In the past few months, a lot of our customers made it pretty clear that they really, really, really want to tether using their iPhones (for the uninitiated, tethering is a way of connecting your computer to the internet using your mobile phone as a net connection – you can read more here).
We, and our friends at Optus, heard the message loud and clear so we made it a priority to fix the situation for customers who use iPhones (tethering has worked on a range of other devices like Android-powered smartphones since amaysim launched).
We’re happy to say that as of late last week, tethering is now up and running for iPhone users on amaysim. We think this is pretty good news considering how cheap our data is – especially since the launch of our amaysim UNLIMITED plan. Based on the number of questions we’ve had about tethering in the past month, and the positive response we’ve seen since we fixed the issue, we think more than a few customers agree.
So why the delay? Even though we were aware of the appetite for tethering across a range of devices (especially with features like Personal Hotspot), and saw this as a priority, the engineering process involved is bloody complicated and took a while to complete.
If you’re a current customer and want to enable tethering for your iPhone, SMS the word “tether” to 568 and give us two to three business days to get you running (we’re working on enabling tethering automatically for all existing customers, but aren’t quite there yet). If you’re a new customer, tethering will be enabled automatically.
Thanks to all of our customers, and people considering joining amaysim, for making their voices heard – while we can’t always please everyone, we love your feedback. It helps us shape our company and the services we offer you.
Tether away!
Andreas Perreiter
COO, amaysim
Many thanks for getting this function implemented! Can you please advise if I can use an Amaysim SIM with an unlocked Pocket-WiFi device?
Paul
Hi Paul, thanks for the note. amaysim SIMs can be used with a range of unlocked pocket Wi-Fi devices. To see if the amaysim SIM is compatible with your hardware, type ‘internet’ into your APN settings. We recommend you test this with AS YOU GO first before buying data packs or the UNLIMITED plan so you can ensure it works. Hope this helps.
fantastic news. When will you have a data plan for ipad and similar tablets?
Hi David, you can use our double-punch SIM in iPads and other tablets. We offer a 1GB data pack for $9.90 or 5c per MB.
Good to see you’re working on this..
But how do I tell if my pocket WiFi device is unlocked? Also how to connect to a Mac would also help many of us out here..
Richard
Hi Richard, to find out if your pocket WiFi is unlocked, you’ll need to check with the provider you bought it from. Or you can buy an amaysim SIM for $2, insert it into your device and it will tell you if you have a signal. If you do, then it’s unlocked. For your Mac question, please email our customer service centre on service@amaysim.com.au with your specific details and they’ll be able to help you out. Thanks.
Excellent work! I was one of the many that enquired about tethering and it was the only thing holding me back from signing up. Thanks!
Fantastic news. That was the only thing holding me back from making the switch (as was the case for many others I suspect).
Hi, I have an android so I am OK, but could you explain why the tethering from an iPhone was different (difficult), my wife has one and we are looking to churn over to amaysim. A thorough technical explanation can be emailed to me or place here for all us nerdy techo types to read too,
Thanks
Stephen
Hi Stephen
The issue was one that involved putting together a few pieces of the puzzle with our commercial and technical partners to ensure that, when activated, bandwidth would not be an issue and configuration settings were enacted correctly.
Default settings are different for iPhone than other devices so we had to ensure tethering on this device was enabled correctly at all levels, not just the user level.
That said, it should be a smooth and simple process for your wife to enable tethering now that this process is complete.
Thanks
Andy
i have an INQ phone which is supposed to also act as a mobile broadband modem. right now Im using TPG internet $1 per month plan. If i swap to amaysim, can i use the 4gb amaysim data as also internet through my inq phone when i connect it through the USB to my computer? regards. david robertson
Hi David, as long as you can update the APN to “internet” you should be good to go. Let us know how you get on.
Hi,
I’ve texted through the word but will I get any thing to tell me tethering is enabled?
Hi Aidan
You should get a reply SMS once tethering is enabled. If you’re not up and running drop a line to service@amaysim.com.au including your mobile number and we’ll help you out. Thanks.
I’m so pleased with your services, and can’t speak highly enough of the fantastic value that you provide. The low cost is absolutely sensational, and as my plans with other providers end, I cancell them and get another amaysim.
I enjoy and appreciate your products so much that I’m concerned that you are not making enough profit to stay in business.
Thank you for this service, and I truly hope that amaysim prospers.
Regards, Roy
i entered `internet` into my INQ ANP settings, but it didnt work, how can i use facebook and skype on my telephone?
just to let everyone know if anyone has bought an inq phone, it wont be able to work with any internet settings with amaysim if they were to be used on the vodafone network even though unlocked as they all seem to be if bought from australia.
Great news Amaysim. Am truly a happy Amaysim client!
haha! this is a cool idea!
I switched over for the amazing unlimited plan and was disappointed that I still couldn’t use the iPhone personal hotspot function however this is great news!! I’ve just texted TETHER to 568 and can’t wait to receive confirmation!!
Thanks A
Amaysim, best phone service ever
[...] and 4GB of data (more than I could ever use in a month). Not only that, but Amaysim also offer iPhone tethering for free, and by default with new plans. The Amaysim sevices use the Optus 3G network. With all that, I [...]
