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iTether App Pulled From App Store

My concern is, now that it's been pulled from the store, updates are cut off.

If the dysfunctional/crashy end of this was on the server side & OSX app, then they can devote time to improve those on their own. ...but are we now stuck with version 1.0 of the iOS app?
 
Hmm I read earlier that the app authenticates with the home server every time it connects to validate that it was actually paid for. Any chance of the service being brought down?
 
IMO- the "tethering" fees from the carriers are a racket. Talk about double-dipping. To a degree I can understand the tethering to a PC or Mac be troublesome for carriers... but from a handheld/mobile device to another (i.e. iPhone to iPad), seems ridiculous. Excluding the under 5% (not a fact, just gestimate) of people that will run all of their interent (specifically their PC's/Desktops) through a 3G signal (who would want to) most people would just like to have access on the rare occasion they are out away from their own home wifi signal. At least, that's what I would think.
 
dissemin8or said:
I would vote with the "Apple ok'ed it but carriers objected" camp here. Since it didn't offer wireless tethering but just through USB as I understand it, app approval people figured it technically didn't violate their terms. I guess someone higher up looked more critically after carrier complaints and found it to be in violation after all. Just wondering if people who got it will still be able to use it though...
Click to expand...

It'll likely remain in operation for as long as the site supports it. Is this kind of stuff allowed on Android? This kind of thing seems like jailbreak/rootkit only. No carrier who charges for tethering would be happy with this on any platform.

P.S. I have it and it still works.
 
Man them Yankie telecom companies are dicks, u can see why Lord Jobs (may he RIP) wanted to create an apple network! Its all about the Iphone Ipad tether for me! Apple needs to just buy out one of the networks!! :eek:
 
That was fast although not surprised that Apple pulled it as fast as they did. Was hesitant to jump in at the rather steep price point but ended up going for it - glad I bought it now :)
 
Kilamite said:
I've still got HandyLight, which was only 0.59p.

Works over WiFi, and aside from taking a minute or two to set up each time, I'm actually quite happy with it. Beats paying $15 for this app, even if it is just a one off payment. HandyLight lets me tether to an iPad, or any WiFi device.
Click to expand...

How exactly does Handylight allow you to tether to an iPad or wifi device? I have it, and I've only been able to use it on a laptop using a proxy connection. Since an iPad can't generate a proxy network it doesn't work.
 
We don't accomplish much with our comments here. Write or call your congressperson to let them know what the cell phone companies are doing with tethering. Data is just data, no matter if you access it with your phone or with a laptop tethered to the phone. Comparing with fixed line access is like your ISP letting you plug a computer to your home router, but charging you $20 extra if you also plug a game console or a TV to the home router.

I feel reluctantly ok with them capping the data plans, but not with telling me how to use that data plan and with which devices to use that data plan. Please write your congressperson. Definitely the public interest is there, the way the app was selling like hot cookies.
 
computer approved

Well the thing is that most apps are approved by a computer, not a person. Computer program just looks for mistakes, breaking of API rules and Apple's rules. This app was written by all the rules, so it was approved by the system. Apple only goes in manually when someone complains.
 
Beyondthought said:
u can see why Lord Jobs (may he RIP) wanted to create an apple network!.. Apple needs to just buy out one of the networks!! :eek:
Click to expand...

They could have even bought the fledgling T-Mobile out from under AT&T, turned around and offered voice & data packages at $1/GB no contract, and it would have detonated the entire market.
 
zorinlynx said:
If anything Apple should refund everyone who bought the app and not pay the author a single cent.
Click to expand...

I'm an app developer and I have to completely disagree with you. This wasn't exactly a lottery. Sure, chance was involved, but it wasn't chance alone. They made an app, people wanted it and were willing to pay the price, and so they got it. The consumers aught to keep their app and the author aught to keep their money.

This is like someone setting up a strip club where the laws regarding such a business are fuzzy. Someone decided to take a chance and set up the club, and for a night, people wanted to go and spend money, and so the owner made money. And then the laws got clarified and the club got shut down. You can't take the money away from the owner, because his operation was legal-ish when he set it up.

Similarly, this app developer thought they'd found a way that this app was permissible on the store, and some app reviewers (it requires the approval of two to get on the store,) agreed that it was. Then the rules were clarified, and Apple took the app off the store.
 
ThunderSkunk said:
They could have bought T-Mobile out from under AT&T, turned around and offered voice & data packages at $1/GB no contract, and it would have detonated the entire market.
Click to expand...

With AT&T deal collapsing, I wonder if it's something Apple would consider. Though in truth it probably doesn't make much $$$ sense to do so.
 
The service was not coping well with the load. Authentication server was down most of the time and you could barely download the utilities from their website.

At least on the UK store it was full of 1-star votes and comments saying people were asking for refunds.

Maybe that's also why it was pulled?
 
Did anyone honestly not see that coming? But to emphasize another comment here, data should be data with one plan, no matter how that data is accessed. Splitting it up into phone data and tethered phone data is just nuts and nothing more than a money maker for the phone companies. I should be able to use my monthly, agreed-to, purchased limit as I see fit and not have to pay extra for the bandwidth I have already purchased.
 
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