Smartphones: WalkingHotSpot Turns Smartphones Into Wi-Fi Routers

Smartphones, microsoft, nokia, software, symbian, taproot, taproot systems, walkinghotspot...

WalkingHotSpot Turns Smartphones Into Wi-Fi Routers

Screw HotSpot @ Home—now there's HotSpot @ Wherever The Hell You Are. It seems like an obvious idea: turn your 3G Wi-Fi-enabled smartphone into a Wi-Fi router for you and maybe other people simultaneously, instead of using it as a more complicated one-to-one tethered modem requiring wires or Bluetooth. Taproot Systems' WalkingHotSpot software for Windows Mobile and Symbian does precisely this, though there are some catches:

• The free demo available at Taproot Systems will support only one Wi-Fi connection.

• Though the system will work with any 3G platform (provided the WinMo or Symbian smartphone has Wi-Fi, duh), it will only allow voice calls through on HSDPA networks like that from AT&T.

• Taproot wants to sell this software to carriers and not to you, dear individual readers. Man, if I don't see a ridiculous monthly fee being attached to what would otherwise be an awesome use of bandwith you're already paying for!!!!!.

If you get a chance to test it out, though, please let us know how it works. [PC World]

Update: There's also a free one for Windows Mobile phones called WM WiFiRouter. -JC

10:45 AM on Wed Mar 26 2008
By Wilson Rothman
7,308 views
29 comments

Comments

TJ at 11:04 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

*Cough Cough* Check out WMWifiRouter on XDA or find the torrent for it. *Cough*
Synthaxx at 11:05 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

That's a nastily helpfull cough you got there.
Monty at 11:06 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

Two worthless comments:

1. The latency on just about any cell network, including 3G and EVDO is simply too slow for just about anything I would use it for. It might be nice for bringing up a web page, but it is not particularly useful for a Citrix or Terminal Services session, which is what I would need it for. (It can work through third party products that cache the session, I know, but it is still barely usable.)

2. Do we really need to be connected to the Net no matter where we go or what we do? Can't we take a break from the internet for a few minutes out of the day? (Yes, the irony is me typing this into a web site when I am obviously connected right now. Maybe I answered my own question.)
wooties at 11:06 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

There is an app called wifirouter that does this very well, only until recently it was free. But it's a cheap app. Totally worth it. Don't cave into this lame corporate ploy to eat more of your monies.

(sorry, can't find linkage) xda-developers.com has info.
TJ at 11:15 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@Synthaxx: You didn't hear? It's Cough Like a Pirate Day!!
Out2gtcha at 11:18 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@Monty:

#2 I totally agree with. I deal with the internet, phones, E-mail, a slew of IT issues, and connectivity ALL DAY LONG. I really have no desire to be "ultra connected" at all times of the day and night.
Admittedly, we all need connectivity to the net but if your in a place that would/could use this, then you're outside or some other place where maybe ...... just maybe couldn't you deal without the internet until you get home or back to the office and just enjoy you're phoneless/internetless/e-mail-less surroundings for a change???

And yes Internetless is a word. I just made it up.
scoobydoo at 11:18 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

Lemme join in with the coughing... WMWiFiRouter has been doing this for ages. I'm betting the commercial program here is partly based on the hard work of the people at XDA Developers.
tastybytes at 11:20 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

WMWFiRouter.. its jawesome.
mlvds at 11:23 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

I didn't see no free demo...did anyone?
cdawson2000 at 11:28 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

Mesh networks have been promised for years now. The concept is very exciting, but the implementation has proven just the opposite. Maybe by 2025.

Something neat.
kall at 11:34 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

For the Symbian Crowd: There is an app called JoikuSpot light (there is only a light version, don't ask me why).
It is in beta, but works great. No Restriction. No Fee to pay.
The only problem is that you can't secure your network yet, so you are forced to share your precious bandwith.
Weihovah at 11:34 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

i was recently on a long ass road trip and got so bored that i started streaming some movies w/ wmwifirouter to my laptop while going 80 on the i90. i had it on for over an hour and it worked flawlessly
archaeology_dude at 11:51 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

WMWiFiRouter is awesome. I use it on my HTC Mogul and it works just fine. Also check out xda-devs for ISControl. It does the same thing, but without going the ICS (which, unless registry entries are *cough* deleted *cough*), will let Sprint know you're tethering. ISControl just dials up like a regular data connection and bypasses a fair amount of authentication and .dll using. It's a little bit more complicated, but if you can use figure out how to use your phone as a WiFi Hotspot, then chances are you can do this.
archaeology_dude at 11:57 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@archaeology_dude: Sorry, it's ICSControl...
[forum.xda-developers.com]
bpatten at 12:08 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

iPhone can do this too, albeit on the much slower EDGE network

[cre.ations.net]
stingray at 12:14 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

Ya this is cool.

