NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Concerns on the rise re "seamless" Wi-Fi downsides
Concerns on the rise re "seamless" Wi-Fi downsides Wi-Fi offloading: Who controls your handset? http://j.mp/IqdbmL (Fierce Broadband) "One of the latest trends in data offloading is client-centric network management by the operator, meaning operators are becoming involved in controlling which networks (cellular or Wi-Fi) their customers' wireless devices access at any given time. This makes perfect sense from an operator's standpoint, but, as a consumer, I find the concept troubling." - - - Operator WiFi: Seamless is the wrong approach http://j.mp/IqdCxc (Disruptive Wireless) "And finally, there are times when seamless connection is outright bad - for example, if a device is "forced" to use a specific network, when the user or perhaps an app would prefer a different one. This is especially relevant for WiFi, where there are frequently various options for connection, with different ownership, speed, price, security and features. Most WiFi use is private connectivity (it's WLAN - ie wireless ethernet), not offload, and operators have no business becoming involved in it. Think about an iPhone versus an iPod Touch. Any WiFi use on the iPod is by definition private - it can't be offload as it doesn't have a cellular radio to offload from. Therefore the same use on an iPhone should also be considered as private WiFi access, not offload, and outside of telco visibility and control. Some of the proposed standards even suggest switching on the device WiFi non-consensually by the network (see this post of mine about OMA), while others such as the 3GPP's ANDSF tries to push or enforce preferences for network selection." - - - --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org Founder: - Data Wisdom Explorers League: http://www.dwel.org - Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org - Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org - PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com Google+: http://vortex.com/g+lauren / Twitter: http://vortex.com/t-lauren Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com _______________________________________________ nnsquad mailing list http://lists.nnsquad.org/mailman/listinfo/nnsquad