Comments on: Tether For Android Now Available

By: TheGeek

TheGeek — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 01:46:33 +0000

The problem is the carriers. Most phones tethering won’t even work because the carriers custom version of Android strips out those features so they can force people to pay for them. Tether gives non-rooting people a reliable method of tethering your phone to your computer, no matter what version or what phone you have. I agree its very expensive for an app, but it pays for itself within a month or two (Verizon’s tethering charge is $30 a month).

My only worry is that carriers get wind of this app and somehow block it with OTA updates or something. Not likely, but if I paid $29.99 for an app and my carrier blocks it, I’d be upset. I’d really like to see some guarantee from Tether that they would make workarounds for any carrier blocking.

By: TheGeek

TheGeek — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:19:16 +0000

Yeah, Tether has to be able to track your usage to be worth it. However, its very unlikely the carrier is able to find out your tethering because your phone is acting like a NAT gateway if i’m not mistaken.

Ive rooted and put a custom ROM on my Eris and I have been tethering for months, and I have yet to get a nasty phone call or threatening letter. Tether can be used on an unrooted phone (I bet it has something to do with enabling USB debugging, somehow sending data through that function) so unless a stock phone has some sort of “report home if naughty customer is tethering” feature, it should be mostly safe.

Also, since Tether apparently uses some custom transport method through USB debugging, this app would be difficult to block. You can’t disable USB debugging on a OTA update without getting rid of some really nice debugging functions for fixing phones. And if they don’t include tether in the market, it can be side-loaded. Tether may have a winner here.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:20:47 +0000

EasyTether and PDANet have been in Android Market for many months.

By: Lobotomik

Lobotomik — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:33:06 +0000

EXTREMELY expensive for any mobile phone app in any platform, and particularly for one that provides functionality that comes for free in Froyo and surely beyond.

I know it cannot be cheap to recover development costs when the market for this program is small; however, it will be made far smaller by the fact that it costs more than most people will pay for a phone that does not run Froyo! And development must not be too difficult when you can rip the code from Froyo and port it back.

By: Jason Norment

Jason Norment — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 04:44:23 +0000

The trick here is to be aware of your usage. Using an app like Tether may be a breach of contract and if your carrier finds out could cost you more than what it was worth.

By: TheGeek

TheGeek — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 04:00:19 +0000

Also you don’t have to root your phone and load a custom ROM to open the native tethering options. App is a bit pricey, but to get around Verizon’s $30 a month tethering charge without rooting your phone its worth it, especially for non-geeks.

By: Jason Norment

Jason Norment — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 02:36:26 +0000

Fixed. Thanks for the catch!

By: loafer

loafer — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 02:30:33 +0000

Small but important typo.

“Your given a free 7-day trial” => “You’re…”

By: Jason Norment

Jason Norment — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 01:51:44 +0000

Not all devices currently run Froyo. I’m curious to see how well it actually performs with real-world use.

By: will

will — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 01:48:50 +0000

why would you ever pay for this when its built into Froyo?