Quiconnect announces new service package for application providers to improve wireless connectivity management
o Application providers can leverage a global network of hotspots and relationships established by Quiconnect with leading telecoms and network operators to deliver services and content over public wireless broadband
o Quiconnect’s service package addresses the huge potential for application providers to offer public Wi-Fi and WiMAX access as part of their solutions as more and more devices are launched with in-built wireless capability
o Quiconnect’s service package allows application providers to focus on delivering their core product or service with Quiconnect facilitating network connectivity solutions and new commercial billing models
September 10, 2007 – Quiconnect today announces that it is providing a comprehensive package of services which allows providers of digital applications, services and content to take their offerings and make them accessible over public wireless broadband networks worldwide.
Quiconnect has established itself as a leader in the provision of integration services which connect wireless broadband networks together making it easy for customers of one service provider to roam onto other operators’ Wi-Fi networks. The company has extensive experience of doing this working with the world’s global telecommunications companies and network operators including BT, Sprint, Orange France, SFR, VSNL, Telefónica, CTCL (representing China Mobile, China Netcom and China Telecom), The Cloud, Kubi Wireless, and Internet Solutions among others.
Until now, public Wi-Fi usage has centred around laptop computers accessing the Internet for browsing and email. Now, a vast range of devices are gaining wireless capabilities including phones, gaming consoles, music players and more. Increasingly therefore, the types of applications running over wireless broadband extend far beyond basic access. As a result, innovative application providers are offering a host of digital services which could all be taken mobile over wireless broadband networks, including WiMAX.
Currently, however, the ecosystem for public wireless broadband does little to support the next generation of applications and services which will be generating traffic over these networks in the future. While the Wi-Fi networks are in place and some services available, operators and service providers often don’t have a joined up approach to delivery and customers are often left to themselves to navigate around this.
If application providers want to offer customers the ability to make voice calls, play games, download music and movies, there are many challenges which therefore need to be addressed so that a complete service extending over commercial Wi-Fi networks can be provided. Not only is it hard to physically log in from many of these new devices as they lack a keyboard, but the current industry norm is to charge consumers based on time or data download.
Luke Vinogradov, senior marketing manager, new products at Quiconnect explains, “If a provider of films, for example, wanted to make services available as a download in a public hotspot, charging by the amount of time or number of bytes it takes to download a film wouldn’t make sense. People simply want to pay to view an individual film and that’s it - charging must be rational to the user.”
Similarly, with mobile VoIP, if today you log a Wi-Fi enabled phone onto a network you pay even if a call hasn’t been made which is counter intuitive. Vinogradov adds, “Presence capabilities must be added for instant messaging, gaming and VoIP. You want to know the other party is there before you pay to be online. There has to be the ability to send a signal to say I am here – like with mobile phones - and operators’ pricing models must change before such services take off. Our systems, approach and new service package will help operators and application providers meet such connectivity and billing hurdles so new services can be launched.”
Quiconnect’s new service package comprises:
• Connectivity tools (Connector software) including an API (Application Programming Interface) for automated login of mobile devices on commercial Wi-Fi hotspots whether they be mobile phones, cameras, games consoles etc;
• Network integration and management services which connect together large networks spanning multiple operators and geographies;
• Data and financial clearing services which support the charging models needed by new applications so that application providers can focus on providing their applications to users without needing to manage networks or deal with the complex technical and commercial issues of managing their own connectivity.
Vinogradov adds, “As well as the gains in traffic for network operators, the usage behaviour associated with these types of applications can be quite different to that of traditional data use. For example, a roaming laptop user might visit a hotspot network for a big hit of data now and again. On the other hand, a mobile VoIP user with a Wi-Fi-enabled phone may be more likely to pop in far more often to the local hotspot to make their calls. If it's easy to connect and they don't have to worry about having subscriptions with multiple providers, there's every reason for them to return again and again to the hotspots they like, which is a great opportunity for venues to build loyalty.”
Quiconnect is working with key application providers to assemble solutions tailored to the user experience, and commercial and geographic needs. This capitalises on the fact that it is connected to tens of thousands of high quality hotspots worldwide and has extensive relationships at a technical and commercial level with leading global telcos to allow easy user access to wireless broadband.
Vinogradov concludes, “Similar solutions have been available in the cellular world for years. The MVNO(1) structure allows different types of businesses to do what they're good at - some can focus on managing customers, handling billing and providing support while others concentrate on running the networks. We're excited to be providing these services to help new types of application providers get their customers online at public Wi-Fi hotspots and welcome discussing the specific needs of companies to develop bespoke solutions.”
