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Nullriver Releases Official iPhone Tethering Application On App Store [Update: Removed]

Submitted by Michael Johnston on July 31, 2008 - 6:41pm.
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In an unexpected twist of events, Nullriver has officially released NetShare, an Apple-approved iPhone tethering application, onto the App Store. The purpose of the application is to share an iPhone's Internet connection with other devices over Wi-Fi, essentially making the iPhone into an on-the-go Wi-Fi hotspot. A similar solution exists for hacked iPhones, although it requires jailbreking and Terminal knowledge to implement.

The application is available for $9.99 from the App Store, although we're struggling to understand how it received Apple's stamp of approval. We haven't tried it yet, although it looks like you simply open the application and it starts sharing your phone's Internet connection with no further action. We assume that, in contrast to the jailbreak solution, it likely terminates as soon as you leave the app.

This sounds all well and good until you realize that AT&T may come after you for using such a tool. If you're the cautious type, it may be prudent to wait on this app until more people have a chance to potentially get burned by their respective cell carriers.

If you try it, let us know how it works!

Update: Sorry folks! It looks like Apple changed their minds in a hurry and pulled the app from the store. We did get a chance to try the app, though and it works as advertised. Nullriver has responded in a MacRumors thread to the take-down.

Update #2: It's back!

apple

Submitted by Joe V (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 7:14pm.
This is another clear statement that the apple seal is only protecting apple's potential business with the apple seal. Apple is not checking if applications are safe for the consumer(privacy, contact list etc.) or for it's business partners(ATT). I'm glad we have this applications ability but at some point apple needs to let us know what they are checking.

One concern, do we have any assurance that someone cannot retrieve data from our phones once it's acting as a mobile hotspot...

Not for me.

Submitted by Ryanhawiya (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 7:26pm.
Well I tried it and got them connected in all, but it isn't working still. $10 for nothing

...Anyone else have positive feedback? (how did you do it?)

No longer....

Submitted by eMaz (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 7:34pm.
I went to download the application, but it has been pulled

Works Great

Submitted by grady15 on July 31, 2008 - 7:42pm.
This app works great. it takes a little bit of configuration but they show you exactly how to do it. As long a we dont get burned by att its totally awesome!!!

unavailable

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 7:47pm.
they took it already off...

Submitted by jtenenb on July 31, 2008 - 7:50pm.
If you try to buy the NetShare App now it wont let you. I guess someone fell asleap at the switch when the approved the app in the first place.

Submitted by jtenenb on July 31, 2008 - 7:52pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
they took it already off...
Is there anyway nullriver can just distribute it via cydia this app store thing is nuts if they screwed around with nullriver by putting it up and then pulling it.

Submitted by izmikiar on July 31, 2008 - 8:11pm.
looks it is still in the AppStore! anyone?

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 8:30pm.
Hopefully nullriver will distribute it via Installer (when available) or Cydia. If not the people who downloaded the app before they pulled it should send it over to the guys at hacklabs who have been hacking iPhone apps. Hopefully we can get a hacked version of this app too.

Submitted by javaGuru on July 31, 2008 - 8:31pm.
I believe the app wasn't pulled but rather not made available to the US App Store in iTunes. I believe iPhone developers have the ability to make their apps only available in certain nations. The error message I just got was that it was not available in the US App Store.



I hope I will be reimbursed for its cost since it might be feasible for me to actually use it since AT&T usually charges more for their data tethering plans.

Too bad.

Submitted by PChrome (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 8:39pm.
If this app was in the store, I would order an iphone tomorrow. Until it tethers, it's useless to mobile powerusers.

