Anyone that was quick enough to grab the Nullriver aplication “NetShare” probably knows that Apple has decided NOT to allow applications to tether your iPhone. Phone tethering allows users to access the internet from their laptop computers wherever they get service on their cellphone carrier’s data network. The NetShare application will still run, however NullRiver can’t push out any updates through iTunes.
A few weeks ago on the MacReview Cast there was mention of iPhone Modem over at iphonemodem.de. Any listener with a jailbroken iPhone who has used the application was asked to give it a try and let the MacReview Cast know what they thought about it.
Here’s my story.
I’m from Canada and I had been using a 2nd generation 16GB iPhone (unlocked) prior to Rogers selling the 3G. I had become a Jailbreaking and unlocking expert thanks to the iPhone Dev Team. I’ve since sold my unlocked iPhone for $400 on eBay, and upgraded to the 3G for $299. The $100 dollars I made during the transaction has easily been spent on applications in the Appstore. Anyways, I hadn’t yet decided that I was going to jailbreak the 3G iPhone, but the jailbreak process has become so simple with the Dev teams application QuickPwn. After some thought, I went ahead and did it.
If there’s one thing I would love to do with the iPhone, it’s tether my laptop with my iPhone. After some research I learned something about iPhone tethering apps, and I think it’s worth sharing. First off, there are two applications called iPhone Modem available to jailbroken iphones. You can find information for these apps at iPhonemodem.de and the other one is at iPhonemodem.com. Both applications are available the through Cydia which is an application installed on your iPhone when you jailbreak it using QuickPwn or Pwnage Tool.
The application from iPhonemodem.de is absolutely free and requires you to download a desktop application that when it’s launched puts a little icon in your menu bar (I know you like menu bar apps Tim). From there you chose “Settings” and it helps you to set up an ad-hoc wireless network using a SOCKS Proxy. When I got to the part where it tells you to type in an IP address, and to change a password using Terminal, I thought I’d move on and read about the other iPhone Modem application first.
The application from iPhonemodem.com is developed by Addition, it is slightly different, and much easier. You can trial the application, but are required to pay $9.99 if you wish to continue using it. With this one you also need to download a desktop application, and you can find the iPhone application in Cydia under the name “Modem”. Once installed on your iPhone and your Mac, you open the desktop application, then open your iphone WiFi settings and you should see an option to connect to iphonemodem. The application automatically sets up an ad-hoc wireless network also using a SOCKS Proxy. Once you are connected, open the iPhone modem application on your iPhone and you can then surf the web from your computer using your iPhone as….well….a modem. Nice part is that there is no typing of IP addresses, or using Terminal to change passwords. You can use the application preferences on your Mac however to set a password and make your connection secure.
Ok wait a minute, what the heck is a SOCKS Proxy, is this someone who represents SOCKS: Well, SOCKS is an Internet protocol that allows client-server applications to transparently use the services of a network firewall. Well that’s nice, what does it mean. What this basically means is that you can only use a browser. Apple Mail, Entourage, or any chat client will not work through this (iChat can be configured to run through a SOCKS Proxy, but this is already more work thn you need to do because of another application I found in Cydia).
PDA NET is a virtual wirelss modem….and it does not use a SOCKS Proxy. Apple Mail, Entourage, and even Adium will run with this application handling the bandwidth. All you have to do is follow the steps for setting up an ad-hoc wireless connection between your iphone and your computer (I mentioned how in episode #179). Then run PDANet on your iPhone and away you go. Total freedom with no SOCKS Proxy.
My only concern with this application is all of the other versions available for Windows Mobile and Palm devices have this application, but it costs $34. Right now it’s free, but I’m hoping that if they decide to charge for this application that they will stay around the typical $9.99 price range. You can read more about this application as well as find instructions on how to setup an ad-hock network at their website http://www.junefabrics.com.
[All of the mention iPhond Dev Team apps should be downloaded from their blog (http://blog.iphone-dev.org) The applications are free and they do not accept donations. Any website selling or claiming to accept donations for the software is a fraud].
Posted by twoarmtom 
Macintom Blog 