Q. I’m with Vodafone Ireland, when I try to send I get a message saying the Vodafone.ie webtext service is currently unavailable or Login Failed.

 

First thing to check is if you can access and log into the Vodafone.ie website from your phone (in the web browser). If not, then it is impossible for Jelly SMS to work as it relies on this!

 

One reason for this could be if you recently changed from PrePay to Bill Pay or vice versa. The Vodafone website can take a few days to catch up while their systems update your account info.

 

In other cases they have incorrectly configured a customers APN on the server side and you will need to contact Vodafone directly and tell them you cannot access Vodafone.ie from your handset.

 

You can contact them on their forum here, by email or by Twitter.

New: Get Jelly SMS totally free now on the app store (free SMS!)

Update Feb 2 2010: Reports say that the latest iPhone 3.1.3 allows this to work again but ONLY on factory unlocked iPhones. Thanks to Éamonn for the heads up!

O2 Ireland users: O2 have now enabled tethering for users as detailed on their forum. Simply connect to iTunes on your computer and click ‘Check for Update’ and accept the new carrier settings file when prompted. Tethering will now work for you!

This evening I got internet tethering working on my iPhone 3G running the latest 3.0 iPhone build. This means I can now use my iPhone as a modem on my laptop or any machine (with iTunes 8.2 installed) when I’m out and about. Here’s how I did it.

How to install:

If you view this page actually ON YOUR iPhone all you need to do is:

1. Select your operator below & install the profile when prompted:

Three Ireland Contract

Vodafone Ireland Contract

Vodafone Live! Ireland

AT&T USA Contract

O2 UK Contract

O2 UK Pre-Paid

T-Mobile UK Contract

Virgin UK Contract

Three UK Contract

Vodafone UK Contract

Rogers Canada

Fido Canada

Note: Do this at your own risk!! I have only tested this on my own device (3G O2 Bill Pay iPhone) and cannot guarantee it will work with yours.

2. Restart the iPhone.

3. Once it restarts, go to Settings > General > Network and turn on tethering.

Done. Now connect your iPhone to the computer. The computer will automatically detect a network connection on the USB port. It just works.

On your Mac / PC turn off your Wi-Fi or unplug your Ethernet to check how it works.

Note: You will need at least iTunes 8.2 or greater installed on all the computers you want to tether with.

There you have it – Irish users get free text messages (O2, Vodafone, Meteor, Three + many others) on your iPhone and iPod Touch or on your Mac/PC with JSMS, and now you can use free internet tethering on the go.

Follow me on Twitter: @finbarrbrady