iPad + Android Phone = iPad 3G

Like 300,000 others, I picked up my Apple iPad last Saturday. Since the Wifi-only model is the only one available so far, it really left me limited on connectivity. Sure, I've got Wifi at home and most serious businesses offer it now too, but what about all the gaps? I do a lot of traveling in the car for both business and pleasure. And that device just begs to be used everywhere you go. So, using my trusty Droid, I found a quick, easy and FREE solution.

All you need is a rooted Android phone running Android 2.0 or higher. I've only tested this with my Droid on Verizon, but the connection is established and routed from the handset, so the carrier you're on shouldn't be an issue.

As long as your phone is rooted, just install the app "Wireless Tether for Root Users" which you can get here. Set up your phone as a mobile hotspot by giving it an SSID, a security key and you're good to go. Once you've launched the tethering application, put your phone aside and go to the Wifi setup on your iPad. Choose your newly created network from the list, enter your security key and click Join. That's it.

Now, anywhere you have a data connection on your phone through your carrier, your iPad will also have internet access. This beats buying the actual 3G version of the iPad later this month for a few reasons:

1. The official iPad 3G will only offer service from AT&T using their odd-ball micro-SIMs. 
2. AT&T's network is already a mess with the enormous plague of iPhone.
3. As the Verizon commercials point out, Big Red has far more 3G coverage than AT&T.
4. You already pay for the data plan as part of your Droid service - why pay for internet access a second time, on a second account, with a second bill on an inferior network?
5. Once the HTC Evo 4G from Sprint comes out, you'll actually have an iPad 4G! 

Video demonstration after the jump.

I created a video demonstration of how easy the process is. It literally takes less than 3 minutes once you have the Wireless Tether application installed on your phone. If you're not already rooted and you want to do it just for the sake of using wifi tethering, go here.