Wireless tethering lets laptops and other computers use the Internet connection provided by a smartphone.
With the increase in use of mobile computing devices such as smartphones, users are connecting to Internet services in multiple locations and environments. Smartphones use mobile networks to connect to websites and utilise tools such as emailing and social networking. In many cases smartphones can also be connected to wireless networks for Internet access. Conversely, wireless tethering involves other computing devices connecting to the Web using the access provided by a mobile device.
Process
Smartphones provide wireless tethering through one or more of the applications installed on them. Once such an application is started up, it begins acting as a wireless hotspot. Users can then connect to it using the same technique used for connecting to any other wireless network. Once a connection has been made to the smartphone, computers can access Internet services using the mobile device network connection.
Benefits
Wireless tethering allows users to connect their computers to the Web in cases where they do not have any other connection. This includes cases where a user has a laptop or other portable computing device and is at a location with no wireless network connection. Wireless tethering is also useful in cases where a user's normal Internet connection has been disrupted, either in a home or work environment.
Issues
Wireless tethering can use up a lot of resources in a smartphone device. This may cause a dramatic decrease in battery power, potentially making the smartphone lose power completely much faster than it would have if wireless tethering had not been used. Any data transfer incurred using wireless tethering will be deducted from the smartphone user's data allowance. This data may be larger in size than with normal Internet use through the device, on account of the other computing device accessing full websites, rather than smaller mobile versions.
Platforms
Many recent smartphones running the Android platform are now being shipped with a wireless tethering application installed. Previously, such applications had to be installed manually, while in many cases mobile providers did not permit use of them due to the increase in data transfer. The Android operating system is used on devices produced by many different manufacturers, so all of those users have access to the tethering facility. Other platforms such as iPhone can also use wireless tethering through dedicated apps.
Restrictions
Some mobile networks have, in the past, forbidden use of the tethering facilities on smartphones, with user accounts being terminated if this rule was abused. Although in most cases the smartphone platforms are allowing this use now, the ability to gain Internet access through tethering is inherently limited. In most areas the mobile reception is not strong enough to provide the same speed and data transfer achieved as standard through a broadband connection.
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