Filed under: iPhone, App Store
What happened to NetShare? - UPDATED
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 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.
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
totoro said 2:00PM on 8-01-2008
And while it may be against AT&T's rules, its not necessarily the same case around the world. Just like Pandora is only available here, maybe Nullriver's program is totally legit in other countries on other carriers (or with an extra contract for tethering, as AT&T DOES allow tethering on other data phones, as long as you pay for it)
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firesign said 2:00PM on 8-01-2008
i'd bet good money that apple was told by at&t to take it down.
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DarJon said 2:01PM on 8-01-2008
What I would like to know is this..
So, some people have downloaded NetShare successfully and are using it quite happily with no problems. Fair enough. But, has anyone actually got into trouble with AT&T, O2 or any other iPhone carrier for using the tethering app?
If anyone out there had or does get into trouble/warning letters from their carries, let me know. I have some questions for you.. :)
http://DarJon.co.nr
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CMcGarity said 2:01PM on 8-01-2008
When attempting to purchase this app iTunes now states:
Your requset could not be completed. The item you have requested is not currently available in the U.S. store.
Interesting, before it did not specifically state in the 'U.S. store...'
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noza said 2:01PM on 8-01-2008
I'm pretty sure that if apps like "R U Drunk?" can get through, Apple's vetting process only consists of some sort of automated code safety checking and signature verification. There's -obviously- no editorial oversight, at least on the outset.
I'm guessing Apple didn't even realize this was up or what it did until AT&T called up Steve to complain.
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LuminousNerd said 2:02PM on 8-01-2008
But if that's the case, then why is it taking 2 weeks for things to get through the process?
Maksim Rogov said 2:01PM on 8-01-2008
This story isn't very accurate. We never had any mention of NetShare on our website (yet), we were still working out the product page.
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LuminousNerd said 2:02PM on 8-01-2008
Who is "we"? Are you part of NullRiver?
Paradoxcis said 2:02PM on 8-01-2008
In Germany, T-Mobile explicitly allows the use of data with devices other than the iPhone, yet it was also taken down from the German App Store. Maybe something else is going on …
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Jon said 2:02PM on 8-01-2008
This was the first 3G app that made me think it was time to upgrade from my first-gen iPhone. I guess I won't be making a purchase after all.
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Jonathan Wise said 2:02PM on 8-01-2008
Nullriver doesn't reply to e-mails...
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alansky said 2:02PM on 8-01-2008
To put this story in perspective, 3G is generally slower than wi-fi, which is generally slower than wired broadband. It's not like NetShare is going to put Comcast out of business!
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Andrew said 2:02PM on 8-01-2008
Does anyone know if there's a way around the App Store. ie. Someone downloaded it already and sent it to someone else. Would they be able to import it into iTunes and use it?
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Badr said 2:03PM on 8-01-2008
After they took it down, I found it in the green demon. I have it and if they defenitely put it back up, I will buy it, if not... I'll used the other one... (ill send the 10 bucks to nullsoft though).
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geode said 2:22PM on 8-01-2008
@Adam, Matt, et al. - I downloaded the app last night, tried it this morning, couldn't make it work. Sure would like some advice on how to use it - I followed the instructions, and both my MBP and iPhone showed the new network and IPs I'd created, but any attempt at connecting failed.
Both the original and 3G iPhones currently can be tethered after a jailbreak, and I know users who have done so. I've yet to hear of anyone hitting their limits on bandwidth, probably because of what "alansky" suggests in his comment...
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Dani said 2:23PM on 8-01-2008
Application is for sure still available in the Netherlands.
I just bought it in Dutch AppStore
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=286541579&mt=8
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Dani said 2:25PM on 8-01-2008
I still see the app in the Dutch AppStore
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=286541579&mt=8
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Joe Tchen said 2:34PM on 8-01-2008
I just went to the iTunes store > Apps > Productivity > NetShare... It is still up on the iTunes store!
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kalikid021 said 2:38PM on 8-01-2008
If you still want this app, use the direct link. It worked for me this morning. Enjoy!
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=286541579&mt=8
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kalikid021 said 2:40PM on 8-01-2008
You can still get it from iTunes via direct link. I did it this morning, Enjoy!
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=286541579&mt=8
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