Most 3.5G smartphones, especially Nokia’s, are able to connect a laptop to the internet without any special data plans, or cables for that matter.  Not so for the iPhone as AT&T, O2 et al mostly offer all you can eat data plans which they feel could be abused if the iPhone were used as a net dongle.

With that in mind AT&T was mooting a $30 tethering supplement on their already expensive tariffs.  Now, according to macblogz.com, AT&T may reduce this premium to only $10.  Whilst $10 is not much, $0 is less and Palm’s Pre is already making this point quite loudly.