Rooting your Android device

Couple of people have been asking me how I got Skype and a bunch of other apps on my Galaxy Tab when they cant see it in the Android Market.

Reason being, the market is limited by region. As such, you have to Root your device. Think of it as something similar to jailbreaking an iPhone/iPad. The process is not harmful to your device nor is it permanent. Removing the root can be something as simple as restarting your device.

Here goes:

Getting the files needed

1. Download Z4Root from here. Thanks to the RyanZA from XDA forums for this.
2. Copy the file onto your device.
3. Go to the Android Market and look for File Expert. Find it and install it like any other app you have in the past.
4. Download MarketAcess from here.

Remember to only install File Expert. Do not install any of other files yet. Follow the steps below once you have done the above.

Rooting

1. Launch File Expert.
2. Browse to the location where you saved Z4Root. Tap Z4Root to install it.
3. Go to your settings page. Go to Applications. Go to Development. Select USB debugging
4. Go to your applications and launch Z4Root.
5. Select Temprary Root.
6. Let it do its thing. After a while, it should say Temporary Root Successful. You have now successfully rooted your device.
7. Next, launch File Expert again. Browse to the location you copied Market Access to and install it.
8. Launch Market Access.
9. Select Backup Value. After the confirmation pop-up, select the Providers tab at the top. Select T-Mobile [US].
10. YOU'RE DONE !!!

Now you can go to the Market and have a look at a plethora of additional apps including the all time favourite, Skype.

* Please note that this apparently doesn't work with the latest firmware update from Samsung. This just serves as a guide and I am not responsible for any damage caused to your device.