Guide: How To Tether Your Smartphone

Tethering is the term given to using your smartphone as a modem, providing access to wireless internet on another device such as a laptop or tablet computer. Tethering has grown in popularity since the introduction of 3G mobile connections and the ability to use mobiles as modems. It has proven to be very useful when there is no access to Wi-Fi hotspots or for emergency internet access.
The act of tethering your smartphone is not particularly difficult, but there are different methods of doing it depending on what device you have.

Tethering an iPhone

The Apple iPhone makes tethering as easy as possible, you simply tap a switch. On your menu, tap “settings”, then press “general”, click “network” and simply press “internet tethering” to turn it on. Once your iPhone has tethering up and running, you can connect your device to a USB port on the computer and use the phone just as you would use a dongle.

Tethering an Android device

The great thing about Android smartphones, whoever they are manufactured by, is that they all have access to the same Marketplace. Here you can find all sorts of tethering applications which enable you to turn your phone into a modem; however, two that have been recommended are Easytether Lite and PdaNet. Download and install either of the apps, you might also have to download the appropriate package from their website, on the device you plan on connecting to as well.
There is one more thing you need to do before connecting up to the computer, tap “Menu”, select “Settings”, then “Applications”, and “Development”. In here check the box labelled “USB Debugging” and click OK. This allows apps to stream data directing from your Android phone to the device. Now simply hook up your smartphone to the computer and you’re ready to surf.

Tethering a BlackBerry

BlackBerry Desktop Software 5.0.1 allows users to configure any BlackBerry smartphone as a modem, so your first task is to install this software. Secondly, you need to set up the internet access point name (GSM devices only) and configure the Dial-Up Networking (DUN), but these are one time only procedures.
Once you have done these you simply connect your BlackBerry to the computer and open the Desktop Manager. Click “Start” > “Control Panel” > “Network connections” > “Name of new connection”, and click “dial”.
This is a guest post from Choose, a consumer site that helps users compare broadband deals and compare mobile phones.