Google May Have Killed Tethering in Android 2.3.6
Google is rolling out is Android 2.3.6 update for its Nexus S, but you may want to think twice about applying it. According to user reports, the tethering capability has been killed.
The benefits of the update include upgrades for Android's voice search feature as well as security updates. Google did not provide a detailed list of changes and we are still waiting for an update on the Google Mobile blog.
There is a considerable number of users who report that the update may break Wi-Fi and USB tethering, while also not fixing the voice bug. The removal of the feature has not been confirmed by Google, but it appears that users who depend on tethering may want to hold off updating their phones until it is clear whether it is just a bug or if the feature has been removed. It is not a secret that both T-Mobile and AT&T are not crazy about this feature and would rather sell customers a separate tethering package.
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Yeah it'd be a deal-breaker for me. Verizon isn't crazy about tethering either. They'd rather charge you $15 more per month (or is it $30?).
If I remember correctly Sprint doesn't even care if you tether or not- I guess it's another win for Sprint (who ever thought they would be the company giving you the most freedom and bang for your buck?) Since Sprint has Android phones, I would be suprised if Google cut this feature though. If Google did take tethering out of the OS, then I guarantee a group will pop up overnight that will try to re-add this feature back to Android.
it's $20 more/month with a 2GB limit
Paying more for tethering is just another retarded money grab. They are already charging you by the gigabyte, how you use those gigabytes and on what device should not matter!
Paying more for tethering is just another retarded money grab. They are already charging you by the gigabyte, how you use those gigabytes and on what device should not matter!
Right. They are pretty much charging you to use a software feature. Same with cable companies that charge $10/mo for the DVR that's already in your cable box. It's not costing them anything beyond the cost of the box to provide that feature.
drag,, well i hope when ice cream sandwich comes out it will add voice confirmation for the hands free feature. never was interested in tethering
Data is data is data, if I use it on the phone or tethering it's same fucking thing, costs them nothing extra but somehow they expect me to pay more? Fuck off, tethering chargers are the biggest ripoff since text messages.
I understand if you're tethering so torrents and constant downloading is made easier....
But when you're just tethering to do your normal FB browsing and Youtube videos - I don't understand what the big damn deal is. I'm just doing it for a larger screen and comfort. I could literally do the same thing on my phone, so what does it matter?
Now, if I was doing it on my phone and tethering it at the same time then I could see -- but even then, I'd be cutting my bandwidth in half, which equals the same damn thing.
It's just a way to get more $$$ out of you.
This is crazy. Why the #¤%/%% should some stupipd american telco;s decide what I can or can't do in Sweden, where tethering is alowed for all carriers.
I use it all the time.
If this is true, I will never upgrade beyond 2.3.5 (excluding possible hacked Roms).
Alarmist headline - not specific about the 'phone for which the ROM kills tether....
Unfortunately a bit typical of recent Tom's headlines.
they will break it for now... until someone finds away around it...
who cares for Wi-Fi and USB tethering when you have to pay extra for something that you already pay for
I would have thought the carriers would want to have tethering, so that users go over their data plan and incur additional charges
Funny how tethering is being introduced for Mango next week at the same time Android has bricked it in this update.
Root it or load an app (pay some "nerd" to root it if you can't). Because anything is cheaper then paying for tethering :-)
Never understood why a company would charge you twice for the same data about whether you surf on the phone or tether.
Updated to 2.3.6 and thethering and wi-fi hotspot are working fine. I am with Rogers here in
Ontario Canada. Hope this helps. Zeide
Good to know zeide...thanks for the word.
I completely agree about the complaints...just greedy companies.
I'd understand if you had "unlimited" to want to restrict tethering, but if I pay for the GB, they really shouldn't care what I do with the data. If I go over...charge me for it...don't tell me how I can use it.
If I remember correctly Sprint doesn't even care if you tether or not- I guess it's another win for Sprint (who ever thought they would be the company giving you the most freedom and bang for your buck?) Since Sprint has Android phones, I would be suprised if Google cut this feature though. If Google did take tethering out of the OS, then I guarantee a group will pop up overnight that will try to re-add this feature back to Android.
I have been using Sprint for 11 years now. They do NOT allow Tethering or Hotspot without a $25 addon Package. But damn 4G is sooo much faster
Easy Tether with Sprint smart phones works great with no extra fees being paid.
Hot spot does require extra fees
I have been using Easy Tether on my Evo 4G for over a year worth no problems
The carriers have already capped the data plans, so why do they care how we use the allowed data. This is total BS, I'm tempted to just go back to a voice only plan out of irritation.
As far as carrier policy, I agree with everyone.. its a money grab.
Google on the other hand may have finally gotten enough pressure from having the feature enabled by default on the AOSP build, while carriers love to charge for the feature.
Removing it however from the AOSP build would require a change in how the RIL works, and a new radio in the nexus s. Which if you buy the GT-i9020A and use the UCKE1 radio you'll discover the feature is disabled out of the box, and to activate it you need to flash a new radio.
Re-enabling this wont be hard, as long as google didnt change the RIL too much to appease carriers.
Maybe pressure from carriers? It looks that way.
I have been using Sprint for 11 years now. They do NOT allow Tethering or Hotspot without a $25 addon Package. But damn 4G is sooo much faster
I've been with sprint for 2 and a half years not, jailbrok my phoen and have been tethering that entire time with my palm pre, have NEVER had a problem with it beyond getting throttled durring peak hours when i hit 5 gigs. heck the sprint rep i was talking to is the one who was showing people where to go to unlock the pre on launch day and get it to work as a tether
The bug has been reported to the Android project here: http://code.google.com/p/android/i [...] l?id=19780
I just installed the OTA update to 2.3.6 on my Nexus One (after manually upgrading to Gingerbread some time ago), Vodafone Netherlands. Wifi tethering works for me.
I just installed 2.3.6 and I still have w/l tethering working. I'm based in the UK. It looks like those effected are all from the US. Those from Canada and Europe seem to still have tethering, so is it possible the US carriers put pressure on Google to remove the feature.
Is the feature removed for those users with problems or is it just broken?
Tethering still works for me on 2.3.6. T-Mobile USA - Nexus S
Tethering still works for me too here, andoird 2.3.6, Nexus S, provider Telfort The Netherlands
Updated today to 2.3.6, kernel 2.6.35.7-gf5f63ef.
Tethering still works. Get it was only an unintended bug, not a removed feature.