An 802.11 Router For 3G Internet Service

An anonymous reader writes "Possio AB has launched a Linux-based wireless access point that allows users to connect to the Internet through 3G (third-generation) mobile telephone networks, which carry Internet data at broadband speeds. According to the Swedish company, which has filed for a patent on local-to-cellular routers, the PX30 can bring broadband wireless Internet service to small sites such as cafes, temporary hotspots such as building and event sites, mobile hot-spots such as buses and limos, and hot-spots in locations without a wired backhaul alternative. It can also be used, Possio says, by mobile-only carriers wishing to offer broadband Internet service, and in data acquisition and remote management applications such as M2M (machine-to-machine) applications."

Comments

How is Routing Between Two Networks Non-Obvious

[HeelToe]

I don't get this - how can you file for a patent on routing between two networks? There's no way this is non-obvious to an engineer in the trade.

Jeez, I've done this with nat under linux to my Verizon Wireless 1x phone.

Patents are out of control.

Re:How is Routing Between Two Networks Non-Obvious

[Bongo the Monkiii]

They're trying to reel in this specific type of routing. I don't know that it will fly, but clueless judges on the bench have been known to rule on, oh, say, taking non-portable address spaces with you like a telephone number, so who knows.

Re:How is Routing Between Two Networks Non-Obvious

[Mr Rohan]

I don't get this - how can you file for a patent on routing between two networks? There's no way this is non-obvious to an engineer in the trade.

Without seeing their actual claims it's hard to know whether it should be obvious or not. Perhaps they are patenting the combination of hardware being used, rather than the idea. There are lots of legitimate existing patents that are "the application of this notion thats obvious in another field to a new domain".

The test of obviousness is an interesting one. Lots of things are obvious after the fact, the question for the patent lawyers is does that make them obvious before the fact or not.

I Dunno

[Bongo the Monkiii]

Seriously, who needs broadband on the cell, and who's going to lug around a laptop for high speed access? What are you going to do, jerk to high quality pr0n on your local park bench?

Seriously though. High speed access may be neat for transferring large, high quality sound files, images, and even streaming video (boy, all those places that banned camera-enabled cells will love that), but I think the data / voice streams shouldn't intermingle. That way, if one gets hogged up by a lot of activity in a concentrated area, the other isn't adversly affected.

Re:I Dunno

[manabadman]

Read the article (or even the blurb). They aren't talking about a cell phone. Its more like a broadband router with 3G network support.

There are many instances where this would be helpful. For example mobile applications would be made possible by such a device. Think WiFi hotspots on trains, buses, and cars.

It would also be an alternative for persons that have no other broadband internet access available to them. Cell networks are easier and cheaper to roll out than physically wired networks, so it might give someone access to the internet that might otherwise be impossible.

Also think about all the possibilities for actual cellphones. Mix VOIP with broadband over cellphone, the right software, and voila, long distance, overseas calls for next to nothing. Maybe we could get video in addition to voice (after we figure out why we would want that)

The future of cellphone and WAN technology is bright. Try ot to be such a wet blanket.

Would be nice if these were useful around Japan

[timecop]

But it isn't gonna happen.
Since every existing 3G network (kddi, docomo's foma) are billed per packet/per second for each connection.

While Verizon is charging something like $90 a month for unlimited 1xEVDO in south california.

How's the situation with 3G data in Europe?
Is it all flat-rate as well?

Re:Would be nice if these were useful around Japan

[Anonymous Coward]

Verizon is $80 for unlimited, and it has been NATIONWIDE for over 18 months.

I have spent the past 3 years traveling the United States in a RV with my wife. We are on Verizon 24 horus a day at least 20 days a month... the other 10 das a month we use WiFi.

Sprint has similar pricing ($80/month), but they require a PCMCIA card and their network is not as reliable.

Verizon is more flexible, they allow you to use a phone or PCMCIA card (Kyocera 2235 telephone car kit has a rs232 port capable of 230Kbps, works with OpenBSD/Linux/MacOSX/Win/etc.).

Sprint's 3G network not fully functional yet

[dethl]

Kinda hard to surf the net at the speeds mentioned in the article when carriers like Sprint haven't made 3G fully functional. I am still only able browse the web at a mere 5k or so, 10k bursts if I'm lucky.

Some Slashdotters probably have prior art.

[Jonathan Quince]

I have had this idea, and I am surely far from alone. There are probably people here who are handy with embedded Linux (or Windows CE, a la Microsoft's own home broadband routers) who have hacked together a similar device. With consumer-market PCMCIA cards that can handle the cellular end and mini-PCI 802.11 cards you can extract from most any home cable/dsl router, this is more of a hardware geek's weekend pleasure hack than a non-obvious, patentable invention.

Build one of these and mount it in your car, and you have Internet access for your laptop, PDA, and other gadgets when you hit the road. Run it on batteries and make a picnic basket or backpack that carries a wireless LAN wherever you go (power requirements shouldn't be huge, especially when the device is configured for use outdoors at very short ranges). The possibilities are endless. (Alas, I don't have the technical knowledge to build one myself.)

Seattle company has similar product

[eggboard]

Possio was certainly first, but a company formed by ex-Monet Mobile (Burst) folks, including its founder, has a similar item in the U.S. called the Junxion Box. I wrote the first feature about it for The Seattle Times a few weeks ago. The Junxion Box can use 2G, 2.5G, and 3G cellular data networks. Junxion's technology allows interchangeable cell data PC cards from normal subscriptions -- its sort of generic hardware with simple drivers.

Speed Vs Coverage

[fembots]

Is broadband speed a pre-requisite for wireless services nowadays?

Personally I would rather be able to use the Internet from as many locations as possible, than having a broadband conenction via 3G only in the city central.

Is 1G or 0.2G (or whatever older technology) too expensive to implement mobile Internet?

Verizon Wireless 3G data stupidity

[Anonymous Coward]

Verizon Wireless actually has a pretty good countrywide data setup (upto 150kbps), and will be deployin EVDO later this year (max 3mbps, typical 500kbps). The really funny thing is that their terms of service don't actually allow you to use it!

Unlimited NationalAccess/BroadbandAccess: NationalAccess and BroadbandAccess data sessions may be used with wireless devices for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) e-mail; and (iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, e-mail and individual productivity applications such as customer relationship management, sales force and field service automation). Unlimited NationalAccess/BroadbandAccess is for individual use only and not for resale. Unlimited NationalAccess/BroadbandAccess cannot be used (1) for uploading, downloading or streaming of movies, music or games, (2) with server devices or with host computer applications, including, without limitation, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, telemetry applications, automated functions or any other machine-to-machine applications, (3) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. NationalAccess and BroadbandAccess data sessions automatically terminate after two hours of inactivity unless used with a Mobile IP-capable device. We reserve the right to deny or terminate service, without notice, to anyone who uses NationalAccess or BroadbandAccess in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts our network or service levels. We also reserve the right to terminate service upon expiration of Customer Agreement term. BroadbandAccess kilobyte usage may not appear on your bill.

So don't use Windows update or virus definition updates (that would be an automated function). You can't use chat or newsgroups (not listed in i, ii or iii). Actually you can't use it all since "machine to machine applications" are prohibited which is pretty much what TCP/IP does. And you have to have a seperate working Internet connection anyway since you can't use this as a substitute (or a backup).