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Tag: Wi-Fi

  • 4 Benefits of Investing in Next Generation Wi-Fi for Your Business

    4 Benefits of Investing in Next Generation Wi-Fi for Your Business

    Online connectivity was something to marvel at when it first became available for home and commercial use. Now it’s the backbone of nearly every company’s day-to-day operations. Without the internet and Wi-Fi, businesses wouldn’t be delivering many of the conveniences consumers depend on.  

    But like any technology, Wi-Fi remains in a state of evolution. New standards and infrastructure capabilities keep pushing the limits of what tech can do. Businesses that don’t keep up with the latest developments put themselves at risk.

    Slow and outdated Wi-Fi networks prompt more than short-term delays and frustrations. They can cause your business to get left behind as customers flock to competitors that offer the latest amenities. Outdated internet technology can also leave your company vulnerable to cybercriminal activity. Before you decide to put off adopting next-gen Wi-Fi, consider these four benefits.

    1. Adaptable Signal Strength

    If you have a larger or multi-story home, you’ve probably experienced poor Wi-Fi signal strength in more than one room. Perhaps you’ve tried a booster or extender, hoping to put a stop to the random disconnects and buffering. But these solutions didn’t do the trick, and you’ve still got a few slow spots where it’s difficult to connect.  

    The same scenarios happen in businesses due to sluggish Wi-Fi, resulting in lost productivity and patience. A small business Wi-Fi solution with the latest AI-driven technology can help prevent those slow and dead spots. Instead of just sending out signals, the network learns how and where you need connectivity the most. Over time, the technology adapts to your location’s usage behaviors and needs.

    Your back office might be hustling and bustling at 9 a.m., requiring the most capacity your Wi-Fi can muster. By noon, the front reception area needs all the signal strength it can get. And at the end of the workday, the staff cubicles are placing the highest demands on the network. Adaptive Wi-Fi can handle all of it by sending more signal strength where and when it’s necessary.

    2. Support for IoT and Additional Devices

    Although recent supply chain problems and shortages have lowered projections for Internet of Things (IoT) device adoption, market analysts still predict growth. The number of connected IoT gadgets is expected to reach 27.1 billion worldwide by 2025. The Internet of Things includes smart devices, wearables, and sensors. Some of these sensors help businesses manage inventory, fleet vehicles, and other assets. Farmers also use them to automate precision agriculture techniques.

    The next generation of Wi-Fi comes with increased capacity to accommodate the bandwidth IoT devices require. When there are more gadgets online, they start competing for available space on the network. It’s not just your POS systems, office computers, and employees’ smartphones that are vying for throughput. The smart locks on the doors and the sensors that monitor movements and appliances can’t function without enough bandwidth.

    Built into the latest Wi-Fi standards is the ability to divide a single channel into a larger number of subchannels. More devices can sustain a connection on a single access point without experiencing latency, freezing, or spotty service. Two-way or synchronous communication is also possible between access points and devices. This means more seamless and steady connections for all the machines businesses rely on.  

    3. Improved Power Management

    One of the benefits of a Wi-Fi connection is the freedom to move around with mobile devices. You’re not limited to using the internet and your web-based applications at your desk. That said, mobile gadgets rely on battery power to run. And although manufacturers have made strides in improving battery life over the years, batteries still require monitoring and recharging.

    Next-gen Wi-Fi reduces the strain on batteries through a capability called Target Wake Time. This feature puts the wireless signal on a device or access point to sleep until it’s needed. When it’s time to send or receive data on the network, the internal hardware responsible for communicating wakes back up.

    When wireless cards are constantly in “on” mode, they can drain battery life. During sleep mode, mobile devices save battery power. You can set your tablet down and keep it connected to the network. You won’t have to plug in a few hours later when you’re ready to start using the tablet again.

    4. Faster Speeds    

    According to industry reports, the latest Wi-Fi technology is three times faster than previous standards. Increased speed capacity allows for better video conferencing and streaming in 4K. If your business uses smart TVs to display entertainment, upgraded Wi-Fi can contribute to enhanced customer experiences.

    You’ll also notice quicker download and upload times when sending files or retrieving information online. Your team’s efficiency will get a boost since they won’t spend as much time waiting in front of their screens. Although a few seconds or minutes might not seem like a lot, those wasted moments add up. With faster response times, staff will feel more capable and productive, which can motivate them to keep moving forward.

    Similar to some previous wireless standards, the latest generation accommodates more than one frequency. Because next-gen Wi-Fi is backward-compatible, devices that run on 2.4GHz frequencies can take advantage of increased speeds. While those speeds may not reach the full potential of the newest wireless technology, improvement will still be noticeable. So if your business has devices that don’t operate on higher frequencies, you won’t have to ditch them.

    Conclusion

    Wi-Fi connections are sometimes taken for granted. You think about keeping your laptops and other devices up to date because your business stops working when they do. But outdated network solutions can slow you down and end up hurting productivity, customer service, and brand appeal.

    The benefits of next-generation Wi-Fi are plenty, including adaptive signal strengths and faster speeds. These advantages keep your business in the game and allow you to offer the resources employees and clients expect. Investing in current network technology is a move you can’t afford to overlook.                                       

  • iOS 9’s Cool New Feature Could Be a Data Suck

    I’ll tell you up front, the point of this is going to boil down to if you have a lot of data to spare, it’s great and if you don’t, well, it might not be. But we’ll go through it anyway.

