Tethering

What is tethering?

Tethering is a method to share the Internet connection of an Internet-capable mobile phone. This sharing can be via cable, or wirelessly over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi — if Wi-Fi, the tethering feature is often branded as a mobile hotspot and can typically service several devices.
 
 
 
 
 

Isn’t tethering banned by the networks?

Some networks do not allow tethering as standard which is clarified in their data usage terms and conditions. However, O2 and Vodafone offer specific tethering ‘bolt-ons’ that not only give you a larger data allowance, but also allow the use of tethering to share your internet connection with another device.
 

Tethering bolt-ons

Vodafone
• £7.50 – 500MB of data plus ability to tether.
Double data (1GB) available for additional £7.50pm (total £15) which customers get free for three months (via chequeback of £22.50)
• £15.00 – Additional 2GB of data plus ability to tether.
There is no chequeback on this bolt-on and should only be recommended to very high data users. Otherwise customers should take advantage of the double data offer.
 
O2
• £6 – 500MB of data plus ability to tether.
Double data (1GB) available for additional £4pm (total £10) which customers get free for three months (via chequeback of £12). After 3 months customers can either choose to keep this data upgrade or revert back to 500MB
Click here for more information including sales process
 

How to setup tethering

 

Android (v2.1 and above) & Galaxy Tab                           
Click on the menu and go to settings. Click "wireless and network", and then Mobile AP. Tick the box for Mobile AP. Instructions are at the bottom of the screen. Make a note of the network name (in blue) in the instructions. On the Galaxy Tab, press the menu key and go to Settings. Click "wireless and network". Click "WiFi settings", and wait for the list of available wireless networks to populate. Click on the name of your network name from the handset. Wireless tethering is now activated.
Blackberry 9300 & Playbook
This is done through Bluetooth. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices, and pair them (BlackBerry PlayBook through the settings cog icon, click Bluetooth, click the button to turn it on) (BlackBerry 9300 through the options menu, then network and connections, then Bluetooth connections, then click to turn on). Make the devices discoverable and search for either device, and click to pair. On the Playbook, you can then go in to settings and click on Internet Tethering, and you can then click on the name of your 9300. You will be prompted to select the name and country of your carrier/network, and then click connect. Tethering should then be enabled.