Google said to be planning Android tethering

Android 2.2 will support tethering through USB and Wi-Fi connections

Google is reportedly planning to allow tethering for handsets using its Android smartphone platform.

Silicon Valley news blog TechCrunch is reporting that the upcoming 2.2 version of Google's mobile operating system will include support for two methods of sharing the handset's wireless data connection with other computers.

The report claims that the Android 2.2 'Froyo' release will support tethering through USB and Wi-Fi connections. Users could connect to the device through a wireless network connection or a USB cable and share the connection.

Tethering is the practice of sharing a connection through a smartphone's wireless broadband antenna, and has been a much-anticipated feature with smartphone users.

Apple has equipped its iPhone handsets to accommodate tethering, although many regional carriers have yet to enable the feature for customers.

The Android 2.2 update will also deliver a significant speed boost, according to Google, as well as support for Adobe's Flash platform.