Apple kills NetShare: No more iPhone-as-modem

Within hours of Nullriver releasing its NetShare application through Apple's iTunes Store, Apple apparently put the kabosh on the application, which allows users to turn the iPhone into a modem. Users can, of course, still use the application on a jailbroken iPhone, if they can find it. Nullriver doesn't have the application available for download from its website.

Why bother? Though it could be argued that this may be AT&T protecting bandwidth on its new 3G network, I've got to think the prohibition is coming from Apple, as it had the same policy for the original iPhone. Given how easy it is to set up phones-as-modems on AT&T's slower network, and AT&T's acceptance of the practice, why not the iPhone/iPhone 3G, too?

Regardless of the reason, this sort of effort to control is simply going to drive more people to jailbreak their phones and buy fewer applications directly from Apple. When you can get many applications for free outside Apple's App Store, why bother paying?

[computergeek1971]

5 hours before this article was written Netshare was back on the iTunes App Store and available in both the US and UK.
I downloaded it and it works great.
Americans should bear in mind they risk running afoul of AT&T's terms of service by using the application.

[Markus2008]

I am tethered to my EDGE iPhone as I am typing this.

[sting7k]

If you can't figure out the reason why Apple doesn't want this then you don't know how they work or think. Steve Jobs thinks that the iPhone is so good and that its mobile version of safari is so good you don't need to use the iPhone to get your laptop an internet connection, because you can just surf right on the actual phone. Just like mms is beneath them, not using the iPhone for mobile browsing is unthinkable to them, hence they don't even give you the option to use it as a modem for your laptop.

[sting7k]

The reason is simple. If you have the iPhone, not using IT to surf the net while moving around it totally unthinkable to Apple. They think that it and its safari are so good there would be no reason you would want to tether it to your laptop for internet, hence they don't even provide the option.

[anilsudh]

Not available in the US Appstore anymore

[ScooterCommuter]

This is the reason I haven't purchased an iPhone, which otherwise looks like the single coolest new technology since the original Macintosh in 1984.

[Domreis]

WOW... Look into the story before posting!

The download was available again at 12:51 PM PST directly from the app store! Works great on my 3G iPhone!

[BryanSanDiego]

If you got a copy of Netshare and are having a hard time setting it up to work visit this link for a screen cast I made.
http://simonsonspace.com/netsharescreencast.mov

[ralteredstates]

Hi Bryan: Great tutorial. Unfortunately it's not on the app store anymore. Do you have suggestions for other ap that allows my iPhone to act as modem for the computer?

[Bortie]

be careful using att with tethering if they identify your ip address as not matching the ip add of phone they can charge you 1 cent per kb

[jrfree]

The reason this app got pulled is simple, AT&T has other 3g devices such as the Blackjack II that allow tethering through an AT&T supplied application - for which they charge an extra $30 a month over the phone's data plan for the tethering option. You can be sure that AT&T doesn't want to lose the chance for the extra revenue, and that they will likely put something in place to either block such access, or track it and charge people extra for using it

[Durak01]

Look, I hate to be abrasive and tell someone to only post off knowledge, not ignorance...but I guess I have to be that guy today. Matt Asay, Apple doesn't give 2cents what we use our iPhones for, as long as we have them. That being said, Apple is not allowed to condone or distribute any application that allows the iPhone to work either outside of ATTs network or ATTs Terms of Use agreements. ATT does not permit the tethering of the iPhone on their network, as such, Apple cannot LEGALLY distribute the tethering application as in would be in violation of their PARTNER's Terms of Use. So to Matt and the couple of posters that want to blame Apple, focus your blame elsewhere; ie ATT. Peace.

[aSiriusTHoTH]

All I have to say is... be careful. AT&T specifically has add-on tethering plans for nearly all of their pocketpc/smart phones. And if you don't purchase these and you start to use a lot of bandwidth... they'll block your data access until you call them up. Then they'll either force you to buy their tethering package, or cancel your data access completely.

Wait for this to hit the news stands... but there will be quite a lot of pissed off iBlob fanb0ys posting about "no data access" very soon.

[jinx101a]

This is BS. Comcast was just reprimaned by the FCC for blocking access to certain Internet applications... I see this as no different. AT&T/Apple are blocking access via your Internet connection to protect their money inflow from their over priced items... this is an anti-trust issue. AT&T and Apple are just as dirty as Microsoft. It's the same type of business practices.

[jameskatt]

Tethering uses more bandwidth. For example, if you use YouTube, then YouTube sends you a smaller video over 3G than over WiFi, once it detects you are on an iPhone. If you are using a PC, then it sends the larger video. Thus more bandwidth. Flash content isn't downloaded to the iPhone. It is to the PC. thus more bandwidth. There is tremendously more bandwidth used by a PC than the iPhone. Thus AT&T wants to charge you more for the bandwidth use. Thus, beware of getting caught tethering and not paying for it.

[sutherlandboswell]

It shouldn't matter how much bandwidth it uses... I'm paying for UNLIMITED bandwidth.

[jrm125]

Of course bandwidth matters. AT&T offers you an unlimited data plan at a pafticular rate because they know generally how much data the device uses and how it will affect the bandwidth of their network.

That said, I wish this app was available but I can see the sense in killing it and charging for a tethering plan.

[jmpXor]

I think AT&T are wrong here! I bought the data package with my Nokia N75 (3G enabled) and the software (Nokia PC Suite) has included an app that easily teathers your phone to PC. I ended up paying more for the data pkg that came with my IPHONE when I bought it. WHAT A LOAD OF BS FROM AT&T

[Lightspeedmatt]

Define your own time and space-

It's appalling we've bred this patriarchal, 'prohibitive' society founded on fear, dictating everything we can and can't do and how, exactly, to do it...or else.
"...beware of getting caught...", "be careful...", "...risk running afoul...", ...block your access...force you to buy...cancel access completely.", "...track your usage..."

I want America to wake up from it's sad, scared slumber.
I absolutely agree with JmpXor. AT&T can THiNK they have a say until those who are sick of the games, balls-still-intact, stand up to them with a beautiful class action suit. We listened to their pitch and paid Top Dollar for their device and service and I would only EXPECT my state-of-the-art 3g iphone would tether with the laptop....especially given tethering isn't exactly new technology; we've implemented on much older, 'lesser' devices. Certainly, with all the horn-blowing 'rah-rah' from Apple and AT&T regarding these, reasonable use (not downloading gigs of movies or whathaveyou), like checking your company's intranet or booking a flight (anything within reason) should be fine. If they want to cry foul, I've got my dukes up and I know there're others.

[travis0017]

Amen! (national anthem humming in background)

[incomeinc]

I've created a tutorial with a complete solution for connecting your iphone to your mac as a wireless modem currently getting 1200KBPS downstream and 150KBPS upstream, check it out :)


<a href="http://www.mattbrandenburg.com/2008/10/27/how-to-make-your-iphone-3g-a-modem-your-macbook-free-in-15-minutes/">http://www.mattbrandenburg.com/2008/10/27/how-to-make-your-iphone-3g-a-modem-your-macbook-free-in-15-minutes/</a>