Google Bans Tethering App From Android Market

narramissic writes "Maybe Android and the Android Market aren't so open after all. A developer who contributed to the WiFi Tether for Root Users app reports that Google has banned the application from the Android Market. The developer writes in his blog that Google cited a section of the developer agreement that says that Google may remove applications if they violate the device maker's or the operator's terms of service. T-Mobile, the only operator to offer an Android phone, expressly forbids tethering phones to a computer. This incident raises some interesting questions, the developer notes in his blog. 'Does this mean that apps in the Market have to adhere to the ToS for only T-Mobile, even when other carriers sign on? Will all apps have to adhere to the ToS for every carrier that supports Android phones?'"

Comments

Real?

[Anthony_Cargile]

I assume this is real, and if so this is just one example of Google rejecting an app for their mobile platform; Apple is notorious for it. The company where I work has been waiting on an app from a prominent home theater equipment manufacturer to pass Apple inspection, but it has failed several times in the past 6 months due it's low-level hardware usage, mainly in the area of networking.

I wouldn't normally bash Apple for their iPhone platform, but the restrictions placed on apps is just too limiting compared to Android (unless you factor jailbreaking), but it's popularity makes it a must for mobile development so you have to just accept it. That said, I thought anything could run on Android granted it compiled and you distributed it but I guess I was wrong, according to this.

Re:Real?

[Anthony_Cargile]

*sigh* - It's the application Crestron has been promising for the past few months, even going so far as displaying it at CES 2009 even though it is still trying to pass Apple's inspection for the app store. We won several awards at CES '09, but here's the thing: we are also an Apple dealer, so we sell iPhones and this app lets us integrate what we now sell with the high-dollar Crestron home theater infrastructures we've been setting up for years.

Again, jailbreaking is not an option, as Apple would get a tad pissed at us hacking their products, even more so since we sell them based on a huge contract we had to sign in order to do so. These solutions are anything but "turnkey", by the way, as we've done contracting work for several owners of Forbes list companies. Not to take a dig, but your sig is starting to make sense...

Re:Real?

[linhares]

Actually, google is playing hardball with tmobile: "A Google spokesperson tells Ars, "We inadvertently unpublished the applications for all carriers, and today we have corrected the problem so that all Android Market users outside the T-Mobile US network will now have access to the applications. We have notified the affected developers."

Re:Real?

[SenseiLeNoir]

Admittedly, the android market is not the ONLY place you have to download applications. The G1 does allow installs (once you enable the option) from other sources, so its not as bad at the iPhone.

My T-Mobile UK data plan DOES allow tethering. Its called Mobile Broadband Plus, and indeed does allow you to use a phone as a modem (and I have used it on my N95). Hmm, so does this mean I cant do tethering on my G1? Its a bit unfair I am being held to the terms of some T-Mobile contracts, especially ones not in my own country.

T-Mobile does support tethering

[StrategicIrony]

The T-Mobile MDA and the follup, T-Mobile Wing are both based on Windows Mobile 6, which includes a tethering app as part of the operating system.

T-Mobile always supported tethering with my old MDA (that's a rebranded HTC Hermes).

So... is it an android rule, or does T-Mobile just not bother to stand up to Microsoft who supports it on all of their phones?

hmmm..

No crazy restriction for Windows Mobile Apps

[Jamz]

This is why I use and develop for Windows Mobile.

I can write my app, I don't have to pay anyone or tell anyone.
My app can do whatever I want, to the limits of possibility.
I can sell my app or give it away to enrich the platform.

I'm not so keen on these App Store ideas - or phones that require you to upload your app to the mothership so it can be validated that it doesn't conflict with any one else's future business plans.

Just compile, run, and distribute .... whats wrong with that?

Re:If only

[rachit]

If I had a few billion dollars lying around, I would start a new wireless provider or buy an existing one.

I'd just offer a pipe and sell bandwidth with packet shaping. I wouldn't care what you run on the network. I'd let vonage / skype, etc. sell their services and let whatever phone run on the network (that passes FCC regulation).

I don't know if its feasible, but i'd also offer two low level network calls to send packets at different QoS levels. Email, text messages, podcast syncing can go at a low QoS level while voice and active web browsing can go at a higher.

I'd still charge plenty for my service and I'm fairly certain I'd still get a ton of customers.

Re:If only

[Simple-Simmian]

The reason I don't use my cellphone for "internet" and email is because AT&T wants to rape me economically if I choose to do so. All this crap is useless if I have to pay 50 cents a min for it. Until AT&T loses the put a meter on it mentality I never will.