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Does the wifi hotspot feature work?

I think you are confusing the AT&T hotspot with mobiles Hotspot. The first is access to Wifi hostposts for AT&T customers throughout their coverage area. I've never used it, so I can't tell much more about it other than You can find out where they are in your area from this map.

Turning your phone into a mobile hotspot is a feature from AT&T but it requires an additional plan to enable it. I think you have the ability to accept the plan right from your phone, but it's rather expensive if you only plan to use it occasionally.
 
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Yes.. But only If you upgrade to their tether plan, which is patently a rip off. Some folks also claim that pdanet works, but I've never been able to get it to work.

I did not upgrade to any tether plan and I have not rooted or installed tethering software and I can tether. The rep informed me it was because of one of the plans I mentioned. Since I am new at this and thought I could be mistaken, I tethered to post this response.
 
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I did not upgrade to any tether plan and I have not rooted or installed tethering software and I can tether. The rep informed me it was because of one of the plans I mentioned. Since I am new at this and thought I could be mistaken, I tethered to post this response.

Can you describe the exact steps you're doing on the device to activate the hotspot?
 
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Can you describe the exact steps you're doing on the device to activate the hotspot?
1. Turn off Wifi so I am on the data plan
2. Click Settings
3. Click Tethering and Portable Hotspot
4. Click Portable Wi-Fi hotspot settings
5. I get an advisory note "You can use your phone as an Internet AP (Access Point) using protable Wi-Fi hotspot....
6. Click OK
7. Click Portable Wi-Fi hotspot (so the box lights green)
7. Click OK on the battery warning
8. Go to my laptop and open my radio settings to bring up my list of radio contacts and switch to the Galaxy S2 (I had already added the phone the first time I tried it to make sure I wasn't mislead by the AT&T kid. The orignal setup was just like connecting to home wifi)

I hope this works. If not, I'd check with AT&T, in person if possible.
 
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That makes more sense.
No charge for tethering. I watch the bill closely every month to make kiddo doesn't exceed limits placed on her and because I was once slammed (Side note: ATT CSR said he removed the charges and the service but made an error. I called again and that CSR removed the charge and gave me credit for the prior mistake.)
My plan is $45 for 4GB plan.
 
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