Creates hotspot without carrier approval

MyWi, an unofficial app that allows jailbroken iPhones to create hotspots without carrier approval, has been updated to version 5.5, which now supports iOS 5 users. Despite the lack of an untethered jailbreak for the latest devices, the program allows users of A4, A5 and A5X based 3G or LTE iOS devices to create and manage personal hotspots, now including Bluetooth tethering for activation of the Wi-Fi hotspot. The app has been rewritten from scratch.

MyWi has proven to be a popular program for jailbreakers due to its professional design and functionality, but carries one of the higher pricetags for an unofficial device ($20), though it does include a free three-day trial. The update adds back support for weaker WEP or no encryption for iOS 5.x users, and offers faster activation and broadcast setup as well as faster connection speeds. The developers, Intelliborn, also note many bug fixes, greater reliability and new Wi-Fi sharing ability as well as the new Bluetooth wireless tethering. The UI has also been enhanced for a better user experience, reports Redmond Pie.

Using the MyWi app is not without risk, as some carriers will warn, upgrade or charge users who abuse their tethering rules if detected. Despite MyWi's monitoring capabilities, the ease of use and potential for sharing makes it possible for users to quickly exceed their data caps, thus incurring additional costs inadvertently.

Users with A4-based devices (the original iPad, the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, the current iPod Touch) who haven't updated to iOS 5.1 can leverage an untethered jailbreak (meaning semi-permanent), but other users with later devices or who have updated to iOS 5.1 only have tethered (must re-implement with every restart) jailbreaks available currently. The MyWi app is available from the ModMyi repository via unofficial app store Cydia. [via Redmond Pie]

by MacNN Staff