Tethering
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This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (May 2009) |
Tethering is using some type of mobile device to gain internet access on another device.[1]
Tethering works by connecting a device that can access the internet to another device that cannot. This can be done through Bluetooth wireless technology or cables (such as USB), allowing the device without built-in access to connect to the internet, using the other device as a modem.
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[edit] History
Tethering has been used to gain access to the internet since mobile devices started using their networks to give users Internet access, but has increased in prevalence due to internet connectivity in modern cell phones and laptops. Initially, tethering was conducted primarily through USB or other cables. Since most modern cell phones are Bluetooth-enabled, however, wireless tethering through Bluetooth has largely replaced cable tethering[citation needed].
[edit] Practical uses
Although many businesses have set up free wireless access to the internet for anyone to use,[citation needed] tethering is still very useful. Many business people will use tethering from their cell phone to PDA when their company will not pay for a Smartphone, but still pays their mobile phone data access expenses. The business people will then use this technology to be able to check their e-mail anywhere they can obtain a cell phone connection. Other people use the same type of tethering to gain wireless internet on their laptops. They are then able to access every function of the internet that anyone on a wireless or hard-line connection would be able to access.
[edit] Laptop/desktop tethering
People who are unable to afford a wireless card typically use some type of tethering to gain access to the Internet. When a business does not give free wireless internet most people turn to this technology to gain internet access. Although tethering is often a simple process, it may void a phone's warranty or violate the terms of a cellular service plan.
[edit] Mobile-to-mobile tethering
Mobile device tethering is very similar to laptop tethering. The user must make use of a cell phone to gain Internet access to any other mobile device that does not provide access to Internet services. The user can use this type of tethering to check their e-mail or access their computer, through a VPN connection, to get documents from another computer.
[edit] Examples
[edit] Microsoft Windows Mobile
Wireless internet on a mobile phone running Microsoft Windows Mobile can be obtained via the built in tethering application called Internet Sharing. The Windows Mobile Phone is connected to the non-mobile device (typically running Windows) via a USB cable or Bluetooth. Once the Internet Sharing application is started, the connection to the non-mobile device becomes a Virtual Computer Network through which internet applications such as web browsers can access the internet directly. Internet Sharing in this way requires that ActiveSync be installed on the non-mobile device.
[edit] Sprint smartphones such as Palm Pre, Centro, Treo
Wireless internet on a mobile phone running Palm OS can be obtained via Sprint Mobile Broadband tethering application. Although you are required to download an application, you may obtain full internet access through these devices for a nominal fee (generally an additional $10.00, depending on the service plan). This application functions on the Sprint EV-DO network where available, at high speed.
As of June 11 2009, there is no legitimate means of tethering using the Palm Pre on WebOS. However, the community is doing work to fix this.
[edit] References
- ^ "What Does Tethering Mean?". About.com. http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/usingyourphone/f/tethering.htm. Retrieved on 2009-05-07.
