Hasta La Gadget!

Windows Phone 7 turns out to be perfectly capable of tethering your data signal to a laptop via USB cable, a feature it was though to lack. To access the secret tethering mode, you’ll need to do some diagnostic voodoo, but its pretty straightforward stuff: more like inputting a video-game cheat code than actual hacking.

First, you need to get into the handset’s diagnostic mode. Right now the instructions are only available for Samsung WP7 phones. To do this, dial ##634# and hit the call button, followed by *#7284#. This will give you the above menu, which lets you toggle between the default Zune sync, a diagnostic utility and, yes, a tethered modem.

Back at the computer, use these settings to let it talk to the new modem:

number: *99***1#
user name: WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
password: CINGULAR1

Neat, free and fun. What more could you ask for? We’re sure that hacking other, non-Samsung handsets will be possible, too, as soon as somebody works out the proper codes.

According to David K of Mobile Digest, you can connect and disconnect just by plugging or yanking the USB cord. And because WP7 allows Wi-Fi syncing, you don’t even need to change this new tethering setting back – just leave it as it is. I don’t have a Samsung Windows Phone 7 phone to test this on, so let us know how things go in the comments.

Windows Phone 7 Tethers! You Can Do it NOW! Here’s How [Mobile Digest]

Samsung Omnia 7 ha il tethering USB! [HD Blog.IT]

See Also:

• AT&T Adds iPhone Tethering, Kills Unlimited Data for iPad …
• Android 2.2 'Froyo' Features USB, Wi-Fi Tethering
• IOS 4.2 Beta Adds Tethering to iPad