Walking Hotspot

[Rick Alfaro]

Jonathan,

This sounds like a really neat piece of software.  I was not able to find a
free edition of it however.  Do I simply download what they have and assume
that their trial version is also their free version if not registered?

On another note, here is a link to another program that also gives you
connectivity via your device but via usb and ActiveSync on your laptop or
desktop.  I have never used it personally, but know someone that claims it
is one of the easiest to use applications of this type that they have ever
tried.  It is not free however.  They do have a fully functional 7 day
trial.  Just something else to check out if you don't the extra battery
drain of also using your phone's 802.11x radio.  This uses your data
connection only.

http://www.junefabrics.com/pdanet/index.php

 
 
Warmest regards,
 
Rick Alfaro
rick.alfaro at comcast.net

-----Original Message-----
From: blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com
[mailto:blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com] On Behalf Of Jonathan Mosen
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 1:06 PM
To: 'The Accessible Phones Discussion List'
Subject: Walking Hotspot

One of the things I love about working with technology, is that every so
often you are fortunate enough to have a "hey wow" moment. The software I am
writing about is just so useful, and so incredibly easy to set up, that it
certainly was the cause of such a moment.
 
Over the last few days, I have been playing with a piece of software that
allows me to take advantage of the data connection on my phone to the
benefit of my PAC mate Omni and Lenovo Thinkpad.
 
The software is called Walking Hotspot, and is available for free from
http://www.walkinghotspot.com <blocked::http://www.walkinghotspot.com/> .
 
This software is for Symbian and Windows Mobile phones. To use it, the phone
must support both WiFi, and some sort of data over cellular option. It
allows you to set up your phone so that it is your very own walking hotspot.
The idea here is that you can use your laptop, PAC Mate, or any other WiFi
capable device to connect to the phone running the hotspot software, so that
you can use your phone's Internet connection from another device. The
connection can be encrypted using WEP for additional security.
 
Now it's true that many phones can use Bluetooth to do a similar thing, but
there are a few points to note. Firstly, certainly on GSM networks, when you
do this you are only connecting with GPRS, and not the faster forms of
Internet connectivity such as 3G or HSDPA. Secondly, not all phones offer
the modem service. And thirdly, it can be complex for a user to set up.
 
With Walking Hotspot, you just set up your access point complete with WEP
security if you want, bring up the wireless manager on the device from which
you want to connect, and establish an ad hoc connection.
 
Here in new Zealand, I have an HSDPA connection which in good coverage areas
can give me 2 or 3 MBPS down. So as long as I am in coverage, I have really
good broad band on my PAC mate or laptop now.
 
The free version is limited in that you can only establish one concurrent
connection. The paid version, being distributed through carriers, permits
five concurrent connections. But for personal use, the free version is fine.
 
The Symbian version is 100% accessible with both Mobile Speak and Talks.
Obviously, because you will be using the WiFi and data over cellular
capabilities of your phone, you're going to use a lot of battery power, and
this may be an issue on units that offer poor battery performance.
 
This software is pure genius.
 
Jonathan
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