WeFi - free the world's Wi-Fi!

Malaysian Restaurants must have Wi-Fi!

2012-01-03T10:53:00.000+02:00

So this is pretty big news, coming from the Malaysian editorial, The New Straits Times Press. Kuala Lumpur is the biggest city in Malaysia and now it is the only city in the world that has created a law where restaurants either applying for a license or already existing, must have Wi-Fi connection in their restaurant.

Cafes, bars and clubs that are bigger than 120 square meters must abide to the law as well. Like it or not, the world is changing according to our technology advancement and now it is even entering the law system.

Do you agree? Should businesses be forced to pay for a Wi-Fi connection?

WeFi has reached 100 million Wi-Fi spots!

2011-08-22T18:44:00.000+03:00

Drumroll … Yay! WeFi has reached 100 million Wi-Fi spots!

Some said it wasn’t possible, others laughed at the attempt…but ladies and gentleman, we have done the unthinkable… We have reached over one-hundred million Wi-Fi spots and we could not have done it without you.
Throughout the last few years we have created the world’s first and biggest global Wi-Fi database. Through this database, we were able to release reports on global trends in Wi-Fi usage and showed the world different statistics on Wi-Fi , 3G and data offloading , average duration of use, when users are connected to a public Wi-Fi hotspot and more - you can check out the latest report here http://j.mp/WeFi11Q2

Here at WeFi, we would like to thank our users who have installed WeFi on their laptops and phones and took part in our mobile internet revolution. With the gift of Wi-Fi, we have brought wireless Internet broadband to the table. Everyone around the world can enjoy our software that allows the best automatic connection to the best Wi-Fi hotspot in your area. We promise to keep it up and continue growing.
Stay tuned, next week we will release some new cool Wi-Fi facts we’ve learned from those 100 million Wi-Fi spots…

Who is the average WeFi user?

2011-08-01T22:46:00.000+03:00

For those of you who dont know, we conduct monthly surveys that we send out to our new users, just a way for us to get to know you guys. Wse have received some interesting insights regarding our users. According to the survey and I don't mean to offend anyone... but the average user is 25-35 male who uses the internet mostly for email and discovered WeFi through a search engine.
Now for the juicy QA and more:

*What do people love most about WeFi - Answer: The idea of the community that discovers free Wi-Fi.

*The average WeFi user is very much satisfied with WeFi...(score!)

*WeFi users mostly connect to WeFi at home and they use it everyday.

*WeFi users can discover new Wi-Fi hotspots and map them for everyone to use. Do you find it interesting? The users answered: Yes, they are interested to see the map but have no time to map it themselves.

*The most interesting information for a WeFi user is the connection speed.

*WeFi gives users free access to paid hotspots, we asked our users, what would they agree to do for free access? And the winner is: Add new Wi-Fi spots to the maps.

*WeFi wants to free the world's Wi-Fi, having said that, would you share your Wi-Fi password with others? Users answered: Yes, with people I personally know.

So there you have it.. Do you consider yourself an average WeFi user? Do you have your own answers?

Want to take the survey yourself? Click here , join the discussion!

Can Google + be the new Facebook?

2011-06-29T20:20:00.000+03:00

Have you heard about Google + (plus)?
It’s google's new attempt at social networking after we all know how google buzz was more like a google bomb.
Google is claiming that their project is more of a social tool than a social network trying to complete with facebook.

I don’t know, right now I’m feeling a bit lazy to move my whole social life onto another social network, but if enough of my facebook friends move then I guess I'd have no choice, because who would be there to like and comment on my latest post about a cute penguin who befriends a rat?
I’m a firm googler, I use everything that google offers, well most of it. I’m opened to new things and I’m getting a little annoyed of facebook and their privacy mumbo jumbo antics. I have to say I'm exciting to see it...

The question is, does Facebook have something to worry about? Will Facebook become the next Myspace? Possibly? Only time will tell.

How about you? Would you leave facebook? Tell us your thoughts

Here's a look inside Google +

New Android phones out on the market!

2011-06-09T14:08:00.000+03:00

With different Android phones pouring in like rain, it can be so confusing trying to figure out which phone is for you. Here are a few new Android phones that are out there now:

HTC Thunderbolt 4G
This device is very very similar to the HTC Desire. Fully equipped with an 8 mega pixel camera, 4.3 inch screen, and a 1GHz processor, some may even say this is the twin of the HTC Desire.

LG Optimus 2X
So this player is one of the first dual- core smartphones out there. Due to its Tehra 2 processor, this device is faster than any other phone out there . The details : 4 inch screen, 480 x 800 resolution, an 8 megapixel camera, the list goes on and on.

Samsung Infuse 4G
The cool thing about this phone is that it is made for the 4G networks. It’s got a 4.5 screen and a resolution of 480X800. Like the previous phones mentioned, this too has an 8 megapixel camera and a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera for video calls. Coming with a 1.2GHz single-core Hummingbird processor, this phone is actually considered the thinnest phone out there.

Other phones out there worth mentioning are the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc and the Motorola Droid Bionic

Enjoy!

Don’t be a chump and secure your Wireless Router

2011-05-05T17:01:00.000+03:00

These days it is very easy to commit an internet crime, get away with it and pin it on someone else...say you!
Basically all you have to do in order to secure yourself is to secure your wireless router.

Here are a few tips:

Turn off any SSID broadcasting (the name of your router)

Change the name of the router – As soon as you get a new router, change the name to something unique.

Pick a strong password!

Have you ever heard of Mac? I’m not talking about the computer or makeup company, it actually stands for "Media Access Control", and with that, you can actually tell your router which devices can connect to it. So any unwanted devices will not be able to connect to yours.

So those are some tips that will help you to secure your Wireless Router…. Be safe!

Forbes post on WeFi's WeANDSF

2011-04-29T17:41:00.000+03:00

Woohoo! Have you read Forbes blog post about WeFi? Blogs.forbes.com recently published a great post about WeFi’s WeANDSF system. It really explains in detail how it works (if you’ve been confused)
Just make sure to check it out if you've haven't all ready.

http://blogs.forbes.com/elizabethwoyke/2011/04/22/automatic-wi-fi-offloading-coming-to-u-s-carriers/

You think your Internet is slow? Go to England

2011-04-08T14:59:00.000+03:00

What would you do if you lived in a city where it just wasn’t possible to get fast internet?

The U.K is internationally known for their royalty, their music and their teeth, one thing they are now known for is their lack of internet speed.
A list of internet speeds in the UK has been created by Top10.com and some cities just came embarrisingly low in their internet speed.
So what is the average 3G speed in the UK? You guessed it, it falls at 2.62 MBPS, and sometimes it can even fall at 3.86 MBPS if you happen to be in Peterborough.

But the worst of the worst has to be Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, and those poor souls have to deal with an average download speed of 1.73 MBPS. I don’t care how cool the game is, if it takes more than two minutes to load it, it ain’t worth the frustration .

With 4G coming up very soon, it looks like the U.K really needs to step up.
To get more information, read more here

QR codes- Are they here to stay?

2011-03-30T15:31:00.001+02:00

Has it ever happened to you that you walked down a street and saw the following sign:

Did it make you take out your phone or tablet and scan it? If you haven’t yet, be prepared to, looks like QR codes are taking over.

But what are they really?

QR codes come from Japan and it stands for Quick Response, they are basically paper-based hyperlinks that look like squiggly lines shaped like a box, intended for people to scan them as barcodes and poof, magically, information about a product will appear on your handheld device. In other words, it is the fastest way for a marketer to send the message to the user, ex: User walks down the street, sees the QR code on a store window about shoes, user scans the code and boom – User receives marketer’s message in less than 10 seconds.

It is now early 2011, it looks like QR codes are just starting to take over the advertisement world. It’s not only big corporations like Starbucks, Ford and Calvin Klein (just to name a few) who are using QR codes, nowadays, anyone can generate the code and post it just about anywhere. I’ve seen it on business cards, pamphlets and even everyday people use it in a way to get new users to follow them on twitter or “like” their facebook page, the list goes on.

The bottom line is people want information and they want it as quick as possible, QR barcodes can give them that, which makes everyone happy. So as the rise of Smartphone users continue to grow, it looks like QR codes are here to stay.

If you want to generate your own code, you can find a few online sites like http://qrcode.kaywa.com , and it’s all free of charge of course.

Here is the one I made for WeFi:

Mobile Congress 2011, WOW, what an experience!

2011-03-08T19:15:00.000+02:00

Almost a month has passed since the Mobile Congress 2011 was held and yet it still feels like it was only yesterday we landed in Barcelona . For those who weren't there, please read ahead and prepare to be amazed.

Two words that you need to remember and don’t forget where you heard it first:
Data Offloading
That’s right; data offloading is the new buzz for 2011, what does that mean? So many smart phones and tablets have features like 3G and Wi-Fi, more mobile services are looking for Wi-Fi networks as a way to offload data from there 3G ground. Offloading can prevent the demand for expensive mobile networks while giving the user an easier way of using the internet.

WeFi revealed “WeANDSF” - our carrier-grade 3GPP standard-compliant solution
Read more about it here

Our booth was really the happening place to be. We always had people coming up and engaging conversation, curious about WeFi and wanted to know how they can join the WeFi revolution!

Tawkon, aside form being a great App that helps you diminish cellphone radiation, was a great showcase of our developer SDK!

Now for the fun stuff!

3D LG Optimus phone is simply breathtaking - You can film your own 3D videos using the dual cameras

Windows Mobile 7 - everything about it is great, everything from the way it looks to what is holds under the hood, this phone definitely give the iPhone a run for its money!

Tablets, Tablets, Tablets – They’re everywhere!!

You got your: HP’s, Blackberry’s and ever Motorola revealed their new ware. So many to choose from, sheesh, if you’re looking for a tablet, good luck deciding which one to go for!

One last cool thing, we met the makers of Angry Birds - Yay!

Stay tuned for more news!

Should I get a new phone or wait…That is the question?

2011-02-28T19:29:00.000+02:00

How many of us were so excited to unpack our brand new smartphone just to realize that next week, the same smart phone company will be releasing their newest model that has certain features that do not match your new phone. That sucks and can really ruin your mood, but it can also happen to any of us and has, so it is important to research the smartphone market before you make your decision.

Let’s say you’ve done all your research, realize that you cannot find any dates regarding new software but you’re still torn between getting the smartphone or waiting. Here are some suggestions that may make your decision easier:

1.Technology – Let’s face it, it’s always expanding and people from all around the world are creating new things while us regular folks are busy watching the latest sitcom. Remember what Ralph Waldo Emerson said “With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.” Don’t wait around for new technology because it’s always coming, keeping up with new technology is as hard as keeping up with the Kardashians. (insert: Ba-dum-tssst)

2.Ask yourself: What kind of phone do I really need? What does Froyo and Gingerbread mean to me besides some possible names for my new cat? Do I need a super fast processor that will load my pages in half of a second or can I wait 3 seconds? Do I really need a 5 mega-pixel camera if I only upload the mobile pics to facebook? You really need to ask yourself those types of questions... and be honest!

3.Bottom line: You want the phone, you can afford the phone or the upgrade, if you think you’re life will benefit from the phone, get the phone, that’s my honest opinion. If you have interest in the whole social media field and always want to “be in touch” with your virtual friends, and think a new phone will better that, then I’d say you do need a phone that you love because in the end of the day, like it or not, you’ve probably used your phone more than you’ve gulped down sips of water.

If you still feel confused and hold reservations, a good ol’ list of pros’ and cons could do the trick. Or simply just wait….impulsive buying can be heavy on the heart.

Introducing an App that lowers the risk of Cancer

2011-02-10T20:10:00.000+02:00

Have you guys heard of Tawkon? It’s a nifty app that monitors and analyzes your real-time mobile phone radiation, in other words this app may lower any risk of getting cancer when using your mobile phone (Though there are studies that say different) . Why I’m talking about this is because WeFi and Tawkon have come together to create a new app that can automatically transfer a mobile call to Wi-Fi when it detects that handset radiation levels have exceed certain thresholds.
Tawkon is actually using WeFi’s hotspot community in order to connect the users via a local Wi-Fi points at the moment the radiation threshold has been exceeded.

Smartphones that support Tawkon are: Android (beta), BlackBerry, Symbian, iPhone, Windows Mobile .
Click here to read more

WeFi welcomes Tawkon to the WeFi family...

From iPhone to Android in 30 days!

2011-01-22T10:44:00.000+02:00

Hey iPhone users, if you had to give up your precious iPhone and trade it in for an Android, could you do it?

One courageous WeFi employee by the name of David Silberstein, was given the ultimate task of trading in his iPhone for an Android.

“So, without any special ceremony - I flipped my SIM card from my trusty iPhone 3GS to a shiny new HTC Desire HD.
I’ll use this Tumblr to graph my thoughts and findings. Honestly, I have no idea wether I’m gonna run screaming back to the iOS device, or, perhaps, will I embrace the google open-source phone concept.
The suspense is killing me”

He will be documenting his whole experience on this nifty site http://wefi.tumblr.com/ , be sure to check that out!

