I recently wrote Null River to inquire where the iPhone application NetShare went (For those of you not familar with the NetShare story: NetShare is an iPhone tethering application that allows users to use their iPhone’s internet connection on their personal computer. It was originally posted in the application store on August 1st, was removed by Apple without warning, was readded later that day, then a few hours later it was removed and never seen again). Here is the response I received:
Hello,
Thank you for your inquiry, a lot of users are wondering what’s going on with NetShare.
As of writing it is not available in any country on Apple’s AppStore — Apple has removed it from sale temporarily. Apple is working with us to get NetShare back onto the store as soon as possible. We will be posting updates on this at our web site: http://www.nullriver.com
If you use an RSS Reader such as Apple Safari or Apple Mail you can also keep subscribe to our RSS News feed here: feed://www.nullriver.com/rss
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NetShare can be used with any software that supports SOCKS 5 Proxies. This includes Mac, Windows XP, Vista, Linux and many other operating systems and devices. We are working on guides to help setup with common configurations. In general however, most configurations are already covered online.
For help with Windows XP:
For help with Vista:
http://www.shahine.com/omar/HowToTetherYourIPhoneToVistaIn5EasySteps.aspx
And for Mac OSX Users Apple Insider have put together a 10 step guide:
We have a support section on our website which we hope to expand to cover more issues in future:
http://www.nullriver.com/support/contact/faqs?supportProductId=netshare
Based on NetShare’s answer it is fairly obvious that AT&T simply does not want users to have the ability to tether their phones. I’m sure in the next few weeks the app will make a re-apperance, and all users will have to pay AT&T some exuberant fee to be able to use the tethering feature (AT&T users who have other model phones that support the tethering ability have to pay an extra $30 a month to be able to use it).
NetShare’s story brings up a few interesting points including Apple’s ability to completely control which applications users can and cannot use on their phones (whether or not the application violates Apple’s & AT&T’s terms of use as NetShare DID NOT). Not only can Apple remove applications without warning from the store, but they can also remotely disable apps that are already installed on your phone. If anyone was able to snag NetShare before it was pulled, I’d love to know:
- If it still works
- If it does not work, did you get reimbursed?
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