Tethering phones

[Moskvich]

Anyone clear this up for me? Need to get a new phone, probably htc, want to be able to use it as a modem occasionally. Don't necessarily much mind which network it's on. Some support monkey at t-mobile just told me that you can't do tethering on t-mobile. Their T&Cs also say this. Does that mean you really can't, or only officially can't? Can they stop you doing it if you don't use much data? Do other networks have the same policy? (I think 3 is fine with it?)

Seems hard to find sensible and reliable info on this, so if anyone knows the answer I'd really appreciate it, thanks.

[Bongo]

I think most are like that (say you can't, though you most likely can). I googled and found out how to do it with my old phone on o2 (on their website...)

Just make sure you're not using the phone as a modem or something as you could whack up a bill.

[kinboshi]

I'm on T-Mobile, and have been for a few years and have tethered lots in that time .  I had a problem when I moved house with getting my broadband up and running, and so had to tether for a month.  Just don't take the piss and download loads of files.  For gmail and web browsing and the like you'll be fine.

[The_nun]

I too am with T mobile, I was without the net for a couple of months in new home so used to tether all the time, never incurred any extra charges but after a couple of months they txt me and told me that even though I had used it over and above the norm I could still use it and not be charged however I would not be able to use it peak traffic. This was fine by me and I still was not charged.

[RioRodent]

The thing to look out for is that if the phone is locked to an operator, their version of Android may have the tethering dis-abled. This would mean going down the Root/Re-flashing road.. not something everyone is happy with when they've just bought a new phone!

A way to avoid this - prices permitting - is to get your phone from Carphone Wharehouse/mobiles.co.uk. They only provide unlocked phones, with the fully enabled manufacturers version of the OS.

[Moskvich]

The thing to look out for is that if the phone is locked to an operator, their version of Android may have the tethering dis-abled.

Yep, this is partly what I was concerned about. I gather that the iphone, since some recent update at least, demands that you contact t-mobile when you try to set up a hotspot thing. That's an iphone that comes from Carphone Warehouse as it happens. Don't know if there's likely to be any difference with Android..? But will try them and see if I can get some sense out of them, thanks.

Thanks for all the other helpful responses above too.

[kinboshi]

If the phone is locked, it's a relatively simple exercise to root and install a modded OS on it (along with the many other benefits that comes with that) and you'll be free to tether to your heart's content.

[boldie]

WTF is tethering? It sounds like something I might want to do.

I have a Nokia of some sort...not a very clever phone but it can take pictures and has some cool "apps" (Like a To-do list and Organiser etc. It even came with some games...like a footie game and a snake thing that eats fruit and then grows and you have to stop it from eating itself or touching the walls....I think, I'm not very good at it)

How do I get tethering on my phone?

[RED-DOG]

Seems hard to find sensible and reliable info on this, so if anyone knows the answer I'd really appreciate it, thanks.

Have you tried turning it off and on?

[paulpitchford]

I just got the HTC Sensation as per a previous post on o2. The phone is amazing. It has built in tethering and I've never had any trouble doing it with o2. You don't have to root this device to make it tether.

Paul.

[kinboshi]

I just got the HTC Sensation as per a previous post on o2. The phone is amazing. It has built in tethering and I've never had any trouble doing it with o2. You don't have to root this device to make it tether.

Paul.

As Rio said, a lot of the time you're OK and can tether no problems, but some of the networks will give you a 'locked' OS with certain features blocked - such as tethering.

Previously, tethering used to be only available to root users - but since version 2 of the OS, it's been available to everyone.  So very handy (my broadband is crap here and went down again today, so I've been using my tethered connection all morning).

I want a Sensation now as well...

[boldie]

I want a Sensation now as well...

If I want one I just give my bollocks a quick tickle.