Steve Jobs: No iPad Tethering

Many potential iPad buyers have been hoping that they will be able to share their iPhone's wireless data connection with their new tablet, but that isn't going to happen, according to Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Mr. Jobs confirmed the lack of tethering support in an email response to a customer's question.

Apparently Jezper Soderlund of Sweden emailed Mr. Jobs asking whether or not the iPad offers tethering support. Mr. Jobs's response was a simple "No," according to Gizmodo.

Tethering is the process of sharing your mobile phone's wireless data connection with another device, such as a laptop, or in the the case of many hopeful consumers, the iPad.

Apple introduced the iPad tablet device in January and said that it would be available in Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi plug 3G versions. Many people speculated that they might be able to share their iPhone's 3G data connection with an iPad to save some money because the Wi-Fi plus 3G version costs US$130 more than the Wi-Fi only version.

The iPad will ship on April 3, and includes a 9.7-inch multitouch display, support for iPhone apps, music and video playback support, an ebook reader, and more.

With hopes of official tethering support dashed, soon-to-be iPad owners will likely have to turn to the jailbreak community to find a tethering solution.