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Microsoft has secured access to over 11 million WiFi hotspots for Windows Phone 8 users today by inking a deal with virtual network provider Devicescape. Hoping to help people avoid pesky data overages, this partnership uses Windows Phone 8’s Data Sense feature to locate participating hotspots from Devicescape’s group of pre-approved WiFi access points. When launched, the app pulls up a Bing-powered map displaying nearby hotspots and vets them based on their signal strengths. Now before you start dreaming of watching your entire Netflix queue on your shiny new Lumia 920, keep in mind that Verizon’s currently the only US carrier on the Data Sense bandwagon. Hopefully Microsoft’s customer-friendly approach to mobile data will motivate other service providers to follow suit as more Windows Phone 8 handsets become available.

Continue reading Microsoft partners with Devicescape to give WP8 users access to over 11 million WiFi hotspots

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft

Microsoft partners with Devicescape to give WP8 users access to over 11 million WiFi hotspots originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 22:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xcom Global has been busy carving out a reputation as the world traveler’s best friend, but that globetrotter has always had to make do with 3G even if there was 4G back home. As of September 20th, frequent roamers of the sort will have access to LTE when abroad — at least, if they’re planning a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun. A deal between Xcom and EMOBILE will let visitors to Japan get up to 75Mbps by renting a Huawei GL01P hotspot to the tune of $18 a day, up slightly from Xcom’s usual $15. The pocket router won’t work in other countries, but it will supply dual-carrier HSPA+ 3G if travelers wander outside of the fastest coverage areas. Not planning a trip to Osaka? We’re told Xcom plans to expand its LTE option to Europe at some point in the future, starting with the UK — good timing, that.

Filed under: Wireless, Networking, Mobile

Xcom Global launches LTE data for travelers at $18 a day, starting in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you’d like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with “Insert Coin” as the subject line.

If you’ve ever thought “Hey, my internet is pretty slow, maybe I can get a second line and combine them into one big, zippy connection!” then you’re not alone — those of us who are broadband-deprived need all the help we can get. But a quick tour through Google will show you the difficulty of doing that process, called “bonding,” at home. So, Connectify has proposed Dispatch, software that lets you easily combine your WiFi, ethernet and 3G/4G into a single, fat pipe, at a reasonable cost. The company brings along wireless sharing know-how from its Hotspot product to the project, and promises that with every connection you combine, you’ll get a corresponding bump in throughput. Also, the system will automatically failover to a good connection if one goes on the fritz, and even switch automatically between WiFi and 3G/4G to maximize speed and save money.

To prove the tech, the company combined all the available open WiFi networks in a neighborhood along with a tethered Verizon mobile phone, and were able to create an impressive 85Mbs connection, as the video below the break shows. So far, Connectify has vacuumed up $30K for Dispatch toward the $50K objective, with about two weeks left. So, if you’re desperate for more speed, or just want to trump your neighbor’s bandwidth by stealing his WiFi and melding it with your ADSL, check the source to see how to pledge.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Connectify Dispatch lets you put all your internets together into one big internet (video)

Filed under: Internet

Insert Coin: Connectify Dispatch lets you put all your internets together into one big internet (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember the Olympic ban on WiFi hotspots to ensure the games’ corporate sponsors could sell you back access at a premium? The threat to seize or eject anyone caught using such gear seemed hollow — after all, how could you be found in a crowd of 90,000? It turns out, LOCOG have employed WiFi police, chasing down unauthorized signals with their big red detectors. Although we should give them some credit — you’ll certainly see them coming from a mile away.

[Image Credit: Sadao Turner, Twitter]

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs, Wireless

You’ve heard of the Child Catcher? Meet the WiFi Snatcher originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just when you were finally beginning to understand the difference between Openzone and Fon, British operator BT has decided to merge them into a single hotspot service called BT Wi-fi — creating what it claims is the “world’s largest wi-fi community.” Access already comes free and unlimited with home and business broadband connections, so there’s “no need to pay for 3G or a dongle” so long as you’re in a relatively densely populated area. The re-branding should have little impact on how you use the service, except that the old network names will gradually be replaced, but then a bit of unification often has unexpected benefits.

BT unites Openzone and Fon as a single WiFi hotspot service in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 05:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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