XP automatic recognition of Nokia as NIC?

[Geoff Lane <zzassgl () twirl mcc ac uk>]

Beware, this story was related about a friend of a friend (FOAF) and so
should be regarded with suspicion...

A FOAF had bought a new laptop PC with Windows XP installed. He also owned
one of the latest Nokia cell phones.  One day he was using the PC when the
Nokia was switched on and laid next to the PC.  The PC promptly put up a
standard "New hardware Discovered" dialog box.  Curious, the FOAF worked
through the device install dialog. XP had recognised the cell phone via the
PC IR interface (one assumes the Nokia announces it's presence when switched
on via it's own IR interface.) XP worked out that the Nokia could be used as
a network interface and asked for the phone number of the FOAF's ISP, which
was given. (It's possible that this is another function of the UPnP
package.) The PC then connected to the ISP and a fully working network
connection was established...

The risk is obvious, XP did not establish the ownership of the cell phone
before dialing out.

As I said, I'm only relating the tale as it was told.  I do not have the
hardware necessary to test the truth of the story, perhaps others on this
list do.

-- 
Geoff Lane