    Apple’s new mobile operating system, iOS 9, has a cool new feature. It’s called Wi-FI Assist, and it’s enabled by default.

    When Wi-Fi Assist is enabled, it automatically switches over to cellular data when Wi-Fi connectivity is weak. Apple products never want to let go of Wi-Fi. The signal might be terrible, but iOS will cling to any available Wi-Fi – even if it’s so slow as to render your phone a brick – so this is a welcome feature.

    Unless you’re watching your data consumption.

    The feature, which by design forces your phone to use more cellular data than it probably would normally, is opt-out on iOS 9 – so some people could be blowing through data and not even know it right now.

    If this is you, and you want to turn it off, it’s easy. Just head to Settings > Cellular and scroll all the way to the bottom. There you’ll find the Wi-Fi Assist option.

    But if you have enough data to spare, Wi-Fi Assist is a pretty cool feature and you should probably keep it enabled.

  • Netflix Heads to the Sky with New Virgin Partnership

    Netflix Heads to the Sky with New Virgin Partnership

    Netflix and Virgin America have just announced a partnership that will offer passengers on some of its new aircraft free Netflix streaming until March 2nd, 2016.

    Starting today, if you’re flying on Virgin America’s new ViaSat WiFi-equipped aircraft, you’ll be given free Wi-Fi to use for the purposes of Netflix. You’ll be able to stream to your existing devices – phones, tablets, and laptops.

    It’s a limited time offer, but one that’s incredibly beneficial to both companies.

    For Netflix, it’s about branding and new subscriptions. Virgin is branding its Netflix-equipped planes with Netflix and House of Cards logos, and anyone not already a Netflix member will be prompted to sign up for a 30-day free trial in order to stream Netflix on the flights.

    For Virgin, the promotion is a way to publicize its new ViaSat Wi-Fi initiative, which the company says will offer “the highest capacity Ka-band satellite in the world offering 140 gigabits-per-second, to deliver the fastest WiFi connectivity service for high-quality video streaming.”

    Netflix is looking to get into more places – not just your home but in your homes away from home. Earlier this year, Netflix partnered with Marriott to put Netflix in hotel rooms.

    “As WiFi becomes more ubiquitous, it’s going to be increasingly possible for members to enjoy Netflix wherever they want,” said Bill Holmes, Netflix’s global head of business development. “We’re delighted to partner with Virgin America to extend the joy of Netflix to our members at 35,000 feet.”

  • FCC Fines Another Company Over Wi-Fi Blocking

    FCC Fines Another Company Over Wi-Fi Blocking

    The Federal Communications Commission has fined an internet provider $750,000 for using Wi-Fi monitoring systems to jam people’s personal hotspots at hotels and convention centers.

    The FCC says that Smart City, described as an Internet and telecommunications provider for conventions, meeting centers, and hotels, was guilty of blocking people’s mobile hotspots in order to force them to pay for Smart City’s Wi-Fi services.

    “It is unacceptable for any company to charge consumers exorbitant fees to access the Internet while at the same time blocking them from using their own personal Wi-Fi hotspots to access the Internet,” said Travis LeBlanc, Chief of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau. “All companies who seek to use technologies that block FCC-approved Wi-Fi connections are on notice that such practices are patently unlawful.”

    How exorbitant? According to the FCC, Smart City wanted $80 for a single day of Wi-Fi. And if visitors to that particular conference and convention powered by Smart City didn’t pay up, they would find their own Wi-Fi hotspots blocked.

    In January, the FCC warned it was going to “aggressively investigate cases of Wi-Fi blocking.

    “In the 21st Century, Wi-Fi, represents an essential on-ramp to the internet. Personal Wi-Fi networks, or ‘hot spots,’ are an important way that consumers connect to the Internet. Willful or malicious interference with Wi-Fi hot spots is illegal,” said the FCC in an Enforcement Advisory.

    “Wi-Fi blocking violates Section 333 of the Communications Act, as amended. The Enforcement Bureau has seen a disturbing trend in which hotels and other commercial establishments block wireless consumers from using their own personal Wi-Fi hot spots on the commercial establishment’s premises. As a result, the Bureau is protecting consumers by aggressively investigating and acting against such unlawful intentional interference.”

    Around that time, the regulatory agency and Marriott reached a $600,000 settlement for blocking customer’s personal Wi-Hi hotspots.

    The FCC states, unequivocally, that this behavior is illegal.

    No hotel, convention center, or other commercial establishment or the network operator providing services at such establishments may intentionally block or disrupt personal Wi-Fi hot spots on such premises, including as part of an effort to force consumers to purchase access to the property owner’s Wi-Fi network. Such action is illegal and violations could lead to the assessment of substantial monetary penalties.

    So if you notice this happening, speak up.

    Update: In response, Smart City has issued this statement:

    Our goal has always been to provide world-class services to our customers, and our company takes regulatory compliance extremely seriously. We are not gatekeepers to the Internet. As recommended by the Department of Commerce and Department of Defense, we have occasionally used technologies made available by major equipment manufacturers to prevent wireless devices from significantly interfering with and disrupting the operations of neighboring exhibitors on our convention floors. This activity resulted in significantly less than one percent (1%) of all devices being deauthenticated and these same technologies are widely used by major convention centers across the globe as well as many federal agencies.