Some Weird Wi-Fi Facts!

2011-01-14T23:06:00.000+02:00

So we went over to our Database and Classification departments, and asked our overworked over-serious colleagues over there, to stir things up and find some info nuggets that would be, well, cool. Surprisingly, this is actually harder than it sounds .

We started out with some dry stats to get our bearings. Almost no surprises there:

How many hotspots were added in 2010?
A grand total of 34,681,566 hotspots were added by the awesome WeFi community in 2010.

Which is the most popular brand of Wi-Fi in the US?
Drum roll please…. Linksys was the most popular brand of Wi-Fi in the US of A, why? Some say is has the best features, others say they like the price…go figure

Planning a trip to the United States and want to get the best Wi-Fi connection? We roamed the country from coast to coat looking for the cities with the best connections, according to our calculations: Los Angeles, California, Austin, Texas, New York, New York are the winners! In these three cities you will be able to find the best WiFi around! Read more …http://wefiblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/top-10-wi-fi-friendly-cities-in-usa.html

Stay tuned for another edition of “Some Weird Wi-Fi facts”.

Peace!

2010 SSID Face to Face countdown!

2010-12-28T12:35:00.003+02:00

With all the yearly awards, charts and wrap-ups, we decided that we want the final blog post of 2010 to be nothing but fun!

Our quarterly fact report about Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi usage is a rather serious document, but we thought to try and bring you something lighter and more entertaining for the holiday season.

When you are searching for a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect your laptop or smartphone, you sometimes notice many of these spots have interesting names (SSID is the proper techie term). Weird or cool, a lot of people go above and beyond to name their Wi-Fi spot after something they like or dislike.
So now (drum roll please...), without further ado, here's the 2010, SSID Face to Face countdown

See if you can guess which is more popular?

Obama vs. Oprah

Winner: 1960 Wi-Fi spots titled: Obama

Loser: just 104 Wi-Fi spots named Oprah

Winner: 552 Wi-Fi spots named
after the boy wizard

Loser: Evil doesn't pay with only
7 spots named after he who
would not be named

Harry Potter Vs. Voldemort

Winner: 133 fans can't be wrong?

Loser: Just 82 fans tinker with Wi-Fi names

True Blood Vs. Glee

Loser: Appearantly 5 people
around the world think of
Bieber when naming their Wi-Fi

Winner: 42 fans imagine their Wi-Fi
to be the Walrus

John Lennon vs. Justin Bieber

Loser: To infinity and beyond,
but not beyond 152 spots named
after him

Winner: The green monster
captivated 975 Wi-Fi owners

Buzz Lightyear vs. Shrek

Winner: Evil is triumphant, with 1164
Wi-Fi spots named after the land
beyond the black gate

Loser: Pastoral it may be, but just 586
Wi-Fi owners payed homage
to the little folk land

Mordor vs. The Shire

So world, Next Year Here we come!

We had to prove (to you and ourselves) that Wi-Fi stats can be fun and quirky. With rapid growth of Wi-Fi usage and WeFi users we are expecting 2011 to be even more surprising.

We wish you the best year you can aspire to.

Stay connected :)

WeFi

'Tis the Season for Smartphones

2010-12-17T16:47:00.002+02:00

Ahh, the holiday season has found its way upon us for another year of family, friends and of course, presents. Right now, the snow is falling and I’m dreading having to leave my place and go the mall to look for presents. If there’s one thing I know I won’t be leaving behind, besides my gloves, is my trustful smart phone. Though I swore never to become dependent on anything that has a power button, this year, smart phones everywhere, will help you get all of your holiday shopping done quickly and painlessly, you’ll probably end up saving more money than you thought, I bet now you’re excited?

Applications that we never use but always download finally come into hand this time of year.

Astrid – You can write all the gifts you need to get on your to-do list and stick with it.

ShopSavvy - Looking for a great deal? This app will find you the best deal around to get your present at the lowest price out there. Just scan the barcode and you’ll get a bunch of prices and locations, pretty sweet.

Catch Notes – You found that perfect gift for you lady friend but need to go to the ATM before, take a picture and tag it for example as ‘ xmas_present ‘ – make sure you write the name of the store.

Thanks to all of the “check- in” games, you can find some nice coupons at good retail stores; you can even get some text messages as you enter the store with information about their sales.

Not sure if mom will like her present? Take a picture of it and send it to someone who can give you a second opinion. Even better, ask your twitter or facebook friends…just make sure mom isn’t one of them.

So be creative, there are many ways to incorporate your smart phone in with your holiday shopping. If you still want to beat the busy lines, you can always do your holiday shopping online.

My pick of the 10 most essential Android Apps

2010-11-20T22:13:00.002+02:00

For anyone who has a smart phone of any kind probably has several applications that are pretty useless and were only used once or twice. The best apps are the ones that can really help us throughout our day to day lives, yes even “Angry birds” counts as it helps pass the time waiting tediously in busy lines.

In no specific order, I have arranged a simple, yet essential list of apps for the Android (though I’m sure you can find most of these apps in other smart phones).

The List of Essential Apps:

1. Facebook - In order for facebook to take up so much time in our lives, it must be on our phones to ensure we stay connected at all times .

2. Twitter- (Note: Yes, I know there are a few twitter apps out there, this is regarding twitter in general on your phone) Not an app for everyone, this is for the person who must, repeat, MUST tell everyone what they’re doing and where they’re going.

3.Kindle - For the e-book readers amongst us, it’s a great and simple app that will keep you busy for hours as you read e-books (even the free ones)

4.Google Sky Map - This is just simply cool whether you’re a geek or just want to be amazed. Take your phone (silly as it may look) and literally point it to the sky. This app will do the rest and then become amazed as your phone begins to identify the sky and beyond.

5. Lighting bug – If you have trouble sleeping, this app is for you! It is a visual sound machine that will help you relax and fall asleep. With sounds of Rain, Waves, White Noise, Lightning, you’ll be sure to pass out like a baby or like my second cousin when he drinks.

6. ConvertMe - This app is very uselful, I think I use this app at least once a day. It is a converter, currency converter, and tip calculator. You will see how much this will come in handy.

7. JEFIT - This is a great app that everyone should have, after all ,we all should be exercising. It’s a great workout planner with hundreds of exercises and tracking tools.

8. Toddler Lock – Sorry childless people, this one isn’t for you. Parents will love this app because it will keep your child busy playing with your phone and not to mention, keeping them quiet.

9.Barcode Scanner - Simply scan a any type of barcode you see (books, shopping labels etc) and then this app will search for the product you have just scanned, which of course, is powered by Google.

10. WeFi - This is the WeFi blog, so it’s gonna be here on this list ,silly! I’m assuming you already have WeFi on your phone – so here’s something to tell you friends in case they don’t.
WeFi locates Wi-Fi hotspots and will connect you automatically.It runs on the background, looking for the best open Wi-Fi signal and when it finds a good connection, boom, you’re connected!

What are the apps you that cannot live without? Maybe they will make the next list... let me know

"Lookator " App for Android – Have you got one?

2010-11-12T17:02:00.000+02:00

So what is Lookator? Lookator finds the location of the hotspot with your phone camera which then allows you to physically know where your unlocked Wi-Fi spots are. It can point you anywhere, coffee houses? Schools or even below someone’s window. You should see something like this:

You must be asking why am I promoting another app on the WeFi blog? Well, the lookator app works great with WeFi! Now remember, WeFi has more than 70 million hotspots in our database and its growing daily, so put these two apps together and you will be pointed to the best signal. How do you get WeFi to work with lookator? You can go to the settings screen and choose if you want to see hotspots that are out-of-range, and of course, click on WeFi.

So now you know what it is, you can download it in the Android market.

In-Flight Wi-Fi: Needed or Unnecessary?

2010-11-05T12:20:00.000+02:00

I fly a lot – most of the flights I take are considerably short trips, maybe 5 hours at most. Being in the field I’m in, I ~~need the internet~~, scratch that, I live for the internet, I make a living through the internet, so obviously it is important that me and others, whose job depend on being “connected” should always be “connected”. I was reading an article about current terror attacks that put in-flight Wi-Fi at risk and I was thinking why do we actually really need in-flight Wi-Fi? Sure there can be flights that can last over 15 hours and to think, a poor being would be without the opportunity to check email, facebook and even tweet about the long treacherous flight, that does sound pretty bad , but should we risk our lives for it? I really have no idea behind the mechanisms of Wi-Fi and terror. I can tell from the headlines I see that in these days hackers are advancing just as fast as technology is, maybe it’s just something that the media is doing to scare us again but who knows? When I think about it, the best flight I ever took was when I finally got around to reading the book I had been meaning to read for the last 2 months or taking that long deserving nap. To sum it up, as soon as the words “terror and airplane” are thrown in one sentence, I think people we’ll pretty much agree to anything if it means to have a safe /terror- free flight.

What do you think about it? Can you go for a few hours without being online?

Beware of the Virus “Free Public Wi-Fi”

2010-10-21T15:29:00.001+02:00

I came across an interesting article basically talking about the dangers of free hotspots called “"Free Public WiFi” and how they can be found at your airports and coffee shops.

To skim it for you, the name “Free Public WiFi” sounds so friendly and welcoming, but instead of connecting you to an interent hotspot, you could actually be connecting to someone else's computer and exposing yourself to hackers!

Click here to read the entire article and find more information about this virus.

WeFi’s new Android App and Facebook Connect – Questions and Answers

2010-10-12T14:37:00.001+02:00

Last week we released a new version of our Android app, which takes another step forward in our mission to free the world’s Wi-Fi: with this version users can point out public hotspots and contribute useful info about the hotspots, for the benefit of the free Wi-Fi community, like: the category of the hotspot (Café, restaurant, hotel, public library etc.), street address and more.

We want to give credits to users who help the community, and so we added the option to sign in using Facebook Connect.

Since the new version was published, we saw many users picking up on the “Hotspot Discovery” idea and contributing useful information, which immediately becomes available to all the other users.

We did, however, get some question about the “Facebook connect” login – some people thought it was mandatory; some didn’t want to sign in or just didn’t have a Facebook account, etc.

So here’s a little Q&A for everyone regarding the “Facebook sign-in” option:

Q: What is Facebook Connect

Facebook Connect is a framework that lets you use your Facebook account to log in to other applications.
The advantage is that you do not have to create a separate login / password for any new application.

Q: So why should I sign in using Facebook?

A: If you sign in with a Facebook username, we can give you credit for the info you contribute. You will also be able to see these credits (and get some more) with the WeFi application for your laptop (get it from http://wefi.com)

Q: Do I have to sign in using Facebook?

A: Of course not! You don’t have to if don’t want to. The WeFi app will work and get you connected to Wi-Fi just as well if you don’t sign in with your Facebook account.

Q: What if I don’t want to give away my Facebook username and password?

A: Your username and password are not saved or sent anywhere; this one-time sign-in simply connects the app securely to your Facebook user-ID so the app will know this is really you.

So that’s really all there is…
We will keep updating the app to make these things clear and not annoying… thanks for the comments!

Peace and love (and free Wi-Fi for all)

The New and Improved WeFi

2010-10-07T13:00:00.000+02:00

I’m very proud to announce WeFi’s brandnew homepage, if you haven’t already seen it, stop what you’re doing and look at it now...seriously http://www.wefi.com/
So what’s new exactly? Our new spiffy design, thanks to our wonderful graphic designer.
Have you heard about WeFi Developers Challenge? Head over to http://wefi.com/devchallenge/ and you can download our SDK directly from our site and take a chance at winning 10K.
Also, as you know we have a growing facebook fan page and Twitter , we’ve added all the updates to our homepage, so you will never have to miss a tweet.
The next improvement isn’t for our website but for the WeFi application for Android phones .
Using the WeFi app, users will now have the option to map all the hotspots they discover!

To see other new and cool features, download the WeFi app from the Android Market.
What do you think about our new features?

Free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes! Yay or Nay?

2010-09-22T16:57:00.002+02:00

Remember the days when we thought Wi-Fi would be free and available anywhere in our towns. Plenty of cities were talking about free Wi-Fi across the states of California, Texas and Illinois just to name a few. Somewhere along the line, the dream died and people just didn’t seem to care for it anymore. So what happened? Free Wi-Fi would have had to be called a “free public service” and with today’s economy, “free” just isn’t an option. Wi-Fi really isn’t any different then subways, buses or roads and those are certainly not free. But maybe the nice rich private companies will pay for it? Nope, you won’t see a cent from them either but what the cities will offer is 30 minutes free in your city parks, so that’s something, right? But wait, you will have to pay a certain fee eventually, (and I quote: 10-minute sessions of access per month, for a total of 30 minutes. After that limit is reached, there will be a charge of 99 cents per day to use the WiFi ) but what if I don’t want check my mails in the park, I want to check them while I take my doberman pinscher out for a walk , couldn’t I just pay the certain fee after my first few trials just like Time Warner Cable and Cablevision are offering for NY parks?

