Advanced Configuration & Customization
Whenever WMWiFiRouter has a connection established, the software can provide link statistics so you can see how much data has been transferred across any of the interfaces. The software will also allow you to customize a number of network parameters like the IP address range used, port forwarding rules, and whether and how your cellular data link will remain connected while idle (by default WMWiFiRouter pings www.google.com every 60 seconds).

WMWiFiRouter will also monitor battery life and device temperature, and can be configured to turn off the connection if a defined threshold for either is reached. Needless to say, running cellular data and Wi-Fi connections simultaneously on a mobile device for any length of time is an excellent way to quickly drain a battery dry, so it's advisable to keep the device plugged into AC power or at least have the charger close at hand. Rapid battery depletion is less of an issue when using the other connection methods.

There was one major wrinkle during our testing of WMWiFiRouter. We noticed that the software would frequently become unresponsive to key presses, particularly when trying to reconnect after having disconnected or immediately after viewing connection statistics.

About half the time the problem was resolved by returning to the Windows Mobile home screen and then re-entering the application, but other times it was necessary to end the program via Task Manager and restart it, and on a few occasions, the only way to regain control over the application was via soft reset of the device.

Due to the nature of the software and the differences among Windows Mobile devices, you'll definitely want to try WMWiFiRouter on your phone before deciding whether to buy the software. You can download a 21-day trial version from www.wmwifirouter.com—a full 30 days would have been better, but three weeks should be enough time for most users to determine whether the software works well on a given phone.

While the responsiveness problem we encountered prevents us from recommending WMWiFiRouter unreservedly (and we wish it provided WPA encryption), we still think it's worth a serious look for anyone that wants more flexibility when using a phone's Internet connection.

Joseph Moran is a veteran technology journalist and product reviewer.