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July 8, 2008

software

Boingo introduces an authentication tool for Mac notebooks

Posted Jul. 8, ’08, 3:51 PM PT by David Dahlquist
Category | Software

boingo.jpgPopular wireless hotspot provider Boingo has released a lightweight application for MacBooks (and assumably MacBook Pros) running OS X 10.4 and later, which makes sense since MacBooks and MBPs weren’t around before the days of OS X 10.4.

The program was developed in response to internal usage reports from airport Wi-Fi networks operated by Boingo that, not surprisingly, show an ever-increasing number of connections coming from MacBooks and PowerBooks. In fact, as of January 2008, almost 20 percent of airport usage comes from Mac laptops, which is a 30 percent increase from the year before.

“With our GoBoingo! software for MacBooks, you are now just one click away from enjoying Wi-Fi service at hotspots around the world,” said Dawn Callahan, vice president, consumer marketing, Boingo Wireless.

The itty bitty (smaller than 1 MB) authentication tool automatically determines whether a hotspot belongs to a Boingo roaming partner and then helps users log on to the hotspot with their Boingo accounts with just one click. What I’d like to know is just how much easier this program actually makes it to connect to a Boingo network. How many clicks does it take to normally sign on to a Boingo wireless network without the authentication tool? Anyone know?

[Via Cult of Mac]


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