WalkingHotSpot- instant WiFi tethering for S60, Windows Mobile
You have a smartphone with WiFi and 3G connectivity so wouldn’t you like to turn that phone into a hotspot? Sure there are means to tether the phone to a laptop but it would be much easier and more efficient to create a hotspot out of that 3G data connection wouldn’t it? Those of you with S60 3rd Edition or Windows Mobile 6+ phones can leverage your data connection and WiFi capability with WalkingHotSpot. WalkingHotSpot is a new app/ service that turns the phone into a hotspot that you can connect any five devices to simultaneously. It transforms the phone into a router in other words. All you have to do is sign up for an account and install the appropriate app to your phone and then connect up. The account will cost you $6.99 for a month or $24.99 for a full year and there is a 7 day trial available. Note that the WalkingHotSpot account is tied to one phone so you can’t switch out if you change phones. It’s not clear if the carriers who offer their own tethering will handle WalkingHotSpot so it’s a good idea to go with the trial first. Note also that only Windows Mobile Professional is currently supported so those with Smartphones are out of luck. Hopefully they’ll add those in the future.
Those of you with Windows Mobile phones don’t forget the free WMWifiRouter we told you about. It is a one-time fee of 20GBP and does something similar. There is also Joikuspot for S60 phones.
Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
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I have been using walkinghotspot on my Nokia N95 for about a month and it works very well. I find it works better than Joikuspot. I use ATT and have not had any problems. The orginal trial only allowed you to use one computer with the phone, which was a pain for me since I wanted to see how it perfromed on multiple devices. Hopefully, the full version does not have this limitation.
I’m a user of Walkinghotspot and I love it. Very intuitive interface and easy to install and always works. I’m using a Tilt on ATT – Windows Mobile Smartphone — and YES it works great. I’m excited to download the multiple client devices version today. I asked the walkinghotspot team about subscription and it seems like you have wrong information listed in your comments above – subscription can be changed to a new phone if you change device.
Charlie, it sounds good and why we wrote about it. Note that their FAQ states that the subscription is tied to a single device so maybe they have it so you can change it on occasion.
James,
I think the confusion was on the old trial version you were limited to “one device”, however, see my comment above. By device they meant you could only have one computer hooked to the phone. I have mine hooked to an OQO. When I tried to use my p1610 it would not allow the use because it was tied to the OQO.
hi…if you have unlimited data plan on ATT but no tethering, can you still use walkinghotspot? or would att charge you extra if they find out about it?