I got it

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 8:41pm.
I snatched it up right after I saw it in the appstore because i knew it wouldnt last. It still works like a dream for me because I am in a 3G hotspot. I hope it will continue to work because I love this thing

Same for me

Submitted by grady15 on July 31, 2008 - 8:45pm.
I also got it as soon as i saw it and man it really is cool. I really hope apple dose not take it away (if there really is a way to do that). Best app so far on the app store to bad it did not last

Submitted by imagine engine on July 31, 2008 - 8:46pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by javaGuru View Post
I believe the app wasn't pulled but rather not made available to the US App Store in iTunes. I believe iPhone developers have the ability to make their apps only available in certain nations. The error message I just got was that it was not available in the US App Store.



I hope I will be reimbursed for its cost since it might be feasible for me to actually use it since AT&T usually charges more for their data tethering plans.
Complete BS for Apple to pull it from the App Store. I was like "WTF?" when I got an error that it wasn't available in the iTunes Canada App Store when trying to buy it. I was hoping a programmer would offer a simplified way to tether the iPhone 3G to a laptop so as to use HSPA/EDGE when not in WIFI range or unable to use a landline ISP service such as when at the cottage, etc. Apple seriously needs to rethink their stance on this issue as not every carrier is against tethering. I pay $30.00 for 6 GB data with Rogers on my iPhone 3G and no where does it state I can't use it for tethering. Rogers HSPA network coverage and speed is no where near as slow as AT&T HSPA. If they don't want to offer it to USA customers due to AT&T restrictions then at least open it to other countries.

gone..

Submitted by izmikiar on July 31, 2008 - 8:47pm.
it is GONE. as of 7:30pm pac. time it is not longer available. too bad!

Submitted by javaGuru on July 31, 2008 - 8:52pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by imagine engine View Post
Complete BS for Apple to pull it from the App Store. I was like "WTF?" when I got an error that it wasn't available in the iTunes Canada App Store when trying to buy it. I was hoping a programmer would offer a simplified way to tether the iPhone 3G to a laptop so as to use HSPA/EDGE when not in WIFI range or unable to use a landline ISP service such as when at the cottage, etc. Apple seriously needs to rethink their stance on this issue as not every carrier is against tethering. I pay $30.00 for 6 GB data with Rogers on my iPhone 3G and no where does it state I can't use it for tethering. Rogers HSPA network coverage and speed is no where near as slow as AT&T HSPA. If they don't want to offer it to USA customers due to AT&T restrictions then at least open it to other countries.
I hear ya man and I agree with ya. I don't really think the problem is Apple I think it's more of a problem with AT&T. They really need to establish a tethering plan for the iPhone. I actually own an AT&T Tilt as well and I pay too much for its tethering plan which costs me $60/month. The tethering plan can be expensive since the data usage tends to go way up.

It's not there but some metadata is

Submitted by billfarmer on July 31, 2008 - 9:01pm.
If you search on NullRiver, you do find the NetShare app with it's 14 reviews and 4 stars. Unfortunately (at least here in Oregon on 7/31 at 8p) it is not available for download. Darn.

Why not available for us Canadians, at least!

Submitted by LimboMan (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 9:17pm.
Well, here in the Great White North we finally got a promotional plan that doesn't completely rip us off... the $30 for 6GB data available for data devices, iPhones included ALLOWS for tethering and this app would have been great for us. Unfortunately it appears its been pulled from all the stores, the localized Canadian one included. Boo.

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 10:07pm.
hope theres a copy on some web site i bet it would be easier to get the cracked version than go through all the terminal stuff!

It appears to have been pulled from many if not all stores...

Submitted by philmang (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 10:17pm.
I've been flipping through the various country stores and am getting the same item not available error in all of them. I'm guessing that they pulled it from all stores and will turn it back on via a country by country review to ensure that carriers are okay with it. I wouldn't be surprised if in the states they just package it with a plan upgrade for a tethering plan.

Submitted by MICHAELSD on July 31, 2008 - 10:42pm.
Can someone upload the .ipa file from the app?

Share please

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 11:11pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
I snatched it up right after I saw it in the appstore because i knew it wouldnt last. It still works like a dream for me because I am in a 3G hotspot. I hope it will continue to work because I love this thing
It would be a real benefit to the iphone community if this app was spread. With so few users possessing it, i implore you to share it.

