When is Bluetooth not Bluetooth - Does Apple, Inc. know?

Question

Hello,
Here is a description of what Bluetooth does, according to Apple, Inc.
*What Can You Do With Bluetooth?*
+• Last Modified on: March 02, 2004+
+• Article: 51768+
+This article explains what you can do with Bluetooth.+
+With Bluetooth you can do the following:+
+ Connect your computer to Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones to for dialing, SMS messaging, and synchronization of data, such as contact information.+
+ Connect to the Internet using a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone.+
+ Exchange files between Bluetooth-enabled computers and devices.+
+ Synchronize data between your computer and Bluetooth-enabled Palm OS devices.+
+ Use a Bluetooth-enabled wireless keyboard or mouse.+
+ Connect to a printer wirelessly.+
I used a Nokia with Bluetooth for a number of years and it worked as described above by Apple, Inc. More recently, I switched to an Ericsson K700 and the Bluetooth also worked as described above.
Here is my personal problem.
I use a TomTom GPS that offer traffic information via periodic downloading of information from the Internet via (you guest it) a Bluetooth enabled mobile telephone. My Nokia and Ericsson handled it beautifully.
To my HUGE and CONTINUING dissapointment, I discovered after having purchased my iPhone (described as supporting Bluetooth) that it does not support important components of the BLUETOOTH STANDARD. A Standard that is not standard is not a Standard.
Can support at Apple, Inc. advise me if there is a solution and if not if there is a solution coming?
Thank you

Answer 1

Bluetooth has many, many profiles that can be optionally implemented by device manufacturers. Each device only implements the profiles relevant to what the device needs to provide and what the manufacturer wants to provide.
Apple (and AT&T) decided that they did not want to offer network tethering on the iPhone. So Apple did not implement that profile on the iPhone.
Bluetooth is a standard, and so are the many Bluetooth profiles. In order for two devices to connect and use each other over Bluetooth, each must implement the profiles that the other expects.
If you want to request the tethering profile on the iPhone, you should post a feature request to Apple. This is a user-to-user support forum.