3 turns mobiles into hotspots with new Wi-Fi application

Peter Dinham
Tuesday, 31 March 2009 14:11

Business IT - Technology

3 Mobile has today launched a new WiFi application that turns its customers’ mobile phones into mobile wireless hotspots.

3 says its new 3Spot secure downloadable application, available from today, will turn compatible handsets into hotspots at the click of a button, making mobile broadband and email even more accessible, affordable and flexible.

Noel Hamill, 3’s director sales & marketing, says the 3Spot application is available from the 3 Apps Store on Planet 3, and installs quickly and easily onto any compatible Wi-Fi enabled handset.
 
“When activated it creates a secure mobile hotspot within a radius of 10 metres of the device, which allows customers to connect their Wi-Fi enabled devices such as laptops, PCs, smartphones and the iPod Touch to the Internet quickly and securely, without the need for cables or a clunky USB set-up procedure.”

Hamill said that in 2008, 3 reported growth in mobile broadband services of more than 169%, with the growth highlighting the appetite for data on demand and for more flexible and portable mobile broadband solutions.

“We see secure Wi-Fi access that is easy to activate and can be shared across multiple users as the next development in the mobile broadband cycle. For those customers keen to experience its benefits, the 3Spot application will meet their needs, on their existing handset with their existing X-Series package.”

3 says its customers can also share their 3Spot connection with other Wi-Fi enabled devices which can connect to the hotspot simultaneously. It says the application is made secure by using Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption, so its customers’ 3Spot connection is protected.

Hamill says the 3Spot application, powered by Joikusoft’s JoikuSpot technology, is available for a one-off charge of $10 and, in addition, customers will need to have access to data, with 3 recommending they choose from the X-Series Ultimate range starting from X-Series $20 for 1GB.

3’s full 3Spot handset compatibility list is available at www.three.com.au/3spot