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In a flooded smart phone market, Google’s open source approach was a refreshing change, especially given the state of martial law many iPhone user’s live under. But with the removal of the tethering application from the mobile store, many users are starting to question just how open the platform really is. In defense of its actions, Google was forced to cite a passage from its distribution agreement with T-Mobile.
“Google enters into distribution agreements with device manufacturers and Authorized Carriers to place the Market software client application for the Market on Devices. These distribution agreements may require the involuntary removal of Products in violation of the Device manufacturer’s or Authorized Carrier’s terms of service”
When you pair this up with T-Mobiles terms of service which forbids tethering, Google suddenly appears to be legally bound to ban the application. This does however make us wonder what the future of Android will look like on other carriers. Will this lead to carrier specific app stores in the future? Users who purchase unlocked phones and use them on other carriers which permit tethering will probably want access to these types of applications. The big question is will they be able to?
What do you think the future holds?
Comments are closed on this article
Keith E. Whisman
February 23, 2010 at 3:03pm
Tether apps are available in the US and the T-Mobile store clerks are the ones that told me about them. Rather than buying their 3G adapter for my laptop the Clerks suggested I tether my G1 and they even showed me how to do it. The T-Mobile reps at least in the store close to my home are really into Android.
comptech08
April 05, 2009 at 11:10am
well since this story broke last week, since then Google has restored the tethering apps for over seas countries but will not with the United States. Which is total bogus. I understand it was an agreement, but a very stupid one it was.
Keith E. Whisman
April 05, 2009 at 2:08pm
What do you mean by tethering? Are you talking about connecting my phone to a computer and having the computer access the interenet through my Cell Phone internet service?
Or being able to access my cell phone from my computer for moving files like music to and from my phone?
If it is for internet access then it makes perfect sense because T-Mobile has a USB 3G modem they want you to buy and get service on. Why compete with itself here when it comes to it's other services? Sure I think it's stingy and a rip off.
Justin.Kerr
April 05, 2009 at 3:09pm
Thethering for net access is blocked.
You can still sync your device no problem :)
comptech08
April 05, 2009 at 3:19pm
its not blocked. You have to have root access to do it and getting root is not that hard to do. Also you dont have to download an app from the market you can search for them on your computer download them, then upload them to your phone and install. So they have really not stopped what they were trying to do.
nduanetesh
April 06, 2009 at 7:46am
Any chance you could provide a link? I've been really seriously thinking about switching to T-Mobile and getting a G1 lately, and not being able to tether is one of the big reasons I haven't done it yet.
Thanks.
Keith E. Whisman
April 06, 2009 at 12:14pm
http://www.t-mobile.com/ Here is the main page. And the URL for customer pages... https://my.t-mobile.com/Login/?rc=&dest=http://my.t-mobile.com:80/Default.aspx
