When was mobile tethering developed?

Mobile tethering began to gain popularity in the early 2000s, primarily with the rise of smartphones and mobile data networks. The concept of sharing a mobile device's internet connection with other devices dates back to the introduction of mobile phones with data capabilities, but it became more widely accessible with the launch of smartphones like the iphone in 2007. By the early 2010s, many mobile carriers started to support and promote tethering as a standard feature.