The pros and cons of VoWiFi

Talking on the smartphone phone iPhone

There’s no doubt that Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) has captured a lot of attention lately. Indeed, AT&T has announced that it is handling four million VoWiFi calls per day and T-Mobile boasts some 22 million calls per day using the technology.

Today, many enterprises and mobile operators consider VoWiFi an easy and cost-effective way to provide indoor mobile coverage in buildings that block macro mobile signals. However, VoWiFi isn’t suitable for every application and neither do mobile operators want it to be.

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Microsoft releases a fix for Windows 10 users having trouble connecting to the internet

A few days ago, we reported how Windows 10 was suddenly killing internet connectivity for a number of users. The exact reason for the problem, which affected Wi-Fi for those on the stable release (not Insiders), wasn’t known, although an update, KB3201845, was suspected.

Although there were a few workarounds that might have helped users get back online, Microsoft has now issued an official fix for the problem.

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Google OnHub Soars, Apple AirPort Crashes

Google OnHub

We all make mistakes. The challenge is recognizing and correcting them quickly enough. So comes admission: I bought Apple AirPort Time Capsule to replace Google OnHub—what a bad decision.

My tale starts with a chance sighting on Kinja Deals for the 2TB Apple WiFi router on sale at Amazon for $199; one-hundred bucks off. I ordered on Nov. 16, 2016, and the device arrived two days later. At the time, I had 45Mbps AT&T Internet (which has changed since). Placed in the same location where OnHub had been, about 3 meters away from my desk in the same room as the router, throughput consistently came in at 15Mbps, occasionally a little more, as measured by Fast.com or SpeedTest.Net. By contrast, Google's router wirelessly pumped 40Mbps or more. Ah, yeah.

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One in four Wi-Fi hotspots is a security nightmare

Public wi-fi

A quarter of the world's Wi-Fi networks are so insecure that the only thing stopping hackers from abusing them is their own lack of will. This is according to a new, extensive research by security experts at Kaspersky Lab, which have analyzed more than 31 million public Wi-Fi hotspots all over the world.

Basically, 25 percent aren’t using any type of encryption or password protection, meaning the information going through these networks is wide open for everyone to see. Another three percent are using WEP, which is a protocol that can be cracked "within minutes, using tools that are freely available on the internet".

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Wi-Fi is more important than sex

Public wi-fi

Which of these would you consider a daily essential: sex, chocolate, alcohol or Wi-Fi? If you depressingly chose the fourth and final answer, then you probably are a mobile professional, according to a new iPass report, the iPass Mobile Professional Report 2016.

The report surveyed 1,700 mobile professionals, and 40 percent of them choose Wi-Fi. Thirty-seven percent choose sex, 14 percent chocolate and nine percent chose alcohol.  When asked why they gave such answers, three quarters (75 per cent) say having Wi-Fi improves the quality of their life.

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VoCore2 is a coin-sized Linux computer and fully functional wireless router

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Raspberry Pi has taken the world by storm, and inevitably there are now lots of similar, rival computers vying for attention, often offering something different in order to stand out from the crowd. Omega2, for example, is a $5 Raspberry Pi rival, with built-in Wi-Fi and storage.

VoCore2’s unique selling points are size -- it can fit on a coin -- and versatility. It can be used as a Linux-based computer with Wi-Fi, or as a fully functional wireless router. It’s incredibly affordable too.

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TP-Link unveils new Wi-Fi bulbs with 16 million colors

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Smart lightbulbs have become an in-thing these days. Philips brought it to the mainstream with Hue, but we've reviewed others in the market such as LIFx. All do basically the same thing, working from a phone or tablet to turn on and off, or change colors. It mostly comes down to what the app can do and how easy is it to use?

Can the market handle one more? Of course. Competition is great for consumers, so the more that come to market the better for everyone. Which is good news for TP-Link which is jumping in with a new bulb that it hopes will light up your life.

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NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 AD7200 802.11ad Smart WiFi router (R9000) supports Plex and Amazon Drive

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When buying a wireless router for your home, there are many models to choose from. If you have basic needs in a small home, such as surfing the web or watching Netflix at 1080p, you can easily get by with an inexpensive router for, say, under $100. For those with more advanced needs, like streaming 4K and sharing large files between computers on the network, or those in large homes requiring greater range, prices for more capable routers can skyrocket.

