1. A handheld computing unit comprises: a plurality of user applications and system applications; a femtocell access point, wherein when the handheld computing unit is in a femtocell access point (AP) mode, is operably coupled to: transmit an output cellular radio frequency (RF) signal in accordance with a femtocell protocol; and receive an input cellular RF signal in accordance with the femtocell protocol; a local wireless interface (LWI) operable to communicate over a wireless local area network (WLAN) and operably coupled to: receive a downstream WLAN RF signal in accordance with a WLAN protocol over the WLAN, wherein the downstream WLAN RF signal is converted into the output cellular RF signal; and transmit an upstream WLAN RF signal in accordance with the WLAN protocol, wherein the input cellular RF signal is converted into the upstream WLAN RF signal.