Nokia Smartphone Hacks

Chapter 7. Enhance the PC Experience

Hacks 40–42: Introduction

It is easy to understand how a companion computer can add value to a mobile device. But how about the other way around? Your mobile phone can make your computer more useful by providing ubiquitous access to the Internet via your mobile data service. You also can use your phone as an alternative interface to remotely control the computer.

Connect Your Computer to the Mobile Network

Get almost-free Internet access to your laptop at any time, from anywhere, using your mobile phone as the data modem. No WiFi coverage is needed!

As a business traveler, I’ve always longed for Internet access on the road—not only for my mobile phone, but also for my laptop. After all, it’s much more convenient to compose email and browse the Web on a laptop than on a phone. A killer mobile phone application for me is to use the phone as a data modem to hook my laptop to the Internet anytime, anywhere. It complements public WiFi networks, and helps me to get around the limitations of WiFi hotspots!

While WiFi networks have made great progress in providing public wireless Internet access, the mobile phone data network still offers several notable advantages when it comes to business users. First, WiFi hotspot coverage is still limited. For instance, typically there is no WiFi coverage in parks, in many government facilities, or at highway rest areas. The mobile phone data network, on the other hand, is ubiquitous. It is available in most cities and ...