    We have always acted in good faith, and we had no prior notice that the FCC considered the use of this standardized, ‘available-out-of-the-box’ technology to be a violation of its rules. But when we were contacted by the FCC in October 2014, we ceased using the technology in question.

    While we have strong legal arguments, we’ve determined that mounting a vigorous defense would ultimately prove too costly and too great a distraction for our leadership team. As a result, we’ve chosen to work cooperatively with the FCC, and we are pleased to have resolved this matter. We are eager to return our energies to providing leadership to our industry and delivering world-class services to our clients.

    Image via Will Folsom, Flickr Creative Commons

  • Can Google Make Your Wi-Fi Less Annoying?

    Can Google Make Your Wi-Fi Less Annoying?

    Google has partnered with TP-LINK on a new router called OnHub aimed at simplifying Wi-Fi and making it less annoying. According to Google, it gives you fast, easy, secure Wi-Fi as opposed to “unplugging and re-plugging cords, trying to decipher blinking lights, or contemplating a call to customer support.”

    Here’s what OnHub looks like.

    onhub

    Pretty simple. As Google notes, it has eliminated blinking lights and cords, and instead uses internal antennas and more subtle lighting. It communicates with users via an app.

    “During setup, OnHub searches the airwaves and selects the best channel for the fastest connection,” explains product manager Trond Wuellner. “A unique antenna design and smart software keep working in the background, automatically adjusting OnHub to avoid interference and keep your network at peak performance. You can even prioritize a device, so that your most important activity — like streaming your favorite show — gets the fastest speed.”

    “OnHub makes it simple to set up and manage your Wi-Fi, all from the Google On app, available on Android or iOS,” Wuellner says. “The Google On app tells you how much bandwidth your devices are using, lets you run a network check, and if there’s an issue with your Wi-Fi, the app offers suggestions to help. And, instead of lost passwords and sticky notes, it even reveals your password with a single tap and lets you text or email it to friends.”

    The device automatically updates with any new features that become available as well as security updates, and these happen without any interruption in service.

    Google says it will support Bluetooth Smart Ready, Weave, and 802.15.4 in the future. Additionally, new OnHub devices from other hardware partners will come eventually. The next one will be from ASUS and will be announced later this year.

    This particular model is now available for pre-order for $199.99 from Google Store, Amazon, and Walmart.com. It will also be for sale in physical stores in the U.S. and Canada in the coming weeks.

    Images via Google

  • iOS 9 Fixes an Annoying Wi-Fi Issue

    iOS 9 Fixes an Annoying Wi-Fi Issue

    In gee that’s a simple solution, why isn’t that already a thing news, Apple has built a new Wi-Fi feature into its newest iOS.

    Apple products never want to let go of Wi-Fi. The signal might be terrible, but iOS will cling to any available Wi-Fi – even if it’s so slow as to render your phone a brick.

    Instead of simply switching over to cellular, you’ll sit there with your Wi-Fi spinning, trying to load up Google Maps. Or Spotify. or whatever.

    Unless of course, you turn off Wi-Fi altogether.

    Well, iOS 9 fixes this problem.

    Apple has a new feature called Wi-Fi Assist, and when selected, it automatically switches over to cellular data when Wi-Fi connectivity is weak.

    Of course, if you’re worried about your data you can turn this feature off. It’s not mandatory.

    9to5Mac first spotted the new feature in iOS 9 beta for developers. The new iOS also offers 15 new wallpapers, Beats 1 and Apple Music CarPlay support, Handoff support for the podcasts app, and more. Not a developer? You’ll have a chance to grab it soon.

  • FCC to Businesses: Blocking Wi-Fi Is 100% Illegal

    FCC to Businesses: Blocking Wi-Fi Is 100% Illegal

    The Federal Communications Commission has stated, unequivocally, that businesses which interfere with consumers’ Wi-Fi are in direct violation of the law.

    “In the 21st Century, Wi-Fi, represents an essential on-ramp to the internet. Personal Wi-Fi networks, or “hot spots,” are an important way that consumers connect to the Internet. Willful or malicious interference with Wi-Fi hot spots is illegal,” says the FCC in a new Enforcement Advisory.

    “Wi-Fi blocking violates Section 333 of the Communications Act, as amended. The Enforcement Bureau has seen a disturbing trend in which hotels and other commercial establishments block wireless consumers from using their own personal Wi-Fi hot spots on the commercial establishment’s premises. As a result, the Bureau is protecting consumers by aggressively investigating and acting against such unlawful intentional interference.”

    The FCC’s notice comes in response to a recent case involving the Marriott hotel chain. The company was fined $600,000 for blocking customers’ personal Wi-Fi hotspots at a Nashville, Tennessee location.

    The FCC refers to the case specifically, saying,

    “In 2014, the Enforcement Bureau conducted an investigation, culminating with a Consent Decree, into this kind of unlawful activity by the operator of a resort hotel and convention center.2In that case, Marriott International, Inc. deployed a Wi-Fi deauthentication protocol to deliberately block consumers who sought to connect to the Internet using their own personal Wi-Fi hot spots. Marriott admitted that the customers it blocked did not pose a security threat to the Marriott network and agreed to settle the investigation by paying a civil penalty of $600,000.”

