Devicescape’s “Coverage Continuity” allows mobile service providers to use the Devicescape Curated Virtual Network (CVN) of amenity Wi-Fi locations to keep smartphone users connected.
That is yet another example of movement–even before fifth generation mobile networks–towards managed “access any network” capabilities that connect mobile devices and users to the best available network.
That strategy, already used by mobile service providers (incumbent and attackers) is bound to become more important, in part because more phones can “mix and match” access, because there is more Wi-Fi available, because the economics of the mobile business benefit from offloading traffic to Wi-Fi and because new competitors (especially cable TV operators) plan to rely on Wi-Fi access.
Coverage Continuity also identifies and reports on locations where end users experience connectivity problems, allowing operators to more effectively prioritize network optimization investments.
Network performance analysis conducted by Devicescape at a wide range of public indoor locations across 15 different countries shows that 4G/LTE signals often degrade rapidly as devices move indoors, leaving users without service or with a lower-performing 3G signal. At the same time, amenity Wi-Fi is frequently available, offering a connection consistent with the high quality 4G/LTE signal typically available outdoors.
Coverage Continuity monitors any degradation in cellular connectivity and switches the device to CVN Wi-Fi automatically, ensuring the user’s connectivity experience does not suffer.
According to Devicescape research, in the United States,, amenity Wi-Fi is available in 99 percent of airports; 95 percent of hotels; 71 percent of stadiums/convention centers; 72 percent of museums; 68 percent of cafes/bars; and 69 percent of fast food establishments.
Globally, Wi-Fi accounted for 80 percent of mobile and tablet data consumption, compared to data consumed on the mobile networks, at 20 percent, according to a new Mobidia report.
That explains the wide gap between reported “mobile data consumption” and actual end user data consumption on their smartphones.
Globally, smartphone and tablet users used in excess of 10 GB of data in December 2014, according to Ovum, up from about seven gigabytes in January 2014. That represents a 51 percent growth rate.
Apple iOS tablet users consumed about 12 GB, while Android tablet users consumed about nine gigabytes in December 2014, Ovum says.
Apple iOS smartphone users consumed an average of about 11 GB of data in December 2014, just ahead of Android smartphone users with 10 GB. Consumers on Long Term Evolutin networks consumed even more data.
By December 2014, 4G Android smartphone users consumed 13 GB each month, dramatically higher than the 5GB/user/month of 3G Android smartphone users that month.
“Wi-Fi has cemented its position as the dominant wireless access technology, with cellular playing a vital yet supporting role, Mobidia says, based on the results of a study conducted for Mobidia by Ovum.
