Motorola says original Droid 'doesn't have the hardware' to support a mobile hotspot

[Shadez]

By Donald Melanson posted Aug 2nd 2010 12:19PM

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This is the week that the original Droid will be getting the Android 2.2 update, but it looks like that update won't be bringing two of the most oft-requested features: tethering and a mobile hotspot.

Why's that? While tethering seems to be simply due to a lack of an app that "isn't part of this update," the mobile hotspot issue is a bit more curious -- Motorola spokesperson Brenda Raney says that the Droid "doesn't have [the] hardware to support a mobile hotspot."

No further explanation than that, but we have a sneaking suspicion that Motorola isn't passing over the feature because of a lack of hardware, but because of too much hardware -- namely, the Droid 2 and Droid X.

Motorola says original Droid 'doesn't have the hardware' to support a mobile hotspot -- Engadget
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[montyboy]

I've been looking for the original statement from Moto - any luck? Phonescoop.com, who broke the news, doesn't seem to be loading at the moment. I would like some clarification because everyone in the rooting community can tell you that this is total bs. If they aren't going to release it then say so - but to straight up lie to the community is sickening.

 

[Shadez]

I've been looking for the original statement from Moto - any luck? Phonescoop.com, who broke the news, doesn't seem to be loading at the moment. I would like some clarification because everyone in the rooting community can tell you that this is total bs. If they aren't going to release it then say so - but to straight up lie to the community is sickening.

This is whats on phonescoop..

News Item Related News Comments
posted Today, 10:42 AM by Eric M. Zeman
updated Today, 11:17 AM


Updated: added reference to update start date in 1st sentence
Verizon Wireless announced on July 30 that the Motorola Droid would receive the Android 2.2 update starting the week of August 2. Android 2.2 natively supports tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot creation. The Motorola Droid, however, will not offer these features. Verizon Wireless spokesperson Brenda Raney said to Phone Scoop in an email, "The Droid by Motorola doesn't have [the] hardware to support a Mobile Hotspot. With tethering there is no Connection on the PC side that will allow you to tether the device so the answer is that option isn't part of this update." Raney also said the over-the-air update will be pushed to a small set of users first to make sure it works properly. Once that is confirmed to work, Verizon will begin the general roll-out in phases. Android 2.2 offers a wide range of other improvements, including better security, Flash Player Mobile 10.1, voice dialing via Bluetooth, and improved camera performance.

 

[pc747]

yup sure nuff dont ....yes so when vzw asks about my data usage im pointing to that statement. Even though while in class wifi tethering powered my laptop and netbook. But hey moto built it they know their device.

 

[montyboy]

So they left no room for "open to interpretation" - this is just a blatant lie.

 

[drpurp]

...so they're indirectly encouraging root?

 

[pc747]

if you are a rooted droid owner this is more good news.

 

[jntdroid]

True, for rooters this is no big deal, but I still don't like that they seem to be lying about this. Though they would probably come back with the argument that what the root community is doing will kill the phone over time, or something like that...

 

[czerdrill]

isn't wifi tethering the same as mobile hotspot?

 

[jntdroid]

isn't wifi tethering the same as mobile hotspot?

i think there's a technical difference, but don't know what it is... *looks around for someone to explain*

edit: evidently tethering is ad-hoc, as opposed to a "true" hotspot

 

[montyboy]

isn't wifi tethering the same as mobile hotspot?

i think there's a technical difference, but don't know what it is... *looks around for someone to explain*

I would also like to know if there is a difference. Regardless, what most users are looking for is "wifi tethering". It is still upsetting if they are trying to not allow any type of tethering based upon a technical definition. So, if it cannot meet their definition of a "mobile hotspot" then they should still give "wifi tethering".

 

[jntdroid]

<@cvpcs> the droid1 does not support mobile hotspot
<@cvpcs> that's true
<@cvpcs> wireless tether uses a tethering mechanism known as "ad hoc"
<@cvpcs> it allows the device to tether but doesn't have to act as a router per-say
<@cvpcs> mobile hotspot uses something known as "infrastructure" mode
<@cvpcs> and the tiwlan hardware doesn't support it
<cobra2> the hardware also does not support monitor mode
<cobra2> but you can slap a big antenna onto the back of it.

 

[czerdrill]

isn't wifi tethering the same as mobile hotspot?

i think there's a technical difference, but don't know what it is... *looks around for someone to explain*

edit: evidently tethering is ad-hoc, as opposed to a "true" hotspot

oh nevermind...ad-hoc...got it

 

[rotordroid]

isn't wifi tethering the same as mobile hotspot?

i think there's a technical difference, but don't know what it is... *looks around for someone to explain*

edit: evidently tethering is ad-hoc, as opposed to a "true" hotspot

True, we do Ad Hoc now, where your typical wifi router does Infastructure

 

[jntdroid]

so maybe what Moto is saying is technically true, but still a way to dodge this issue... just a thought :icon_eek: