This can’t be terribly surprising to hear, but AT&T and Verizon look to be blocking users from downloading free tethering applications for Android devices. These applications will no longer appear in the Android Market from a handset on either network, and you won’t be able to install them from the Android Market Webstore. The idea is to make users pay up for the official tethering plans, but a move like this may push users to look into other ways of getting free tethering.
T-Mobile and Sprint users are still allowed to download these applications, but who knows for how much longer. Verizon and AT&T want users to pay for the ability to use the phone’s data on other devices, and what better way to do so than to block these applications from devices using their network? PDAnet and other tethering apps allow the user to tether their devices or use them as mobile hotspots for free. Big Red and Big Blue don’t like that so much.
Verizon users can always sideload the application and install a tethering application that way, but AT&T blocks this functionality from all Android handsets, so the best way to go is to use a sideloading program, or flash a custom ROM. Official tethering plans from carriers will run you at least $20 extra dollars on top of your existing bill, so it’s not surprising that these free tethering applications are quite popular, and why the two carriers want them gone.
If someone has the ability to tether their phone, it means they are already paying a data plan of some sort for their phone. Having a carrier limit this data just to the phone is annoying, and having to pay for the official tethering plan is even worse, as the user may not even need it that much. If users are already paying for the data being used, shouldn’t they be able to choose what device the data can be used on? Guess not.
It’s very frustrating for carriers to act so smug, even if they are within their own rights. Out of all four major carriers, you’d imagine that Sprint and T-Mobile would be cracking the whip on this, but no, it’s the two most expensive carriers in the country. Funny.
Fear not, AT&T and Verizon users, there are ways around these annoying blocks. This is Android, after all.
[Via: Phonedog]