Google Blocking Tethering Apps per Carrier Requests

by Antonio Wells May 3, 2011 11:49 AM – 5 Comments

If you’re on AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile and want to avoid paying costly monthly fees to these carriers for using your Android device as a modem to tether Internet access, you’d better think again. Google is cracking down on tethering apps in the Android Market (at least blocking certain user access by carrier). Thus far, Sprint has not joined the gang… but we predict they very well may. Apps like Easy Tether, Internet Sharer, Klink, PDAnet and Tether for Android are greeting users with a ”This item is not available on your carrier.” notice when they try to download them. There are ways around this if you are a rooted user or side-load Android apps on Verizon and T-Mobile networks (sorry AT&T folks).

This is expected of carriers to maximize their revenue streams to force consumers to buy a data plan as more purchase data hungry smartphones, but the kicker comes with Google obliging to what should be an “open” platform. These days that open term is fading. What are your thoughts on this growing issue? Comment below!

[Source This Is My Next via Business Insider and PC World]

Categorised in: Apps Blog, Featured, News

5 Comments

By Terrormaster on May 3, 2011 at 1:17 pm:

In my opinion, at least from a consumer point of view, open died the day the let manufacturers effective fork Android with their custom UIs. It’s been a downward spiral ever since. But like you said… there’s always root, custom roms, and sideloading. The day carriers start blocking custom roms from accessing their network will be the day I go back to feature phones.

Reply
By The Android Site on May 3, 2011 at 3:02 pm:

Remove your SIM card. Install via wifi. Done.

Reply
- By Jason Norment on May 3, 2011 at 4:55 pm:
  
  That doesn’t help Verizon and Sprint customers.
  
  Reply
By Nat on May 5, 2011 at 11:29 am:

OK, I already have EasyTether Pro on my Droid Incredible on the Verizon network and it has worked great. I understand that Google can remove apps from my phone. Do you think they would do this? Is there a way to prevent removal?

Reply
By kmo97 on June 4, 2011 at 9:13 am:

Come on Google. What happened to open?

Reply