I had just posted that NullRiver's iPhone App - NetShare briefly brought 3G/EDGE Tethering for iPhone only to be pulled down from the App Store after being available for 20 minutes.
NetShare basically turns your iPhone into a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, thus enabling your laptop or any Wi-Fi enabled device to surf the internet using your iPhone's data connection.
iPhone Hacks readers, Moy and Mike, tipped us in the comments that NetShare has reappeared in App Store (thanks guys). Mac Rumors confirms this breaking news here.
More details including the download link available after the jump.
However, NetShare seems to be available only via the direct link as it still does not show up in the search results (also observed by iPhone hacks reader, kingof9x). Nullriver's website still reads the message I had mentioned in my earlier post that they're not quite sure why Apple took down the application yet.
In the meantime, you can download NetShare using this iTunes link as long as it is available (last time it was available only for 20 mins).
Update 1:
Mac Rumors notes that NetShare does not appear to work with all traffic (such as AIM or even mail), but does work for web browsing.
Update 2:
Mac users can checkout this detailed tutorial on how to set up the app as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot.
Windows users might want to stay tuned here as iPhone hacks reader, Moy, is figuring out a way to get it to work with Windows. Windows users might want to delay buying the app until it is sorted out.
Update 3:
Firefox/Camino users facing a problem can try following instructions suggested by tico24, a Mac Rumors user:
- In Firefox (3):
- Go to Firefox >> Preferences >> Advanced >> Network
- Click on 'Settings'
- Clck on 'Manual Proxy Configuration'
- Enter the IP address against SOCKS Host.
As for Windows users, Moy informs us in the comments (thanks again):
I just emailed. Nullriver. they told me in an email that instructions for windows are comping soon.
Some advice from folks at Nullriver which you need to be mindful of before over using this app:
"Also be aware that contracts/carriers vary in what they offer from country to country, please be careful your service doesn't have a metered limit, that if you go over may incur extra costs for you."
Update 4:
iPhone Hacks reader, LD has just found a blog which has instructions on how to setup NetShare for Windows users (link here), so let us know how it goes.
Thanks LD for finding that one out.
Update 5 (2nd Aug):
Nullriver's NetShare app is gone, its no longer available via the AppStore. The iTunes link gives an error message saying:
"Your request could not be completed.
The item you have requested is not currently available."
There is still no official news on why it was removed. Nullriver also seems clueless, here is their official statement on their site:
"Apple has taken it down again, with no explanation yet again."
I have also updated the title of the post to reflect the current situation. Hopefully you were lucky this time round to grab the application while it was available.
Thanks Bill for the heads up.
Update 6:
NullRiver working with Apple to get NetShare back up on the App Store
Stay tuned here at iPhone Hacks for any further updates.
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found a blog that describes how to use in windows
http://falaris.com/?p=154
You can do this for free, with about the same amount of work.
It's still not a REAL tether, just a lame SOCKS proxy. I want REAL GSRM!
They suck again! It's saved on my iMac at home but I'm at work with my xp laptop and I just pwned it… Went to redownload it and it's mo longer avialable
I just talk to At&t, after being in wait for 1hour they told me that in the contract of an iphone 3g there are no written agreements about tether. he told me "if you paid for this app at the apple store you are getting what you paid for. If at&t does fee you it will be refunded due to this loop whole." then he told me, he will give me a notes on my account that he told me this just in case. so tether here i come.!!!!!
btw the app goes in and out of itunes soo if you catch it working download it asap.:)
here's whats on the news at yahoo
"Wireless carriers are understandably not happy about programs such as Netshare because they allow users to bypass their cellular networks and avoid data-access fees."
"The iPhone is not intended to be used as a tethering device and we have no plans to offer separate tethering plans for it," said AT&T spokesperson Wes Warnock. "We offer LaptopConnect cards that you can use to access our wireless data network. Those cards offer typical download speeds as high as 1.7 Mbps."
Warnock noted that AT&T wireless provides tethered access for a monthly fee on smartphones from LG, Motorola, Nokia, RIM, Samsung and others, but the iPhone is not on the carrier's list of supported devices. "For customers looking for a smartphone with tethering capability, we have many other options," Warnock said.
It would enormously help if the app could set up a kind of shared networking such as the apple systems do. That means that "your edge/3g connection" is shared with "the wifi clients" using NAT and a dhcp server.
Then the few pages of additional things to set up to make it work are then not necessary
Also the wifi should in such case carry wep protection.
Can anyone else confirm that NetShare is gone again from AppStore. Glad I got it.
Is it possible to reverse the connection? Use laptop connection for iphone??? This would be useful for Wi-Fi networks like Boingo. Could then use laptop login to enable VOIP dialing from iphone while at int'l airports for HOURS
It's gone from the US store again>
For people who are stuck with FireFox (which seem to be a lot based on feedback), I found this link that got it to work flawless first try using Proxifier. After hours and hours, this is the easiest, quickest way.
Beginners, start with this (easiest guide to get setup) (skip everything related to FoxFire):
http://falaris.com/?p=154
And instead of FoxFire instructions, use this (or if you know what you're doing, start here):
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=535316&page=6
how can carriers know that wet using our iPhones with laptops? I mean data is data right?