Thankfully, this is a problem for the USA users only.If I understand correctly, users can still download and install these applications from other sources/markets.

Sounds like a perfect opportunity to compete with the Google android market with an alternative that offers better virus/malware screening AND open market to all the applications that can run on the Android

Meh, doesn't matter for me. But you can't stop…anyone. They will just root or install a tethering app if Google decide to ban all the tethering applications. Easy peasy.

Google should really re-think the pressure from the domestic mobile carriers… by pressuring Google, these carriers show a real contempt for their customers.The obvious backlash is that there will be far more 'rooting' of Android phones and by less technically competent people; this is likely to backfire on Google as Android users have issues with rooting and cannot 'fix' the issues themselves due to lack of knowledge or bad instructions online. Google will suffer significantly from this move.Google – if you are listening – you really F'd up this time guys. Customers want Android phones and your customer for Android licensing is the manufacturers – NOT the mobile carriers.OF COURSE, THERE IS THE AMAZON ANDROID STORE…. I wonder if Amazon will tuck their balls and run?Comments and opinion by Ray

ageor, i havent tested it yet but i also understand you can still access them by turning off your carrier signal in airplane mode then using wifi access to connect to the app store…..

Carriers still need to explain me what's the difference to their infrastructure between 1MB of downloads from a PC or from a cellular phone. It's none. Why charge different fees?Carriers are commodities to me. I don't care how much they think their are not and don't want to be. I have a smartphone but I will use WiFi only, as long as they discriminate sources and types of traffic…

A megabyte is a megabyte, however the argument (for what it is worth) is that a PC browser will consume rich data (flash, etc.) faster than a mobile browser which typically access a portal as “m.” and invoke the lower usage HTML, bypassing much of the rich data. Even with a device such as iPhone, there is no Flash so the average bandwidth per page hit is lower and therefore the bytes-per-page-hit is lower. The lower bandwidth usage per unit of time is what the mobile operators want since there is less overall impact from one user on the network in a small, finite time period. The lower the usage per user, the more users that can surf with a satisfactory experience – or so the mobile operators suggest. In my opinion, the argument is true only for the users on the same time domain which translates to users on the same transponder of a single tower… the backhaul circuits hopefully being fiber and tied to an ATM ring. If the tower is not on a fiber backbone… well, all bets are off on how much data load can be provided.So, I think the issue is that AT&T and Verizon still have some old backhaul circuits feeding towers (like 3G/4G is not available but EDGE would be…) But you can bet that as technology moves forward and the backhaul circuits are all upgraded, the carriers will not want to give away free tethering… they make too much money off the service… plus, it probably pushes some users into moving to mobile 3G/4G interfaces for their notebooks.Opinion by Ray

How interesting…And then there is the Android Market on Amazon…

I have used the Android market on Amazon. Of course, they have an access tool that must be installed, but the marketplace works great and uses my existing Amazon account, same userID and password and bankcard… makes app purchases too easy.

If Congress would negate the T-Mobile purchase by AT&T and use some of the Obama stimulus dollars to buy out T-Mobile then turn the new operations into a “membership organization” such as the NRECA (non-profit electric… Google it) then subscribers could take control of their own destiny… and kick some serious AT&T butt. America needs a non-profit data network, non-voice, but with VoIP capabilities for a new age of devices. Just like the old AT&T, the new at&t is stagnating technology by only allowing the introduction of technology in a manner that benefits their bottom-line and not the consumers. Folks we are being screwed by all of these for-profit mobile carriers and the Justice Department, Commerce Department, and FCC are all just too ignorant to stop them.Lastly, the wireless spectrum in the U.S. is a National resource, just like Federal Park lands. The FCC manages the licensing of the frequencies and a licensing fee is charged. When a company such as AT&T buys a company such as T-Mobile, the FCC should re-calculate the value of those wireless spectrum licenses and “charge” the increased value to the buyer (AT&T) since they are now more valuable than when originally licensed to T-Mobile. Buying companies for their Publicly Owned wireless spectrum licenses MUST STOP. These are Licenses NOT Deeds.Opinion by Ray

I agree with the commenter “Trust”. Rooting is the only way to go with Droid. That's what makes Droid so awesome, root, install, give the carriers the shaft.

fuck google

fuck google

This is misleading. The Android Market disabled the DOWNLOADING of the tethering app to certain carriers' phones. You can still download the .apk for the app and install it manually, with or without rooting the phone. The usage of the app is NOT blocked. The app is open source and can be found on Google Code here: http://code.google.com/p/andro…

I fully agree that this is BS. A bit is a bit. I jailbroke my iphone long ago to PDANet and already have PDANet grandfathered in on my droid. There are a few ways around this, posted here. http://wp.me/pjzQD-1k7 and I will be looking for other ways. Tethering is one of the best things about smart phones and to make us pay $20+ JUST for the right to tether and then pay again per meg? FAAIL.

I disagree. Anyone with 1/2 a brain knows how to get apps outside the market. And if you're talking about Google loosing customers… What happens if google tries strong-arming carriers (who ALL have Android phones now) and they say “screw you” and stop marketing and/or selling Android phones and dump money into other products. I don't agree with the carriers, I do not believe they should charge for tethering… but I don't think Google is wrong for siding with the very businesses dumping millions of dollars into advertising and supporting their product. Don't be pissed at Google, take it up with the carriers.

I can understand the carrier's motives for wanting the apps blocked. If you have unlimited data I can understand why they wouldn't want you sharing your unlimited data with everyone.However, as a user of Android as well as other google products I don't like that Google gave in. Android is now the nation's most popular smartphone OS. The carriers can't simply drop Android phones, what will they replace it with, WP7? Please. I don't know, maybe the carriers have more leverage here than I think, but I feel like Google could have said no here without hurting themselves much.

Benjamin:The “Unlimited Data” plans that the wireless companys offer are actually very limited. Take for example T-Mobile, I purchased their unlimited data plan becuase I was moving and needed uninterupted web access for work. While tethering with my MyTouch 4G (tethering is built into this phone's settings without need for an app), I discovered my connection became unusable.What happened to me is that the “Unlimited” data plan is only 4G speed up to 5 gigabytes. After 5 gigs T-Mobile will throtle your phone's data connection to 56.6k dial up speed for the rest of the month / billing cycle. As a web developer and video enthusiast this means my teathering became completely useless.Try not to stick up for the wireless companies here because they are already protected from people over-using teathering and there is no real “Unlimited Data” plan for sale. This is just another way to squeeze money out of the consumers while not upgrading their outdated networks. These are already some of the richest family-owned corporations in the US and we don't need them taking away what little access we have.Furthermore, you should not be able to market a product as open sourch and pre-loaded with this or that, and then come back later and take away or charge for the origonal features. This would make a lot of people angry. Sony did something similar with OtherOS on the Playstation 3 and lets just say that did not end well for them :cough: hacked :cough:.

Google should respond by giving all the carriers the bird then creating the best cellular service in Amurrika!

It was just a matter of time. Last year when I was between internet carriers, I had my phone tethered to my computer. My girlfriend downloaded 150+ gigs worth of Steam games without knowing she was using my phone. Amazingly, no one ever said anything to me about it.

[...] Android tethering: A series of reports (three are here, here and here) are emerging that claim mobile operators in the U.S. are leaning on Google to disable tethering [...]