If you own an iPhone BlackBerry or Android smartphone and are looking for an easy way to use smartphone data access for tethering without having to deal with additional monthly charges, a new app by the name of Tether may help in that goal.
Currently available for all three platforms, the  app requires a sever app to be installed on the host computer before the mobile apps can be used to tunnel the connection via USB  or Bluetooth, if supported. The BlackBerry version also requires additional APN configuration that may trigger additional flags for tethering charges.
Historically, Apple has taken a dim view of applications that overtly bypass official tethering functionality, especially now that iOS features built-in support. Previous attempts to offer such apps have been met with rejection or delisting, with the majority of such apps finding a home in the jailbreaking community as either paid or free apps.
Currently, the BlackBerry and Android versions feature a free trial while the iPhone version requires a purchase before use. Pricing for the BlackBerry and Android versions is set at $29.95, while the iPhone version is set at $14.95.
Update: Apple has pulled the application as of 10:45 EST, though users are reporting that the application is still functioning as normal. Apple has yet to explain it’s reasoning for the delisting, but the developer of the application has made repeated statements to the media emphasizing that it told Apple what the application did and were forthright about why it was seeking approval.
How does the speed compare to Apple’s built-in offering? I find the speed to be quite low in downtown Austin (1Mbps) compare to 2-3Mbps when I use the Speedtest.net app.
Since its tunneling the smartphone connection, early reports are indicating that speeds are identical those experienced directly on the phone, so it seems performance is dependent on network performance.
[…] a one-off fee of £10.49 to download the app and you also need to download the required …New “Tether†USB Tether App for iPhone/BlackBerry/Android Now AvailablePhoneNews.comiTether Is a Cross-Platform Wired Tethering Option for iOS, No Jailbreak […]
[…] sold as a yearly subscription for access to the tunneling service for $30 a year.The service was previously available as a dedicated native app for the iPhone until it was delisted off of the App Store by Apple for […]