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Filed under: VoIP, Mobile Minute

Truphone adds global WiFi access

Truphone
Truphone, the UK-outfit that puts bread on the table by allowing cell-phones to make VoIP calls while saving cell service subscribers access charges, has just announced a partnership with WiFi network provider Quiconnect. This means that Truphone users will be able to hop onto WiFi hotspots all around the world, as long as those hotspots participate in Quiconnect's network.

While there still aren't enough hotspots to replace your cell provider (WiMax, anybody?), this is a step in the right direction, especially for those of us who do a lot of international roaming. The old "call me when your plane lands" reminder has been the trigger of millions of one-minute-long, six-dollar phone calls over the years, so we're glad Truphone is helping us save our money. This announcement also represents the first significant push into commercial WiFi access for iPhone users by a service provider, as TruPhone, just a few weeks ago, became the first to offer VoIP calling on the iPhone.

Filed under: Internet, Utilities

Equipping the WiFi tool belt

JiWire widget for the MacA recent trip to a coffee house had us thinking--why isn't WiFi everywhere yet? Well, at loss for the answer to that one (though opinions explaining WiFi's utter lack of ubiquity differ widely), we decided to ask another one--how can the wireless road warrior equip himself for navigating the mostly-uncharted seas of WiFi?

The first tool for your wireless toolbelt is NetStumbler, a Windows app for discovering and probing WiFi access points. There's also a Windows CE/Mobile version of NetStumbler that you can fire up on your Windows Mobile cell phone, if you're really packing light. Mac users will want to try out JiWire, available in compact widget version for OS X, shown here. If none of those options do you any good, visit WiFinder, a site that's sort of a MapQuest for WiFi hotspots. Though our initial test didn't reveal a number of local spots we're sure are actually there, we did uncover a few we never noticed before. WiFinder even knows where a few spots are in the Vatican.

Now if it's hardware that really turns you on, take a look inside your cell phone. Dual-mode cell phones like our Nokia N95 can detect and browse WiFi hotspots, too.

Of course, if the hotspots you detect are WEP-encrypted to prevent unauthorized access, you'll have a hard time getting to the Net. Not much you can do about that without getting yourself in trouble. But if you like living on the edge, have a peek at AirCrack NG. Just don't do anything illegal--you don't want to end up like this poor dude from Michigan who was arrested for stealing WiFi (from an open access point).

Filed under: Business, Internet, Utilities, News, Windows, Blogging, Productivity, Freeware

Why you need the T-Mobile Connection Manager

T-Mobile
For anyone who uses the T-Mobile wi-fi HotSpot service inside Starbucks, Kinkos, airports, and other places, this little free download comes in handy. I use the HotSpot service quite a bit, and generally it is pretty reliable, at least the Starbucks I frequent have it working well. For the first time the service continued to kick me off every few minutes for some reason. I use the Windows Zero Configuration wireless networking service, since it is often easier to use and requires no intervention on my part.

Not very happy with the quality of service at the moment, I downloaded the lightweight T-Mobile Connection Manager client. These proprietary clients are a dime a dozen, heck every wi-fi card maker has their own. This one isn't anything special except it did actually make my connection stay on and not drop me after I installed it. The client also manages any access point you might have nearby, including EDGE/GPRS and VPN networks. Why it works better, I don't know exactly, but it does. If you use the T-Mobile service in Starbucks or elsewhere, I recommend it. Less frustration equals happy bloggers. We don't want no mad and road-raging bloggers. That would be messy.

Free T-Mobile HotSpot for Vista users

T-Mobile free hotspotStep right up and claim your latte, oh and some free wi-fi. If you use Windows Vista that is. As a promotion, the 90 days of free HotSpot access will begin tomorrow (January 26th, 2007). Usually T-Mobile charges $30/month for unlimited HotSpot access including just about every Starbucks, Kinkos, some hotels and airport clubs, and the price is $20/month for T-mobile wireless subscribers. The only requirement for the 90 days free wireless is that you have Vista installed. Go enjoy some free wi-fi on T-Mobile, the service is generally very good, and by good I mean reliable, good connection, decent speed, and so on and so forth. I use it to write many of my posts you see here on Download Squad from an undisclosed Starbucks.

Filed under: Internet, Utilities, Web services, Social Software

WiFi Google Map mash-ups

WifiNeed a WiFi hot-spot near you? Who doesn't, but some are easier to find than others. That's why a social WiFi hot-spot finder, where you can add hot-spots in your own city is useful like the one setup at earthcode. This particular one is nice because it mashes-up with Google maps. Many cities are represented, and many hot-spots have already been added, but you can quickly add your own hot-spots for everyone else to find. I plan to use this tool for all the hot-spots where I live, there are a lot of them to catalog, at least in my neighborhood. Run over to earthcode and add some cafes if you have a few minutes and nothing better to do.

Filed under: Internet, Utilities, Windows Mobile, Freeware

Hitchhiker Wifi Connection Utility - Today's Free PocketPC File

Hitchhiker is a utility that will check all public Wifi access points near you, and automatically configure your Pocket PC to allow you to connect quickly. Perfect for when you're out and about and discover that you need some vital online information. Hitchhiker takes away the pain of manually searching for open access points then configuring your PocketPC to connect to them. Note that Hitchhiker requires the .Net 2.0 Compact Framework to be installed, but the Hitchhiker installer can automatically download and install it if needed.

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The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

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