Atheros and NEC stake claim to 'hot spot' smartphones

Atheros AP Mode will allow a handset to serve as a wireless internet access point

Telecoms hardware vendors NEC and Atheros are laying claim to a new system which they say will streamline the process of using a smartphone as a Wi-Fi access point for other systems.

The companies said that the new Atheros AP Mode system will allow for a handset to serve as a wireless internet access point using its 3G or 4G wireless broadband connection.

The technology will be built into NEC's N-06A handset, and will initially be offered by Japanese service provider NTT DoCoMo.

While the handsets will not be the first such devices to offer a portable 3G/Wi-Fi service, Atheros said that they will greatly ease the process by using a true "infrastructure mode" that does not require either the handset or connecting device to be manually configured.

"Atheros AP Mode will be a very compelling feature for the Socomo Prime series NEC N-06A customers, enabling them to create their own next-generation personal area networks," said Yoshiharu Tamura, personal solutions business unit vice president at NEC.

"The N-06A allows users to connect to a wireless local area network client device, providing a new class of flexibility and convenience for accessing the internet on the go."

The companies did not provide any information on possible UK or US carriers or rollout plans.