If you feel willing to help your fellow iphone users, this site http://www.filesharefree.com/ is a no signup/registration site. Just choose the file, which is located in your itunes library, click upload and share the link.

The site is 100% anonymous, and stores NO ip related data.

I thank you for taking your time to hear my plea and look forward to the hopes you will share this rare app.
my email is nighteater537@hotmail.com

Hacked version

Submitted by Coolmaster on August 1, 2008 - 12:33am.
Anyone have a hacked version of this app? Cuz id really like to at least try it out. But seriously, how did Apple let this one slip?

Submitted by Beast on August 1, 2008 - 1:09am.
iTunes has taken the link down completely now.

Submitted by Michael Johnston on August 1, 2008 - 2:18am.
The app is DRM'd (just like all the rest) so posting it somewhere would be a waste of time.

-Michael

Submitted by MICHAELSD on August 1, 2008 - 2:25am.
Like you guys posted a few days ago, any app can be cracked really easily, I would know .

Submitted by Rubbinz on August 1, 2008 - 5:45am.
Wow! Apple yanked that down quick last night. Why did they approve it in the first place, if only to take it down inside of an hour of release? I know AT&T has said no to tethering plans, but Apple did put it up on the store.

I wonder what they plan to do for those people that did buy it. Are they going to issue refunds and somehow "deactivate" the app? If they can't do a selective kill on certain apps, how are they going to force people to not use it? How will they justify taking it down? Nullriver didn't violate any of the rules, and Apple did approve it.

It downloaded this morning

Submitted by exbusfish on August 1, 2008 - 6:40am.
For some reason when I purchased it last night, it didn't download to my phone. Well, today it did. So I have it installed. Once I get a chance to use it, I will post my findings.

UPDATED...
Hey, guys! I do not work for NullRiver and will not "share" it with anyone. It is not for me to do, so stop asking. That is bull$hit! I am just a user that bought it and WILL NOT pirate software because you want me to. WTF!?!

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 1, 2008 - 9:02am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Johnston View Post
The app is DRM'd (just like all the rest) so posting it somewhere would be a waste of time.

-Michael
Hi, true it is DRM'd but there are two methods two circumvent it....both require unlocked iphones...
The three main sites that discuss and enable users to do this have crashed (as of now) BUT
please feel free to join irc.rizon.net channel #appstore

Like most apple users we enjoy helping others.

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 1, 2008 - 12:43pm.
its back in the AppStore now

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 1, 2008 - 12:52pm.
Just bought NetShare via the iTunes store. Not sure if it's an error on their end but try it, you never know.

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 1, 2008 - 1:04pm.
I just purchased it from the App Store, maybe another Apple screw up. If you use this link it should allow you to purchase it.

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/M...286541579&mt=8

Don't know what may have changed, but...

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 1, 2008 - 1:04pm.
I just clicked on the link in this article to the app, and it showed up in my itunes. I clicked to download, and the app came over. I am syncing it to my phone now. Possible it was just a technical glitch?

G*dDamn Backup process takes so long.... I'll post here if I get the app working, but just to clear any confusion.... the link in this article appears to work for me here in San Francisco, at 12 noon on Friday.

Mac

Submitted by Teky (not verified) on August 1, 2008 - 3:18pm.
It's Country specific, same as downloading movies. I can purchase it in Australia.
Also note on the steps that the Subnet mask should be the same on both machines.

Netriver app

Submitted by Jazzy Monroe (not verified) on August 2, 2008 - 1:18pm.
I can't find it today (8/2)

Can you share the app?

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 4, 2008 - 4:06am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
I snatched it up right after I saw it in the appstore because i knew it wouldnt last. It still works like a dream for me because I am in a 3G hotspot. I hope it will continue to work because I love this thing
Please can you share the app?
Thanx!

Still works fine

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on September 3, 2008 - 11:30pm.
Got it when it went up the second time, still working fine!