TMobile’s been having a pissy fit over tethering. They are basically saying that it violates the user agreement and it’s never cool. Google took G1 tethering software off the marketplace, which causes a big fricken’ commotion and lot of bad press on the web. It put the app back on the Market, but only on the terms that the app is not available to TMobile users.
That quote was part of a message sent to the developer behind an application called WiFi Tether for Root Users, a very excellent program that basically turns your G1 into a wireless 3G hotspot. I love my G1 insta-hotspot.
This move is about as transparent as Google can be, given the situation. At least they agree to run the content. But I think its going to become difficult for developers (and Google) to stay up to date as more and more carriers and their terms get involved.
Hey T-Mobile: Stop, take a breath, and realized that tethering is something that you customers want. (Read: You can make money.) Spending resources resisting technology rather than providing comercial alternatives hasn’t worked out very well for the music industry. Give us an alternative that doesn’t breach our user agreements!