Open-source future for NetShare?
August 9th 2008
The sad and sordid tale of NetShare may be drawing to close, the first chapter anyway. After being pulled, re-instated and then pulled with finality, all without explanation from Apple, Nullriver still managed to express some hope about getting their iPhone tethering (wiki) application relisted.
Now, it appears NetShare won't likely see the light of day again, at least on Apple's official AppStore. Wired (via MacRumors) reports that Nullriver has received confirmation from AT&T that tethering with the iPhone violates the carrier's terms and conditions for the device.
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It wasn't us...
Looking for more than a boilerplate answer, Gizmodo cornered an AT&T rep about why NetShare was pulled and got this round about reply:
"Apple runs the app store, so you'll have to ask them about the availability of this and other apps. For customers looking for a smartphone with tethering capabilities, AT&T has a number of other options to choose from."
Thereupon, Nullriver's CEO Adam Dan told Wired that Apple is reviewing user contracts with providers, including AT&T.
Add it all up and both AT&T and Apple have said "no" without actually saying "no."
For its part, Gizmodo offers some sage advice, "If you managed to snag [NetShare] before it got yoinked, be careful, you don't want your account terminated."
One imagines AT&T and Apple are working out ways to detect, if they haven't already, tethered iPhones.
Endgame over?
Given that Nullriver's investment in NetShare won't see any return, perhaps the company will see fit to open-source the code. Thereupon, the Pwnage Tool crowd might not find it too difficult to work that functionality, while blocking AT&T's detection efforts, into a future release of their iPhone "management software."
Open-sourcing NetShare would free the functionality and wash Nullriver's hands of any future misdeeds by users.
Revenge is, after all, a dish best served cold...
What's your take?
