Friday, August 8,2008 @ 5:00pm
FONSpot software turns cell phones into hotspots
A collaboration between software developer Joikusoft and FON was announced by the two companies on Friday that will involve using 3G-enabled phones to act as Wi-Fi hotspots. The two will release a version of JoikuSpot -- called FonSpot -- that will allow 3G data network-enabled cellular phones to connect with multiple laptops, Internet tablets and other Wi-Fi capable devices and provide them with Internet access.
FonSpot will use a Symbian OS platform to give FON members, known as Foneros, full control over who can connect to their FonSpot and how much bandwidth they are entitled to. Up to five friends will be able to share the connection.
FON's members from across the world can access the network of 250,000 wireless hotspots securely shared by other Foneros via wireless routers. Finland-based Joikusoft introduced software this February that turned Nokia's S60 smartphones into Wi-Fi hotspots.
The software will become available in the third quarter of 2008, with no pricing information yet announced, nor which phones will support the new sofware.