In the mean time, you’ll have to stick to your internet plans or rely on the good people who leave their Wi-Fi unlocked and hope for a better day when the importance of Wi-Fi and communication will be recognized. Those are just my little thoughts, what are yours?

What some would do for a Wi-Fi connection

2010-09-17T16:03:00.000+02:00

You’re stranded in the middle of nowhere (well a place that has no wireless connection) and you’re just dying to check your email or post a new FB status, what do you do? I guess the typical answer would be, go to your local coffee shop and use their connection, maybe even buy a muffin just to be nice. But then again, you have your creative guys, watch what this guy does to get a Wi-Fi connection . What you do it too?

Enjoy and have a great weekend

Boost your Wifi signal - Watch more Funny Videos

Is Wireless internet essential for kiddies?

2010-08-31T12:13:00.000+03:00

Still on the topic of wireless internet for school, I was reading an article called “ Study: Home Wi-Fi Important for School Success " . It basically talks about how according to a study, 9 out of 10 teens feel having home Wi-Fi access makes them better equipped to handle schoolwork.

Yeah right! If their school work was facebook and porn. With A.D.D, A.D.H.D and other attention disorders becoming a growing problem for kids today, I don’t see how wireless internet helps them handle their school work better. I myself have digressed to checking two different email accounts while writing this post but that’s just me.

There is of course the solution of parents monitoring the internet, which would then I would only believe that wireless internet can actually make a difference.

So what’s your stance on it? Can Wi-Fi access help students at home with their schoolwork?

Remember WeFi is dedicated to helping you find, connect, and enjoy Wi-Fi anywhere around the world. We provide the tools that allow our community to map the global Wi-Fi network. Our amazing community has already discovered over 67,000,000 access points around the world…. Just saying

Times are’ changing thanks to Wi-Fi

2010-08-25T15:16:00.000+03:00

By The Support Chick

Times are’a changing folks, today more than 25 U.S. school districts, have agreed to allow buses with complete access to wireless Internet.

I first learned about it from a conversation with our techie guys who were busy with unusual moving networks on WeFi’s global Wi-Fi map. I understand they found some great solutions already, but it took them some time…

So remember back in the days when we used to take bus rides to school (well, maybe not everyone has had the pleasure but you know how it is from the movies) bunch of noise, spitballs and crazy kids.

So what does that mean? Kids can now do their homework on the way to school, chat with their friends, play games and finally Bob the bus driver will have the quiet bus ride he has always dreamed of.

So if this happened 10 years ago when I was in high school, I would definitely love it and use it to my advantage which would mean doing my homework on the way to school in the morning. Honestly though, I’m glad I went through the loud craziness of public school transportation pre Wi-Fi era, what kind of memories would I have had, had there been Wi-Fi.

Yes, I know technology is growing and blah blah and it’s great but it is costing kids to grow up in a completely different way. Okay, now I feel old cause I’m totally thinking, it’s a shame kids don’t play outside anymore instead of spending their days indoors and online. In the same sense, I could be outside now learning to garden but you know, eh… rather be indoors and online.

I think we can declare this Wi-Fi advancement as yet another technological achievement and are a step closer to realizing that Wi-Fi isn’t going anywhere but only progressing and invading our day to day lives….in a good way of course.
So what do you guys think? Do you have Wi-Fi buses in your own town? Would you want your kids to ride in Wi-Fi buses? Is it step up or a step down for our society?

Help us find a name for our new mascot

2010-07-28T10:43:00.001+03:00

We have been designing a new "mascot" that will soon become part of our products and website... he is a hooked-on-Wi-Fi robot, and nothing makes him happier than finding another open hotspot that he can share with the WeFi community.

We still didn't name him - we thought our friends in the WeFi community can help pick up the right name.

Here are a few pictures and a short video sequence of this guy - why don't you jump to our facebook page or comment here in the blog, and share your ideas?

Waiting to hear from you...

Newsflash! WeFi 4.0 is released - redesigned and cool

2010-07-27T18:19:00.001+03:00

It finally happened - the new version of WeFi software for Windows is live!
The user interface has been completely redesigned following a long process of performance analysis, and collecting comments and requests from users.

The main windows shows the Wi-Fi networks around you, with all the additional helpful info that WeFi has collected from users, such as - what type of hotspot is this?

In this window you can also choose how you prefer WeFi to connect you to Wi-Fi networks automatically. You do it by just turning the cool dial (or "knob") to the option you choose:

Any Wi-Fi: WeFi will try to connect you to any open hotspot / Wi-Fi networks that it can find, regardless of the type of network.
Approved WeSpots: WeSpots are hotspots that have been marked by members of the WeFi community as open and available; you may prefer to connect to hotspots that other people like you have marked as "OK".
My Favorites: WeFi will only connect automatically to spots / networks that you have already connected before, like your home, office, your favorite hang-out places, or other networks that you have manually connected before

You can also choose to set the automatic connection mode to "off"; it means WeFi will only show you the networks around you (and recommend which are the best ones) but will not connect automatically; you will click and connect manually to the network that you want.

Another new cool feature, which WeFi provides following many requests from users, is the ability to login to WeFi with your facebook ID. You can easily do this on the "My Profile" tab: The first time you open it you will see the familiar "facebook connect" button

and after you click it and log in with your facebook account, you will see your profile picture, and some details like - how many hotspots you have mapped using WeFi so far (and if you haven't mapped any hotspots - why not start today?)

We will add more interesting info soon...

And if you like to know where the good Wi-Fi hotspots are around your town, or anywhere in the world - now the Wi-Fi search is integrated within the WeFi software:

Many of our users asked us to help them get premium Wi-Fi connection in areas where no free Wi-Fi can be found (alas, there are a few places like this in the world still...) - so we introduced WeFi Premium - a subscription service that provides over 90,000 high quality Wi-FI hotspots around the world (mostly out of USA, at the moment). You can check it out on the "Premium" tab:

Please go ahead, try out this new version, and we are really waiting to hear from you! Comment on our facebook page or email to support[at]wefi[dot]com !

Top 10 Wi-Fi Friendly Cities in the USA - Summer list

2010-07-25T14:56:00.005+03:00

By The Support Chick

Look no more folks; we have scoured the USA to bring you the list of the Top 10 Wi-Fi Friendly Cities in the USA. Basically, the list was ranked due to hours and hours of research and analysis (luckily, not done by me)

10. San Diego, California

The 10th spot goes to Sunny San Diego. You’ll mostly find free hotspots at Hotels so it’s great for non -residents who are just there for business trips. You can also enjoy free Wi-Fi at some cafes like Starbucks and other coffee shops. But that’s about it which makes San Diego our 10th friendly city in the USA.

9. Denver, Colorado

Denver is definitely a fast growing place for free Wi-Fi. People say that you can feel pretty confident taking your laptop or mobile with you and finding a good spot to connect. But obviously, it’s number 9 on our list, so it can’t be that awesome.

8. San Francisco, California

And we’re back to CA, though San Francisco canceled municipal wireless network that would have provided free internet access to the city of San Francisco. So no, you won’t be able to find Wi-Fi everywhere, but SF wouldn’t have been on this list if it didn’t offer a great collection of free Wi-Fi hotspots.

7. Seattle, Washington

The City of Seattle provides free Wi-Fi in the Columbia City and the University District business districts, and the City Hall lobby area. Wi-Fi is mostly available at the Seattle Public Libraries.

6. Houston, Texas

Now we’re getting to a top player in the Wi-Fi game, it wouldn’t be on our list if it didn’t have plenty of free Wi-Fi not to mention that Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, so yay for Houston!

5. Chicago, Illinois

A little birdie whispered in my ear and said that crime in Chicago does not only remain on the streets and using Wi-Fi through your neighbors isn’t always the safest thing. Best to keep it public, you’ll be sure to find some safe and free hotpsots throughout the city.

4. Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta used to be known to have the most Wi-Fi hotspots in the United States. You’ll have a better chance of finding free spots here in Atlanta then any of the cities we’ve mentioned so far.

3. Los Angeles, California

LA will always be in the top 3 spot for pretty much any type of list. With all its glitz and glamour, you will find free Wi-Fi in tons of places, even the celebrities love their Wi-Fi free.

2. Austin, Texas

And we’re back to Texas where everything is bigger and better including the Wi-Fi. So you can enjoy a juicy steak with some fried eggs as you surf the net in any good ol’ Austin joint.

1. New York, New York

As if it wasn’t obvious! You can connect to the Internet from just about anywhere in Manhattan; with an astronomical amount of hotspots available to the public this is what makes it our number 1 city. And how can it not be? The city of singles always needs to stay connected to find their next hot date!

Think your city was dissed and should appear on the list?” Go grab the WeFi software and map Wi-Fi so that everyone knows yours is Wi-Fi AWESOME!

Live outside the U.S.? Tell us what is the most Wi-Fi friendly city in your country!

http://wefi.com/

Lookator: Augmented Reality Wi-Fi scanner on Android - this is cool

2010-07-22T20:29:00.002+03:00

If you have an Android phone, you have to try the Lookator app. It is soooo much fun.
This is one of the new "Augmented Reality" type of apps on Android - these apps let you look at the world through the phone camera, and show you, in real time, useful information (or gaming objects) embedded into reality.
What Lookator does is both useful and fun - it shows you were the nearby Wi-Fi networks are located, when you point your phone camera and look around you. The networks are shows as colorful symbols floating in the air, in the direction where they are located relative to you. Here is an example of what you will see:

You can see which of the networks is useful to you, and connect to it by just clicking on it in the window.
One of the great things about Lookator is that it also shows you Wi-Fi hotspots that are beyond the reception range of your phone - so you can walk over and get Wi-Fi, that without Lookator you wouldn't even know is there.
Lookator is doing it by using the WeFi SDK - WeFi's technology enables it to tap into the huge database of Wi-Fi hotspots generated via crowd-sourcing by WeFi's users. You can go to the settings screen and choose if you want to see hotspots that are out-of-range:

So you have to give it a try!
Just search for "lookator" on the Android Market on your phone, or scan this barcode with the Barcode Scanner app:

Let us know how it goes!

Another Day, another Person Pissed at their Neighbor

2010-07-18T16:17:00.006+03:00

By The Support Chick

So I received an e-mail with “I have a big problem!” as the subject of the email. After hearing so many “problems”, I’m always kind of excited to see what problem I would be tackling next (yes, it’s the thrill of my day)

I opened the email and get a few sentences of someone (who wrote with all capslocked might I add) that their Wi-fi has been recently locked by their lousy neighbors and they need help , she even sent me her neighbors home address hoping I would give them a virtual spanking, “bad neighbor, how dare you lock your Wi-Fi !”

We’ve all seen the video where that clueless woman calls the Tech Show when her stolen Wi-Fi Disappears.
Now don’t get me wrong, I believe in free Wi-Fi, I encourage it, but when someone locks it then obviously it’s their right, so what advice can I give you when someone locks you out, maybe some baked homemade cookies will do the trick or of course : (cough cough..pay up) I think I just came up with great idea, charge your neighbors half of the price that an internet company would charge….hmmm…Cha-Ching!

Could SSID’s be the New Twitter?

2010-07-12T16:29:00.000+03:00

SSID’s could be the new twitter in the world of Wi-Fi, if you ask me. With just one or two words, you can really get an idea of what the person is feeling, plus the user can change it whenever they see fit. There are more than 57,000,000 hot spots on the WeFi community and I’ve managed to come across plenty of SSID’s. You do find more names that are, well, boring, you have your typical SSID which are only names of the user and then you have the SSID’s that are fun, creative and can even tell what kind of person the user is.

We have our funny names like: Reluctant Cowboy, I Love Donuts, 2cool4school,betty’s bedroom, welcome to hell and so forth.

We also have the names where the user wants to tell the world something: Stayoffthisnetwork , the sopranos will get you, GET YOUR OWN ROUTER, BITCH , ......bitches, my neighbor has better wifi, I really hate you, go eat poo, Piss-Off, I am awesome….

You get the idea…

Though some of the names can be a bit off, there’s still fun and creative and it beats boring names like “craig’s wifi and “avenue cafe” – so what kind of SSID names have you run into on WeFi?

The Following is One Easy Way to Win an iPad

2010-05-25T16:36:00.000+03:00

Hey everyone,

We're happy to announce "WeFi's Hotspots Discovery Challenge" and I promise you, it's one easy way to win an iPad.

Sign up, discover hotspots and win an iPad ... simple as that

So this is what you have to do to win:

1. Go to http://www.wefi.com/challenge/

2. Register

3. Map as many spots as you can until July 24,2010

3. Win

Prizes:
First Prize: Apple iPad 32GB.
Second Prize: Google Nexus One phone.
Third Prize: Apple iPod Touch 8GB.

For more info go to :
http://www.wefi.com/challenge/

*Only US-based hotspots will count

Good luck!

Android developer? You can now win $10,000 in WeFi's Android Developers Challenge!

