The current iteration of Google Glass has been relatively restricted when it comes to 3G and 4G coverage, only offering connectivity through a tethering add-on. Now the company has introduced a workaround that scraps this requirement and instead functions via a companion app that talks to your smartphone.
A tethered connection might not be such an issue, you might think, but in truth it’s easy for carriers to pick up on anyone connecting devices, and thus charging extra for its use. However this becomes impossible to detect with the introduction of the XE9 update, which employs the use of an app on smartphones to communicate with them. It seems like Google are doing consumers a favour on this front, and cutting down on any extra hidden costs that might accompany the device when it finally makes it to public sale. The XE9 update also brings with it a host of other new features like sound searching
Google Glass does sport built-in wi-fi, but there’s no word on any type of dedicated 3G or 4G connection at this point in time. There’s no guarantee that this feature will make it into the final product, given that it’s bound to be an unpopular move with many 3G and 4G carriers.
Source: 9to5Google
