In many ways, Wi-Fi has become a double-edged sword of sorts: It’s out there, and it’s available, but there isn’t always a way of connecting to it.
As Wi-Fi continues to grow as an inherent feature on smartphones and tablets, it’s only a matter of time this ongoing conundrum is solved. And, this week, the GSM Association (GSMA (News - Alert)) and the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) together took a step closer to simplifying connectivity to Wi-Fi hotspots, regardless of device or location.
Both organizations have collaborated on a joint initiative to develop technical and commercial frameworks for Wi-Fi roaming, so that the process of connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot doesn’t need device configuration, the use of access keys and the variety of mechanisms for paying for connectivity that most mobile users have become accustomed to. So, once Wi-Fi roaming becomes a reality, mobile devices will be able to connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot with solely a SIM card for authentication, and mobile operators will be able to securely identify users whether they are using a mobile or Wi-Fi network.
"The proliferation of smartphones and tablets around the world, as well as consumers' huge appetite for data means innovative solutions need to be explored to make using the Internet as convenient and as accessible as possible," said Dan Warren (News - Alert), senior director of Technology at the GSMA, an organization representing the interests of nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators. "Through combining the proven capabilities of Mobile Broadband and Wi-Fi technologies, users will have the freedom to move between networks with ease."
In addition to the GSMA’s renowned roaming principles, which have driven the mobile industry to more than six billion mobile connections across the globe, the WBA’s “Next Generation Hotspot” program and the Wi-Fi Alliance’s (News - Alert) “Passpoint Certification” technology will serve as the basis for Wi-Fi roaming.
"The combination of Wi-Fi and mobile technologies extends the power of broadband for consumers," said Shrikant Shenwai, CEO, WBA. "The work by the WBA and the GSMA will expedite the availability of a new generation of Internet access for the benefit of consumers everywhere. Key to this is Wi-Fi being able to replicate the success of mobile technology and allow users to roam seamlessly between different networks."
The Wi-Fi roaming project is based on a common approach to automatically and securely authenticating mobile devices on Wi-Fi hotspots. Moving forward, the initiative will hone in on generating guidelines on security, billing, data offload, device implementation and network selection in order to produce a consistent solution for both GSMA and WBA members. By following the GSMA’s GPRS Roaming Exchange and the WBA’s Wireless Roaming Intermediary Exchange roaming structures, the initiative aims to arrive at straightforward Internet connectivity for the billions of consumers across the globe.
This joint movement spells success for companies like iQsim. In addition to specializing in SIM servers for SIM termination and management, the company comes equipped with GSM gateways for enabling telephone users to communicate with others on alternative networks regardless of the technology. By using a tariff that enables free calls between users on the same network, a GSM gateway routes the outgoing call via a SIM card, installed within a SIM server, on the same network.
When it comes to GSM gateway needs, iQsim boasts a range of GSM devices that natively support the capability to be connected to its SIM server architecture, which is designed to offer operators competitive call termination rates and highly reliable services for both voice calling and SMS. iQsim’s portfolio of GSM gateways are built for SMS and call termination, in addition to GSM devices for QoS mobile network testing and M2M, and can be deployed across several countries on customers’ premises including retail outlets, small offices and residential environments.
For more information on iQsim, click here.
Edited by Jamie Epstein