    And according to the FCC, it’s been getting more and more complaints regarding Wi-Fi blocking in other businesses across the country.

    The FCC makes it pretty clear what’s illegal:

    No hotel, convention center, or other commercial establishment or the network operator providing services at such establishments may intentionally block or disrupt personal Wi-Fi hot spots on such premises, including as part of an effort to force consumers to purchase access to the property owner’s Wi-Fi network. Such action is illegal and violations could lead to the assessment of substantial monetary penalties.

    So, for now, this is definitive. If you think your Wi-Fi is being jammed – complain.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Comcast Hotspot Lawsuit Alleges Company Broke the Law with Xfinity Public WiFi Initiative

    A couple of Comcast customers are none too happy with the company’s Xfinity WiFi hotspot initiative, and have filed a class-action lawsuit against the ISP in a California district court.

    Toyer Grear and Joycelyn Harris allege Comcast is violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and various other state statutes when it uses customers’ wireless routers to “generate additional, public Wi-Fi networks for its own benefit.”

    It’s not as if this is any secret. Comcast announced the program back in June of 2013. But the lawsuit takes umbrage with the manner in which Comcast rolled out the program and disputes Comcast’s claims the it doesn’t negatively affect existing customers’ security and performance.

    “Comcast is beginning to give its Xfinity Internet customers an additional “xfinitywifi” signal (or SSID) in their home that is completely separate and distinct from the family’s private and secure home WiFi signal. Offered at no additional cost to Xfinity Internet residential customers, the additional WiFi hotspots will enable friends, relatives, visitors and other Xfinity Internet customers instant, easy access to fast and reliable WiFi,” said the company when it announced the initiative.

    Comcast’s goal? To create Wi-Fi coverage blankets, and to do so with the ‘help’ of its existing customers.

    Comcast says it’s offered at no additional cost, but according to the plaintiffs, there is a real cost to customers – and it’s threefold.

    “Comcast has externalized the costs of its national Wi-Fi network onto its customers. The new wireless routers the Company issues consume vastly more electricity in order to broadcast the second, public Xfinity Wi-Fi Hotspot, which cost is born by the residential customer,” they allege.

    “Additionally, this unauthorized broadcasting of a secondary, public Wi-Fi network from the customer’s wireless router degrades the performance of the customer’s home Wi-Fi network. Finally, the unauthorized broadcasting of a secondary, public Wi-Fi network from the customer’s wireless router subjects the customer to potential security risks, in the form of enabling a stranger who wishes to access the Internet through the customer’s household router, with the customer having no option to authorize or otherwise control such use.”

    Actually, Grear and Harris have a fundamental issue with the way in which the program was thrust onto customers.

    “Comcast does not make its customers aware that, by contracting with Comcast for Internet access, the wireless routers they lease from the Company to establish their own Wi-Fi network will concurrently be used as part of Comcast’s national network of publicly accessible Xfinity Wi-Fi Hotspots,” they say in the lawsuit.

    “Accordingly, Comcast does not obtain authorization from its customers to use their routers to generate an Xfinity Wi-Fi Hotspot; rather, Comcast simply uses its customers’ Internet access, equipment, and resources for its own benefit and to its customers’ detriment, without any authorization. Indeed, Comcast’s contract with its customers is so vague that it is unclear as to whether Comcast even addresses this practice at all, much less adequately enough to be said to have obtained its customers’ authorization of this practice.”

    Comcast says that the “xfinitywifi” network and your secure home network are completely separate.

    “Your XFINITY Wireless Gateway broadcasts an additional “xfinitywifi” network signal for use with XFINITY WiFi. This creates an extension of the XFINITY WiFi network right in your home that any XFINITY Internet subscriber can use to sign in and connect. This XFINITY WiFi service is completely separate from your secure WiFi home network,” says the company.

    And the company also says that any slowdown would be minimal if anything.

    “The broadband connection to your home will be unaffected by the XFINITY WiFi feature. Your in-home WiFi network, as well as XFINITY WiFi, use shared spectrum, and as with any shared medium there can be some impact as more devices share WiFi. We have provisioned the XFINITY WiFi feature to support robust usage, and therefore, we anticipate minimal impact to the in-home WiFi network.”

    The plaintiffs aren’t buying it, however, and are seeking compensatory damages as well as “injunctive and equitable relief, including, but not limited to, enjoining Defendant from using residential customers’ wireless routers to create Xfinity Wi-Fi Hotspots without first obtaining authorization.”

    Image via Mike Mozart, Flickr Creative Commons

  • FCC Says Marriott Jammed Guests’ Wi-Fi, Will Pay $600K Fine

    FCC Says Marriott Jammed Guests’ Wi-Fi, Will Pay $600K Fine

    The FCC and Marriott have come to an agreement on allegations that the hotel chain puprosefully jammed its customers’ Wi-Fi. The civil penalty will amount to $600,000 for the largest hotel company in the world.

    The whole thing started with a complaint, which the FCC received in March of 2013. The complainant, who had recently stayed at Marriott’s Gaylord Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, said that Marriott was “jamming mobile hotspots so that you can’t use them in the convention space.”

