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No Wi-Fi on Your Phone? New MicroSD Card Changes That in a Flash

by Kaiser Hwang on July 26, 2009 at 02:30 PM

Believe it or not, there are a number of data-equipped cell phones that lack integrated Wi-Fi (like the new BlackBerry Tour). If you own one of these phones and it has a microSD slot, you may now be able to retroactively add Wi-Fi to it, thanks to a new card developed by KDDI Corp. Similar to wireless network-accessing camera memory cards, these cards can instantly (and hopefully cheaply) add network access to phones and other devices.

Unveiled at the Wireless Japan 2009 expo, the tiny 11 x 16 x 0.7mm card is equipped with an 802.11 b/g antenna. The card was demonstrated at the show with a laptop, (which makes it one of the smallest Wi-Fi dongles out there), but you can bet that smartphones are the desired target here. There's no word yet on pricing, or what phones will be compatible with the card, but it could make Web browsing on your old school flip phone a tolerable experience. [From: TechOn via CNET]

Tags: cellphone, microsd, top, wifi

Comments

Marshall WilliamsJul 26th 2009 4:42PM

Neutral

But what about software here. Surely you can not just put this into any phone and it just work. Phones without wi-fi in mind are programmed without wi-fi selection menus and software to manage these things. And even if you distribute software with it, what platform will the software be made for? And will the OS of that phone allow it to do this?

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dhaasgobJul 26th 2009 7:49PM

Neutral

It probably won't work on a non-smartphone, since the device will need drivers installed (and already had SDIO compatibility) before the card's used for the first time. There's still a number of smartphone that don't have SDIO, so I doubt any 'dumbphone' will have SDIO capabilities. However, I wouldn't be surprised if most smartphone OS+Drivers can solve the "manage wifi selection" potential issue post-install.

Expansys has a MicroSDIO Wifi card that works on WM already (Spectec makes it and provides drivers for it). Maybe these new ones will have drivers for Blackberry and Symbian OS too.

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anonymousJul 26th 2009 7:27PM

Neutral

Most likely the software platform will be J2ME java for moblie phones. Most cell phones these days can run java programs (specifically the Iphone clones). I think this technology if placed in a proper price bracket will bring the Iphone clone sales through the roof! I myself am looking forward to purchasing one.

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sockatumeJul 27th 2009 7:01AM

Neutral

This cannot add wi-fi connectivity to a mobile phone. That functionality is part of the SD-IO standard which is supported by almost no modern device, mainly because almost nobody makes SD-IO devices any more.

If it's like the wi-fi enabled camera cards, it will automatically upload the contents of specific folders to the web by wi-fi, but that's it.

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millerkc93Feb 27th 2010 6:08PM

Neutral

how can i get it

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