Setting up a shared internet connection between a smartphone and tablet is sometimes not easy. Although most of all devices carry the Mobile Hotspot or Personal Hotspot feature, there are times when pairing becomes a headache and so Google came up with the idea of Instant Tethering. It may take a while though before users can see the feature in their devices.

What is Google Instant Tethering?

According to Digital Trends, Instant Tethering is one better way to stay connected online even when the wireless connection drops. With the help of the Google Instant Tethering, all devices connected to the Google Account are linked so when one of the connected devices lose connection, it will ask users if they would want to allow tethering. What's more interesting is that users can also check the remaining battery life of the other devices. This feature has started rolling out on other devices but it might be a while before it hits other devices.

For now, the Google Instant Tethering is rolling out on Pixel and Nexus devices. However, note that the Pixel C and Nexus tablet can only be connected to the phone data but cannot be used as mobile hotspot unlike the Google Pixel XL where it can be connected to each other's hotspot, Engadget reported. The Instant Tethering feature is added on Google Play Services 10.2 but if the user's device is not Pixel or Nexus, they won't be able to use the feature just yet.

Perhaps, Google will have to activate the feature from their end first, and users are warned that if they try to use the Instant Tethering feature in an unsupported device, don't expect that it would work just fine. There are some device limitations so Android phone users are urged to wait till the feature becomes available on more devices without having to wait for official announcement from Google.

Android smartphones who have been able to update their Android software and now have the Google Play Services 10.2 may check the Play Store every now and then to see if their device has started rolling out Instant Tethering.

Topics Pixel, Google, Google Play Store, Android devices, Nexus