Amaysim is incompatible with the Blackberry but you can tether your Blackberry to your PC. No more Telstra bills. Thanks Amaysim.
Great news! As an iPhone user, the only thing holding me back from getting amaysim unlimited was tethering. And now waiting for next month to finish my contract and get it.
tethering can be done with ordinary phones not just the iphone (i used the PC app that came with the V3x to conect the computer to the net at a blazing 14.4k on a 2.5G network connection. what i dont know is whats the difference between sending “tether” or not, because the PC usage would appear as if i was doing my surfing from the phone itself.(perhaps i will find out later, or this is iPhone specific.) i also find that although amaysim is internet user friendly, they should have (at least one) more internet plans and id certainly intend to purchase internet more often if they offered rollover….
Hi there, that’s right, tethering works with a range of handsets. The instruction to SMS “tether” is specific to people with iPhones who have been our customers since before tethering was enabled for iPhones on amaysim.
Also, thanks for the suggestion of internet plans – we love customer feedback and are taking it all in.
Thanks
Andy
Does it work with 3G modems?
Hi Garth, yes you can certainly use our service with ‘unlocked’ 3G modems, by creating a new profile in the device software, and using the APN: “internet”.
Thanks
Andy
I tried to use your rss-FEED but feed site displays me some xml errors..
Hi Natalina, thanks for the note. We tried to send you an email to troubleshoot, but received a bounceback. If you can send an email to blog@amaysim.com.au we’ll reply to troubleshoot.
Thanks.
Hey guys this is fantastic news!
I went from Telstra to Amaysim (and then back to Telstra because there was no tethering) and now that you guys have sorted out tethering I may consider coming back.
Just for clarification. Can we tether AND use personal hotspot feature on the iphone?
Also, is this only for customers on PLANS or does it also work with pre-paid unlimited amaysim?
Please confirm… as you may have more customers because of this move
Hi Mike, yep you can use tethering and the personal hotspot feature on iPhone (as well as tethering with other phone types). Prepaid and postpaid customers can use this feature.
Hopefully we’ll have you back with us soon!
Thanks for the speedy response Andreas – I have just ported back to amaysim today
very happy with the change.
Cheers.
Thanks Andreas
I’ve now ported back to amaysim.
Keep providing great value and customer service and you’ll be beating the major players in no time!
Hi Andreas, I have been trying to tether my Huawei Ideos U8150 for more than a month now and i am having no luck at all.
Your customer service says tethering is hooked up. I have tried every way possible and still it doesn’t work.
My last attempt, after trying Androids recommended app. tetherxp.inf plus everything else i have tried was to use the PdaNet app.
As with all other attempts i have tried, it shows my computer is hooked up to my Ideos phone and my phone shows it is trying to connect to the web, but sadly it never connects and i have wasted more of my valuable time.
Your tech support says “tethering is turned on”
My phone says “its trying to connect but no connection to be had”.
Could you please help me and fix this problem.
PdaNet is installed on my computer and on my phone, the App. is working and my computer and phone recognise each other.
Error messge says phone has no internet connection.
I unplug phone from computer and have instant connect to web on my phone.
I say the problem is at your end.
I changed telcos, at a cost to me, to use this account with tethering, now it doesnt work. Please can you help fix this problem.
My operating system is Windows XP Pro SP3
Cheers
Gary
Hi Gary
Thanks for the info. We have your details as supplied so a member of our customer service team will give you a call to help out.
Thanks
Andy
so how do i get tethering between my android and notebook set up?
Hi Ian
If you follow these steps on your handset you should be on your way:
Settings -> wireless and network -> Tethering and portable hotspot -> Portable Wi-Fi hotspot settings -> and enable Portable Wi-Fi hotspot.
Thanks
Andy
hey guys! Thanks for enabling my tethering! One more thing, When i access my voicemail, it says that optional services (e.g, visual voicemail for iPhone) are available from optuszoo. Obviously, Optus Zoo isn’t available. is there a way to enable these features? Keep up the great work!
Hi Tim, no problem. On the issue of the features you’re talking about, if you drop a line to social@amaysim.com.au we’ll have a customer service team member call you to talk through what can and can’t be enabled regarding the message you’re hearing.
Thanks
Andy
Hello, Only response is, do you have tether configuration for Huawei U8150 phone please ?
Thanks, Ken.
Hi Ken, we’ve dropped you a line with those settings, so they should be waiting in your inbox.
Andy
i already sent ‘tether’ to 568 and already receive confirmation about tether enabled. but i still cant use personal hotspot on my iphone? ‘to enable personal hotspot on this acc, contact optus. help?
Hi CT, the customer service team has checked out your account now, so tethering should be up and running. Just turn your device off and back on to ensure it’s activated.
Thanks
Andy
I just moved back to Australia from Japan and brought my SIM-locked iPhone 4 with me after cancelling my provider in Japan. Can I unlock the iPhone 4 here and then buy a micro SIM from Amaysim to use the handset as a normal smartphone?
