Fon Announces Next Generation Fonera Simpl with EAP Optimized for Mobile Devices

Makes world’s largest WiFi network as easy to use as cellular, offers mobile operators a unique way to relieve congested networks

BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fon, the world’s largest WiFi network with over 5 million hotspots, today announced it will soon offer a next generation WiFi router. The new Fonera Simpl will feature EAP-based authentication, faster processing and an even smaller casing than the previous generation. Fonera Simpl with EAP, the universal authentication framework, will bring the seamless experience of cellular technologies to customers who use mobile devices to connect at Fon WiFi. Already today, around three quarters of the connections to Fon WiFi happen with smartphones, mainly with devices running on iOS or Android. Monthly traffic generated via Fon WiFi is over 2 Petabytes, a 20 fold increase in just two years. This growth in data usage is driven by two trends: more data hungry smartphones and easier connection to Fon WiFi hotspots via connection managers and easy connect set-ups.

With the introduction of EAP, Fon will improve the way mobile devices connect to Fon WiFi significantly, making it a seamless and transparent experience. For mobile operators working with Fon, this will mean that they can offer a cellular-like user experience for those connecting to a Fonera Simpl. The Fonera Simpl EAP will be part of Fon’s integrated offering for mobile operators and will be available in early fall 2012.

Fon CEO, Martin Varsavsky, said:

"Four million people around the world connect regularly to the Fon WiFi network with their wireless devices. They use Fon also to surf the net and check emails, but most of the traffic is generated by them playing games and watching videos. Especially for heavy data content, WiFi is great. Many mobile operators know that WiFi has to be an integrated part of their offering. The new generation Fonera Simpl with EAP is a great opportunity for operators to give their customers a better WiFi experience while saving on CAPEX.”

At the heart of every Fonera is Fon’s WiFi sharing technology. This technology makes it possible to broadcast two dedicated WiFi signals, one private for the owner only, and one public that allows the owner to share a bit of their WiFi connection with members of Fon’s network.

More than 5 million people share their hotspots using Fon technology across the globe and connect to other Fon hotspots for free. Today, the size of the Fon network increases by a thousand hotspots every four hours, 100 times faster than in 2008.

Fon also works with leading ISPs such as BT and Belgacom who integrate Fon technology directly into their own broadband modems or CPEs.

About Fon:

Fon CEO, entrepreneur and internet pioneer Martin Varsavsky founded Fon in 2006 with the goal of free, ubiquitous WiFi for everyone. Today Fon is the largest WiFi network in the world, providing WiFi at over 5 million hotspots in over 100 countries. Fon partners with the world's leading fixed and mobile telcos, hardware manufacturers and service providers, all who share the vision of a global WiFi community. Fon’s growing list of telco partners includes Belgacom, British Telecom, MTS Russia, Oi Brazil, SFR France, SoftBank Japan and ZON Portugal. Fon's investors include Atomico, British Telecom, the Coral Group, Google, Index Ventures, Sequoia Capital and Skype. For more information please visit: fon.com