I don't think so. Sounds more like mifi abilities. You can't turn an existing iPhone into a Wifi router.

I love how AT&T was pretty quick to remind everyone that these Verizon CDMA iPhone users will not be able to Talk and Surf at the same time like you can on their GSM network.

It sounds as if they've built MiFi into the CDMA iPhone, so isn't that essentially tethering for devices like iPad? Or am I missing some piece?

iPads or any other wifi enabled device, including other mobile phones.

I don't know if it's a feature for the masses, but since I gained the ability to do so on HSPA, I've become quite accustomed to it. I often take conference calls while viewing a slide deck at the same time.

It clicked on the way home from work what you were getting at there Hugh -- WiFi router. But in cases where you have WiFi, you wouldn't need the hotspot features anyway. You iPad (or other device) could just use the WiFi network. Away from WiFi it would be cool to "tether" those WiFi only devices.

Anyone hear any rumours of this version being available in Canada?

The Verizon iPhone is running a newer version of iOS, so there's speculation that when the other iPhones are updated they will also gain this feature. This may be true, or it may be based on whether AT&T and other carriers will agree to this feature.

I think this was inevitable after the feature was added to Android, and carriers are fighting a losing battle to block it. Between the data caps and data sharing options, I think the carriers were already seeing the end of the double dipping on data charges.

Existing iPhones can't tether to an iPad. You can only tether the iPhone to a computer using the USB cable meaning your iPad is out of luck.

This will allow you to create a hotspot that you can connect up to 5 devices to via wifi.

You can tether a computer or other device to your iPhone4 via Bluetooth as well, so you don't need to be physically connected by USB cable.

Also, I discovered on BC Ferries one day that both my wife and I could connect our MacBooks via Bluetooth to my iPhone's data connection. We didn't have any other Macs around to see if we could get more than two connected.

But back on topic, I'm curious to see how Verizon fares with the onslaught of people looking for the "faster lane of traffic" on a network technology that's a little slower (CDMA 3G vs. GSM 3G).
AT&T probably thought they were prepared as well back in 2007. I'm sure Verizon thinks they're ready, but when two million people in NYC are all tethering at the same time......again, I'm curious to see.

I have used a Verizon MiFi while in the US, and it is noticeably slower than when I tether with my iPhone on Rogers in Canada. In fact, there have been plenty of times where it feels closer in speed to a good dial-up connection. Sure, the coverage is there just about everywhere, but speed - not pretty at all.

But you can't tether an iPhone to iPad via Bluetooth in order to surf have access to the web on your iPad.The CDMA iPHone will allow that.

It is being reported that the feature may be available in iOS 4.3. It is rumor right now. Also I assume the carriers would have to be on board for this to happen. Love to be able to turn my iPhone 4 into a wi-fi hotspot for my non 3g iPad.

Teetering / mifi...i think it's just semantics and were talking about the same thing, just wirelessly.

At any rate, I'm glad to see this is finally coming. I give Android all the credit for making this happen!

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...4_3_rumor.html

No it's not the same thing.

Agreed. In the past AT&T was not onboard because their systems are overloaded as it is. In Canada, my guess is Belus and Rogers will probably not allow it because it would limit sales of Wireless sticks and additional data plans.

Can you elaborate on the difference hugh?

Not that Wikipedia is any sort of definative source, but their article defines tethering as:

Given that definition, I'd agree with 99semaj and chalk it up to semantics. MiFi seems to provide the same function as USB or Bluetooth tethering, although how it accomplishes that technologically is different.

To steer a bit back toward the topic, has there been any rumblings from Canadian carriers about picking up this version of the iPhone? It would make total sense for carriers like SaskTel (and perhaps Bell?) who don't have a GSM network to fall back on in poor service areas, but still have a very extensive CDMA network.

Tethering is making your mobile into a modem(hardwired or bluetooth) while mifi is a modem that usually handles up to 5 devices and has a few hours of battery time.

Similiar in a way but not the same.