    Marriott admitted to (how’s this for clever wording) using “containment features of a Wi-Fi monitoring system”, which prevented many guests from using their own Wi-Fi networks – either through a personal hotspot or third-party device. Because of course they did.

    At the Gaylord Opryland hotel, Wi-Fi is included in your $18-per-night resort fee, but you can upgrade to “enhanced high speed” internet for just $6.99 a day. Because of course you can.

    And from GigaOm:

    Marriott also offers services like custom private networks for its business customers, which can cost anywhere from $250 to $1000 per wireless access point.

    Because of course they do. Shucks, sure would be a shame is something were to happen to your hotspot…oh damn, there it goes.

    Despite being a dick move, this is also illegal. From the FCC:

    “Section 333 of the Communications Act provides that ‘No person shall willfully or maliciously interfere with or cause interference to any radio communications of any station licensed or authorized by or under this Act or operated by the United States Government.’ The Bureau previously has indicated that the use of jammers to interfere with Wi-Fi transmissions violates Section 333.3.”

    Long story short, if you notice your hotspot isn’t working in a hotel, you might not want to chalk it up to coincidence. If you think that Marriott were the only ones doing this, well, I envy your optimism.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Plane Crash? Nah, Just a Google Internet Balloon Returning to Earth

    As it turns out, giant, falling internet balloons kind of resemble a crashing plane.

    Emergency responders (including a rescue helicopter!) were called to an area in New Zealand’s South Island Friday morning after reports of a plane crash. But when they found the site of the ‘wreckage,’ it wasn’t really wreckage at all. It was just a bog ol’, partially-deflated balloon.

    A balloon that belongs to Google, of course. The company has recently been testing its Project Loon balloons in New Zealand. The company confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that prevailing winds make it hard to keep the balloons on track, but

    “Since launching Project Loon in New Zealand last year, we’ve continued to do research flights to improve the technology.”

    We first heard about Project Loon (for balLOON or for LOONey, or maybe both) last summer. One of Google[x]’s ‘moonshot’ ventures, Project Loon wants to increase internet access for underserved areas across the world by putting giant internet-providing balloons way up in the air – as in twice as high as commercial airplanes.

    In April, Google announced that one of its Project Loon balloons had lapped the globe in 22 days, and the project as a whole has clocked over 500,000 km.

    Image via Project Loon, Google+

  • Comcast Launches Wireless Gateway For Small Businesses

    Comcast just announced its new Business Wireless Gateway to provide WiFi to small and medium-sized businesses.

    A spokesperson for Comcast Business tells WebProNews, “A key difference of this product is how it keeps public and private WiFi separate, and all in a single device.”

    As the company explains, the offering enables entrepreneurs to assign one private wireless signal for their “back-office needs” and a separate public signal (Xfinity WiFi) for customers or visitors.

    “We are making the Business Wireless Gateway available nationwide because research has proven time and again that Wi-Fi is a game changer for brick and mortar based small businesses,” said John Guillaume, VP of Product Development for Comcast Business. “Many different types of customers – coffee shops, law firms, real estate offices, gyms, libraries and more – want to attract and retain visitors to their location and give employees the tools they need to be more productive. Wi-Fi can be critical on both fronts, and this device can help make that easy to manage.”

    The device and Business WiFi service are included with most Comcast Business Internet plans.

    Image via YouTube

  • D-Link Launches Facebook Wi-Fi Router For Small Businesses

    D-Link has teamed up with Facebook on a wireless router for small businesses that utilizes Facebook Wi-Fi. The router enables businesses to offer their customers a Wi-Fi hotspot, which they can access by checking into the business on Facebook. You may recall that Cisco launched a similar offering last fall.

    “The solution offers small businesses improved Page insights into customers to help foster increased brand loyalty and drive brand awareness via direct communication and interaction on their business Facebook page,” a spokesperson for D-Link tells WebProNews. “In addition, with up to 1750 Mbps Wi-Fi, and a full array of security features, businesses will have the means to deliver safe, reliable and speedy Wi-Fi to their clientele.”

    “We worked closely with Facebook to deliver an easy-to-use Wi-Fi solution for small business owners looking to create or replace a Wi-Fi hotspot for their customers,” said Daniel Kelley, VP of marketing. “The D-Link 11AC Router with integrated Facebook Wi-Fi offers an incredibly easy way for small businesses to set up a public network, while also enabling them to engage and interact with customers in new ways.”

    Facebook Wi-Fi lets people sidestep codes and new accounts with the check-in process, which is a lot easier, and of course, gives businesses some promotion. According to the company, businesses using Facebook Wi-Fi saw an average of three times more check-ins, based on previous tests.

    Performance specs for the router are: up to 1750Mbps Wi-Fi with 802.11ac (1300ac + 450n). Security features include an SPI firewall and WPA2. It costs $149.99.

    More on Facebook Wi-Fi here. This is D-Link’s first router to utilize it.

    Image via Facebook

  • Japan Wants to Give Tourists Free Wi-Fi in Tons of Public Places by 2016

    There are a bunch of wonderful things about being a tourist in Japan–the food, the culture, the nightlife, and the history, to name a few. But one thing tourists have complained about for years is the difficulty of accessing Wi-Fi in the country. When navigating a foreign country (especially for the first time), access to reliable internet is crucial. Now, according to a report from Nikkei, the Japanese government is preparing to launch a new tourist Wi-Fi initiative that could make gaining access to Wi-Fi as easy as flashing your ID.

