Skip to Content

What happened to NetShare? - UPDATED

by Giles Turnbull Aug 1st 2008 at 9:30AM

NullRiver logoIt was there. And now it's... gone. What happened to iPhone 3G tethering app NetShare?

For a while it was live on the App Store, for a meagre ten bucks. Then it vanished. And now, it seems to have vanished from Nullriver's web site, too. Their news page has no mention of NetShare.

This smells of lawyers. NetShare was designed to let you share your iPhone's connectivity with your computer. Wireless freedom for all. And quite possibly something the telephony service providers in various countries would be alarmed to see on offer in the App Store, ten bucks or no. But wait -- the App Store is vetted, isn't it? Something like this couldn't just creep in through the ventilation shafts. This couldn't just be a ghastly mistake, could it?

You can't make software just disappear from everywhere. There must be some TUAW readers who managed to get hold of a copy before it disappeared. What do you make of it? Is it working?

For the record, we have asked NullRiver for comment, but not heard back from them yet. As soon as we do, we'll add an update.

UPDATE: And here it is. No word directly from NullRiver yet, but one of the NullRiver team pointed out in the comments that they did not have a web page for NetShare in the first place. Also, the following text has now been posted on the NullRiver home page (a fact that was also noted in the comments):

"We're not quite sure why Apple took down the NetShare application yet, we've received no communication from Apple thus far. NetShare did not violate any of the Developer or AppStore agreements. We're hoping we'll get some feedback from Apple today. Sorry to all the folks that couldn't get it in time. We'll do our best to try to get the application back onto the AppStore if at all possible. At the very least, we hope Apple will allow it to be used in countries where the provider does permit tethering."

AGAIN UPDATE: NetShare has now reappeared in the App Store, at least in the US, the UK, and the Netherlands, and probably in many other places as well. You can download and play with it to your heart's content. Thanks to all the commenters and tipsters who alerted us to this.

AGAIN AGAIN UPDATE: Now we've had a reply from NullRiver, as follows: "Hi, NetShare is back on the Apple Store, hopefully for good this time! We're not quite sure why Apple took down the NetShare application yet, we've received no communication from Apple thus far. NetShare did not violate any of the Developer or AppStore agreements to our knowledge. It is unknown how mobile phone carriers may react to using the program. Or if they are even in a position to tell. My personal advice is to not go NUTS just yet by downloading tons. Also be aware that contracts/carriers vary in what they offer from country to country, please be careful your service doesn't have a metered limit, that if you go over may incur extra costs for you."

Odd, is it not, that despite all the ups and downs their app has experienced during the last day or so, NullRiver has not heard anything at all from Apple? What's that all about?

Thanks to Zoli + everyone who sent this in.

View Tags

Related Stories

Categories

iPhone App Store

It was there. And now it's... gone. What happened to iPhone 3G tethering app NetShare?For a while it was live on the App Store, for a...
 

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

77 Comments

Filter by:
David

So you're suggesting to buy NetShare on a new itunes account via a gift card. Once I do that how do I get NetShare onto my iPhone from that itunes account without losing all my existing data and apps from my existing itunes account? How do you merge the two itunes accounts together? David.

September 08 2008 at 3:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sandeep

Gone again from US store and has been for a while now I guess. I cannot understand it. For one thing why wouldn't AT&T just offer a built in app to address this need. After all they SELL wireless cards, for pete's sake... and they have a whole bunch of customer's who presumably might pay a premium for an add on service....


August 09 2008 at 7:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Todd

There's a way around this.

Mac Instructions:
1) Create a new account on your Mac.
2) Switch to that account
3) Open itunes
4) Create new account... When you get to the billing part select "CHANGE COUNTRY" it's in light gray at the top to whatever country has it (sweeden does not btw).
5) Search and Purchase with ITUNES GIFT CARD!

PC Instructions:
1) Buy a Mac
2) Read Mac Instructions.
3) Stop being so Mad. Your instructions are the same... It's just a little more time consuming since you'll probably have to download iTunes on the new user account... MAYBE.

August 04 2008 at 6:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Todd's comment
Enrique Caballero

Are you POSITIVE this works? please please please let me know ASAP.

August 04 2008 at 11:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Todd

Yes. It's how OTHERS buy movies and TV shows through the US store, we are just doing it the opposite. But it's NOT in the Sweeden store, I checked. So try Germany or UK first. And make sure you have an iTunes gift card otherwise your billing addy which switch your store back to US.

August 05 2008 at 7:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Martin

I am saying that US is a backwater country when it comes thos wireless internet and 3G. We in sweden can buy the iphone with whatever contract from Telia as of now. It will in time be carried by more carriers due to not labeled exclusive introduction.

If I have any other 3G phone with the same contract this funtion, using the phone as a modem is there. It is even used by myself on 2G phones. It is stated by official support that free data contact is just that. FREE unlimited. There are other contract that has limits but OUR country don't prohibit use of phones as it is ment to be used. You just have to buy more credit.

If the carrier can't manage the data traffic the it is a clear and concise message to expand the towers and net. The users are not responsible for the carriers net expansion. It is the other way around. If more users connect more bandwith is needed and more users can use 3G as it is ment. Otherwise you could still and should still have 2G.

Now can all AT&T supporters be quite and take lessons from the rest of the world where we have had 3G phone for a long time and know how to use new tech.

August 04 2008 at 5:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sean808080

All this back and forth is making me dizzy. Someone please wake me up when it's back up.

August 03 2008 at 8:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Zach

back when i had my blackjack i tethered all the time and nobody ever said anything.

August 03 2008 at 12:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Martin

What makes me angry is that this product is NOT US only and NOT AT&T only. I have a contract that specifically lets me use my phone as a dongle and is made for this use and Apple in it's stupidity denies me this. Apple you are wrong!!!

August 02 2008 at 1:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Martin's comment
totoro

Which country's telecom sells an iPhone contract with tethering? Are you claiming Nullriver is the official tethering solution they offered you with this contract, and now Apple has removed it?

August 02 2008 at 7:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Spartan

Has anyone managed to get Apple Mail working with the SOCKS proxy? All I can seem to do is browse the web, was hoping to SSH & fetch mail too..

Ta
Spartan

August 02 2008 at 12:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jonathan Jacobson

NetShare seems to have disappeared again from the APP STORE.

Any idea when it will be back?

August 02 2008 at 12:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Seth Jordan

NetShare is GONE again! The application directly conflicts with AT&T data service which prohibits tethering of any kind.

http://www.iphonesavior.com/2008/08/netshare-iphone.html

August 02 2008 at 12:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buy an ad here

Hot Apps on TUAW

Tweets

© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.