WNA

D-Link today announced it is working with Facebook to deliver D-Link’s first wireless router with Facebook Wi-Fi.

The Facebook Wi-Fi 802.11ac router delivers advanced, connectivity for small businesses and their customers. It prompts customers to check in to their location on Facebook to connect to free Wi-Fi without the hassle of entering codes or creating new accounts.

Dlink says the features and benefits include:

• Enhanced User Experience: Offers free Wi-Fi without the need for codes or special accounts
  
• Expanded Customer Connections: Drives customer check-ins and interaction with business Facebook Pages
  
• Increased Visibility: Allows small businesses to aggregate demographic data from customers who check in
  
• Wi-Fi Performance: Up to 1750Mbps Wi-Fi with 802.11ac (1300ac + 450n) for a high-performance wireless experience
  
• Secure Wi-Fi: Complete set of security features including an SPI firewall and WPA2 to protect business networks
  

The D-Link 11AC Router with Facebook Wi-Fi is available for $149.99.

Facebook Wi-Fi is available on Meraki wireless products, Cisco ISR G2 and ASR 1000 Series routers, NETGEAR R6300 Smart WiFi routers and the D-Link Facebook Wi-Fi AC1750 Router (DIR-865L).

Hotspot 2.0 is a new set of protocols to enable cellular-like roaming. A variety of partnerships are developing nationwide and world-wide, including:

• The “CableWiFi” network identifier (SSID) allows devices to auto-connect to a “CableWiFi” hotspot when in range. Comcast alone will install eight million Xfinity WiFi hotspots by the end of the year available in public locations across the country, from shopping centers, commuter stations, parks and sporting venues. Xfinity Homes will now contain two SSIDs, enabling consumer cable WiFi boxes to “share” their WiFi, helping the MSOs compete with mobile carriers.
  
• Facebook Wi-Fi is a partnership between Cisco and Facebook that allows Wi-Fi users to log into access points, using Facebook credentials. Facebook said it had 819 million monthly mobile users (73%) out of its total 1.15 billion users in Q2 2013. It’s primarily driven by advertising revenue.
  
• GOWEX is taking its global model of Wireless Smart Cities to Chicago, its fourth WiFi City in the country, after New York, San Francisco and Miami. As in all GOWEX networks, any user with an account will get a 1 Mbps speed connection for free and will have other Premium options.
  
• Europe’s Fon WiFi community. Uses a $59 Fonera WiFi router. Fon claims to have the largest Wi-Fi network in the world, with over eight million hotspots as at July 2013.
  
• Boingo launched “Passpoint Secure” networks at more than 20 airports throughout the United States using the Cisco Hotspot 2.0 network. Cisco, AT&T and Accuris partnered to bring a Hotspot 2.0 network to MWC 2014 this year.
  
• iPass has launched a cloud-based Business Traveler Service 2.0, marking iPass’ transformation into a cloud company utilizing a Software-as-a-Service delivery model, coupled with an app based approach. The service is available at 3,000 airports, 22 airlines, hotels and public areas worldwide. A single log-in enables users to obtain automatic access and authentication on smartphones, tablets and laptops in over 120 countries.
  
• Google is considering deploying Wi-Fi networks in cities covered by Google Fiber. The disclosure is made in a document Google is circulating to 34 cities that are the next candidates to receive Google Fiber in 2015.
  
• Google apparently plans to outfit small businesses with Wifi routers from Ruckus, that can be centrally managed in the cloud, rather than on-premises. The routers, which would use their current internet connection, would link up to create a network that would in theory span across states, countries and even continents. The hardware would be the only cost involved, and use the businesses’ existing Internet connections, unlike the Google-provided Wi-Fi networks running at Starbucks.
  

Infrastructure providers are also enabling small businesses and organizations to “roll their own” Hotspot 2.0 network:

• Cloud4Wi released a new software development kit (SDK) to enable third-party developers to design apps for its Wi-Fi marketplace platform, to deliver greater network value to organizations with Wi-Fi. Cloud4Wi is launching the new SDK at Cisco Live, Cisco’s annual IT and communications conference, at Moscone Center in San Francisco this week.
  
• Ruckus Wireless has announced their virtual SmartCell Gateway (vSCG) as a followup to the Smart WiFi Access Management Service (SAMS) it unveiled last month for small and midsized businesses. It’s designed for mobile and cable network operators, managed service providers, and large enterprises that want to move their WLAN management to the cloud.
  
• The Aerohive Cloud Services Platform is a globally distributed, cloud-based infrastructure for Aerohive developed Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications. Although not strictly Hotspot 2.0, its new 802.11AC access point, the three-stream AP 230 is priced at $799.
  

Related Dailywireless articles include; GOWEX: Free WiFi in Chicago, GOWEX: Free WiFi for Miami , Ruckus Announces Carrier-Grade WiFi Management , GOWEX: Free WiFi for Miami, Ad-Sponsored WiFi Initiatives from Gowex & Facebook, Comcast Creates Hotspot 2.0 National Network, Ruckus Announces Cloud-Based WiFi Services,