Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor
Today we announced our partnership with Accuris Networks, providing a solution to merge Wi-Fi and cellular network access for iOS and Android devices.
This solution using the iPass Open Mobile Exchange platform provides a seamless and secure device-based Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) for Wi-Fi roaming.
From Marcio Avilez, vice president of network services, “…market success requires a solution that will span multiple generations of Wi-Fi networks, leveraging the world’s current supply. By partnering with Accuris, we have created a solution to allow users to roam onto legacy Wi-Fi networks, helping to make Wi-Fi roaming widely available and relevant to the subscriber.”
For more information, including technical details, see our press release >>
Partnership with Accuris Networks for AAA for device Wi-Fi roaming >>
Wednesday, May 1st, 2013
Brian Metzger, Sr. Marketing Mgr, Carrier Services
Consider these facts:
International travel is now at an all-time high, and poised for further growth:
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reports that international tourist arrivals exceeded 1 billion for the first time ever in 2012, equating to 3.8% year-on-year growth from 2011. Furthermore, the volume of international travel is set for robust growth again this year, with the UNWTO forecasting an increase of 3-4% in 2013. Since each international trip represents a potential roaming event, the market for international Wi-Fi roaming has never been greater.
Wi-Fi is the primary network for smartphones and tablets:
According to studies conducted by Informa Telecoms & Media in partnership with Mobidia, Wi-Fi accounts for between 65% and 85% of total smartphone-originated data traffic, depending on the device model and the subscriber’s country of residence.
International travelers are carrying multiple smartphones:
According to a recent iPass survey on international data roaming, 98% of respondents own at least one smartphone, and over one-third (33.8%) of respondents travel with two or more. High levels of smartphone adoption were recorded across all geographies, including key emerging markets such as Brazil, India and China.
And, there is a rise of Wi-Fi exclusive devices:
There has been rapid growth in the adoption and usage of Wi-Fi-only devices (such as tablets) among international travelers. According to Informa Telecoms & Media forecasts, more than 162 million tablets will be shipped in 2013, of which around three-quarters (74%) are expected to ship with Wi-Fi as the only form of connectivity.
Given all the facts above, there has been considerable momentum behind partnership-based approaches to international Wi-Fi roaming on behalf of Communication Service Providers (CSPs). This momentum can be attributed to two key market drivers:
1. Accelerate the availability of attractive international-Wi-Fi roaming services
CSPs that can bring differentiated Wi-Fi roaming propositions to market early can exploit first-mover advantage, and capture the demand that exists among international travelers for an improved roaming experience. By partnering with Wi-Fi aggregators, CSPs can accelerate the availability of new Wi-Fi offers and avoid the hefty investment inherent in a do-it-yourself approach.
2. Leverage the best practice learned from Wi-Fi aggregators
By leveraging the best practice that Wi-Fi aggregators have learned from their existing partnerships and market development, CSPs can mitigate the risk of making costly mistakes and improve their likelihood of commercializing propositions with proven market potential. The support offered to CSPs by Wi-Fi aggregators in areas such as application development, marketing strategy and proposition building form a key part of the value of a partnership-based strategy in international Wi-Fi roaming, and are important reasons why more and more partnership deals are being struck.
With over a dozen cited examples of CSPs that are in market with International Wi-Fi roaming services, along with specific insights on market strategy, commercialization models and messaging, the new iPass/Informa whitepaper, “International Wi-Fi Roaming | Winning Strategies to Construct Wi-Fi/Cellular Data-Roaming Offers for Retail Subscribers,” is a must read.
Read the press release >>
Get the report >>
Report: Strategic insights on international Wi-Fi roaming services for carriers >>
Tuesday, April 9th, 2013
Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor
M1 Limited in Singapore will offer its subscribers a global Wi-Fi data roaming service using iPass Open Mobile Exchange services.
M1 was the first to commercially launch nationwide 4G mobile service and mobile broadband service in South East Asia, and will soon offer a global Wi-Fi roaming service that provides access to more than one million hotspots globally to their postpaid mobile customers across multiple devices, such as the iPhone, iPad and Android-based smartphone and tablets.
Read the press release >>
M1 Limited to offer Global Wi-Fi Roaming >>
Tuesday, November 6th, 2012
Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor
SingTel, Asia’s leading communications group headquartered in Singapore, will offer Wi-Fi roaming services for enterprises in Singapore and across Asia.
SingTel will provide iPass Open Mobile to enterprises to enable their customers to be connected to the world’s largest commercial Wi-Fi hotspot network with over one million venues worldwide.
The SingTel Group is Asia’s leading communications group. SingTel Group Enterprise provides innovative and comprehensive ICT solutions to the Group’s enterprise customers across geographical boundaries.
Read the press release >>
SingTel offering Wi-Fi to customers via iPass >>
Monday, October 8th, 2012
Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor
Steve Livingston, SVP of Carrier Development, was at WiFi World Summit last month in Barcelona. BNET TV caught up to Steve in this interview:
Here’s some of what Steve had to say:
The content world is telling people to consume as much as they can. What’s nice about the 3G networks is that it’s ubiquitous. But if you want to consume data, just like you’re in your living room, why not have the network that allows you to do it. That’s where I think Wi-FI really kicks in. It’s a complement.
Some mobile operators talked about the complement of Wi-Fi on the panel. One, they can address content demands with Wi-Fi. But they know there are a lot of Wi-Fi only devices. Do they ignore these, or say that: you are a mobile customer of mine and I know you are carrying a tablet that has no SIM card. Why don’t I attach a plan for you…
The company that does that first will be disruptive and will get these high-value customers that have this discretionary income, travel, have 3 devices and can consume data.
You can hear the entire interview on bnetTV.com >>
Wi-Fi as a smart complement to 3G/4G: Steve Livingston interview >>