I dont leave the house without an IP. Eventually you will be born with an IP.

Being connected is great!!!
Worf at 12:30 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

It's sold to carriers who'll license it, so that you'll go crazy and pay a ton of money for your bandwidth.

Several 3G systems already differentiate between handset 3G traffic and tethered 3G traffic - the deal being, "unlimited data" only refers to handset traffic. Tethered traffic gets charged still (see all those cases where people buy super data plans and still get dinged $10,000+ because they used their laptop with it).

With this, the carriers can charge for tethered traffic, while users pay for the convenience...
PhilR8 at 12:36 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

I'll also chime in about the greatness that is WMWiFiRouter....

In January when I was volunteering for a political campaign, we had to speed across Iowa to meet up at the end of the campaign on election day. One of the guys I was with whipped out his laptop, I fired up my Mogul with WMWiFiRouter, and we were able to track precincts in real time and also watch streaming video coverage of the election. While driving from Cedar Rapids to Des Moines. At 80 mph.

Oh, and WMWiFiRouter supports multiple connections. While we were working out of a crappy YMCA camp in Iowa, I would set up my Mogul with WMWiFiRouter and let everyone share my connection. Like, ten laptops. Even though I was roaming on 1X, we could all do what we needed to do (or fuss around on facebook).

Bottom line: this program above has been done before and done better. I love competition, but this is clearly an inferior product to WMWiFiRouter.
SneakerFiend at 12:37 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@TJ: lmao! thx dude. Most helpful cough ever i understood everything without having to ask you to cough again LMFAO! =P
I tried the WMWiFiRouter before and i liked it but then deleted it because there is no point in sharing an EDGE data connection.
darthus at 01:37 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

One issue I've run into is that WMWifiRouter runs your phone as an Ad-hoc network. I want to run my PSP through it (since I can just use my phone as a bluetooth modem for my laptop). Is there a way to get WMWifiRouter to run it in infrastructure mode, or does ICSControl allow that to happen?
ChiefoftheChiss at 01:41 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

For the technically inclined - Just in case you were wondering I'm using 3g and have had a very good experiance with it so far. Here is a ping sample taken just now while using my tethered AT&T 8525.

Also I have had very pleasureable results using it for crossloop / VNC / RRDP connections.

Pinging google.com [72.14.207.99] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=206ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=282ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=220ms TTL=235
...
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=204ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=221ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=219ms TTL=235

Ping statistics for 72.14.207.99:
Packets: Sent = 15, Received = 15, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 204ms, Maximum = 290ms, Average = 226ms
ChiefoftheChiss at 01:47 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

Looks like my last post got eaten, oh well it was poorly worded anyway. Just for those technically inclined but without the cash to test it before you try it. I've had very good results on AT&T's 3g network here espeically for VNC / Crossloop / RDP sessions. (tethered via my 8525 - after a good month of Outlook (HTTP to exchange) and many remote sessions I only used 200mb of data (YMMV)

btw here is a ping long for latency
I'd say this is faily typical although I will see it down @ 150ms alot but with enough spikes to say that sometimes I average 400 ms
Pinging google.com [72.14.207.99] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=206ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=282ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=220ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=217ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=216ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=229ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=213ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=290ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=207ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=204ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=221ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=219ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=237ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=224ms TTL=235
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=212ms TTL=235

Ping statistics for 72.14.207.99:
Packets: Sent = 15, Received = 15, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 204ms, Maximum = 290ms, Average = 226ms
hammertime1994 at 05:06 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

This might not be very practical until the supposed threshold for 3G is reached (like, 14Mbps I think).
stingray at 05:39 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@Worf:

Curious as how tethered data from a laptop connected to a phone is discernable from the data coming directly on the phone.

How does the carrier tell the difference. Does the mobile device "rat" you out? based on the source and destination of the data packets.
archaeology_dude at 07:21 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@stingray: I believe it has to do with the .dll that are used to dial the data line. Sprint has a ipnat.dll and another .dll that runs ICS. ICS dials and registers as tethered, unless registry entries are changed...
archaeology_dude at 07:22 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@darthus: No, even ICSControl uses AdHoc. Does the PSP support USB? ICSControl can do USB and Bluetooth as well...
bungee at 05:19 AM on 03/27/08
Reply by Email
*

WMWifirouter was released to trial users today. I purchased it (Euro 9.99 after discounts) without hesitation. The ability to use my HTC Tilt as an ad-hoc Wifi Router to share out my 3G connection is immensely useful. I have Gizmodo to thank for this great find [feeds.gawker.com]
Just a caveat that not all wireless devices will work with an ad-hoc Wifi connection. Try before you buy.
DJTripleRRR at 09:15 AM on 03/27/08
Reply by Email
*

Nice but stupid that they're wanting to make money out of it lol.
dmahoney at 09:39 AM on 03/27/08
Reply by Email
*

Does anybody know if this is possible on a blackberry?