We're not sure how this one got past Apple's App Store censors, but the clever kids at Nullriver have released what appears to be the first tethering solution for the iPhone. The $10 NetShare app is just a SOCKS proxy that links an ad-hoc WiFi network to the iPhone's 3G or EDGE connection -- and if we could get it to work, we'd probably think it was a fine, if hacky, solution to a major limitation of Steve's baby. As it stands, though, the instructions are pretty sparse, and while we can get the app to recognize a connection, we're not able to actually load anything. We're not sure how long this one's going to last -- anyone else willing to give it a shot before it gets yanked?
[Thanks, Zoli; Warning, link opens iTunes]
Update: Aaaaand it's offline. Shocking.
Update 2: We've added our own video hands-on after the break.
posted Jul 31st 2008 at 9:02PM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim @ Jul 31st 2008 10:19PM
its not in the store anymoreD:
bernardino @ Jul 31st 2008 11:23PM
Seriously, what does apple have against tethering? It's not like AT&T forbids it, you just have to pay $30 more and you can tether without violating your contract.
RF9 @ Jul 31st 2008 11:45PM
Tethering ability is included in WM phones. Yet we can't buy it for iPhone without a jailbreak?
C'mon Apple! Sheesh.
It told me it's no longer available on the US store. Anyone know a way to get on a non-US store to see if it's still available to buy that way?
DaKoolk @ Aug 1st 2008 4:01AM
How come Engadget isn't informaing about 2 another iPhones 3g sim-unlocked in Poland?
The solution is based on a Hong-Kong YesSim card with custom firmware made by a Polish-smart-guy - N3T.
The iPhone ("original" from AT&T) - works with all Polish operators, with full functionality - EDGE and 3G data, SMS, Voice MMS and all the stuff,doesn't need jailbreaking to work!!!
More details (with videos and on-line store!!!!-cards are 99PLN each-around $50) on the author's blog: http://hack4food.org/HackForFood/N3T(%40)WORK/N3T(%40)WORK.html
Enjoy!
DaKoolk @ Aug 1st 2008 2:55AM
Sorry for double posting - the pic of the 2nd unlocked iPhone 3g is here:
http://www.ipod.info.pl/index.php/adpater-sim-dziala-simlock-w-iphone-3g-nie-jest-problemem/
hellejoep @ Aug 1st 2008 3:08AM
http://cre.ations.net/blog/post/how-to-tether-your-iphone-3g-and-browse-the-web-using-your-3g-co
3G browsing on your laptop via your iPhone
Rollo Martins @ Aug 1st 2008 8:10AM
@DaKoolk: Could this be because most of us people here do not understand Polish? (Translate, pls.)
norbi @ Aug 1st 2008 8:49AM
Its English Version
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ipod.info.pl%2Findex.php%2Fadpater-sim-dziala-simlock-w-iphone-3g-nie-jest-problemem%2F&hl=pl&ie=UTF8&sl=pl&tl=en
miklm @ Aug 1st 2008 11:55AM
From the video "Only Safari works, Firefox doesn't work" -- actually it would but you have to manually edit the proxy information in Firefox. Safari uses the settings from the OS, but Firefox uses its own settings. If you put in the same proxy info into FF, it should work. Of course then you have to disable it again when you connect to another network, so its a hassle.
I gave up on tethering anyway and just bought an aircard for my laptop...
N3T @ Aug 4th 2008 7:45PM
Hello,
I have made that solution mainly for my self, and in a moment people around the world started asking how to do that. I'm amazed because i did not expect that my solution mentioned only in one post without any info will be so important. Sorry for polish only website, but i have made the video for a few polish friends just to show that it works, because they were laughing of me that i have bought a phone that i can't use in poland, i have decided that i will show that they're wrong, and there is always a solution for every problem. Dev-team is working too long, and i couldn't wait for their software. So as soon as my iPhone came to me i have started working on some *SIM adapters. ant there is only two of them working, most stable solution is with yessim hardware and some firmware patches (yessim works with original firmware but it is far from from stable on iPhone) so i have made some fixes and as you see it works quite well. Only problem i have right now is proper cooperation with SIMDATA simcards, cause the simdata tariff uses different kind of auth. on providers BTS stations and none of the networks i can contact wants to help :P. everything works good. 2G and 3G GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA, the phone has got full functionality. There are some problems in places where there is no rang or it is very weak.
I have made a very simple online store because many people wanted me to make that card for them, and it was very difficult to manage all emails. I can't give those adapters for free because i must buy them and pay for them with real money and they're not cheap. (there are some cheaper on the market, but they can't work with iPhone) so im selling them on my store. i could put on my site the firmware i have made, but how many people has got knowledge and special units to write the firmware straight to the microprocessor ? i do not know anyone else in my city who has got both iPhone 3G and hardware to mod. the sim adapter. Right now over 40 iPhones works fine with this solution, without any important problems ( i say important, yes there are some problems mainly with first firmware i have made, but I'm sending the cards with new one for free (small exchange program :D just like apple do ;] )
I treat this solution asa "temporary way" for bypassing the simlock till the time that software solution will arrive. I have made some baseband mods on my white 3G but I do not have the knowledge to make it stable and ready for people who do not know nothing about *NIX and coding. So the only way fo now is using the adapter.
some dev-team members started rumors that those adapters are messing with GSM/3G network and carriers can block the IMEI of the phone which makes interferences from using on their network. Today i was speaking with tech support of polish ERA GSM carrier (I'm testing everything on their network) I have said that I'm testing some adapters with iPhone and their network and do they suffer because of that and are there any problems with my phone, and is it possible that I'm messing up and making something bad. The guy was laughing and after a few minutes he said, that as far as he see there was no problems detected in my cell and all is OK, and they do not block that phones. Only way to gets blacklisted is to buy a stolen phone of course if the owner of that phone has visited the police station and the police requested monitoring of that IMEI #.
So SIM ADAPTERS DO NOT MESS ON NETWORK. translating the MCC/MNC codes is done only between phone and simcard. than the adapter is going to "sleep mode" and that's all
Greetings from poland
btw. i'll try to make a english version of my website as soon as I can, I'm 28y old and have got a lots of work, and things like the "FreePhone" sim adapters it's just my free time hobby :)
P.S. sorry for my bad english :)
Dan @ Aug 5th 2008 7:25PM
I disagree with you N3T.
iPhone 3G solution works only for limited time if you spoof the IMSI.
At first phone will register to the network using TIMSI ( Temporary IMSI ) that is stored in the simcard.
After a while will try to use IMSI and then your phone will loose network connection. So if the IMSI is not the original one ( simcard IMSI ) will fail to register.
Universal-SIM released a different solution. You can check it on their website.
mirek @ Aug 6th 2008 5:58PM
i'm using this solution over a week nonstop using simdata and voice 3g services as well as people who got it from me too, no problems detected.
the eragsm carrier told me that they do not care ando not suffer because of those adapters, i have got universal sim , and it failed to work with iPhone :/