RSSApple pulls iPhone broadband sharing tool from App Store
By Ed Oswald | Published August 1, 2008, 12:44 PM
2:30pm ET August 1, 2008 -The NetShare application is back up on the iPhone App Store for its $9.99 price point. BetaNews was able to purchase the tool and sync it to the iPhone. NetShare works as advertised, although when the iPhone turns the display off, it also shuts off the Wi-Fi unless the device is plugged in.
For a few hours, iPhone users got the chance to download an application called NetShare that could turn the devices into a broadband modem for a laptop.
Developed by Nullriver, NetShare time on the App Store was brief, however. Apple quickly pulled the $9.99 application, likely due to the fact that tethering is considered against the terms of service of AT&T data agreements.
The carrier does provide a tethering option for smartphone users, but they are forced to pay an extra $30 per month for the option.
Essentially, NetShare works by creating a local Wi-Fi network between the iPhone and any device capable of wireless Internet. From there, you connect to the network and the iPhone's 3G or EDGE connection is shared.
Why or how NetShare made it through the manual review process is not known. It could be that wireless carriers in other countries are permitting such use, and its inclusion in the US store was a mistake.
Either way, Apple's not talking. Requests for comment have gone unanswered, and according to MacRumors, Nullriver's in the dark too.
"We're not quite sure why Apple took down the application yet, we've received no communication from Apple thus far," it told the site. "NetShare did not violate any of the Developer or AppStore agreements. We're hoping we'll get some feedback from Apple tomorrow."
Tests by BetaNews showed that the application had been completely removed from Apple's US App Store. Earlier reports indicated that NetShare had remained on the site, and attempts to download it were greeted with the message: "the item you tried to buy is no longer available."
"Why or how NetShare made it through the manual review process is not known"...
Are you kidding me? The review process within the app store seems to be non-existent! How many people have downloaded apps that don't even work as described. One recent application (1Password) which has glowing reviews didn't even work upon first download and the annoying fact is that the developers knew it when they posted it to Apple. I'm assuming Apple has a strict submission process but don't follow through with ensuring the applications actually work. It seems as strict as Jobs was on allowing third party applications, he would make this submittal process heavily reviewed and tested before posting to app store.
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|Apple amazes me with its failure to seize on current weaknesses in the Wintel world. A bit less greed and a little more attention to detail is all it would take to triple their market share. Why would you give people any reason to NOT use your product? Do they fear their users would run IE or Firefox while tethering?
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|Agreed.
The iPhone did pretty well, but can you even begin to imagine how well it would have done if it had been network agnostic?
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|It sure is back...
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|It's back now: http://phobos.apple.com/...e?id=286541579&mt=8
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|Someone will make a free app that will do the same thing. Before that though I bet NetShare will be on your local P2P network shortly (if not their now).
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|Its good they removed this app really. Its kind of ridiculous to pay $9.99 for something that's against your contract's terms anyhow.
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|AT&T obviously knows Apple is supplying this app and certainly agreed to it. Verizon has been doing this for years, it is no longer a violation. AT&T even offers this feature on the Blackberry's now.
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