2010-05-19T17:37:00.004+03:00

WeFi invites all of Android developers out there to take part in WeFi’s new challenge! All you have to do is create an Android App that uses the WeFi SDK

You think you have what it takes to create a winning Android App? Prove it and you may just win up to $10,000 !

So here's what you have to do:

How to participate and win

Submit your proposal or concept by June 16th: Write a short email to devchallenge@wefi.com; explain what you plan to develop and feel free to attach some sketches.
WeFi will examine all proposals by July 15th. If your proposal is accepted, you will receive an email reply from us with a permanent activation key. You can download the SDK with a temporary key here, and start programming with the SDK already. Note that you must install the WeFi app through the Android market in order for it to function as service for the SDK client to communicate with.
Submit your final contest entry by August 14th: upload your app to the Android market, and send an email to devchallenge@wefi.com with the final name and details of your app.
The contest will be finalized by September 15th , and then WeFi will evaluate all the submitted apps.
Winners will be announced by October 1st!!!

So there you have it guys, for more information, go to http://www.wefi.com/devchallenge

If you have any questions, you can contact us directly at devchallenge@wefi.com or give us a shout out at one of our social sites:

http://Twitter.com/wefi_twitt

http://Facebook.com/autowefi

Good luck everyone!

And say hello to our new Android mascot... we still don't have a name for this guy:

So Where is Everyone Connecting from these Days? WeFi has the Answer!

2010-05-12T15:41:00.001+03:00

WeFi Releases Q1 Data Report on Wi-Fi Usage

‘Wi-Fi Analytics Report: An Analysis of Global Wi-Fi’ Includes Statistics Covering Wi-Fi Use Over Various Mobile Devices and Mobile Operating Systems – Data Based on Information Gathered From Over 56 Million Wi-Fi Access Points Worldwide

You can download the full report here.

WeFi Inc. (www.wefi.com), creator of the world’s largest community-based global Wi-Fi network, released today the first of what will be quarterly reports on global Wi-Fi usage. Titled “Wi-Fi Analytics Report: An Analysis of Global Wi-Fi”, the report includes both statistics and analysis from WeFi on a variety of issues related to wireless internet, including statistics on Wi-Fi users over various mobile devices and mobile operating systems, cellular data offloading unto Wi-Fi networks, average duration of use when a user is connected to a public Wi-Fi hotspot, Wi-Fi internet usage mobility, and more.

The report covers data usage over full-size notebooks, netbooks, and mobile devices using Symbian or Android operating systems (see more information about platforms in the report). The unique data – available solely through WeFi - is based on information gathered from over 56 million Wi-Fi access points in WeFi’s database of hotspots around the world. WeFi acquires the Wi-Fi access point data by aggregating the Wi-Fi usage statistics of nearly 5 million mobile devices and laptop where the WeFi client software is installed. WeFi’s database represents more than 10% of the total estimated Wi-Fi access points across the world.

Zur Feldman, Chairman CEO of WeFi said:

“As internet use becomes increasingly mobile, with smartphones, netbooks, and new devices being used in libraries, coffee shops, universities and hotels, there is an increased interest among mobile operators, wireless internet providers, as well as average users in studying just how and where users are connecting. Leveraging our number of users and our large database of Wi-Fi access points in over 220 countries, WeFi has been analyzing the available data and we are excited to share this information with the public.”

You can download the full report here.

About WeFi Inc.

WeFi Inc. is the creator of the world’s first global open Wi-Fi network, and a leading authority on Wi-Fi usage around the world. Leveraging the power of Wi-Fi, WeFi brings wireless Internet communications to everyone, everywhere with software that enables automatic connection to the best Wi-Fi hotspot around. WeFi also helps to alleviate traffic away from congested cellular networks, by providing an avenue to mobile Internet via Wi-Fi that is fast and easy-to-use. WeFi is driven by a social network, whose members benefit from a free, fun and interactive experience, while helping to build a truly seamless global Wi-Fi network by mapping open access points in any given location worldwide. With a database now representing over 56 million Wi-Fi access points recorded worldwide, WeFi is also a leading source of information and data on Wi-Fi use. Established in February 2006, WeFi Inc. is backed by leading VC companies Lightspeed, Pitango and Gemini Ventures. For additional information on WeFi, please visit: www.wefi.com.

Press Contact

Jason Silberman: Email: Jason@wefi.com or Tel: +972-54-535-9955.

For more information about future Wi-Fi data from WeFi, please contact Amit Shaked at Amit@wefi.com.

We are looking for a top-notch Product Manager!

2010-04-22T15:49:00.002+03:00

WeFi keeps growing, and we are looking for more good people to join our team!
We are seeking a Product Manager to lead some of the strategic projects in the company, including Web and client-side applications. This is your opportunity to join the extraordinary team that is driving WeFi's success. Take a look at the role and requirements below, and if you want a shot at it, or you have talented friends who could fit, let us know - email to jobs@wefi.com
Role:

· Managing the product life cycle

· Analysis of user needs, creating requirements and specification, prioritization

· Setting business goals for the products and managing metrics for success

· Close integration with developers

· Taking full responsibilities for the business results of the products

Requirements:

· Super creative!

· Ability to lead several products in parallel and manage priorities

· Practical experience of at least 3 years in product management of downloadable software products and/or web products

· Ability to create detailed requirements / specification documents, design mock-ups, define reports and metrics

· Experience with Web analytics tools and Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

· High level written and spoken English

· Experience with mobile web and mobile downloadable software products – big advantage

WeFi iPhone app kicks ass on Cydia!

2010-03-22T20:26:00.004+02:00

Here's a nice surprise following some not-so-nice turn of events...

Following the great traction WeFi applications have received by millions of users on leading smartphone platforms like Nokia/Symbian, Windows Mobile and Android (and of course laptops and netbooks) we wanted to spread the message to iPhone users too.

You probably know that Apple recently banned all the Wi-Fi scanning apps from the App Store - a weird move, in our view, since Apple and AT&T are struggling with cellular data network overload issues for so long, and Wi-Fi could have been their salvation - but anyway, iPhone users are now painfully missing a great app that would make Wi-Fi location and connection a simple, automatic, snappy experience.

Due to a lot of requests from users following the Apple ban, we decided to publish our application on Cydia, the so-called "Alternative iPhone App Market" (also known as the "Jailbreak App Market"...) so at least people who like to unleash the full power of their iPhones and install non-formal apps will be able to enjoy it. We published under the name Extreme WiFi.

The results were surprising - over 30,000 downloads in the first 7 days since publishing, and the downloads keep coming in!

So if you have already unlocked your iPhone (or iPod Touch) and tried to downloading apps from Cydia, you are more than welcome to try out Extreme WiFi and let us know what you think about it and what more would you like it to do for you. This is the first version and more is to come...

Here are a couple of screen shots from Extreme WiFi (the scrawny robot figure is actually animated...)

To install our app, just run Cydia, select Search, type in "Extreme WiFi" and click on the item you get in the result to install.

If you haven't installed Cydia yet, you can check out some of these links:
http://www.appsafari.com/software/5325/cydia/,
http://iphoners.org/howto-install-cydia/,
http://www.applerepo.com/how-to-install-cydia-on-your-ipod-touch/,

Waiting for your feedback...

AndroidWorld.nl declares WeFi for Android "Best App of the Week"

2010-03-14T13:41:00.001+02:00

The blog AndroidWorld.nl, one of the biggest Android Blogs, emailed us yesterday to let us know they have chosen WeFi's Android App as the App of the Week.

Since the article is in Dutch, you can read a Google-translation here.
Mind the funny English ... this is still only a robot translation...

Here are a few quotes:

App of the week 11 - WeFi, the ultimate tool wifi

In today's mobile world, you can actually already do without the Internet and this is also plenty offered by the network providers. Besides the mobile internet you have any (new) smartphone with the ability to connect Wifi and in this way just browsing faster. To help you with this process there are many (41 pages wifi | All | By date, Androlib, Android Applications and Games) applications showing which networks are there, autoconnecten, measuring strengths and much more.

To the proverbial tree in the forest to remove discuss today, in our opinion, the best wifi application available in the Android Market, WeFi called.

The creators of this application for several platforms this application on the market. If the application is suitable for notebooks (Windows and Mac), Windows Mobile devices, Symbian (eg Nokia) and of course for Android! Surprisingly, the simplicity of the application, without much waiting and going through several steps to add a wireless network. Through the start-screen is clear to see which networks are currently accessible and whether a security key must be specified. WiFi location by simply clicking will connect to that network and is necessary if the requested security key.

The ability to automatically connect missing course not, so once your preferred network within range will be directly connect. The latest version of WeFi is an interesting added feature, called Wi-fi Maps.Lets you, based on a position or manual input of location, see which networks are located nearby.Perhaps home is not very useful, but the road, or in another country an absolute must.

In short, WeFi is just the tool you need if you have wifi connection to make, simple, bright, beautiful UI, jubilant menneke if there is connection, and a message in your status bar when you are connected ...

Wifi ON!

Clueless Woman Calls Tech Show When Her Stolen Wi-Fi Disappears [VIDEO]

2010-02-23T15:53:00.000+02:00

Some people think that Wi-Fi is just a natural resource which is out there for everyone to use.

Well, maybe it should be, right?

Anyway, this clueless lady was using her neighbor's Wi-Fi for over a year, without realizing that she was, in fact, leeching on an Internet connection which was set up and paid for by someone in her neighborhood.

Then, when one day her "free Wi-Fi" disappeared, she called the live radio show "Tech Guy" to complain about this technical problem and ask for advice...she says she even bought a "Linksys extender" to try to get the signal back, but it didn't help...

You have to watch this:

This video was also featured by Mashable, and it is interesting to read the discussion that followed on in the comments - talking about people who intentionally leave their Wi-Fi open to let others enjoy it. Read it here.

New!!! WeFi releases API for Android Developers

2010-02-16T15:37:00.000+02:00

Press Release:

WeFi API Delivers on Wi-Fi for Android Apps

Android Application Developers Benefit From WeFi’s Exceptional Connectivity and High Mobile Bandwidth Capability, Along With Superior Wi-Fi Intelligence

Come visit WeFi at Mobile World Congress To See First-Hand How Mobile Internet is Made Easy For Android

MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS - Barcelona, Spain – February 16, 2010: WeFi Inc. (www.wefi.com), creator of the world’s largest community-based global Wi-Fi network, today announced the launch of WeFi API, a software integration package that enables mobile application developers for Android phones to benefit from WeFi’s award-winning Wi-Fi technology. Android developers of data-intensive applications can benefit from WeFi’s high-performance global Wi-Fi network, which ensures automatic and fast access to the best Wi-Fi connection available, as well as from WeFi’s extensive detailed intelligence relating to over 50 million hotspots worldwide.

WeFi will be demonstrating at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Please visit us at the Israel Mobile Association Pavilion – Hall 4, Level 1, Stand #11.

For over 3 years WeFi has been building the world’s largest Wi-Fi network, which recently passed 50 million recorded hotspots around the world. Millions of WeFi users contributed to building this network, and continue to do so every day.

WeFi API provides the following benefits to Android application developers:

· Automatic Wi-Fi connection and full control over Wi-Fi connection process.

· Up-To-Date, highly detailed business data on Wi-Fi hotspots such as the type of location (café, library, etc), whether or not the access point is requires a password, costs money or if free, requires a web homepage sign-in or not, and more.

· Locating all available hotspots respective to a user’s location, beyond the phone’s Wi-Fi range

WeFi’s API Partner Program is already in full swing, with a number of Android application developers already adopting WeFi API into their platform. These include:

LookATOR, developed by LoFT (www.loftdev.com), is an Augmented Reality-based application for finding better Wi-Fi access. The WeFi API allows LookATOR users to get a wide variety of useful information about Wi-Fi networks they see, and helps them get better and more fluid Wi-Fi access through LookATOR.

DroidSecurity (www.droidsecurity.com) is a pioneer of mobile security solutions providing the tools and services needed to safeguard smartphones. Their solutions protect mobile devices and data against security, privacy and identity threats. DroidSecurity develops an application called “Safe Network” which uses the WeFi API to control the Wi-Fi connectivity process and verify the security level of hotspots the user connects to.

ZooVision (www.zoovision.com) is a mobile video streaming content aggregator that is changing the way people use their wireless phones and access entertainment. They stream on-demand videos and audio customized to the mobile experience. Zoovision believes that the mobile customer demands a video experience that is delivered quickly and of the highest quality. Therefore, ZooVision partnered with WeFi to guarantee seamless and high-bandwidth connectivity to users wherever they want to consume their content.

Android application developers who wish to apply for the WeFi API Partner program can contact WeFi by email at developers@wefi.com, or visit: http://wefi.com/developers

“With a sharp increase predicted in mobile Internet use over the next few years, increased Wi-Fi availability is significantly useful in unleashing mobile Internet applications and services,” said Zur Feldman, CEO of WeFi. “Following the success of the WeFi application on the Android market, WeFi decided to open up our technology to the mobile application developers community, so that everyone can enjoy the great connectivity and mobile bandwidth potential. We believe that the users of every mobile app can greatly benefit from our solution and eventually make mobile Internet better, easier and more affordable to all.”

