Quiconnect Launches Hotspot Robot Remote Access Solution
Quiconnect launches Hotspot Robot to simplify integration and configuration of network operators’ Wi-Fi equipment as it creates global virtual WLAN networks for carriers
-/May 17, 2006 - Wi-Fi Technology News/- Quiconnect announces that it has launched Hotspot Robot, a new remote access solution to manage the configuration and integration of network operators’ hotspots as it creates global virtual Wi-Fi networks for its telecommunication (telcos) customers. Quiconnect’s clients include BT Openzone, Orange France and Sprint.
Quiconnect specialises in providing systems integration and interconnectivity management solutions for telcos in the wireless broadband sector. It connects discrete commercial IP networks globally into a single worldwide virtual network, individually branded for its telco customers, managing all billing and financial clearinghouse services, with automated connection making access simple for users regardless of the network used.
Quiconnect has thereby removed the complexity of public Wi-Fi access, historically an arduous affair for users having to remember password information, keying in credit card or scratch card details or knowing that their ISP has a roaming agreement with a particular third party aggregator. By streamlining the Wi-Fi access process whatever the device (laptop, gaming console or mobile phone) Quiconnect is establishing a system similar to the banks where cash machines can be accessed by all – the Cirrus or Maestro approach. This will result in increased WLAN usage and drive revenue growth for telcos.
As more and more local network operators and carriers connect to the Quiconnect virtual network – with thousands of hotpot locations - the impact on the engineering resources of all parties grows as integration and subsequent testing is required. The development of Hotspot Robot means that Quiconnect engineers can remotely access and manage hotspots (on behalf of the individual operator and carrier without impacting their own IT resource), ensure that agreed test plans can be carried out easily, with ongoing management, reporting and upgrading simplified.
The process of creating a single worldwide virtual network involves a complex range of activities, from initial RADIUS set up to the implementation of virtual landing pages (branded to the telco), and integration testing of any carrier-specific client software to ensure that users can access hotspot sites.
Andrew Schultz, Quiconnect’s head of marketing and strategy explains, “Our engineers need to test a whole range of things such as whether users can log on and off hotspots correctly, that client software functions correctly, and that the different payment methods work. In the future we hope to include bandwidth and Quality of Service (QoS) testing of the network. You can do this in a variety of ways with Hotspot Robot, so we can see what’s happening on the network – it’s like physically being there.”
The Hotspot Robot is a preconfigured access point running Linux and configured by Quiconnect – installed and left at the network operators’ premises - which allows a secure VPN tunnel to be established between the access point on the network operator’s site and Quiconnect’s VPN gateway. This allows for safe remote access and management, and most importantly, provides Quiconnect’s integration engineers with quick and convenient presence on a given wireless network without the resource strain of global travel.
The key benefit for network operators is the reduced testing time and effort when allowing Quiconnect to do remote testing without assistance from network operator staff – this is especially relevant during staff off-hours. An additional benefit for network operators in utilising such a solution is that it also expedites the ongoing WLAN management process. If carriers want to change their virtual landing page infrastructure or choose new client software (which users load onto to their Wi-Fi enabled devices), then these changes need to be tested at a representative number of network operator sites to ensure network availability. Hotspot Robot means that this can be done remotely which reduces engineer travel time and associated costs.
Schultz concludes, “Hotspot Robot provides obvious cost savings for our telco clients but it also means future value-added services can be provided like SLA1 accounting and ongoing QoS monitoring. Hotspot Robot is a simple solution with automatic benefits for all.”
The Hotspot Robot is available today for use on Quiconnect client projects.
About Quiconnect
Quiconnect is a specialist systems integrator providing interconnectivity management solutions to telecommunications carriers in the wireless broadband sector. Quiconnect provides custom tools, technology and services to manage interconnections for multiple bilateral roaming and access agreements—ensuring end-to-end integrity, reducing costs, and enabling a consistent carrier-branded user interface across multiple networks, platforms and applications. Headquartered in London UK, Quiconnect was founded in 2001 and operates offices in Grenoble, France and San Diego USA. For more information, visit
http://www.quiconnect.com.
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