    According to Nikkei’s Asian Review, the Japanese government plans to work alongside various telecom providers to build a nationwide common ID system for public Wi-Fi.

    Tourists would be able to either download a smartphone app, or simply show an official their passports and be granted Wi-Fi access. This common ID would be usable in transportation hubs, popular tourist destinations, and pretty much anywhere Wi-Fi is offered, assuming those places comply. Nikkei says the government will “call on facilities nationwide offering free Wi-Fi to adopt the common ID system.”

    As the Verge notes, NTT East already offers this sort of commons ID Wi-Fi system in limited parts of Japan, but this new system would be a nationwide blanket.

    The Japanese government has set a time frame of 2016 for the system to be implemented.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Baby Monitor Hacked in Toddler’s Room

    Baby Monitor Hacked in Toddler’s Room

    Baby monitors are used by parents to do exactly as their name suggests, monitor the baby. We don’t imagine that we are possibly inviting strangers into the safety and security of our homes. Imagine putting your toddler to bed, and using a baby monitor to ensure her safety, only to hear profanities being screamed at her through her monitor while she was sleeping. This is exactly the situation that Marc and Lauren Gilbert experienced when they heard a strange voice coming from 2 year old Allyson’s room.

    Marc and Lauren Gilbert were at home going about their normal routine when Marc heard a strange voice. They went to investigate only to find out that the baby monitor had been hacked. The strange voice was screaming ‘Wake up Allyson, you little (expletive).’ After further investigation, Marc noticed the camera following both Lauren and himself as they moved about the room. The hacker then started hurling the profanities at Marc and Lauren, also calling them by name. Marc quickly unplugged the monitor, but the Gilbert’s have no idea how long the hacker has been watching them and their two toddler children. The Gilbert’s learned a startling lesson and want to share their story with other parents with small children.

    Baby monitor hacking is just another terrifying reality in the wireless world. Hackers can obtain a large amount of information through a baby monitor. In this case, the hacker learned Allyson’s name by seeing it on her wall.

    The packaging on baby monitors can be misleading, and if a baby monitor is going to be used, it should be a digital versus the older analog versions. Monitors that use a Wi-Fi connection are recommended. Even with this, secure measures on your network are imperative. An ABC expert suggest setting Wi-Fi to WPA2, which is the most secure connection. Another important step is to make your password difficult and long.

    The only saving grace of this story is that Allyson was not traumatized by the hacker’s actions. She was born deaf and she has cochlear implants, which she was not wearing at the time. “Thankfully we had them off, and she didn’t hear any of it and she slept right through it,” explain Marc Gilbert.

  • Starbucks Partners With Google For Faster Wi-Fi

    Starbucks Partners With Google For Faster Wi-Fi

    Starbucks recently made a deal with Google to offer their customers Wi-Fi connections that are considerably faster then they are today. Starbucks has been a long-time hang out spot and trendy temporary workspace for many around the world. However, those that choose this workspace option have been faced with limited connectivity speeds. From my personal experience in many of the different Starbucks stores, the current Wi-Fi seems to be noticeably unreliable and considerably slow. This change is going to most likely end up being a profitable business move for Starbucks to keep customers in their store longer which entices them to buy more coffee and food.

    The new Wi-Fi service will start to make its entrance to more than 7,000 of its Starbucks locations within the next 18 months. The transition to this service will begin this month. The Wi-Fi service has been said to enable customers to surf the internet 10 times faster than the current service. So, if you are looking to download that movie, while streaming audio and sending a massive Excel spread sheet to your boss, you are in luck! Starbucks improvements will impact their clientele greatly and give a much better experience to all who visit and use their Wi-Fi network. Students and remote business entrepreneurs all have reacted very positively about this change.

    So you are probably wondering. how do I know if my Starbucks has been upgraded? Kevin Lo, General Manager for Google Access says “We appreciate your patience if it’s still a little while before we get to your favorite Starbucks—you’ll know your new network is ready to go when you can log in to the ‘Google Starbucks’ SSID [service set identifier].”

    Starbucks has always been an innovative company so this change comes as no surprise. By teaming with Google to offer a higher speed Wi-Fi they are securing their place as not just a place to get coffee, but a place to hang out and stay a while. This puts them head and shoulders above their competition and reinforces them as an American staple.

  • Google Settles With 38 States Over Wi-Fi Spying Charges

    In 2010, Google was caught siphoning data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks with its Street View cars. It’s now been almost three years since the practice was first revealed, and Google may have finally tied the last loose string of this affair.

    Connecticut Attorney State General George Jepsen announced today that Google has paid out $7 million to settle charges brought against it by the 38 states affected by its Street View Wi-Fi spying. On top of the cash settlement, Google must adhere to a number of agreements:

    …engage in a comprehensive employee education program about the privacy or confidentiality of user data; to sponsor a nationwide public service campaign to help educate consumers about securing their wireless networks and protecting personal information; and to continue to secure, and eventually destroy, the data collected and stored by its Street View vehicles nationwide between 2008 and March 2010. Google also collected similar data around the world.

