New Android OS turns handsets into mobile hotspots

Coming soon to an Android smartphone near you, version 2.2 of Google's mobile OS boasts the ability to turn "certain" Android handsets into mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, capable of wirelessly sharing their 3G connections with up to eight other Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Also on tap: Flash support.

Google formally announced Android 2.2 — code-named Froyo — to its developer community Thursday morning. There's still no word on precisely when specific Android handsets will get the update, beyond Google's promise that it should arrive in the "coming weeks."