Getting a new phone that allows tethering with Tablet S

[JeffreyW75]

I couldn't find a way to tether my long-serving Nokia N97 Mini with my new Tablet S. Appears that the Nokia only does ad hoc, not infrastructure, and that the Tablet S doesn't do ad hoc, only infrastructure. I don't think I want to try "rooting" my new Tablet. So it seems my only option to share internet is to find a new phone that allows that, maybe through installing an app on both my new phone and Tablet (can't do that with Symbian apparently--cross-platform)?

So please share with me your existing phones that you use to share your 3G mobile networks with your Tablet S so I can consider buying one of them soon. I hate to part with my Nokia, but there doesn't seem to be a solution here.

Also, I have the grandfathered AT&T data plan using a non-smartphone, as the Nokia isn't recognized as a smartphone (AT&T never sold them basically). So I want to keep that going forward--so my new phone has to not be in serious danger of being recognized as a smartphone and bumped up to a higher cost, limited data plan. I'd like to keep my phone cost under $300, and without a new contract with AT&T. Doesn't need to be the latest phone, but at least a little better than my old Nokia N97 Mini would be good.

Any suggestions? Thank you in advance.

 

[akvasu]

Hi

Sony phones seem to be able to Tether easily - I tried Xperia P, Xperia S, Xperia Ray (so Xperia Ion should work too)
Also HTC phones work.

The rule of thumb - Check for Phones that support Wifi HotSpot as a Infrastructure Mode. Nokia phones (and most other phones) support only Ad-Hoc Mode.

Thanks
Anup

 

[JeffreyW75]

Hi

Sony phones seem to be able to Tether easily - I tried Xperia P, Xperia S, Xperia Ray (so Xperia Ion should work too)
Also HTC phones work.

The rule of thumb - Check for Phones that support Wifi HotSpot as a Infrastructure Mode. Nokia phones (and most other phones) support only Ad-Hoc Mode.

Thanks
Anup

Good suggestions. I only wonder which, if any, AT&T doesn't recognize as a smartphone on their system. I don't see any information on them in that regard. Also, I thought there was talk about Android updating their software so that their devices can recognize Ad-hoc Mode? Did this happen, and Sony just didn't implement it yet? Or am I mistaken?