Cheap Android Handset for Wifi Tethering?

YBNB

My GF has an SE Xperia Mini Pro with 11 months still to run on her 3 contract. She also has an iPad, which she would like to occasionally use, in conjunction with her Android phone's wifi tethering abliity, to browse the 'net whilst away from home.

With my Xperia X10, I'm able to do this, but SE apparently have no plans to allow the Mini Pro to update to the Gingerbread firmware which would allow her to do it. (She has "unlimited" internet on her 3 plan and there's no danger of her going bonkers and using gigs and gigs via this route btw).

So, can someone please recommend a reasonably-priced handset (preferably costing < £100 on PAYG) that will have the Gingerbread firmware on it and therefore allow her to use Wifi tethering?

Many thanks in advance for any and all help received.

Nick.

PNEfan

Orange San Francisco can be unlocked free and updated with a custom rom to Gingerbread or Froyo. Tethering is possible with either. See Modaco forum for full details.

Slightly more expensive and newer handset with Gingerbread already installed Orange Monte Carlo. Unlock solution has just been posted on Modaco for this too.

devizes18193

are you sure its a Xperia Mini Pro not a x10 mini the x10 mini is not going past 2.1 ,but the xperia has gingerbread .

http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_ericsson_xperia_mini_pro-3713.php
I have a samsung galaxy appolo paid £70 with 2.2 and you can tether with it

YBNB

It's definitely an x10 mini and driving her barmy with both the inability to upgrade to Gingerbread (and therefore tether wifi) but also the battery life, which has recessed to nearly-zero.

Samsung Galaxy Apollo looks like a good bet. Would that typically have 2.2 out of the box?

Any other possibles in the £60-£100 bracket? She wouldn't mind paying that much secondhand with guarantee (e.g. CEX shops) so that might possibly give her more options?

Thanks again.

System

Are you sure that tethering will work ?

Tethering and using your phone as a modem.
Tethering is when you connect your phone to other devices over Wi-Fi or using a USB cable and use it as a modem to access the internet.
If you're on The One Plan you can use the internet when you're out and about with other devices including laptops, tablets and games consoles, just by connecting them through Wi-Fi or USB to your phone. You can tether on all our One Plan tariffs including SIM Only with a 1-month rolling contract.
Some of our other Pay Monthly plans as well as Pay As You Go plans come with all-you-can-eat data, but they don't allow tethering.
If you're on one of our other Pay Monthly plans and want to tether, you'll need to buy an Add-on. Choose from Add Internet Max or Add Internet and Email which cost £5.11 per month for a 2GB allowance. To buy one of these Add-ons, visit your My3 account on your phone or online at Three.co.uk/My3 and select Buy Add-ons.
Unfortunately our Talk and Text plans that have all-you-can-eat data aren't compatible with these Add-ons.

Richard_T_

A quick look around shows that you can get android version 2.3.7 for the X10 mini, this website will tell you how to update:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=726

If your thinking of getting buying new phone, for these features why bother? as an update to the latest version of android will breathe new life into the old phone

YBNB

!!!!!! wrote: »

Are you sure that tethering will work ?

Yeah, she's on the one plan.

@ Richard - neither of us are confident with anything unofficial, ROMS, rooting etc. so another solution is the answer. Thanks, though.