| Seamless Wi-Fi/WiMax Access Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere! |
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by Robert Brown Co-Founder and Co-Editor - WIIE It is evident the growth of devices with embedded Wi-Fi or WiMAX chips has exceeded industry expectations. The Wi-Fi Alliance™ has certified more than 4,200 Wi-Fi enabled devices, and the WiMAX Forum™ has certified more than 50 products since inception, and there are thousands more in the pipeline. The Wi-Fi/Wi-Max phenomena is more active today than ever! People are enhancing their everyday mobile experience using electronic technology, anytime, anywhere on any device. Business travelers and Consumers expect their mobile device to work everywhere -- Home, Office and Everywhere in-between. When the customer experience is positive, it reflects well on the venue where the customer is connected. If the customer experience is negative, the customer may not return to that venue.
One of the major struggles consumers face with their browser-less Wi-Fi devices (e.g. MP3 players, cameras, gaming devices, etc) is being able to use those devices seamlessly at the tens of thousands of the paid hotspots around the world (those with walled gardens) such as airports, cafes and hotels. On the devices themselves, it’s not often easy to choose the SSID, enter user credentials, if needed, or worse, key in a credit card. In the U.S., there are dozens of WISPs managing more than 40,000 Wi-Fi hotspots; the major ones include Wayport®, AT&T Wi-Fi™, and T-Mobile HotSpot™. Each of them have major differences in their walled gardens, and the devices which roam with them vary in their configuration and ability to connect to wireless networks, including:• Authentication process• SSID set up• Security settings• Screen resolutions• Browser/Client software• Applications settings This of course makes it difficult for consumers to effectively use their Wi-Fi devices outside the home. Hence there is a dire need for a “connection standard” mutually agreed between major device manufacturers and WISPs around the world. If you have any thoughts or feedback on this article, please
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Robert Brown. |
