I previously pondered on this site on one of Mikey's articles if the iPad would be allowed to be tethered (see bottom of article for explanation of tethering, if you don't know what this is) to the iPhone. After all, each one requires an internet connection and it doesn't make sense to require two mobile phone SIM cards (and therefore potentially two contracts and two bills) - one for each device.

Well it turns out the official response from Apple is no - you will not be allowed to tether the iPhone to the iPad. Neither will you be able to reverse tether the iPad to another device.

The OS which runs the iPhone does not support tethering and blue-tooth and USB connectivity are severely crippled; it now appears likely the iPad will be no different. This means that loyal Apple customers with an iPhone, an iPad and an iBook (notepad of any kind) will require three separate 3G devices (and therefore potentially 3 separate contracts) to connect those 3 Apple products to the internet.

Furthermore, the OS on the iPad prevents bandwidth intensive applications (like streaming video) from running and limits customers to only Apple approved applications. As Mikey already mentioned in the above quoted article, Flash is not one of them, so many web pages will be rendered non-functional (youtube included), meaning the iPad may not be suitable as a user's only mobile internet enabled device.

This is really the latest kick in the teeth for Apple customers as Apple has once again laid down the rules about how you are allowed to use your own equipment. The iPhone is undoubtedly the most closed and uncustomisable smart phone ever released and more and more people are beginning to realise the alternative products are often a lot better. Recent trends show the Android based Nexus1 and related phones are making good headway into the market and some industry analysts believe it will have surpassed the iPhone in a few years time as the number 1 seller.

Tethering is the process whereby a mobile enabled device, like a 3G mobile phone, can be used to provide internet access to a non mobile (3G) device, like a laptop or PC. As most mobiles phones these days are 3G enabled, it no longer makes sense to buy a mobile broadband USB dongle or the like, when your mobile phone does the job just as well and you're probably already paying for data you hardly use, anyway.