Wifi Revolution

Truphone (News - Alert) is planning to broaden its international Wi-Fi access and automate the login process, according to an announcement from the company. The improvements come thanks to an agreement with Quiconnect that will build on existing Wi-Fi access while making it quicker and simpler for users to make VoIP calls in public places.

Via open source and standards-based software, Truphone calls are routed over Wi-Fi using SIP and RTP. Using the Internet to deliver voice calls without a separate handset, Truphone allows calls to be made on mass-market Nokia (News - Alert) cell phones.

The mobile VoIP market is expected to boast 70.6 million consumer cell-VoIP users
by 2011—quite a leap from 480,000 last year.

“For the first time, we will be adding presence capabilities and creating arrangements with local Wi-Fi operators whereby Truphone customers don't need to have local subscriptions with operators to access their networks,” said Luke Vinogradov, Quiconnect’s senior marketing manager of new products. “Presence capabilities means customers will be automatically logged in at Wi-Fi locations but will only pay once a
mobile VoIP call is made just like in the GSM world. This is fundamentally different from current Wi-Fi pricing models, where you start paying when you connect to a hotspot. We expect this new approach to pricing to make mobile VoIP usage explode.”

Per the agreement, Quiconnect will create a virtual Wi-Fi network for Truphone that will grant users access to the Truphone service from public Wi-Fi hotspots around the globe, including airports, hotels, conference centers, train stations and coffee shops.

Truphone will licence Quiconnect’s Connector software, which means that customers’ phones will be automatically authenticated at public Wi-Fi locations. This means customers no longer have to put in their login details, since all credentials are preloaded.

Quiconnect plans to establish multiple relationships for Truphone with a number of companies over the next year, focusing on the USA and Europe at first, so traveling customers can avoid roaming charges by making and receiving VoIP calls on their phones.

Truphone is the first company to utilize Quiconnect’s new solutions for application providers to make services available via wireless broadband. These solutions include connector software, network integration and management services, and data and financial clearing services.

 

 

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