About WeFi Inc.

WeFi Inc. is the creator of the world’s first global open Wi-Fi network, and a leading authority on Wi-Fi usage around the world. Leveraging the power of Wi-Fi, WeFi brings wireless Internet communications to everyone, everywhere with software that enables automatic connection to the best Wi-Fi hotspot around. WeFi also helps to alleviate traffic away from congested cellular networks, by providing an avenue to mobile Internet via Wi-Fi that is fast and easy-to-use. WeFi is driven by a social network, whose members benefit from a free, fun and interactive experience, while helping to build a truly seamless global Wi-Fi network by mapping open access points in any given location worldwide. With a database now representing over 50 million Wi-Fi access points recorded worldwide, WeFi is also a leading source of information and data on Wi-Fi use. Established in February 2006, WeFi Inc. is backed by leading VC companies Lightspeed, Pitango and Gemini Ventures. For additional information on WeFi, please visit: www.wefi.com.

Press Contact

Jason Silberman at Koteret Public Relations: Email: Jason@wefi.com or Tel: +972-54-535-9955.

Jason Silberman
PR Consultant
Koteret Public Relations
tel: +972-(0)3-5755778-ext.114
mob: +972-(0)545359955
fax: +972-(0)3-5755887
jason_s@koteret.com

WeFi's Android New Version is out on Android market.

2010-02-10T21:24:00.000+02:00

WeFi has released a new Android version which is now published on Android market. The new version features a brand new and improved settings screen. The version includes our new animation as well. You can download it through this link http://wefi.com/download/?cat=mobile or straight from the Android market. We would love to hear your comments and feedback!

Mobile Video Streaming just got supercharged - WeFi and Qik announce cooperation

2010-02-10T21:17:00.002+02:00

We all like Qik - the cool app that lets you capture video scenes on your mobile phone and share it live with your friends over the web. Now WeFi and Qik are joining forces to get mobile users Qik their videos over Wi-Fi, using the WeFi application on mobile devices like Nokia/Symbian, Windows Mobile and Android.

This news was already covered by several online publications, like Total Telecom. Here are a few quotes:

WeFi joins forces with Qik

WeFi & Qik

Wednesday 10 February 2010

WeFi Inc. (www.wefi.com), creator of the world’s largest community-based global Wi-Fi network, and Qik (http://qik.com/), the leading live mobile video streaming platform, today announced a cooperation agreement, under which the two companies will enable high-speed Internet access for Qik users on WeFi’s network of over 50 million Wi-Fi access points worldwide, which grows by over 1 million month by month. In turn, WeFi will be able to expand its network to more hotspot locations, as Qik users are streaming live mobile video from over 160 countries and will discover and connect to Wi-Fi in new locations.

WeFi provides users with easy, automated and free access to millions of Wi-Fi hotspots from their mobile devices. This presents a series of advantages for Qik users. As opposed to current 3G Internet capabilities, Wi-Fi provides a higher bandwidth, especially important for activities such as streaming high quality video live, and particularly at crowded locations such as tradeshows, sporting events or central transport stations. The Qik streaming experience is enhanced by WeFi’s technology, providing for a smooth, fast, and seamless broadcast.

WeFi dramatically enhances the wireless Internet user experience on mobile devices, by automatically connecting the user to the best Wi-Fi connection available, as opposed to the tedious, multi-step process that previously existed. WeFi always seeks to connect users to Wi-Fi access points where Internet access has already been verified by other WeFi-enabled devices – dubbed “community-verified spots” - in a growing network of over 50 million access points recorded. In addition, WeFi recently released its first generation of carrier-grade solutions for offloading mobile Internet traffic from congested 2G, 3G and in the future 4G networks onto Wi-Fi access points.

WeFi’s network is currently accessible on phones using Android, Windows Mobile and Symbian operating systems.

“Qik, as a company that pushes the limits of mobile user experience, is a natural partner for WeFi helping to realize the full benefit of mobile Wi-Fi access,” said Zur Feldman, CEO of WeFi. “With mobile Internet traffic increasing each day, Qik will find a stronger and smoother Internet experience on a Wi-Fi network. Qik users will enjoy automatic access to hotspots without having to manually insert their location, open a browser and then search for what hotspots are available, and they will be empowered with the superior mobile Internet experience that WeFi provides.

Vijay Tella, CEO of Qik added, "A majority of Qik users today use devices with Wi-Fi support. This integration with WeFi will enable Qik users to more easily locate and connect to hotspots around the world making their mobile video sharing experience even more compelling. With WeFi on our users’ devices, sharing their experiences through live video will now be easier and faster than ever“

Last night at 00:58 Israel time, WeFi reached 50 million hotspots!

2010-02-03T21:05:00.003+02:00

If you are following us you know that WeFi is accumulating a live database of all the Wi-Fi networks identified by the WeFi software on more than 4 million devices of our users.
Last night some of us witnesses the historical moment when the number of Wi-Fi networks in the WeFi system reached 50,000,000 - this is so amazing!
We wanted to share this moment with all our users and friends, so we recorder the last few minutes live - we put the Windows clock next to the Wi-FI network counter on http://wefi.com and watched and the counter went up to 50,000,000

So here is the video - raw and unedited... we'll soon add sound effects, bells and whistles, but we couldn't wait to share it with you all (if you are impatient you can skip to the last 40-50 seconds...)

WeFi will host a Breakfast in Mobile World Congress in Barcelona

2010-01-22T20:28:00.003+02:00

WeFi will host a breakfast event in the Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, February 17th.

The event will take place in the Israel Mobile Association (IMA) Pavillion, Hall 4, Level 1.

Breakfast will start 7:45 AM, and at 8:00 several industry experts will be presenting short talks on the subject:

The Data Offloading Challenge: Wi-Fi vs. Femtocells

Among the speakers:

Moray Rumney, Agilent

The Trains, Planes and Automobiles of broadband wireless

Shimon Scherzer, WeFi

Are femtocells ready for prime-time wireless data offloading?

Femtocell Industry speakers

Participation is free but the number of seats is limited, so if you want to join please RSVP to: amit[at]WeFi.com

Looking forward to meeting you!

US Ahead of Europe in Open Wi-Fi Percentage

2010-01-06T15:23:00.002+02:00

Press Release:

40 Percent of Wi-Fi access points recorded in the US are unlocked and do not require a security password, compared with only 25% of total access points in Europe, according to new data released by WeFi

WeFi’s database of Wi-Fi access points reaching 50 million, representing more than 10% of estimated total Wi-Fi worldwide

Delaware, USA, January 05, 2010: WeFi Inc. (www.wefi.com), creator of the world’s largest community-based global Wi-Fi network, announced today the initial results from analysis of data collected by the company documenting the percentage of secured, or ‘locked’ Wi-Fi access points versus those that are ‘unlocked’. According to the data, based on just under 50 million Wi-Fi networks recorded in WeFi’s database of hotspots worldwide, the United States has a higher percentage of ‘open’ Wi-Fi hotspots – access points that are unlocked and do not require a password – than Europe.

While 40% of Wi-Fi access points in the United States are unlocked, only 25% are unlocked in Europe. Within Europe, out of the top 10 countries in terms of Wi-Fi deployment, the most Wi-Fi friendly countries are Belgium and Norway, while the highest percentage of locked access points is found in Germany and Spain.

Another interesting property of Wi-Fi in different countries is the use of “captive portals” to moderate the entry of users into unlocked hotspots, which indicates the penetration of “managed hotspot” providers such as Boingo and Trustive as well as local public Wi-Fi providers. Out of the top 10 countries in terms of Wi-Fi deployment in WeFi’s database, France has the highest rate of captive portals from the total un-locked spots:

According to WeFi’s data, a traveler would find a higher percentage of open hotspots in countries such as Thailand, Israel, Brazil, Argentina and the Bahamas as compared with both the US and Europe. Across the world, approximately 30% of recorded Wi-Fi access points are unlocked, while some 70% are locked (see chart below).

The data is based on information gathered from nearly 50 million Wi-Fi access points in WeFi’s database of hotspots around the world. WeFi acquires the Wi-Fi access point data by aggregating the Wi-Fi usage statistics of over 4 million mobile devices and laptop where the WeFi client software is installed. In all, there are approximately 450 million Wi-Fi access points worldwide, as estimated by the Intel Development Forum (August 2008). WeFi’s database represents more than 10% of the total estimated Wi-Fi access points across the world.

The initial data analysis announced today by WeFi is part of a larger report on Wi-Fi use, expected to be released in the first quarter of 2010. The report will include statistics on Wi-Fi user behavior such as average duration of use, statistics of Wi-Fi users over various mobile devices and mobile operating systems, further details about access points, and more.

About WeFi Inc.

WeFi Inc. is the creator of the world’s first global open Wi-Fi network, and a leading authority on Wi-Fi usage around the world. Leveraging the power of Wi-Fi, WeFi brings wireless Internet communications to everyone, everywhere with software that enables automatic connection to the best Wi-Fi hotspot around. WeFi also helps to alleviate traffic away from congested cellular networks, by providing an avenue to mobile Internet via Wi-Fi that is fast and easy-to-use. WeFi is driven by a social network, whose members benefit from a free, fun and interactive experience, while helping to build a truly seamless global Wi-Fi network by mapping open access points in any given location worldwide. With a database now representing close to 50 million Wi-Fi access points recorded worldwide, WeFi is also a leading source of information and data on Wi-Fi use. Established in February 2006, WeFi Inc. is backed by leading VC companies Lightspeed, Pitango and Gemini Ventures. For additional information on WeFi, please visit: www.wefi.com.

Press Contact

Jason Silberman: Email: Jason@wefi.com or Tel: +972-54-535-9955.

For more information about future Wi-Fi data from WeFi, please contact Amit Shaked at Amit@wefi.com.

Disclaimer: Information provided in this news release is the intellectual property of WeFi. WeFi grants you permission to display and electronically copy, download and print hard copy information and materials (including related graphics) contained on this press release provided they are for noncommercial use only and fully attributed solely to WeFi Inc. Use of this information for commercial purposes requires written consent by WeFi. Media and journalists may use this information only if referencing WeFi as the source. The information is representative of WeFi's own aggregated hotspot directory. THIS news release AND THE MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS herein ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. WeFi is free from any liabilities from use of this information.

WeFi's "Wi-Fi Locator" Widget Now Available for iGoogle and NetVibes

2009-11-29T12:08:00.008+02:00

As WeFi's live database of Wi-Fi hotspots around the world keeps expanding, we want to share the knowledge with more and more people.
So welcome the new Find Wi-Fi Widget!

The first release of the widget is for iGoogle and NetVibes - you can post it on your page, and with one click find where the best Wi-Fi spots are anywhere you want.

How do you add Find Wi-Fi to your iGoogle?

1. Go to your iGoogle page, and click "Add Stuff" on the upper-right corner:

2. Now type "find wifi" in the Search for Gadget box (top right):

3. Then all you have to do is click "Add it now" below the Widget:

And you're done!

When you go back you your iGoogle page, you will see the widget, and you can type in any address in the world, like this:

Then you get a list of open Hotspots in order of proximity to the location you have entered:

And if you click one of them, you will get a map of the Hotspot's area, with additional useful info about this Hotspot:

You can also add the widget to your home page on NetVibes - very easy:

Open your NetVibes page
Click the "Add Content" button
In the "Search Content" box, type "find wifi" and hit "Search"
Click the "Add" icon - and you're done.

We'd love to get your feedback!

WeFi is hiring!

2009-11-17T17:06:00.001+02:00

WeFi is looking to expand and deepen our involvement with the community of users, who contribute to our growth and success, and now we are looking to hire a Community and User Support Manager to lead this initiative. The goal is to evangelize and promote WeFi, build and maintain a user community, solve users’ problems and serve as an advocate for the user community inside the company.

If you have proven track record in this field and you want to take a leading role in the WeFi adventure, or you know someone who fits this challenge - let us know! Send your details to jobs[at]wefi.com and we will be happy to talk to you!

Role and Responsibilities:

Creatively and proactively assist customers handle their issues with our products
Promote WeFi in blogs / reviews / communities
Author and promote content about WeFi such as blogs, podcasts, videos, or other
Identify opinion leaders who love WeFi and engage them to become product advocates
Release periodic customer newsletter
Establish metrics and reports regarding customer satisfaction

Requirements:

Proven track record promoting software applications througth communities
Passionateabout Internet products, Web 2.0 technologies and about people
Independent, self-starter
Great English writing skills (other languages - an advantage)
Understanding and experience in using Web 2.0 platforms (facebook, twitter, blogs, youtube, etc.)
Solid technical skills

Is free Wi-Fi a good deal for coffee shops?

2009-10-18T12:12:00.003+02:00

Do you expect your favorite coffee shop to provide free Wi-Fi?
Of course.
Do you also expect them to supply power for your laptop while you are sitting there?
Why Not?
Do you sit in the coffee shop for 2-3 hours, using the free Wi-Fi and power, having only a Latte and maybe a muffin?
Well...

