4 ms·
This looks like a step toward what is variously called "hotspot 2.0" (Wi-Fi Alliance)[1], "next generation hotspot" (Wireless Broadband Alliance)[2], and "het-n
by kylebrown 13y ago
This looks like a step toward what is variously called "hotspot 2.0" (Wi-Fi Alliance)[1], "next generation hotspot" (Wireless Broadband Alliance)[2], and "het-net" (4G Americas)[3].
The problem is the exponential growth in demand for cellular bandwidth. Its very expensive for the cellular industry to increase capacity by building new towers. So the idea is to get consumers' cellular devices using wifi data connections wherever possible, offloading demand for 3G/4G.
This looks like a way for cell phone companies to lease an "xfinity password" from Comcast. Then the cell company can seamlessly offload the data connection of any subscriber near enough to an xfinity hotspot.
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Alliance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Alliance
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Broadband_Alliance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Broadband_Alliance
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G_Americas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G_Americas
- jessriedel 13y agoInteresting. Any idea why AT&T can't make their hotspots around nyc not suck? I'd love to use them to save data, but I end up disabling my WiFi just to keep my phone from auto-connecting and then not functioning.
- voltagex_ 13y agoOn some versions of Android it is possible to set the system up to check for the existence of a working Internet connection and then disconnect from wifi if there isn't one.
- jessriedel 13y agoThanks for the tip. I think this is what you're talking about http://lifehacker.com/5802885/connection-checker-disconnects-you-from-crappy-wi+fi-and-3g-connections-for-battery-savings http://lifehacker.com/5802885/connection-checker-disconnects... I'm going to try it out.
- gonzo 13y agoIt's not hotspot 2.0, it's just multiple ESSID.
- bradleyland 13y agoHotspot 2.0 is a business strategy. Multiple ESSID is a technology that can be used to further the hotspot 2.0 business model.
- gonzo 13y agoNo, Hotspot 2.0 (and its underlying standard, 802.11u) are focused on enabling a mobile device to automatically “discover” APs that have a roaming arrangement with the user’s home network and then securely connect. Multiple [E|B]SSIDs (which I co-invented, and patented about 14 years ago) are fundamentally different. Hotspot 2.0 requires client changes, whereas multiple SSID does not.