Hi Graeme, normally it’s the carrier you purchased the handset from who needs to unlock the phone (frustrating I know). However, Apple might be able to give you some other advice, so it’s worth giving them a call on 1300 321 456. Once unlocked, you should be fine to use the handset with us.
Good luck!
Andy
Thanks Andy. I called Apple but no luck. It seems the Japan provider would have to do it but it is against their policy. Will have to consider other alternatives (e.g. use the iPhone4 just as an iPod and get a new phone).
I also have a Pocket WiFi unit (very similar to the Huawei Pocket WiFi 2) from Japan and tried one of your SIM cards using the 1GB data pack plan. Everything “looks” like it should work (shows full bar Optus signal, attempts to connect to WiFi devices like the iPad, is recognised by the iPad and shows as being “connected”), but for some reason it just doesn’t “click” and I can’t connect to the internet. Is the 1GB data pack the right plan to use in this situation? Or can pocket WiFi units also be SIM-locked like the iPhone4? Seems silly that we pay so much for the units themselves and then can’t use the hardware because of locking restrictions!
Thanks again for all your help. My iPad (which I bought in Australia) is working fine with your SIM on the 1GB data pack plan.
Hi Graeme, usually an unlocked device should work. So we can sort it out soon the best thing to do is email social@amaysim.com.au and include a number we can call you on. That way we can work it out more quickly.
Andy
when are amaysim going to support Black
berry’s
Hi Mike, no plans unfortunately to expand our Blackberry support at this stage. We’ll let you know if this changes.
Have a good weekend
Andy
Hi, I have really enjoyed the benefits of Amaysim so far, but must say I was surprised and disappointed by my experience with customer service today. I’m glad to read here (after my own research) that there may be a solution to my current problem – my problem being that when I try to connect to Personal Hotspot (via Settings- General-Network-Personal Hotspot) it comes up “to enable personal hotspot on this account, contact OPTUS”. I contacted Amaysim customer service today and was informed that it should be working with my unlimited account and that the issue was likely to be my phone(iphone 4) and I should update the software. I asked again if there was any reason why it would be a cellular connection or account connection and was told no. I asked what I should do if it still didn’t work after I update the software and could I speak to him again if it still was not working, I was told that “we are not a phone service, you need to contact apple/iphone”. So basically I interpreted that as “dont call us if it doesn’t work its not our problem”.
I contacted Apple Support, checked with them, that my phone was ok, I reset all of my phone settings and even restored it to the factory settings. It is still saying the same thing when I try to connect to personal hotspot, nothing has changed. So I can only conclude that it is in fact a cellular/network issue. I will be ringing customer service again in the morning to try and sort this out again. I have sent SMS “tether” as suggested. Hope to hear from someone soon to get this sorted out. Jo
Hi Jo, sounds like you’ve done a fair bit of digging to find the problem, but if you email social@amaysim.com.au and include your mobile number a member of our team will have another look into your account to see what else we might be able to do to sort the issue for you. Cheers, Andy
I am a bit confused. I have an unlocked LG KS 360. I can tether ok using vodafone but will I be able to tether on an unlimited Amaysim? this I hope so I can change to you.
best regards
roger
I will change to Amaysim from Vodafone and would like to bring my mobile #. I do not have any details or paper work for the old ICCID. What do i have to do to transfer my mobile #.
cheers
Roger
Hi Roger
Glad to hear you’re thinking of joining us.
Here are two FAQ videos that should help out:
http://www.amaysim.com.au/help-support/video-faq/how-to-switch-your-mobile-number
http://www.amaysim.com.au/help-support/video-faq/how-to-tether-your-handset
Also, if you’ve previously been able to tether with your phone, you should be able to once you join amaysim and we send you data settings. Just a reminder to make sure your phone is unlocked before signing up.
Cheers, Andy
Hello Andy,
I have just joined amaysim (unlimited post-paid) from virgin.
Buyers remorse is already setting in
Tethering/personal hotspot on my iphone 4 was working with virgin but it is not working with amaysim.
The hotspot option has disappeared from general menu since inserting the amaysim sim.
Under the general/network screen there is an option to add a personal hotspot.
I get the same error message as Jo (see Jan4th 4 post)
“to enable personal hotspot on this account, contact OPTUS”
Nobody at Amysim support could help nor optus.
It seems tethering is not automatically set up for new customers and amaysim customer support has no idea.
I too have tried sending ‘tether’ sms to 568
Waiting to see what happens.
Hi Mark, that sounds strange as tethering should work. If you email social@amaysim.com.au and include your amaysim phone number we’ll be able to have another look at this and hopefully fix it quickly.
Thanks
Andy
thank yes i would like tether on my service
Hi, I’ve done the above, yet when i go to set up my personal hotspot it pops up with a text box saying contact optus to enable ?
Hi William, let’s see if we can help out further. If you can email social@amaysim.com.au and include a contact number we’ll be in touch.
Thanks
Andy
I have a Amaysim sim in my ipad 3 (wifi + 3g). Am i able to tether using my ipad?
Hi Gema, we’re told this functionality isn’t enabled yet here, but we’ll keep you posted.
Thanks
amaysim