WMWifiRouter from Chainfire is a free (they are taking donations) application that promises to turn your Windows Mobile smartphone into a Wi-Fi router, turning your smartphone into a conduit to the Internet for other devices.

The software works by tricking your Wi-Fi-enabled Windows Mobile into sharing its cellular-wireless (preferably 3G) data connection with other Wi-Fi-capable devices. These other devices, a laptop for example, link up to your smartphone to access your carrier’s cellular network, and therefore the Internet, over Wi-Fi.

The concept is similar to when carriers allow you (often for a fee) to use your smartphone as a modem to access the Internet for your laptop. Called dial up networking (DUN), this procedure is done nowadays mostly through Bluetooth wireless.

But whereas DUN is a one-to-one (smartphone to laptop) endeavor, Chainfire's Wi-Fi solution allows for multiple devices to use your smartphone as a modem for accessing the Web.


image from jkOnTheRun

Of course, sharing your data connection with many other devices isn't exactly going to make your wireless carrier happy.

And, if you’re going to try something like this, it is important that you've got an unlimited data plan. If not, you’re bound to see the kilobytes (and your cell phone bill) add up quickly with WMWifiRouter.

Also, keep in mind, as with any router or shared Internet connection, the more folks using it at once time, the slower access is going to be for all involved.

WMWifiRouter works on Windows Mobile 5 or 6 devices—the Smartphone and Pocket PC Phone editions for the former and Standard or Professional versions for the latter.

There's an ongoing thread at XDA Developers with the most up-to-data information about WMWifiRouter. It is there where you'll find detailed instructions on how to install and use the software. The WMWiFiRouter download is available on the developer's Web page, located here.