Archive notice: This article was originally published on March 26, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
TapRoot Systems, a software developer for the smartphone market, today introduced WalkingHotSpot(TM), a solution for mobile network operators.
TapRoot’s patent-pending software turns a Wi-Fi-enabled smartphone into a hotspot, providing access to the 3G data network. This solution is the first in a product range that enables mobile subscribers to extend their smartphones’ Internet connectivity.
The WalkingHotSpot solution offers mobile subscribers a platform for new Wi-Fi solutions. The scalable solution allows users to securely check email and browse the Internet with their Wi-Fi device without additional software or configuration.
“We are very pleased to launch the WalkingHotSpot service. It provides mobile network operators with a solution to their Wi-Fi needs. The demand for universal connectivity, anywhere, at any time and with any device, has been at the forefront of convergence initiatives and discussions in the industry for years. This solution uses the operator’s existing 3G infrastructure and smartphones already on the market, opening up an entirely new business model for the operator’s subscribers,” said Bob Bicksler, CEO of TapRoot.
With the market launch of WalkingHotSpot, mobile subscribers can consolidate all their data connectivity into a single source. “We see this as a truly groundbreaking technology that offers operators who adopt it quickly a significant advantage in differentiation, subscriber acquisition, higher average revenue per subscriber and reduced churn,” Bicksler added.
In addition to the WalkingHotSpot mobile device client, TapRoot is launching the WHS Server, which enables operators to manage and control their subscribers’ accounts, authenticate WalkingHotSpot devices and clients, and collect subscriber usage information.
WalkingHotSpot supports multiple devices simultaneously over secure connections. The application was specifically developed to be power-efficient, robust and user-friendly. From today, the solution can be downloaded to Wi-Fi-enabled smartphones running Symbian(R) S60 or Windows Mobile(R). Support for other operating systems is in development.
The WHS Server and the WalkingHotSpot device client are commercially available for immediate deployment in the operator’s network.
