Tethering Option

Overview

Service features
Eligible models
Charges

Overview

Enjoy Internet connection by connecting a notebook PC or tablet with an au smartphone.

In addition to an Internet connection on your smartphone, with subscription to the Tethering Option you can connect your notebook PC, tablet, game consoles and other devices to the Internet by using the tethering function on a 4G LTE smartphone.

What is tethering?

Tethering is a function that enables you to connect various devices such as a notebook PC, tablet or game console to the Internet outside the home by using a smartphone as an access point.
There are three types of tethering (connection methods between a smartphone and device) to choose from: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® and USB. Choose the method that suits your use.

Tethering types

*The type of tethering that can be supported differs depending on the smartphone model.
*ʺBluetoothʺ is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. USA.

Eligible data (packet) flat-rate services or rate plans	Monthly fee	Application
au Adjust Plan au Flat Plan Flat-rate Data 20/30 *Plans whose applications are no longer accepted U18 Flat-rate Data 20	¥500/ month	Required
Flat-rate Data 1/2/3/5 Junior Smartphone Plan Unlimited Calling Plan(Mobile phone) Unlimited Calling Plan S(Mobile phone) VK Plan VK Plan S VK Plan M LTE Plan S *Plans whose applications are no longer accepted Senior Plan Flat-rate Data 1cp/3cp/5cp Flat-rate Data 1cp (Dedicated plan for the au Smartphone Debut Program) Flat-rate Data 8/10/13 Flat-rate Data cp (0.8GB)	Free
Data (packet) flat rate services and rate plans other than the above	¥500/ month [1] [2]

[1] Receive an additional monthly data amount of 500MB.
[2] As a Tethering Option benefit, ¥0 for up to 2 years! (As of May 31, 2017, applications for this benefit are no longer accepted.) ★
Condition: If you subscribe to the Tethering Option when you purchase an iPad, iPhone (excluding iPhone 4S), 4G LTE smartphone, 4G LTE Feature phone, or 4G LTE tablet by making a new contract or changing models. Customers who already have the special benefit applied can continue enjoying it during the current special benefit period.
- * When the free period ends, normal charges are automatically applied.
- * By subscribing to the Tethering Option, 500MB is added to the communications amount that can be used 　without communications speed constraints. However, the additional data quantity of 500MB is not added during the free period of the option charge.
- ★ There is no change in the free period for customers already using the benefit.

* The names of rate plans and data flat rate services for 4G LTE (au VoLTE) Android™ smartphones have "(V)".

Eligible models

4G LTE Smartphones, 4G LTE Feature phone, 4G LTE Tablets, iPhone (excluding iPhone 4S), iPad

Notes

* If you receive an incoming call while using tethering, calling is prioritized so you will not miss any important business. Data communications will automatically resume once the call is completed. (Due to app or server conditions, you may need to load or download data again.)
* The monthly usage charge of the Tethering Option is not calculated on a prorated basis.
* Additional packet communication charges are incurred at the time of use. The packet communication charges when using tethering are eligible for your contracted data flat rate service or rate plan.
* If tethering has not been activated even after applying for the Tethering Option, turn the power OFF and back ON again. If tethering is still unavailable even after turning the power OFF and ON, turn the Internet sharing setting OFF and ON.
* If you apply for the "Tethering Option" between 9:00 and 20:00 by using au Customer Support (Web), tethering is available approx. five minutes after you apply.
If you apply after 20:00, tethering is available from 9:00 the next morning.
* If you change between Flat-rate Data 20/30, au Adjust Plan, or au Flat Plan and another rate plan accompanying a device change, your Tethering Option monthly charge in the month of your device change is ¥500.
* If you change between a rate plan/Flat-rate Data service that makes the Tethering Option monthly charge free and a rate plan/Flat-rate Data service that makes the Tethering Option monthly charge ¥500 (excluding Flat-rate Data 20/30, au Adjust Plan, and au Flat Plan), your monthly charge in the month of your device change is ¥0. The 500 MB data increase benefit that comes with changing your monthly charge to ¥500 applies to the month of your device change.
* If the total amount of communication exceeds the monthly data amount, the maximum communication speed for sending and receiving until the end of that month will be 128 kbps. (The communication speed restriction will be removed on the first day of the following month.) For data amounts purchased with Data Charge or if you apply for the Extra Option, the communication speed constraint does not apply.
Data Charge
Extra Option
* Tethering cannot be used during overseas CDMA roaming. To activate tethering during overseas roaming, set GSM roaming, and then turn the power OFF and back ON.
* The flat rate is applicable to tethering communications with the "Overseas Double-Teigaku" eligible carriers during overseas roaming.

Overview

Tethering types

Services & Features