Which smartphones allow tethering?

Droids.

Well, the Verizon iPhone, of course.

I believe most Blackberries can be used for tethering (not as Wifi hotspots), too.

The thing to keep in mind is that even if a device has the technical capability to offer tethering (and WiFi hotspot), it doesn’t mean that feature is actually available unless the carrier allows it (à la the AT&T iPhone).

@ gailcalled

Yes. LOL.

Most phones running Android 2.2 can do WIFI hotspot teathering.

If I wanted to pay an extra $20/month, I could use my Droid X as a wifi hotspot.

@jerv you can do that with any android device running 2.2 free of charge.

@mrlaconic I am aware that Android offers that option for free, but Verizon does not and I haven’t seen a legal workaround.

@mrlaconic Are you sure that any 2.2 device can be a hot spot? I’ve got a MyTouch 3g, and it doesn’t have the menu options to turn it into a hotspot.

@wundayatta perhaps not.. but I didn’t think that 2.2 was meant for the myTouch 3G? I have a vibrant, mytouch 4G, and a G2 all running android 2.2 and they all have options for WI-FI hotspot or Mobile AP (access point)

Yeah, we had the upgrade to 2.2 pushed out to us. It’s nice in some ways. A little weird in others. Like I can no longer double tap to highlight a word that is spelled wrong. So I don’t know how to do it now. Better ask my son :)