How to tether 1st gen Ipad w/Android phone?

December 1, 2011 11:08 AM

What hardware / software do I need exactly to use my Samsung Epic 4G (android) to tether my first generation ipad? I prefer to do this without jailbreaking my phone (but am open to jailbreaking ipad).

I tried "wifi tether" but it didn't work due to the phone not being jail broken. Is it necessary to have usb connection between phone and ipad? What cord do I need?

posted by JJkiss to Technology (5 answers total)

You're going to have to purchase your cell phone provider's Mobile Hotspot coverage for your phone in order to setup a tethering connection between your phone and iPad.
posted by jeffch at 11:36 AM on December 1, 2011

Root your phone and install WiFi Tether or Barnacle. Done.
posted by PSB at 11:41 AM on December 1, 2011

I should have added the part about rooting your phone. If you don't want to (or can't) root your Android phone, you'll need to buy the hotspot coverage.

I'm not really sure what it means to jailbreak an Android phone, but I assumed that avoiding rooting was implied by not wanting to jailbreak.
posted by jeffch at 11:57 AM on December 1, 2011

There is no "jailbreaking" in Android parlance. For all intents and purposes, jailbreaking is the same as rooting.

So yes, as outlined above:

1. You can play by the rules and pay for your provider's WiFi tethering.
2. You can root your phone and use WiFi Tether or Barnacle.

I do not believe you can wired tether to your iPad.
posted by SpiffyRob at 12:50 PM on December 1, 2011

I haven't used them, but the apps EasyTether and PDANet have descriptions that talk about free access and non-rooting. There are various versions so I didn't link, but do some google searching for reviews about those apps.
posted by CathyG at 5:07 PM on December 1, 2011