Yes, Virginia, the Palm Pre will have tethering at launch

Another spike down the throat of Apple’s iPhone volleyball squadron by Team Palm Pre: at launch, their prospective iPhone-killer will feature data tethering over both Bluetooth and USB, without jailbreaking. If it’s so easy for Spring and Palm of all companies, Apple, why can’t you move your monolithic mass and make it happen on the iPhone? And, while you’re at it? Cut and paste, for christ’s sake.

Palm Pre [Sprint via Engadget]

1. [Anonymous]

   Even if apple do eventually give you the features youre asking for, why wait for them when it’s only done begrudgingly? Just buy a palm pre now and breathe the fresh air, having managed to get away from all of that apple control-freakery.

2. [dculberson]

   (shiver, shiver) man I hope they don’t mess this thing up somehow. And please let Sprint be reasonable with data plan pricing!!

3. [Jimmy]

   As much as I hate to say it: Apple/AT&T have until the Pre’s launch date to officially support iPhone tethering. Otherwise, I’m jumping ship.

4. [Matt]

   I agree, I love me some iphone but tethering, cut and paste should be available. It is getting silly already, kind of like Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman last night.

5. [muteboy]

   Never mind all that – Animated GIF!

6. [Zan]

   Before you get all worked up on Sprint and Palm’s altruism, be aware that Phone as Modem costs $15/month on TOP of the $30/month you pay for “unlimited” internet (which is actually limited to 5GB/month).

   Other phones such as the Centro or HTC Touch can have a program like USBModem installed which tricks the phone into thinking you aren’t tethering when you are, to save the extra $15/month, but since the API on the Pre is limited to the sandbox of Webkit I doubt that any such software will be possible (or at least until the Pre is jailbroken).

7. [Clay]

   Now all they need to do is offer is circa-2007 SERO plans for all and we’ll really have a mobile revolution on our hands.

8. [Halloween Jack]

   Thanks for the info, Zan. Frankly, I’m already getting a little tired of NuJesusPhone.

9. [gr00veNU]

   can someone explain to me the wonderments of tethering, or at least when and where it would be useful? most places i happen to be working on my laptop have open wifi, but i’m sure it must be beneficial in some situations…

10. [TJ S]

    Gr00venu:

    While on a train.
    While at someplace with locked WiFi (Starbucks, some college campuses, etc.)
    While visiting luddite relatives.
    During a power outage.
    As a passenger in a car.

11. [Fang Xianfu]

    #8: I agree. You’ll notice that every preview of the Pre goes “This will be awesome! …as long as your programs can get access to the guts of the machine” something that hasn’t even been hinted at, let alone confirmed. Until this phone can actually DO things, it’s just going to be all hype and no trousers.