The question of providing free Wi-Fi and power in coffee shops and similar small businesses is beginning to come up more and more.

In this interesting post in Mercury New s, Chris O'Brian explores this question and interviews several coffee shop owners, like Monsieur Beans.

Here are a few interesting quotes.

Free Wi-Fi has turned coffee shops across Silicon Valley into de facto work spaces.
That's good for a region full of digital nomads armed with laptops who want to escape the isolation of working alone. But it's been a mixed blessing for coffee shop owners, who have found the economics of free Wi-Fi a complex brew. While many coffee shops have embraced this increasingly mobile workforce by rolling out extras like power strips, others have sought to subtly discourage or limit freeloaders who can be a drain on the bottom line.
It's a tricky balance that shop owners will have to continue to manage in an age when customers have come to see free Wi-Fi as a right, every bit as vital as the coffee being served.

...

Chang said offering free Wi-Fi attracts customers throughout the day, important for cafes that often might have only a couple of peak hours around meal times.

...

To the north, Eileen Hassi, owner of Ritual Coffee Roasters in San Francisco's Mission District, has also pulled the plug on customers. Five years ago, when she opened, it was clear she had to offer free Wi-Fi. But a couple years later, when Ritual became known as a hot spot for Web 2.0 workers, Hassi said her shop became overwhelmed and she decided to cut off the outlets. Her power bill dropped by $500 a month.
Overall, she thinks it's worth it to provide Wi-Fi, which costs her $140 a month. But the power issue still rankles some. Recently, a woman came in and ordered a $3 latte. But when she discovered there were no outlets, she insisted Hassi refund her money. When Hassi refused, the woman sold the latte to another customer coming in and then stormed out.

Read the full story here.

Great review of WeFi for Nokia/Symbian on Bright Hub

2009-10-04T20:57:00.000+02:00

WeFi just got a cool review on the well known blog Bright Hub.

Here are a few highlights:

Introduction
Auto WeFi is available from Nokia’s Ovi store and stands out from the rest of the apps available with its aesthetically simple logo. The application is quite a bit larger than many other utilities and is 796 kb to download and requires one megabyte when fully installed. In todays age of large hard-drives on most s60 devices however, the size of Auto WeFi shouldn’t pose a problem. Stored in the applications folder Auto WeFi, when opened, asks the user if they would like the app to start-up automatically when the handset is switched on.
Screenshots
Management and Usage

Once the relevant option is chosen by the user, they are greeted by a ‘status’ screen which shows the connection status. Next to the connection status there is a small picture of the earth that is grey when not connected and green and blue whilst a connection exists. Below this lies a list of four possible wi-fi connections;

Internet Verified Spots
Open Spots
Spots require login
Locked Spots

Auto WeFi picks up available wi-fi connections automatically upon booting up and catalogues them intuitively into the list described above, whilst also providing you with the password for any other wi-fi connections that you had previously connected to on your s60 device.
The user can also switch to a more detailed screen by scrolling right to the ‘spots’ page. This page contains the actual list of all wi-fi connections available to the user, with small icons highlighting whether the connection is locked and/or requires a password.
You can even manually refresh the list from this page or manually connect to a specific wi-fi service also. The other option of connecting to the Internet is to open the embedded browser on your s60 device, and select the ‘Automatic-WeFi’ whereby Auto WeFi connects to the internet via a previously used wifi connection or the one manually selected in the application.
More Screenshots
Conclusion
Auto We-Fi is a mass usage s60 application that everyone can use without being befuddled with various menus, sub-menus and even more options. Simplicity and straight-to-the-point handling is the direction in which the application was surely created. Automatic connections and two indicative picture help menu’s means there isn’t much that can go wrong. The text is also of a perfect size and the design is very good.
The only small negative is that a user cannot manually input the details of an available wi-fi connection, should Auto WeFi not pick it up. However, that shouldn’t detract from what is essentially an excellent and useful wi-fi application, one that is certainly far easier to use than ones included in most s60 devices.
Screenshots

Read the full article here.

Wow! New iPod Nano with Video Camera!

2009-09-10T11:18:00.005+03:00

Could this be the next big thing since sliced bread and the invention of MP3 players?

Apple just announced the new generation of iPod Nano with a Video Camera, and it looks real awesome.

In this post on Mashable, writer Christins Warren spills her opinion - why this can be a real game changer.

Why Video

Over the last few years, we’ve all watched the explosion of the internet video market. From YouTube to Flickr, shooting and sharing video is becoming more and more common.

However, the pocket-video space hasn’t really taken off. Sure, products like the Flip have been breakout success stories, but pocket video still hasn’t had its “iPod” moment of becoming totally mainstream. That is, until now.

Why It’s Brilliant

By offering up standard quality video recordings in a tiny package — a package that already contains a device consumers know and love — the new iPod nano might just be pocket video’s breakout moment.

The price is right — $149 for 8GB, $179 for 16GB — that’s cheaper than the competition. The tipping point for consumers and pocket video might not be a separate device, but added functionality to a device we already use every day. Not everyone wants or needs a video-capable phone. As handy as that can be, it isn’t always the most sensible choice — if your battery runs out shooting video, how will you get phone calls?

By integrating the video camera with the music player, the whole process becomes that much more seamless. Not only that, because Apple is offering customers a way to upload video to YouTube,Facebook and MobileMe when they sync their devices (just like when you sync your iPod with music), the publishing step is that much easier too.

Why It’s a Game Changer

I know I’m not the only person who never seriously considered getting a Flip or a Zi6 or equivalent camera, but is bursting at the seams to buy the new iPod nano.

The combination of a low price, easy access to social media networks and integration with an already established product makes the iPod nano the most compelling pocket video solution to date.

I’ll go ahead and be brash: I think this thing is going to be huge.

I am going to get one for sure next time I am in US...

Will you change your Airline to get Wi-Fi in mid-air?

2009-09-01T16:11:00.003+03:00

Until recently, a flight on an airplane used to be one of the last places of refuge where we arereally out of reach, and can take a break from the email attack, text messages etc.

Well, it seems that more an more people are willing to give this one up too - in an article by mashable, Ben Parr quotes a research by Wakefield Research and the Wi-Fi Allianve, which discovered that 76% of frequent fliers would change their airline to have Wi-Fi. 55% would change their flight by a full day to have it. And another 71% of fliers would rather have Wi-Fi access over meal service.

Here are some more numbers:

- 94% agree with the statement that in-flight Wi-Fi is “the best thing airlines have done” in the last three years.
- 50% of business travelers take red-eye flights so they are “reachable” during business hours.
- 82% said Wi-Fi would help solve this problem

Airlines would be smart to be getting Wi-Fi on their flights, and fast. Not only is it high in demand, but you can charge for it and turn it into an additional revenue stream. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

I have experienced it myself - and trust me, it can be addictive... although still expensive on Virgin America flights:

Read the full article here.

Nokia releases N900, first Linux smartphone (with Wi-Fi)

2009-08-27T21:01:00.004+03:00

Nokia finally announced the release of a full fledged smartphone running the Linux operating system.

The story about it in Fierce Wireless fails to touch on an important question - what is the connection between this and Nokia's vague announcement from a couple of months ago that they are going to have an Android device - which is basically tunning Linux too?

Here are a few quotes from the story:

Nokia released its first smartphone running Linux-based Maemo software, a day after a Reuters report indicated it would do so. The company said the device, called the N900, represents an evolution from its Internet Tablet devices (which did not sport cellular connections) that had run on Linux.

The company said that the phone would allow users to multi-task and have a better Web browsing experience. Despite the emphasis on the benefits of Linux, Nokia said the gadget would complement its Symbian OS--its standard smartphone operating system--and not replace it.

"This is in no way putting Symbian in jeopardy," Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's head of sales, told Reuters. He said Symbian would remain Nokia's main platform and that it would look to continue to expand its presence in the market. Vanjoki told Bloomberg that the N900 was aimed at "technology leaders, who represent about 200 million on this planet."

Research firm CCI Insights echoed Vanjoki's sentiments. The firm said Nokia likely would use Symbian to flesh out its portfolio across a number of market segments and price points. The firm said the N900 was essentially an experiment, to see what stick on the high end.

"CCS Insight believes the N900 will be a niche product that will primarily be purchased by early adopters," the firm wrote in a research note issued today. "Its uninspiring design further reflects its experimental nature and signals that the appeal of the device lies more in the software platform than the hardware. The N900 has an extensive set of features and adheres largely to well-established open Web principles (such as OpenGL and WebKit). Nokia's goal may be to get developers to use this 'Swiss army knife' device as a test bed to establish what is possible on a computer-like mobile device. Advances would signal the next steps it needs to take to be successful in this emerging category."

The N900 runs on Maemo 5 software and will have a 3G cellular connection (WCDMA and HSPA at 900/1700/2100 MHz), a WVGA touchscreen display and a Qwerty keyboard. The phone will run on a ARM Cortex-A8 processor, features up to 1 GB of application memory and includes OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration. Nokia boasted the device would be able to perform "PC-like" multitasking. The phone's browser will be powered by Mozilla, makers of Firefox, and it will have Adobe Flash 9.4 support. The N900 also has 32 GB of storage, which is expandable up to 48 GB via a microSD card.

Nokia said the device would be available beginning in October for around $712, before taxes and subsidies, though it did not say where.

In other Nokia news, the company announced the formation of a new Solutions unit to drive Nokia's solutions business and bring it into line with its device portfolio. Nokia has made services a major focus of its business strategy going forward. Alberto Torres, currently the head of Nokia's devices category management, will lead the new unit. Additionally, Nokia said that Robert Andersson, who currently heads up finance, strategy and strategic sourcing in the company's devices units, will transfer to Nokia's corporate development office to run the company's corporate alliances and business development operations, which includes Nokia's recently announced partnership with Microsoft.

Read the full story http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/nokia-debuts-first-linux-smartphone/2009-08-27.

Article: Operators embracing WiFi

2009-08-13T16:34:00.002+03:00

The wave of Wi-Fi grows higher and stronger: in an article in Fierce Broadband Wireless, Writer Lynette Luna describes the shift in Operator's approach to Wi-Fi. WeFi is mentioned in it too...

Here are a few key paragraphs:

It's no secret mobile operators are now embracing WiFi, but will they go so far as to actively encourage customers to roam onto WiFi?

Selina Lo, president and CEO of Ruckus Wireless, sees big business in operators looking to WiFi hotspots as a way to offload the heavy 3G data traffic that is generated by flat-rate pricing and iconic devices such as the iPhone. Once the vendor was stonewalled when it requested meetings with carriers. Today, operators are calling Ruckus.

The key to encouraging 3G offloading, however, is enabling seamless roaming between WiFi and 3G. "A single sign-on is the thing to master," Lo said. "People want WiFi if it's easy to use. If they have to re-authenticate every time, it's a big pain."

U.S. operators besides AT&T have yet to enable devices to seek out a WiFi connection before a 3G connection. PCCW in Hong Kong, a Ruckus Wireless customer, deployed that capability two years ago when it began rolling out hotspots and other operators in Asia and Europe are aggressively adding that capability.

Should operators necessarily follow AT&T's lead and own hotspots? Lo said money can be made as a managed hotspot service provider in addition to the benefits of reducing network capex and aiding customer retention.

Already, companies like WeFi are coming up with app stores for use on WiFi only, while other companies like Bango are coming up with ways for operators to monetize apps via WiFi.

Since the iPhone sets the trends for the types of features we see in competing iPhones, it's only a matter of time until we see auto-authentication features on competing handsets outside of AT&T's network--both from a consumer demand standpoint and a 3G offloading one.

Read the full article here - recommended!

WeFi gets round B investment - moving forward fast

2009-08-13T16:27:00.003+03:00

Well, it's no secret - WeFi secured a new investment round from top-tier Venture Capital firms Lighspeed and Pitango, who believe WeFi is well on the way to led the world of mobile Intenret over Wi-Fi.

We got some great coverage on the investment from TechCrunch and many more blogs and websites.

Here is the full announcement text:

WeFi Secures Round B Funding To Expand R&D, Marketing, and Business Partnerships

Lightspeed Venture Partners and Pitango Venture Capital led the funding round for WeFi, which has reached 30 Million Wi-Fi hotspots in its global database

Delaware, USA – August 04, 2009: WeFi Inc. (www.wefi.com), creator of the world’s largest community-based global Wi-Fi network, announced today that it has secured an undisclosed amount of second round funding. The funding round was led by venture capital firms Lightspeed Venture Partners and Pitango Venture Capital. The funding will support WeFi’s business and financial needs, and is being allocated toward expanding development, marketing efforts, and strengthening strategic business partnerships.

The financing round continues an eventful year thus far for WeFi, which has announced a number of new launches over the last few months, including a version of its software for the Google Android mobile operating system, an integration with mobile VoIP provider fring, the launch of WeROK - a mobile entertainment and communications portal powered by WeFi’s community-generated Wi-Fi network, and the opening of WeFiApps, a Wi-Fi powered application store for data-intensive mobile applications.

