Tethering on Android?

**Gilliland** · 06-24-2011, 07:09 PM

I'm confused. I understand (I think?) that Sprint charges extra ($30?) to allow customers to enable tethering via their cell phones. And I understand that many rooted phones can have apps installed and/or enabled to allow tethering without any extra charge. Is that generally accurate?

So what happens when I turn on the wifi hotspot on my new phone? Will it fail because I don't have a "tethering" option on my plan? Will it work, but add $30 to my monthly bill? Or will something else happen?

Same with the USB tethering? How does that work? And get billed?

This 3vo is the first phone I've had that offered these options.

**Gilliland** · 06-27-2011, 07:20 AM

Since no one has replied, I'll post the answer(s) that I found this morning on another forum at XDA:

"Try to connect and see what it says, if they are going to charge you they have to tell you first. You will get a message similar to : You have not signed up for this service, to add it to your account call or go online today."

"Once the data connection was active i got the message saying my plan doesnt include it."

"Usb tether is locked from Sprint. Just tried."

**garberfc** · 09-12-2011, 07:14 AM

I suggest trying to use non Sprint software such as PDANet. I've used it in the past with great success.

**joequality** · 09-22-2011, 12:52 PM

Even with the Nexus S 4G? Not familiar with Sprint, but shouldn't an unlocked Nexus let you do the wifi hotspot regardless of a specific hotspot plan?

And how are they going to know? I use my hotspot on my laptop on the train, mainly just for browsing and email so it doesn't eat up too much data. Unless you have you're entire family connected to your phone at home or are streaming Netflix....

**dangtong** · 10-05-2011, 02:52 PM

You will get and error after you run "Sprint Hotspot" app if you don't have the add on on your plan. If you have rooted phone, you can d/l Wifi Tether app from the market without Sprint noticing.

**DragonFreak6969** · 10-21-2011, 10:47 PM

I paid the 10 bucks to download and install easy tether. It works great. It ties into your internet access that you are already paying 4 . I get 2 to 3 megabytes download speed on the 3g network here in indianapolis . unfortunately you cannot use it as a wifi hotspot . but you will not incur any additional cost beyond the initial cost of the program . I've found it to be stable and easy to use. it is available in the marketplace app already installed on your phone .