D-Link Unleashes All-in-one Mobile Companion

D-Link launched the D-Link All-in-one Mobile Companion (DIR-505) today, an innovative new product for travelers and mobile device owners. Providing the features of a standard wireless router without the bulk, the All-in-one Mobile Companion allows anyone to quickly deploy a wireless network wherever an existing network is available. The Mobile Companion also includes USB sharing capabilities that enable users to share videos, music and photos from an external hard drive or flash drive with any iPad, iPhone or Android device.

The D-Link All-in-one Mobile Companion addresses a growing need to deliver wireless connectivity to portable devices while on the go. Worldwide media tablet sales to end users are expected to total 118.9 million units in 2012, a ninety-eight percent increase from 2011, according to Gartner, Inc. Tablets and other portable devices are heavily dependent on cloud solutions and rely solely on wireless connections for their Internet access. However, not every home, hotel, or conference hall has a high-speed wireless network and D-Link’s newest device is deigned to act as a savior in these situations. About the size of a mobile phone wall charger, the All-in-one Mobile Companion can create an instant Wi-Fi network with a range of useful features designed for today’s mobile professional.

“We listened closely to the needs of travelers and mobile device owners who are looking for a versatile wireless networking device that is both compact and easy to install. Considering its size and versatility, the All-in-one Mobile Companion is like the ‘Swiss army knife’ of wireless devices, packing an assortment of wireless networking capabilities into a single device small enough to fit inside a pocket or laptop bag,” said Harrison Albert, Regional Director at D-Link Middle East & Africa.

Share Files and Leave Your Charger at Home
SharePort™ Mobile serves up effortless access to stored personal files and multimedia whenever a hard drive or flash storage drive is connected to the router’s built-in USB port. Music, video, and photos can be streamed or transferred to multiple users with the easy touch-based mobile app for iOS and Android™ devices, or to users with a compatible web browser. For added convenience, the router’s USB port also doubles as a power source for charging or powering a mobile device.

Simple Wireless Setup and Configuration
An Ethernet port allows users to easily connect to an existing network using a network cable along with a simple web GUI configuration. The Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button lets you add wireless devices like tablets and smartphones with the simple touch of a button. The All-in-one Mobile Companion also includes four wireless operating modes configurable via a convenient switch: Router, Access Point, Wi-Fi Hotspot, and Repeater.

Router Mode
In Router mode, the All-in-one Mobile Companion behaves like a traditional wireless router, taking an existing wired network connection and making it accessible as a high-speed Wireless N signal. This feature is useful for those that need a quick and easy way to create a wireless network at home or away. Most hotels and business centers have a fast wired network infrastructure, but may have slow or unreliable wireless internet that is unsuitable for portable devices like tablet PCs. Router mode allows travelers to overcome these limitations by creating their own wireless connections.

Access Point Mode
In Access Point Mode, the All-in-one Mobile Companion connects wireless devices together, but does not facilitate routing. This mode also allows a connected wired device to communicate with other devices wirelessly. It can also be used to create an impromptu private wireless network without Internet access so that networked devices can securely connect to one another without being exposed to the Internet or other computers.

Wi-Fi Hot Spot Mode
In Wi-Fi Hotspot Mode, the All-in-one Mobile Companion connects to a wireless network and subsequently shares that single network connection with nearby devices. This can be useful at a hotel, airport, or café to share a hotspot connection with multiple devices. Using a Wi-Fi connection in this manner helps to defeat steep mobile roaming charges for devices like smartphones and tablets. Additionally, this configuration can provide a second layer of security when connecting to public hotspots by hiding connected devices from foreign devices on the public network, and keeping them in their own private network.

Repeater Mode
Repeater mode can help improve the strength of a wireless network. Simply place the All-in-one Mobile Companion within range of an existing wireless network, and it will retransmit the signal, effectively increasing the wireless network range. Repeater mode is great for large homes and offices that need the signal from the primary access point to extend as far as possible, and to as many devices possible. Additionally, this mode can be used to connect a wired device to the wireless network, which can be useful for some smart TVs, game consoles, DVRs, or other devices that do not have a built-in wireless card.

For more information, visit www.dlink.com.

Notes to Editors:

The All-in-one Mobile Companion offers a range of features in an affordable, compact device: 
• Multiple operating modes:
o Router: Serves as a Wireless N150 travel router
o AP: Serves as an Access Point to wirelessly extend an existing network
o Wi-Fi Hot Spot: Serves as a wireless hot spot
o Repeater Mode: Serves as a wireless range extender or bridge
• 10/100 Ethernet port 
• USB Port to view and synchronize videos, music, photos, and more from a connected USB storage device to any iOS or Android tablet, smartphone, or computer using SharePort™ Mobile
• USB Port can be used to charge a smartphone or USB-powered mobile device (when not used with a USB storage device)
• Free SharePort™ Mobile iOS and Android apps for tablets and smartphones
• Built in AC plug for easy traveling and use – no additional cables or power adapters required