Hello My Fellow iPhone and iPod Touchers,

This week I am visiting San Diego to attend the annual CSUN technology convention. 

As you may guess, I would never go anywhere without a reliable means of connecting to the Internet on one of my portable computers. 

However, since my assimilation into the Apple Orchard, it is not enough to merely have broadband access on my computer but I now insist on having it (as WiFi) on my trusty iPhone 3GS for many reasons not the least of which being that I now, almost exclusively, use it for Skype on a daily basis.  

Truthfully, after having use the app on my iPhone 3GS, the thought of being tethered to my computer albeit either a notebook or a Netbook in order to use Skype comfortably, is almost laughable.

But Wait!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

As of the time of this writing, one cannot use Skype, on the iPhone that is, via Edge or 3G; that is to say, it can only be used via WiFi.  Oh No!!!  What to do? 

I’m sitting here typing this and laughing out loud at the thought, that, since the iPhone 3GS’ release last July, I haven’t seen any articles or received any request for assistance on the dilemma I found myself in as I prepared to go where many have gone before, until just a few days ago.  (Smile) 

What I mean to say is that as of the date of its release, virtually everyone wanted a way to tether their computer to the iPhone, using it like a high speed broadband MODEM, an almost effortless feat to achieve on my beloved Samsung Epix Windows Mobile phone.  (Big, big smile)  (That was for all you Apple Koolade drinkers!!!) 

Not to brag, but like many, without having to jail break the device, I was able to turn my iPhone 3GS into a broadband MODEM within mere days of its purchase.  You see, the trick was… But I digress.  Sorry. 

Getting Back On Point: 

Unlike previous trips, this time I wish to continue to use my mobile device (the iPhone) in the same way I use it here at home on my wireless network.
Get it?  You see, instead of wanting the iPhone to act as an Internet conduit for my computer, I want the computer to act as a WiFi hotspot
(conduit) for my iPhone.  This concept is referred to as “Reverse Tethering”. 

My solution? 

In addition to being an A T & T Wireless customer, I am also a Verizon Wireless customer and as such, I have a Verizon Wireless Air Card.  It is generally accepted that the Verizon wireless Air Cards (via EVDO) provide noticeably faster data access than does A T & T Wireless.  To be honest, this is the primary reason I continue to subscribe to Verizon Wireless. 

Although I am blessed to have several portable computers from which to choose, the only two I seriously considered taking with me were my MacBook Pro 13-inch or my Acer (Aspire One), 7-inch Windows 7 Ultimate Netbook.  Of course, my Verizon Wireless Air Card works beautifully on both.  As a side note, “yes” the Air Card works on my MacBook either in Snow Leopard, in a Windows 7 Virtual machine, or in Windows 7 via BootCamp. 

Because of the much more convenient size of the Acer and its substantially lesser value, I chose it, with which to travel, over the MacBook Pro.

Oh!  I almost forgot.  The solution to reverse tethering the iPhone to any wireless capable computer, including Desktop models, is to setup an ad-hoc wireless network. 

Beware!  Now that reverse tethering is beginning to become more popular, especially since the announcement of the Apple iPad, do not be tricked into purchasing any software that will configure this setup for you; because, setting up such a configuration, on either the Mac or Windows 7, takes only a few steps to accomplish and doesn’t require any additional software.

Yep!  “Reversing my thinking never felt so good, on the iPhone 3GS.”

Making A Very Joyful Noise,

Mark