Or root your Android phone.

I'm finding more and more people outside of tech-circles are doing this as it allows you to run WifTether, extra apps, etc.

Those "Mobile Phone Repair Shops" that used to unlock Nokias are doing a roaring trade rooting and changing firmware on 'regular' user's phones.

What's WifTether? I'm looking for reasons to root it, but for now TempRoot is working fine. I am also not sure if it will have any adverse effects, like preventing updating or anything.

Sorry I meant WiFi Tether (officially called "Android Wifi Tether"), it is an open source project that does the same job as the "official" wifi tether app that the carrier usually lock or require you to pay extra for them to set allowWifiTether = TRUE;

Being rooted allows the app to provide the same functionality without needing to check the carrier setting.

It's the killer app of being rooted. Unless you are on AT&T in SF or NY in which case your network is probably hosed anyway

Hmm, I see. I'm guessing it creates a WiFi hotspot you can connect to and access the internet? If so, my stock Desire HD does that already, since I'm not in the US. It's pretty shit that your carrier would disable that, our carriers don't mess with the phones at all...