Philadelphia-based start-up Connectify pioneered the now common mobile hotspot back in 2009, when it developed software which would turn a PC into a Wi-Fi access point. Now it is reversing the process and instead of allowing multiple devices to share one broadband connection via Wi-Fi, it will aggregate multiple connections into a fatter pipe to support data heavy gadgets and applications.
The firm says it can stack any kind of data link, including Ethernet or even dial-up, though the most commercially interesting combinations will focus on 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi. The software, Dispatch, is still under development and Connectify is talking to Kickstarter, to help it raise funding to bring the technology to market. It is also offering early contributors access to its beta release and free use of its app when it does reach the market.
Although heavy duty file sharing would be one target use, Connectify is more interested in using Dispatch for connection management, for instance to prioritize different links according to the cost or speed of available connections ‘ for example, using free Wi-Fi first but adding 3G if bandwidth or quality became inadequate.
The start-up plans to offer its software as a standalone PC product and to incorporate it into its Hotspot software, which would allow the PC to act both as a connection aggregator and a shared hotspot. A developer API is also planned so third parties can include the facility in their apps.
As GigaOM points out, Connectify is not the only firm working in this area. Many of the projects are more focused on carriers rather than consumer products, however, like InterDigital’s connection management software for maintaining separate parallel links to Wi-Fi and cellular, sending different types of data over each network depending on destination or quality requirements.