CableLabs licensed its Wi-Fi hotspot locator application to software vendor mPortal, which, in turn, will market the product to cable operators.
CableLabs, a non-profit research and development facility based in Louisville, Colo., co-developed the Wi-Fi application software with Cablevision and member companies. The new software will be bundled into mPortal's existing Springboard Wi-Fi product suite for use with connected devices across mobile, tablet and connected TV platforms.
The software enables Wi-Fi detection to help customers find the best cable-affiliated Wi-Fi service near their current location; mapping of Wi-Fi locations with the ability to view details on the performance level and quality of the Wi-Fi access point; and Wi-Fi testing services to determine the quality of experience and available bandwidth of the customer's current Wi-Fi service.
Cablevision markets its Optimum-branded cable, Internet and voice offerings throughout the New York area. The company also owns and operates cable systems serving homes in four Western states.
"We have been working with CableLabs since 2011 to co-develop software that helps our customers obtain better connectivity when using Optimum WiFi. We believe this software will improve the cable Wi-Fi offering and we are pleased to share it with other CableLabs members," said Timothy Farrell, Cablevision's vice president of broadband product management.
"Through this co-innovated application technology we aim to improve the quality of experience subscribers have on Wi-Fi networks operated by cable operators," said Phil McKinney, president and CEO of CableLabs. "We worked with Cablevision as our co-development partner on this, and the team has now successfully transferred the project to vendors for further product commercialization."
CableVision is part of a Wi-Fi roaming network it formed last March along with MSOs Comcast, Cox Communications, Bright House Networks and Time Warner Cable. Time Warner Cable already uses a Wi-Fi optimization technology from Israel-based WeFi. The software aids cable operators in managing onloading of data traffic to their Wi-Fi services and helps their customers find and access the best wireless connection.
Some of mPortal's customers include Comcast, Cricket Communications, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable and Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ).
For more:
- see this release and this release
- see this Multichannel News article
- see this CED article
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