Devicescape Wi-Fi survey: 85 percent want seamless switching between 3G and WiFi
Devicescape, maker of the Easy Wi-Fi application, has released the results of a survey among its users to find out what they want from device makers, Wi-Fi providers, carriers and hotels. Here are the results that stood out (for me):
- 93 percent of buyers of devices base their decision upon the availability of WiFi in a device.
- 85 percent want the device to switch automatically between 3G and WiFi based on the type of application.
- 53 percent will use only free WiFi. They will not pay for it.
- 84 percent do not want to enter a password or PIN to use a network.
- 92 percent want a maps feature to go with the Devicescape Easy Wi-Fi application.
- 60 percent are willing to share their WiFi connection and 48 percent say they would be more willing to share their network if they could see who is using it.
- 54 percent say they are more likely to share WiFi if they could block certain users (43 percent say they would more likely share WiFi if users were subject to a user rating).
The respondents to this survey come from around the world (45 percent are from the US) and they’re people who travel a lot. Like them, I use WiFi all the time when I’m traveling (to save on roaming charges) and I hate the cumbersome login screens of many WiFi providers. I prefer to use free WiFi as well. With regard to sharing, I had a FON access point in Amsterdam and gladly shared my connection because I could create separate guest access and determine exactly the amount of bandwidth that guests or fellow Foneros could use. But what I could really use is a device that uses WiFi whenever it is available and switches to 3G when it is not. iPhone users are upset about the quality of their cellular connections. Many users getting only EDGE, not 3G, and even with the latter, the connection is too slow.
Wanted: free, good WiFi at hotels
The survey also showed the importance of free, good WiFi at hotels.
What surprises me is that many chain hotels still charge for WiFi and very often, the service is poor. It seems that the more expensive the hotel, the more they charge for WiFi. That’s another reason I love staying in boutique hotels and stylish B&Bs -WiFi at these places is free and usually very fast.
Download the survey from Devicescape. They publish one every quarter.
- – - – - – - -
*Attention vendors and consultants! Make sure you’re included in the vendor directory of the Muniwireless guide on how to get a grant from the NTIA and RUS (send an email to me).
*Join the MuniWireless / Muni WiMAX Linked In Group for networking and discussions.
*Sign up for the MuniWireless / WiMAX newsletter.
*Advertise on Muniwireless.com. Email us for current advertising rates.
Related posts:
Loading ...
Esme.
From this survey, it looks like your earlier predictions about devcses like the iPod were right. So where are the networks to support them? They won’t be 3G or even the cell carrier’s version of 4G.
The cellular carriers are all lying about the capability of 3G/4G networks to support data traffic. They do not want to add capacity because it’s expensive to add more fiber capacity (on the backhaul) and 3G/4G base stations. It is also difficult and expensive to raise capital right now for 4G/LTE upgrades. So they are stuck with a very unpleasant situation: the devices are becoming more powerful, people are installing more applications that use more bandwidth, but the networks are getting worse. That’s why people are turning to WiFi. Unfortunately, the carriers and cable companies want to create their own “private WiFi gardens” whereby WiFi at hotels, cafes and other places can be accessed only by people who already subscribe to their cellular or cable service. This is surely NOT where WiFi should go and it is not what people want.