Connectify
Encyclopedia
Connectify is a Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...

 software application developed by Connectify that creates a software-only hotspot
Hotspot (Wi-Fi)
A hotspot is a site that offers Internet access over a wireless local area network through the use of a router connected to a link to an Internet service provider...

 (Access Point
Wireless access point
In computer networking, a wireless access point is a device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or related standards...

) on a Windows PC with Wi-Fi device. This enables users
User (computing)
A user is an agent, either a human agent or software agent, who uses a computer or network service. A user often has a user account and is identified by a username , screen name , nickname , or handle, which is derived from the identical Citizen's Band radio term.Users are...

 to share files, printers, and internet connections between multiple PCs or other computing devices, without the need for a separate physical access point or router.

Simple personal area networking via ad-hoc
Wireless ad-hoc network
A wireless ad-hoc network is a decentralized type of wireless network. The network is ad hoc because it does not rely on a preexisting infrastructure, such as routers in wired networks or access points in managed wireless networks...

 mode has been built-in to Windows since Windows XP. Other competing products that offer this kind of capability include Virtual Router and WM WifiRouter.

History

According to Connectify CEO and founder Alex Gizis, back in 2009, the development team was testing wireless networking hardware at an Army base. Their hardware technology was driving Humvees wirelessly over miles, but the team itself was juggling USB drives to sneakernet
Sneakernet
Sneakernet is an informal term describing the transfer of electronic information, especially computer files, by physically couriering removable media such as magnetic tape, floppy disks, compact discs, USB flash drives, or external hard drives from one computer to another. This is usually in lieu...

 files between Windows laptops. For the next trip out, they brought a hardware router, but the bulk of that extra gear, and the need to plug it in, became an issue. To address this need, they developed the original Connectify application.

Business Model

Connectify is released on the Freemium
Freemium
Freemium is a business model that works by offering a product or service free of charge while charging a premium for advanced features, functionality, or related products and services...

 model, similar to the sales strategies used by Dropbox
Dropbox
Dropbox was a five-piece American rock band formed in 2002. The group had one minor hit song in "Wishbone" which received some air time on MTV2 and Fuse and was featured in TV commercials...

, Evernote
EverNote
Evernote is a suite of software and services designed for notetaking and archiving. A "note" can be a piece of formatted text, a full webpage or webpage excerpt, a photograph, a voice memo, or a handwritten "ink" note. Notes can also have file attachments...

, and Pandora Radio.

The free Connectify "Lite" license delivers basic Wi-Fi Hotspot functionality. Some things are limited; for example, the SSID name of a free hotspot will always start with "Connectify-". Additional paid "Pro" features include wireless repeater capability, more complete 3G/4G network sharing, automatic configuration features, firewall controls, and priority tech support.

Virtual Access Point

Connectify creates an infrastructure mode personal area network by creating an access point
Wireless access point
In computer networking, a wireless access point is a device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or related standards...

 using a PC's own Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...

 device. This functions the same as any dedicated access point/router, but as a Windows application, may be easier for the average person to use. In addition, Connectify can be set up to route internet traffic from the personal area network though one of that PC's interfaces.

The limitation is that this must be a Window 7 PC with a current WHQL
WHQL Testing
Windows Hardware Quality Labs testing or WHQL Testing is Microsoft's testing process which involves running a series of tests on third-party hardware or software, and then submitting the log files from these tests to Microsoft for review...

 driver certified for Windows 7. Older drivers or older versions of Windows will not permit the Wifi device to operate in AP mode. Windows 7 PCs without current drivers can use Connectify via a supported USB Wi-Fi device, if necessary.

Sharing Wifi to Wifi

Connectify takes advantage of Windows 7's Virtual Wifi  mechanism, allowing a single Wifi connection to be split into two virtual networks, one the local access point, one the backhaul to the internet. This, however, requires a Wifi device with virtual Wifi support. As with access point support, this is a feature new to Windows 7.

Reception

Connectify has been well generally well reviewed by the press. Positive reviews have appeared in Lifehacker,
PC World
PC World
PC World may refer to:* PC World , a computer magazine* PC World , a British computer store chain...

, GigaOM
GigaOM
GigaOM is a Web 2.0 blog started by Om Malik and published by Giga Omni Media, Inc. in San Francisco, California. According to the company website it has a monthly global audience of 500,000. It is among the top 50 blogs worldwide by Technorati Rank, and is listed on CNet's Blog 100 list...

, Engadget
Engadget
Engadget is a multilingual technology blog network with daily coverage of gadgets and consumer electronics. Though on appearance Engadget functions much like a blog and may be defined as such, much of its editorial content takes the form of an online magazine...

, ReadWriteWeb
ReadWriteWeb
ReadWriteWeb is a Web technology blog launched in 2003. RWW covers Web 2.0 and Web technology in general, and provides industry news, reviews, and analysis. Founded by Richard MacManus, Technorati ranked ReadWriteWeb at number 12 in its list of top 100 blogs worldwide, as of October 9, 2010. RWW...

,
TechRepublic
TechRepublic
TechRepublic is an online trade publication and social community for IT professionals, with advice on best practices and tools for the day-to-day needs of IT decision-makers....

,
Maximum PC
Maximum PC
Maximum PC, formerly known as boot, is an American magazine and web site published by Future US. It focuses on cutting-edge PC hardware, with an emphasis on product reviews, step-by-step tutorials, and in-depth technical briefs...

,
IT Reviews, and
MakeUseOf
Makeuseof
MakeUseOf is a British-based technology & internet apps blog founded by Aibek Esengulov and Kaly Mochoev. The website's primary focus is software, web applications, and useful technology tips, but they have also recently started covering news and gadgets as well...

. Most users seem to be fairly happy with it as well.

Some general criticism is that Connectify potentially does an end run around IT Department policies by allowing unauthorized devices access to a secure wireless network, albeit through an authorized device. Similar issues have been raise around Connectify being used to allow multiple devices onto a single paid Wi-Fi connection.

Some articles have complained about the non-support of some wireless devices, including many Intel cards, though no instance of a fully WHQL Windows 7 device not being supported was stated (note: this might be fixed by now, by Intel).

User complaints include: limitations of the free version (particularly, the SSID naming rule), lack of support for older security models like WEP and WPA, or lack of any no-security option (Connectify supports only WPA2). Windows XP and Vista users complain that it only works in Ad-Hoc mode. Some gamers on the Sony Playstation 3 and older Nintendo devices have had problems. Another complaint is that the SSID cannot be hidden.
Some users reported crashing/BSOD, particularly with older versions. More typical problems seem to be interaction/blockage by PC-based firewalls.

See also


Further reading


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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