After having established itself as a leader in bringing open Wi-Fi hotspots to people around the world, WeFi has in the past year significantly penetrated the mobile market as well, making finding and connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot easy for mobile users. WeFi automatically connects the user to the best connection available, as opposed to the tedious, multi-step process that previously existed. WeFi always seeks to connect users to Wi-Fi access points where Internet access has already been verified by other WeFi-enabled devices – dubbed “community-verified spots” - in a growing network of 30 million access points recorded. In addition, WeFi recently released its first generation of carrier-grade solutions for offloading mobile Internet traffic from congested 3G and 4G networks onto Wi-Fi access points.

WeFi was established in February 2006. The company is incorporated in Delaware, U.S. with R&D facilities in Israel.

Barry Eggers, Managing Director at Lightspeed Venture Partners, commented: “We are thrilled to lead this round of funding together with Pitango and invest in an outstanding company such as WeFi, with whom we’ve had a close relationship the last 3 years. With the current sharp increase in mobile Internet use, a trend that is expected to continue over the next few years, increased Wi-Fi availability is instrumental in unleashing mobile Internet applications and services. It is clear to us that WeFi is well positioned to become a true global industry leader.”

”Using its innovative technology, WeFi is the only company today, that has a solution for consumers, handset manufacturers, wireless applications and carriers to use mobile Internet, faster, easier and everywhere,” said Rami Kalish, Managing General Partner & Co-Founder, Pitango Venture Capital

“We are delighted to keep working with top tier investment partners like Lightspeed and Pitango,” said Zur Feldman, CEO of WeFi. “With our rapidly growing number of users, and our ever expanding database of Wi-Fi access points record around the world, WeFi is providing the fastest, easiest and most reliable mobile Internet experience available. The new capital will help WeFi expand its technology reach to additional platforms, to accelerate sales and marketing worldwide, to support new partnerships, and to continue to spread our innovative technology. These funds will support the company’s growth over the next couple of years," added Feldman.

Another attempt on your privacy by Facebook...

2009-07-26T14:04:00.004+03:00

In case you didn't know, Facebook sometimes uses your profile picture in advertisement impressions shown to other Facebook users.

You can control the exposure of your picture from your settings, but by default Facebook is allowed to do that.

If you want to protect your picture from appearing in Facebook ads, this is what you have to do:

Click on Settings up at the top right corner (where you see the "log out" link).

Select Privacy - Manage.

Select News Feed and Wall.

Select the tab that reads Facebook Ads. There is a drop-down box - click it and select No One.

Spread the word...

Mobile Internet on Nokia phones makes a giant leap - WeFi apps is released!

2009-06-22T18:28:00.003+03:00

If you have a Wi-Fi enabled Mobile phone, now you can get the coolest applications auto-boosted over Wi-Fi, from WeFiApps.com !

Here is the full press release:

WeFi Unleashes Mobile Internet with WeFiApps

Users Can Download Various Themed Groups of Data-Intensive Mobile Applications That Are Powered by WeFi’s High-Performance Global Network of Wi-Fi Hotspots

Delaware, USA – June 16 2009: WeFi Inc. (www.wefi.com), creator of the world’s largest community-based global Wi-Fi network, today announced the launch of WeFiApps, the first Wi-Fi powered launch-pad for mobile applications. WeFiApps aims to revolutionize mobile Internet use by providing a home for data-intensive mobile applications, powered by WeFi’s high-performance global Wi-Fi network. Users can download and enjoy varied groups of mobile applications, and let WeFi automatically connect and maintain the best Wi-Fi connection, wherever they are located.

When downloading, users can choose between various application palettes, each with a different theme. These applications include communication services such as Instant Messaging, mobile email and VoIP; entertainment software such as games, sports, Mobile Video and TV; information sources such as dictionaries, encyclopedias and maps, social networks, news and more. Companies that have already signed up to incorporate their applications in WeFiApps include fring, Joiku, Nimbuzz, Shape Services, NewACT, HOVR and more. These applications benefit from the automatic bandwidth-boosting, as well as exposure to an audience of Internet-savvy users. Free to download from www.wefiapps.com (though some of the applications do cost money to use), WeFiApps is currently accessible on any Wi-Fi enabled Symbian S60 mobile phone.

WeFiApps is powered by the WeFi backbone connectivity layer, which dramatically enhances the wireless network user experience with mobile and portable devices. It provides a high performance, open and global broadband wireless network by combining a community-generated database, a smart connection manager and a dynamic Access Point/Hotspot directory. WeFi always seeks to connect users to Wi-Fi access points where Internet access has already been verified by other WeFi-enabled devices – dubbed “community-verified spots” - in a growing network of over 24 million access points recorded.

While the notion of application stores have recently been launched by several vendors, who provide online catalogs of arbitrary applications for direct download, WeFiApps is distinguished by focusing on enabling data-intensive mobile Internet applications to be launched and automatically get connected to Wi-Fi, thus providing an unrivaled user experience and convenience.

According to a recent report by research group Juniper Research, mobile Internet is expected to jump to over 1.7 billion users by 2013. Yet this presents a challenge. The bandwidth capacity of a cellular network is limited. However, Wi-Fi’s higher bandwidth capability creates a better user experience, especially when using high-data mobile applications, providing a significant easing of traffic away cellular networks. WeFi’s ability to locate, connect and maintain a Wi-Fi Internet connection from its rapidly increasing global network of access points allows users to enjoy high-data mobile applications and an unprecedented level.

“With a sharp increase predicted in mobile Internet use over the next few years, increased Wi-Fi availability is significantly useful in unleashing mobile Internet applications and services,” said Zur Feldman, CEO of WeFi. “WeFiApps enables users to enhance their mobile Internet activities in their personal and professional lives, all the time utilizing a PC-like Internet experience over a mobile phone. It is yet another example of WeFi consistently coming up with innovative ideas for leading Wi-Fi technology forward, and raising the standard of the wireless experience. ”

2009-06-10T12:01:00.003+03:00

WeFi got a great review in GadgetWise, the technology column of New York Times Online.

This a great vote of confidence!

With so many terrific, bandwidth-hogging applications on smartphones, it’s handy to be able to connect through the speedy Wi-Fi network instead of your slower phone data connection. But where do you find Wi-Fi on the go?
That is what WeFi is for. An app that runs on Android, Nokia and Windows Mobile phones, WeFi locates Wi-Fi hotspots and can connect you automatically.
As tested on an Android phone, WeFi runs in the background, looking for the best open Wi-Fi signal and when it finds a good connection, signs the phone on.
From the WeFi app screen you can how many verified spots are within range, how many are open and how many require log in.
The phone app can be set to start up automatically, to ask permission before starting up, to show detailed connection notices, or to give an audible sound when it does connect.
The spots you find are sent back to WeFi, which creates a map that can be searched online using a computer — this function isn’t on the phone version. The map is useful for plotting out your Wi-Fi connections in a city you may be planning to visit. The company claims to have logged 23 million hotspots worldwide.
Another bonus for using WeFi on the laptop, it will show you who is logged on nearby, and you can also designate friends who will see your location when you are online.

Read the full story here.

New WeFi maps released - whoa!

2009-06-04T17:55:00.006+03:00

We have just released a new version of our Worldwide Wi-Fi Maps - with so many new cool features!

Here are a few of the goodies:

Added many more categories and classifiction of hotspots
Expandedn clear legend
Easy to use, shiny new filter to help you see the exact type of hotspots you want to see at any moment
Time-filter: you can choose to see only hotspots that were recently conected
Watch connected WeFi users on the maps

There are more interaction and input tools - you can go in yourself and add/edit the information about the Hotspots - like give good feedback to your favorite coffee shop.

And a few technical improvements - mostly, it now works much much faster...

Come in and check it out here.

AT&T Admit they have network issues - and think about Wi-Fi

2009-06-01T11:10:00.002+03:00

Om Malik quotes AT&T officials saying that they plan to push ahead with the LTE roll-out, in the effort to catch up with the increasing data damands of smartphones.

Although in the past AT&T were in complete denial of the data problems and network coverage, limitations of its network were exposed during SXSW earlier this year. AT&T has refused to discuss what it was doing in order to fix the problem, instead putting its head in the sand.

But in the press releases quoted in Giga Om, we see the first step in admitting that it has had a problem. Here are some of the things AT&T is doing:

Almost doubling the radio frequency capacity. It will be deploying more of its 3G network on the 850 MHz spectrum.
More bandwidth to cell sites including adding fiber-optic connectivity and additional capacity to thousands of cell sites across the country this year.
More cell sites. Deployment of about 2,100 new cell sites across the country.
Many AT&T smartphones will be able to switch seamlessly between 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity.
MicroCells. Customer trials leading toward general availability of AT&T 3G MicroCell offerings, which utilize femtocells to enhance in-building wireless coverage.
AT&T plans to spend between $17 billion and $18 billion on its network in 2009.

The point highlighted above says it all: Wi-Fi will become an important part of this solution.

Read the full story here.

Newsflash! Hold the presses! WeFi is now on Android!

2009-05-21T11:16:00.004+03:00

If you are one of the lucky people who own the Android/G1 phones, now you can forget about tediously searching for the right Wi-Fi network - WeFi is now on Android!

You can get it from our Android download page - by SMS, or through your PC, or just scan the appication code. Actually, you can scan it right here with your Android camera:

We got a lot of website writing about it too, including LifeHacker, Android Guys and many more!

Top story about WeFi in Telephony magazine

2009-05-21T11:07:00.005+03:00

WeFi is covered by Telephony Online Magazine - one of the top online publication in the industry.

The writer describes very clearly how WeFi revolutionizes the way any mobile Internet device can use Wi-Fi to get the best mobile broadband, and descries our upcoming WeFi Apps initiative.

This is a great story - read the full article here!

Wi-Fi becoming valuable customer retention tool for carriers

2009-05-07T14:52:00.004+03:00

In this interesting article in Fierce Wireless, Lynette Luna describes how carriers are using Wi-Fi to keep their telephony and DSL subscribers faithful.

I recommend that you read the full article (here), but here are a few interesting quotes that show how the WeFi vision is becoming reality without us having to preach it:

Verizon Communications' WiFi strategy may be deja vu all over again. According to a piece in theWall Street Journal, the operator is reportedly preparing to offer its home broadband service customers free WiFi access at hotspots via an agreement with Boingo. It appears similar offerings from competitors including AT&T, Cablevision and others are having an impact on Verizon.

Later on the author describes how Verizon made teh first move in this direcation back in 2003, then tried in 2005 to "upgrade" to 3G / EVDO, and recently found out that other carriers are back to offering Wi-Fi:

Interestingly, it was Verizon Communications that pioneered the WiFi strategy that other operators are having success with today. In 2003, the operator converted some of its existing Verizon phone booths in Manhattan into Verizon WiFi hotspots and offered WiFi for free to subscribers of its DSL service. At the time, it was heralded by some analysts as a brilliant move to attract and retain DSL customers.
By 2005, Verizon decided to phase out its WiFi offering, despite the fact that it did reduce churn, in favor of increasing its 3G EV-DO wireless broadband offering from Verizon Wireless. It was thought that once 3G was more ubiquitous, WiFi wouldn't be needed anymore since most hotspot providers charged for access. And the company's position as a whole as been: Why search around for a WiFi hotspot when you can have 3G everywhere?
That may be so, but when competitors start offering free WiFi on a widespread basis to their existing broadband and smartphone customers, Verizon starts paying attention. WiFi is nestling into an interesting position in both the fixed and mobile broadband industries as a valuable tool for customer retention.
No longer should WiFi be viewed as a competitive service that takes away precious data revenues from operators because it offloads data traffic. Indeed, with the way data traffic is going, operators are beginning to look to alternatives such as WiFi to ease possible congestion. And given the high costs associated with acquiring new customers, it seems that eating the cost to offer free WiFi just might make sense. As such, I wouldn't be surprised to see Verizon Wireless, which has long resisted WiFi capabilities on phones, begin to embrace WiFi by allowing the option on more smartphones, and teaming up with its parent company to offer certain valuable smartphone users free WiFi as well.
WiFi is becoming a must-have for smartphone users. A recent ABI Research report on behalf of the WiFi Alliance shows consumers view WiFi as a "must-have" feature for mobile handsets. The firm found that 77 percent of mobile phone users want WiFi on their next handset and three-fourths of the people who have WiFi capability in their smartphones use it regularly.

Very cool!

WeFi and ROK launch WeROK: Free Mobile Internet Access and Services

2009-04-27T15:26:00.007+03:00

WeFi and ROK launch WeROK: Free Mobile Internet Access and Services

Download from www.werok.net (from web), m.werok.net (from Nokia phones).

