"The number of connected devices is multiplying as consumers increasingly adopt converged phones, media players, portable gaming devices, GPS navigation systems, Internet tablets, and laptops," said Avi Greengart, principal analyst, mobile devices at Current Analysis. "While the gadgets are multiplying and the number of companies and municipalities offering wireless networks is expanding, there is typically no way to seamlessly sign on to and switch among these networks. This is frustrating for the consumer, and inhibits growth for device manufacturers and network operators."
Accessing Wi-Fi networks can be complex and require different inputs for each network, typically through the use of a web browser, where the user keys in account information. This is very difficult -- sometimes even impossible -- on simple devices, resulting in products that are too complex to use, or are restricted to the home or a single operator's network. Devicescape automates this process on any device, providing effortless access for consumers, and supports an unlimited number of networks, providing global coverage and choice. This automatic connection allows device appropriate content and applications to immediately initiate -- your VoIP phone can make calls, your game system can engage in online play, your media player can download the latest hits.
"The desktop browser simplified access to the Internet and opened up a new world of web applications. In a similar way, Devicescape is unifying the Wi- Fi networks and automating access for devices, opening up the floodgates for compelling new services and applications," said Dave Fraser, CEO for Devicescape.
According to Merrill Lynch, the total addressable market of Wi-Fi enabled devices is expected to exceed 1 billion units by 2010. This market is expected to be dominated by low cost, browser-less devices like handsets, wireless VoIP phones, portable game systems, and personal media players. The Devicescape solution will work in all these types of devices, allowing easy, fast access to all types of content and applications.
Powered by Devicescape
Devicescape is licensing its technology to device manufacturers, enabling them to provide products that effortlessly connect to the Wi-Fi networks their customers need. The device software is extremely small, often allowing fielded products to be upgraded to add the Devicescape capability. Unique to Devicescape, all the network information is stored centrally so that no changes are needed to the device as networks are changed or added.
Currently, Devicescape supports over 30 public networks including the largest carriers in the world such as T-Mobile, BT and NTT; municipal networks such as Google WiFi; universities such as UC Berkeley; and the FON community. In addition, if their favorite network isn't among the hundreds of thousands of hotspots that Devicescape works with, users can request new networks with an easy to use Web form.
Networks currently supported: over 30 public networks including: AT&T, Atria, BT Openzone, Earthlink, Fatport, FON, Google, KPN, McCarran Airport, NTT, Opti-Fi, Orange, PT-WiFi, Softbank, Sonera HomeRun, Swisscom, Surf-and-Sip, T-Mobile, The Cloud, Union Square Wireless, Wayport (US McDonalds), WiFly, ZRNET. New networks are constantly being added and users can submit their favorites via an easy-to-use Web form.
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Photo by Terry Johnston. Creative Commons License Attribution 2.0.