    Jepsen hopes that the settlement will hopefully dissuade Google from trying anything like this in the future:

    “While the $7 million is significant, the importance of this agreement goes beyond financial terms. Consumers have a reasonable expectation of privacy. This agreement recognizes those rights and ensures that Google will not use similar tactics in the future to collect personal information without permission from unsuspecting consumers.”

    The settlement is the latest, and potentially final, chapter in the Wi-Fi spying scandal that hit Google in 2010. The company was fined by the FCC last year to the tune of $25,000 for obstructing an investigation into its Wi-Fi eavesdropping practices, but the Commission ultimately dropped the investigation. Privacy advocates had called for a renewal into the investigation, but that didn’t exactly pan out.

    Those same privacy advocates are no doubt pleased then by today’s settlement. They’ll probably argue that the $7 million settlement isn’t nearly enough, but at least the company will finally destroy all the data it collected.

    [h/t: The Hill]

  • Student Hacker Directs FSU Wi-Fi Users to Infamous Meatspin Video (For a Good Cause)

    A 26-year-old Florida State University student has been charged with “offenses against computer users,” a third-degree felony, for hacking the campus’ Wi-Fi network and directing users to an infamous shock site.

    Benjamin Blouin fully admits to hacking the network, but he says that he only did so to illustrate its flaws.

    Anyone trying to access the FSU Wi-Fi on March 1st was redirected from the FSU homepage to a “video of two men having sex.” To denizens of the internet, that redirect led everyone to the infamous shock video known as “Meatspin.”

    Meatspin, a meme from the mid-2000s (SFW), features a close-up of two men having sex with the Dead of Alive song “You Spin Me Round” playing in the background. It actually comes from a porno film from 1985.

    Apparently, Blouin says that he has been trying to bring the issue of network insecurity to the school’s attention for over a year. I guess he just needed something a little more shocking to get it.

    “Anybody’s identity, while they’re logged onto that network, could be at risk,” said our hacktivist.

    According to the report, FSU has shut off public access to the Wi-Fi network to “implement system upgrades.” Apparently, they will not require everyone to login to use the Wi-Fi.

    All I can say is that this is the most successful use of meatspin that I’ve ever seen. And boy, are they some pretty great comedic opportunities associated with meatspin (risky click of the day award goes to…).

    [News Herald via BetaBeat]

  • FCC Votes To Free Up Spectrum For Wi-Fi Devices

    FCC Votes To Free Up Spectrum For Wi-Fi Devices

    The spectrum freed up for Wi-Fi is a finite resource. Too many devices can congest the networks and slow down service for everybody. The FCC wants to prevent that from happening, and have taken steps to relieve congestion with its latest proposal.

    The FCC announced today that it has unanimously voted to free up 195 MHz of additional spectrum in the 5 GHz band. This new spectrum will be available to unlicensed devices. The Commission also proposed to relax regulations on wireless devices and to streamline existing rules.

    FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said the Commission is taking “a big step to ease congestion on traditional Wi-Fi networks, which will mean faster speeds and fewer headaches from U.S. consumers.”

    The FCC notes that the freed up spectrum will not only help decrease congestion in public spaces, but it will help increase speeds of personal wireless networks in the home. That’s great news for those of who have multiple devices running on a single Wi-Fi network in the home.

    Before you start lining up more devices on your personal network, know that the FCC has only voted on a proposal to free up the spectrum. The Commission now has to take public comments before making its final decision. The plan will probably not face any real opposition, however, as industry groups are already praising it.

    The National Cable and Telecommunications Association said that the FCC’s bid to free up more spectrum will help meet increasing consumer demand:

    “…existing Wi-Fi spectrum is growing increasingly congested and more must be found to meet skyrocketing consumer demand and enable increased speeds of next-generation Wi-Fi. More extensive use of the 5 GHz band, along with additional unlicensed spectrum in other bands, will permit cable companies and other innovators to continue to provide Americans with new benefits, businesses with new opportunities, and those in need with life-saving connections.”

    The FCC’s proposal fits snugly into its National Broadband Plan that aims to increase access to broadband across the nation. Freeing up more Wi-Fi can help accomplish that, but let’s hope the Commission can get to work on setting up Gigabit networks across the nation as well.

    [h/t: The Hill]

  • Is Google Building The Next Generation Of Wireless Networks?

    Whenever Google experiments in something, the results are oftentimes pretty awesome. Google Glass, self-driving cars and Google Fiber are all examples of something that started out as an experiment and are now some of the most exciting tech being developed in our nation. Now it seems Google may be experimenting in something that definitely needs a shot of innovation – wireless networks.

    The Wall Street Journal reports that Google had recently submitted an application to the FCC for a license for an “experimental radio service.” The application covers the company’s headquarters in California.

    Now, this wouldn’t be too exciting except for the fact that the application specifically states Google will be using radio frequencies that most devices in use today can’t take advantage of. The frequencies come from licensed spectrum controlled by Clearwire Corp. This licensed spectrum is reportedly better than Wi-Fi when it comes to disseminating a signal across metropolitan areas.

    So, who’s going to be experimenting with this new wireless technology? The application states that the building currently housing the Google Fiber team will be the first place to be outfitted with the technology. The team there is already working to build the next generation land line network so it makes sense that they would be building the next generation wireless network as well.