Free to download, free to use and globally available, WeROK delivers internet access for mobile phones to include low-cost mobile text, free mobile email and free Mobile TV services via Wi-Fi

London, UK and Delaware, USA – 27^th April 2009: ROK Entertainment Group (www.rokent.com), the mobile technology, applications and services company, and WeFi Inc. (www.wefi.com), creator of the first open, community-based global Wi-Fi network, today announced the launch of WeROK, a Wi-Fi powered mobile portal enabling internet access for mobile phones to include low-cost texting and free mobile phone services.

WeROK combines WeFi’s high-performance global Wi-Fi network with ROK Entertainment’s unique portfolio of mobile services. These applications include low-cost SMS, mobile email services, free-streamed mobile TV and mobile social network services. Free to download at www.werok.net, WeROK is currently accessible on any Wi-Fi enabled Symbian S60 mobile phone, as well as PC’s.

WeROK’s mobile service suite is powered by WeFi, which dramatically enhances the wireless network user experience with mobile and portable devices. It provides a high performance, open and global broadband wireless network by combining a community-generated database, a smart connection manager and a dynamic Access Point/Hotspot directory. WeFi connects users to Wi-Fi access points where Internet access has already been verified by other WeFi-enabled devices – dubbed “community-verified spots” - in a growing network of over 20 million access points.

“WeROK is a unique development and a giant leap forward in mobile and web convergence,” said Jonathan Kendrick, Chairman and CEO of ROK Entertainment Group. “It’s an advertising-funded mobile services application which enables handsets to automatically and seamlessly access Wi-Fi zones in order to route mobile activities via the Internet.

“In our testing of WeROK, we have seen savings of up to 85% being made on text services compared to the cost of using traditional network-based texting and through combining WeFi’s highly innovative Wi-Fi technologies with our suite of web-enabled mobile services, we are very excited to be launching WeROK on a global scale,” added Kendrick.

“Increased Wi-Fi availability is incredibly useful in unleashing mobile Internet applications and services,” said Zur Feldman, CEO of WeFi. “WeFi is thrilled to be working with ROK Entertainment on WeROK, enabling users to enhance their mobile entertainment and communication activities, all the time utilizing a PC-like Internet experience over a mobile phone.”

Available on Nokia E51, E60, E61, E61i, E65, E66, E70, E71, E90, N81, N81 8GB, N82, N91, N92, N93, N93i, N95, N95 8G

About ROK Entertainment:

Founded in 2004, ROK Entertainment Group is a mobile technologies, applications and services development company. Headquartered in the UK, ROK is best known for its award-winning mobile TV services and has 5 patent awards and more than 40 further patent applications in place. For more information, please visit: www.rokent.com.

About WeFi Inc.

WeFi Inc. is the creator of the world’s first global open Wi-Fi network. Leveraging the power of Wi-Fi, WeFi brings free wireless Internet communications to everyone, everywhere with easy-to-use downloadable software that enables automatic connection to the best Wi-Fi hotspot around. WeFi is driven by a social network, whose members benefit from a free, fun and interactive experience, while helping to build a truly seamless global Wi-Fi network by mapping open access points in any given location worldwide. Established in February 2006, WeFi Inc. is backed by leading VC companies Lightspeed, Pitango and Gemini Ventures. The company is incorporated in Delaware, U.S. with R&D facilities in Israel. WeFi was awarded the Forum Nokia “Application of the Year – EMEA” award for 2008. For additional information on WeFi, please visit: www.wefi.com.

WeFi add-on for fring is out there!!!

2009-04-20T13:26:00.009+03:00

We are releasing a new add-on that we developed to help fring users find open Wi-Fi everywhere.

Check out these videos that show what it's all about -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwDPY5p1XC8

And this is for Developers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FMqzcdNK14

And here is our formal press release:

Mobile access to millions of Wi-Fi access points worldwide with WeFi add-on for fring™

Users can easily locate and access open Wi-Fi hotspots in a network of 20 million access points using the WeFi add-on from fring-enabled mobile devices

Delaware, USA and London, UK – April 20, 2009: WeFi Inc. (www.wefi.com), creator of the first open community-based global Wi-Fi network, and fring™ (www.fring.com), a leading mobile Internet community and communication service, today launched the WeFi add-on for fring that gives users mobile access to the largest database of 20 million Wi-Fi spots worldwide, which grows by over 1 million month by month.

The new WeFi add-on for fring provides users with easy and free access to millions of Wi-Fi hotspots from their mobile devices. The alpha test of this service has been particularly popular with business and pleasure travelers who easily find Wi-Fi connections from their mobile device, saving valuable time looking for somewhere to logon, and providing affordable Internet access both locally and while roaming internationally.

"fring is a natural partner for WeFi helping to realize the full benefit of mobile Wi-Fi access,” said Zur Feldman, CEO of WeFi, “Our current users and the millions of new users we will reach via fring will enjoy easy and free access to hotspots without having to manually insert their location, and will be able to use this free internet for interacting with friends and data-hungry services such as streaming music, among other mobile internet experiences that fring facilitates

Avi Shechter, CEO of fring added "WeFi is an exciting new addition to our selection of fring add-ons because easily locating and accessing hotspots around the world makes our mobile internet experiences even more compelling for many users who prefer Wi-Fi quality and cost benefits. This is the kind of value we envisioned when we opened the fring API for developers to create their own mobile experiences, integrated into fring.”

The WeFi add-on currently works on hundreds of Symbian and Windows Mobile devices with the latest version of fring which can be downloaded or upgraded from here. A full list of supported handsets is available here. To locate and access millions of hotspots from these mobile devices, users simply select the WeFi add-on from the add-ons tab within fring. Users can locate their Wi-Fi hospot location automatically using their handset’s GPS capability, or manually by typing in any address worldwide.

Developers can start creating their own add-on's today by using fring's developers site where they’ll find the fring API documentation, code samples and open source add-ons (twitter and last.fm) which they can use to leverage their current web expertise (e.g. PHP, .NET, Java) to create their own mobile internet applications using the same tools they’d use to create any web application.

About WeFi Inc.

WeFi Inc. is the creator of the world’s first global open Wi-Fi network. Leveraging the power of Wi-Fi, WeFi brings free wireless Internet communications to everyone, everywhere with easy-to-use downloadable software that enables automatic connection to the best Wi-Fi access points around. WeFi is driven by a social network, whose members benefit from a free, fun and interactive experience, while helping to build a truly seamless global Wi-Fi network by mapping open access points in any given location worldwide. Established in February 2006, WeFi Inc. is backed by leading VC companies Lightspeed, Pitango and Gemini Ventures. The company is incorporated in Delaware, U.S. with R&D facilities in Israel. WeFi was awarded the Forum Nokia “Application of the Year – EMEA” award for 2008. For additional information on WeFi, please visit: www.wefi.com.

About fring™

fring™ is an award-winning mobile internet community and communication service that allows friends to connect, share experiences and enhance their communities together from their mobile device. They do this using a combination of proprietary fring™ utilities and the Internet’s most popular social and community applications including Skype®, Facebook®, MSN® Messenger, GoogleTalk TM, Twitter, Yahoo!TM, AIM®, ICQ®, Orkut®). fring™ is 100% free with no subscription costs; consumers simply pay for the data they use under their existing mobile operator agreement. fring™ is completely PC independent, it requires no additional hardware, has no geographical or location limitations and operates on any available mobile Internet connection: 3G, Wi-Fi, GPRS, EDGE & WiMAX. fring™ was launched in January 2007 and has experienced phenomenal global adoption, with millions of users now enjoying the fring™ experience in more than 200 countries worldwide, and approximately 500,000 new fringsters joining the fring™ community each month. fring™ operates on Symbian Series 60 devices, Samsung S60, Sony Ericsson UIQ Smartphones, Windows Mobile, iPhone, J2ME, Linux Mobile & Intel’s Moblin devices, which currently represent more than 1,000 mobile handsets (the full list is available at http://www.fring.com website).

For more information please contact:

WeFi

Jason Silberman at Koteret Public Relations.

Email: jason_s@koteret.com or Tel: +972-54-5359955.

fring™

Gil Regev, Marcom Specialist at fring™:
gilr@fring,com - Tel +972 54 268 7906

____________________________________________________________

A real-life game with Wi-Fi and GPS on Android

2009-03-24T20:59:00.009+02:00

OK, all you geeks, time to get up from the keyboard and take the game to the streets!

A company called W2Pi Entertainment is developing a gaming application called Wi-Fi Army that combines GPS tracking, WiFi, cellphone, and a cellphone camera that allows you to play a game of "GPS laser tag" against other players. They claim to have used Android's ability to control a phone's GPS receiver to create the Augmented Reality game called Wi-Fi Army. You use your phone's GPS, WiFi, and Google Maps to track your opponent and shoot him. Though instead of using a laser to nail your opponent you use your camera's phone to take a picture of him.

The game figures out whether you've hit your opponent or not by recognizing the picture of him when you upload it to the Wi-Fi Army web server. Facial recognition obviously. Not sure how the server will score shots to the back of the head, though ;-)

The way it works is that after registering, you can be contacted by any other player within a 300 foot radius, as the game works out your location and the location of any other players within this area. Essentially, it uses the limits of the WiFi range (300 ft) to detect other players and then sends out invites. You then select which player you want to play with, and if they accept, you're both sent pictures of each other, and the game begins, with each of you trying to be the first to take a photo of the other (effectively shooting them). Here's a video explanation:

Not sure how it will turn out, but the concept is surely cool, and - literally - out of the box...

Naturally everyone will enjoy it much mode if they have WeFi on their Androids - coming up soon...

Read the full story here.

_______________________________________________________

How to run WeFi from your Nokia Download!

2009-03-16T11:52:00.011+02:00

Some Nokia users asked us how they can run WeFi directly from the phone - this is easy:

If you have Nokia E51, E60, E61, E61i, E65, E66, E70, E71, E90, N81, N81 8GB, N82, N91, N92, N93, N93i, N95, N95 8G, etc. You can run WeFi directly from your phone; This all you have to do:

On your Nokia phone, go to the Download! folder:

There you should go into either "Applicaiton" or "Internet" folder (depending on your phone):

And here you scroll until you see WeFi

If you didn't try it yet - this is the time!

Don't do Wi-Fi without WeFi...

WeFi published by Nokia on all S60 phones

2009-02-13T21:46:00.004+02:00

A few days ago, WeFi for Nokia/Symbian was officially sanctioned by Nokia and published on the Download! menu that appears on all Nokia S60 phones (N95, E71 and many many more).

This is a great day for WeFi - now more than 100 Million people with Wi-Fi phones can install and run WeFi directly from their Download! folder. We are seeing a lot of them starting to use WeFi already.

If you have a Nokia phone with Wi-Fi, just go to the Download! folder, and there go into either the "Applications" or "Internet" folder (depending on your phone model), there you will see the WeFi icon, and just click on it to install and start enjoying killer Wi-Fi...

Of course you can always get WeFi from http://wefi.com/download

Qik and Boingo team up to make Qik really kick ass

2009-02-13T21:41:00.000+02:00

The mobile video broadcast company Qik announced a partnership with Wi-Fi provider Boingo where every Qik new user will get 1-month free access to Boingo hotspots. This makes sense, because as cool as Qik is, it really need a goof Wi-Fi connection to really kick ass.

MobileCrunch says: “Like all mobile video broadcasting solutions, Qik works at its best when it’s granted access to a nice fat WiFi pipeline. But beyond their living rooms, their local coffee shop, and that one street corner where they can pick up WiFi signal if they hold their laptop just right, most people don’t have a very wide array of WiFi spots available to them - not without hotspot-by-hotspot fees, at least. Looking to make full-breadth broadcasting on the go a bit more accessible, Qik and Boingo Wireless, a nationwide WiFi provider, will be announcing a partnership later today.” (read full story here).

But hey, what happens after the first happy month is over? Will Qik users have to pay for their Wi-Fi? And what happens whey they are not near a Boingo hotspot? There are only 80,000 around the world…

It can be much easier. just download WeFi to your Nokia or WinMo phone, and let Qik run - it will automatically seek and connect to Wi-Fi wherever it is available. We’ve tried it of course… awesome.

WeFi to present in IMA booth at GSMA, Feb. 16-19, Barcelona

2009-01-04T20:07:00.000+02:00

We are going to display all the hot stuff about WeFi in the GSMA (World Mobile Congress) in Barcelona, February 16-19.

Come and meet us!

Free Wi-Fi spreading like a virus

2009-01-04T18:02:00.000+02:00

In an article from Computerworld, Mike Elgan talks about the fast spread of free Wi-Fi, not only in USA but in UK, China and other countries.

He also grills the Airlines for chanrging too much for Wi-Fi in airports... don't we know it ;-)

WeFi is mentioned in this article as a phenomenon which proves that free Wi-Fi is spreading fast and will continue to spread. Basically, says Elgan, “… the demand for free Wi-Fi is driven at least as much by the hassle factor as it is the cost factor. People just want to fire up their laptops or iPhone and be online. As Wi-Fi devices, including the iPhone, BlackBerry Bold and ubiquitous netbooks go mainstream, the provision of free Wi-Fi just makes sense for business of all stripes.”

Read the full article here.