Tethering Apps Are Now Being Blocked In The Android Market

[wicked]

It’s a sad, sad day when we can’t use the data that we pay for in a manner that we choose – but that day has arrived. It seems that somebody (perhaps carriers?) are blocking the ability to install Wireless Tether in the Android Market. This is what you get if you try to install it:

You can see that while it’s still in the Market, it’s not available for installation on any carrier-connected device. Most of the well known tethering apps have made the carrier blacklist, such as Wireless Tether and PDAnet, but there are some lesser known ones that are still available. Even if you’re not sure that you’ll ever use it, I suggest you go get one now before they all go the way of the dinosaur (on the Market, anyway).

*Sprint customers seem to be an exception and are still able to install these apps through the Market but VZW, T-Mo, and AT&T are definitely blocking.

Android Police

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[mtwd]

Not a problem in Australia, just checked and I can download if I want to. I'm with Optus.

[Droid-Xer]

Time to pull the apk and send it to dropbox for safe keeping..

[wicked]

You can still download the apk from the developers site Rob. wireless_tether_2_0_7.apk - android-wifi-tether - Wireless Tether for Root Users 2.0.7 - Wireless Tether for Root Users - Google Project Hosting

[Droid-Xer]

Eh, just pulled the apk for the few apps I had

[tp76]

Was bound to happen - just check "unknown sources"

[Steady Hawkin]

I wonder if they will also put the axe on future Bluetooth tethering as well.....

[SLAG IT!]

I agree that it's aggravating but, understand a carrier's concern with mass influx of data usage.

Sent from my T-959 using Android.net

[Drummynator]

I've noticed that when I activate wireless tether, sometimes my 3g just stops. Not like turn off where the icon goes away, but stops sending and receiving and no data is sent thru the app. Yet, I can pull up a browser while terr is running and still get 3g on that and still no data goes to wireless tether.

Sent from my Focused and Crystallized DROID X

[alostpacket]

I agree that it's aggravating but, understand a carrier's concern with mass influx of data usage.

Sent from my T-959 using Android.net

Except (you'd think) they sell bandwidth. It makes no sense in any normal market to artificially limit the demand of your product. The problem is they sell contracts and not bandwidth. Better to have people buy contracts and not use the product. It feels like rent-seeking to me. Frustrating. All the while the carriers are making record profits. So where's the infratructure investment? Instead of attracting customers to come use the product we're getting high speed data caps. I dunno, the market just seems so consumer unfriendly and distorted to me.

Especially with this news of no more class action lawsuits:
Supreme Court: AT&T can force arbitration, block class-action suits