How to turn your Android 2.2 phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot or USB dongle

Just over a year ago, Android 2.2 Froyo was announced by Google at I/O 2010. And, it was also round about this time last year that we got and installed the update on our Nexus One. Time flies huh?

Among the cool things announced like multiple app updating and saving apps to SD cards was the ability to enable Wi-Fi and USB tethering.

In a nutshell, this tethering thingy allows you use your phone’s 3G signal to connect devices like laptops and computers to the internet, either on a wireless Wi-Fi connection or by plugging your phone in and using it like a USB dongle.

It’s really useful if you’ve just moved in to a new flat and you’re waiting for your router/phone line to be activated, or if you’re at a press conference and everyone’s hogging the Wi-Fi - you can simply activate the tethering option on your Android phone, set a password (so no-one else can use it) and connect away.

Of course, how well it works ultimately depends on how good the 3G reception is in your area. But if you can get fair-to-decent 3G in your house, then your Android phone will suffice as an ad-hoc router for the time being.

So, why write up a How To guide on something that you’ve been able to do for about a year?

Well, for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, when Android 2.2 hit our Nexus One last year, we were in the minority of people who had it. It was only pushed out to this phone initially, with phones like the HTC Desire getting it later on. Froyo is now very much the norm, with over 64% of Android phones running on 2.2, according to the most recent figures from Google (from 18/05/2011 to 01/06/2011).

Also, I personally can’t count the number of times where I’ve shown Wi-Fi/USB tethering to friends with Android 2.2+ phones and have them say ‘I never knew you could do that!’, or something similar. So this is for you guys and to mark the almost-1-year-anniversary of Froyo. Android 2.2, here’s a belated Happy Birthday to you.

So, without further ado...