Man oh man oh man. It is not like we all haven’t dealt with carriers throttling our data, lowering our amounts and killing tethering in the past. It has been one of those continuous debates and conflicts that has plagued Android and carriers for year. One one side you have people like myself, who believe that I am already paying for data, why should have to pay more to share it. While others might go with the argument that tethering puts more strain on the network and it shouldn’t be free to use. It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you are on really, all that matters is that the final of the big 4 carriers are shutting it down.
Technically there never was “free” tethering on T-Mobile. They offered a plan, they just didn’t have anyway to stop the slightly smarter people from using it with out one. With the newly announced Ice Cream Sandwich update for the HTC Sensation 4G, it looks like T-Mobile has solved that issues. A small note at the bottom of the release notes proves it.
Regardless if you think this is wrong or right, it is happening. That doesn’t mean all hope is lost though. Recently we came across a little application that gives you tethering ability using your data plan. The best part, it is free on the Play Store. We aren’t sure how long that is going to last though. The app is called FoxFi, and enables your device to be a Wi-Fi hotspots. While there are some limitations with the app, people seem to be getting along just fine with it. The developers make special note of a few specific devices that can’t utilize the WiFi mode, but can use Bluetooth mode without issues. This seems to be the case with HTC devices. The app doesn’t require root to be used either. On a small side note unrelated to the Sensation, FoxFi is blocked for Sprint customers. You will need to visit
the developers site to pick it up. For everyone else looking to give it a shot or want to read up about it, hit up the QR code below .
Anyone have luck with any other tethering apps that are out and about? Let us and other readers know what you use.
Application: FoxFi
Developer: FoxFi Software
Cost: FREE
Source: AndroidPolice
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About the Author
Stormy Beach
Time for an update. I am the proud father of three, 2, 8, and 11. I finally just moved up from the Samsung Vibrant to the Samsung Galaxy S III...... Let me tell you, it is mind blowing. I love Android, I love tech and I love my family. Not in that order though. I work to hard, play even harder and take care of all that are around me when I can.
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[...] HTC Sensation ICS update to kill free tethering option, we have an app to fix that Issue | AndroidSP… Man oh man oh man. It is not like we all haven't dealt with carriers throttling our data, lowering our amounts and killing tethering in the past. It has been one of those continuous debates and confli… [...]
Same here
But my carrier has tether allowed and I have it on my plan
Still does not work, ICS has killed it.
Unless your rooted! Hey do you kno if ATT and Verizon still block tethering apps through there network? I heard a year or so ago that even if your rooted they kno if your tethering and will stop you or charge you. You can still tether on T-Mobile and sprint thou right?
It’s hard to say. I think it is more of a scare tactic. I have a friend on Verizon who tethers his unlimited plan. Hits around 30+ GB a month. He doesn’t have the feature and has never been charged or threatened with it either. Its been like 8 months.
oh thats really good to know. cool! I tether on t-mobile anyways, rooted!
I made a mistake and upgraded to ICS and lost my tethering. Foxfi Wifi is not working..asking for Blutooth
any recommendation..
I have a unlocked sensation 4G with ICS 4.0, and currently using the phone in non T-Mobile GSM network.
In network option,
if “GSM/WCDMA- Auto” is selected, my 4G(shows 4G, but connected to 3.5G)WiFi hotspot works just fine, am able to tether devices.
if “GSM” is selected, my 2G(shows 2G, but connected to 3.5G)WiFi hotspot works just fine, am able to tether devices, but in lower 2G speed.
if “WCDMA” is selected, my 4G(shows 4G, but connected to 3.5G)WiFi hotspot works, but not connecting to internet, am NOT able to tether devices.
So in a nutshell, Non-T mobile GSM networks unlocked ICS 4.0 should allow hotspot, not sure if carrier has configured anything at their end(as tmobile can offer tether it free for 5GB data plans)
FoxFi is only working with bluetooth mode on HTC Sensation
Timu@Dominor
pi actually have a htc sen. and i downloaded foxfi i was an advid user of it worked on every phone except this one besides root whatelse can i do i rather of stuck with GB then go with ICS i cursed out the rep cuz im already paying for my web y do i have to pay to use my phone as a modem i tried the usb tethering but cant get it to work i downloaded the drivers from htc and still nothing but whats the bluetooth thing how does that work thanks in advance….
Just like to point out that FoxFi is the ONLY wifi hotspot app that DOESN’T require you to ROOT your device. If your ONLY going to root your device so you can use this feature you don’t need to. Also for the iPhone if you jailbreak your device they have an app called PDANET which allows you to give you a free wifi hotspot which I have used and there is a option called “Hide Tether” which is supposed to hide from your carrier that your on a wifi hotspot. I have use that and had no problems. So thats how people with unlimted using lages amounts of data haven’t been blocked.
Also about ATT and Verizon blocking access for a wifi hotspot without paying for a plan is NOT a scare. I have had several friends 2 on ATT and 2 on Verizon and they blocked access for all of them. For ATT its a lot more harsher then Verizon. Basically they bith got letters in the mail staing that they were using a wifi hotspot feature without paying. Then saying they had to either stop using the Wifi Hotspot by a specific date or if they continued using it after the specific date they would automatically put them on a plan and start charging them. The one friend stopped using the feature. The other though it was just to scare him so he continued to use it and then after that date sure enough they started charging him.
For Verizon basically what they do is when you try to go to any web page it will automatically redirect you to a Verizon page with you have to pick a tethering/wifi hotspot plan and as far as I know there is no way around it unless a new work around has came out. but my other 2 friends on Verizon had this happen using MYWI which is a hotspot app for jailbroken Phones.
I would suggest getting PDANET if you have a jailbrokin iPhone and select the on setting for hide tether. Been doing this with Verizon now for longer then a year and have had no problems.
Oh I forgot to mention with Verizon they CANNOT Charge you $20 a month for Wifi Tethering if your are on a tiered data plan. But if you still are on the grandfathered unlimited data plans they can. They got sued over this by the FCC and thus Verizon has settled with the FCC and is offering a $1.25 million payment to the U.S. Treasury as a result of the FCC’s consent decree on this issue. This all happened because Verizon had purchased spectrum back in 2008 that required Verizon to allow open access to its network.