Tether 05/15/12

Tether is backup Internet on the go. Creating a WIFI hotspot with your smartphone has never been easier.

Tether is an application that allows you to have full Internet access on your laptop anywhere using your smartphone’s data plan. No more WiFi hotspots, extra data plans or costly Air Cards!

< blush > You had me at ‘full Internet access’.

Tether works its magic by creating an Ad-Hoc network on your  Mac or PC.

All you have to do is:

1. Download and  Install the Tether app on your computer
2. Connect to that network with your iPhone, Android phone or Blackberry device.
3. Login to Tether’s website from your mobile device to activate the Ad-Hoc network

That’s it.

No jailbreaking.  No expensive, unreliable wireless cards.

If you have unlimited data on your cellphone I highly recommend Tether.

‘But I have an iPhone and they now have a Personal Hotspot feature’ you say.  The problem, according to Technologist Terry White is that to use this feature you have to switch to the Data Pro Plan ($25 /mo for 4GB of data) AND you have to add a tethering plan ($20/month) for a total of $45/month.

AND if you have been grandfathered into an unlimited data plan (like me) you will lose that forever when you use the Personal Hotspot feature.

Granted, the speeds you get using Tether on your computer aren’t going to be what they would be if you had a cable modem connection.  But being able to get the Internet on your computer anywhere you have cellphone reception for 5 bucks a month is liberating and sanity saving.