Easy Wi-FiEasy Wi-Fifor the iPhonefor the iPhone

Created by DevicescapeCreated by Devicescape

Presentation by Dylan HarrisPresentation by Dylan Harris

ProblemProblem

►Some Wi-Fi networks require a login Some Wi-Fi networks require a login and password on a signal that is publicand password on a signal that is public

►The iPhone disconnects from Wi-Fi to The iPhone disconnects from Wi-Fi to conserve battery every ~15 minutes of conserve battery every ~15 minutes of inactivity, requiring one to reconnectinactivity, requiring one to reconnect

►On a small device like the iPhone, it is On a small device like the iPhone, it is very tedious to login every time one very tedious to login every time one reconnects to the networkreconnects to the network

Current SolutionCurrent Solution

►A user creates a profile for a certain A user creates a profile for a certain login that Easy Wi-Fi has in its login that Easy Wi-Fi has in its database, such as the “University of database, such as the “University of Michigan Wireless Netowork” or “AT&T Michigan Wireless Netowork” or “AT&T Hotspot”Hotspot”

►All you have to do is run the app and it All you have to do is run the app and it automatically connects to the network automatically connects to the network in range if you have an account set up in range if you have an account set up for that specific networkfor that specific network

Perfect SolutionPerfect Solution

►Before the app store was released, I Before the app store was released, I had a version of this app on my had a version of this app on my jailbroken iPhone, which was able to jailbroken iPhone, which was able to run in the background and run in the background and automatically login to any network I automatically login to any network I had a profile for, requiring me to do had a profile for, requiring me to do absolutely nothing.absolutely nothing.

►All of that was done with an All of that was done with an unnoticeable change in battery lifeunnoticeable change in battery life

App NumbersApp Numbers

►This app currently has a 2 and a half This app currently has a 2 and a half star rating out of 3,174 reviews, with star rating out of 3,174 reviews, with varying experiences from everyone, varying experiences from everyone, mostly bad.mostly bad.

►The application was previously $2.99, The application was previously $2.99, but has since then become freebut has since then become free

CompanyCompany

►Devicescape creates many successful Devicescape creates many successful Wi-Fi login applications for a variety of Wi-Fi login applications for a variety of platforms, including laptops and other platforms, including laptops and other smartphonessmartphones

►The company was founded in 2001 The company was founded in 2001 and now has about 50 employeesand now has about 50 employees

The GoodThe Good

►Enables you to avoid re-typing your Enables you to avoid re-typing your login information every time you login information every time you connect to your network of choiceconnect to your network of choice

►Enables one click access to reconnect Enables one click access to reconnect to your network of choiceto your network of choice

The BadThe Bad

►You still have to navigate to the app and You still have to navigate to the app and click it before you can connect, which click it before you can connect, which hampers productivity when the iPhone hampers productivity when the iPhone comes back from sleeping while already comes back from sleeping while already running a application that requires running a application that requires internet access. internet access.

►Exit safari, open Easy Wi-Fi, exit Easy Wi-Exit safari, open Easy Wi-Fi, exit Easy Wi-Fi, open safari. That is not a fast process.Fi, open safari. That is not a fast process.

►Design of the app is not very user friendlyDesign of the app is not very user friendly

The ComplicatedThe Complicated

► There have been recent complications with There have been recent complications with the addition of iPhone OS 3.0 and its new the addition of iPhone OS 3.0 and its new Hotspot approachHotspot approach

► The iPhone OS 3.1 fixed some of the The iPhone OS 3.1 fixed some of the problems, but only by disabling the safari problems, but only by disabling the safari page that pops up for a user to type in login page that pops up for a user to type in login infoinfo

► iPhone can now connect to any AT&T iPhone can now connect to any AT&T Hotspot seamlessly, without the use of this Hotspot seamlessly, without the use of this appapp

Secret SauceSecret Sauce

►The app store limitations have The app store limitations have impeded the secret sauce that could impeded the secret sauce that could make this app amazing if it ran in the make this app amazing if it ran in the backgroundbackground

►Otherwise, not having to type in your Otherwise, not having to type in your login info on the small screen is quite login info on the small screen is quite convenientconvenient

Competition AnalysisCompetition Analysis

►Apps such as Boingo and Bluesocket Apps such as Boingo and Bluesocket do similar things, but with similar do similar things, but with similar problems.problems.

►Those apps also only connect to their Those apps also only connect to their respective networks, where Easy Wi-Fi respective networks, where Easy Wi-Fi connects to anything it has a profile connects to anything it has a profile for, which is updated frequentlyfor, which is updated frequently

Business ModelBusiness Model

►NoneNone►They tried to put a price on the initial They tried to put a price on the initial

app purchase, but there are currently app purchase, but there are currently too many problemstoo many problems

► In the future, if it starts to work In the future, if it starts to work correctly, they may put a price on the correctly, they may put a price on the app purchase againapp purchase again

Next StepsNext Steps

►Find some way to make the app run Find some way to make the app run seamlessly in the background, which seamlessly in the background, which would require working more directly would require working more directly with applewith apple

►One option would be for the app to One option would be for the app to start up any time a Wi-Fi requires a start up any time a Wi-Fi requires a login and passwordlogin and password

Easy Wi-Fi by DevicescapeEasy Wi-Fi by Devicescape

►Questions?Questions?►Comments?Comments?