Potential Verizon Droid users have been clamoring to find out if the Droid will have a tethering plan available. After all, one of US iPhone customers biggest complaints is the lack of an option from AT&T, leaving users to rely on secondary hardware or software hacks.
The good news is that the Droid will have a tethering option; the bad news, you'll have to wait until next year. Network World has confirmed that tethering will be available for an extra $30 per month for most Droid users.
Verizon Droid owners will be able to sign-up for Mobile Broadband Connect. Most users will qualify for the $30 option, which lets you use your phone tethered to your computer and gives you 5GB of data per month (each additional megabyte costs $0.05). This fee is added to the voice plan and data plan.
Although a $30 additional charge might seem steep, consider that the Mobile Broadband USB or PC card plan for laptop users is $60 a month for the same amount of data. For that same $60 you can get data on your phone and also tether with your computer. That's not a bad deal.
Network World spoke with Verizon who confirmed that the tethering option will not be available until sometime in 2010. The Verizon spokesperson indicated that they need to test the service with the phone before offering it to customers.