Glass no longer needs smartphone tethering plan as Google implements workaround

Photo: mashable.com

Google Glass owners will no longer need a carrier plan with a tethering add-on after Google implemented a workaround that allows the device to talk to a smartphone via a companion app.

Although Google Glass has built-in wifi, there’s no 3G or 4G connectivity. Instead, the device relies on a bluetooth connection to an Android phone for its mobile data feed. The problem with this is that carriers can detect tethered connections, and most charge extra for it. With the latest XE9 update, however, the Glass companion app bypasses the normal tethered link, so that there is no clue to a carrier that Glass is using the smartphone data plan.

Whether that workaround will survive carrier scrutiny once Glass makes it to public sale is another question entirely …