TapRoot Systems this week introduced its WalkingHotSpot software, which turns a Wi-Fi enabled smartphone into a Wi-Fi hotspot that provides access to the phone's 3G data network connection.

For now, it's limited to Windows Mobile and Symbian S60 phones, though the company says it's working on adding support for additional operating systems.

"A demo version of the software is available on a trial basis," notes InformationWeek's Eric Zeman. "TapRoot doesn't plan to sell directly to consumers, though, and will be targeting carriers as its potential customers. You can bet that carriers will want to charge to provide this type of service to smartphone users."

"The software has energy-saving features that let the average Windows Mobile smart phone run for about two hours on a battery charge, relaying cellular and Wi-Fi data," reports PC Magazine's Sascha Segan.

Computerworld's Mike Elgan, though, notes that WalkingHotSpot is hardly unique. "A line of products that iBox2Go launched in January provides mobile broadband connectivity to the Internet, plus a Wi-Fi router that enables up to 10 users to share the connection. The CradlePoint PHS300 Personal Hotspot is a little box that you connect to your phone to create your own Wi-Fi network. A new software update issued this week extends support to include EV-DO and HSDPA devices. All these products are new, and all involve the use of Wi-Fi to share a mobile broadband connection. A trend? Absolutely, and one that points to a new way to use your cell phone."

More here from I4U News ... more here from BetaNews ... more here from PC World ... more here from the AP ... and the press release is here.