Following the launch of MMS for the iPhone last month, AT&T confirmed that Internet tethering would also become available, although no launch date was provided for the service allowing handset owners to connect their computers to the Internet via their wireless connection.

AppleInsider points out to AT&T’s surprising announcement this week regarding voice-over-IP applications running on its network. Even with some iPhone apps now allowed to do VoIP via AT&T, tethering is still something that needs more preparing for, according to the provider of wireless services in the US.

"By its nature, this function could exponentially increase traffic on the network, and we need to ensure that some of our current upgrades are in place before we can deliver the expanded functionality with the excellent performance that customers expect," AT&T said when MMS debuted.

The site notes that, despite its acceptance of VoIP and MMS on its network, AT&T has not provided further details on tethering, citing a Wall Street Journal report. "A spokesman for the wireless carrier, however, said that tethering remains unavailable," the report read, "and stuck with the company's prior statement: 'Whenever we offer new features, we want to offer the best possible customer experience. For tethering, we need to do some additional fine tuning to our systems and networks so that we do deliver a great experience.'"

According to The WSJ, Ralph de la Vega, the head of AT&T's wireless unit, earlier said that tethering was on track for a 2009 launch, yet officials haven’t been vocal on the matter since.

"Internet tethering is a feature of iPhone OS 3.0 that has several requirements, including requirements for your computer, your iPhone, and your wireless carrier supporting this feature," Apple said in a knowledge base article on its website. Last modified on September 28, 2009, Support article HT3574 outlines the basics of enabling Internet tethering on your iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS, which Softpedia readers can review right here.