    Now, what could this mean for future Google Fiber projects? Analysts speaking to the Wall Street Journal suggests that Google could be rolling out a wireless service to its Google Fiber subscribers. Those who subscribe to the service would be able to tap into exclusive Wi-Fi throughout the city. Another theory is that Google’s Motorola unit is building phones to take advantage of the new spectrum. Either way, Google is planning for the future of wireless, and it’s kind of exciting.

    Google already provides free Wi-Fi at its headquarters in California and New York. It’s great for those who are in or around the building, but what about entire cities? There have been some efforts to provide Wi-Fi access across an entire city, but it’s not exactly the best solution in getting Internet to everybody. Google’s plans may involve using this new spectrum that’s better suited for metropolitan environments to start offering wireless Internet to more people.

    Of course, the company will have to make sure people have the hardware to take advantage of it first. That’s an entirely different challenge in and of itself, but Google has proven in the past that it has the resources to dabble in such things. It will be interesting to see what comes of it.

  • Google Brings Free Wi-Fi To Chelsea Neighborhood In New York City

    It was speculated this morning that Google would be bringing fiber Internet to residents of New York City due in large part to a job posting. That rumor turned out to be a bust as Google has instead announced that it will be bringing free Wi-Fi to a neighborhood in New York City.

    At a press conference this morning, Google announced that its New York headquarters in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan will provide free Wi-Fi to residents in the area. The company partnered with the city government and a nonprofit, the Chelsea Improvement Company, to make it possible.

    It’s no Google Fiber, but both Google and the city are hoping the free Wi-Fi attracts a number of small businesses and entrepreneurs to the area to set up shop. Google’s friendliness towards entrepreneurs may also help stimulate even more growth in the area as New York, like other cities across the nation, works to grow its tech sector.

    Speaking at the event, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that “New York is destined to become the world’s leading digital city, and universal access to high-speed Internet is one of the core building blocks of that vision.”

    Google is doing its part for one of the many neighborhoods in New York City, but other parts of the city will obviously be left out. The speculation of a Google Fiber launch may have been premature, but New York City could take a cue from Chattanooga or Seattle and offer cheap fiber Internet to its citizens. It’s already proving to attract plenty of talent in Kansas City. If Bloomberg really wants to make New York a “leading digital city,” he’ll have to either push the city or stingy ISPs to start providing decent Internet.

    [h/t: The Hill]

  • For $850K, This Company Will Bring Broadband Wi-Fi To Rural America

    The Internet is universally important to all Americans, and that’s especially true to rural Americans who are denied access to broadband Internet. The ISPs say it will cost too much to extend service to backroad homes and hard to reach areas in mountainous regions, but one company thinks all of that is a bunch of bollocks.

    GlobalWirelessPOD is a startup company that uses “proprietary wireless infrastructure to provide wireless broadband and collateral business services to small rural communities.” Their hope is to provide broadband Internet to the roughly 19 million Americans living in rural areas that can’t obtain access any other way. It’s a noble endeavor, but it will cost a bit of money to get going.

    The company has launched an Indiegogo campaign that asks for $850,000 to fund the next step of their plan. Here’s how the company is planning to bring Wi-Fi to rural Americans across the country:

    Over the past two years, the company has invested heavily in R&D to optimize software protocol thereby enhancing the ability of 802.11 platforms. The core strategic alliance is to merge with existing national and international rural stations and utilize its terrestrial infrastructure to deliver the bundled services and content. The infrastructure has been successfully tested and is used in limited areas benefiting rural schools and emergency services. The company started with two positive cash flow remote radio stations and internet radio in Iowa. GlobalWirelessPOD has identified multiple rural radio stations in the U.S. Midwest that are ready to align to the multipoint network.

    The company is in need of $ 800,000 to start the build-out, merges & acquisition of target rural stations and ramp up customer premise equipment (CPE) inventory . This includes globally scalable joint-ventures in Brazil, Philippines, Vietnam-ASEAN arena awaiting entry memorandum of agreements. If goal amount is not reached, a second round will commence combined with current positive cash flow. Proprietary and specific long range strategy are disclosed with a completed non-disclosure agreement to interested Pioneer Partners.

    For those who contribute, there’s a wide variety of rewards available in multiple tiers. The lowest tier starts at $11 and those who contribute this amount will receive a thank you note. Bumping your support up to $33 nets you a GlobalWirelessPOD ball cap. Upping your pledge will net you everything from a military grade unit jacket to a board meeting lunch with the folks at OpenWirelessPOD.

    There hasn’t been much money raised yet, but the campaign has just started. OpenWirelessPOD has 116 days left to raise $850,000, but its flexible funding campaign ensures that it will at least receive whatever money is pledged to the cause between now and the campaign’s conclusion.

    It’s going to take companies like GlobalWireless to get Internet into the hands of consumers as the FCC has done a rather terrible job so far in furthering its National Broadband Plan. The unwillingness of ISPs to actually foot the bill of extending service to those who need it most isn’t helping either.

    Those in Appalachia and other rural regions are constantly targeted as regions that need help, but rarely does that help ever come. It’s nice to see somebody working on campaigns to improve the lives of people living in these communities.