HTC Droid Incredible solves the Verizon Wireless tethering conundrum
The HTC Droid Incredible from Verizon Wireless solves for tethering via official support for the Mobile Broadband Connect service.
While that little feature may be an afterthought for most folks the lack of Mobile Broadband Access support was a major hang-up for me and a potential move to the Android platform. A lot of folks were helpful---pointing me to PDAnet for Android and walking me through how to root a phone---but I wanted official Verizon Wireless support. For me, that official tethering support eclipses all of the buzz about the Incredible, which is essentially a subsidized version of the Nexus One roughly speaking.
Another utility we haven’t seen officially provided by a carrier on an Android device is the ability to tether the DROID Incredible via cable to a Mac or PC computer through the VZ Access Manager. On the DROID Incredible, visit Settings>Wireless & networks and then scroll to the bottom to see the option to turn on Mobile Broadband Connect. I do not yet know if Verizon Wireless will be charging extra for this service or if they will provide it free like they do with the Palm Pre Plus. The easiest way to use this is to plug in your USB cable and then tap the correct option on the pop-up screen.
First look review: HTC DROID Incredible from Verizon Wireless
Image Gallery: Hands-on with the HTC DROID Incredible for Verizon Wireless
For me the tethering conundrum was really about official support and one-throat to choke if the mobile broadband feature craps out. The issue was so imperative for me that I was almost considering a Palm Pre just for the Mifi feature. Nothing against Palm, but I'd like a little more corporate clarity before buying a handset that I could be stuck with for two years.
Needless to say the tethering issue gets me off the fence about Android. Barring some super device from RIM---I have a few weeks before I can upgrade my phone without paying full retail freight---I'm likely to go Android and the Incredible.