Why did we remove Bluetooth dial-up networking?
I am Greg Scott, and I am one of the developers in the group that provides basic networking technologies in Windows Mobile. There have been some [negative] feedback from users regarding Bluetooth dial-up networking ( DUN ) deleted in WM5 AKU 3. I will do my best to try to explain it.
In WM5 AKU 3, we presented a new application called Internet Sharing. This technology is in fact nothing more than Internet Connection Sharing ( ICS ). But for convenience and ease of use, our usability managers decided not to mention the word “Connection” (“Connection”), as it is not pleasant in the user interface.
For the first time, we presented ICS as a component in several releases of the Windows CE operating system. Now we brought this technology to Windows Mobile. ICS allows you to share a public network connection with a private network connection (Bluetooth PAN or USB ). In fact, the phone will be your home wireless router.
Before Internet Sharing, we introduced the Modem Link application. This application provides some of the same functionality as ICS . Modem Link supports GPRS sharing via USB , IrDA , or Bluetooth. For Bluetooth, the DUN configuration was used.
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Instead of sharing an Internet connection at the IP level, as ICS does, Modem Link allows a computer to send network commands directly through your device.
ICS is superior to dial-up technology for several reasons:
So far we have received mostly positive reviews about Internet Sharing. Most people said, “it works easy,” compared to the process of setting up your phone as a modem using Modem Link.
By the way, we received some notes about the convenience and ease of use of ICS . The Internet Sharing application requires that the user first “connects” the ICS on his device before connecting via Bluetooth PAN via a PC . With DUN you could do all the initialization on the PC side. This we will improve in the future.
“Well,” you say, “Internet Sharing is really cool, but why did you delete Modem Link?” My car kit or Mac doesn't support Bluetooth PAN , and I relied on this outdated technology.
In fact, Microsoft did not completely remove Bluetooth DUN . We still provide this technology to our OEMs . This technology is included in an optional package that OEMs and operators can optionally include in the device software package. Internet Sharing is also available in an optional package. We really changed only one thing: Internet Sharing, unlike Bluetooth DUN is enabled by default.
Bluetooth DUN is an outdated technology that is likely to disappear over time. Especially when you look at the rich possibilities provided by Internet Sharing via Bluetooth PAN . Also, it does not make sense for cellular networks to continue to support an outdated interface only to allow connections via Bluetooth DUN . In the past, we have been criticized a lot regarding Modem Link, especially with regard to convenience and ease of use. For this reason, we decided not to enable this technology by default.
Anyway, based on numerous community reviews, we changed our mind! We will return Bluetooth DUN by default in a future WM6 AKU release. Keep in mind that OEMs and operators still have the final say on using DUN on a specific device.
Please email us your reviews about Internet Sharing. We would like to know what new features you would like to see in Internet Sharing and what experience of using (positive or negative) you have received. Thank!
The original was published on April 17, 2007.
Internet [Connection] Sharing (Internet sharing [connections])
In WM5 AKU 3, we presented a new application called Internet Sharing. This technology is in fact nothing more than Internet Connection Sharing ( ICS ). But for convenience and ease of use, our usability managers decided not to mention the word “Connection” (“Connection”), as it is not pleasant in the user interface.
For the first time, we presented ICS as a component in several releases of the Windows CE operating system. Now we brought this technology to Windows Mobile. ICS allows you to share a public network connection with a private network connection (Bluetooth PAN or USB ). In fact, the phone will be your home wireless router.
Modem Link (Modem Link)
Before Internet Sharing, we introduced the Modem Link application. This application provides some of the same functionality as ICS . Modem Link supports GPRS sharing via USB , IrDA , or Bluetooth. For Bluetooth, the DUN configuration was used.
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Instead of sharing an Internet connection at the IP level, as ICS does, Modem Link allows a computer to send network commands directly through your device.
Why is Internet Sharing better?
ICS is superior to dial-up technology for several reasons:
- Convenience and ease of use: when using Modem Link, users must enter a dialing string (for example, * 99 #) to connect their PC to the Internet. This is not necessary when using Internet Sharing.
- Continuous connection: ICS can resume an active connection after you answer an incoming call. Modem Link will also release the cellular line for the phone so that you will answer the incoming call. Some cellular networks are not able to transmit or receive different types of data simultaneously (voice and data). The cellular network should support simultaneous transmission in order to provide more convenience for users. 3G networks provide this feature.
- Full connectivity: when connected via ICS , applications on your device (for example, ActiveSync) remain connected to the Internet. This is not the case with Modem Link.
- Future extensions: unfortunately, I am not allowed to discuss new features that we are planning. But you can probably imagine some of them that we can add by using an IP- based connection .
- Compatible with future cellular technology. New cellular networks support an interface based on IP packets as opposed to the outdated serial interface. Modem Link and Bluetooth DUN depend on an outdated serial interface, but Internet Sharing can function on any interface.
So far we have received mostly positive reviews about Internet Sharing. Most people said, “it works easy,” compared to the process of setting up your phone as a modem using Modem Link.
By the way, we received some notes about the convenience and ease of use of ICS . The Internet Sharing application requires that the user first “connects” the ICS on his device before connecting via Bluetooth PAN via a PC . With DUN you could do all the initialization on the PC side. This we will improve in the future.
But why did we delete the Bluetooth DUN ?
“Well,” you say, “Internet Sharing is really cool, but why did you delete Modem Link?” My car kit or Mac doesn't support Bluetooth PAN , and I relied on this outdated technology.
In fact, Microsoft did not completely remove Bluetooth DUN . We still provide this technology to our OEMs . This technology is included in an optional package that OEMs and operators can optionally include in the device software package. Internet Sharing is also available in an optional package. We really changed only one thing: Internet Sharing, unlike Bluetooth DUN is enabled by default.
Bluetooth DUN is an outdated technology that is likely to disappear over time. Especially when you look at the rich possibilities provided by Internet Sharing via Bluetooth PAN . Also, it does not make sense for cellular networks to continue to support an outdated interface only to allow connections via Bluetooth DUN . In the past, we have been criticized a lot regarding Modem Link, especially with regard to convenience and ease of use. For this reason, we decided not to enable this technology by default.
Anyway, based on numerous community reviews, we changed our mind! We will return Bluetooth DUN by default in a future WM6 AKU release. Keep in mind that OEMs and operators still have the final say on using DUN on a specific device.
Reviews
Please email us your reviews about Internet Sharing. We would like to know what new features you would like to see in Internet Sharing and what experience of using (positive or negative) you have received. Thank!
The original was published on April 17, 2007.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/30998/
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