Motorola Droid Tethering with Verizon and Android 2.2

[Schadenfroh]

Greetings,

I am considering switching from T-Mobile to Verizon due to poor coverage from T-Mobile. Verizon works fine here in Knoxville, but when I visit my family back home or my family down in Florida, it goes dead and the only provider that works well out there is Verizon.

But, I find it hard to justify $70+ a month if I cannot tether my future Moto Droid to my PC for road-trips. Yet, I really want a Droid.

I know that Android 2.2 is going to do a good deal for tethering, any word on if Verizon will still charge extra for tethering after this update?

Thanks

 

[Bateluer]

Yes, they will charge extra for tethering, just as they do now when you tether through the Verizon Access Manager software.

However, you have the option to tether through wifi or USB without the VZW access manager program and without the extra 30 dollar data plan. Its just not official or supported. Most aftermarket roms have this functionality built in.

 

[tatteredpotato]

I don't know that anyone knows for sure about this yet, but I'd expect that it will still be a feature that the cell phone providers are going to charge for... Google is just making a consistent implementation across all devices.

 

[MJinZ]

You can tether with USB for free on the Droid. PdaNet.

 

[Schadenfroh]

You can tether with USB for free on the Droid. PdaNet.

Interesting, does that violate my TOS and/or could result in the bricking of my phone? That seems to do what I need.

 

[sjwaste]

Interesting, does that violate my TOS and/or could result in the bricking of my phone? That seems to do what I need.

Prob violates TOS. Can't brick it, PDANet doesn't even require that you root it.

 

[dguy6789]

Food for thought: T-Mobile won't charge you anything extra if you use Android 2.2 tethering. I spoke with a T-Mobile representative today about it.

 

[Bateluer]

You can tether with USB for free on the Droid. PdaNet.

http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/

 

[Raduque]

The built-in tether in Froyo is still up to the carriers to enable it or not. Google said so themselves.

I use Barnacle wifi tethering myself, and USB tethering is built-in to CM5.0.7.

 

[boomhower]

http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/

That's what I use as well, simple and effective.

 

[Schadenfroh]

That's what I use as well, simple and effective.

Hmm, requires a "rooted" droid, eh? That spooks me a bit if Verizon forces an update that bricks it. However, that does look like a superior solution. I will have to read over the TOS when I get the time to see my options.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Hmm, requires a "rooted" droid, eh? That spooks me a bit if Verizon forces an update that bricks it. However, that does look like a superior solution. I will have to read over the TOS when I get the time to see my options.

Once you have root, you won't get OTA updates. You'll do it manually with the gazillion custom roms available for it.

And yes, it violates the TOS...

 

[Schadenfroh]

Cool, thanks for all of the input guys!

 

[murphy55d]

And let's be honest, does anyone think Verizon will release a 2.2 update with tethering enabled, when they sell their own package for that? I don't, personally.

Not that it matters, since I'm rooted, and can tether at will, but I don't think the official 2.2 from Verizon will include tethering.

 

[dguy6789]

Verizon lets users with a Palm Pre Plus do wifi hot spot tethering for free so it's very possible they would allow it for Android. Them not charging for tethering would give them a HUGE advantage over AT&T and Sprint, since both of them do charge for tethering.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Verizon lets users with a Palm Pre Plus do wifi hot spot tethering for free so it's very possible they would allow it for Android. Them not charging for tethering would give them a HUGE advantage over AT&T and Sprint, since both of them do charge for tethering.

I doubt it. Android phones are selling like hotcakes. The Pre... not so much.

 

[Cable God]

Yea, I run UltimateDroid V.10, with an overclocked kernel. I use the WiFi tethering feature which turns the Droid into a WiFi AP. Works great too. It's more convenient for me that way.

 

[murphy55d]

I doubt it. Android phones are selling like hotcakes. The Pre... not so much.

I agree. I think it's just to get rid of those phones. I don't know one person with a Pre, or god forbid one of those awful Pixies.