Help Has Virgin Mobile blocked the tethering apps?

[Gardenboy38]

Ok, I got my much anticipated Optimus V in the mail and so far I love it. I downloaded Quick Settings from the market and so far haven't gotten the app to open. I also downloaded Toggle and it wont open either. The other non-tethering apps I downlaoded open and work just fine. Has VM done something to thwart using the phone as a hotspot?

 

[treven21]

I had this installed prior and just tested it out with no problems. I'm not sure if they did something new though for current dloads. I tried the toggle alone and used quick settings with no problems.

I do have my phone rooted though along with a custom rom running. So I may not be a good one to test.

 

[Gardenboy38]

I had this installed prior and just tested it out with no problems. I'm not sure if they did something new though for current dloads. I tried the toggle alone and used quick settings with no problems.

I do have my phone rooted though along with a custom rom running. So I may not be a good one to test.

Yeah your phone being rooted might make a difference.

 

[Investor22]

It's going to be harder to find those tethering apps in the future. Sprint hasn't asked for the apps to be removed so far, though.

GOOGLE CAVES: Bans Free Wi-Fi Hotspots On Your Android Phone

 

[Gardenboy38]

It's going to be harder to find those tethering apps in the future. Sprint hasn't asked for the apps to be removed so far, though.

GOOGLE CAVES: Bans Free Wi-Fi Hotspots On Your Android Phone

Thanks for the info. I knew something was going on. So far I haven't found any of the tethering apps that will open.

If anyone knows of one please let me know.

 

[Black Jesus]

Have you tried to usb tether using pdanet?

 

[keale18]

It's going to be harder to find those tethering apps in the future. Sprint hasn't asked for the apps to be removed so far, though.

GOOGLE CAVES: Bans Free Wi-Fi Hotspots On Your Android Phone

Another reason why I dont use ATT or Verizon. Still the way it works is they block something and someone figures out a way around it.

 

[Black Jesus]

I would imagine that VM will just put a cap on the data usage and when you go over that throttle you to a snails pace.
Then when you are at the airport and your flight is cancelled and you need to make a flight change and your internet takes 5 minutes to load a page you will rethink tethering.
I tether but only for short periods of time 1-2 times a month.
Back up your tethering apps to dropbox and your sd card just in case they pull them from the market.

 

[magicaldeck]

Back up your tethering apps to dropbox and your sd card just in case they pull them from the market.

How do you do such a backup? Is there an app for backing up apps to dropbox directly?

 

[Gardenboy38]

So far non of the non-root apps are working on my phone.

 

[adam97202]

Quick Settings is working fine for me today.

 

[asadullah]

tethering widget by alek chmyr works good. Allows you to tether via hotspot or usb. No root needed

 

[Gardenboy38]

Quick Settings is working fine for me today.

I think the changes only affect NEW phone activations like mine. Anyone activated a new phone in the last week with a tethering app?

 

[asadullah]

I think the changes only affect NEW phone activations like mine. Anyone activated a new phone in the last week with a tethering app?

It doesn't work like that. They have to change the software on the phone to make that change

 

[Gardenboy38]

It doesn't work like that. They have to change the software on the phone to make that change

That can't be implemented on new phones? I've downloaded 6 tethering apps from the market and none of them work. Perhaps the apps themselves have been changed recently? I'm looking for an app to download from outside the market.

 

[greg4android]

I got my phone same time you did from NFM. I am using the hotspot right now thru QuickSettings. So, NEW activations isn't it.

Like another poster said, they can only disable this thru a OTA upgrade.

i've not heard of any software updates for this phone.

NOW > > > they did change the firmware on the Optimus S and T thru an OTA upgrade that DOES disable the hotspot!

I think the changes only affect NEW phone activations like mine. Anyone activated a new phone in the last week with a tethering app?

 

[Gardenboy38]

I got my phone same time you did from NFM. I am using the hotspot right now thru QuickSettings. So, NEW activations isn't it.

Like another poster said, they can only disable this thru a OTA upgrade.

i've not heard of any software updates for this phone.

NOW > > > they did change the firmware on the Optimus S and T thru an OTA upgrade that DOES disable the hotspot!

Ok, I just downloaded QuickSettings again. Lets see what happens. Maybe you're doing something different than I.

 

[Gardenboy38]

I got my phone same time you did from NFM. I am using the hotspot right now thru QuickSettings. So, NEW activations isn't it.

I downloaded the QS app, but its not on my homepage, but only accessible when I click the Market icon and then click 'my apps'. I open the app and there is no Wi-Fi Hotspot button. In its place is a Mobile data button.

This is a list of buttons available from the top.

1. Ringer
2. Volume control
3. Bluetooth
4. Wi-Fi
5. GPS receiver
6. Mobile data

 

[greg4android]

you have to drag it out of the "hidden options" section above the thick bar to join the other "available icons".

with QuickSettings open. hit the OPTION button on the bottom of the phone where your click buttons are. the click CUSTOMIZE on the options menu. SCROLL down, and you will see HIDDEN SETTINGS. You will see WIFI hotspot. On the slider to the FAR right of the wording, DRAG the hotspot icon ABOVE the hidden settings bar....it will appear in the Available options.......

I downloaded the QS app, but its not on my homepage, but only accessible when I click the Market icon and then click 'my apps'. I open the app and there is no Wi-Fi Hotspot button. In its place is a Mobile data button.

This is a list of buttons available from the top.

1. Ringer
2. Volume control
3. Bluetooth
4. Wi-Fi
5. GPS receiver
6. Mobile data

 

[Gardenboy38]

You rock, greg4android. I have it working now, kudos!

 

[JerryScript]

So far, they have just removed the apps from the market listings for the phones whose carriers have requested it. The only way they can make it not work is to change either the app itself, or your phone's ROM/firmware, which would require an update which could be easily refused. We don't really know just how the various carriers are going to handle this yet. However, we do know that Google can remove apps from your phone without even telling you, they did so when the malicious apps were in the app store earlier this year.

My issue with this is how do you define tethering? The carriers offer instructions and software to show you how to transfer files between your phone and your computer. So I can download a photo/song/video/any-file to my phone, and then transfer that file to my computer, and the carriers actually encourage me to do so. But to actually download that same file straight to my computer via my phone, that is wrong?!? I really don't get it.

 

[greg4android]

quicksettings is still available.

So far, they have just removed the apps from the market listings for the phones whose carriers have requested it. The only way they can make it not work is to change either the app itself, or your phone's ROM/firmware, which would require an update which could be easily refused. We don't really know just how the various carriers are going to handle this yet. However, we do know that Google can remove apps from your phone without even telling you, they did so when the malicious apps were in the app store earlier this year.

 

[greg4android]

you're welcome. *don't be abusing the hotspot feature now*

You rock, greg4android. I have it working now, kudos!

 

[Gardenboy38]

However, we do know that Google can remove apps from your phone without even telling you, they did so when the malicious apps were in the app store earlier this year.

Really? That's scary and some fragglenacklebull.

 

[greg4android]

Google Can Remotely Remove Apps From Your Phone

by Quentyn Kennemer on June 24th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Even if I