4 ms·

Websocket-based Tethering for iOS devices

47 points by tehwebguy 13y ago

benguild 13y ago
A while ago I bought this App: http://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/29/itether-app-offers-internet-tethering-on-your-iphone-for-one-time-fee/ http://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/29/itether-app-offers-inter... Best $15 I ever spent on an App, because Apple pulled the App shortly thereafter, and I have unlimited data. It uses the same sort of technology ... having a web browser open on your phone within an App that provides a tunnel. You have to have the App open on your phone and on your Mac/PC. However, there's one downside: You need to have the App foregrounded on your phone, regardless of method, due to the fact that I believe WebSockets are inactive when backgrounded on iOS. The App still works on iOS 7.
- kattuviriyan 13y ago
  Don't they remove the app and credit you back $15(when you connect to internet or the appastore)?
  - timdoug 13y ago
    Nope -- I've had that exact app working like a charm across multiple devices and OS updates.
pat2man 13y ago
Very cool. Charging for tethering when you are already charging for data is ridiculous. Of course many cell providers are now bundling tethering for free...
codezero 13y ago
As with any non-standard tethering solution, make sure you have a firewall somewhere along the way that blocks ports that your phone doesn't normally access. Your provider will detect these outgoing connections and send you a warning/threat.
- toomuchtodo 13y ago
  T-Mobile actually does DPI over unencrypted HTTP, and throws up an error in your browser if you're using tethering without paying for it (Galaxy Nexus + Macbook Air + HTTP Everywhere works though).
egfx 13y ago
Any reason why this wouldn't work with WebOS devices or other non iOS?
- tehwebguy 13y ago
  Probably not, it seems to only require a websocket capable browser. That said, I haven't tested that.
kayoone 13y ago
I was confused why one needs this but it is because in some places tethering costs extra dime i guess ? I dont have that problem, but i only get 750 Megs unmetered traffic in my EUR 50/month contract anyway, so i hardly use tethering.
- tokenizerrr 13y ago
  Yeah, from what I understand a lot of providers in America charge extra for tethering (Which is absolutely ridiculous since you're just using data). I'm quite happy with tethering my 1GB for EUR 10/month myself.
- anonymoushn 13y ago
  Tethering costs extra on US carriers other than Verizon. Verizon's contract plan for 1 smartphone with the minimum amount of everything is $100/mo, though, which is about the same as AT&T's minimum everything + tethering pricing. At $100/mo, it is actually cheaper to pay $50-60/mo for a prepaid plan with all of the same stuff and no tethering and get a separate device only for tethering (~$35/mo).

47 points by tehwebguy 13y ago

A while ago I bought this App: http://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/29/itether-app-offers-internet-tethering-on-your-iphone-for-one-time-fee/ http://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/29/itether-app-offers-inter... Best $15 I ever spent on an App, because Apple pulled the App shortly thereafter, and I have unlimited data. It uses the same sort of technology ... having a web browser open on your phone within an App that provides a tunnel. You have to have the App open on your phone and on your Mac/PC. However, there's one downside: You need to have the App foregrounded on your phone, regardless of method, due to the fact that I believe WebSockets are inactive when backgrounded on iOS. The App still works on iOS 7.

kattuviriyan 13y ago
Don't they remove the app and credit you back $15(when you connect to internet or the appastore)?
- timdoug 13y ago
  Nope -- I've had that exact app working like a charm across multiple devices and OS updates.

pat2man 13y ago

Very cool. Charging for tethering when you are already charging for data is ridiculous. Of course many cell providers are now bundling tethering for free...

codezero 13y ago

As with any non-standard tethering solution, make sure you have a firewall somewhere along the way that blocks ports that your phone doesn't normally access. Your provider will detect these outgoing connections and send you a warning/threat.

toomuchtodo 13y ago
T-Mobile actually does DPI over unencrypted HTTP, and throws up an error in your browser if you're using tethering without paying for it (Galaxy Nexus + Macbook Air + HTTP Everywhere works though).

egfx 13y ago

Any reason why this wouldn't work with WebOS devices or other non iOS?

tehwebguy 13y ago
Probably not, it seems to only require a websocket capable browser. That said, I haven't tested that.

kayoone 13y ago

I was confused why one needs this but it is because in some places tethering costs extra dime i guess ? I dont have that problem, but i only get 750 Megs unmetered traffic in my EUR 50/month contract anyway, so i hardly use tethering.

tokenizerrr 13y ago
Yeah, from what I understand a lot of providers in America charge extra for tethering (Which is absolutely ridiculous since you're just using data). I'm quite happy with tethering my 1GB for EUR 10/month myself.
anonymoushn 13y ago
Tethering costs extra on US carriers other than Verizon. Verizon's contract plan for 1 smartphone with the minimum amount of everything is $100/mo, though, which is about the same as AT&T's minimum everything + tethering pricing. At $100/mo, it is actually cheaper to pay $50-60/mo for a prepaid plan with all of the same stuff and no tethering and get a separate device only for tethering (~$35/mo).