14 DAY TRIAL // A developer has reportedly obtained a provisioning for the Personal Hotspot feature present in the latest iOS 4.3 beta, suggesting Apple and AT&T are adding the final touches to release the new firmware update to iPhone users across The States.
The person reporting AT&T's accept in provisioning Personal Hotspot on his iOS 4.3 device said the carrier agreed "after I mentioned Verizon a few times", according to AppleInsider.
iPhone 4 on Verizon Wireless include Personal Hotspot capabilities via iOS 4.2.6, which allows customers to use iPhone 4 to connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices.
Activating the feature is subject to additional fees, with Verizon charging a $20 premium per month. AT&T is widely believed to begin offering similar plans, once Apple enables the feature on GSM handsets via the upcoming iOS 4.3 software update.
iOS 4.3 is currently in beta, and has been in beta since December 2010.
In January, multiple sources went on record to report that iOS 4.3 would ship in March, packing the Personal Hotspot feature, and other enhancements.
Reports by iPhoneclub.nl and iPhoneHellas (two fairly accurate sources regarding Apple rumors) said that the Cupertino giant would be bringing the same Personal Hotspot support to current GSM iPhone 4 units via a forthcoming iOS 4.3 release.
At the time, many may have been reluctant to believe the veracity of these claims, yet the Boy Genius Report chimed in to “confirm” with one of its sources that the hotspot functionality would, indeed, be a part of iOS 4.3.
The BGR also said iOS 4.3 was due for release in March, citing its source.
However, going by the aforementioned developer report saying that AT&T is already making the proper arrangements to support Personal Hotspot, customers can expect iOS 4.3 to drop momentarily.