Phone as Internet Access Point, Freeware, Trends

This week I want to highlight Internet Access Sharing, which lets you connect your laptop to the Internet via your phone's data connection. Also, we'll look at some free
Web services and freeware, as well as note some interesting trends.

Go Online with Your Laptop Via Your Phone

In the past I noted some ways for using your phone's Internet connection as a Wi-Fi access point. This means, of course, that you need a device that has a data connection to the Internet and built-in Wi-Fi. It's a cool idea, and eminently practical to be able to go online with a laptop wherever you have a phone connection.

In particular, I noted Werner's tutorial [1] on this. And I noted some freeware [2], which promptly became the commercial application WMWiFiRouter [3].

In addition, Yahoo [4] has recently reported that another company will be offering software to the carriers that will let you use your
smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot with the capability of connecting multiple devices. Apparently, a demo version will be available from the TapRoot Systems [5]
Web site.

But the best solution of all seems to be that noted by Ed Hansberry on Pocket PC Thoughts [6]. He describes how to use Internet Access Sharing on later devices to go online with your laptop. In this case, it entails using a Bluetooth wireless connection between your device and your laptop.

Intro to "Connected Applications"

The Microsoft
Web site [7] has recently published a useful article by veteran Windows Mobile expert Todd Ogasawara on a number of free and commercial software programs and free
Web-based applications.

Todd tells you how you can send text messages to the Microsoft Encarta encyclopedia and receive answers to your questions. He also covers Live Search for Windows Mobile and Yahoo Go 2.0, both of which we've covered in the past. The
Web services he covers include mobile Web sites that let you manage lists and create a simple blog.

Seven Great Freeware Applications

The CIO Web site [8] has published an article titled
"Seven Fantastic Free Windows Mobile Apps." These include freeware that we've covered in the past, such as Skype for making free computer-to-computer calls, PIM Backup, WorldMate for travel-related information and utilities, and the Java-based Opera Mini
Web browser.

Other freeware covered includes mDigger, which is an RSS, podcast, and vidcast aggregator; MSN Direct, which gives you updated information on your
Home screen (only available for WM Smartphone Standard, not WM Professional); and Pocket Digital Clock, an easy-to-read clock.

Interesting Trends

A recent survey [9]
found that the one gadget people feel they can’t live without is their cell
phone — putting it ahead of their Internet access, TV, and landline (in that order). This is a striking contrast to six years ago, when the survey showed the order of preference was landline, TV, Internet access, and cell phone (with the last two being tied for third).

The survey also found that 41% of Americans have used their phone to access the Internet. And Google [10] has announced a surge in Internet use via mobile phone.

In Our Blogs

Tim writes about the latest Ultramobile PC [11] (UMPC), and Dan writes about the USB Powerstick [12], a USB device you can use to charge your phone.

If you know of other great online resources, I invite you to post in our "What's
Happening on the Web [13]" forum or to contact me at
Jim_Karpen@SmartphoneMag.com [14].