbox, and even stream a bit of non-HD video on our MacBook Pro's without so much as a data hick-up, stall, or glitch. It was so impressive, that my die-hard iPhone iOS friend is now looking into getting an Android smartphone of his very own so that he can finally be completely free to use and abuse his phone data and it's wireless data capabilities as he so desires - without gimmicks, usb cables, fear of having any big bag AT&T TeleMonster looking over his shoulder and threatening him with having to pay extra $$$$ for more data BS charges.
There is even an iPhone refugee forum @ VM that has countless other formerly self-imprisoned and price-gouged iOS/iPhone consumers that just can't believe how much more open and customizable they can get on a non iOS platform - being finally able to do the simplest of mobile tech things like: wirelessly tethering their Android phone to most any other WiFi and/or bluetooth capable device - even with most of Apple's WiFi capable devices such as any Macbook pro. I regularly wirelessly tether my WiFi only Motorola Xoom tablet to my LG Phone - instantly converting it to a 3g Tablet wherever I can pick-up a signal (which is almost always nearly 5 bars most anywhere I have traveled within the continental US).
It's really inconprehensible that there are still millions of folks out there paying Apple/AT$T/Verizon an average of nearly $100 a month (and much more for those who do officially use the outrageously over-priced tethering data plans via the exclusive iPhone carriers).

But your phone is a piece of crap.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
1Password for Agents Keeps Your Passwords Hidden From AI
1Password for Agents Keeps Your Passwords Hidden From AI
8 minutes ago
iPhone Duo 24 Hours Later: Your Questions Answered
iPhone Duo 24 Hours Later: Your Questions Answered
40 minutes ago
Apple's iWork Apps Get 'Intelligent Assistant' and iPhone Duo Support
Apple's iWork Apps Get 'Intelligent Assistant' and iPhone Duo Support
2 hours ago
Apple is Apparently Considering a Slightly Larger iPhone Duo
Apple is Apparently Considering a Slightly Larger iPhone Duo
2 hours ago
Giant iPhone Duo Displays Coming to Four Apple Stores
Giant iPhone Duo Displays Coming to Four Apple Stores
3 hours ago
Apple Pulls Keynote, Pages and Numbers From App Store [Update: Back]
Apple Pulls Keynote, Pages and Numbers From App Store [Update: Back]
4 hours ago
Apple Updates More Apps With iPhone Duo Support
Apple Updates More Apps With iPhone Duo Support
4 hours ago
Apple Will Label Apps 'Made for iPhone Duo' in App Store
Apple Will Label Apps 'Made for iPhone Duo' in App Store
7 hours ago
Amazon Takes $49 Off iPad With Prices Starting at $399.99
Amazon Takes $49 Off iPad With Prices Starting at $399.99
8 hours ago
F1 on Apple TV Now Available in Dolby Atmos
F1 on Apple TV Now Available in Dolby Atmos
8 hours ago
Apple Reveals More Than 50 Apps That Will Be Updated for iPhone Duo
Apple Reveals More Than 50 Apps That Will Be Updated for iPhone Duo
9 hours ago
Apple Blocks Certificates That Could Help Attackers Fake Websites
Apple Blocks Certificates That Could Help Attackers Fake Websites
10 hours ago
Giant iPhone Duo Installations Spotted at Apple Fifth Avenue
Giant iPhone Duo Installations Spotted at Apple Fifth Avenue
11 hours ago
iPhone Duo 2 Prototypes Include Under-Display Face ID
iPhone Duo 2 Prototypes Include Under-Display Face ID
11 hours ago
Tesla App Gains iPad and iPhone Duo Support
Tesla App Gains iPad and iPhone Duo Support
15 hours ago
Apple Reportedly Boosts iPhone Duo Orders by 44%
Apple Reportedly Boosts iPhone Duo Orders by 44%
15 hours ago
Fortnite Returning to Australian App Store After Court Ruling
Fortnite Returning to Australian App Store After Court Ruling
16 hours ago
Apple Ordered to Open iPhone to Rival App Stores in Australia
Apple Ordered to Open iPhone to Rival App Stores in Australia
16 hours ago
Apple Suppliers Face Hurdles Cutting Circuit Board Emissions
Apple Suppliers Face Hurdles Cutting Circuit Board Emissions
16 hours ago
Things Updated for iPhone Duo With Adaptive Layout
Things Updated for iPhone Duo With Adaptive Layout
17 hours ago
Simplicity and Siri AI Are HomeView's Killer Features, Apple Says
Simplicity and Siri AI Are HomeView's Killer Features, Apple Says
17 hours ago
iPhone Duo Reviewers Really Miss Face ID
iPhone Duo Reviewers Really Miss Face ID
22 hours ago
Does the iPhone Duo Run Hot? Here's What Reviews Found
Does the iPhone Duo Run Hot? Here's What Reviews Found
1 day ago
Apple Music's New Look is Now Live on Apple's Website
Apple Music's New Look is Now Live on Apple's Website
1 day ago
Anthropic Launches Claude Duet, a Proactive AI Agent
Anthropic Launches Claude Duet, a Proactive AI Agent
1 day ago
What 32,000 Folds Did to the iPhone Duo's Hinge
What 32,000 Folds Did to the iPhone Duo's Hinge
1 day ago
iPhone Duo's Hidden FaceTime Camera Takes 'Trash' Photos
iPhone Duo's Hidden FaceTime Camera Takes 'Trash' Photos
1 day ago
iPhone Duo Has 'Edge Light' Feature That Debuted on Macs Last Year
iPhone Duo Has 'Edge Light' Feature That Debuted on Macs Last Year
1 day ago
Apple Support App Updated for iPhone Duo's Larger Display
Apple Support App Updated for iPhone Duo's Larger Display
1 day ago
Amazon Sweetens the Deal on Entry-Level 16-Inch MacBook Pro With $570 Off
Amazon Sweetens the Deal on Entry-Level 16-Inch MacBook Pro With $570 Off
1 day ago