WiFi Chipset

Boingo + Broadcom = World Phone

Posted by samc on January 9th, 2008

Chip maker Broadcom said Tuesday it plans to integrate software from Wi-Fi access provider Boingo Wireless into its Wi-Fi phone chipset.

The software automatically scans for wireless hot spots and connects users to private and commercial networks , including those part of Boingo’s roaming network.

The integration of Boingo Wi-Fi software into the Broadcom Wi-Fi phone platform enables global access to public Wi-Fi networks in addition to their private networks at the office and at home. The Broadcom and Boingo partnership may be especially important for voice over IP (VoIP), says the company

Santa Monica-based Boingo, started by EarthLink founder Sky Dayton, also provides Wi-Fi access to computer users and Internet service providers.

Boingo claims to be the world’s largest network of Wi-Fi hotspots with some 100,000 access points. Access to the North American Boingo network typically costs $21.95 per month. Boingo pays hotspot operator partners a wholesale fee, typically between $1.00 and $2.00 per connect day (up to 24 hours for one user in one location). Boingo provides its carrier & ISP partners with marketing, customer support, and billing costs.

T-Mobile today become the first UK operator to offer “free” Wi-Fi access as part of a mobile broadband price plan. All new customers that sign up to the Web’n'walk mobile internet service will now be able to use all T-Mobile Wi-Fi HotSpots at no extra charge.

This means that for an additional £12.50 per month, on top of any Flext price plan, T-Mobile customers will now have access to both a 3G network nationwide, and what T-Mobile claims is the world’s largest Wi-Fi network with more than 39,000 Wi-Fi HotSpots across the globe, including the Starbucks chain of coffee shops, airports and some rail services.

Glenn Fleishman from WiFiNetNews says; Free Wi-Fi from Starbucks? Ha! Ain’t. Gunna. Happen.

But other “free” programs include; T-Mobile and One Laptop Free Access for Year program, Free WiFi in UK McDonalds and AT&T’s Free WiFi access with DSL. T-Mobile generally bundles EDGE plus T-Mobile WiFi HotSpots in their data plan for WiFi-enabled smartphones and PDAs, for $20-$30/month in addition to a voice plan.

source : dailywireless.org