Personal Hotspot on iOS devices makes it possible to share a cellular data connection between devices and computers. The connection can be made with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or via USB cable.
To save on battery life when Personal Hotspot is not in use on an iPhone or iPad, follow these steps to turn Personal Hotspot off:
The iPhone 3GS can be tethered to a Windows computer using Bluetooth or USB. If your computer doesn't have Bluetooth, then setting up the USB connection is your only option.
To tether the iPhone 3GS or any other model iPhone via USB, you must install Apple iTunes (free download) on the Windows computer first. Without iTunes USB tethering won't work.
Newer model iPhones are capable of making a personal hotspot with a Wi-Fi connection, which does not require that iTunes be installed on the Windows computer.
Multiple devices can share your cellular data connection if the Personal Hotspot feature is activated as part of your carrier data plan. The Verizon iPhone 4 running iOS 4.2.6 or later and the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 on AT&T running iOS 4.3 or later support Personal Hotspot.
The maximum number of simultaneous devices that can be connected via Personal Hotpot on the iPhone 3GS is two. One connection via USB and one connection via Bluetooth can be used at the same time.
Your iPhone 3GS will not share its Internet connection via Wi-Fi. Only the iPhone 4 supports this feature. That being said, the Personal Hotspot setting on the iPhone 3GS is really just the old Internet tethering app with a new name. You can share your cellular data connection on the iPhone 3GS with other devices using Bluetooth or a USB cable.
