Devicescape Connect Whitepaper:
Universal Hotspot Access for Devices
Overview
Wi-Fi has proven to be an incredibly successful technology, with hundreds of millions of Wi-Fi
laptops shipped, millions of home and corporate networks deployed, and hundreds of thousands
of hotspots put into operation. But now Wi-Fi is entering a new era of growth - one where
billions of new and innovative Wi-Fi-enabled devices will make their way into consumers' hands.
Merrill Lynch forecasts that over one billion new Wi-Fi devices will be in use by the end of
2009¹. The majority of these devices won't be laptops, though. Instead, we'll see the rise of
many new types of wireless devices, including dual-mode handsets, single mode voice-over-IP
phones, portable game systems, personal media players, and an array of other innovative wireless
gadgets.
One requirement that all these devices share is the need to effortlessly connect to wireless
networks. As consumer electronics products targeted at a mass market audience, these devices
must wirelessly access content and applications across the Internet with the absolute minimum of
intervention by their users.
It is with this requirement in mind that Devicescape has launched Devicescape Connect.
Devicescape Connect enables wireless devices to automatically connect to Wi-Fi hotspots and
municipal networks. Whenever a device comes within range of a hotspot, it will automatically
log itself onto the network - without any user interaction. The experience is much like using a
cell phone.
With Devicescape Connect, users avoid the hassles of wireless technology. There's no need to
configure wireless settings, bring up a browser, or endure the tedium of entering usernames and
passwords with a stylus or scroll wheel. Users experience simple and fast wireless connectivity
wherever they go.
For manufacturers of Wi-Fi devices, Devicescape Connect enables the creation of products with
ready-to-go connectivity for a broad array of hotspots and municipal networks around the world.
With effortless connectivity, customer satisfaction goes up, support calls and returns go down,
and a manufacturer's overall brand is enhanced. Device vendors also gain an increased flexibility
to partner and co-market with various network operators. Vendors need not negotiate separate
business relationships with each network operator they wish to support in their device, nor do
they need to specially engineer their device for each operator's network.
For Wi-Fi network operators, Devicescape Connect opens up revenue streams from a vast new
market of billions of connected devices. Operators can expand their services beyond laptops to
the burgeoning wave of Wi-Fi phones, game systems, media players, cameras and other devices.
Along with these new types of devices will come new classes of subscribers. Operators will also
be able to craft new types of service plans that segment their markets on the basis of device type
and application. Operators additionally gain the flexibility to support devices from many vendors
on their networks without having to craft complicated integration deals with each manufacturer.
And, as with manufacturers, Devicescape Connect will simply improve the experience of their
users and lower the cost of support.
¹ WiFi - The Second Coming, Merrill Lynch, 09 February 2006.
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