Internet Sharing - the most underutilised/unknown feature of Windows Mobile
I've been over in Dublin today at a customer event on Exchange and Unified Communications. (straight back again this afternoon so not a chance to sample the wonderful Guinness).
Sat in the Costa Coffee in Heathrow at silly o'clock this morning I looked around watching people with their laptops scrambling to find their credit cards to login to the WiFi network.
I too used to be of that order however since Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU 3 and Windows Mobile 6 I've been using the Windows Mobile feature Internet Sharing.
So what is Internet Sharing....?
Well it allows you to utilise your Windows Mobile device as a data modem. Hardly revolutionary ... but what is cool is that if you have Activesync 4.2 or greater or Windows Vista you don't need to install any drivers or do any PC configuration to get it to work.
You simply plug the device in and it will automatically connect yto our default APN and use the device as your laptop modem. It replaces the old modem link application.
It will work over both USB and Bluetooth.
Requirements
To use this you need two things:
1) A PC using Vista or Windows XP with Activesync 4.2 or greater (preferably with XP SP2)
2) A Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU 3.0 (or greater) or a Windows Mobile 6 device.
USB Setup
If you want to use this via USB (which also has the added benefit of charging your device at the same time) you simply have to do the following:
1. Find the Internet Sharing application and run it.
2. In the PC Connection list, select USB.
3. In the Network Connection list, select the name of connection that your device uses to connect to the Internet.
4. Press Connect
5. Plug in the USB cable between your device and the computer.
You will then see the device stating 'Connected' and in a few seconds your PC will be connected to the Internet.
Bluetooth Setup
You can also use Internet Sharing over Bluetooth.
1. FIrst pair your device with your laptop and create a partnership.
2. Then run the Internet Sharing program on your device.
3. Select Bluetooth PAN as the PC Connection.
4. From the Network Connection list, select the name of the connection that your device uses to connect to the Internet.
5. Press Connect.
6. On your computer, set up a Bluetooth Personal Area Network (PAN) with your device.
a. Click Start > Control Panel > Network Connections.
b. Under Personal Area Network, click the Bluetooth Network Connection icon.
c. Under Network Tasks, click View Bluetooth network devices.
d. In the Bluetooth Personal Area Network Devices dialog box, select your device, then click Connect.
This is such an easy way of getting Internet access from your laptop and removes the need to carry a data card or have another SIM in your laptop for data access.
Setting it up the old fashioned way meant creating dialup connections and connection strings like *99# for the default APN which most non-techies couldn't ever manage....
Comments
Anonymous
March 30, 2007
The comment has been removedAnonymous
March 30, 2007
Now if only Cingular would release an upgrade from AKU 2.2 on my 3125 phone.Anonymous
March 30, 2007
Jasper - yep you are correct... I was tempted not to add the Bluetooth setup but assumed if I didn't people would ask :)Anonymous
March 30, 2007
Is this considered the same thing as tethering? I know VZW charged $15 extra to allow tethering of a laptop to a device. I also have been unable to get the Vista bluetooth PAN with DUN option to work. i always get access denied when attempting to check the DUN option.. JasonwAnonymous
March 30, 2007
It's a great feature, but it isn't totally intuitive to setup without instructions. It is really useful when traveling and there is no wifi. Relevant to also mention that with most smartphones and us carriers this gives you http & https only. This is fairly useful but typically doesn't provide corporate VPN access. For higher end windows mobile devices, then carriers (cingular at least) sells different data plans which specifically allow tethering and I believe support a wider range of ports.Anonymous
March 30, 2007
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March 30, 2007
I just got a T-Mobile Dash and I am going to try this. One question, does it also charge the phone while using the data connected to USB? I also wonder if it is using WAP or data tethering, I think I have both on my plan so I am not to worried.Anonymous
March 30, 2007
Folks - obviously you need to make sure your data plan supports this but I am aware that some operators (particularly US) will block this :(Anonymous
April 01, 2007
Jason, is there any way to do this with the device using WiFi for internet access? i.e. I have a laptop without WiFi and a PDA with WiFi so I connect the two over USB to give internet access to the laptop but without using the mobile operator's service.Anonymous
April 02, 2007
There isn't Mark I'm afraid....Anonymous
April 03, 2007
is there a aku 3.0 upgrade available for the Treo 700wx?Anonymous
April 03, 2007
Zach - best to check with your operator...Anonymous
April 03, 2007
how can i route certain packets through the wireless connection? For example, if I have an existing internet/network connection that I dont want to disable. I would want to leave that alone but route im traffic out through the wireless. Is that possible?Anonymous
April 04, 2007
adam - it isn't I'm afraid - it's all or nothing...Anonymous
April 04, 2007
what about running a proxy server? I noticed that I can ping the device like its a pc on the network.Anonymous
April 05, 2007
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April 05, 2007
Found the program eventually, and doing this comment via it now! On the Orange M700 the program was hidden in the Accessories folderAnonymous
April 07, 2007
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April 09, 2007
Eric L. - To copy the link do the following
- Connect Via ActiveSync
- Browse to the file WindowsInternet Sharing
- Copy it to your desktop
- Browse to WindowsStart Menu
- Copy the Internet Sharing File to that directory That particular link file is locked, so you can just go in and browse to the files on the device and copy/paste while using the Windows Mobile Device's browser. Joel32137 - Many OEM's have provided the ability of the device to act as a modem, I cannot vouch for HTC, however on a Samsung i607 you can go to: Start - Settings - Connections - USB Then you have the option to have the device act as a Mass Storage controller, connect via ActiveSync, or act as a modem. When Modem is selected you should get a modem driver installed in Device Manager (again this is the Samsung i607) could work on yours. -JasperM
Anonymous
April 09, 2007
Hi JasperM Thanks for the advice.... I'm not having any problems using my phone as a modem :) My only issue is that when I do use my phone as a modem, my cellular's proxy server information doesn't get passed to my laptop. And so, I have to set my web browser's laptop to use my cellular's proxy server. Thanks again for the advice :)Anonymous
April 19, 2007
Hi.. if my laptop using LAN/ADSL, can i share the connection between my PPC so I can also surf internet from my device but the connection come from the laptop? Please advise Thanks in advanceAnonymous
April 30, 2007
Orange have just released the AKU3 download for Windows Mobile 5.0 for their popular Orange M3100 device.Anonymous
July 01, 2007
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December 31, 2007
Hopefully (if you read my blog) you know how cool the Internet Sharing feature is on Windows Mobile.Anonymous
April 25, 2008
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