That’s it, wireless carriers are seriously putting their foot down in terms of tethering. Tethering is also known as using your mobile device as a modem for your laptop use or any other device that could access the internet from your phone data plan.
Verizon requested Google to lock the access of all tethering apps on the Android MarketPlace to its Verizon users. Will Google comply? Unfortunately yes, since Google stipulates in its Terms Of Service (TOS) that it will block any apps that violates the TOS of a carrier. Tethering without a tethering data plan is a violation of Verizon TOS, hence Google will comply to Verizon request.
The same stipulation applies to other carriers such as AT&T where they will even go as far as blocking access to other Android Applications store so you can only have access to a monitored Android MarketPlace.
So far, only Sprint Wireless has not taken the initiative to block tethering usage, unfortunately it should only be a matter of time. Wireless carriers usually charge $15-$20 per month for a tethering plan, there’s no reason why Sprint would miss on a gold pot as well.
Alternative to this do exists, side-loading apps, or even apps that tether unnoticed, but probably not for very long.
Related links
– Wireless carriers, Google move to block tethering apps on Android
