Free Wifi Tethering Apps Now Available In Android Market - For Rooted Handsets Only

A couple of new (and, more importantly, free) apps have become available through the Android Market to enable Wifi tethering for handsets that are Root enabled. Root enabling is explained in detail here. The first app is simply named 'Wifi Tether for Root Users' by harry_m, version 0.9.3. if you need more info the developer has given a web page to visit.

The second is named 'aNetShare' by Sam Lu, version 2.00, this developer also has a web page to visit for more info. Both of these apps will require Root/Superuser access to get them to work, the latter seems a better option at this point as it auto-installs the latest version of the software as it becomes available.

A few other tethering apps are available from the Android Market, although you will have to buy these, they range from $1.99 to $8.99 including a bluetooth tethering app priced at $6.99 for those of you that are worried about the security of an ad-hoc connection.

Needless to say, those of us who do not want to Root their G1 are still waiting on the beta build of June Fabrics' PDANet software.

True Wifi Tethering App. Available For G1 Soon?

There has been speculation for quite some time now about the release of a true Wifi tethering application for the T-Mobile G1 to link it to your PC/laptop for web browsing, on such forums as Brighthand, AndroidCommunity and TMONews. Much (if not all) of these rumours mention a company called June Fabrics PDA Technology Inc.

June Fabrics are a first-tier partner of Palm Inc. and have a strong reputation for the quality, service and technical support provided to their customers. The company already has a range of true tethering apps available for most PalmOS handhelds, Windows Mobile based Smartphones and even one for the Apple iPhone.

I contacted the company with regards to the rumours and received a reply on 4th March stating they WILL release a beta build of the application around early April. This app. should be much better than manual tethering via USB, and will not require nearly as much effort to install, just download and install the program from the App. Market -- simple as that. A full and detailed review of this app. will be posted as soon as it’s available.

For those of you who can’t wait to use the web from a tethered G1, you can follow my guide to USB tethering in an earlier post, or there’s a method to linking your G1 Ad-Hoc detailed on AndroidActivity.com.

T-Mobile already enforce a 1GB soft cap on their ‘unlimited’ internet service in the UK and when you reach this limit your access will be ‘throttled’ down to about the same speed as a 56k modem. You will then receive a phone call from T-Mobile suggesting that you upgrade your tariff as you are conflicting their Fair Use Policy.