If you have ever tried to access the Internet on your laptop or mobile device sans 3G or 4G connections, you know what a godsend free public Wi-Fi can be. A company named Hotspotio wants to help people share Wi-Fi and 4G connections, but instead of a password-protected network, it’s offering “favor”-protected Wi-Fi. These favors can include hugs, drinks or social media interactions, like Twitter followings or Facebook (News - Alert) likes.
Simon Schultz, co-founder of Hotspotio, told us, “We built Hotspotio for several reasons. Requirements for a stable, high-capacity broadband, the limitations on data plans set by some carriers, and the availability of 3/4G made us come up with an easier way to share access to Wi-Fi with your peers. Nowadays, people need that more than ever. At the same time, some users actually have access to a fast mobile broadband. Hotspotio lets those users share these connections, on the go, with people in their social networks.”
People can either share Wi-Fi with access to Hotspotio to collect favors, or use Hotspotio to connect to any network without exchanging any passwords. It uses your connections, such as Facebook friends or Twitter (News - Alert) followers, to help access different networks.
I downloaded the app and couldn’t really get the hang of it. I connected my social networks and couldn’t easily find how to discover if any connections were sharing networks for favors. Since I tested the app out at work, I immediately thought about how employees could put company networks and data at risk.
With cyber attacks, hackers and identity theft growing, security is one of the first concerns we thought of when hearing about Hotspotio. So, we asked Schultz what he and Hotspotio are doing to address any security concerns about access to Wi-Fi networks and different data.
“We are definitely concerned and aware of the security issues around Wi-Fi sharing. Therefore, we are doing all that we can to keep passwords secure,” he said. “You could think of Hotspotio as the replacement for exchanging passwords on Post- It notes. When users are connected to a network via Hotspotio, the app is not involved in the data exchange between the sharer and connector. Just as in any setup, where for example, a coffee shop is giving away the password to their network to coffee drinking customers.”
Having access to the Internet on the go is the name of the game today – it’s what is transforming business communications, fueling the growth of online sharing and keeping people connected. Wi-Fi networks continue to grow, including at least five New York’s public parks. San Francisco, however, beats the Big Apple (News - Alert) by a long shot in terms of provisioning Wi-Fi.
I don’t know if this is what the SWAT Team meant when it suggested locking Wi-Fi networks. Would you use Hotspotio to access Wi-Fi? The app is available in the Google (News - Alert) Play store for free if you want to check it out.
Edited by Alisen Downey