What is "tethering"?

[bbarker]

I've seen the term "tethering" in several postings. I think I know what it means based on the context, but I hadn't heard the term before. What, exactly, is it?

[BobWitt]

Tethering is when you hook up a PC or PPC to a cellular phone (via wire or bluetooth) to use the phone as a modem...

In the case of Sprint (my service) I can connect my HP4150 to my Sprint phone via bluetooth and access the Sprint Vision network (1xRTT)...

I have gotten as high as 154 kbps, better than dial up!

BobWitt

[bbarker]

I suspected that's what it meant and I've been using my phone and PPC that way for years. I just hadn't heard the term before. Is it a common industry term?

Thanks.