Yesterday the Verizon iPhone was finally announced, as I'm sure you all know, and along with support for Verizon's CDMA network, it sported another new feature that we've never seen on an Apple device before: the ability to use the phone as a personal hotspot.  Don't fret if you aren't planning on picking up a VeriPhone of your own, though, as some newly leaked screenshots appear to show that the feature will be heading to all iPhones in the near future.  Personal hotspot is said to be included in iOS 4.3, which should reach technical acceptance some time in March.  Of course, it's important to note that just because a feature makes it into iOS doesn't mean that your carrier will support it.

It's tough to guess when AT&T will allow its customers to use personal hotspot now that the Verizon iPhone is here.  Normally I'd say that the feature won't appear for some time, just like tethering did.  Now that Verizon has an iPhone though, AT&T needs to go toe-to-toe with Big Red in what they offer iPhone users.  Plus, now that many AT&T iPhone users will be switching to Verizon, perhaps the network will clear up enough to allow ATT to offer personal hotspot right away rather than wait for "better network performance" like with tethering.  Considering all of that, I'm cautiously optimistic that AT&T iPhoners will be able to use the hotspot feature as soon as iOS 4.3 arrives.  Do you think AT&T will allow the hotspot immediately, or will its customers have to wait once again?

Via BGR