C Spire Wireless is the latest carrier win for Devicescape, creator of software that lets users connect to a nationwide network of public Wi-Fi hotspots “curated” by the company. C Spire says the Devicescape solution will help its customers manage their data usage, and ensure the best possible connectivity.
“Our priority is to deliver a personalized, high quality wireless experience to our customers and offer services that anticipate their needs,” said Kevin Hankins, COO at C Spire.
Wi-Fi offload is becoming increasingly important to carriers as the demands on their licensed spectrum increase. Larger carriers are investing in their own Wi-Fi hotspots – AT&T says it now has the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network – but for regional carriers a third-party solution can make more sense.
“Next-gen carrier Wi-Fi has evolved to enable operators to deliver the same quality of experience as mobile networks through closer integration with the mobile RAN,” said Richard Webb of Infonetics Research. The firm recently reported on the need for carrier-grade Wi-Fi solutions.
Once a C Spire customer downloads the Devicescape ‘Wi-Fi On” app, connection to Wi-Fi is almost transparent. The app will automatically find and connect to the hotspot in the Devicescape network that offers the best available connection at a given location. Devicescape’s solution is also available as software that can be pre-installed on smartphones so that users do not need to download an app. Carriers offering devices with the software pre-installed include US Cellular, Cincinnati Bell, Public Mobile and T-Mobile US’s MetroPCS.
Seamless connectivity is a trend that smartphone users can expect to see more of in the months ahead. Leading manufacturers are starting to ship phones with chipsets that find and connect to Wi-Fi automatically, even without an extra piece of software. This capability relies on the Wi-Fi Alliance’s Hotspot 2.0 specification, which is expected to be part of more smartphones in the future. The Samsung Galaxy S4 was the first smartphone to ship with Hotspot 2.0 enabled.
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