Devicescape is coming out with a new version of the Easy Wi-Fi hotspot finder and connectivity software. This version includes the Easy Wi-Fi Network which allows you to find high-quality, free WiFi around the world. Devicescape is getting equipment manufacturers to embed this software in devices so that users don’t have to twiddle around with settings and downloads. You get your Wi-Fi enabled device and voila, you can simply search for and find good, free Wi-Fi hotspots.
The Q2 2009 Devicescape Wi-Fi Report shows that 84 percent of users want easy access to Wi-Fi service and a massive 96 percent expect device manufacturers to build Wi-Fi into their devices. Moreover, 54 percent expect free Wi-Fi.
As the number of free Wi-Fi hotspots around the world increases, the challenge is how to find hotspots that offer fast, free connections. In Bali, where free Wi-Fi is nearly ubiquitous, some of the cafes had much better connections than others. I hope that on my next trip to Bali, Easy Wi-Fi will help me weed out the good from the bad.
The previous generation of Wi-Fi hotspot finders were online databases, which were notoriously inaccurate because they were difficult to maintain Hotspots come and go, some start charging, others stop charging and with the numbers of free hotspots growing, how do you keep such a database up-to-date and useful? This is the problem that Easy Wi-Fi aims to solve.
The main features of Easy Wi-Fi are:
- Integration with maps to show free, accessible hotspots at the user’s location or in another place selected by the user (note: Easy Wi-Fi includes a “Soft-GPS”, which provides the current device location without GPS hardware).
- Automated access to hotspots without the need for tedious user intervention. Beyond the Easy Wi-Fi Network, the service supports thousands of additional hotspot networks, allowing the user to create a list of favorites.
- High-quality network of free Wi-Fi hotspots: Devicescape says they have 100,000 locations and are adding thousands every month. They ensure high-quality through continuous monitoring and validation of the network.
For equipment manufacturers, the Devicescape Easy Wi-Fi 4.0 software is available right now. For the rest of us, we have to wait until 20 October 2009. The software will work on the iPhone OS, Nokia S60 and other platforms. Go to www.devicescape.com for more information.
If the Easy Wi-Fi 4.0 software does work as promised, it will be such a relief to people who are charged over 20 EUR per day for hotel Wi-Fi (see Business travelers outraged by Swisscom WiFi ripoff at hotels). One of my readers who wrote in to complain about the rip-off prices charged by Swisscom Eurospot at the Hilton Stadtpark Vienna will now be able to download the software to his Wi-Fi device and find free Wi-Fi in Vienna.
Related stories:
Travels with an iPod Touch: Free WiFi experience in Asia
Travelers shocked by high Wi-Fi prices in Europe
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