While you don't always have to spend obscene amounts of money on technology, a wireless router is definitely not the place to try and save a buck -- you should always aim for quality products from reputable brands. Today, once such trusted company, NETGEAR, announces the Nighthawk X10 AD7200 smart WiFi router. On paper, it looks like one of the greatest home routers ever. Of course, with such cutting-edge technology like 802.11ad, it carries a very hefty price tag.

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Convenience of public Wi-Fi overrides security fears

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There's an expectation that public Wi-Fi will be available pretty much everywhere we go these days. We access it almost without thinking about it, yet public networks rarely encrypt data leaving users vulnerable.

A new survey of more than 2,000 business users by networking company Xirrus finds that while 91 percent of respondents don't believe public Wi-Fi is secure, but 89 percent use it anyway.

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This map shows Wi-Fi information and passwords from airports around the world

AIrport mobile movie

Many years ago, I whiled away a long wait at a tiny airport by playing Snake on my Nokia phone. I literally did nothing for hours, except guide an ever-growing line around a small screen. These days, thankfully, there are much more entertaining diversions to be had on your phone.

Free airport Wi-Fi has been a godsend for many a traveler over the years, but it’s not without its problems -- you might need a password, and there could be restrictions in place to be aware of.

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Linksys unveils open source WRT3200ACM Gigabit MU-MIMO Tri-Stream 160 Wi-Fi router

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The blue 'WRT' routers from Linksys are iconic. These open source-friendly devices have been very popular with in-the-know consumers that enjoy flashing alternative firmware, such as OpenWrt or DD-WRT. This can sometimes provide added features and functionality.

Today, Linksys unveils its latest such offering, the AC3200 WRT Gigabit MU-MIMO Wi-Fi Router (WRT3200ACM). The 802.11AC device features Tri-Stream 160 technology, 512MB DDR3, and a 1.8 GHz Dual Core processor. Despite all of these amazing specifications, it is surprisingly affordable.

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Free Wi-Fi and the dangers of mobile Man-in-the-Middle attacks

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We’ve known for a long time that public Wi-Fi is one of the weakest links in mobile security. But what is proving even weaker is public awareness of just how vulnerable that connection technology can be.

According to iPass, which tracks the global growth of Wi-Fi, there are now 54 million Wi-Fi hotspots in the US, representing a 4,414 percent increase since 2013. Many of these Wi-Fi hotspots are insecure, leaving users open to cyber attack and at risk of significant financial loss. In our recent study Uncovering the True Costs of Enterprise Mobility, 28 percent of US companies report having suffered a mobile breach in the last 12 months -- with the cost of remedying the breach at $250,000 to $400,000 in many cases.

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NirSoft's LastActivityView now displays recent Wi-Fi network connects and disconnects

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NirSoft’s user-tracking LastActivityView now displays all the recent wireless network connects and disconnects for the current system.

This is particularly handy for computer forensics, as it might help show where a laptop user has been over the past few days.

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Free Wi-Fi is a 'major factor' when choosing a restaurant

Public wi-fi

Choosing between a restaurant offering free Wi-Fi and one that doesn't, two thirds (66 percent) of consumers will go with the one that allows free connectivity, according to new research. Hughes Europe's new report says access to free Wi-Fi has become a "major factor" when consumers are faced with eating and drinking choices.

Almost half (46 percent) also say this affects their choice of shops. "Our survey explores how consumers increasingly expect access to Wi-Fi when they shop, enter a restaurant or look for somewhere to stay", says Chris O'Dell, vice president of sales and marketing, Hughes Europe.

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Google Wifi reinvents the wireless router -- but does it need reinventing?

Google_Wifi

When wireless routers first went mainstream they felt like magic. Connecting your laptop to the internet without a cable? Amazing. As time marched on, routers became more impressive, getting longer range and faster speeds. Nowadays, there are many affordable routers on the market, and many consumers are happy with them.

Apparently, Google thinks the router needs to be reinvented, as today it announces the unimaginatively named "Wifi'. Yes folks, that is what the search giant came up with as the name for its Wi-Fi router. This product is special, as it is very easy to set up and multiple units can be connected to blanket a large area in mesh wireless internet. Its small stature should make it a good fit in any room too.

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