Apr

21

2008

(1) Comments

Walking Hot Spot: Be Your Own Roaming Access Point!

02:56PM by Wayne Lam

Mobility software solutions provider Taproot has just rolled out a trial software based Wi-Fi access point solution for smartphones.  The software made available on WalkingHotSpot.com is designed only for a select few Symbian and Windows Mobile powered devices.  It essentially performs a data-stream patching between the cellular network to the on board Wi-Fi radio; allowing 3G data subscribers to pipe out and share data over the on-board Wi-Fi.  On the downside, there’s a 5-device sharing limit and a significant power drag on the host smartphone battery.  However, for those of us with unlimited data plans, WalkingHotSpot should provide a very cost effective data sharing solution.  Of course, the network carriers has yet to weigh in on this data plan work-around.  In all likelihood, they’ll be in staunch opposition to it. 

Apr

15

2008

(0) Comments

iPhone App Watch: Do you Fring?

03:53PM by Wayne Lam

As a part of the continuing coverage of 3rd party iPhone application launches, I would like to feature a new VOIP and IM app called Fring.  I’ve been using Fring for the past year now on the Symbian S60 platform and I found it to be the most comprehensive IM, Skype, SIP service aggregator out there.  The application connects to VOIP services such as Skype and SIP over Wi-Fi or 3G.  In the case of the new iPhone app, the network bearer will remain only on the Wi-Fi access.  The above YouTube video gives readers a quick tour of what the application can do. Fring also supports Windows Mobile platform.

Apr

9

2008

(0) Comments

Simplify Media App to Extend iPhone’s 8GB Limit

05:13PM by Wayne Lam

As anticipated, we are starting to see some of the latest and coolest new iPhone applications surfacing from independent developers after Apple’s announcement of the iPhone SDK.  Simplify Media has developed a beta version of their media place-shifting software for the iPhone that promises to stream your entire music library where ever you have a WiFi signal.  Hopefully the streaming functionality should extend to use over the cellular data network with the upcoming 3G iPhone model and cut the final tether for true mobile music.

Apr

4

2008

(2) Comments

US to Finally Achieve 3G Network Speed Parity [with Rest of Civilized World!]

02:22AM by Wayne Lam

It wasn’t long ago that the US wireless networks lagged the rest of the world in sophistication, reliability and speed.  That may soon change later this year as AT&T finalizes its 3G HSPA footprint across the country pushing wireless data speed to near 7.2Mbps limit. The conventional thinking throughout the last decade was that Japan was at the bleeding edge in terms of wireless data speeds with Europe and rest of Asia not far behind.  The Americas were in an unfamiliar position of a technology laggard in wireless telecommunications for much of the 2G wireless era. So why the big turn around? Simply put, the US wireless market matured and the industry evolved from small regional wireless players into a handful of powerful national carriers.  Also, the botched auctions of 3G spectrum in Europe and the slower-than-anticipated adoption of 3G service in Japan created the perfect opportunity for the US to catch up.