Earlier today I tried installing the popular tethering application PDAnet on my AT&T Android phone; then I found out that AT&T doesn’t allow me to do that. In fact, PDAnet doesn’t even show up when I search the Android Market on my phone, because AT&T doesn’t want me to install it. If I try to install it from the new web-based Android Market, I receive a message telling me that my carrier won’t allow me to install it on my phone.
As it turns out, circumventing this block is extremely easy.
Here’s how:
- Turn off your phone.
- Pop out the SIM card.
- Turn your phone back on and connect to a Wi-Fi network.
- Open the Android Market, search for, and install the previously carrier-blocked app.
- Turn off your phone.
- Pop the SIM card back in.
- Turn your phone back on.
- Enjoy!
Your mileage may vary depending on your carrier and device. I’m using a Samsung Captivate on AT&T—a phone I’d suggest no one ever buys—and this method worked perfectly on that. If you’ve installed carrier-blocked apps before with your carrier, let’s hear how you went about it in the comments. (Hat tip to a user in the ATTDroids forum.)