App Store Pulls Tethering Utility NetShare
by Ji Kim
August 1, 2008
UPDATE #2 (8/1)
Well folks, in another weird turn of events, Nullriver's NetShare app appeared yet again earlier this afternoon in iTunes and was available for download (where yours truly was able to pick-up a copy).
Several hours later, however, NetShare went missing. . . YET AGAIN.
From the developer's site:
Apple has taken it down again, with no explanation yet again. Update: NetShare is now back up and available from the AppStore! 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.We'll keep you posted on the latest as we unravel Apple's reasoning behind Netshare being pulled, relisted, and pulled again... -- UPDATE #1 (8/1) Maksim Rogov at Nullriver got in touch with us about the situation, saying:
We're trying to get a hold of Apple right now. Until we hear from Apple, its hard to say what the real reason is, because, if it was AT&T, well, AT&T is not the iPhone service provider outside the US.We were also directed to the NullRiver Website for additional information. Thanks to Maksim and the NullRiver team for taking time out of their busy schedules to give us an update. -- Nullriver, Inc. released NetShare onto the iTunes App Store earlier this evening. Priced at $9.99, NetShare basically allows you to share an iPhone's 3G / EDGE internet connection with other devices such as your laptop. The application was live for less than an hour before being pulled by the powers that be (read: Apple). It is unclear as to how the application made it through Apple's stringent review process in the first place, as it violates AT&T's terms and conditions. The few lucky ones who bought the application during its short span of availability are reporting that NetShare works like a charm.