Cellphones team up to make Wi-Fi where you want it

[Noreen]

Microsoft has built a system that knits together the internet connections of a collection of smartphones to create a high-speed wireless hotspot that computers can use when other connections aren't available.

The computers connect to the phones using short-range Wi-Fi, requesting web pages as if they were using a wireless router with a wired connection to the internet, and the cellphones use their long-range cellular connection to get the files requested from the net......................

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18214-cellphones-team-up-to-make-wifi-where-you-want-it.html

[Rik]

Sounds interesting in theory, I just wonder if it will happen in practice?

[Glenn]

It has potential.

[Rik]

So does a battery.

[Glenn]

So it could be a drain on resources, is that what you are saying? 

[Lance]

It makes sense, but surely it will never take off as data charges through the mobiles would be too expensive? At least for several years anyway.

[Rik]

So it could be a drain on resources, is that what you are saying? 

As Lance says, given current data charges and capacity, I just don't see it happening here.

[Technical Ben]

Sounds like too much of an excuse to patch together a poor quality service. If you think about the actual range and the movements of people and buildings blocking signals.