Laptops at the hub of personal Wi-Fi networks

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Business professionals who travel frequently could save a bundle on fee-based internet access by turning their laptops into mobile Wi-Fi routers.

Thanks to a new feature in Windows 7 called Virtual Wi-Fi, users can avoid the need to purchase internet time for multiple mobile devices, as is currently the case. Instead, savvy laptop users can make their computers simulate the presence of virtual internet adapters, and allow mobile devices like smartphones and PDAs to access the internet without paying any additional sign-on fees.

Virtual Wi-Fi, however, is not a completed feature. It requires a third-party program known as Connectify to supply it with the necessary device drivers and functionality. Connectify is currently in beta and free to download and use, though PC Pro says that it may become for-pay once it is in full release. Additionally, some experts speculate that Microsoft may someday finalize the Virtual Wi-Fi technology.

Ed Hansberry, writing for Information Week, notes that this functionality is different than internet connection sharing, and allows computers to be viewed as standard wireless internet connection points.