Re: XP automatic recognition of Nokia as NIC?

[<natecars () real-time com>]

On Mon, 31 Dec 101, Geoff Lane wrote:
> 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.

I have a Nokia 8290, which has IR and works great, but to activate the IR
interface you have to go in to the 'Infrared' menu option and turn it on.
If you don't do that, it never announces it's presence. I think I like
that approach..

-- 
Nate Carlson <natecars () real-time com>   | Phone : (952)943-8700
http://www.real-time.com                | Fax   : (952)943-8500