iPass Open Mobile Client for iOS takes major leap forward

USA: iPass Inc. announced a revolutionary release to its iPass Open MobileTM Wi-Fi client for iOS devices. The new version of the app (version 3.0) delivers a superior Wi-Fi connectivity experience for Open Mobile iOS users that streamlines the process for business travelers to easily connect to the world's largest commercial Wi-Fi hotspot network with over one million venues worldwide.

Major enhancements in version 3.0 of the iPass Open Mobile client for iOS include:

Automatic background authentication: The iPass Network authentication is now performed automatically in the background after a Wi-Fi connection has been established by the iOS Wi-Fi connection manager. This new feature eliminates the need for users to manually interact with the native iOS Wi-Fi connection manager (via the iOS "Settings") in order to select, and then interact with the Open Mobile client to complete the authentication.

Uniquely, this process is now done automatically in the background, allowing Open Mobile iOS users to more effortlessly and quickly connect to an iPass hotspot, using only the native iOS Wi-Fi connection manager.

Enhanced network labeling: Qualified iPass networks are annotated in a small footnote below the SSID to inform users which SSIDs are part of the iPass network. This new enhanced network labeling allows users to make an informed decision on which SSID to connect to.

This takes the guesswork out of knowing the difference between an iPass SSID and an open broadcast SSID, giving Open Mobile iOS users peace of mind with the ability to easily chose their known and trusted iPass network.

Pop-up notification of iPass network availability: By integrating the iPass Open Mobile client with the iOS Notification Center (a banner at the top of the iOS screen), the Open Mobile iOS client automatically sends pop-up "iPass network available" notifications,  alerting Open Mobile users to iPass networks available in that location.

This proactive notification empowers users with the knowledge that they are in an iPass hotspot so they can take advantage of the cost-effective, fast iPass Wi-Fi connection vs. a slow and expensive 3G data connection, or an unknown and possibly unsafe public Wi-Fi network.