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Technical News & Discussion => Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion => Topic started by: Noreen on Dec 01, 2009, 10:56:18

Title: Cellphones team up to make Wi-Fi where you want it
Post by: Noreen on Dec 01, 2009, 10:56:18
QuoteMicrosoft has built a system that knits together the internet connections of a collection of smartphones to create a high-speed wireless hotspot that computers can use when other connections aren't available.

The computers connect to the phones using short-range Wi-Fi, requesting web pages as if they were using a wireless router with a wired connection to the internet, and the cellphones use their long-range cellular connection to get the files requested from the net......................

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18214-cellphones-team-up-to-make-wifi-where-you-want-it.html
Title: Re: Cellphones team up to make Wi-Fi where you want it
Post by: Rik on Dec 01, 2009, 11:00:11
Sounds interesting in theory, I just wonder if it will happen in practice?
Title: Re: Cellphones team up to make Wi-Fi where you want it
Post by: Glenn on Dec 01, 2009, 11:01:19
It has potential.
Title: Re: Cellphones team up to make Wi-Fi where you want it
Post by: Rik on Dec 01, 2009, 11:02:28
So does a battery. ;D
Title: Re: Cellphones team up to make Wi-Fi where you want it
Post by: Glenn on Dec 01, 2009, 11:07:38
So it could be a drain on resources, is that what you are saying?  ;D
Title: Re: Cellphones team up to make Wi-Fi where you want it
Post by: Lance on Dec 01, 2009, 11:54:05
It makes sense, but surely it will never take off as data charges through the mobiles would be too expensive? At least for several years anyway.
Title: Re: Cellphones team up to make Wi-Fi where you want it
Post by: Rik on Dec 01, 2009, 12:05:04
Quote from: Glenn on Dec 01, 2009, 11:07:38
So it could be a drain on resources, is that what you are saying?  ;D

As Lance says, given current data charges and capacity, I just don't see it happening here. :)
Title: Re: Cellphones team up to make Wi-Fi where you want it
Post by: Technical Ben on Dec 02, 2009, 18:07:43
Sounds like too much of an excuse to patch together a poor quality service. If you think about the actual range and the movements of people and buildings blocking signals.